Sonata Alternator Removal...

[bleomoran1]

Need some help. Anybody replace a Sonata alternator? 4 cylinder automatic. The Chiltonlibrary.com free web site isn't up yet. It was a great site when I used it before. Any other free repair sites? Now. The Chilton Repair Manual says 1.6 hrs. I looked down at the alternator which sits between the passenger firewall, wheelwell and the water pump. May have to put the car on ramps to get to any bottom bolts. Haven't really looked at it yet. Raining today. Need help guys. Thanks.

[chuck_27]

it is easier to get at all the bolts with a ramp but you have to take the altinator up through to take it down through it is about a quater inch if that too tight so on the passenger wheel well you have to unhook the wire and hose brackets and on the edge of the motor and pull it up through i changed mine and never changed one before in my life and i did it in about an hour and a half

[johnnyt43]

There is a great factory tech website that you can get free info from for all Hyundai vehicles. The website is www.hmaservice.com just register for an account and you are on your way.

[dbacon]

I am trying to get the alternator out of my 2000 Sonata 2.4L 4 cyl, this is the only post that comes up on a search, and it doesn't help me. I have been going to hmaservice.com for some time, and it is a valuable reference, but it doesn't say how to wiggle the thing out of that "caged in" area it is trapped in. No room to go up, down, left, right, unless I remove something else! Options seem to be, intake manifold, RF axle and exhaust system, or the whole engine cradle.

Some references say to loosen the radiator, but the alternator is behind the engine, doesn't make sense, like they were referring to a '57 Chevy...

I thought I saw a hole big enough under the frame, behind the right front wheel, and I removed the oil filter for clearance, but no way.
There has to be a trick to this, can anybody tell me? Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[PlanetDude]

99 Sonata, 2.4 4 cyl, I did it...... The driveway where I was living was too soft to jack the car up, so I did it from above.....

How did I do it? I can`t remember. I know the alternator came out the top. I don`t remember how I pivoted/twisted/adjusted it to get it out.

I do know, that the power steering line that goes through there, on mine, the bracket is broken. I was able to take the line and relocate it a little.... I`m sure that helped me.

I hope this helps, folks...

Oh, by the way, I was cut and bruised up past my elbows... it`s a brutal job...

Ryan

[dbacon]

PlanetDude,

Thank you for responding. All these posts were so old, I had little hope that my request would be answered. And yes, that helps a lot. I expect to get bruised a lot, but it will be worth it, I love this car.

With mine, the cruise module is in the way, and if I move it, maybe I can duplicate your success, I will also find a way to get the PS hose to move, Your reply was the motivation I needed to try it. My try at getting it out past the oil filter was discouraging, but this is encouraging.

Tomorrow, I will fire up the garage heater and start removing things from the top. I will write again no later that the next day about my success and hopefully my gratitude to you, BUT IF YOU ARE TRICKING ME, ha ha just kidding, but it is like I need David Blain or Chris Angel...

[PlanetDude]

I assure you, it comes out the top..... I just don`t remember how.... I`d consider going out and trying it, but it`s not a job you want to do unless you have to.....

It may have been out the back, between the motor and the firewall.... on the passenger side... keep trying it at different angles, eventually it should it pop out....

I can`t remember if it came out pully up, pully down, pully sideways...... but it did come out, and the new one went in.

[dbacon]

Thanks for the encouragement. I really don't think the bottom is good, as there are axles, header pipes, a cat converter, and a steering rack all under it. Geeze, couldn't they spread some of that hardware out somewhere else?
Thanks again, I won't give up. Well. actually I can't, I have to fix it.

[PlanetDude]

Good luck.... it`s doable, it just sucks.

Good luck again.

[dbacon]

Trying to update My "signature", this is a test.
Hey! It worked! Now I gotta go remove the alternator...

[dbacon]

PlanetDude, you the Man! (Or "the Dude", however you want it...)

I got the alternator out the top. After removing the cruise, and unbolting the power steering hose bracket, it was simple!
I thank you large for the help, now I go fix it, I'll bet it's brushes..
I am back, brushes were fine, the slip rings were black, and the brushes had worn a groove in them.
I clamped the alternator next to my vise, which was holding a drill motor with a quickly made pulley. I spun the alternator with an "O" ring while I filed the slip rings, then used 400 grit, then 600 then some polishing compound, pretty sweet eh?
Now I assemble, and if it works, then you don't need an update.

Thanks again, PlanetDude, you came to my aid.

[PlanetDude]

You are quite welcome...... I told you it was doable...

Not fun, but doable..... I hope I never have to do it again.....

[dbacon]

Well, I am glad you told me the way to do it, had to do it again, as it didn't work. So I pulled it and took it to Murray's (O'Reilly's now). The only thing I couldn't check was the regulator. It looked pretty straightforward, but had two extra connections that looked like an input to the TCM, and an output from the TCM.
So it failed on the tester at the auto parts store, and they ordered me a new one $201 and lifetime warrantee.
I could have gotten a new regulator board at various places for $115 to $150, 3 month warrantee. Hmm which is the way to go, there, that didn't take long to figure out...
So I will post again after the unit comes in.

[dbacon]

Got the alternator in, I detailed it here:
http://hyundaiforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7200
And I thank PlanetDude for the help.


.

[PlanetDude]

You`re welcome.