How to Remove & Replace a Chevy Avalanche Alternator
- 1). Disconnect the positive battery cable from the battery. Using the open-end wrenches, remove the positive cable from the battery terminal. Make sure that the car is off and that the keys are not in the ignition when you do this.
- 2). Remove the fan belt. The fan belt is the belt that runs around the components in the front of the engine compartment. To remove it, place a ratchet on the tensioner pulley (the pulley that has some of the belt running along it). Place the breaker bar on the end of the ratchet to add leverage. Pull down on the bar to release tension from the belt system and slip the belt off of the pulley.
- 3). Disconnect the positive battery cable from the alternator. To remove the cable from the alternator, use the ratchet and socket to loosen and remove the bolt and nut holding it on. Unplug the wiring harness from the alternator.
- 4). Unbolt the alternator. The alternator is bolted into the engine with two bolts. One bolt is on the top of it and the other is underneath it. Use the ratchet and socket set to remove the bolts. Lift the alternator out of the engine.
- 5). Install the new alternator. To install the new one, simply reverse your steps. First, physically re-bolt it in and then reattach the wiring harness and battery cable to the alternator.
- 6). Reattach the fan belt. Pull the tensioner pulley back down and slip the belt back over each of the components. Each vehicle has a diagram of how the belt should be looped around each engine component. If the pulley is attached incorrectly the vehicle will not work.
- 7). Reattach the positive battery cable.
