Alternator replacement
Fleet Owner
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 27,872
Likes: 3,592
No need for a special tool. If you have a helper it is best. You can pull on the belt from the passenger side while your buddy flips the tab to lock it in. Then just change it out. Some people "bungie" the belt to keep in in tension and prevent it fropm slipping off of a pulley.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
From: northeast missouri
on person can do it. i did, but it takes some muscle to get that belt back on. i loosened up the four bolt and took off the connections with the altennator loosened you can slip the belt off. putting it back on is kinda the reverse of that. i tipped the alt up so that you could get the belt on the pully, then just push it down so that it sits on the stand after that you can start putting the bolts back in by starting in the back then the front BE SURE not to cross thread the bolts when you are putting them back in. This might take a couple trys to get the holes lined up but it worked for me.
on edit: i did it this way because i was on the side of the road and running out of daylight to remove the fan shroud and stuff to get to the tensioner pully to loosen it up and i didn't know about the lock on the tensioner this way seemed the fastest way to get it running again.
on edit: i did it this way because i was on the side of the road and running out of daylight to remove the fan shroud and stuff to get to the tensioner pully to loosen it up and i didn't know about the lock on the tensioner this way seemed the fastest way to get it running again.
Last edited by havns3; Nov 29, 2010 at 04:26 PM. Reason: added more to my ramblin's
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 417
Likes: 0
From: Southdakota
Just did mine tonight... Take a good look on the passenger side of the tensioner and you should see a little tab... kinda like a kick stand... Anyway just pull the belt towards the passenger fender and reach down to put the "kick stand" in. works great!!
With that said... I too did it the hard way the first time and it can be done but once I found the tensioner tab life was much easier!
Good luck!
With that said... I too did it the hard way the first time and it can be done but once I found the tensioner tab life was much easier!
Good luck!
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 675
Likes: 1
From: NV
When I did mine I had a long screwdriver (a stick, bar or heavy wire would also work) that I used to lift the tab. When you are pulling on the belt it's hard to reach down to the idler pulley.
When you are done a quick pull on the belt and the tab falls down.
When you are done a quick pull on the belt and the tab falls down.
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Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Bloomington
Alternator
Thank you all for the advise. I looked down and saw the "kick stand", now it doesn't look so bad to do. Thanks again.
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New User
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
I just replaced my alternator today . It started flickering only when I stepped hard on gas pedal and it left me stock at the house yesterday morning .
I found the tap you all talk about but could not figure or see what to do with it . Very little clearance .Tried to use a 1/2 long rachet on the tensioner but did not have enough clearance to do it (I saw the speclal too in the internet and will be buying one) .
Took off the hot wire to alternator, insulated with black tape, took connector of with the help of a small screwdriver to let the tap go , took off all three bolts, leaned the alternator foward and took off the belt , used a bungee cord to the belt and hooked on the hood openings. Installed alternator on the belt leaning foward , tilted back and pushed back on the unit from the back of it to settle flat , line up the holes and tightenned.
Voila !
Love my 6.0 !!!!
Roberto.
I found the tap you all talk about but could not figure or see what to do with it . Very little clearance .Tried to use a 1/2 long rachet on the tensioner but did not have enough clearance to do it (I saw the speclal too in the internet and will be buying one) .
Took off the hot wire to alternator, insulated with black tape, took connector of with the help of a small screwdriver to let the tap go , took off all three bolts, leaned the alternator foward and took off the belt , used a bungee cord to the belt and hooked on the hood openings. Installed alternator on the belt leaning foward , tilted back and pushed back on the unit from the back of it to settle flat , line up the holes and tightenned.
Voila !
Love my 6.0 !!!!
Roberto.
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 675
Likes: 1
From: NV
When you pull back on the belt, just below the alternator pulley, the idler/tensioner lifts up. If you have pulled hard enough you can lift the little tab that is under the pulley. Release the belt and the tab holds the pulley allowing you to change the belt. I found that I needed a long screwdriver to reach the tab but a stick or coathanger would work as well. When you are done pull the belt again and the tab drops down.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 944
Likes: 0
From: Happy Valley, Oregon
I just replaced my alternator today . It started flickering only when I stepped hard on gas pedal and it left me stock at the house yesterday morning .
I found the tap you all talk about but could not figure or see what to do with it . Very little clearance .Tried to use a 1/2 long rachet on the tensioner but did not have enough clearance to do it (I saw the speclal too in the internet and will be buying one) .
Took off the hot wire to alternator, insulated with black tape, took connector of with the help of a small screwdriver to let the tap go , took off all three bolts, leaned the alternator foward and took off the belt , used a bungee cord to the belt and hooked on the hood openings. Installed alternator on the belt leaning foward , tilted back and pushed back on the unit from the back of it to settle flat , line up the holes and tightenned.
Voila !
Love my 6.0 !!!!
Roberto.
I found the tap you all talk about but could not figure or see what to do with it . Very little clearance .Tried to use a 1/2 long rachet on the tensioner but did not have enough clearance to do it (I saw the speclal too in the internet and will be buying one) .
Took off the hot wire to alternator, insulated with black tape, took connector of with the help of a small screwdriver to let the tap go , took off all three bolts, leaned the alternator foward and took off the belt , used a bungee cord to the belt and hooked on the hood openings. Installed alternator on the belt leaning foward , tilted back and pushed back on the unit from the back of it to settle flat , line up the holes and tightenned.
Voila !
Love my 6.0 !!!!
Roberto.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 15,368
Likes: 121
From: Stuttgart, Ar
Just for grins and giggles--with the truck running check one of your batteries for AC (not DC) volts and see if you have more than .3 or .4 vAC and post back?? Make sure that you have the leads the proper polarity on the VOM and battery. Doing some research here.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 944
Likes: 0
From: Happy Valley, Oregon
DC Power is the BEST way to go for an alternator IMHO.
Just for grins and giggles--with the truck running check one of your batteries for AC (not DC) volts and see if you have more than .3 or .4 vAC and post back?? Make sure that you have the leads the proper polarity on the VOM and battery. Doing some research here.
Just for grins and giggles--with the truck running check one of your batteries for AC (not DC) volts and see if you have more than .3 or .4 vAC and post back?? Make sure that you have the leads the proper polarity on the VOM and battery. Doing some research here.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 15,368
Likes: 121
From: Stuttgart, Ar
Correct. I'm sure that if you reverse the leads you'll get nothing. I got 31.8 from mine red to positive black to negative and 0.00 reversed. Reversed will also give you a negative DC volt reading as a check.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 944
Likes: 0
From: Happy Valley, Oregon
31.8? I thought you were looking for .3 or .4. What does that hight number mean?
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 15,368
Likes: 121
From: Stuttgart, Ar
Let me know how yours comes out please? Shoot me a PM or my old self might fergit.