this post was submitted on 05 Sep 2023
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[Outdated, please look at pinned post] Casual Conversation
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Replacing the alternator can be either the easiest or most difficult task ever, depending on the car. But if it's a Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge, it'll always be difficult because they hate their customers.
In theory, it should always be easy. Loosen the tensioner, pop off the belt, unscrew a few things, remove a couple wires, pop it out, and perform the steps in reverse. But sometimes it gets stuck or the manufacturer requires you to practically take half the car apart to get to it.
What might help is getting a second set of hands. Sometimes it just takes one person putting the belt on while the other is holding the tensioner back.
Yes, so much this. Every time I have to do something in the engine bay, I get a friend. A six-pack, a dinner, or whatever other small favor they need in return returns gold for pennies in the investment. If only the damn engineers would have the incentive to make working in the engine as easy as changing the oil (though Subaru even fucked that one up), life would be a breeze.
Step 1 for any car repair I want to do on my own is to look at how accessible the part is. If it's easy to reach, I'll do it. That's why I like working on my old V8 F-150. Last year, I replaced the intermediate steering shaft, which I assumed would be difficult, but the entire thing is easily reachable beside the engine thanks to the huge engine bay.
It's also one reason why I don't touch my mid-engine Porsche despite very high labor rates at the shop. Besides being mid-engined, German engineering requires simple things to be weirdly complex. For example, replacing the battery can cause a control unit to forget that the car is equipped with heated seats, so they stop working.
Yeah, that's not a surprise. German and Italian imports love to have some odd complication.
They're not alone, though. GM also loves their boneheaded decisions. My parents old LeSabre had the battery go out. For some odd reason, they decided it should be placed under the back seat.