How difficult is it to find and replace alternator?

[SHO Squall]

From most accounts I've read, all my symptoms (poor gas mileage, poor pickup, battery light on when car's cold, whining sound at certain RPMs) point to an alternator that's on its last leg. But rather than pay a stealership to remove and install it, I'd much rather check it and change it myself.

So, that said, where is the little SOB? Has anyone changed their themselves? If so, has anyone installed a higer output alternator for an upgraded stereo or similar application?

Thanks in advance for your help!

-John

 

[SHODWN]

Ive had mine out, Not a big deal. Nimz just swapped his out and had a problem with a stud (breaking or striping)

How mechanical inclined are you?

 

[SHO Squall]

Well, mechanically inclined enough to have changed the struts, pads and rotors on my former Audi. I would have changed the timing belt on it, too, but I didn't keep the car long enough. Right now it's a matter of finding a warm enough day or a heated garage, really.

-John

 

[SHOZ123]

Not too bad really. No where as easily if it were on top. All work listed is on the passager side only.

1.Disconnect battery
2.Jack up front and remove tire
3.Remove lower endlink nut
4.Take ABS wire out of holder on strut.
5.Remove three strut nuts on top of tower
6.Remove brake line support from body
7.Lower strut as far as it will go
8.Loosen subframe bolts to let the subframe drop 2"-3"
9.From below remove belt with a 3/8" ratchet
10.Remove plug and wire from the alternator
11.Remove two bolts on bottom of the alternator
12.Remove cowling
13.Remove top bolt on the alternator, I had to disconnect the fuel lines because I have big hands to do this.

You should be able to remove the alternator now. The only problem I had was getting the top bolt loose. It is a bolt with a threaded stud sticking out and I could not get a deep socket on it. Soaking with PB blaster overnight allowed it to come off the next day. I then sawed the studs off of the bolts. I think these studs are for a shield that no one puts back on.

<small>[ November 06, 2002, 07:29 PM: Message edited by: SHOZ123 ]</small>

 

[Ian Macoomb]

So how would this job compare to do the front struts? 'cause that's not a job I'd wanna do again

And Kirk, what's the model of that police scanner you've got?

 

[SHOZ123]

If \you loosen the clamp at the bottom of the strut you could take it out during this time. I don't think the struts are that hard to get out. As long as you loosen the subframe one side at a time.

<small>[ November 06, 2002, 11:20 PM: Message edited by: SHOZ123 ]</small>