So last week my engine starts feeling a little sluggish and then *boom* both my brake light and my battery light come on. I search the .org (which I must say, becoming a member here has really been a good one-time investment) and the answer to my question as to what’s wrong comes back almost unanimously as: it’s the alternator.

Even though, the next morning when I start the car and see that none of the trouble lights are on – I says to myself – oh well, the car’s got 121K on it, changing the alternator now (even though I’m not stuck with a dead car on some rural road in the middle of nowhere) just might be a good idea.

Alternators are expensive – let me just leave it at that. So I leave Autozone a little poorer but confident that in the long run, I’m saving myself a buttload of money.

I start working on the car at 5:30 PM. Following the instructions of others here I’ve got the damn thing out by 8:00. The biggest pain (other than just wrestling the alternator from it’s mount where it’s lived happily – lo – these many years)? Getting the splash shroud off. Too many Midwestern winters have turned the clips and bolts into solid chunks of simple rust.

I take a 10 minute break and drink some water to celebrate, sheeeeeeeyat – I’m better than half way through, right?

Well, I only dropped the new alternator (bouncing it off the free hanging air conditioner compressor and then onto the ground) once while putting it in. The only point where I lost it mentally was at around 9:00. I just couldn’t seem to get the 4 bolts needed for the a/c pump lined up correctly – getting up from underneath the car and kicking crap around my garage screaming every single swear word I’d ever heard before apparently was what was needed because I finally got that sucker back in and the belt back on.

At this point you’re probably saying to yourself: “Dude, you should have changed the belt too.” To which I’ll reply: “Dude – shut up. I know.”

So – it started up fine and by the time I took it for a quick test drive and had all my tools put away, it was 10:30. I couldn’t believe the whole thing took 5 hours. I mean; I’m not super talented at wrenching – but I’ve never really considered myself lame – and this is the first time I’ve ever changed out an alternator – so to be honest – I don’t know what to think…

One question, I’m pretty sure it’s time for brakes, and if I do them, I’m going to do all them (all 4 sets of pads and rotors) – what I’m struggling with now is: Should I pay to have someone else do the work? Changing out that freaking alternator was root canal – I don’t know if I’m ready to take on something like that again anytime soon.

 

Brakes are quite easy to change as long as you have a beefy sledge to knock the rotors out. Funny tale. Don't sweat it, man...if you are one to get easily frustrated, then you will more than likley be equally as frustrated changing the brakes.

But knowing that I am not having some schmoe change my brakes and saving $300 is satisfaction well enough for me.

 

first experience is a learning one. second and third time around youll do it in 30 min to an hour. thats how long it took me to do mine.

 

Haha maybe 5 hours is a little longer than average, but so what. If that was your first time changing one out, it'll take half that long the next time. Plus at least as expensive as an alternator may be you didn't spend twice the money to have the dealership install it. So given the circumstances you're +1.

As for the brakes, I've always done them myself. I think they really really rip you on install at most places, they can be done for cheap yourself. If you feel up to it, just give yourself a big block of time in case you end up getting pissed and needing a swearing break lol.

Good luck!

 

it took me an hour to take it off then go exchange the core and come back put it on,,, the first time may have taken 2 hours to do the same thing due to not knowing where to start 'no chilton or haynes'

 

It took me 2.5 hours on a lift with air tools, so dont feel too bad. The alty's are a bish on the Maxima.

 

the first time i did my brakes all around pads and rotors, it took me a whole day...because of laziness and chilling at the same time too LOL, now, no problem. I can re-do all of that in 2 hrs. I paid $200 on all the parts. The garage wanted $500 for just the front. Think about it

 

I wouldn't let your frustration on this get you down on other jobs. It DID feel good after you got it all together though didn't it?

The brakes will just take alittle time, not much difficulty. Remember to bleed them.

 

It's best to take your time when you are doing things for the first time. Main thing is you saved money by doing it yourself and you will have much more confidence when doing the brakes.

 

Hey im changin my alternator as we speak and i cant get the 2nd bolt holding the alternator in off at all.

Is there some way to get it off easier than what im trying? currently im reaching up from the bottom of the car with my socket wrench with a 14mm socket and i cant budge this thing...

Any help willl be greatly appreciated.

 

ChefRaekwon - You should try soaking it in penetrating fluid. Be liberal with it. If that doesnt work, another trick is to tighten the bolt just a tiny bit, then loosen it a tiny bit, then tighten then loosen it the rest of the way off.

 

Don't feel bad about taking time and doing something that will save you money, except for the time I went through 3 C clamps. The brakes are easy if you have the tools to do the rear brake calipers and c-clamps for the front. Saving money is the key in doing it yourself. The money that may have gone to labor in doing your brake can actually get you a stillen lip or even more.

 

Dude, my wife knows very little about cars. She was out of town last summer in Houston when the alternator went out on her 98 GLE. She was able to do it in 3.5 hours by herself including the time to go get the new one. Also, (and this pissed me off) she was under her car while using the stock scissor jack...on a gravel driveway! She got it done with no problems. I was so proud of her. I never though my 5' 115lb little wifey would have the strength to do it.

 

3 hours first time, 1 hour 2nd time. brake are easy but you will need a special tool for the rear..5 dollars at your local autozone. i can do both front brakes in 30 minutes...make sure you buy caliper grease and clean the slides well.

 

The first time I did one it took me probably 3 hours, only to find out the reman was JUNK, so I had to do it again right away! I also removed the electric fans, per order of the hayne's, which is a pointless waste of time. I'd say the 4th gen max has one of the hardest to replace alternators EVER!!

 

DUDE! You're killing me!

To the other poster battling with the sticky bolt - I sprayed on a lot of "Kroil" brand penetrating oil, and still had to use a big hammer's handle to smash down on a the box wrench befor those babies decided to make the creeking noise.

 

Yeah that's the hardest bolt to get to. What a feeling though when it finally does break loose.
So hows the Max running now? Have you had to go back and tighten the belt any? Sometimes the cheaper belts will stretch a bit.

 

My brother and I changed mine on the side of a highway in under 30 minutes? That count?

Seriously though... had the alternator go on me around Charlottesville, VA on I64E coming home from my brother's graduation at JMU (2004, I graduated 2001). Thankfully my parents hadn't left Harrisonburg and were able to pick up an Alternator for me at Advance and bring it along... took longer waiting for them (hour and a half) than it did to change the alternator out.

I was sitting on the shoulder of an offramp. Jacked up the car, took off the lower plastics, took off the belt, dropped the alt, reinstalled, reinstall belt, tensioned, started, all good, put back plastics and put it on the ground... then grabbed some grub at BK. Took maybe 30 minutes...

 

yes, this is good advice. do not be like me and spend close to an hour with a needle nose vice grip trying to turn the d@mn things by hand, only to have the pliers slip and your knuckles go flying into one of the many sharp rusty objects in the wheel well area... my hands are still healing 2 weeks later.

also... be careful not to tear the rubber seal around the piston as you are turning it. if the seal binds and begins to twist binds, loosen it up first by pulling it out away from the piston and lube it with some brake fluid.

also... get your self a hand pump brake bleeder and do a full brake fluid flush. brake fluid should be changed out every few years to prevent corosion.

also... Nissan now offers a new pad retainer spring that can be retrofitted into the existing brake caliper torque member. the new spring actively pushes the pads away from the rotor in the absence of pedal pressure. the original style did not, and you needed shims and brake quiet goop to keep them from clunking around and squeeking. at $20 per axle (4 springs) they are a bit of a rip off, but you might consider it if you go with OEM pads (that do not come with new shims). i think most aftermarket pads include new shims.

also... to get the rotors off there are two bolt holes that you screw bolts into to break it free from the hub. the bolt sizes are in the stickies.

 

Props for actually doing it yourself. There are a lot of people who are too intimidated to try it themselves. Doesn't really matter how long it took you.

If you can do the alternator, you can do the brakes.

 

Had a similiar experience trying to replace the freakin rear valve cover gasket. 2 hours into it with every wire in the car dangling off the side, coolant lines leaking everywhere and a bunch of bolts lying on the ground, I gave up after I couldn't get the intake manifold off. I got the four bots on top and the 2 sneaky ones in the back, but the sucker would not come off. I think it was still hooked somewhere where the TB used to be... but I couldn't see a thing. But this time I was running out of time and had to hurry to put it all back together.... which was another chore when I missed connecting one of the vacuum lines and a didn't push in a coil wire all the way.

 

Did you remove the two bolts connecting the egr? It wont come off without removing those.

 

Ive had to change my alternator 2 times so far.. each time it takes me about 45 minutes give or take 5... Add another 10 minutes if you have those splash shields on there.. i just leave mine off since im always under there working on something anyway. With the splash sheilds... lets say 1 hour total.

Id say if you could do it the second time around in 1.5-2 hours youd be doing fine.

I've done my own brakes.. But i had to get my rotors turned, and all in all that took about 1 hour per wheel.. i cleaned up the calipers also, regreased, and cleaned the pistons before putting them back on.

 

Use PB Blaster, That works best.

 

at least you didnt pay some shop to gouge you for your money. I think thats worth something.