How do you remove an alternator from a Chevy Silverado?

Remove the belt by inserting a 3/8 inch ratchet or breaker bar into the square hole on the front of the belt tensioner, pulling against the spring tension then remove the belt. Remove the two bolts on the front of the alternator using a 15mm socket. Remove the 10mm nut holding the main power wire.

How to replace an alternator on a 1995 GMC?

Somewhere on your vehicle there is a tensioner pulley. You’ll need to move it enough to slip the belt off the pulley. Our ’95 GMC has a standard spring-loaded GM tensioner that required us to pull it back with a wrench.

What’s the best way to replace an alternator?

There’s a 90-degree twist in the middle of the Cross Force wrenches, so you end up pushing on a flat surface. The result: we could push harder without discomfort. So we just laid into it and the belt came free. Once the belt is off just remove whatever bolts connect the alternator to the bracket and you’re good to go.

How is the alternator connected to the battery?

This current is fed to the car’s battery, charging it for later use. In newer models, the alternator is internally regulated and can be connected with only one wire linked to the car’s battery. Disconnect the car’s battery before beginning any work to avoid the risk of electric shock while wiring your alternator.

Can a bad alternator leave a Chevy Silverado without power?

A bad alternator can leave your Chevy Silverado without power and unable to move. Alternators don’t always go bad in the exact same way. We’ll cover the symptoms of when an alternator goes bad, and how to diagnose a bad one (which is really pretty easy).

Do you need an alternator for a 12 volt car?

If you got 14.2 or more volts, the alternator is charging fine. If it’s still showing in the 12’s, it’s time to replace the alternator. If it’s producing a voltage level in the 13’s, go ahead and take it into a parts store and have it tested. It’s probably bad.

What are the symptoms of a bad alternator?

In rare occasions the service engine soon light may light up. Also, some vehicles have an “alt” light that specifically tells you there is a problem with the charging system, and not the battery itself. Outside of the battery warning light, a dead battery is the most common symptom of a bad alternator.

Do you need to remove serpentine belt to change alternator?

As you loosen the bolts, the alternator will slide in the bracket under the tension of the belt. You may not need to remove the serpentine or accessory belt if it’s not damaged.

If you find any of those issues, you’ll need to replace it. Remove the alternator from the engine bay. With the belt pulled off of the alternator pulley and the wires disconnected, the alternator should come out freely. You may need to wiggle the alternator around some things in order to remove it.

Where do you plug in a new alternator?

Unplug the black plug from the top back of the alternator. Remove the red wire from the back of the old alternator. Install the red wire to the back of the new alternator and plug the black wire into the new alternator. Position the new alternator and reinstall both retaining bolts.

How do you loosen the belt on an alternator?

Use the 3/8-inch square attachment or a regular 3/8-inch ratchet. Push the tensioner towards the rear of the car to loosen the belt. When loose, remove the belt from the alternator. Do not remove the belt tool from the tensioner.

How can I tell if my alternator needs to be replaced?

Most auto parts stores have the equipment to perform this test, and will do it free of charge. Another way to check the alternator’s condition is by using a voltmeter to read the power output on the battery while the engine is running. If you notice the that the reading is dropping, inconsistent, or fluctuating, the alternator should be replaced.

How to know if your Chevy S10 has a faulty alternator?

Steps Verify whether your Chevy S10 has a faulty alternator. Access a voltmeter and start the truck. Make contact to the battery with the voltmeter and look for a reading of 14.2. Assume that the alternator is not properly charging if the reading is below 14, or higher than 14.3. Turn on the lights and the radio.

What should the voltage be on an alternator?

With the electric devices running and the engine running at 2000 RPM, the voltage should read 14. Test the wiring if the charges aren’t in the proper range, as the voltage reading alone doesn’t fully diagnose a faulty alternator. Assure that the vehicle is still running.

As you loosen the bolts, the alternator will slide in the bracket under the tension of the belt. You may not need to remove the serpentine or accessory belt if it’s not damaged.

There are two cables on the alternator that must be disconnected; one is the battery lead with a small rubber covering. It is attached to the alternator by a 10mm nut. Remove the nut using the socket and ratchet. Then, slide the lead wire away from the alternator.

Can you change the head gasket on a 1999 Cavalier?

On a 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24 2.4-liter engine, you can replace the gasket after removing the intake manifold to access the cylinder head. While novice mechanics may find it difficult, following the guide and taking special care when removing engine components will allow you to change the gasket in a few hours.

How does an alternator work on a car?

The alternator converts the engine’s mechanical rotations into an electrical current using a pulley-and-belt system. This current is fed to the car’s battery, charging it for later use.

What happens when the alternator is left disconnected?

When left disconnected, regulation will be left to the alternator’s internal regulator. Hailed as one of his native Baltimore’s emerging writers in Urbanite Magazine, for the past five years Kevin Krause has been writing everything from advertising copy to prose and poetry.

What kind of wire do I need to wire an alternator?

Wire the BAT terminal on the alternator directly to the positive terminal of the car’s battery. Be sure to use heavy shielded wire rated for use with a 12V DC circuit. For one-wire alternators, this will complete the electrical installation and you can skip to the last Step. Wire the #1 terminal to a key-switched ignition line.

Why does the battery warning light come on after replacing the alternator?

A relatively common “side-effect” of replacing a battery and/or alternator in a car is to have the voltage (battery) warning light come on. This is especially true in late-model vehicles with their more sophisticated internal diagnostic systems.

When do I need to replace my alternator in my truck?

The alternator is responsible for powering your truck while the engine is on. It’s also responsible for keeping the battery charged. If you’ve noticed that your battery isn’t getting charged or that the power gauge in your truck is showing unusual spikes, then you probably need to either rebuild or replace your alternator.

Why does my Chevy Silverado have a bad battery?

by Chris Moore. A bad battery in your Chevy Silverado truck may not be the problem in of itself. The problem can lie in the alternator, which is responsible for recharging the battery through the engine’s own mechanical motion. Replacing a bad alternator will prevent you from having to change the battery — repeatedly.

Do you need to replace the alternator on a Chevy Silverado?

The alternator is charging the battery that allows them to keep running. So if you need to replace your alternator, keep reading as this article will help you through the process. This article applies to the Chevrolet Silverado GMT800 (1999-2006).

How do you replace an alternator in a car?

Disconnect the alternator’s main electrical connector. Remove the alternator’s mounting bolts and remove the alternator. Install the replacement alternator with its mounting bolts. Connect the electrical connector and battery cable to the alternator and cap the B+ terminal with the weather boot.

Remove the two mounting bolts on the bottom of the alternator, and pry it loose from its mount. Unplug the connector on the top and unbolt the connector on the back. Once these two connectors are removed, you can pull the alternator easily from the truck. Figure 3. Remove the alternator.

Why do I need a dual alternator in my Duramax?

Don’t want to sound stupid but what does it gain me and what is it used for or could be used for. Basically it gets you more electrical capacity. The theory behind alternator selection is that other than startup, your alternator should provide all of the power you can possibly use, even at idle.

Do you need a dual alternator in a plow?

A plow doesn’t really need dual alternators by itself but a truck that is used for plowing may also have pumps for liquid ice melter, fuel transfer and other additional electrical loads that would make the dual alternators important. Big inverters are serious pieces of equipment that cost serious money.

How can you tell if your alternator is bad?

The battery stores enough voltage to be able to start the engine without the assistance of an alternator. It is turned by a serpentine belt. It’s worth noting that a bad serpentine belt can cause the alternator to stop charging effectively. It’s pretty easy to tell if one is bad. It’ll look dry rotted.

How do you set the voltmeter on a Silverado?

Set it to read voltage. Specifically, you’ll need to set it to 20V DC. With your Silverado turned off, you’ll connect the negative side of the meter to the negative battery post or wire. You’ll then touch the positive side of the voltmeter to the positive battery wire.

Where is the insert jack on an alternator?

Insert jack stands beneath the vehicle for safety once it’s jacked up. Remove the main power cable from the alternator. The main power cable will be the thick cable attached to the alternator that runs from the battery.

How to change the alternator on a 1997 Nissan SE pickup?

Lift off and remove the drive belts with the edge of a flat-blade screwdriver. Remove the air conditioner belt first, followed by the power steering belt and the alternator belt. Place a jack under the front of the truck. Jack the front of the pickup up and secure it on jack stands. Remove the three wires from the back of the alternator.

When does the alternator drop below 14vdc?

I started the truck after installing the new alternator, and after idling for a little while the voltmeter dropped again to 13VDC! Ugh… Putting a multimeter on the terminals, when the gauge drops, my multimeter will read 12.81-12.98VDC while the engine is running. When the gauge is on 14VDC, the multimeter will read 14.1 or so.

What’s the normal duty cycle for an alternator?

It monitors the generator performance though the generator field duty cycle signal circuit. The signal is a 5 volt pulse width modulation (PWM) signal of 128 Hz with a duty cycle of 0-100 percent. Normal duty cycle is between 5-95 percent. Between 0-5 percent and 95-100 percent are for diagnostic purposes.

When does the alternator go into charge mode?

Its targeted generator output voltage is 13 volts. The BCM will exit this mode once the criteria are met for Charge Mode. the BCM will enter Charge Mode for 2-3 minutes. The BCM will then determine which mode to enter depending on voltage requirements. Wow thanks! Read away my friend…

How to identify your GM alternator USA built high output?

This is just a quick visual identification guide for Delco type alternators. First Alternator used on GM Vehicles to replace old DC Generators. External regulator mounted on the firewall.

What happens when the serpentine belt fails on an alternator?

The serpentine belt powers the alternator, and if it fails, the alternator will stop working the moment your belt wears out and breaks, or the pulley becomes damaged. This can also happen if the serpentine belt is not tightened correctly. Most cars have automatic tensioners, but these can fail, so it is better to double-check.

What should I do if my alternator is not working?

The solution is to check your car’s manual for the particular fuse that controls the alternator and replace it. In some cars, you might also find another small fuse to the alternator’s control—usually a 15A to 20A fuse. An alternator does usually has 3 or 4 wires to it to function properly.

What happens if you Don’t Disconnect the battery from an alternator?

If you don’t disconnect the battery, you’re very likely to end up grounding a live wire during the process. This causes cause all manner of bad things to occur — not the least of which is giving you quite a shock. Now that the battery is out of the way disconnect the wire or wires from the back of the alternator.

How do you install a new alternator in a car?

Installing the New Alternator Slide the new alternator into place. You might have to wiggle the alternator around to squeeze it back into place in a crowded engine bay. Insert the mounting bolts. Slide the mounting bolts through the alternator and into the mounting bracket. Run the belt over the new alternator pulley.

What do you use to remove the connector on an alternator?

Remove the nut using the appropriate-size wrench, or loosen and remove the connector tab using the Phillips screwdriver. Do not pull on the wires to the alternator. Damage to the wires may result in a total wiring harness replacement, which can be very costly.

What do you need to change an alternator?

Remove the main power cable from the alternator. The main power cable will be the thick cable attached to the alternator that runs from the battery. Depending on how much space you have in your specific vehicle, you may be able to use a ratchet, but in some, you may only be able to fit an open-ended wrench.

How do I loosen the bolts on my alternator?

Loosen the bolts on the alternator if there is no auto-tensioner. In cars without an auto-tensioner pulley, you can relieve the tension on the belt simply by loosening the two bolts that secure the alternator to the engine. These will often require a 14mm or 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) socket, though you may need to try others.

Peel away the boot covering the B+ terminal, then unscrew the nut for the battery cable on the alternator using a wrench and disconnect the cable. Disconnect the alternator’s main electrical connector. Remove the alternator’s mounting bolts and remove the alternator.

Can a bad alternator cause a car to go nowhere?

The ones that fail completely are easy to diagnose. The battery drains and you are stuck with a vehicle that goes nowhere. The challenge is diagnosing an alternator that is just not quite charging like it needs to be. You can easily diagnose it with almost any multimeter. Here’s what to do.

How do you remove an alternator from a Chevy Silverado?