Replacing 1991 Nissan Maxima alternator. Any tips/suggestions?

[maytja]

I'm helping a friend replace his alternator in a '91 Maxima. I haven't looked at it yet so im not even sure where it is. I think its a 3rd generation Maxima. Any tips or suggestions would be real helpful. How to loosen the belt, easiest way to get to it, things like that. Thanks a lot!!

[AzureblueZ]

It will make your life easier if you can get a set of ratchet wrenches. I believe the one you need is a 12mm but I'm not sure. Unfortunately you will have to take off all the other accesory belts to get down to this belt.

I'm used to the 300ZX's with the same motor. If they are the same, you may have some trouble getting the power steering pump belt off because of the rear staying bolt. If you do, use a 14" extension bar to get under the lip of the valve covers to get a socket onto the rear staying bolt that you must loosen in order to remove the power steering belt. If the power steering belt is still really tight, you can sort of "walk it off" but trying to remove it while turning the power steering pulley.

Remember to disconnect the negative battery cable. Sounds dumb, but I've seen lots of people send sparks flying into their face because they forgot.

Expect it to take a couple of tries to get proper tension when you put the alternator belt back on. For some reason it has to be just exactly perfect or it will squeal when you are driving. The other belts are not as sensitive to that as this one. Again, a set of ratchet wrenches will make this much easier because it makes accessing the rear staying bolt of the alternator so much easier.

Good luck!

[maytja]

hey thanks a lot! big help!