getting alternator out of engine compartment

I have a 2000 Geo Metro. I am running into trouble getting the alternator out of the engine compartment. It is physically disconnected but is to large to get out. I removed the bracket that holds it in place. I have turned the steering wheel so that the CV boot is extended and it just does not make it. There is a rubber item on the tie rod, I have been told that it is to eliminate shimmy.



I have an older 1996 model and the rubber thing on the tie rod was able to slide and I could get the alternator out of that engine.



Is there an easier way or do I have to move this rubber thing? Any suggestions on moving it? On each side of it are metal rings. I was thinking about cutting them.



Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Try raising the side of the car so that the suspension extends to full travel. This will angle the axle down and may give you enough room. I did this on my Civic.

Thanks, I am stuck with the car jack it came with and I already have it jacked up to get my fat butt under it.

Ryland

I hope you're not actually under your car with it supported by the crappy tire changing jack. Are you using jack stands? Otherwise we may not hear from Ryland1 again!

I have a '96 w/o A/C and I was able to take the alternator out from above without too much trouble. The bolts holding the plastic shield broke, but other than that, no major problems.

I do have a jack stand also. Very glad I have it. :-)

so I went home last night and using my jack stand and cinder blocks under my jack I was able to raise the car higher. That did not help much. Twisting the rubber item that was in the way, it began to move. Excited at this point, I move the rubber thing out of the way. The altenator makes it past the CV boot and tie rod spot. Only to become stuck again. Not stuck between catalyst converter / tie rod / frame supports. Oh my. So at this point I think I need to drop the exhaust system off of the engine block.

Ryland
What size motor do you have?
Unbe

I also had this a few months ago - had to replace the alternator on my 2000 Metro (1.3L). I got it out by removing the exhaust although it is still a bit of a struggle - just about squeezes past. The manuals are not much help as they do not really tell you what you have to remove to get it out. Good luck!

I can do an alternator in about 20 minutes. C'mon guys, just take the air intake piping off, and you have a clear shot at it :) Don't even need to get under the car.

Wonder how you managed that - as I recall that was the first and obvious thing to try and there was no way I could get it out of the gap regardless of the orientation of the alternator. Either we are missing something or there is a difference in the design between the car you worked on and ours - unless you also worked on a 2000 1.3L in which case maybe we are just dumb :grinyes:

Double checked why I could not get it out that way. In my car there are 2 obstructions between the intake and the alternator preventing removal. One is the Low side AC line (metal pipe) and there is also a wiring harness to the right of that. They sit exactly between the alternator and the intake piping. If the AC was not there it may have been possible.

Ahh, mine's a 92' vert with the 1.3L DOHC motor. But, I don't have A/C. Mine slides right out after I remove the top alternator bracket from the intake manifold. Perhaps taking the water pump pulley off would help too.

Double checked why I could not get it out that way. In my car there are 2 obstructions between the intake and the alternator preventing removal. One is the Low side AC line (metal pipe) and there is also a wiring harness to the right of that. They sit exactly between the alternator and the intake piping. If the AC was not there it may have been possible.

As a suggestion that you might try, I had to move my AC line to put in a cold air intake. If you losen the nut for the AC line at the firewall just a little bit it should become possible to turn the line and rotate it out of the way. Don't know if this is enough but it may be worth a try.

Jon

Ryland you have any luck on getting it out? im also trying to replace mine...i took the air filter off and moved some hoses out of the way, hte only thing that is really preventing me from pulling it out is that huge bundle of wires...i dont know how to get around that(i have pictures for anyone who would like a look) as far as pulling it through the bottom goes i couldnt see anyway to do that with mine..let me know if you figure it out, im getting angry and just going to take it to the garage next week i think...


this car has been more pain then any other car i have owned...all the parts for it have been extremely expensive compared to what i paid for other cars--tie rod ends 110$ a piece, alternator 130$ air filter 30$--but i guess thats all besides the point...


let me know if you get your alternator out and how you did it!

I suggest you put your jack under your engine, take the weight off the right motor mount. Remove the mount through bolt. Using a pry bar against the mount, pry the engine to the left. I bet you can get another inch out of it that way. Pull the alternator up and out along the strut mount.

I've had the alternator off of mine twice in the past two years. It's a 1996 with a 1.3L 4 cyl. I get it out through the top. The metal A/C line is in the way on one side (closest to the fender), and a couple of small rigid metal pipes on the intake manifold are in the way on the other side (closest to the engine). It looks like some kind of metal vacuum line. There is one screw and one nut on a stud holding the small rigid pipes in place. I take out the screw and the nut, push the metal vacuum lines over, and then the alternator barely squeezes out. I hope that helps. It's hard to describe in words without pointing at it.