Debating if I should install an alternator myself

"ktfright | Kinja Neighborhood Black Guy" (ktfright)
07/29/2017 at 01:44 • Filed to: Mustang, mustang gt, Altima, california, alternator, diy, ford mustang, Maintenance, los angeles

This week, I made the decision to eventually get rid of my “ran when parked”‘94 altima (200k miles) while daily driving my ‘00 Mustang GT (also 200k miles) from Hawthorne to Universal City 5 days a week for the new job. It’s a social media editor position, and so far, I like it a lot. Problem is, I’m Spending 80 a week on gas, and a couple days ago my battery light started coming on and off.

On the 101 freeway, the light would come on for a while, then turn off. I drove to my mechanic, and he checked the battery and said everything is fine and the alternator may be the culprit, but he would charge me $220 to rebuild it including labor. I told him I’d think about it because I also needed to fix the brakes all around, and told him to work on that first. I can only afford to do one fix at a time.

After searching youtube, I realized with the right tools, it looked simple enough to try to fix myself, but my wrenching expertise is limited to basic bodywork and bondo.

Should I get a second opinion, let him take a stab at it when I get the money, or buy an alternator and do the fix myself?

DISCUSSION (17)

Wagon Guy drives a Boostang > ktfright | Kinja Neighborhood Black Guy
07/29/2017 at 02:03

Replacing an alternator is a pretty straightforward job. I’d say pick up a replacement alt and a new belt and get to wrenching.

ktfright | Kinja Neighborhood Black Guy > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang
07/29/2017 at 02:08

Thanks, I had a feeling that it wouldn’t be too difficult.

Wagon Guy drives a Boostang > ktfright | Kinja Neighborhood Black Guy
07/29/2017 at 02:11

I will say when it comes to replacing an alternator there are two thoughts on where to get the replacement.

1. Lifetime Warranty from parts store. - These are usually cheaper and there’s a reason, you’ll end up doing the job more than once. I’ve had a lot of these fail quickly.

2. Manufacturer re-built from dealer parts dept. - These are more expensive, and usually only have a one year warranty, but the last one of these I bought lasted for the rest of the life of the car... (5 years and going strong when I sold the car)

Alfalfa > ktfright | Kinja Neighborhood Black Guy
07/29/2017 at 02:15

Just do it yourself. It’s really easy on your engine, too. When I replaced the alternator in my 4.6 the entire process took like 10-20 minutes. The alternator itself was a little pricey for a common american V8. I can’t remember how much exactly and this was like 5 years ago.

Flavien Vidal > ktfright | Kinja Neighborhood Black Guy
07/29/2017 at 02:17

Oh man, you have to do it yourself... On a mustang GT, it didn’t get any easier than that, access-wise...

Kinja'd!!!

Unplug battery. Unlock the belt tensioner, remove the belt from the alternator, unplug the alternator... Them you probably have 3 bolt holding it on the engine block... And that’s it! Put the new alternator and do the same thing in reverse... 20 minutes job at worst.

ktfright | Kinja Neighborhood Black Guy > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang
07/29/2017 at 02:31

I’ll seriously keep these in mind, Thanks again!

ktfright | Kinja Neighborhood Black Guy > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2017 at 02:33

Wow, you totally sold me on doing it now. Nice.

Kiltedpadre > ktfright | Kinja Neighborhood Black Guy
07/29/2017 at 03:29

Definitely something you can do yourself. You’ll need at most 4 tools to do the job. I bet you can find multiple videos on youtube that will walk you through the process step by step. If there’s one from 1aauto.com they actually do extremely good quality videos for repairs. Get a new belt at the same time. I don’t know if your car has a separate belt for the AC system or not. If it does replace that at the same time.

ktfright | Kinja Neighborhood Black Guy > Alfalfa
07/29/2017 at 03:46

Thanks, I’ll check out prices in the morning.

ktfright | Kinja Neighborhood Black Guy > Kiltedpadre
07/29/2017 at 03:50

Thanks!

BIGBLOCK472 - wide and bizarre > ktfright | Kinja Neighborhood Black Guy
07/29/2017 at 08:27

I’m a gay guy with limited mechanical ability, a super hot temper, and zero patience for shit that doesn’t work and I replaced the alternator on my 2001 Town Car five times in five years.

Two of those times were in the snow in an empty parking lot. That’s a pretty big deal for a Southerner in an area that doesn’t get snow often.

My second Town Car (a 2006) only needed one alternator, alas, I only owned it for a year because these days shit that doesn’t work doesn’t stay here long.

I guess what I’m saying is the alternator on the 4.6 is easy enough to do on your own.

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2017 at 09:01

Are the bolts into an aluminum bracket? If so, a small dab of aluminum anti size might be in order as well. Seeing that photo makes it look like about the simplest alternator out there to swap. Also, check rockauto for the part, or advance auto online, you can get a 20% off when you place the order and pickup in store. But my money is on rockauto for the best prices, assuming you can wait for it to ship. You can get a 5% off code for rockauto all over the internet, and I have one in my old emails that’s still valid too if you need it.

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ktfright | Kinja Neighborhood Black Guy > BIGBLOCK472 - wide and bizarre
07/29/2017 at 16:29

Haha thanks, I’m definitely going to do it myself, and 5 times?!? Do Town Cars have generally bad alternators?

BIGBLOCK472 - wide and bizarre > ktfright | Kinja Neighborhood Black Guy
07/29/2017 at 17:04

I don’t know about everyone else’s experience but I didn’t have any better luck using one from the dealer vs one from AutoZone at least the AutoZone alternators came with enough warranty to get the next one free. Mine also had trouble with the idle air control valve. I had to take mine off and clean it every year or else the car wouldn’t idle without dying.

XJDano > ktfright | Kinja Neighborhood Black Guy
09/25/2017 at 18:23

I don’t know how I replied to this old thread, lol. Didn’t check the time stamp

Sounds like you have made a decision already, but an alternator is fairly easy to get your confidence to repair more things.

The DIY tag is even full of others even myself doing stuff on their own cars. I first started on an alternator on my suburban and broke a bracket. I realized it’s all just a bunch of nuts and bolts and if I took it apart I should be able to put it back together. Depending on the situation of your belt, since you remove it to take alternator off you may want to replace it.

I hate working on my cars, but there is a sense of accomplishment for saving a few hundred dollars by DIY. Also brakes are easy and you could have done that yourself too. Oh well.

You’ll do fine.

ktfright | Kinja Neighborhood Black Guy > XJDano
09/25/2017 at 18:46

Thanks, So far the car is running well after the fix. I appreciate it ,and i’ll totally check out that DIY tag!

XJDano > ktfright | Kinja Neighborhood Black Guy
09/25/2017 at 19:09

The post seemed like I had read it before. lol

I just swapped a catalytic converter this weekend. Darn emission testing & CEL.