so i took out the altenator to get tested and came back good and now i tested the battery and it was low so i need to reinstall the altenator but honestly now i cant figure out how to reinstall it iv got all the wires connected but cant get it mounted so i need some instructions/tips on how to do that and need some pictures on what they look like installed Thanks.

 

Can we assume that you have a serpentine belt system?

The alternator was mounted on the upper right, correct?

 

He has an 87 w/ a serp belt on the alt and V belts on everything else.

The alternator actually installs "upside down" in these, there's no real up and down but if you look at the case, the part with the large fin will be on the bottom and the cooling exhaust ports are on the top.

 

Hello iroc stangs!!

If you have all the wires hooked up, the same way that they came off the alternator, it should be really easy to figure out how to install it, especially since you took it out????

What exactly is the problem that your having, is it not mounting up to the holes properly, can't get the bolts to go through??? Etc....what exactly???

 

i know it should be easy but i litterly forget everything lol. i just cant rember how i took it out and its harder now since you have to hold it while bolting it on. thats why i need pics so i can see exactly how it needs to bolt on.

 

ok so i got pretty much all the bolts on but there i still the negative battery wire so does this connect with the other wires behind the alt or somewhere else! help!

 

Hello iroc stangs!!

Twin_Turbo's pictures should help you then, there is a bracket that mounts behind the alternator's bottom bolt, that can be a bit of a "PITA"!!

I spent twenty minutes cursing out the bottom bolt, when all it really was, was the bracket for the AIR pump diverter valve in the way, that needed some loosening, so that everything would fit!!

let me know if you get stuck!!



P.S. Post a picture if you can!!!

 

you talking about the big long bolt? ya tell me about it if removed that bolt after having it all the way in 3 times now because of diffrent reasons lol. also its dark out so im using a 750watt worklight RIGHT next to me and trust me it puts out ALOT of heat and its still fairly warm out here lol. ok i still dont know where to put the negative cable to the altenator it doesnt go where the other wires goes to so where does it go! i cant see it in twin turbos pics since it a fairly thin metal piece about the size of a nickel. btw i would put up pics of the prob but im actually using my laptob out side and dont feel like draggin the camera and usb cable out here and dealing with that right now lol.

 

Hello iroc stangs!!

The negative battery cable bolts to the bracket, right below the hole for the bottom bolt!!



P.S. Look at Twin_Turbo's first picture, you can see the bracket with the bottom bolt installed, the negative battery cable goes right there below it, in the next hole down!!

 

hi, thanks i didnt even think about the second smaller hole on the bracket i was trying the top one lol. also i cant get the belt back on what bolt do i have to twist for lossin/tighten the belt? thanks for all your help

 

Hello iroc stangs!!

The alternator only has two bolts, one at the top, and one at the bottom, the top one runs through a bracket with a long slot in it, this is the adjustment bolt, the bottom bolt is just a pivot bolt, both need to be loose in order to tighten up the alternator belt!!

The belt can be a bit of a bear if you have replaced it with another one that is slightly smaller, too long of a belt, and you will run into a problem with not being able to get it tight enough!!

Basically, to tighten up the alternator belt, you have both bolts loose, but not falling out loose, just enough to let the alternator slide, applying some force to the alternator is the tricky part, once you have the proper tension on the belt, tighten up the top bolt first, then the bottom, be careful with the top bolt, that you don't break the "ear" off of the alternator!!

Make sure that you recheck your belt tension after you tighten up the bolts!!!

 

well i currently dont have any bolts on the alt right now other then the long bolt and for the wires and neg batt. i just cant get the belt on

 

Hello iroc stangs!!

Is it the same belt that you took off??

 

now im confused? the only belt iv tooken off was the belt that goes over the alt. also for tightening the belt do i need the bolt that is on the braket right above where you connect the neg battery cable?

 

Hello iroc stangs!!

Working from the bottom bracket up, you should have three holes in the bottom bracket, the bottom most one is for the air pump adjustment bolt, the next one up is for the neg battery cable attachment, and the next one is for the alternator's bottom pivot bolt!! The only other bolt is the one at the top of the alternator that goes through the top bracket and screws into the alternator!!

If you can't get the belt on the alternator, are you able to pivot it towards the water pump, this will give you some more belt slack, check that the wires aren't holding you back!!

 

ok well honestly i dont even know what the water pump looks like lol! like i can get the belt to go on the alt. and then the bigger bottom pulley barely but forget about it on the inbetween smaller pulley. also i might if i can, call it a night and try to push her back in the garage but the car wont get out of park because the brake is stiff so is there anything i can do to get the brake pedal back to normal? thanks.

 

Hello iroc stangs!!

Okay, can you post a picture tomorrow with your results so far, that way I'll have a better understanding of what your dealing with, as it should be a real easy fix!!

As for the brake pedal problem, make sure that you have nothing in the way of any moving parts under the hood, repeat make sure!! Once you are sure about that, turn over the engine with the starter a couple of times, and you should be able to pull the transmission out of park!!

Be careful with that alternator belt, don't let it get caught on anything!!

 

The brake pedal is stiff because you've used up the vacuum reserve for the power brakes, only way to get it back to "normal" is to run the motor (bad idea right now lol)

I second the notion of taking a pic or 2 for us, that will help us a lot.

As for what your water pump looks like, viewing the front of the motor, right in the middle, you will see something that resembles a giant blob of rust, with hoses coming out of it, one of which goes to the bottom hose on your radiator. This is your water pump the pump will have a pulley on the front of it

 

thanks guys i'll defintly get pictures tomorrow and hope to get this fixed! i hate not being able to pull her out and clean her up like i always do and you should see my garage its a MESS lol. thanks again

 

Update: i had a few car guys help me install the altenator so all that is in including battery which I charged as much as my charger lets me but still the car wont do squat? when i turn the key there is nothing no cranking or anything unlike before when it would crank for a split second and die.

so is this probaly the starter then? im soooo close to getting the starter out but my problem i cant figure out how to get the bolt out of the bracket that holds it in because there isnt enough room to slide the bolt out??? HELP!

 

It sounds like the battery is the real problem

 

i hope so just curious, Why do you think its the battery?

 

The way the starter is having "difficulty" cranking, and now it's not cranking at all indicates it has a low charge, and it's being drained.

Also, charging it as much as the battery charger will allow doesn't necessarily mean much. Older batteries simply don't hold a charge as well, and your portable charger isn't the best thing to charge it with.

Have you tried jump starting the car? That'll give you a better idea of if it's the battery or starter