From 3.8Wiki
You can test the alternator on or off the car if need be. Replacing the alternator yourself is an easy task, saving you money and giving you valuable experience under the hood.
Disconnect the negative on the battery before proceeding
Remember the belt path for reinstall.
Locate the belt tensioner on the passenger side of the engine near the crank pulley.
To unload the tension on the belt, use a 18mm socket and pull up on the tensioner.
While doing so, remove the belt from the pulley and slowly lower the tensioner. A long breaker bar or rigging up leverage like I did will help ease the process.
Place the belt aside for reinstall later.
Remove the two harnesses located on the top of the alternator. Be careful not the break the locking tabs.
Using a 10mm socket, remove the nut securing the main power harness on the back of the alternator.
You should have no wires running to the alternator now. Move the harness with the three connections aside.
Remove the top bolt using a 13mm socket. Remove the bottom bolt using a 15mm socket. The short one is the top bolt, bottom is the long one.
Set them in a safe place.
Wiggle the alternator back and forth while pulling upwards to free it from it's mount.
You can now take the alternator somewhere for testing and/or replace it with a new one. Install is reverse. Remember to secure all connections, especially the nut holding the main power wire on the back of the alternator.
--Kuplex 12:55, 26 June 2007 (CDT)
