How do you replace the alternator on a 2001 Nissan Maxima?

Answer 1

Jack up the right front wheel and place the car on jack stands. Remove the wheel and the inspection plate behind it. Loosen the nut in the center of the belt tensioner and then back off the tension using the tension adjuster from the top of the engine. Undo the belt and unbolt the tensioner itself and remove it to get it out of the way. Unbolt the A/C compressor (4 bolts), but DON'T undo the A/C hose or clutch wire - just let it hang down out of the way. Remove the ground wire from the battery. Undo the bracket that holds the top of the alternator in place and remove it. Unbolt the positive cable from the alternator and unplug the wires to the voltage regulator (squeeze and gently pull it out - don't break it). Now the hard part - you have to reach the head of the bolt holding the alternator on with a 14mm box end wrench and back it out. There's not much room here, but it can be done. Pull the bolt out with your fingers (oh by the way, you can't see what your doing you have to work by feel). Now the alternator can be dropped out the bottom past the A/C compressor. Installation is the reverse procedure. One tip - when you try to put that stupid bolt back in that stupid place where you can't see, all the while trying to hold the new alternator into position with one hand and shove the bolt back in with the other, you're going to find it hard to get everything lined up so the bolt will go back in. What I did that helped was to take a small bolt and place it in from the other end so the alt. would hang on it temporarily until I could get the bolt lined up and inserted. Also if you have a tapered steel rod of some kind it helps line up the holes (I used a nail set). Good luck and expect skinned knuckles. I have not got as far as replacing the alt, when taking out I unplugged the A/C wire and that gave me more room (not easy to do) and if you have a Ratcheting box end much easier to take that blind bolt out. With A/C lower you can see the darn thing.