98 Malibu Alternator issue

[d_goldsmith]

Originally I figured the battery was just toast, that was before I tried charging at all. I took the battery to schucks and they said that it was toast, I have a feeling they just saw that it was dead, and not necessarily that it wouldn't take a charge, and they just wanted me to buy the battery.

After putting in the new battery it ran fine for a while and then the battery light came on and it died like I described. I charged it and took the car to schucks to have them test the alternator and they said it wasn't putting out any charge, but I don't really trust them anymore.

The one that I took the pictures of is one that I got on eBay. I also have the one that is in the car, I wonder if somehow between the two I can make a working alternator for it, and I also hope that the alternator is the only problem.

[xeroinfinity]

d_goldsmith, if you start your car(w/ possibly bad alternator) and test the battery you should get about 14volts or more, if you do not then your alternator is toast.

IF you dont get an alternator that works(preferably new) then you are going to kill your new battery by burning out the cells inside.

IMO Why even mess with trying to "jerry rig" something, that never a good idea.
Thats Just my

[d_goldsmith]

I got the exact same alternator. Paid $175 for it. This is my brothers car and I need to get it running before March 6th because I have to leave for basic combat training (bootcamp).

I still can't figure out how to get the belt off. Someone said to use a 3/8 ratchet in the square on the pulley arm, but none of the four pulley's seem to have arms. There are four total. The one on the alternator and then three more. The belt runs around the alternator and two others, and the 4th pulley is on the outside of the belt, tensioning the belt in place I think. Andyone know how to get the belt off? I'm pretty sure that's all I need to do to put in the new alternator. Any adivse would be great and thanks for all the help I have already gotten also.

[wymi]

It's the belt tensioner arm down along side the passenger shock tower. You have to push very hard to get the tensioner to move to release the belt.

[wymi]

http://cgi.ebay.com/00-02-Chevrolet-...QQcmdZViewItem

Look at the picture in this auction. The tensioner is to the left of the tag hanging down, the silver metal braket to the left of the tag is pointing right at the tensioner you need to move.

[xeroinfinity]

Instead of it needing a 3/8 drive its an outty and needs a socket, probly 15mm .

In that pic its on the left

[wymi]

Originally Posted by xeroinfinity

Instead of it needing a 3/8 drive its an outty and needs a socket, probly 15mm .

In that pic its on the left

No, it's not a socket. Look at the silver arm that extends down, there's a square opening for a just the 3/8" drive part of the ratchet. I've had my alternator off twice and all you need is a long handle 3/8' ratchet to move that arm and release tension on the belt.

[d_goldsmith]

From looking at that picture, does it need to rotate clockwise or counter clockwise. I don't see how pushing on it is going to rotate it either direction? Maybe clockwise, but it would be a pain in the ass it seems like?

[steve_o]

I am looking at the picture and wymi is right on. The 3/8" square is at the bottom of the elongated "X" on the left almost off the photo.

Put a 3/8" square of a rachet or breaker bar and push it towards the firewall (away from the front bumper). The top of that "X" is the spring loaded tensioner.

I used a 3/8" breaker bar with a pipe slipped over the handle. That allowed me to extend it to reach down and shorten it to clear the firewall.

Not suggesting this exectly but it is what I had in the garage.

I do know Autozone rents a flat 3/8" tools to do this.

[d_goldsmith]

I'm an idiot. I used to do tech uspport where I had to deal with peoples really stupid mistakes like this. My brother told me it was a 3.1, and I didn't even check. It is a 2.4L I looked at the ebay pic and started comparing to the pulleys on mine and it wasn't matching up. I realized it had to be a different engine and looked at the intake and 2.4L right on it. Hopefully this doesn't discourage everyone from helping me

I have one visible belt on the passenger side of the motor. It comes in contact with 4 pulleys total. The alternator, and then 3 that are in a line below it.


Sorry for wasting your time and thanks for all the help I have already gotten.

[xeroinfinity]

Sorry I meant to say "some" 3.1s use the socket.

And Autozone sells rents the long thin tool thats best for these tight working areas, like $25 with some shallow sockets

AND I'm pretty sureit turns clockwise, that picture looks different because the alternator and ac are not on it. It will only push oneway, the other direction would pull the belt tighter.

Cant believe its taken 25 posts to get an alternator off

hope that helps!

[Negatoro]

Originally Posted by xeroinfinity

Cant believe its taken 25 posts to get an alternator off

I'm staying tuned..

opcorn:

..waiting for the suprise ending!

-Mark T.

[d_goldsmith]

Originally Posted by Negatoro

I'm staying tuned..

opcorn:

..waiting for the suprise ending!

-Mark T.

I already posted the suprise, but not quite the ending. It's a 2.4L. I was told it was a 3.1 by my brother (it's his car) and I never even checked until I noticed the engine block and pulleys weren't the same as the eBay picture I got of a 3.1. I looked at the intake and it is a 2.4 I'm sorry for wasting people's time. I have the correct alternator now though and just need to know how to get that belt loose so I can get the alternator off and put the new one in.

Thanks to anyone that can help and everyone that already tried.

[Negatoro]

Just a little sarcasm, sorry.

Try this.

The link is for a gm 2.2l belt changing tutorial.

Hopefully the illustration helps you.

-Mark T.

[d_goldsmith]

I'm still not sure how to loosen the tension on my belt? I think the idler pulley (the center pulley on the picture I put in above) might be it? It has a nut on it that is 1/2 or a bit smaller, and I'm thinking that maybe if I get a bar on a wrench that fits that nut, and push it toward the fire wall it might move that pulley toward the firewall and loosen the tension. But I'm afraid it will just undo the nut a bit and maybe break what ever is holding the pulley on (because there's a bunch of tension on it). I'm going to make a new thread since this one has so much confusion in it.