Help needed in Phoenix!!

[Evil5oh]

Just curious if there is anyone that could help me put an alternator in this weekend?

My car died on the way to work today on the 101, and it is my daily driver. I don't have a garage at my apt, and I don't really have money right now to be shelling out $450 to have it fixed.

If anyone can help, let me know. Thanks.

Jesse

 

[Off Road SHO]

You're welcome to use my garage and tools. Do you have a replacement yet? Which car is it?

Tom

 

[Evil5oh]

It is the SHO. I wish it was the 'stang actually because that is a 20 minute job, but my luck never goes that way, lol.

Thanks for the offer, but I ended up dropping it off at the shop by my apt. I need to have it back asap, and can't wait till the weekend. I would drive the 'stang, but that is in storage, and unregistered. I am having problems getting it to pass emissions and just don't have time or space to work on it right now -- I moved from WI last summer where I didn't have to worry about that stuff. Thanks again for the offer though, I really appreciate it.

 

[yamahaSHO]

Changing the alternator is a pretty easy job. I'd take Tom up on his offer next time. All you have to do is take out the battery, loosen the belt/remove, and then there is three bolts and a few wires to disconnect. It's not much more than a 20 minute job either. MUCH better than shelling out several hundred dollars.

 

[Evil5oh]

Is it that easy on Gen III? I had the hood up before I took it into the shop, and I couldn't even see the alternator. The battery in my Gen III is on the driver side, and all my accessories are on the passenger side -- IDK, I called probably 20 shops today, and I got quotes from 2.5 - 3 hrs. The shop I took it too was the cheapest, and they are the place I usually go if I have problems, and they have always treated me great - and fair on things that I know how much they should cost but can't fix at my apt myself, so I can't see that they would be ripping me off. Damn, it is days like this I wish more and more I had a house instead of an apt.

 

[yamahaSHO]

I did not realize you had a gen III... There's nothing they can't figure out at Tom's place I'm sure they need practice on Gen III cars out there anyway. They are not abundant.

EDIT: Did I meet you at the Scottsdale Pavilions a few weeks ago?

 

[Evil5oh]

Yeah -- I wish I could have taken it out there, and I wish I had a Gen I or II. But I just realized that I couldn't be w/out the car for a week, and I would have had to tow it there. I was able to charge the battery, and drive it to the shop, but IDK how far I would have made it if I would have had to go a long distance.

 

[ChuckD]

1) Disconnect the battery
2) Remover the passenger side wiper cowl (both pieces).
3) Jack up passanger side of car. Set on jack stand. Remove wheel.
4) Remove tie rod end.
5) Remove belt.
6) Take wires of Alt.
7) Take the 3 bolts that hold Alt. in place and jiggle it out through the bottom and side. (you will have to go from the top to remove at least one of the bolts depending on how big your arm is.

Installation everything above in reverse.

I did this and it took me approx 2 hours. I wasn't on book time (my car) and I took a couple water breaks.

My Alt. was $275 though thats where it hit me.

Chuck

 

[Evil5oh]

Yeah, I am sure it can be done in less than 2.5 hrs, but the shops only quote book, so I guess I am kind of screwed there.

I would gladly do it myself, its just that I have minimum tools down here, and no place to work on it. And yes, that $275 for the alternator is a KILLER -- at least it is a lifetime piece I guess.

*edit* Just out of curiosity -- why do you have to remove the wiper cowl?

 

[Evil5oh]

EDIT: Did I meet you at the Scottsdale Pavilions a few weeks ago?

Yeah, that was me. We were going to stop back over buy you guys, but my g/f wasn't feeling the greatest, so we ended up heading out early and just coming home. It was nice to meet you, and you have a nice ride -- I wish I would have bought a Gen II.

 

[ChuckD]

Yeah, I am sure it can be done in less than 2.5 hrs, but the shops only quote book, so I guess I am kind of screwed there.

I would gladly do it myself, its just that I have minimum tools down here, and no place to work on it. And yes, that $275 for the alternator is a KILLER -- at least it is a lifetime piece I guess.

*edit* Just out of curiosity -- why do you have to remove the wiper cowl?

To reach from the top to loosen a bolt. Rachet wrenchs would make the job alot easier, though I didn't have any at the time. 2 of them can be gotten from the bottom pretty easy but that top one is best to come from the top.