•This will prevent any accidental electrical shocks while you are working on the alternator.
Remove the serpentine belt.
•The serpentine belt is the belt that drives the alternator, power steering pump, and air conditioning compressor. To remove it, you will need to use a wrench to loosen the tensioner pulley. Once the belt is loose, you can remove it from the alternator.
Disconnect the electrical connections.
•There are two electrical connections that need to be disconnected from the alternator. The first is the positive (+) terminal, which is typically marked with a red wire. The second is the negative (-) terminal, which is typically marked with a black wire. To disconnect these terminals, you will need to use a wrench to loosen the nuts that hold them in place.
Remove the mounting bolts.
•Once the electrical connections are disconnected, you can remove the mounting bolts that hold the alternator in place. There are typically two or three mounting bolts, depending on the model of your Mazda 626. To remove the bolts, you will need to use a wrench.
Remove the alternator.
•Once the mounting bolts are removed, you can remove the alternator from the engine bay. Be careful not to drop the alternator, as it is quite heavy.
Replace the alternator.
•To replace the alternator, simply reverse the steps that you took to remove it. Be sure to reconnect the electrical connections and the mounting bolts securely.
Reconnect the battery.
•Once the alternator is replaced, you can reconnect the battery. Be careful not to touch the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals together, as this could cause a spark.
