How to Check and Replace the Alternator on Your Vehicle
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- Date Submitted: 03/08/2011 07:00 PM
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How to Check and Replace the Alternator on your Vehicle
Everyone over the age of sixteen usually knows how to drive, but many do not know how to perform basic repairs on their cars. Your car alternator holds an electric charge and charges your car battery. If the alternator is not working properly, your battery will eventually lose its charge and will stop working. Have you ever been driving down the road at night, and then all of a sudden your lights go off? Well that is a tell tell sign that your alternator needs to be replaced, so I’m going to tell you in depth how to check and replace the alternator in your vehicle.
Firstly, you will need to turn the ignition on and open the car hood. While the car Is running, remove the negative battery cable from the battery. If the car stalls and dies, your alternator is bad. This is because the alternator is not generating enough electricity to keep the car running. If the car keeps running properly after disconnecting the cable, the problem could be with another part of your vehicle.
Next, you must leave the negative battery cable disconnected, and disconnect the positive cable at this time. This is an especially important step, as all the electricity for the entire vehicle goes through the alternator. Now, on the face of the motor you will see a tensioner. It looks similar to a normal pulley, but the difference is that the tensioner itself is bolted to the motor. You will see a bolt in the center of the tensioner, and will need a ratchet and socket of the same size to use. Turn the bolt on the tensioner like you are going to tighten it with the ratchet. The tensioner is going to swivel to the left and release the tension on the belt as to...
Everyone over the age of sixteen usually knows how to drive, but many do not know how to perform basic repairs on their cars. Your car alternator holds an electric charge and charges your car battery. If the alternator is not working properly, your battery will eventually lose its charge and will stop working. Have you ever been driving down the road at night, and then all of a sudden your lights go off? Well that is a tell tell sign that your alternator needs to be replaced, so I’m going to tell you in depth how to check and replace the alternator in your vehicle.
Firstly, you will need to turn the ignition on and open the car hood. While the car Is running, remove the negative battery cable from the battery. If the car stalls and dies, your alternator is bad. This is because the alternator is not generating enough electricity to keep the car running. If the car keeps running properly after disconnecting the cable, the problem could be with another part of your vehicle.
Next, you must leave the negative battery cable disconnected, and disconnect the positive cable at this time. This is an especially important step, as all the electricity for the entire vehicle goes through the alternator. Now, on the face of the motor you will see a tensioner. It looks similar to a normal pulley, but the difference is that the tensioner itself is bolted to the motor. You will see a bolt in the center of the tensioner, and will need a ratchet and socket of the same size to use. Turn the bolt on the tensioner like you are going to tighten it with the ratchet. The tensioner is going to swivel to the left and release the tension on the belt as to...