Alternator Removal

[sy1100]

Is there an easy way to remove/replace the alternator?? I was looking at it and it seems there is a lot to remove to get to it. Also is there a "upgrade" to the stock alt aside from the saturn one?? If there is let me know would like a higher amp one than stock and is a direct replacement..

 

[transparentdsm]

they make 90 amp and 110 amp alts for these cars and no there is no easy way, you have to remove the intercooler pipe and the PS pump to get it out.


so how is the car treating you?

 

[sy1100]

So Im guessing to go from the bottom of the car to get to it?? Where can I source the 110amp at?? The car has been a rock, I put some love into the interior over the spring and have some parts piling up to replace/upgrade/update. Aside from an oil leack that I havent tracked down she's been great..

 

[James]

Move the PS pump out of the way (it moves plenty far enough) and move your IC piping. As long as you don't have Boulders for hands you should be able to get it out easily. Took me about 15mins.

 

[Terry Posten]

No, there is not enough room to drop it out the bottom.

Best way is to remove the upper IC pipe, unbolt the power steering pump and lay it over above the ABS pump, unbolt the two upper radiator brackets and pick up the rad about an inch and slide it over to the passenger side as far as it will go. Then unbolt the alt and lift it up and out.

You do not have to drain the radiator, just lift it up off the lower pins and slide it over.

Have fun, the first time take a few hours to do, the next time will be about 45 minutes start to finish. (and there will be a next time).

 

[sy1100]

Great!! I do have boulders for hands, I guess i have to stock up on band-aids and peroxide.. LOL! Should be fun..

 

[raptorWagon]

As well as if you remove Powersteering permanently, next time it will only take you 20 minutes to remove and replace lol. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[sy1100]

So my last question is what 110 amp alt fits our cars???

 

[transparentdsm]

i think the 110 amp is out of the saturn...

 

[mitsuturbo]

Subaru as well, apparently. I'm not sure how much a "direct fit" it is, though. Or what model.

Curtis did it.

 

[raptorWagon]

I have one of Curtis' Subaru alternators, they come out of the 90s legacy. I think I used a generic GM alternator bolt, because it was the right length as the stock one was too short.

 

[sy1100]

Just went with a stock replacement, since I saw what was mostly likely the cause of the failure in the first place. Seems that the oil leak at the filter housing is leaking and spraying oil all over the alt and everything else in that area. So I bought a pressure washer and got it all clean up, and now to try and see where it is leaking exactly. I'm thinking it the oil filter housing gasket needs to be replaced..

 

[mitsuturbo]

The stud is probably loose, and it's likely leaking behind the pancake (aka piece of sh*t) oil cooler.

 

[sy1100]

Ok so I got the alternator back in and now I can get the belt to tighten back up. I got a new and compare it to the old everything matches up but I cnt get it to tighten. What am I doing wrong??

 

[raptorWagon]

Does the tensioner bolt tighten all the way down and have you slid the tensioner bolt to one side of the tensioner bracket before tightening the bolt?

 

[GVR41380]

push down on the alternator be for you tighten that tension-er bolt, witch i beleave is a 12mm, then when you have the alternator be pushed down tighten that bolt, and i dont know if you want to do this or not but i but a nut on the other side of the tension-er bolt and tighten that one down, so your alternator wont move after you do that.

 

[iceman69510]

Oh boy, is this fun. My alternator decided to be a superstar and pump 19V, so today I pulled it out to replace. After struggling with the removal, I started the reinstallation. Of course, the retaining clip broke off the aged and brittle connector, so now retention of the plug will be a problem. Have to see about getting one of those tomorrow (fingers crossed local alt shop has one...).

Also, with the replacement in, I had to basically use all the adjustment to get the belt tight. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif Measured the pulley, and it is 3mm in diameter (!) smaller than the original. Wow, not even noticeable to me at a glance, but now I have to decide if I take it back out again to exchange the pulleys. Probably will since I need to fix the harness anyway.

Waste of an afternoon, that's for sure... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif

 

[G]

You buy cheap, you buy twice.

 

[BpuVR4]

Quoting iceman69510:
Oh boy, is this fun. My alternator decided to be a superstar and pump 19V, so today I pulled it out to replace. After struggling with the removal, I started the reinstallation. Of course, the retaining clip broke off the aged and brittle connector, so now retention of the plug will be a problem. Have to see about getting one of those tomorrow (fingers crossed local alt shop has one...).

Also, with the replacement in, I had to basically use all the adjustment to get the belt tight. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif Measured the pulley, and it is 3mm in diameter (!) smaller than the original. Wow, not even noticeable to me at a glance, but now I have to decide if I take it back out again to exchange the pulleys. Probably will since I need to fix the harness anyway.

Waste of an afternoon, that's for sure... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif



makes me feel better about taking my alternator off thinking it was buzzing (when it turned out to be the abs motor)...had it off in 8 minutes...took over an hour to get it back on cause I couldn't get that one pin to go all the way through for some reason....on a dark snowy night.....felt like a total moron esp when I put it in a few weeks ago, total remove and install took maybe 40min.

 

[H05TYL]

Keep the stock heatsheild around the turbo/dump pipe (or make a new one) and you'll not need to replace the alternator so frequently.

I did 4 in 8 years before I figured this out /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif