I have a 91 GXE and believe that the alternator is dead (new battery is slowing draining and can't start the car w/out a jump.) I was wondering if I should take it to dealer or is it a job I can handle? Also, what are the costs for the part and service? Any other suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Thanks guys,

This is probably the most informative site that I've been a member of!

John
jcanetta@hotmail.com

 

Get a repair manual (Clifton,Haynes) buy an alternator for $80 bucks rebuilt or $250 new from dealer. Grease up dem elbows and spare an hour or less. You will be very proud of yer self.

 

Your looking at approx. $700 parts and labor from a dealer. I don't know much about doing the job myself, but it looks like it would be a $@#!% to do it. Alternatively, you could probably find the alternator itself for a little less at a junk yard. I got the new one from the dealer myself, they guaruntee the work and warranty the part.

 

You can do it yourself, but if you don't have time, take it to any shop and let them do it. The alternator's like 80 bucks after the exchange. The labor shouldn't cost you much. I had mine done for $45 bucks. Call around and tell em you have the alternator and want them to put it on. Don't take it to the dealer. They will eat you.

 

Don't take it to a dealer. Do it yourslef, it's extremely easy. All you have to do is remove the splash shield underneath, remove all the drive belts, and then just take the bolts of that hold the alternator on, put the new alternator on, put some new belts on, install the splash shield and your off. I'd say an hour at the most. IF you take it to any mechanic they'll just screw you and get you for more stuff. If you're going to do it invest in a Haynes manual.

 

check out Bryan91SE's page for how-to

http://members.csinet.net/tisch/maxima/

 

not that hard. as everyone else said, they're about $80 w/ lifetime warranty from regular parts stores. exact same thing you'll get at a dealer. (FYI: the dealer sells REMANUFACTURED alternators. they DO NOT SELL NEW ones. Nobody does.)

blah blah. you can change it in the driveway with a jack, hand tools, and about 45 minutes.

 

I did mine in 20 minutes on the side of the highway. D-I-Y
e:mail me if you get stuck and I'll try to help.

 

Any difference in a VE? I gotta change my alternator this weekend.
Jae

 

no difference, I did mine last Halloween it's a piece of cake.

 

Anyone notice that the remanufactured altinators are noiser than the stock ones? I installed one last weekend and it almost sounds like a small supercharger, I belive it may be somehow related to this one not working too well because my battery dash light glows slightly.

 

It's not supposed to be noisy. If you see your battery light on, it means there's a problem with your charging system. Which is basically your alternator. The light will glow slightly till it gets a little brighter, then it dies. Get it replaced now to save yourself getting stuck later. It will probably stop charging your battery soon, so you'll have to get jumpstarted.

 

I replaced mine once on the side of the highway in the dark. Took me a little over 20 minutes. I fiddled with one of the bolts for like 10 minutes alone, so you shouldn't have any problems. If you are mechanically uninclined, buy a Chilton's or a FSM but for heaven's sake don't pay someone to do it you'll pay out the a$$...

 

I just had my alt go last week. I went to the local car repair shop and I paid $238.00 for the alt and installation and I had the car back in about 2 1/2 hrs.

 

Thats too much.

When you guys have to get something installed buy the part yourself and just pay for labor if you don't want to install it yourselves. When you let a mechanic buy a part for you they get it at a discount, lets say they pay $65 for the alternator, they'll charge you $125 for it. When you could have bought it for $80 on your own. Also they will collect the core charge if there is any. Shouldn't cost more than $60 labor, not even that much.

Buy parts yourself, have it installed.

 

Yea i have the same sound in my car,I kinda like the way it sounds when u step on the throttle. Before my alt completely went my abs light, handbrake light and battery all where on, when I took the engine above 3500 rpm the lights shut off but once the engine droped below 3500 rpm they came on again. I knew right then it was the alt

 

I had a remanufactured alternator installed. It revs up at about 1000-1100 rpms. At the beginning, it was annoying, especially in my parking garage...but I got used to it and it doesn't bother me anymore. It's definitely worth the diff in price to me! Good luck!

John

 

same problem here, except it was 4000rpm. thanx

Also, do I need to lift the car up on stands? nismo1989 says he did it on the side of the road so I assume I don't need to.
Jae

 

ok, I pulled it out, no problems. Left the car on the floor.
I called kragen and they said there's no alternator for DOHC. Weird. So I went to a smaller mom/pop store and he knew right away. $98+tax w/core...not bad. Lifetime warantee (I gotta ask what this includes).
Any tips on putting it back in? I'm only 120lb so it kinda dropped on me when I was taking it out.
Jae