When replacing my alternator, what do I have to take off to get to it? I can not get it from the top nor bottom.

The first video says you have to use a pry bar. On some vehicles you have to loosen bottom engine mounts, engine top braces and use a bottle jack to move the engine over a few inches. Car designers who aren't mechanics eh!

https://www.google.com/search?q=2008+Kia+Optima+LX+2.4L+4cyl.+-+alternator+replacement

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loosen alt bolts move alt towards block which loosens belt remove replace snug bottom bolt pull back on alt tighten top bolt then tighten bottom How To Install Replace Alternator Chevy GMC Truck 73 87 1AAuto com

it does come out the bottom, remove the tire, and inner fender splash shield, and it will come out through there.

first thing to do is DISCONNECT the battery then remove the wires from the back/bottom ao alternator , undo the top adjusting bolt/nut undo and remove the bottom bolt(s) that the alternater pivots on remove the top bolt completely the alternator is then free replacement is just reverse

Mostly from the bottom is what worked for me for the bottom screw and i also used the top to remove the screw that is on top. You will need to remove the front passenger side tire, six screws that hold the plastic cover and then you can get to the alternator. Dont forget to unhook the negative cable wire from your battery. I removed both wires just to be on the safer side. You will have a total of two bolts to remove the alternator, one screw to remove the ground wire (on your alternator) and one wire harness clip. I did it last week and it wasn't as bad as i thought. Good luck.

UNHOOK GROUND WIRE FROM BATTERY! UNBOLT THE WIRES FROM THE BACK OF ALTERNATOR! THEN THERE SHOULD BE A TOP, AND BOTTOM BOLT TO THE ALTERNATOR! REMOVE THE TOP ONE, AND PUSH ALTERNATOR TO LOOSEN BELT! REMOVE BELT, AND UNBOLT BOTTOM! WATCH FOR A SHIM, AS YOU REMOVE THE OLD ALTERNATOR! IT WILL BE AT THE BOTTOM BOLT! SOME HAVE IT, AND SOME DON'T! ONCE IT IS OUT, PUT THE NEW ONE IN, THE BOTTOM BOLT WILL GO IN FIRST, AND TIGHTEN IT DOWN! THEN PUT THE WIRES ON THE BACK, AND TIGHTEN THEM DOWN! PLACE THE BELT BACK ON THE PULLEY, AND THEN YOUR READY TO PUT THE TOP BOLT IN, AND TIGHTEN THE BELT, THEN TIGHTEN THE BOLT! AND FINALLY HOOK THE BATTERY BACK UP, START THE CAR, AND CHECK TO MAKE SURE IT'S CHARGING! YOU'RE DONE!

Verbal description of the complete serpentine belt loop on a 99 Olds 3.5 V6:
This is from Benny 1345 (Answers.com) - off the top of my head it sounds right:
Top of CAM to top of ALTERNATOR - bottom of ALTERNATOR to top of nearby (front) PULLEY - bottom of PULLEY to top of A/C COMPRESSOR - bottom of COMPRESSOR to bottom of CRANK - top of CRANK to bottom of middle PULLEY - top of middle PULLEY to bottom of rear TENSIONER - top of TENSIONER to back to top of CAM.
Remember the serpentine belt has ribs on only one side, the ribs face AWAY from the two guide pulleys and TOWARD the pulleys on the Alternator, Compressor, Crank, Cam and Tensioner. You should tell by the pulley being smooth or ribbed as needed.

This alternator has two mounting bolts, one on top (adjuster) and one at bottom (main bolt) You need to untight the top one but not completely, take the poly belt of. Than take the bottom bolt out and remove top one when holding the alternator. Put the new one in place but this time use the bottom bolt first, do not tight it completely, than put the belt on the pulley and use the top bolt. You will need to tight the bottom bolt, than pull the alternator with some bar but gentle to get the belt tight, hold it and than tight the top bolt.

On the drivers side on the bottom front of the engine.

from Yahoo answers
The alternator is located on the passenger side of the motor at the bottom. There is a bracket attached to the motor and the alternator. You need not take the bracket off to remove the alternator. Two bolts hold the alternator to the bracket. One bolt is on the front top of the alternator and one bolt is located on the bottom front of the alternator. The bottom front bolt is attached to the tension adjustment for the alternator. Loosen the tension screw then remove the bolt going through the tension adjustment. After you loosen the top, front bolt, the alternator should be loose enough to move side to side. Remove the top, front bolt. Now you must disconnect the alternator from the power supply. Behind the alternator is a screw with a wire attached via nut. Remove this wire. Nextly there is a series of wires with a plug on the end. It is plugged into the side of the alternator. Uplug this item. You can also access both of these from the passenger side front tire well. Something to consider is that remanufactured alternators in Rodeo's as well as the Honda Passport (which has the same engine as the Rodeo) do not work and the problem(s) associated with a bad alternator,ie; not charging, no fan blower, battery light and brake light on, still exsist after replacing alternator with reman. Use a factory original alternator if possible. It will cost a little more than a reman but will most likely save you a lot of time and headache!

Hope this helps you out!!
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