How do you replace the alternator on a 1998 Chevy Malibu 4 cylinder?

Answer 1

I did change it my self. It is highly recommended that a serpentine belt tool is borrowed from the local auto parts store. First remove the negative cable from the battery. Next remove the nut holding the ground wire on the alternator itself. This will expose the plug underneath the alternator. Unplug it. Use a 13mm wrench head which should come with the serpentine belt tool and place it on the nut on the tension pulley. Make sure you look at the belt so that you will know how to reinstall. Release tension and remove the belt. The alternator is held in place by 3 15mm bolts. One requires a deep socket to remove and is the most obvious of the three. The second is just to it's right and requires a lenghty extension as it is bolted fairly low. The final bolt is underneath the alternator and must be located by feel. Once these are free, the alternator can be removed. The new alternator can be installed by reversing these directions.