0
Alternators
An alternator is an old term for electric generator that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy producing alternating current. Alternators are mainly used for recharging batteries and to power electrical loads of vehicles.
4,629 Questions
Replace an alternator belt on a 2002 Nissan sentra?
just did it today. Stay focused, sockets all mm, 14mm,12mm,8mm, both 1/4 inch drive, and 3/8 in drive. extensions, short ones, 14mm box wrench a long one, 12'' inches long at least for that one bolt on the alternator you can never reach, slim and long. long flat screwdriver, get both belts, serpentine and power steering/water pump belts. OK, now, jack up car on right front side after u loosen lug nuts , remove wheel, remove plastic cover hiding location of belts. purchase a new idler pulley, just the pulley. steering pump has both a locknut and an adjustment bolt. loosen lock nut, do not remove any nuts thru this entire job...... loosen adjustment bolt 1/4 to 1/2 inch out. loosen one bolt holding pump, now you can move it to loosen belt enough to remove the belt. this must be done first, so u can now proceed to remove the serpentine belt. Relax, stay focused, proceed. the 12mm socket came in handy , yes ? use the 8mm socket to loosen the adjustment bolt below/beside the alternator, wind it out about 3/4 inch or less, remember, do not remove any bolts, nuts, etc., just belts! If you want , you can cut the old belts off, but make sure u have purchased the correct belts, very important, I would have measured the existing length of belt. use a piece of wire, string, wrap around outside of belt, then, measure . this is critical because the different manufacturers must have different tapes, and they show (2) lengths, the outside length, and the length that rides the pulleys, inside length, this is the most important. so, don't short change yourself. be absolutely positive that you have purchased the correct belt. Loosen (2) bolts holding the alternator @ its pivot. (underneath), ok, both belts are off, yes? Now , remove and replace the idler pulley. install serpentine belt, you did make a diagram before you started, yes ? use common sense and patience. get that belt on, wiggle , move, alternator, to get that belt on . can be easy, but can have its moments... just do man, just get it on! Then , redo all you undid, reposition , tighten, adjust, and put that pump belt on, thats the piece of cake, reposition, tighten, adjust back the way it was , your done! start engine, make sure everything is good, acceptable, smooth, quiet, and the proper adjustments were made, so there is only 1/4 " inch deflection @ center of each belt , between the pulley centerlines, if two pulleys are 14 "inches apart, then your lucky number is seven! Halfway, 1/4 " inch deflect, no more, no less.
Where can you find a horse harness diagram?
Search 'horse harness parts diagram. You will find a few sites.
you could also check the ground on the starter sometimes they will get really greasy and hence no ground-no charge or try the voltage regulator or the solenoid
How much will it cost you to get your alternator replaced in a ford windstar?
I was told $337.95 from a dealer in eastern nc.
Does the 1999 Ford Taurus use the same alternator as the 2000?
If it's the same size engine, it is likely the alternator will work.
For confirmation, check with a local auto parts store - they can tell you a definite yes or no.
1996 Ford Taurus 3.0 alternator fit a 1998 Ford Taurus 3.0?
I'd be willing to be 1 dozen glazed doughnuts that these alternators ARE the same.
How much to change Mazda mpv alternator?
Had it done last week my mechanic charged 2.6 hrs labour @ $75 a hour so it cost me $195 in labout plus the part
Why does your stereo make a loud popping sound when you play cds in my 2004 gmc envoy?
Your speakers are probably messed up in some way, I would remove your door molding and take a look at them to see if they have any holes or tears in them. Also it could be a bad CD with scratches on it. Your best bet is to upgrade from your factory speakers to after market ones as well as your in-dash receiver to something after market. Have the speakers and the receiver installed by a professional, most places like Best-Buy, Circuit City, and Radio Shack can accommodate you for a decent fee.
Did ford have problems with the alternator voltage regulator on a Taurus 2002 wagon?
I have a 98 Taurus. I'm now on my fourth alternator. My problem was where ford put the automatic tensioner is where all the dirt and grime from the road kicks up. I had the last alternator rebuilt by a good auto electric guy and have not had a problem in over 5 years. Periodically I put a wrench(15mm) on the nut that attaches to the tensioner (with a cheater bar) and wiggle it back and forth. By the way I talked with and e-mailed Ford 3 times and they insist that there is no problem and they have not gotten any complaints.
Why did your battery light come on while you were driving?
Charging system problem. Normally this means there is a problem with the alternator.
Where is the alternator located on a 1989 Nissan Maxima?
the alternator is on the passanger side all the way on the bottom so the best way to see it is to jack the car up and look under it
When a car battery and alternator are good what can cause them to fail?
check for a fuse in the charging system
check if your alternator "exciter" wire voltage is good (this should be the positive wire INSIDE the pigtail plug )
if those check out fine you will need to check each wiring system in the vehicle for a "dead" short (positive wire touching the ground) remember on a vehicle the entire metal body of the vehicle is ground
How many amps does the best alternator for a Ford F-350 Super Duty put out?
135 amp single regular is 110. if you have two its 120 lower and 130 upper
no you can't
Instructions on replacing a Buick Regal alternator?
Disconnect the Regal battery. Remove the alternator belt. Disconnect the alternators wiring, then unbolt and remove the alternator. Reverse the procedures for installation.
The alternator generates power to run the car and charge the battery.
An alternator in a vehicle generates Alternate Current (AC) instead of Direct Current (DC) electricity to power the vehicle.
What Tools are needed to remove an alternator on a 2002 ford expedition?
1/2"breaker bar for belt tensioner,10mmsocket ,ratchet
Where is the external regulator for the alternator on a 77 dodge power wagon?
YOU MEAN THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR?
The voltage regulator is basically a gatekeeper that will shut off the flow of juice to your battery if the voltage goes above a certain level, usually 14.5 volts. This keeps your battery from getting overcharged and cooked.
They call it an external voltage regulator nowdays because newer alternators have them built into the alternator unit itself
What are some alternatives to writing traditional checks?
Most banks offer on-line banking services that will cut a check from your account to a payee. There's also money orders, gift/traveler cheques, Western Union, and hey, good ol'cash.
I am still finishing up swapping my alternator from my 1990 Honda CRX Si (driveway job w/ jack stands) and hands down the easiest way I was able to get the old alternator out was exactly as one of the other people said....
- Jack the car up
- Remover the drivers wheel
- Remove the 3 plastic bolts and the plastic piece
- Unplug all the wires/ground/harnesses attached to the alternator so it is ready to be removed
- Remove all the bolts holding the alternator in place
- Then the key REMOVE THE ALTERNATOR MOUNT piece. It is only the two bolts that you can access as soon as you get the alternator off the mount.
Once you get the mount bracket off the alternator just comes right out of the wheel well.
I just pulled off my alternator and wiggled it out the top of the engine by removing the cooling hose. :)
I have a 1990 CRX and I have been able to do this on 3 separate occations, including last week. Do not know if this works on the SI model, I have the standard model. Just try it once before you jack your car up and remove anything from the underbelly. Take the alternator off and wiggle it horizontaly to the passangers side of the engine compartment. Take off the engines cooling hose and block the holes (2 minutes at most). Now pull the alternator up the back left side of the engine block. It is that easy for me...wish you all the best.
Pull your driver's side wheel off and unscrew the plastic well pieces. You can just unscrew the 3 plastic bolts and rotate the plastic wheel well piece out of the way. This gives easier access to the alternator. Remove the alternator from the mounting bracket and let rest in the engine compartment while you remove the mounting bracket from the engine block. This will give just enough room to remove the alternator through the wheel well without removing the drive shaft. No need to go out the top and remove the master cylinder. And I know this works, I did it last night.
The easiest way is to remove the master cylinder, yeah you'll have to bleed your brake system but it's better than removing the axle.
you gotta hold your mouth right!you can 'cheat' the alternator out of the engine bay from the top. you have to unbolt the brake master cylinder from the booster and GENTLY move it away from the engine. If your car is an Si model there is a sensor on the intake manifold that you need to unplug for a little more clearance. Disconnect the alternator and work it out of the cavity, being very careful with your brake m/c and the sensor you unplugged. It's not impossible but it helps to have an extra set of hands when you are working the alternator out and back in. I've done this several times myself.Yes, take the front drivers side wheel off,you should see the alternator. Loosen it up so you can undo the belt take it off and unblot the alternator. DONT forget to unplug the wiring attachment form the harness and you need to take a bolt off that keeps the metal off a wire touching the alternator, after this you should be goodto put a new one in , basically follow those steps and you should have no problems puttin the new alternator in. GOOD LUCK!!!
wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No offends. i have never have to remove anything to get the alternator out. i have owned 7 crx in the past, hf, si. u name it. i have a 1.8 dohc non vtec 95 integra engine in the crx, and alternator pulley a 1/4inch away from the firewall. i still able to get it out. right now i driving a 90 Crx Si, with a JDM b16a (1.6 Dohc vtec same engine from a 1999 Honda civic Si) i still able to pull alternator from the bottom. well i guess may be it have the stock black plastic cover on the bottom. all u have to do un bolt it, un plug the green plug. un screw the cable, then take it out from the bottom, i can't remember over the axle from the front or the back(oh yeah! my axle are twice thicker then stock crx axle), i haven't change mine for awhile but u can get it out from the bottom. If u looking at it from the top, yeah look like it won't come out, but it will. good luck buddy.
------------------------------------------------------------
On my 1991 Honda CRX HF the **ONLY** way to get the alternator out is:
1.) Unmount alternator.
2.) Remove the two nuts holding the master cylinder to the brake power booster.
3.) DO NOT remove the brake lines from the brake master cylinder!! This is NOT required.
4.) With one hand, pull the master cylinder forward slightly and gently move the master cylinder just slightly to one side as you pull (with the other hand) the alternator past the gap you've opened up. You only need to move the master cylinder at most 1 inch to make room to pass the alternator. You don't have to move the master cylinder very much so removing the brake lines is not required.
---------------------------------------------------------------
How do you know if the alternator is bad?
Note - the above answer states that you should disconnect the negative cable from the battery. 'The correct answer is to remove the POSITIVE cable not the NEGATIVE.
constantly deadYour battery is there for starting purposes only- once you start the car, the alternator/generator takes over, and runs the cars electrical system (and recharges the battery)- if you start your car and then disconnect the battery, if your alternator is good, the car will keep running. bad alternator and the car will die. note that if your alternator is bad, your car can run off the battery for a while till the battery dies. sure sign of bad alternator = constantly dead battery. Additional Answers- start the car the remove positive battery terminal if car stalls or idle drops really low alternator is bad
- My battery indicator light came on, but the car would still start and the alternator belt was intact. I tested the alternator with a volt meter and sure enough it was bad.
- Battery continually going dead. Best thing to do is drive the car to an Auto Parts store and have the alternator load tested.
- If you do not have a voltage tester bring it to a repair shop and have them test the alternator. Puts out between 13-14 volts. If under 13 it is probably bad
- You can always start the vehicle and disconnect the battery. If it dies, your alternator is the problem. If not something else might be the problem.
- start or jump-start the vehicle. Remove jumper cables after it's started. Use a volt meter to find out the voltage at the battery. If it's below 13.5 VDC, the alternator is probably bad. Take it to an auto parts retailer and they'll usually test it for free.
How to know the alternator is bad on 2003 Chevy Malibu?
You can have it tested at a auto pars store like autoZone. Another symptom is that if it has power issues, its the alternator I have the 03 LS and it needs a new alternator.
Which battery lead do you disconnect to check your alternator?
You don't. Disconnecting a battery cable to "check" the alternator is not a good idea. The removal of a cable with the engine running cuases a voltage spike that can damage the computer system on the car. The proper way to check the alternator is with a volt meter.
