How do you replace the alternator on a 2000 Oldsmobile Bravada?

Answer 1

This procedure is not very difficult. My teenage daughter has done it and I'm sure anyone with access to some basic tools can do it also. First, disconnect the positive terminal of the battery. Remove the serpentine belt. To do this, locate the belt tensioner (The tear drop looking thing just below the alternator pulley) and look for the 3/8 square hole at the bottom of the tensioner. Take a 3/8 breaker bar, or ratchet and insert it into the square hole on the tensioner. Apply pressure on your breaker bar to the left and notice the belt will loosen. Apply enough pressure until you can slide the belt off the idler pulley (located just below and to the right of the alternator). slowly release the spring tension and remove breaker bar. At this point, you should be able to remove the belt from the alternator pulley as well. At this point you can remove the wires, or if you prefer, remove the wires once the alternator is loose of it's bracket. This would give you a little more room to take loose the wires. Remove the three bolts from the alternator. One is located on the right, one on the left, and one on the top back of the alternator. The alternator should fit snug into it's bracket, so you may need to use a screwdriver to nudge it from the bracket. Remove the wires from the alternator if you have not done so already. Before heading to the parts store, rotate the idler pulley and the belt tensioner pulley to make sure that they rotate smoothly without noise. If they make noise or rotate roughly, replace them also. Take the alternator with you to the parts store to make sure you get the right one. Check that the electrical connections are the same and that they are located in the same position. I have had them off by 180 degrees at times. Make sure to keep the little electrical nuts or washers from your old alternator if the new alternator does not come with them. Make sure the pulley on the new alternator has the same number of groves as your old alternator. If needed, some parts stores will change the pulley for you if necessary. Follow the reverse procedure to install the new alternator. You just saved yourself a chunk of money