So I get in the car yesterday to drive it out to some family to 'show it off', lol. And it won't start, I put a charger on it and it cranked up... I took it to advance to get a battery (tested it, and it was dead [also five years old]) and once on it started quicker than the car ever has before. For good measure I had them test the alternator, and he stated that the battery was already losing power and that the alternator was bad, not charging... I ordered one last night and it'll be in tomorrow afternoon...

now... looking at this thing... it doesn't look like there's too easy of a way getting it out (I don't have a haynes/bentley manual for the car yet) - I was wondering what some suggestions might be (ie. take out the top, the bottom, etc)...

also, doing some quick research it seems as though there's a bolt that people try to unscrew and then realize it's welded to the car... just trying to get some quick help to try and expedite this repair so I can get back to finding the leak causing the 'higher' idle

Thanks in advance

 

will do! Thanks!

 

Question about the alternator and how it's mounted? The alternator was super loose, I thought at first it was just the lower bolt that holds it to the motor, but after looking at it I think it's missing a bushing... can someone clarify? Also, if it is supposed to have one, where might I be able to get it?

I've seen some sites stating there is a bushing and other sites stating there is no bushing... basically... after finding out it was just super loose we tightened it up and the bracket bent a little - it 'looks' aligned still but the belt shredded yesterday on the way home.

I'm not saying what we did caused that as the belt was obviously old and super stretched, extremely loose even after adjusting alternator position. Put a new belt on yesterday (in the rain...) and it's working, almost seemed too small, lol. But my concern is if there is supposed to be a bushing, and it's not there, could that cause enough movement to potentially cause the belt to shred apart while driving? Or if there is not a bushing is it likely that the belt it self (old anyway) could have just given up since I've driven the car more in the last month than the PO has in the last three years?

 

anybody know if there's supposed to be a washer/bushing thing that goes on the top bolt of the alternator? it would go (from front of engine bay to back) bolt, alternator, bracket, alternator, bolt with bushing, bracket, bolt and nut.. think that makes sense

 

I don't know, but if the bracket bent when tightened it probably needs something to hold it straight. It might not pull the alternator out of line, but it will eventually cause that bracket to break. A washer or two or three probably will take care of the problem 'till you find the proper stuff