What's up ya'll. I'm pretty sure my alternator died on my car last night, all the lights went out and my battery gauge was reading low. Gonna get one on monday and wanna do it myself...anybody changed theres before? Is it pretty easy? Looks like just loosen the belt, loosen the 6 bolts, take it off and put the new one on. How hard is to loosen the belt? Any tips would be much appreciated. Thanx in advance.

 

Getting the belt off is easy.All you have to do is use a 1/2 in. breaker bar or ratchet and put it in the hole in the tensioner and release the tension.If you run into any problems just ask.

 

ok thanx, can i get to the spot to release the tenisioner from the top or bottom of the car?

 

Get it from the top. It's the tensioner. It's more to the right side of the engine. Are you sure it's the alternator? You can change it on our cars in 15 minutes. It's real easy. Don't forget to disconnect your negative battery terminal first. Then the power on the top backside of the alternator. Then the 3 bolts on top. I think that 2 of them are 10 mm and1 is an 8mm. Then take out the two bolts on the bottom. I think those were 13mm. Make sure you have a diagram of your serp belt routing on your overflow container. If not, draw it yourself before you take the belt off.

 

wow thanx for the help man. Yeah i'm pretty sure its the alternator...i mean, my battery gauge has been flip flopping back and forth between over half way and under half way for the past week, causing my lights to dim at night, and actually kinda made my car run a little bit cooler when it was below half way. Last night it just slowly died down on me, all my lights went out slowly and i barely made it into a parking lot...the ABS light came on and it died. I did manage to crank it today, but i haven't moved it, i'm gonna wait until tomorrow and i'm hoping i don't have to call a tow truck. Sounds like the alternator right? if not what else?

 

If it was dying while driving it's usually your alternator. Just be to safe charge up your battery and try that. Alternators are expensive. I just bought one for my car. I think that Advance Auto can test your alternator for you. Check with them, too, before you go buy one.

 

definetly take it out and bring it to auto zone and have it tested