95 q45 alternator swap

[stlhouse]

My alternator has gone bad. I tried to replace but can not get the bad one out of the car. My car is a 1995 Q45a so there is a pump in front and below the alt. This alone does not post a problem yet. My problem is after removing the two bolts(12mm & 14mm) I can not clear the engine block and the back bolt ear on the alt. The part needs to move left while facing the car and all the wires keep me from moving far enought left to clear the 14mm bolt ear and the motor. I really have no access to the wire conections on the alt. till I get it out away from the motor. Anyone done this before and figured out the secret?Thanks for any help................

[Q45tech]

Besides dropping the ac compressor?

[Jesda]

Once you move the AC compressor out of the way, the alternator takes 10 minutes. I removed mine for the hell of it when I did my AC.

[stlhouse]

I tried to loosen the air pump by removing the two bolts on the bottom and one by the pully, but could not get the pump to move. Am I missing one thats hidden?

[DrewQ45]

I just posted in Online Mechanic forum...

Alternator replacement should be done from underneath the car. Going from up top is maddening. The "air pump" is your AC compressor.

"If you plan on doing the work yourself, the easiest way is to remove the passenger side tension rod, drop the AC compressor with lines still attached (it sits below the alternator) and that should give you barely enough room to manuever. "

Jesda... there you go with that ten minutes again. The Q clock replacement took you like what, 5 mins? I'm calling Guinesses for your a$$.

[maxnix]

All kinds of posts with hints and how to in Infiniti Online Mechanic.

[stlhouse]

Thanks for the help. I got the alt replaced Friday and everything seems to be working fine......