1. Park your car on a level surface and turn off the engine. Engage the parking brake and allow the engine to cool down completely.
2. Open the hood and remove the negative battery cable. Use a wrench to loosen the bolt securing the negative battery cable to the battery terminal. Remove the cable and set it aside in a safe place.
3. Remove the serpentine belt. Insert the appropriate sized wrench (typically 15 mm) into the tensioner pulley and rotate the wrench clockwise to release tension on the belt. Remove the belt from the pulley and set it aside.
4. Locate the alternator. The alternator is usually mounted on the front of the engine block. It is a cylindrical-shaped component with a fan attached to it.
5. Disconnect the electrical connections from the alternator. There are two electrical connectors connected to the alternator: a large power connector and a small sensing connector. Press the release tab on each connector and disconnect them by gently pulling them straight off the alternator.
6. Remove the alternator mounting bolts. There are usually three bolts securing the alternator to the engine block. Use a socket wrench to loosen the bolts and remove them.
7. Remove the old alternator. Once all of the bolts are removed, you can remove the alternator by gently pulling it out from the engine compartment. Be careful not to drop it.
8. Replace the old alternator with the new one. Place the new alternator in the same position as the old one and secure it using the mounting bolts. Tighten the bolts until they are snug.
9. Reconnect the electrical connectors. Reconnect the large power connector and the small sensing connector to the alternator. Make sure the connectors snap securely into place.
10. Replace the serpentine belt. If you have a belt tensioner, it will release more tension when the bolt was removed. If so, push it back and hold the tension while replacing the belt. Otherwise, slide the serpentine belt back onto the pulley and rotate the tensioner pulley clockwise to put tension back on the belt.
11. Reconnect the negative battery cable. Reattach the negative battery cable to the battery terminal and secure it with the bolt. Tighten the bolt until it is snug.
12. Start the engine and check the alternator. Start the engine and let it run for a few minutes. Ensure the alternator is charging the battery by monitoring the voltage gauge on the dashboard. The voltage should be around 14 volts.
13. Test the alternator. To further ensure that the alternator is functioning properly, you can use a voltmeter to test the battery voltage with the engine running and the headlights turned on. The voltage should remain around 14 volts, even with the additional electrical load.
14. Close the hood and you're done. Ensure the hood is properly latched before driving.
