How do you change an alternator in a car?
How do you change an alternator in a car?
Slip the serpentine belt over the alternator pulley, then tighten the tensioning bolt. Reconnect the battery and start the car. Pay careful attention to how the new alternator is running. Listen for any sounds from the alternator and check the voltmeter in the dash for any fluctuations. If it checks out okay, then you’re all done.
What is the alternator on a Chevy Camaro?
The alternator is the central power unit of your car’s charging system. This article will show you how to install a new one. This article applies to the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird (1990-2002).
How do you disconnect a battery from an alternator?
Disconnect the wiring harness and the battery cable from the back. Now start loosening the two 13mm bolts on the back of the alternator and the 15mm bolt on the front. Be prepared to catch it when you remove the last bolt, because the exciter wire is still attached and could break if the alternator falls. Quickly disconnect the exciter wire.
How do you remove serpentine belt from alternator?
Remove the serpentine belt from the alternator. Disconnect the wiring harness and the battery cable from the back. Now start loosening the two 13mm bolts on the back of the alternator and the 15mm bolt on the front.
What causes an alternator to go over base voltage?
If you are getting more than 2 volts above base voltage, most likely your alternator is over-charging the battery or the battery is faulty. Other potential problems are a faulty voltage regulator or a problem in the charging system wiring.
Is the alternator at the heart of the charging system?
Dan Ferrell writes about do-it-yourself car maintenance and repair. He has certifications in automation and control technology. The alternator is at the heart of the charging system of your vehicle. Alternator problems and charging system problems can affect your vehicle in different ways.
How to know if your alternator is working properly?
1 Check the drive belt or serpentine belt. Look for signs of wear or damage like cuts, shiny spots or missing chunks under the belt. 2 Also, check the belt tensioner for proper operation and damage. It should rotate freely. 3 Make sure the alternator is properly mounted. 4 Check the alternator for noises.
Is it safe to turn on heated windshield alternator?
But don’t turn on the heated windshield if your vehicle has one; alternator voltage may increase to over 100V and this can be unsafe. Take a voltage reading across the battery posts. Your reading should be at least 0.5 volts above base voltage for your system to keep up with electrical system demands.
First, you need to remove the alternator from your car, as outlined in the above process. Then you’ll need to remove its plastic cover and check that the bearing is ok. It needs to be snug. If it’s at all loose or jams, then it needs to be replaced. Next, remove the resistors to access and remove the rectifier.
Do you need to remove drive belt to remove alternator?
The alternator is powered by the car’s drive belt, and the belt usually needs to be removed to remove the alternator. One of the pulleys that the belt is wrapped around is the tensioner, which keeps the belt tight. To remove the belt, one must relieve the belt’s tension.
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.
How many bolts do you need to replace an alternator?
Our model required the removal of three bolts: one at the front and two at the rear. With the old alternator in your hand you’re half way home. You’ll likely find getting the new one back in goes much faster since you already know what size the bolt heads are and where everything is.
How do you remove an alternator?
Removing the Old Alternator Relieve tension on the belt with the auto-tensioner (if equipped). Loosen the bolts on the alternator if there is no auto-tensioner. Inspect the serpentine belt for damage. Remove the alternator from the engine bay. Compare the new alternator to the old one.
How do you change an alternator belt?
How to Replace Alternator Belt in 5 Steps Step 1 – Check the Alternator Belt Step 2 – Release the Tension Step 3 – Get Familiar with the Alternator Belt Step 4 – Install the New Belt Step 5 – Make the Final Check
How do you install an alternator?
How to Install an Alternator in 10 Steps Step1 – Disconnect the Negative Terminal of the Vehicle’s Battery Step 2 – Loosen the Two Bolts that Hold the Alternator Step 3 – Rotate the Alternator Step 4 – Remove the Electrical Wires Step 5 – Adjust the Bolts Step 6 – Install the Belt Step 7 – Position the Alternator Step 8 – Move the Vise Grip
Do you have to loosen alternator to remove V-belt?
If you do have a V-belt, then you must loosen the alternator before you can remove the belt. It’s the alternator that provides the tension for the belt in these cases, not a separate tensioning part as with the serpentine belt. You want to ensure a nice snug fit.
Can a cheater be used on an alternator?
If there is no transverse bolt, you can use a ‘cheater’ to hold the alternator in place while you tighten it into its correct position. Alternatively, a good assistant can help you keep the belt tight while you fasten the mounting bolts. Without the correct tension, you’re in danger of creating real problems.
Can a transverse bolt be used on an alternator?
Some alternators have a transverse bolt that will allow movement of the alternator on its bracket. This allows adjustment to the belt tension. If there is no transverse bolt, you can use a ‘cheater’ to hold the alternator in place while you tighten it into its correct position.
How do you remove a nut from an alternator?
Use a socket or wrench to remove the nut by turning it counterclockwise. After the nut has been removed grasp the main power cable and lift it from the alternator charge terminal. Locate the control and monitoring wiring harness connector. Grasp the dust boot and pull it back enough to access the connector safety clip.
Can a positive power cable be removed from an alternator?
Once you have the positive power cable removed from the alternator you can go ahead and start to remove the bolts connecting the alternator to your engine. You should also be able to remove these bolts with a basic socket set as most engine bay bolts are going to range from a 9 to 12.
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.
