What is the "trick" to getting the alternator out?

[pnthr30]

Just to preface, I am working on a 97 grand caravan.....

I admit, I am new at this DIY thing, but I am having a heck of a time trying to get my alternator out! I was able to get it unscrewed (PITA), the belt is off, but the alternator is still stuck on the bottom (where the bottom screw was). I can swivel the alternator front to back, but I cannot pull it up to free it up.........not to mention the fact that even if I were able to "free" it up, I don't think I have enough room to slide it out. What do I need to take out/off to get this bad boy out of there? I have the top part of the bracket off (needed to do that to reach the back of the bottom mounting screw and hold it from spinning). Other than that, I didn't really take off any other parts. What needs to come out/off for me to gain enough room to get the alternator out? I have heard that the wiper module needs to come out. Anything else? What is the secret here?

Thanks a lot!

Also, going one step further, how hard it is to get a new one put back in, the belt back on, and the tension correct?

[ryzer]

allright there is two ways of doing it one you can undo the motor mount on the passenger side there should be a bolt that goes through it and onw that either goes in from under neath or from up top put a jack underneath the motor be for you do that lower the motor and take out the alt , or you take the wiper motor assembley of if you dont have a jack its fairly simple take wiper off, 6 screw along the middle, 4 nuts along the front pull plastic cover off and washer hose conncted to it then there is 4 10mm nuts along the top and i believe it is 6 or 8 13mm bolts that goe into fire wall, disconnect wiper motor wire harness and 2 drain tubes underneath and the washer hose and remove and then take out alternator, usually they are alittle sticky in the mount so just you srewdriver and gently pry out, alt has automatic tensioner on it so shouldnt have to worry good luck

[pnthr30]

Thanks a lot for the help/suggestion. I ended up going at it from the top (taking the wiper assembly off). You were right, the alternator was wedged in place a bit, and needed to be "tapped" to get unstuck. I also needed to take the cover off to allow for enough room to jimmy the alternator out. I also put a new belt on, since I was in there anyways. I did this from underneath (removing the splash guard) - and it was relatively easy (15MM box wrench around the tensioner, pull it forward, and slip the belt around the idler).

Thanks again for your help.