Electrical problem after changing alternator

Generator Replacement (LA1)

Removal Procedure

1. Remove the battery ground (negative) cable from the battery. Refer to Battery Negative Cable Disconnect/Connect Procedure .
2. Rotate and secure the engine forward to access rear generator bolts. Refer to Rotating the Engine for Service Access in Engine Mechanical - 3.4L.


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3. Remove the generator B+ terminal nut.
4. Remove the generator B+ lead.
5. Remove the generator electrical connector.
6. Remove the drive belt from the generator. Refer to Drive Belt Replacement in Engine Mechanical - 3.4L.


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7. Remove the generator front bolt.


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8. Remove the generator rear bolts.


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9. Remove the generator from the generator bracket and position the generator above the drive axle.
10. Remove the drive belt tensioner. Refer to Drive Belt Tensioner Replacement in Engine Mechanical-3.4L.
11. Remove the generator bracket. Refer to Generator Bracket Replacement .
12. Remove the power steering pipes from the power steering pipe retainer.
13. Remove the fuel pressure test port (schrader valve) cap from the fuel injector rail.
Important Do not disconnect the power steering pipes from the power steering pump.

14. Remove the power steering pump and reposition the power steering pump in front of the timing chain cover in order to provide access for the generator. Refer to Power Steering Pump Replacement in Power Steering System.
15. Remove electrical harness from retainer on right fender well and position aside.
16. Remove the generator from the vehicle.

Hope this helps?

If tightening the battery cables helped but did not fix, you may need to take the cables off and clean all the connections. If there is enough corrosion, it causes enough resistance to lower the voltage. Take the connections off and clean the cable and battery with a wire brush. Apply a coat of grease and put it back together. If this battery is a post type there are cleaning tools that have a post cleaner and a brush the will clean the inside of the cable clamp. You can find there at most any place that sells car batteries. They are cheap and well worth having. If it is a bolt on connection you should be able to clean with a regular wire brush. Clean until all the metal is shinny. There are also some spray cleaners available. When you disconnect the battery, always disconnect the positive post first. This ensures that you don't accidentally touch the cables and cause a short. Reverse the procedure when you reconnect the cables. If this doesn't help, have the battery checked. Good luck.

Thanks for using FixYa.

Gaker

Don't you mean an alternator?

It is a straight forward proceedure that is relatively easy to do. Sure take you about 30 minutes if you are halfway mechanical. A couple of sockets and open end wrenches.

Would suggest you change your serpentine belt at the same time (if it hasn't been changed in the last year) since you will also have to remove that to change the alternator.

• Replace Brakes Pontiac
How to Replace a Pontiac Alternator

The alternator keeps the battery in your Pontiac going, constantly recharging it as you drive. The battery will quickly drain if the alternator is bad, so it must be replaced in that case. The alternator is mounted in the engine and naturally connected to the battery in all models, but other components could be in its way depending on the type of Pontiac you own. This will determine how difficult such a replacement will be.
Difficulty:Moderately Challenging Instructions

1. • 1 Open the hood and disconnect the negative cable from the car battery.
   • 2 Remove the drive belt by rotating the belt tensioner with a wrench to relieve the tension, slipping the belt off while applying pressure from the wrench. Depending on the model, other components might need removal, like parts of the air cleaner (Grand Am and G6), the fuel injector sight shield (Bonneville) or the coolant recovery reservoir (Grand Prix).
     
   • 3 Disconnect any wire clamps that are on the clip at the alternator's end frame, then remove the rubber clamp and nut. These extra fasteners are not on all Pontiac models. Disconnect the electrical connector for the alternator. Remove the alternator by disconnecting its bolts.
     
   • 4 Mount the alternator in place on the engine and tighten the bolts to the specified torque for your model. Connect the electrical connector to the new alternator along with any other clamps that held the old alternator.
     
   • 5 Replace the drive belt by pushing the tensioner upward and slipping the belt back on it and the pulleys in the same way it was originally wrapped, then tighten the tensioner to the torque required for your vehicle. Replace any other components that were removed and reconnect the battery cable.
     

Read more: How to Replace a Pontiac Alternator ' eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5114122_replace-pontiac-alternator.html#ixzz1O8DATMRO

Here are some steps that you need to do.

• Disconnect battery ground cable at battery.
• Remove drive belt.
• Disconnect alternator electrical connector.
• Disconnect battery positive cable nut on alternator.
• Remove alternator
• Put the new alternator
• Connect the positive cable nut and electrical connector
• Connect the battery ground cable
• Start the car then check if its giving enough charge to your battery

FIRST TURN OFF RADIO.YOU NEED A PCM MEMORY SAVER PLUG IN THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER TO KEEP FROM LOSING PCM MEMORY. THEN REMOVE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE.REMOVE THE ENGINE COVER.AND REMOVE THE ALTERNATOR DRIVE BELT.DISCONNECT THE OUTPUT WIRE AND THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FROM THE ALTERNATOR. REMOVE MOUNTING BOLTS AND REMOVE ALTERNATOR FROM VECHICLE.TAKE OLD ALTERNATOR WITH YOU WHEN YOU PURCHASE A NEW ALTERNATOR SO YOU WILL CORRECT AMP SIZE.

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Simply follow the steps

Disconnect the battery's negative cable and set it aside where it can't accidentally snap back onto the terminal.

Remove the car's accessory drive belt. Disconnect the belt shield by removing its two 10-mm bolts, push up on the tensioner by hand, pull the belt off the air conditioner or water pump pulley and remove the rest of the belt. Take note of how the belt loops around each pulley.

Open the cover containing the alternator's electrical connectors and disconnect them. Remove the bolt on the coolant expansion tank then detach the tank from its clip and secure it away. Detach the power steering reservoir, engine wiring loom bracket, ground cable and evaporative emission canister purge valve.

Unscrew and remove the alternator's first bolt on its right side. Unscrew the second bolt on the left and disengage it fully from the bracket; it cannot be removed from the alternator. Remove the alternator from the engine.

Install the new alternator, placing the built-in bolt within the bracket and tightening it first. Insert and tighten the second bolt.

Replace all other objects set aside in the reverse order they were detached. (evaporative emission canister purge valve, ground cable, engine wiring loom bracket, power steering reservoir and coolant expansion tank). Plug in the electrical connectors and replace the cover over them.

Replace the accessory drive belt. Loop it over all the pulleys except the one on the air conditioner. Retract the tensioner upwards as you did before to fit the belt on the A/C pulley.

Reconnect the battery cable.

The yellow wire in your Alternator plug Have a "Fuse Link" at the starter relay. If that fuse link is bad the alternator will not charge. To test jump the yellow wire with the hot wire at the alternator and if the alternator is new it should charge. Check and install the fuse links.

Other details that you can try:
First ensure your battery terminals are clean and free of corrosion. Make sure you use a battery tool to clean them up to ensure a good connection. reconnect and tighten.

NOTE: Some electrical systems need to have the system computer reset after changing an alternator. If you changed the battery first, then changed the alternator, this may not have happened. Sometimes it's as easy as fully disconnecting both terminals and reconnecting the battery.
Check the voltage from the positive terminal of the battery to the negative terminal on the battery(record this).


Then check voltage from the positive terminal of the battery to where the negative terminal connects to the block. if this reading is lower your negative battery cable may be the problem. I've had them crystallize before from age so badly that they lost flexibility and began breaking internally. Replace it.


Then check voltage from the smaller positive cable post on the alternator and the negative terminal on the battery. If this is lower the smaller cable may be the problem. Replace it.


Then check voltage from where your positive cable hooks up to the solenoid and to the negative terminal on the battery. if this is lower your positive battery cable may be the problem. Replace it.


Charge the battery fully and take the vehicle to a local auto parts store and see if they can run a charging system test (usually a free service). They should be able to tell you what kind of shape your battery is in and the alternator output. A good alternator will put out 14+ volts, if it's putting out 12-14 volts it's wearing out and needs replaced.


If your alternator is putting out 10-10.5 volts or less means one of the diode pairs are bad, 5-5.25 volts or less 2 diode pairs are bad. Either way the alternator is not charging the battery and it's the fault of the voltage regulator.


Ask the person doing the test if he can tell you what the field voltage is on the alternator. If they can and it is around 12 volts or more you can probably bypass the next test.



Start the vehicle and hold a steel tool near the back of the alternator (not on the pulley side). It should be drawn magnetically to the center of the alternator. If it doesn't your alternator is not generating the magnetic field needed, to generate electricity. This could be due to a bad alternator or wiring.


WARNING: The next test is the "old fashioned" way we shade-tree mechanics used to do this. It can be done with the engine running in most cases, but you must be extremely careful that you don't get clothing or long hair anywhere near the pulleys. You do this at your own risk. If you are uncomfortable with taking such a risk, have your mechanic look into it. Disconnect the two wire box-like electrical connector from the alternator's voltage regulator and see if there is any voltage (should be around 12 or more volts DC) from the wires going to the alternator. You can try testing this with the engine shut down and the key on, but it may not work on all vehicles.


With connector disconnected, if the voltage is less than 12volts or non-existent, it's a wiring problem. - With connector disconnected, if it is 12 volts or above it's probably the alternator (Bad windings.)
Set the multimeter to Ohms. Touch probes together and calibrate the needle to zero on right side of meter readout. (If the needle does not move to the right, you may need to replace the meter's battery or fuse). With the Alternator connector disconnected check the resistance of the alternator at the connector blades. If the needle goes to infinity, there is an open circuit in the windings. Replace the alternator.


Other things that can cause charging system problems:

• Excessive starter draw - Remove starter and take to parts store for testing
• Bad solenoid
  
• Failed engine compartment fuses or resisters - Look for and check big rectangular ceramic ones as well on antique/classic vehicles
  
• Failed fusible links
  
• Failing ignition switch - Usually under the dash, Not at the key
• Wiring to the key assembly inside the steering column - or on the dash older vehicles
  
• Bad computer modules
  
• Electrical wiring - This one takes the longest to isolate
• Particularly hot wires arcing to ground
  
• Some other Windstar threads suggest checking wiring bundles under the rubber boots at door hinges.
  
• Other unassociated electrical components shorting to ground and placing a drain on the system - could be anything from a cigarette lighter, to lighting, to electric radiator fans failing to shut off, ignition coil, radio, sensor probes shorting to ground, etc. etc

Hope this help (remember rated and comment this).

2.0L (VIN N) & 2.3L (VIN Z) Engine

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the Precautions Section.
   
2. Remove or disconnect the following:
   
   • Negative battery cable
     
   • Upper alternator mounting nut
     
3. Raise and support the vehicle.
   
4. Remove the accessory drive shield.
   
5. Release the tension and remove the accessory drive belt from the alternator pulley.
   
6. Release the two air intake tube retainers and remove the air intake tube assembly.
   
7. Remove and discard the generator B+ cable nut and disconnect the B+ cable.
   
8. Remove or disconnect the following:
   
   • Alternator electrical connector
     
   • 2 alternator nuts and bolts
     
   • Engine roll restrictor mount bolt
     
9. With an assistant, position the engine forward and remove the alternator from its mounting.
   
10. Remove the lower air duct and remove the alternator.
    
11. Remove the radial adapter (B+ connection extension).
    

To install:
Install or connect the following:

• Radial adapter to the alternator
  
• Lower air duct
  
• Alternator; tighten the 2 bolts and nuts to 35 ft. lbs. (48 Nm)
  
• Alternator electrical connector
  
• Alternator B+ cable and new nut
  

1. Reposition the engine. Tighten the engine roll restrictor mount bolt to 35 ft. lbs. (48 Nm).
   
2. Install or connect the following:
   
   • Air intake tube and retainers
     
   • Accessory drive belt
     
   • Accessory drive belt
     
3. Lower the vehicle.
   
4. Install the alternator upper mounting nut. Tighten to 35 ft. lbs. (48 Nm).
   
5. Reconnect the negative battery cable.
   

2005 Ford Mustang 4.0L SFI SOHC 6cyl
Ford Mustang 1999-2005
Alternator - Removal & Installation

3.8L And 4.0L Engines

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the precautions at the beginning of this section.
2. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
3. Remove the accessory drive belt.
4. Disconnect the alternator electrical connectors.
5. Remove the alternator shield (4.0L engine).
6. Remove the alternator mounting bolts.
7. Remove the alternator from the vehicle.
8. Installation is the reverse of the removal procedure.

To install:

1. Position the alternator onto engine. Tighten the lower bolt to 35 ft. lbs. (47 Nm) and the upper bolt to 18 ft. lbs. (25 Nm).
2. Install the alternator shield (4.0L engine).
3. Connect the alternator electrical connectors.
4. Install the accessory drive belt.
5. Connect the negative battery cable.

4.6L Engines (Non-Supercharged)

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the precautions at the beginning of this section.
2. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
3. Remove the air intake scoop bracket, if equipped.
4. Remove the accessory drive belt.
5. Remove the upper alternator bracket.
6. Disconnect the alternator electrical connectors.
7. Remove the alternator bolts.
8. Remove the alternator from the vehicle.
9. Installation is the reverse of the removal procedure.

To install:

1. Position the alternator onto engine. Tighten the mounting bolts to 18 ft. lbs. (25 Nm).
2. Connect the alternator electrical connectors.
3. Install the upper alternator bracket. Tighten the bolts to 89 inch lbs. (10 Nm).
4. Install the accessory drive belt.
5. Install the air intake scoop bracket, if equipped.
6. Connect the negative battery cable.

4.6L Engines (Supercharged)

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the precautions at the beginning of this section.
2. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
3. Remove the accessory drive belt.
4. Raise the vehicle.
5. Disconnect the alternator electrical connectors.
6. Remove the alternator bolts.
7. Remove the alternator from the vehicle.
8. Installation is the reverse of the removal procedure.

To install:

1. Position the alternator onto engine. Tighten the lower bolt to 18 ft. lbs. (25 Nm) and the upper bolt to 37 ft. lbs. (50 Nm).
2. Connect the alternator electrical connectors.
3. Lower the vehicle.
4. Install the accessory drive belt.
5. Connect the negative battery cable.
6. Installation is the reverse of the removal procedure.

More details about this model in Autozone.com (free register).

I hope help you with this (remember rated this help). Good luck.

Disconnect the battery first and formost.
Then disconnect the electrical plug on the old alternator.
Take off the serpentine belt.
Unbolt the old alternator off the engine.
Bolt new Alternator on engine
Re-install serpentine belt
re-connect the electrical plug.
Reconnect battery.
All Done.