Just did a alternator on my 2006 Vue 3.5l. Thanks for posting, you saved me a little bit of frustration, but it's still really hard to get that thing out! I did have to remove the plastic timing belt cover and lift the motor around an inch or maybe slightly more! I was reading up online that some of the alternators are not the correct amperage and may cause electric or computer problems in cold weather. The original has 105 amps and the ones from the auto parts store are 130 amp. Many people reported lights flashing, no radio, dash light and headlights flashing etc. after installing alternators from auto parts store. I just ordered the Denso OEM remanufactured 105 amp just to be safe. Hopefully no issues after I install it!
Denny H I’m glad the video helped out, it’s definitely a pain to remove it since you have to play with it a bit. Hopefully everything turns out well for you.. thanks for the feed back..
Great video. I had to replace the altinator a couple years ago. I wish I had this video to go off of when I did. I ended up having to unbolt the engine from the frame and jack it up in order to get enough clearance to remove the alternator. It was an absolute pain in the butt especially since I was doing it in my driveway, at night, in the rain. Unfortunately the cheap auto parts brand that I got is failing me again so I need to replace it again. Thankfully, I have your video to watch to remind me of what to do and not do. Also, it's a sunny weekend for me so no rain and maybe I'll even get a bit of a tan. Haha
Jeep_King the battery light came was coming on intermittently. I was hoping it'd be a loss wire or connection. I didn't want to take the whole thing out again. Turns out it was just a worn out serpentine belt. Replaced that first and it seemed to have done the trick. Thanks again for posting this video. I'm sure I'll need to reference it again in the future. Haha
A lot of un-necessary work done. Dis connect battery. Remove air box. Remove belt. The tensioner has to be pulled all the way back and held there. There is a hole and knotch to hold it back. I remove the two motor mount bolts nuts. The motor has to be jacked up as much as possible. Remove the two bolts that hold the altenator on. Now try to work the altenator out which is still a bitch. Very difficult. Remove plug and one cable. Have your OEM rebuilt. A after_market will not charge on a Saturn. Has to be a Denso OEM to work. For some reason the ECM will not allow charging from anything but OEM. I bought a nice 06 Vue for $450 because nobody in N GA could fix the car. I had an OEM in stock and fixed the car in two hours
The plastic cover DOES have to come off, tensioner has to be locked back with 1/4" Allen key, and pulley needs to come off. There is a push-in wiring harness clip on the back of the alternator that needs to be cut off, else you will break the little wires that go down to a sensor in the front of the engine before you will be able to bring the alternator out far enough to disconnect the alternator wires.
Dude thanks for the video! It freaking worked, just like you said. But unfortunately I had to remove the timing belt cover and lift the block to get the alternator out. But the video sure helped alot, thanks again!
I have a 2004 but it looks the same. It's easier if you remove the belt then the tensioner pully, it's reversed threaded, then put the bolt back into the tensioner. There's a hole on the stationary part of the tensioner so if you rotate it back far enough, you can insert an allen wrench so it hits on the flat part of the tensioner that rotates. That holds it in place. You might have to rotate it part way, block it with a piece of wood, then regrip it and rotate some more.
great video man, thanks. good explanations of what you are doing, what tool. I am going to buy a used 2005 Vue tonight that needs an alternator. Going to change it out this weekend.
Other than removing the bolt in one engine mount, do you need to remove bolt in a different engine mount? Other vides mentioned a second engine mount near front center.
Any suggestions as to why I can't get the new alternator seated back in right. Put the bottom bolt in and now can't get it into place to do the top bolt. Made sure it was the right alternator and all the specs are the same as the one that came out.
Sherri Asposto that’s a good question, I’m not too sure only thing I can say is make sure that there’s nothing in the way of you sitting the alternator down. Make sure the cables you unplugged are not in the way. Sorry hope that helped.
Yeah tried to even fit it in without the cables was hoping that maybe I was missing something and having a duh moment. Lol or was hoping it was maybe an issue that you may have had as well and there was a trick or something. Thanks
Who would make an engine where you have to Jack up the engine and remove a whole lot of stuff Just to get the alternator out and my alternator is stuck, I got the bolts out which way do I turn it to get it out
Lawcypoo Murphy once you loosen the alternator you can spin it to give you more access to the back of it so that you can unplug the wire that’s back there..
Good job on walking through it and lighting it up so you can really see what is going on. I've got an 07 and I've 2 different mechanics tell me they won't do this job because it's too much of a pain. Now I see why. I'm a little apprehensive to do this myself but I think I'm going to have to.
Bil Arscott to be honest it’s not that hard.. just follow the steps and you’ll be ok. The hardest part was removing the alternator out of that spot after getting it all lose but by loosening the motor and lifting it a bit, it came right out. Let me know how it goes..
Any recommendations on replacement brand? I've watched quite a few videos on UA-cam on the problems with the replacement alternators. Same problem I have - trouble with cold weather start up - all electronics flash until car warms up. This will be the 3rd for this vehicle.
If you had two people consider themselves mechanics tell you that they wouldn't do it they honestly don't deserve to call themselves mechanics. This is easy and self explanatory even without the video wouldn't be that hard
Just did a alternator on my 2006 Vue 3.5l. Thanks for posting, you saved me a little bit of frustration, but it's still really hard to get that thing out! I did have to remove the plastic timing belt cover and lift the motor around an inch or maybe slightly more! I was reading up online that some of the alternators are not the correct amperage and may cause electric or computer problems in cold weather. The original has 105 amps and the ones from the auto parts store are 130 amp. Many people reported lights flashing, no radio, dash light and headlights flashing etc. after installing alternators from auto parts store. I just ordered the Denso OEM remanufactured 105 amp just to be safe. Hopefully no issues after I install it!
Denny H I’m glad the video helped out, it’s definitely a pain to remove it since you have to play with it a bit. Hopefully everything turns out well for you.. thanks for the feed back..
What dealer? No more Saturn dealer anymore.
Any issue after the 105 amp?
Great video. I had to replace the altinator a couple years ago. I wish I had this video to go off of when I did. I ended up having to unbolt the engine from the frame and jack it up in order to get enough clearance to remove the alternator. It was an absolute pain in the butt especially since I was doing it in my driveway, at night, in the rain. Unfortunately the cheap auto parts brand that I got is failing me again so I need to replace it again. Thankfully, I have your video to watch to remind me of what to do and not do. Also, it's a sunny weekend for me so no rain and maybe I'll even get a bit of a tan. Haha
TheHayes32 awesome, hopefully everything works out and you get your car back up and running...
Jeep_King the battery light came was coming on intermittently. I was hoping it'd be a loss wire or connection. I didn't want to take the whole thing out again. Turns out it was just a worn out serpentine belt. Replaced that first and it seemed to have done the trick. Thanks again for posting this video. I'm sure I'll need to reference it again in the future. Haha
A lot of un-necessary work done. Dis connect battery. Remove air box. Remove belt. The tensioner has to be pulled all the way back and held there. There is a hole and knotch to hold it back. I remove the two motor mount bolts nuts. The motor has to be jacked up as much as possible. Remove the two bolts that hold the altenator on. Now try to work the altenator out which is still a bitch. Very difficult. Remove plug and one cable. Have your OEM rebuilt. A after_market will not charge on a Saturn. Has to be a Denso OEM to work. For some reason the ECM will not allow charging from anything but OEM. I bought a nice 06 Vue for $450 because nobody in N GA could fix the car. I had an OEM in stock and fixed the car in two hours
The plastic cover DOES have to come off, tensioner has to be locked back with 1/4" Allen key, and pulley needs to come off. There is a push-in wiring harness clip on the back of the alternator that needs to be cut off, else you will break the little wires that go down to a sensor in the front of the engine before you will be able to bring the alternator out far enough to disconnect the alternator wires.
Dude thanks for the video! It freaking worked, just like you said. But unfortunately I had to remove the timing belt cover and lift the block to get the alternator out. But the video sure helped alot, thanks again!
I have a 2004 but it looks the same. It's easier if you remove the belt then the tensioner pully, it's reversed threaded, then put the bolt back into the tensioner. There's a hole on the stationary part of the tensioner so if you rotate it back far enough, you can insert an allen wrench so it hits on the flat part of the tensioner that rotates. That holds it in place. You might have to rotate it part way, block it with a piece of wood, then regrip it and rotate some more.
That doesn't sound easier.
you did a great job of showing how to change my Alternator, actually the best, I think and I've seen many. Good job man and thanks for the vid.
Real one ❤
great video man, thanks. good explanations of what you are doing, what tool. I am going to buy a used 2005 Vue tonight that needs an alternator. Going to change it out this weekend.
Other than removing the bolt in one engine mount, do you need to remove bolt in a different engine mount? Other vides mentioned a second engine mount near front center.
@timguy161 no, If you follow what I mentioned on the video that’s all you should have to remove.
Any suggestions as to why I can't get the new alternator seated back in right. Put the bottom bolt in and now can't get it into place to do the top bolt. Made sure it was the right alternator and all the specs are the same as the one that came out.
Sherri Asposto that’s a good question, I’m not too sure only thing I can say is make sure that there’s nothing in the way of you sitting the alternator down. Make sure the cables you unplugged are not in the way. Sorry hope that helped.
Yeah tried to even fit it in without the cables was hoping that maybe I was missing something and having a duh moment. Lol or was hoping it was maybe an issue that you may have had as well and there was a trick or something. Thanks
@Christopher Williams I never figure it out. Thank you I will take a look and try that!
@Christopher Williams thank you so much for telling me that!!! Idk how we didn't catch it! You saved me!!
Thanks man. This really helped.
Would it be easier to take it from the wheel well.
Robert Aguilar that’s a good question, I didn’t think about it when I was doing it. So I’m not sure..
Robert Aguilar did it work from the wheel well
Yes it is, but it's still a pain in the ass.
@@paulhetrick1759 I'm about to tackle mine grrr I want horse and buggy back
How many volts how many watts are your alternator?
Sorry, I don’t own the car anymore so I’m not sure what the specs where.
Mucho gracias Amigo!
Quick question Jeep_King, where did you grow up? I grew up in Waco, Texas.
I’m from Colombia, but grew up here in Florida.. been living here most of my life..
@@fastidiouspa Awesome, I was streaming and someone in chat asked. So I asked the question on their behalf.
Who would make an engine where you have to Jack up the engine and remove a whole lot of stuff Just to get the alternator out and my alternator is stuck, I got the bolts out which way do I turn it to get it out
Do you really have to lift the engine
dvanhoose01 I tried every which way to pull it out without lifting the engine but there was no way to do it..
@@fastidiouspa no way to get it from the bottom?
this was helpfully but i have ANOTHER WIRE and i cant get to it.The 3dr wire is behind the alternator
Lawcypoo Murphy once you loosen the alternator you can spin it to give you more access to the back of it so that you can unplug the wire that’s back there..
Good job on walking through it and lighting it up so you can really see what is going on. I've got an 07 and I've 2 different mechanics tell me they won't do this job because it's too much of a pain. Now I see why. I'm a little apprehensive to do this myself but I think I'm going to have to.
Bil Arscott to be honest it’s not that hard.. just follow the steps and you’ll be ok. The hardest part was removing the alternator out of that spot after getting it all lose but by loosening the motor and lifting it a bit, it came right out. Let me know how it goes..
Any recommendations on replacement brand? I've watched quite a few videos on UA-cam on the problems with the replacement alternators. Same problem I have - trouble with cold weather start up - all electronics flash until car warms up. This will be the 3rd for this vehicle.
If you had two people consider themselves mechanics tell you that they wouldn't do it they honestly don't deserve to call themselves mechanics. This is easy and self explanatory even without the video wouldn't be that hard
My air filter box won't slide right out