New Alternator

[sulaco]

I've always liked messing around with the car that I own, but its primarily been simple things - changing the oil, flat tire(s), headlights, windshield wipers, stereo/speakers, spark plugs, etc.

When I got out of work Friday, my car started to whine immediately after starting it. I drove a few miles and the sound stuck around. I pulled over, popped the hood and smelled a slight electrical burn. After some research, I was 90% sure it was the alternator. Along the way I came across a forum with instructions on replacing the alternator in my car.

I stopped by a reliable mechanic to double check my assumptions, which were confirmed. Our current situation makes it impractical for me to not have a car during the week, so I knew that I need to get it replaced by Monday, but he was booked through the weekend. I stopped at an auto parts store on the way home and picked up an alternator determined to do the job myself.

I generally think that any job worth doing requires (at minimum) three trips to the hardware store - the first to get what I think I'll need. The second to get what I forgot during the first trip. And the last in desperation when I realize the job was more difficult than I originally anticipated. This project was no different.

The second trip was to get a breaker bar and socket which fit into my engine compartment to compress the hydraulic tensioner which was keeping the serpentine belt snug.

I grew some muscles getting the serpentine belt free. I learned all about how the alternator was attached while getting it out. The new one went in with little issue - except the serpentine belt came off essentially every wheel it was wrapped around when I started the engine for the first time. Getting the serpentine belt back in place was probably the most difficult part of the project, but with a little adrenaline, it finally went back into place.

In this case the third trip wasn't stressful - the bolt on the battery cable had corroded through and I needed to get a new one. I drove my repaired car over to the store as its first test drive and its been running great since.

[BlueMR2]

Good job!

Most cars the alternator isn't too terrible, although it's getting more difficult (on average) on newer cars as they tuck everything in tighter.  Even a few older cars can be more challenging than expected, for example, on my '91 the subframe has to be dropped to make enough room to extract the alternator, so it has to get an alignment every time the alternator is replaced (I think I'm on my 4th or 5th now).

Sometimes it pays to be creative too and depart from the service manual.  On my '95 it says to pull the power steering pump and remove a bracket that requires the crank pulley to come off, then take the alternator out the top.  I couldn't even find a way to make enough room to get to the crank pulley bolts (without pulling the whole engine) nevermind extract the bolts!  But looking around I found that removing the oil pressure sensor wiring made enough room to wiggle the alternator out the bottom of the car!  Saved hours of work just by looking before doing!

[Exflyboy]

Nice job,

Next time of your really adventurous you can rebuild the alternator yourself.. Most often brushes worn out and you can normally get those for $4 for the pair..:)

Helps if you don't have to have the car the next day though.

Frank

[Greg]

Good to hear you got 'er done.  Now you can do the same again or for someone else.

[zolotiyeruki]

Next time of your really adventurous you can rebuild the alternator yourself.. Most often brushes worn out and you can normally get those for $4 for the pair..:)

Helps if you don't have to have the car the next day though.

A few years ago I found myself in that exact situation.  Had to replace the alternator right away, then replaced the brushes afterward.  Now I've got a spare kicking around the garage.  Who knows if I'll ever actually need it, since my car's 20 years old already and getting close to 200k miles.  Of course, it's a Toyota Corolla, so my kids may be driving it 10 years from now...

[eil]

Good job, OP.

I just replaced the alternator on my '02 Mazda Protege a couple months ago. In my case, the bearings were pretty much shot as I couldn't turn the pulley by hand. It was a bee-yotch getting the old one out because the alternator was located up where I could reach, but not see what I was doing. (Whilst laying down on the ground under the car getting crap in my eyes.)

Only thing I could critique you on is not price-shopping first... My usual auto parts stores either didn't have my alternator in stock, or they wanted almost $200 in crazy dollars for it. The last place I checked had it for just over $100 (before core charge) and I got it for well under that due to a discount code, a further rebate, and buying online through my credit card's website.

[theSchmett]

Is it possible that the corroded bolt created a condition that stressed the alternator?