death to the alternator!!!!
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 45
death to the alternator!!!! please help
okay, so there are two parts to my problem. my alternator died two days ago, this happened dec.'00 so i am painfully familiar with the symptoms of alternator death. while removing the piece of **** one of the two bolts up top which were supporting it,BROKE
So, ?#1 is, how do i get this thing off now? i have 2 or 3 ideas, but i don't like 'em.
?#2 is, does anybody else have a recurring alternator problem? is 2 1/2 years a reasonable lifetime for this little peice of scrap???? else, WHAT'S KILLING THEM????
stock car 'cept for a new stereo/new tranny
my car was in a shop for an alignment fix 24 hours before she died. i was bad, i didnt' watch them, but it was an alignment job... they shouldn't be touching anything electrical. my next job on her was supposed to be the manifold studs to fix the exhaust leak.....
Step #1
It's hard for us to figure out which way is best to remove "your" broken bolts without actually seeing it. There's more than one way to skin a cat, as you are aware with the different thoughts runing thru your mind. The usual way consist of drilling out the broken bolt, but due to space limitations using a drill may not be possible.
Step #2
Alternators can and will die on you within a short period of time. Like I always say, buying alternators from the parts store is like rolling the dice. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you dont.
Step #3
When you say "stock car 'cept for a new stereo" if your stereo consists of high powered amps are you sure you aren't over powering your alternator? Everything has limits, even a alternator
Step #4
FYI from my understanding there's a difference between a "rebuilt" and "remanufactured" unit. Rebuilt being they just replaced the component that caused the unit to fail and reman being they changed all the major components in the unit regardless of it's condition to bring the unit back to a new manufacture like condition. Or visa versa. And of course the price might be different between the two. Maybe asking your parts clerk if he/she might be firmiliar and if this info is correct. This also applies to starters, etc.
Step #5
Welcome, hope your stay or visit is a pleasant one.
It's hard for us to figure out which way is best to remove "your" broken bolts without actually seeing it. There's more than one way to skin a cat, as you are aware with the different thoughts runing thru your mind. The usual way consist of drilling out the broken bolt, but due to space limitations using a drill may not be possible.
Step #2
Alternators can and will die on you within a short period of time. Like I always say, buying alternators from the parts store is like rolling the dice. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you dont.
Step #3
When you say "stock car 'cept for a new stereo" if your stereo consists of high powered amps are you sure you aren't over powering your alternator? Everything has limits, even a alternator
Step #4
FYI from my understanding there's a difference between a "rebuilt" and "remanufactured" unit. Rebuilt being they just replaced the component that caused the unit to fail and reman being they changed all the major components in the unit regardless of it's condition to bring the unit back to a new manufacture like condition. Or visa versa. And of course the price might be different between the two. Maybe asking your parts clerk if he/she might be firmiliar and if this info is correct. This also applies to starters, etc.
Step #5
Welcome, hope your stay or visit is a pleasant one.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 45
update... loosened the alternator peices, pried it, jiggled it, it's off now. now to get the broken bolt out...
re: #1, this broken bolt is jes 'bout flush w/the alternator mount on the wheelward side of the mount. just shy of 4 inches of clearance to work with, tricky getting a drinn in there... there seems to be 2 ways from here... either drill and drill until that thing doesn't exist anymore (ez-outs aren't working)and switch from 2 cap bolts to 1 long bolt/nut combo to hold it in place. or... remove the whole mount bracket, get some room to work with, and get creative from there.
re: #3, oops, new head unit i should say, no new speakers, no subs.
re: #4, well, i got the **** thing with a lifetime warranty, however the schuck's which i bought it from shut down and didn't share their records with anyone and now i can't find the receipt... grr
re: #5, thanks, i've been appreciating the experience and variety of possibilities with my baby from her sister cars, and oh yea, anytime jeff you got my # i just need to know where to go to pick it up.... thanks again
re: #1, this broken bolt is jes 'bout flush w/the alternator mount on the wheelward side of the mount. just shy of 4 inches of clearance to work with, tricky getting a drinn in there... there seems to be 2 ways from here... either drill and drill until that thing doesn't exist anymore (ez-outs aren't working)and switch from 2 cap bolts to 1 long bolt/nut combo to hold it in place. or... remove the whole mount bracket, get some room to work with, and get creative from there.
re: #3, oops, new head unit i should say, no new speakers, no subs.
re: #4, well, i got the **** thing with a lifetime warranty, however the schuck's which i bought it from shut down and didn't share their records with anyone and now i can't find the receipt... grr
re: #5, thanks, i've been appreciating the experience and variety of possibilities with my baby from her sister cars, and oh yea, anytime jeff you got my # i just need to know where to go to pick it up.... thanks again
the whole bracket will come off the engine.. that's the easiest way to do it from here.
unbolt the AC compressor (don't remove the lines!!) and just move it out of the way. then crawl under the car and you'll see which bolts to remve on the bracket. ig it off, then go to town on removing it. shouldn't be that hard at that point.
unbolt the AC compressor (don't remove the lines!!) and just move it out of the way. then crawl under the car and you'll see which bolts to remve on the bracket. ig it off, then go to town on removing it. shouldn't be that hard at that point.
Originally posted by Matt93SE
the whole bracket will come off the engine.. that's the easiest way to do it from here.
unbolt the AC compressor (don't remove the lines!!) and just move it out of the way. then crawl under the car and you'll see which bolts to remve on the bracket. ig it off, then go to town on removing it. shouldn't be that hard at that point.
the whole bracket will come off the engine.. that's the easiest way to do it from here.
unbolt the AC compressor (don't remove the lines!!) and just move it out of the way. then crawl under the car and you'll see which bolts to remve on the bracket. ig it off, then go to town on removing it. shouldn't be that hard at that point.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 45
the bracket's off now, but hte bolt is completely resistant to ex-outs, and excessive drilling to use a helicoil seems to be the remaining solution unless i can find a vg parts car in the NW to get another bracket.
that or drill and drill and drill all the way through and use one long bolt instead of two cap-ends... this is getting frustrating
that or drill and drill and drill all the way through and use one long bolt instead of two cap-ends... this is getting frustrating
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 45
i haven't given up yet, not by a long shot... my dad and i tried using a drill/ez out 1-2 while the bracket was still on (that was a mistake) angles and limited space made the hole at an odd angle, when i realized that, off came the a/c, tensor, & bracket itself.
i wish my digi worked... the bolt itself has been drilled quite a bit, it's actually et into the threads on the bracket in the lower left corner. we deepened the hole mebe a bit to much... hence ez-outs not working as of yet blowtorch, no. boiling water was going to be my first attempt when i got my daughter settled (having a 2 year old w/o a babysitter makes car repairs tricky)
i wish my digi worked... the bolt itself has been drilled quite a bit, it's actually et into the threads on the bracket in the lower left corner. we deepened the hole mebe a bit to much... hence ez-outs not working as of yet blowtorch, no. boiling water was going to be my first attempt when i got my daughter settled (having a 2 year old w/o a babysitter makes car repairs tricky)
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 187
Originally posted by Dielaughing
i haven't given up yet, not by a long shot... my dad and i tried using a drill/ez out 1-2 while the bracket was still on (that was a mistake) angles and limited space made the hole at an odd angle, when i realized that, off came the a/c, tensor, & bracket itself.
i wish my digi worked... the bolt itself has been drilled quite a bit, it's actually et into the threads on the bracket in the lower left corner. we deepened the hole mebe a bit to much... hence ez-outs not working as of yet blowtorch, no. boiling water was going to be my first attempt when i got my daughter settled (having a 2 year old w/o a babysitter makes car repairs tricky)
i haven't given up yet, not by a long shot... my dad and i tried using a drill/ez out 1-2 while the bracket was still on (that was a mistake) angles and limited space made the hole at an odd angle, when i realized that, off came the a/c, tensor, & bracket itself.
i wish my digi worked... the bolt itself has been drilled quite a bit, it's actually et into the threads on the bracket in the lower left corner. we deepened the hole mebe a bit to much... hence ez-outs not working as of yet blowtorch, no. boiling water was going to be my first attempt when i got my daughter settled (having a 2 year old w/o a babysitter makes car repairs tricky)
Worth it considering all the time you have spent on it already.
Good luck,
Tim
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