How do you replace the alternator on a 1995 Geo Prism?

Answer 1

See Figure 4

1. Disconnect the negative battery terminal from the battery.

Failure to disconnect the negative cable may result in injury from the positive battery lead at the alternator and may short the alternator and regulator during the removal process.

1. Loosen the pivot bolt and the adjusting lock bolt.
2. Remove the drive belt.
3. Remove the alternator connector from the back of the alternator.
4. Remove the 1 nut and alternator wire.
5. Remove the 2 clips and the wire harness.
6. Remove the 2 bolts and 1 nut, and remove the alternator from the mounting bracket.

To install:

1. Place the alternator in its brackets and install the mounting bolts. Do not tighten them yet.
2. Slip the belt back over the pulley. Pull outwards on the unit and adjust the belt tension. Tighten the mounting and adjusting bolts. Tighten the generator pivot mounting bolt to 26 ft. lbs. (35 Nm) and the adjusting lock bolt to 17 ft. lbs. (23 Nm).
3. Install the electrical leads and the negative battery cable.

Fig. 4: Alternator mounting - 1993 all models

Well...The answer and reply to the answer below do not take into account the fact that the bottom bolt is -not- reachable from beneath the car. A crescent wrench from the top, in the incredibly tiny space, is the only way I could find to get to it; however, the tiny space also limited lateral movement, which meant that (had I chosen to continue) I would have been standing there making little 1/8 turns all day. Your best bet is to buy the alternator for it, take it to a mechanic you trust, and ask him if he can take the 20 minutes or so (air tools are a blessing) to change it for you. Labor will be cost effective if he will agree that it won't take long to ONLY replace the alternator, and it will be done right.

As far as metric or SAE goes, I found that SAE seemed to be a tighter fit. Keep the metrics handy if you find that it's a little too hard to get around the bolt.

Reply to theThis information helped me change my Geo Prism alternator. I might add that remember to have aset of metric sockets and box wrenches. The work space around the alternator is very confined. The bolt directly under the alternator is nearly impossible to see from above. Use a box end wrench to loosen this bolt. Thebolt threads into the belt/alternator tightening mechanism. The third bolt can barely be seen from above in front . This bolt can beloosened but do not remove it. This tightening bolt uses a metric socket and since it is right against the radiator be careful not to cut up your hands. Replacing the bottom bolt is tricky and I improvised using a piece of tape to hold in place the tightening nut the bolt threads into. Do not mount the to bolt until attaching the bottom bolt loosely!! Lat step is tighteniing the top bolt after tightening the alternator belt. I recheck all three bolts last and reconnect the electrical. Thanks to Mike I was able today June 12 install my new alternator. I'm 62 on a fixed income and a rusty mechanic whosaved about $75 or more in labor..Alternator at Napa parts store cost $140.00 including sales tax Thanks again!!

You un-hook negative battery terminal first. Remove top bolt, it won't come out all the way, but will be out for enough to pull out unit later. You will need to un-hook the two electrical leads attached to the unit on the right, pull them out of the way. Then under the alternator (bottom bolt), is a bolt that you loosen, easier from underneath the car to see it and loosen it. One more bolt to loosen, the adjusting screw. Loosen that quite a bit to move the alternator so you can remove the belt. Then make sure the bottom bolt holding the unit in is out completely, and the unit should come out with a little work. Might need to tap on the top with a hammer lightly to loosen it. When it is out, you should be able to see how to install the new one easily, buy an alternator with a lifetime warrenty, as mine went bad a couple of times already. So three wires to disconnect. And three bolts, but only one needs to be out completely to remove the unit. . Mike