Alternator replacement is one of the car repairs that you can carry out yourself, without necessarily calling in a garage. Usually identified after an electronic diagnosis, it is an operation that is carried out in different stages.
Passing the belt
The alternator is a copper coil that surrounds a magnet and is used to give electricity to the engine and other components of the car through the battery. This can be air conditioning, heating or lights. During use, the alternator often fails to function properly and may need to be replaced.
The first step in replacing the alternator is to disconnect the battery cable and then determine the belt routing so that it can be easily replaced once the work is completed. It is also important to be able to locate the various electrical connections to avoid connection errors. It is only after these different steps that you can now remove the alternator belt. On vroomly.com, you will find early warning signs that your alternator is in poor condition.
Detachment of the old alternator
Once the electronic diagnosis has been carried out and the first step has been completed, the second step of this auto repair will consist of detaching the alternator that has become defective. To do this, it must be accessible by removing the elements such as the front wheel and the expansion tank that prevent access. Once access is free, you will have to :
slacken the alternator belt;
remove the belt;
detach the electrical terminals and disconnect the alternator fixing screws;
remove the faulty alternator through a pivot in its housing. If necessary, you can shake it out to make it easier to remove.
If possible, you can take pictures of the various connections so that you can easily remember them when you put the device back in place, incorporating the new alternator.
This is the place to point out that if the belt is worn out or in a condition that suggests it will soon be unusable, you might as well take the opportunity to change it. This is necessary because when the belt tears, the engine may be affected, or in the worst case, damaged.
Installing the new alternator
At this level, it will essentially be a question of installing the new alternator. This is the last stage of the alternator changeover. It will consist of installing the new components and then harmonizing the belt tension. Only after this belt tension adjustment can you now connect the new alternator. For greater efficiency, you will have to tighten the alternator fastening screws and replace all the previously dismantled parts. To finish this last step of the alternator change, reconnect the battery. From this moment on, you can consider the change is done. To be sure of this, you can view the photos taken initially. Finally, start your vehicle to confirm that everything is working normally.