How do I remove the alternator?

Tiny
MIKE3202
  • MEMBER
  • 2000 TOYOTA CAMRY
How do I remove the alternator? Im in progress of what I've done so far, I've yet to remove the bolts. What do I need to do next?

Thanks, Bob
Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010 AT 12:52 PM

21 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,643 POSTS
Hello,

Start by disconnecting the battery. Here is a guide to help you see what you are in for when doing the job.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-an-alternator

you should test it when finished as well.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-alternator

and

https://www.2carpros.com/diagrams/toyota/camry/2000

REMOVE GENERATOR
Loosen the adjusting lock bolt (w/ A/C), adjusting bolt and pivot bolt. Torque:
Pivot bolt: 52 Nm (530 kg.cm, 38 ft.lb)
Adjusting lock bolt (W/ A/C) or adjusting bolt (w/o A/C) 18 Nm (185 kg.cm, 13 ft.lb)
Remove the drive belt.
Remove the adjusting lock bolt (w/ A/C) or adjusting bolt (w/o A/C) and pivot bolt.
Remove the generator.

Here are some diagrams of how the job is done on your car (below) for both the 4 and 6 cylinder engines.

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers
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Monday, November 20th, 2017 AT 2:25 PM
Tiny
BURNIECAMSTRADDEN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 125,000 MILES
Electrical problem
1999 Toyota Camry 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Manual 125000 miles

I have replaced three alternators in the last six months. They lasted from several months to less than three weeks. There must be a problem other than just a worn out alternator. What or where should I be looking for the root problem?
Thanks
Burnie
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Monday, November 20th, 2017 AT 2:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DAVE H
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,383 POSTS
Check you do not have the belt tension set to high. Check the belt is aligned correctly

BELT TENSION SPECIFICATIONS (4-CYLINDER) (1)
ApplicationNew Belt Lbs. (Kg)Used Belt Lbs. (Kg)
Camry, Camry Solara & RAV4
Generator
With A/C140-190 (64-86)100-120 (45-54)
Without A/C100-150 (45-68)75-115 (34-52)
Power Steering95-145 (43-66)60-100 (27-45)
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Monday, November 20th, 2017 AT 2:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BOBBYCALVILLO
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 100,000 MILES
Electrical problem
1999 Toyota Camry 4 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic 100000 miles

I have a 1999 Toyota camry and the fuse keeps blowing. It doesn't let me operate any windows and the odometer and everything in that dash does not operate. The strange thing is that it drains my battery completely dead. I also replaced the alternator, but I do not believe that it was effected by the electrical short. Any idea what the problem is and how to fix it. The fuse just keeps blowing when I change it. Mechanics are no help because I have found many have no clue about electrical issues.
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Monday, November 20th, 2017 AT 2:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Hi bobbycalvillo,

Thank you for the donation.

To understand what could possibly be wrong, I need to know what fuse is blowing.

How long has this been happening?
Was any repairs done prior to this happening?
Any impact damages when this startted?

Apart from those stated, any other electrical components not working?
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Monday, November 20th, 2017 AT 2:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KIMSNOW1991
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 178,000 MILES
Gauges stopped working and then the altenator went dead. I replaced the altenator, fuses, and some wires. Mechanic told me the reason that happened was because I have a short in the speedometer cluster and it will need to get replaced or the altenator will go dead again? Please advise me what to do?
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Monday, November 20th, 2017 AT 2:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,755 POSTS
I don't know what wires you replaced, but if there is a short in the cluster, be careful. It could cause a fire. As far as the alt, is the gauge in the vehicle showing a discharge?
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Monday, November 20th, 2017 AT 2:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MARTINTF54
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 180,000 MILES
Electrical problem
1999 Toyota Camry 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 180000 miles

My car was working fine, but couple days ago it stopped charging the battery. I decided it was the alternator or the battery so I got them checked. They both checked good at the autoparts. I decided to buy a new alternator, ad installed it. It still doesnt charge the battery and the car looses power and eventually turns off. If it has a brand new alternator, and the battery is in new conditions also, what can be causing the car no to charge or power up the engine with the alternator? Please help me.
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Monday, November 20th, 2017 AT 2:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Test all the fuses and fusible link see charging system below


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/12900_c1_24.jpg




https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/12900_c2_22.jpg

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Monday, November 20th, 2017 AT 2:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
NEEDHELP112
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
  • 2000 TOYOTA CAMRY
Electrical problem
2000 Toyota Camry 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

Hi all. I am having a problem with my car. At first, when I tried to start it, no luck. Figured it was just a weak battery. I then had it jump started. It help up for the day.

After that, I bought a brand new battery. It stared the car fine for a month. After that, it drained overnight.

I then figured it was a bad alternator. Got that replaced, and then up to this point, the new alternator is not even able to keep the car running! Basically the car would be running off of the battery's charge, and shut down after draining it. A running engine should not need a battery at all, but in my case, it pulls juice from the battery.

My conclusion is that the something is keeping the alternator from flowing it's generated power to keep the engine running.

What could it be? Wire problems? Fuse? Rotor/field coil (whatever that is)?

Please help. I am so lost.
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Monday, November 20th, 2017 AT 2:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Get the new battery and alternator load tested and comeback with the testing results we start here.
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Monday, November 20th, 2017 AT 2:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
NEEDHELP112
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
How do you do that? Where do I start? I have a multimeter.
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Monday, November 20th, 2017 AT 2:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
NEEDHELP112
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Okay, I check the alternator today. It does put out power. I am getting a reading 0f 11.90-12 volts, at the alternators terminal.

So while spinning, the laternator is producing power. Only problem is that it is not transferring the power to keep the engine running via the distributor. Only the battery is powering the distributor while engine is running.

I checked fuses. Nothing blown.

So besides bad cables, what else could be the problem?

And BTW, if the battery terminals where to be corroded/bad, then how would that impair the alternator's ability to power the engine distributor? Would it just impair the ability to charge the battery?

My problem is that the alternator on its own won't power the distributor to keep the engine running. It's ability to charge up the battery is just a side-effect I believe. If alternator cannot get power to keep engine running, it won't be able to charge battery reguardless. Right?

Thanks for all the info so far everyone.
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Monday, November 20th, 2017 AT 2:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
NEEDHELP112
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
So any ideas?
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Monday, November 20th, 2017 AT 2:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
THEIRONMAN117
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2000 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 81,000 MILES
Electrical problem
2000 Toyota Camry 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 81000 miles

Hey I have a 2000 Toyota camry with 81000 miles on it and I have gotten subwoofers put in that run @ 600 watts max and new front and back speakers that run at a relatively low power I'm not very sure what they run at and I just got a new head unit installed and I tunes my subwoofers and noticed that my lights dim whenever the sound is at a high volume, and I was wondering if it's possible to run 2 alternators on it or to just get a capacitor. Or just get a new alternator, but what should I do?
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Monday, November 20th, 2017 AT 2:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEVIN12881
  • MEMBER
  • 336 POSTS
I think your alt puts out 80amps, but you can buy a high performance amp for it. I didnt see any at advanced's wab site, but you can call the store. You are looking to get one with around 120-130 amps, but im no expert in this field so talk to the pros at advanced and see if this will effect your battery at all, but im positive it will not. Here is a site with a 130amp alt for your car, but there was no place to enter in v6 and im not sure if the bolt up is the same for 4c and v6. Let me know what you think, what you decide, and how it goes please
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Monday, November 20th, 2017 AT 2:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEVIN12881
  • MEMBER
  • 336 POSTS
Sorry, here is a that site with the alt selected, but it will do you no good because it is for the 4c, you will have to ask advanced if the alts are the same for the will offer 180 amps at 1600 rms it has manufacture numbers on it that it will replace, just find yours out. And for this big boy it does say some modification is need for the battery cable, here is the wording copied and pasted " A 2 gauge (or better) power cable required to complete your upgrade. The power cable mounted between the Battery Positive and Alternator charge post is needed as an additional path for current for the best battery maintenance during higher than normal load times. Use an inline fuse in this additional power cable mounted closer to the battery side. This picture (not representative of the correct car) shows a 4 Gauge Power Cable Upgrade, but for this Alternator You will need a 2 gauge or larger with 150 Amp inline fuse. "
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Monday, November 20th, 2017 AT 2:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MATKLANG
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 127,000 MILES
Electrical problem
1999 Toyota Camry 4 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic 127000 miles

Need some advice on best way to loosen/remove belt connected to Alternator. My alternator has failed, does not charge my battery. I got a used alternator from salvage yard.
I am not sure method to increase slack on belt to slip it off, to replace alternator. Do not want to force/damage belt
Appreciate any advice..thanks!


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/366317_001_1.jpg



https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/366317_002_1.jpg



https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/366317_003_1.jpg

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Monday, November 20th, 2017 AT 2:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BILLYMAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,204 POSTS
Hi the bolt in your pic that goes straight down and closest to the radiator is your tension bolt. Right beneath this bolt there is another bolt going horizontal. Loosen this bolt and turn the vertical bolt ccw. The belt will release install in reverse billymac
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Monday, November 20th, 2017 AT 2:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
VERORODRIGUEZ7
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 0.5L
  • 4 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 300,000 MILES
Hi guys

My friend replaced the alternator on my daughters car and it ran fine for the first day. On the second day it left her stranded. We noticed that one of the wires of the alternator was left hanging and the wires were burned with the heat. Now we are wondering what the name of this piece is and if it can be bought or replaced? Thank you for your help.
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Wednesday, November 22nd, 2017 AT 10:29 AM (Merged)

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