Replacing a Nissan Altima Alternator

If your Nissan Altima repeatedly cuts out while you are driving, or your car’s battery will not hold a charge, it may be time to replace your alternator. The Nissan Altima alternator is not that difficult to replace. Even though the job is not that hard to accomplish, it is a bit time consuming if you are unfamiliar with working on your automobile. In the end, saving money by doing the repair yourself it is still worth the time and effort. By following these relatively simple steps, you can replace your alternator with ease. All you will need is a new alternator, a socket wrench, and a regular wrench or pliers.

Directions

1

Preparing to Remove the Old Alternator

Make sure that you are in a well lighted area so you can see what you are doing. Disconnect your car’s negative battery cable. You will need your wrench for this. If you do not have a wrench, pliers will work as a back-up. Be careful not to strip the bolt.

2

Locate Your Car’s Alternator

Find your alternator. It is located at the front of the engine compartment on the passenger side of your vehicle.

3

Loosen the Bolts That Attach the Alternator to the Engine

Using a socket wrench, loosen the bolts that attach the alternator to the engine. Do not remove the bolts completely. You should be able to move the alternator on the bracket at this point.

4

Remove the Alternator Belt

The alternator should still be sitting on the bracket. Slide the alternator forward and remove the alternator belt from around the pulley.

5

Unplug the Alternator’s Electrical Wiring Plug

Unplug the alternator’s electrical wiring plug. This can be done by pulling the plug straight up from the socket.

6

Detach the Electrical Wiring Connector and Ground Wire

Detach the electrical wiring connector and the ground wire from the alternator.

7

Finish Unbolting the Alternator

Finish unfastening the bolts that secure the alternator to the engine. Begin by removing the bolts with a socket wrench and finish taking them off by hand.

8

Remove the Alternator

Lift the alternator up off the bracket and take it out of the engine compartment. Sit the old alternator off to the side out of your way.

9

Install the New Alternator

Place the new alternator on the bracket and tighten the bolts loosely. The alternator should still be able to slide on the bracket freely.

10

Reconnect the Wiring

Reconnect the electrical wiring plug into the alternator socket. Next, attach the ground wire and electrical wiring connector to the alternator with the nuts you removed earlier.

11

Reattach the Alternator Belt

Place the alternator belt over the pulley and pull back on the alternator to add tension to the belt. Do not pull back to hard. If the belt is too tight it could cause the alternator’s bearings to fail, but if it is too loose the belt could slip off. This would could cause the belt to break as a result of overheating.

12

Reattach the Battery Cable

Reattach the negative battery cable to your car’s battery. Test your car to make sure that it starts and runs well.

Learning to change your Nissan Altima alternator is an electrical job that you can perform with relative ease. By following these tips, you should be able to save the expense of taking your car to a pricey mechanic. Although replacing you alternator on your own can take up part of your day, it will be worth the effort. Accomplishing this should also take care of a few of your pesky car problems.