replacing teh alternator

does anyone know how to or how difficult it is to replace an alternator in a 1999 grand am se with a 4 cyl?

If you have a 2.4 there are three bolts that will need to be removed. Two on the top one on the bottom. Once you remove the belt and the bolts the alternator should be able to lift it up for better access. Then remove the wires from the back and then replace it in reverse order. Make sure to disconnect the positive battery cable before you start the job.

Welcome to the forum!!!

does anyone know if it could jsut be the belt they said i had a slippage in the belt and also how long can you go on a going bad alternator?

The slippage issue is one that is worth exploring. If the belt is slipping badly it can give you a battery light. Replace the belt first to see if the problem goes away. If the alternator was truly bad you should be experiencing some problems by now since the battery is only good for a couple of days without the alternator. Although a fully charged battery, if you don't use a lot of power accessories like the headlights or AC can last for several days.

i got the battery replaced friday adn have driven it since. The reason it went to the shop was because the ABS and the regular brake light were on....now since gettign the battery replaced it is now got teh service engine soon and trac off lights on. They want 450 to do the belt and the alternator is there a way that i can have someone test the alternator that might give me a reliable report on how the alternator is working. before i got a new battery teh original was still in it and i had lots of problems starting the car. IT woud turn over but never start on the first try and then it would work on the second try. Sometimes the trunk would pop open when i tried to start the car. I have no idea i just don't want to get screwed out of money i don't need to put into it...please help

Take the alternator off and go to autozone or advance autoparts and have the alternator checked. They will be able to tell you if it is bad. If it tests OK check all the connections and replace the belt since you have to take it off to remove the alternator. If you can take the alternator off then you can replace it too. A new alternator will cost less than $150 and a new belt probably less than $30. Quite a savings from the price you were quoted. After you get the alternator issue resolved take the car to autozone and have them scan the computer. They will tell you what you need to do to fix them. If I can be of any more help let me know.

yeah i am not so sure that i can take the alternator out myself i am not very mechanically inclined to do so. I have no idea i don't even change my own oil. What is the worst that could happen if i try?

I don't want to start something that i can't finisha nd have to pay to have it towed somewhere else. I was jsut wondering about whether the alternator was really bad was because i have drivne it everydays since friday for about 20 miles a day back and forth to the bank for work and besides the lights coming on i have seen no problems except when the car shifts gears there is a little bit of a skip. Will a garage cahrge me to check the alternator and is it worth it or will they most likely tell me it needs to be replaced. I know nobody around this area in massachusetts as i just moved here

Try autozone, I believe they can test alternators in the car, call them first make sure before you drive down there. Changing the alternator isn't that bad of a job, it just involves alot of wiggling around with the alternator to worm it out of the engine compartment. When I changed mine the first time (got a defective one) it took around 2 hours, but the second time it was about 45 minutes as I knew where the bolts were and which way to turn it to get it out.

thanks for all the help went to autozone today a very attractive young lady tested my alternator and says it is working fine adn that maybe i should think about replacing the belt just for precaution....then i asked her about the service engine soon light and trac off light being on and she tested taht and it cost me 12.99 for a air temp control sensor....thank god for autozone....last time i take my car to meineke

I'm not too impressed with meineke either as they told me that a quad gt didn't have dual exhaust from the factory so they would only put a single muffer on my car, and they wanted $120 in labor to change the exhaust donut which took me about 15 minutes to change.