Need Alternator removal help quickly

[GreenQ45a]

I have removed the fan shroud and fan belt and fan.the pully and the main pass through bolt and the other main bolt.

I cant get to the connections on the back of the alt. yet and it wont hardly budge...

How are you suspose to get it out?

its packed in there pretty good I have tried a preybar and got it to move there doesn't seem to be enough room to twist it to clear the bracket.

Step 4 in the FSM says "remove alternator upper bracket" which bolts are these?

and how do you put back on the stopper nut?

Thanks for any help....

[DrewQ45]

Easiest method for me (suggested by T3 Mechanic) was to remove the passenger side tension rod and bracket, drop the compressor with the lines still intact and remove the alternator from underneath. Trying to do it from up top is maddening.

[elwesso]

What you have to do is just keep futzing with it until it comes out... When you replace the alternator once its not as bad, but it really stays wedged in there if its the original one...

Be MEAN to it, take the pry bar and keep going at it..... Since your not reusing it, beat the crap out of it..... thats what i did

[GreenQ45a]

thanks both of you ...

I have an active Q45 and there is lots of active pipework in the way or I would do the AC thing...I might do the AC as a last resort..

Wes,

How much clearance is needed does it pull forward with enough room to remove the wires after you pull it out.

how about the bolt stooper nut is it a ***** to place back in there?

thanks.. trying to get this done in the next 2.5 hours...

[GreenQ45a]

It looks like the AC needs to be lowered to remove it on the Active Q45.There is a wire harness on the left side of the alternator which keeps it from going to the left a half an inch or so.

I don't know if that harness is on a base or Touring Q.

I guess I have to lower the A\C compressor to remove the Alternator.

Can any one tell me which bolts must be removed to lower it?

[elwesso]

What I did is I tried to rotate it in place without actually moving it (just simply spinning it along a simliar axis), and then the alt pulls out with plenty of room to remove all the harnesses and junk.

[GreenQ45a]

Im back on that track now... i can get it to twist if I can get it to clear on the through bolt's side is it safe to just pull it?

[elwesso]

Yep

[GreenQ45a]

Thanks Wes

Going out to try to pull it right now let you know...

[GreenQ45a]

did you twist left or right?

[elwesso]

to the left, counterclockwise

[GreenQ45a]

the front housing cracked I was thinking of breaking it off at the front through bolt hole. I think it would be alot easier to remove it after I wonder if that would VOID out the core charge?

[GreenQ45a]

it seems to be caught on a wire harness or something...

Did you cut that ziptie the was around the heat protector to free up enough room or did yours just pulled out. Im so close I can feel it... I would even remove the AC it was possible to get to the top back bolt...

I mean how did they think you would get in there???

I can't pull the alternator out any harder whats that thing in front of the alternator looks like a black fuel filter?

[DAEDALUS]

Don't let a zip tie hold you up.

The black filter in front of the alt is probably the external transmission filter.

[DrewQ45]

Getting it out is easier than getting it in. If you're having this much trouble you'll really need to find a way to lower the AC Compressor. I don't have an active so I don't know how hard this will be for you.

[DAEDALUS]

With a long extension and a swivel socket you can fairly easily get the rear compressor bolt out. Getting it back in is a little more difficult, but not impossible.

[GreenQ45a]

Any step by steps for the ACTIVE Q45 while doing the a\c drop?

[GreenQ45a]

With a long extension and a swivel socket you can fairly easily get the rear compressor bolt out. Getting it back in is a little more difficult, but not impossible.

Daedalus, thanks for the input, A/C lowering is definitely the way to go. Top rear bolt of A/C compressor doesn't look as bad.

Also found a connection clip holding the alternators wire harness near the oil pan, definitely restricted the alternators movement.

Only thing stopping me now, cant find universal socket, will purchase one on way home from work and post results tomorrow....

Thanks alot!!

And Drew Q45 you where right A/C lowering is the way to go!


Modified by GreenQ45a at 1:56 PM 7/5/2005

[GreenQ45a]

It's out!! A\C Drop was way easy...

gotta go back together next...

[GreenQ45a]

New Alternator is in!!!

I think the Active Q45 was a little harder than most cars.

The Active Pipework got in the way a little it's not bad once you get in there.

For the Active Q45 I would just recommend that you:

• Remove all plastic cladding from the radiator area and under the car.

• Remove the Fan, Battery, Radiator and Alternator Belt.

• Loosen the A\C compressor’s belt all the way.

• Unbolt the front main accumulator (from the bottom) Move aside.

• Unbolt the Transmission Filter, Move aside (it has lots of play)

• Unbolt the front right active line (under the A\C compressor).

Then you’re finally ready to get started!

First the A\C Compressor drop (lowering)

• Unbolt the top rear A\C compressor bolt 1st • Then the top front A\C compressor bolt• Next the two bottom bolts.• All 4 bolts are 14 mm• (I choose to loosen the A\C belt all the way and leave it in place to support the front of the A\C compressor.)• Lower the A\C compressor.

Now the Alternator

• Unbolt the Main Pass-through bolt.• Unbolt the brace from above the alternator.• Loosen the top alternator bolt (Do not remove!)• Use a LONG flat screw drive or clip releaser on the alternator's wire harness retainer clip (look up from under the car right next to the A\C compressor)• Cut any zip ties that may be in the way (OEM) • Now pry the alternator to the left to loosen the grip it has on the hanging flange.• One it can swing back & forth it should be time to try to remove it.

Most people seem to try to remove it from the bottom after doing an A\C drop.On the Active Q45 there’s a lot of Pipework in the way.I found it easer to remove it from the front after lowering the A\C compressor.(It seemed to unbind everything.)

• If you have an inch of play it is time to unbolt the top alternator bolt.• You can then twist the alternator to the right and left an inch or so and pull it through.• You should have 6-10 inches of play in the alternator harness (plenty of room to unbolt it)• Watch out for the wire harness heat shield it will get caught up.• Make sure to check your water pump weeping hole for any leaks while your there.

Reinstall in reverse order after cleaning up that entire area with a cleaner of your choice (I like Greased lighting it foams up the color of the fluids you’re cleaning up)

*Place the top rear A\C compressor bolt last but do not tighten the other three until you have installed the Top Rear one!!!

This is just my way of doing it.

[DrewQ45]

And one very important step!

Buy OEM alternator from Dealer so you won't have to go through all this often.

[Jesda]

Thank you for writing up that summary!

[GreenQ45a]

Thank you for writing up that summary!

It's least I can do with all the help NICO-ions have given me with both of my Q45's I've owned...

Once I finish my suspension bushings, Struts towers (to go with my "Texasoil Recharged Accumulators") Two window regulators and leather I will be able to become a monthly NICO supporter.

Rehab is a wallet buster. I miss my 93 dealer maintained one owner base Q45. But I love my Active Q45aI think the old alternator took out my Active Computer I put my new Active computer I got from REDMANFX (Thanks) in the GreenQ45a and she got Error code 55 (all is clear) and is working just fine.

My Idle seems stronger and and so does acceleration.

I will edit it later and add more info about the A\C Drop there's is a few tricks.

If I posted every single step it would seem like it takes forever...

It did the first time..However now I could do the job right in 3-4 hours.

Thank to all that helped me most of this informaton is common

I just couldn't find anything posted about Active cars and "There just ain't S**T for room on an Active Q45"...
Modified by GreenQ45a at 3:48 PM 7/8/2005

[3Q Jay]

Green- great writeup! i haven't had to do my active's alternator [yet], but this will be very helpful when that day comes.not having owned a 'regular' G50 i don't know how much easier they are to work on. but i woll say that the active fills up absolutely every nook and cranny around the lower subframe. even the radiator drain c*** is a pain. and the clamp for the lower rad hose... and....

[Joshneedshelp]

How do I disconnect the alternator?

[Q451990]

Way to search!

Are you asking about the electrical connections? If I remember correctly it has a bolt on connection and a couple of plug in ones...

Heath