Alternator Swap

[DubWub]

My car's alternator died on my way home last night. Its sitting 20 miles from home in a Meijer parking lot... If I order the alternator from Autozone, they can have it tomorrow... Can I install it in the parking lot in a reasonable amount of time? Its only a couple bolts, so it can't be that hard. Thoughts?

1g Eclipse GS Auto.

 

[Cooper-97gst]

I would think so. I removed and installed the new one in a half hour. That was on my 98 gsx. Not sure how different it is from your gs

 

[Brandon Mau]

Yes you can install it in the parking lot. I would def. buy some wd40 or something of that nature to loosen the bolts up a little bit. It is tight fit down there with the exhaust headers but really not that bad of a job. Should take no more than 30-60 minutes. You just have to loosen the bolt on the alternator, and also the tensioner bolt. Once you get the tensioner bolt loosened you will have to push up on it might take a nice tab from a rubber mallet or a ball pin hammer just don't bend it by hitting it to hard. After that you can remove the lower bolt out takes a little bit of time due to space, I can't remember if it's a 12-14mm bolt so make sure you take more than one. 6 point sockets will be your best bet so you don;t strip anything. Good Luck

 

[DubWub]

Yes you can install it in the parking lot. I would def. buy some wd40 or something of that nature to loosen the bolts up a little bit. It is tight fit down there with the exhaust headers but really not that bad of a job. Should take no more than 30-60 minutes. You just have to loosen the bolt on the alternator, and also the tensioner bolt. Once you get the tensioner bolt loosened you will have to push up on it might take a nice tab from a rubber mallet or a ball pin hammer just don't bend it by hitting it to hard. After that you can remove the lower bolt out takes a little bit of time due to space, I can't remember if it's a 12-14mm bolt so make sure you take more than one. 6 point sockets will be your best bet so you don;t strip anything. Good Luck

Aight awesome. I ordered the alternator, it will be there tomorrow at 10 am. So I'll head up there round 9:30, get the old one off, drive up to AutoZone, pick it up and drive it home

Thanks for the quick How-To btw. That will save me some time

 

[Brandon Mau]

No problem glad I could give some assistance.