alternator and idler pulley

Post by **amadesian** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:01 pm

I am told by my dealer that my '97 I30 with 90,000 miles has a bad alternator (making a whining noise). How easy is it to replace this myself?

Also, I am told by the same dealer that the idler pulley is bad, and will eventually shred the belts. How easy is it for me to replace it?

One last thing, the same dealer told me that my starter is dragging(?) How easy it to change?

Thanks in advance.

Post by **Jeff Williams** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:01 pm

Autozone can tell you if the alternator is good or bad.

A whining noise is usually the idler pulley. Not too hard to replace. Loosen the tensioner bolt, pull off the belt, remove the center boldt, then pull the pulley off. There are about 3 bolts that hold on the mounting bracket. Remove them, then you can disassemble the tensioner, and install the new pulley and bolts. Make sure the spacers are EXACTLY the same going back in! Should take about 1 to 1.5 hours.

You should be able to hear the starter, if it is dragging. When you start the car, there should be a lingering noise, like a grinding, or a pinging. Usually, the dealerships are prety accurate, on their suggestions.

The starter and alternator are not that hard to replace, if you have access to a lift, or som really high jack stands. Be sure to disconnect the battery, before you start on either one.

Post by **amadesian** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:01 pm

Hi Jeff,

Thanks for the reply and info.

I hear a definite whining noise coming from the alternator area. It started after I replaced the original battery. The whine seems to get louder (slightly) when I turn on the headlights. Can Autozone test the alternator while it is on the car?

I ordered all the parts from Infiniti of Phoenix (everythingnissan.com).

Hopefully I won't have too much trouble.

Thanks again,Art

Post by **Jeff Williams** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:01 pm

Art, I think they can test it on the car. Give them a call.

Post a thread (in Infinity General - you get more people browsing that forum.), asking for the TSB's (technical servcie bulletins) or ask for a servcie manual, before you start the repairs.

The engine is basically the same as a Maxima, so you might find a servcie manual on that, at Autozone,if you don't have one.

There is a website, that you can pay a daily membership to, and download the manual, and TSB's in .pdf format.

I don't recall what that site is, though.

Post by **DAEDALUS** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:01 pm

http://www.infinititechinfo.com

Post by **elwesso** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:01 pm

DAE- its http://www.infiniti-techinfo.com

I have the J30 FSMs if youd like. I may be going on another downloading spree to get Y33 and F50 FSMs.

Post by **DAEDALUS** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:01 pm

Yeah, that link works too.

Post by **Jeff Williams** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:01 pm

Same link

The site says it is ony 2000 model years and later.

Post by **elwesso** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:01 pm

You have to dig a little deeper. Goto the FIND PUBLICATIONS link and you can look for it there..... Goes down to 94.

Post by **amadesian** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:01 pm

Got it. Thanks all who have replied. The on line subscription is not cheap!!

I actually did purchase a Chilton's Maxima service manual. The engine is the same between the Maxima and the I30. Would I still be better off purchasing a one day subscription?

I did purchase my parts through everythingnissan. A local Nissan dealer would not even quote me prices. I made the mistake of telling him my car is a I30 and not a Maxima.

Post by **DAEDALUS** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:01 pm

Huhwhuh? $19.99 for a day to download anything you want is a freaking steal. I looked up the Titan manual. $19.99 to download, or $210 for a manual on CD. No thanks, I can burn my own CD.Stay away from Chilton's. They're too broad.

Post by **amadesian** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:01 pm

You are right, $20 for the day is not too bad, but the monthly is $300. And yes, I will take full advantage of the daily subscription.

Too late on the Chilton's. And again you are right, they are very broad. But for general information, I will hold on to the book.

Thanks again for responding. This is a great board for information.

Post by **loystock** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:01 pm

Unless improvements have been made on that site, you must be prepared to stay long hours to get the documents that you want. The site is so slow that it keeps on timing out during downloads (I have DSL). Not only that, the site was so erratic that for unknown reason, it alternately switched me back and forth between Infiniti and Nissan publications. I gave up after 6 hours of trying. I was only able to down load a few pages of the FSM.

Post by **amadesian** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:01 pm

Ouch! Thanks for the heads up. I wonder if anyone else has had the same problem?

I am hoping for $20 it may be worth the effort. I know I don't want to spend $300 for the month. I can buy the hard copy for less than that and have it until the end of time.

Post by **DAEDALUS** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:01 pm

Wes, did you have any problems? I think Wes downloaded a good portion of the entire database during his 24 hour period. I am thinking Infiniti would be understanding about web problems if you were to write them. Worst case, you could probably get a charge back to your credit card because you weren't actually offered 24 hours of access as promised.

Post by **elwesso** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:01 pm

I didnt have any problems, but it took me a good 3 hours to do everything..... With cable.....!!

Post by **amadesian** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:01 pm

Thanks guys,

I will give it a shot.

Post by **amadesian** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:01 pm

I just purchased an on-line subscription for a service manual for my '97 I30, but now I can't figure out how to access it.

Anyone know how to get to it?

Post by **amadesian** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:01 pm

I think have the answer. I called and found out that they do not have the service manual available for on line viewing. I can purchase the manual for $181.00.

Should have figured that out when I did a search for the manual and results came back empty.

Bummer!

Post by **DAEDALUS** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:01 pm

No no no, they have no idea what they're talking about. Go to Publications-->Find Publications and then select I30/35. Do a search for all. The manual will show up...I just found it. In fact, according to this site, downloading it is the *only* way to get it online. More recent models are available in download, CD or hardcopy.Hurry, they're serious about the 24 hour time limit!

Post by **amadesian** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:01 pm

I did what you suggested, and just the 2000 and 2001 showed up. I have a 1997 I30.

Post by **DAEDALUS** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:01 pm

Are you sure?

The little red symbols mean they're available for download as long as you have a subscription.

Post by **maxnix** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:01 pm

Ah, the first post on how to navigate the inscrutable Infiniti tech download site! The site is not intuitive. Good job, Daedalus!

Post by **amadesian** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:01 pm

How in the world? When I do a search, I don't get the same results! I will try again...

I did get the lternator in, but for the life of me, I can't find the starter!

Post by **amadesian** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:01 pm

Nevermind! I got it. I was doing a search on I30, not I30/I35. Stupid me! Now I have wasted valuable time!!

Thanks for all the help.

Post by **amadesian** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:01 pm

Hello all,

Well, I found and replaced the starter. Man was it easy to replace compared to the alternator!

Thanks to all who helped.

alternator and idler pulley

alternator and idler pulley

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