How To Change Alternater In 1999 Nissan Frontier

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The vehicle'south alternator supplies ability to recharge the battery and operate its electronics. If your vehicle begins showing signs of reduced power like dimming headlights or interior lighting, you can have your alternator tested for free at most auto parts stores. If information technology can't produce enough current to keep your battery charged and car running, it volition demand to be rebuilt or replaced.

1. i

   Park the machine on an fifty-fifty, level surface. Any fourth dimension you plan to work on your vehicle, condom is paramount. Because you may need to jack the vehicle up, make sure it'southward parked on a surface that'southward suitable for the work. It should be evenly paved and flat.^[1]

   • Even if you don't have the jack the automobile up, it's easier to work on an even surface.
   • Ensure the vehicle is park, or has the parking brake engaged (if equipped with a standard transmission).

2. 2

   Disconnect the bombardment. Observe the right socket to loosen the bolt that keeps the cable on the negative terminal tight. It's the terminal of the battery with a visible (-) sign. One time it's loose, slide the cablevision off the final to disconnect the battery. Never work in the engine bay of a vehicle without kickoff disconnecting the battery for prophylactic.^[ii]

   • Working on the alternator without disconnecting the battery could consequence in getting shocked or damaging the vehicle.
   • You tin exit the positive cable fastened.

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3. 3

   Jack the vehicle up if necessary. Follow the serpentine or accessory belts to locate the alternator in your engine bay. Depending on the vehicle, it may exist on the top closest to you, or it may be on one of the sides and hard to access. If you can't hands admission information technology from the engine bay, y'all'll need to jack upwardly the vehicle.^[3]

   • Be sure the parking brake is on and the wheels are blocked before you jack it up.
   • Insert jack stands beneath the vehicle for safety once it's jacked up.

4. 4

   Remove the main power cable from the alternator. The main power cable volition be the thick cablevision attached to the alternator that runs from the bombardment. Depending on how much space you have in your specific vehicle, y'all may exist able to use a ratchet, but in some, y'all may merely be able to fit an open-ended wrench. Unscrew the bolt property it in identify and pull it from where information technology's connected.^[4]

   • The bolts will probable require standard sized sockets or wrenches in American made vehicles, and metric in most foreign applications.
   • The only other cable running to the alternator connects to a harness, so it volition be like shooting fish in a barrel to identify.
   • Set up the bolt aside someplace safe until you install the new alternator.

5. 5

   Release the rubber clip connecting the wiring harness. The just other wiring heading into the alternator is the command harness. Use your finger or a flat caput screwdriver to release the clip holding the harness together, then slide it apart.^[5]

   • Be conscientious if you use a screwdriver to go to difficult to accomplish clips then yous don't break the plastic.
   • Constrict the loose wire aside so it doesn't snag on the alternator when you remove it.

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1. one

   Relieve tension on the chugalug with the auto-tensioner (if equipped). Some vehicles use the alternator itself to utilize tension to the serpentine or accessory belt, but others utilize an motorcar tensioner pulley. Insert the foursquare drive from a breaker bar into the hole in the machine-tensioner pulley and utilize pressure in a clockwise management to salve tension on the belt.^[6]

   • You can tell if your vehicle uses an machine-tensioner past looking at the alternator mounting bracket: if the bolts can slide from side to side in the subclass, it does not have an automobile-tensioner.
   • You will need to slide the belt off the alternator pulley before you release the auto-tensioner.
   • In some cars, you might demand a friend to relieve the tension while you remove the belt.

2. 2

   Loosen the bolts on the alternator if there is no auto-tensioner. In cars without an automobile-tensioner pulley, y'all tin relieve the tension on the belt simply by loosening the ii bolts that secure the alternator to the engine. These will often crave a 14mm or ^ane⁄_two inch (1.3 cm) socket, though you may need to effort others.^[vii]

   • As you loosen the bolts, the alternator will slide in the subclass under the tension of the belt.
   • Yous may not need to remove the serpentine or accessory belt if it's not damaged.

3. 3

   Audit the serpentine chugalug for harm. Expect for signs of glossing or glazing (shinier portions) on the edges and underside of the belt. Inspect both the superlative and underside for signs of dandy too.

   • If you notice whatsoever of those issues, you'll need to supervene upon information technology.

4. iv

   Remove the alternator from the engine bay. With the belt pulled off of the alternator caster and the wires disconnected, the alternator should come up out freely.^[viii]

   • You may need to jerk the alternator around some things in order to remove it.
   • Keep track of how you worm the alternator out of the engine bay to assist squeeze the new ane in.

5. 5

   Compare the new alternator to the old one. Before installing the new alternator, ready information technology down on a table adjacent to the onetime one yous but removed. Make sure the mounting holes and wire connectors are in the aforementioned place and that the two parts are the same size.^[9]

   • Even if you provided specific information when purchasing the alternator, this step is important to make sure they provided y'all with the right part.
   • If they don't match, return the new alternator to the auto parts store to get the correct replacement.

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1. ane

   Slide the new alternator into place. You might accept to wiggle the alternator around to squeeze it back into place in a crowded engine bay. Exist sure to concur loose wires or the serpentine belt out of the mode as you lot become it into place.^[ten]

   • Be careful not to trap any wiring behind the alternator every bit you slide it into place.
   • Watch out for the serpentine chugalug as you slide the alternator into identify to be sure you don't damage information technology.

2. two

   Insert the mounting bolts. Slide the mounting bolts through the alternator and into the mounting bracket. Tighten them by manus until they're snug. In cars with an auto-tensioner pulley, you can completely tighten the bolts at this betoken, otherwise keep the bolts loose.^[11]

   • Yous'll need to tighten the belt using the alternator later if yous don't have an machine-tensioner.
   • Brand sure the bolts are snug plenty to hold the alternator in place, but loose enough to slide side to side in the bracket.

3. 3

   Run the chugalug over the new alternator caster. Either install the new belt or run the quondam belt dorsum through all of the appropriate pulleys. If you lot aren't sure how to properly route the belt, expect for a diagram on the trunk of the car within the engine bay to guide you. The belt will demand to become around any accessories it is supposed to power in your specific vehicle.^[12]

   • If there is no diagram stuck in the engine bay, you may besides be able to find the diagram in your vehicle possessor's manual.
   • You might also exist able to notice the diagram on the manufacturer's website.

4. 4

   Apply tension to the alternator with a pry bar if necessary. If your vehicle does not take an auto-tensioner caster, utilize pressure to the alternator using a large screwdriver or pry bar until the chugalug is tight. Place the pry bar betwixt the alternator and the engine, and push the alternator out, abroad from the engine.^[13]

   • Be careful non pinch or cutting whatever wires with the screwdriver or pry bar.
   • Y'all or a friend will need to continue applying pressure level until the bolts are tightened.

5. 5

   Tighten the bolts and the chugalug. With tension on the belt applied via the alternator and pry bar, use the appropriate socket and a ratchet to tighten the two mounting bolts up the residue of the way. This volition permit the alternator to go on the tension on the belt.^[14]

   • Make sure that the serpentine belt has less than an inch of play back and along once installed.
   • If the belt is a piddling loose, loosen the bolts and employ pressure again using the pry bar while you tighten them up.

6. half-dozen

   Connect the power cablevision and monitor harness. Reconnect the wire harness and insert the bolt that secures the main power cablevision to the alternator in the same order you removed them. They should install exactly as they were in the sometime alternator.^[15]

   • Brand sure the primary power cable is tightened firmly onto the new alternator.
   • Be sure you hear an aural "click" from the wiring harness to ensure it's seated snugly.

7. 7

   Reconnect the battery. With the new alternator in place, all you accept left to exercise is reconnect the negative lead to the battery. Make sure you lot tighten information technology firmly so it can't shake loose while driving.^[16]

   • If the battery is expressionless, you may demand to leap commencement it.
   • If the vehicle is jacked upwards, remove the jack stands and lower it.

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Add New Question

• Question

  What is a serpentine belt tool?

  

  Information technology's usually a long ratchet or "billow bar" used to loosen the bolt on the belt tensioner then that the serpentine belt becomes loose.

• Question

  How can I be sure that the alternator is the problem with my auto?

  

  If you aren't sure how to diagnose this problem yourself, you lot tin accept your car to the store and take them check your alternator (even if you exercise the repairs yourself).

• Question

  How do I change the alternator in a 1989 Cadillac El Dorado?

  

  Changing the alternator on almost cars is generally the same. Find the alternator (has to be continued to the serpentine chugalug), and so look up steps to replace it. The chief difference in cars is where the alternator is and how it's mounted.

See more answers

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Video

• Many auto parts houses will loan you lot the serpentine belt tool for a modest refundable eolith.

• Accept photos with your digital photographic camera as yous remove parts. This shows what came from where. It will as well make it easier to remember the sequence when yous put it dorsum together.

• If you lot have trouble finding the serpentine belt tensioner, use the drawing of the belt that is nigh likely located in the engine bay compartment.

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• When putting the old bolts dorsum onto the new alternator, do not tighten them down until all have been added.

• Always allow the engine to cool downwards before you brainstorm working near it to prevent burning yourself.

• Disconnect the negative bombardment cablevision before you lot work on whatsoever electrical parts in your vehicle to prevent shorting out the electrical system and damaging the electronics.

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About This Article

Article Summary Ten

To change an alternator, park the vehicle on an even, level surface, and disconnect the cable from the negative battery final. Locate the alternator, and jack up the vehicle if you can't easily access it. Utilize a wrench or a ratchet to remove the main power cablevision that runs from the battery to the alternator and release the safety clip connecting the wiring harness. Remove the car-tensioner or loosen the bolts on the alternator, then remove the old alternator and install the new one using the opposite process. Keep reading for more details on installing a new alternator!

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Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Change-an-Alternator

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