Loosen belt around 1998 dodge intrepid alternator

The alternator does not have to be loosened.

The tensioner mount has a square hole in it for inserting a ratchet or a breaker bar. Pull the tensioner in the direction which realeases the tension on the serpentine belt.

Charlie

that is not a problem follow the steps below
Instructions
Things You'll Need: New alternator Belt tension gauge Socket wrench set Torque wrench 1 Determine which alternator your Dodge Intrepid will need. You'll want to be sure the new alternator is compatible with your Intrepid's engine. Models produced after 1997 are equipped with a 2.7 L EER, 3.2 L or 3.5 L EGJ engine. 2 Disconnect the negative battery cable with a socket wrench and remove the lower plastic splash shield. Drain the transmission fluid and disconnect the lower radiator support. 3 Loosen the "T" bolt, pivot bolt and drive belt adjusting bolt with a socket wrench but do not remove them. This will allow you to disconnect the drive belt. 4 Loosen the terminal nut for the alternator so you can remove the B+ wire. Disconnect the circuit plug for the alternator and remove the pivot bolt, using care not to lose the spacer. Remove the mounting bolts and the alternator assembly. 5 Install the new alternator assembly by reversing the removal procedure. Tighten the terminal nut on the alternator to 89 inch pounds with a torque wrench. Use a belt tension gauge and socket wrench to torque the "T" bolt until the tension on the drive belt is 120 lbs. for a used belt and 180 to 200 lbs. for a new belt. 6 Use a torque wrench to torque the pivot bolt and 10mm mounting bolt to 40 foot pounds. Torque the 8mm mounting bolt to 30 foot pounds.
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You are going to need more than one wrench to do the job. This isn't a Harley. A 3/8 drive, metric socket set with 6 point sockets should get you started, you will need to loosen the belt first, if it is one belt driving everything, then loosen the tensioner and the belt will be off. Remember how it goes. Then you have at least 2 bolts holding the alternator on there, Plus the wire connections, replace the new one in the same order backwards, you should be all set. Hope this helps.

for serpentine belt you have to loosen both tensioners. for the drive belt you loosen the tensioner just below the alternator. fr belts needed call autozone.

There is a "T bolt" on the alternator that you need to loosen. Look for this to be one of the two bolts that hold the alternator in place.

Loosen do not remove.

FIRST OF ALL.TURN OFF RADIO SO YOU WONT LOSE RADIO CODE.FOR THE 2.7L ENGINE.DISCONNECT NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE.REMOVE THE LOWER PLASTIC SPLASH SHIELD.REMOVE TRANSMISSION COOLER AND POSITION IT ASIDE.REMOVE THE LOWER RADIATOR CROSSMEMBER SUPPORT.LOOSEN BUT DO NOT REMOVE.ADJUSTING T BOLT AND THE PIVOT BOLT.LOOSEN DRIVE BELT ADJUSTING BOLT.REMOVE OR DISCONNECT THE FOLLOWING.DRIVE BELT.REMOVE ALTERNATOR ELECTRICAL WIRES.REMOVE PIVOT BOLT CAREFUL NOT TO LOSE THE SPACER.REMOVE THE ALTERNATOR. NOW THE 3.2L AND 3.5L ENGINES REMOVE THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE.THEN REMOVE THE LOWER MOUNTING BOLT AND PIVIT BOLT.REMOVE DRIVE BELTTENSION BOLT THEN DRIVE BELT.REMOVE BRACKET LOWER MOUNTING BOLT AND PIVOT BOLT.THEN REMOVE THE ALTERNATOR + ALTERNATOR FIELD CIRCUIT PLUG + ALTERNATOR B+ TERMINAL NUT AND WIRE.THEN PUT EVERYTHING BACK VISA VERSA.

Loosen your alternator bracket, push down on the alternator and then you can work the belt off. There is a diagram sticker on the hood that shows you how to reinstall it.

the easiest way is going to first be to remove the serpentine belt which requires you to loosen the nut on the end of the idler pulley just above the alternator, then behind the pulley is a bolt with a 13mm head on it that you will want to loosen after the pulley is loose to relieve tension off the belt. Remove the belt. Next make sure you remove the battery cables to ensure you dont fry yourself to the car when unhooking the electrical connections from the alternator, your battery is located on the passenger side, down behind and underneath the headlight. Then go under the car and remove the black plastic clips that hold the splash shield up under the bumper. After this the alternator becomes as accesible as it can be, remove it from the bottom. Thanks for using fixya!!

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

3.3L Engine:

1. Disconnect the battery negative - cable.
2. Disconnect the alternator field circuit plug.
3. Remove the B+ terminal nut and wire.
4. Loosen the adjusting T-bolt, but do not remove it.
5. Loosen the pivot bolt, but do not remove it either.
6. Remove the alternator drive belt.
7. Remove the adjusting T-bolt, pivot bolt, and mounting bolt, be careful not to loose the spacer.
8. Remove the mounting bolt.
9. Remove the spacer & washer
10. Remove alternator.

To install:

1. Attachthe alternator to the support bracket. Tighten all bracket andalternator (except for the wiring nuts) bolts to 40 ft. lbs. (54 Nm).Install the B+ terminal nut and wire and tighten to 75 inch lbs. (9 Nm).
2. Install the drive belt onto the alternator pulley. Make certain that the belt is seated correctly on the pulley.
3. Connect the negative - battery cable.

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3.5L Engine:

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Loosen the lower mounting bolt but do not remove it.
3. Loosen the pivot bolt, but do not remove it.
4. Loosen the belt adjusting bolt.
5. Remove the alternator drive belt.
6. Remove the bracket.
7. Remove the lower mounting bolt and pivot bolt.
8. Remove the alternator.
9. Disconnect the alternator field circuit plug.
10. Remove the B+ terminal nut and wire.

To Install:

1. Attach the alternator and bracket to the engine, then tighten the mounting bolts to 40 ft. lbs. (54 Nm).
2. Install the drive belt onto the alternator pulley. Make certain that the belt is seated correctly on the pulley.
3. Install and tighten the B+ terminal nut and wire to 75 inch lbs. (9 Nm) onto the new alternator.
4. Connect the alternator field circuit plug.
5. Connect the negative battery cable.

If you need photos to follow then try this link...
http://www.autozone.com/shopping/repairGuide.htm?pageId=0900c1528006a83e

The alternator and power steering belt should have been removed first, but here is the way to get it off. The belt, the idler is adjustable - loosen locknut on the small pulley above the alternator, at top left of alternator, The bolt on the outside of pulley, behind the pulley top left, is an adjuster bolt, turn til you can slide belt off easily; hoped this helped