My Alternater just went out at 60500 miles, $309 for a new one from local dealer, no rebuilts/NAPA/etc made, 02 and 03 are not the same......anyone replaced one yet? Looks like a tight pain in the butt to get to. Anybody with bloody knuckles been there done that? Any helpful hints. Had to order it so car is down for 3 days, even Courtesy Nissan would have had to order it and without shipping was only $40 less and a few more days out.....Crap.

 

Not the same engine but should help......

http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/500

 

Thanks....just as I thought it's a bear. I like the part where he says it may take a while to just get the part in and out after its loose and other items are out of the way!!!!! It will take some patience but I will prevail!

 

I'm in Orlando and I did replace mine... if you need help let me know......

 

Thanks for the offer but I'm fine doing it. I was just looking for some sympathy, as it looked like a bytch. I have to replace my front left strut also as it makes noise and since it's never had a brake job in 61K I think I will treat it to rotors and pads.......thanks again.

 

OK good luck

 

UPDATE: Got new Alt from Nissan dealer. Tried to get $410 when I picked it up, told them they qouted me $308 and they sold it to me for $308. Followed the instruction link a few posts back and its the same on an 03 except the AC compressor I think is bigger and it made it a TON easier to remove the radiator. At the point I was at it was 2 big hoses and two nuts to get it out of the way. It was getting damaged trying to get the alt out so I just removed it. Then you have much better access to the whole job! Also have a new belt ready....mine was shot and if you have over 40k just replace it, have it ready beforehand (unlike me) no sense putting the old one back on. And now voilla! No more battery and brake lite. Done deal.

Total time: 2 hours including getting new belt at Autozone and the extra time of removing the radiator and re-filling it.