Thank you for posting this video! I just got done changing the alternator on my son's 2003 Grand Am 3.4L. I was getting quotes of $250-350 from local shops but thanks to your great video, I did the job myself and saved at least $125 or more. One tip that I would add to remove the tension on the belt. I positioned the socket wrench at the 12 o'clock mark and then slipped a 12'' piece of pipe over the end of the wrench which allowed me to push the wrench forward towards the firewall with ease and release the serpentine belt. Otherwise probably one of the easiest repair jobs I have done. Thanks again for taking the time to post this!
Good video, thanks. A little added advice for others. Before removing the electrical connector, unscrew the bolts and then you can re-orient the alternator and get better access to the clip on the connector. When re-assembling put the connector back on then seat and bolt in the alternator.
Thank you for a helpful video! I used this to change the alternator on my 1999 Pontiac Grand Am. To remove the belt, I used the Harbor Freight belt tool, Item#66344. It moved the tensioner just enough that I could slip the belt off a center pulley that had no lip. The 1999 Grand Am setup was almost exactly like the Alero shown in the video.
Good lighting and camera angles, with able camera work from your friend. This was difficult to shoot, since the only camera angle was directly over the work, with glare/reflection a constant problem. Fortunately, today's cameras automatically adjust for best contrast and even lighting. Belt adjustment and alternator replacement is not supposed to be easy for the amateur, but you show there is no mystery to it-- only the need for careful work. The best / most useful parts of your presentation are the trouble spots, where you show how to overcome each problem. Especially important is your discussion of tools and clearances-- even the AutoZone wrench that is slim enough to fit in a tight area. As you mentioned at the beginning, video about operations like this is available nowhere else, and your high approval ratio shows we appreciate your contribution. Of course, I subscribed.
Thanks man, I used this to replace my alternator. This was a huge step for me because I'm not a car guy by any means. This was really really helpful. Thank you again.
Very nice video. I have a high output alt I will be putting on soon and found the video to be super helpful. Thanks bud and thank your lady friend for helping with he camera work
HandyManCam, Great video! The camera shots are great, and I like the flow of the video. Maybe next time you can offer your assistant to take a bow. This truly helped a friend of mine save $250! It also saved me precious time in a parking lot, with -15 windchills. Thank you for providing a tools list, and showing the tricks for making it happen. I might offer a correction, the tensioner pulley lever is 3/8" square drive, and you might need a little more persuasion, so I just used a 12" long box-end wrench to get more leverage (or a short pipe over the end also works well). MK
Yes Thank U Thank U!!! As I type this my Husband is n the process of putting the new alternator n... U help us a whole lot from having to take to the shop... Really appreciate HandyManCam
Thanks! Your video was VERY HELPFUL! Just like you said, it was hard to find a good video on changing the alternator. Once I watched your video, I was able to change my alternator with no problem..and might I add that I am a DIY girl ;-)
Thank you for sharing! You have been a Godsend! I just need to change my serpentine belt and I had a feeling it couldn't be that difficult. I'd rather do it myself, if I can. With this video, I'm confident I can. I have the right tools for the job, so that's half the battle. Armed with the right knowledge, the other half. I can't thank you enough! God bless!
This is exactly why I made this video. Thank you for your kind words! If you need any help let me know! I'll be checking back to make sure. Good luck! I have faith, you got this!
Great video! I'm having an issue with the spacing between the square hole and the metal on the other side. Oddly enough, the space I have available is so thing that even one of the super thin long tools built for this purpose wont even fit, much less any socket wrench I have available. :( We even took a hammer and tried to beat the tools through the space and no dice. Any ideas what could have caused this?
Hey man thanks this is real helpful! I just have a quick question. My serpentine belt has been noisy lately and I've been keeping an eye on it. Well today I noticed that while the car was running, (belt spinning of course) the tensioner seemed to be wiggling a little. I realize it is spring loaded and all but I just wanted to check if that was normal? Thanks!
GOOD VIDEO NICE DETAIL i WOULD BUY SOME TOOLS IF YOU PLANE ON DOING TO MUCH WORK TO THESE THINGS AND THEY MAKE A TOOL FOR THAT SERPENTINE BELT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN CHEAPER THAN THAT RATCHET BUT GOOD VIDEO
Caution: That red wire being held on with a nut is not a ground. It feeds the voltage directly to the battery. The battery case is grounded, not the cable.
@handymancam . I m trying to change my belt in 01 olds. alero. I can't find the tool youre using to loosen the tensioner. It's a torque wrench , but I can't find that specific measurement. is that the right size that you said 3/5??
That's what I want to know too... They should not say that this video is a 'how to' for changing that belt cuz they never changed it, just loosened it.
I believe so. At the time of the video I was only concerned with replacing the alternator and since I had to take off the belt I added it to the title. I think your right and its easy, just jack up the engine as you take off the bolts for the motor mount bracket. The left or closest to belt motor bracket of course. BUT my video does show you where the belt tension pulley is and how to release it.
Here's some valuable information I'd like to share. If you get your parts from a wrecking yard, like I do, make sure you are getting an alternator made by the same manufacturer as the one you are changing. Or you will be frustrated to find out that the brackets are not the same. Also, be sure to support the engine with a wood block when removing that motor mount! But you do need a jack to relieve a bit of the weight on the studs... Or nuts... Or combination of the two. That's the only way you'll get them loose. And finally, if you can afford to take your Alero to a mechanic when it needs work done, you should definitely do so. Retain your sanity. LOL
That’s the easy one! Show me a video on doing the same to a 1997 Olds Aurora 4.0 North Star V8. Than I’ll give props!!! PS- much easier up in the air and doing it from underneath...
To answer your question I didn't experience any squeaking. I knew it was the alternator when I had gone through multiple batteries in a span of 1-2 years. Also the car wasn't holding a charge anymore. The squeaking could be coming from an idler pulley or another component that the serpentine powers. Check out How to fix a squeaky belt (figure out where the squeak is coming from). Hope that helps.
Thank you for posting this video! I just got done changing the alternator on my son's 2003 Grand Am 3.4L. I was getting quotes of $250-350 from local shops but thanks to your great video, I did the job myself and saved at least $125 or more. One tip that I would add to remove the tension on the belt. I positioned the socket wrench at the 12 o'clock mark and then slipped a 12'' piece of pipe over the end of the wrench which allowed me to push the wrench forward towards the firewall with ease and release the serpentine belt. Otherwise probably one of the easiest repair jobs I have done. Thanks again for taking the time to post this!
My alero is sitting in a parking lot waiting for me to bring it a new alternator. Thank you Soooo much for this video!
Awesome that's why I made this video! Hope it went well for you!
Ya had some weird angles going on brother, but godammed we got that alternator in there. Thank you very much sir.
Good video, thanks. A little added advice for others. Before removing the electrical connector, unscrew the bolts and then you can re-orient the alternator and get better access to the clip on the connector. When re-assembling put the connector back on then seat and bolt in the alternator.
Thank you for a helpful video! I used this to change the alternator on my 1999 Pontiac Grand Am. To remove the belt, I used the Harbor Freight belt tool, Item#66344. It moved the tensioner just enough that I could slip the belt off a center pulley that had no lip. The 1999 Grand Am setup was almost exactly like the Alero shown in the video.
Good lighting and camera angles, with able camera work from your friend. This was difficult to shoot, since the only camera angle was directly over the work, with glare/reflection a constant problem. Fortunately, today's cameras automatically adjust for best contrast and even lighting.
Belt adjustment and alternator replacement is not supposed to be easy for the amateur, but you show there is no mystery to it-- only the need for careful work. The best / most useful parts of your presentation are the trouble spots, where you show how to overcome each problem.
Especially important is your discussion of tools and clearances-- even the AutoZone wrench that is slim enough to fit in a tight area. As you mentioned at the beginning, video about operations like this is available nowhere else, and your high approval ratio shows we appreciate your contribution. Of course, I subscribed.
Props to you I hate working on vans such a pain in the ass
Thanks man, I used this to replace my alternator. This was a huge step for me because I'm not a car guy by any means. This was really really helpful. Thank you again.
Very nice video. I have a high output alt I will be putting on soon and found the video to be super helpful. Thanks bud and thank your lady friend for helping with he camera work
HandyManCam,
Great video! The camera shots are great, and I like the flow of the video. Maybe next time you can offer your assistant to take a bow.
This truly helped a friend of mine save $250! It also saved me precious time in a parking lot, with -15 windchills. Thank you for providing a tools list, and showing the tricks for making it happen. I might offer a correction, the tensioner pulley lever is 3/8" square drive, and you might need a little more persuasion, so I just used a 12" long box-end wrench to get more leverage (or a short pipe over the end also works well).
MK
Awesome Dan! Made my day. Thanks for the positive comment!
Dan A-- Thanks for the tip about the tensioner pulley lever, since we never could anticipate that problem until face-to-face with it.
Yes Thank U Thank U!!! As I type this my Husband is n the process of putting the new alternator n... U help us a whole lot from having to take to the shop... Really appreciate HandyManCam
Thanks, very helpfui in changing my Grand Am Alt. Only difference was the tensioner used a 3/8 inch square drive.
Thanks! Your video was VERY HELPFUL! Just like you said, it was hard to find a good video on changing the alternator. Once I watched your video, I was able to change my alternator with no problem..and might I add that I am a DIY girl ;-)
This was the better video ever, thank you soooo much❤❤❤
Thank you for sharing! You have been a Godsend! I just need to change my serpentine belt and I had a feeling it couldn't be that difficult. I'd rather do it myself, if I can. With this video, I'm confident I can. I have the right tools for the job, so that's half the battle. Armed with the right knowledge, the other half. I can't thank you enough! God bless!
This is exactly why I made this video. Thank you for your kind words! If you need any help let me know! I'll be checking back to make sure. Good luck! I have faith, you got this!
thanks.. I need to do this in the morning. I know what to do now and what to expect.
You are a god send! Thank you for this video!
Thank you I've gotta do this to my Malibu today after work :/
Bro thank you, helped my whole day.
Thanks for a well lit vid. I have to replace similar (1997 Pontiac Trans Sport van). This will help.
Extremely helpful thank u so much 👍
This video is on point. Thank you.
Thank you! Very helpful!
Help me out big time with this video good looking out!
Very helpful...thanks !!! 👌🏼
excellent video
Very helpful thanks
How do u take the belt off the motor mounts are in the way from taking it off???
Great video! I'm having an issue with the spacing between the square hole and the metal on the other side. Oddly enough, the space I have available is so thing that even one of the super thin long tools built for this purpose wont even fit, much less any socket wrench I have available. :( We even took a hammer and tried to beat the tools through the space and no dice. Any ideas what could have caused this?
Hey man thanks this is real helpful! I just have a quick question. My serpentine belt has been noisy lately and I've been keeping an eye on it. Well today I noticed that while the car was running, (belt spinning of course) the tensioner seemed to be wiggling a little. I realize it is spring loaded and all but I just wanted to check if that was normal? Thanks!
THANKS AWESOME VIDEO REALLY HELPFUL! GOD BLESS U! PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO ADD FLUID TO TRANSMISSION ON A OLDSMOBILE ALERO 2000
GOOD VIDEO NICE DETAIL i WOULD BUY SOME TOOLS IF YOU PLANE ON DOING TO MUCH WORK TO THESE THINGS AND THEY MAKE A TOOL FOR THAT SERPENTINE BELT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN CHEAPER THAN THAT RATCHET BUT GOOD VIDEO
Thank you!!
What if the square socket doesn't turn? @HandyManCam
thank you
Caution: That red wire being held on with a nut is not a ground. It feeds the voltage directly to the battery. The battery case is grounded, not the cable.
@handymancam . I m trying to change my belt in 01 olds. alero. I can't find the tool youre using to loosen the tensioner. It's a torque wrench , but I can't find that specific measurement. is that the right size that you said 3/5??
its a 3/8 drive ratchet
If you were going to replace the serpentine belt, would you have had to take off the motor mount and put a jack under the engine?
That's what I want to know too... They should not say that this video is a 'how to' for changing that belt cuz they never changed it, just loosened it.
I believe so. At the time of the video I was only concerned with replacing the alternator and since I had to take off the belt I added it to the title. I think your right and its easy, just jack up the engine as you take off the bolts for the motor mount bracket. The left or closest to belt motor bracket of course. BUT my video does show you where the belt tension pulley is and how to release it.
Here's some valuable information I'd like to share. If you get your parts from a wrecking yard, like I do, make sure you are getting an alternator made by the same manufacturer as the one you are changing. Or you will be frustrated to find out that the brackets are not the same. Also, be sure to support the engine with a wood block when removing that motor mount! But you do need a jack to relieve a bit of the weight on the studs... Or nuts... Or combination of the two. That's the only way you'll get them loose. And finally, if you can afford to take your Alero to a mechanic when it needs work done, you should definitely do so. Retain your sanity. LOL
Get the belt tool, your standard wrench will get jammed against the frame.
That’s the easy one! Show me a video on doing the same to a 1997 Olds Aurora 4.0 North Star V8. Than I’ll give props!!! PS- much easier up in the air and doing it from underneath...
should show to remove belt out of vehicle and reinstall
Bro I never took the belt off you just unhooked it
did you ever experience any squeaking with your car?
To answer your question I didn't experience any squeaking. I knew it was the alternator when I had gone through multiple batteries in a span of 1-2 years. Also the car wasn't holding a charge anymore. The squeaking could be coming from an idler pulley or another component that the serpentine powers. Check out How to fix a squeaky belt (figure out where the squeak is coming from). Hope that helps.
your'e supposed to disconnect the negative battery cable first
Eli Martinez Indeed. I mentioned that about 5 mins in. Just didn't edit it.
did not replace serpentine belt