Hey guys, my mom is convinced that her alternator needs replacing due to a coworker's idiotic diagnosis. Anyway, even though her car runs, and holds a charge, she wants it swapped. Admitting defeat, because there is no arguing with incompetence, I at least asked her to let me do the work, so she wouldn't be paying $100 in labor.

Anyway, I was wondering if anybody had directions or pictures for doing it. I know I can handle it, and I've done it on a Pontiac once before, but I haven't really worked on her car that much and am not at all familiar with her engine bay. What is the best place of attack? Any obstacles I should remove prior? And yeah, just anything you can think of that would help? Illustrated instructions are always appreciated :biggrin: Thanks in advance.

Instead of letting her spend the money, let her get it diagnosed by a REAL mechanic first.
You can take it into an Pepboys and they can even check it for you.

If you allow her to just replace it without proving to her there's nothing wrong, you're being just as silly as she is ;)

Honestly, this argument has been going on for the past 3 days with me saying the same thing. I offered to take it to Autozone on Saturday to get the battery recharged and the alternator checked out. Then I discovered on Sunday (after jumping it 2x because she wouldn't stop taking it out for short drives) that she had been leaving the parking light switch on, which drained the battery. Then, after she takes it on 2 more short trips and it continues to die on her, this prick tells her it is her alternator.

Obviously the issue is the battery never gets a chance to fully recharge because every time she jumps it, she drives it 1 or 2 miles with the CD player on, and then turns it off.

Believe me, we have argued it out over and over again since Sunday morning, and I just don't want to fight anymore. I'm seriously considering just taking the battery in for a recharge at Autozone and then just telling her that I swapped in a new alternator.

Because, while it is highly irrational, I'd rather just preserve the peace at this point. :dunno:

It doesn't take a few minutes to test the alternator and battery, if that's too much effort for you guys then perhaps you're better spending the money.