i had to replace my 3 month old battery today because when i came out from work it was completely dead. i was able to replace the battery with a brand new oen from autozone but im gonna replace the atl tomorrow just in case. i know there are 2 bolts that hold the alt to teh bracket but how do u adjust the tension, and will the alt coem out from the top or does it have to come out the bottom?

oh yeah, its an 85gt 4speed no ac

Two bolts. One on top, the other underneath. The bottom hole it slotted, and thats were you will apply your tension for the belt.

-Remove both bolts and pull it out of the top or bottom, bot have plenty of room.
-Install the new alt. and re-thread bolts.
-Finger tighten the top bolt, leave the bottom one loose.
-Take a large breaker bar or crowbar and apply pressure on the alt. casing, putting tension on the alt..
-Have some one else tighten the bottom bolt or try to do it with one hand while applying pressure on the bar with the other.
-Tighten the top bolt.

2.8L are very bad about slipping the belt when wet or cold, that's the reason for the almost exsessive tension. Don't put too much tension on the belt though or it will wear a bearing in the alt.

I replaced an alt. in an Advance Auto parking lot one time, with my girlfriend patiently waiting. Took about 30 mins to buy and install the entire thing. Its the tension part on the belt that's tricky.

Spelling... silly laptop keyboards...

[This message has been edited by Emc209i (edited 01-20-2007).]

Heres a easy way around --not having to fool with this again--very well engineered--save alot of head-ache , time and money.. Also a good time to install it..
https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum4/HTML/034366.html

quote Originally posted by Emc209i: Two bolts. One on top, the other underneath. The bottom hole it slotted, and thats were you will apply your tension for the belt. -Remove both bolts and pull it out of the top or bottom, bot have plenty of room. -Install the new alt. and re-thread bolts. -Finger tighten the top bolt, leave the bottom one loose. -Take a large breaker bar or crowbar and apply pressure on the alt. casing, putting tension on the alt.. -Have some one else tighten the bottom bolt or try to do it with one hand while applying pressure on the bar with the other. -Tighten the top bolt. 2.8L are very bad about slipping the belt when wet or cold, that's the reason for the almost exsessive tension. Don't put too much tension on the belt though or it will wear a bearing in the alt. I replaced an alt. in an Advance Auto parking lot one time, with my girlfriend patiently waiting. Took about 30 mins to buy and install the entire thing. Its the tension part on the belt that's tricky. Spelling... silly laptop keyboards...

ok, so where am i applying the tension w the breaker bar?to the top of the alt or the bottom? im a lil confused , where does the alt pivot so that it can be adjusted?

If your looking at it through the pass-side rear wheel well, you`ll want to move the alt to the left or rear of the car. And upwards, you can`t get/pry it from the top--with out alot of difficulty. You`ll see the bottom bolt slides through a long slit in the lower part of the alt bracket, use a pry bar, wedge between the lower portion of the alt (closest the ground) and some thing up front in that area that won`t break with pressure (it will fall into place) once you get a look down there. It only has one way to go.

wtf is the deal with this bottom bolt? i cant reach it for the life of me and its a bolt and nut thingy not a threaded into the bracket job like the top one. any tips on how to get this off?im stuck

quote Originally posted by romeo: wtf is the deal with this bottom bolt? i cant reach it for the life of me and its a bolt and nut thingy not a threaded into the bracket job like the top one. any tips on how to get this off?im stuck

Are you accessing it from the rear wheel well? Or the top ?

i tried it from the top and from the bottomof the car w me layin onthe ground. should i be tryin to get at it from teh wheelwell?

quote Originally posted by romeo: i tried it from the top and from the bottomof the car w me layin onthe ground. should i be tryin to get at it from teh wheelwell?

It will give you better access to take off the rear wheel & remove the wheel well insert and go in through there--unless you can get the car high enough--like on a rack. But if your pulling 14.6 --your doing fine--I wouldn`t worry about it right now..

Ditto on not bothering with swapping the Alt out. 14.6 volts with the lights on is a really great reading. Swapping it out might result in new problems like broken or stripped bolts, and squealing belts.

Don't ask me how, but I did manage to break the upper pivot bolt on one once. I had to replace the entire alt bracket.

[This message has been edited by topcat (edited 01-20-2007).]

quote Originally posted by topcat: Ditto on not bothering with swapping the Alt out. 14.6 volts with the lights on is a really great reading. Swapping it out might result in new problems like broken or stripped bolts, and alopping squa belts squealing belts. Don't ask me how, but I did manage to break the upper pivot bolt on one once. I had to replace the entire alt bracket.

well, readnig a lot of the older posts about bad alternators giving bad readings on teh tach
( which i have) and draining batteries even tho they are showing good charge i decided to take it out and replace it anyway. yes, i broke the bolt and yes ive been outside for like 4 hrs now and im dead frozen . i had to give in and take the whole damn bracket out cause i snapped the pivot bolt on the bottom and i couldnt get the alternator to slide back up into the bracket properly to slide the top bolt thru. ugh. i hate this car right now...lol
i need a break

The car's voltmeter is notorious for giving readings that are not very accurate. However if you put a multimeter on the car and read 14.6 volts, you are replacing a good alternator... unless it is shorting out when it warms up

Take a break, get warmed up, it’s easier to get the broken bolt and bracket assembled inside where its warm anyways although that may not be much consolation at the moment.

If you can jack up the rear of your fiero and use some safety stands, that will afford you lots of extra elbow room underneath.

Here is my one-man alternator tightening trick for you. I use my jack handle as a lever against the engine brackets and alternator then since I left my wooden wedge at work I wedged a hammer handle to apply tension.

See how I have the handle in there?



I wedged in my hammer against the trunk wall to apply tension.



My belt don't squeel.

Don’t forget to use dielectric grease on the main alternator connector.

You mentioned that your battery went dead, you may wish to pick up an inexpensive test light, about $10 bucks, and check at the battery for current flowing when the car is off. Pull fuses until you find the circiut that is drawing power. I’d look at the headlight circiuts first.

Good luck with the project, hope this helps.

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jetman
Silver 86 SE 2M6 4-speed, with "check wallet light"

ok, i got the alternator finlly put in. started it up and guess what? it ddnt squeal...ok, thats a good start. so then i connect the multimeter to it and its 14.7 with teh lights and heater on full blast. i leae it running tht way for like 3-4 mins and it worked its way doen to 14.4-14.3 back and forth. is that normal?

Yes, it is normal for the voltage to slowly drop. It should steady out at around 14.4 volts. Some are a little lower. Once mine is warmed up it drops to about 13.8.

with all accessories running?

If you are reading 14 volts with all accessories running you have a pretty good alternator. When I have my AC on full, headlights on, wipers on, and radio on I will get about 12.8 volts. Turn it all off and I am back at around 13.8.

Yea you're good. Good job on getting it all back together too! Just watch the charging power on your dash when going through rain. Sometimes the belt will hold pretty well until getting into wet weather, then it may slip while going down the road and you won't notice unless you see the lights flicker or the needle drop.

+ for your ambitious success!

thanx!!!

now if i could jus get that tach to read properly id be happy...lol

why ddnt these cars come with a stinkin battery meter?!?

Well some of them did. Standard equipment on the 84's, and some 86+ V6 models with the aux guage package.

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1984 Fiero SE

If you look on the bottom of the alternator... there is a boss to put a wrench to tighten it.. I believe a 5/8 or 15mm fits it....

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'86 Fastback SE 5 spd -'00 HD 1200XL Sportster -'99 Chevy K-1500 Z-71

romeo, Glad to hear its working --also A+ for sticking with the job in this nasty cold wheather.

the boss( where the adjustment bolt tightens)where the lower bolt is on the back side of the alternator is a 19mm ,i just put my alternator on, and that you need a 19 mm stubby open end wrench ,then you can tighten the alt from the bottom,

Yes, you're correct, 19MM wrench on the boss, sometimes it's smaller like a 17MM. Here's a picture for illistration.



I installed my CS alternator here.
https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/073614.html