alternator swap

my gf's 97' sephia's alternator died and i need to swap it out. i was just wondering if it is something i can just take off and put back on or are there any specific things that i need to know. novice diy. but never did worked on this car.

Okay, here's where you learn from my mistake. the alternator is easy as pie to loosen and get free. Getting out of the engine compartment however is a trick in its own. You have to jack up the car, remove the bolts holding the entire front drive axle (wheels and all) and use another jack to lower that entire assembly so the alternator will come out. I had to get mine towed in for this a few years ago after spending countlesss hours trying to get it out.

My advice, take it to a garage with a lift and pay to get it done. Its a pain.

I had to do that on my old honda accord... Drove me nuts. Lousiest piece of engineering.

I'm so glad I looked here and read this.

Thanks Bros.

Okay, here's where you learn from my mistake. the alternator is easy as pie to loosen and get free. Getting out of the engine compartment however is a trick in its own. You have to jack up the car, remove the bolts holding the entire front drive axle (wheels and all) and use another jack to lower that entire assembly so the alternator will come out. I had to get mine towed in for this a few years ago after spending countlesss hours trying to get it out.

My advice, take it to a garage with a lift and pay to get it done. Its a pain.


Never had to do that. It can be removed without doing that. It is a tight squeeze but I have gotten them out.

Never had to do that. It can be removed without doing that. It is a tight squeeze but I have gotten them out.

I was under the impression that below a certain year, it what physically impossible to find an adequate sized opening... But maybe i'm thinking about hondas, which is the only place i've had that problem. (haven't had to do many repairs on the kia yet)

I was under the impression that below a certain year, it what physically impossible to find an adequate sized opening... But maybe i'm thinking about hondas, which is the only place i've had that problem. (haven't had to do many repairs on the kia yet)


hondas and late '90s monte carlos. its a lot easier to pull the axel first. But then you gotta worry about what we call "axel tramua". On some hondas the axel does not always go back in, and then it pops out when you test drive it and you gotta call the shop forman and ask him to tow you back to your bay... Bwahahahaha!!!

I'll let you know if I have to pull anything to get this '96 Kia alternator out

hondas and late '90s monte carlos. its a lot easier to pull the axel first. But then you gotta worry about what we call "axel tramua". On some hondas the axel does not always go back in, and then it pops out when you test drive it and you gotta call the shop forman and ask him to tow you back to your bay... Bwahahahaha!!!

I'll let you know if I have to pull anything to get this '96 Kia alternator out

If memory serves, didnt you have to pull the intake on the early honda accords to get the alternator out??

I have an 88 accord sitting in front of my garage that needs the alternator pulled. Dont feel much like pulling that axle so there it sits.:shakehead

I remember my first 3.4 alternator on a Monte Carlo. I also remember alot of cussing and this:banghead:

The earlyest cars I worked on were Toys so I'm not sure about that honda thing. On late 70's Toys you gotta pull the Exsaust Man to do the starter.

whats the scrap value on a 88 honda...about $72. You should part it out so someone else has to take it apart. LOL

Oh I had to pull the axel on the Kia. I almost got it out through the top by pulling the upper mounting bracket off and moving a few hoses ( I know it would work) But the bolt was gonna strip.

I was doing this in a driveway on jack stands, the axel was way easy to get out, However I spent two years pulling axels in a dealership, so it was easy for me.

have a bucket ready to catch Diff oil as it leaks out when you pull the axel.