Alternator Question - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

skybandit · 09-19-2005, 09:41 AM

Howdy all,I'm about to replace my alternator on my 91N/A and it's gonna be a one man operation.My question is,what is the easiest way to replace the alternator if your doing it yourself?I looked at the online BGB and the manual show's it to be quite simple,however,due to the EXTREMLY tight space I know better,lol.Any help from anyone who has done this solo would be appreciated,thanks all,Pete.

skybandit · 09-19-2005, 04:38 PM

Can anyone help me out......??

***MR2Jedi*** · 09-20-2005, 04:45 PM

it's so cramped in there. best to go from the bottom. of course the easiest way is to pay a trustworthy tech..

mr3sgte · 09-21-2005, 08:55 AM

well mr2bad is right...u just gotta have to take the alternator in the bottom...the last time i did mine was two months ago and it's really a pain to take it off...u gotta have to take the cross member off...well ofcourse u gotta lift or jack the back and put jackstands so that it will sit still...for me i think that was the best thing to do...hehehe

MitchB · 09-24-2005, 03:36 PM

No, you don't really need to remove the crossmember.

You do need to remove the exhaust B-pipe however. Unless you have the car 3 to 4 feet in the air, you won't be able to swing the B-pipe out to remove it totally. Just work around it. Annoying, but easier than dropping the crossmember, which can result in the need for an alignment.

BTW, make sure you get the correct unit, which varies depending on whether or not you have Power Steering.

lioneljones2001 · 09-30-2005, 10:43 AM

the easiest way is to take it out from the top. it only toke me 15min. take the alt. off and let it sit at the botom of the car. then remove the bracket that holds the alt. and take it out from the top, then take the alt out. that is the easiest way. this way you dont take off any exhaust or other things

skybandit · 10-04-2005, 02:48 PM

Lion,you said you took your alternator off from the top?? Was it an 1991 or up MR-2??I'm not sure if you know that mine is a 91 N/A. Has anyone else removed an alternator from the top on a 91 or up MR2? Man I hate asking all these questions but the dang BGB shows how to remove an alternator from an MR2 that must already have the friggin engine off, cause it shooooow isn't as easy as it looks in the damm BGB.If I knew it was going to be next to impossible to minor maintenence on this puppy I may not have bought the dang thing,lol.Right now I have the alternator off and disconnected and its just laying at the bottom,its to odd shaped to be able to squeeze it by the exhaust.Any help would be greatly appreciated,thanks.

OEMonkey · 10-04-2005, 05:42 PM

As previously mentioned, you have to unbolt the bpipe and move it out of the way. No need to drop the xmember. To remove it from up top, unbolt the alt. bracket and move anything that may get in the way in that corner of the engine bay such as the cruise control, hose to brake booster, MAP, etc. More importantly, make sure you get the correct alternator. There are 3 OEM alternators; a 70, 90, and 100 amp. Some differ in size and won't fit on the alt. bracket.

Gairloch · 10-04-2005, 07:52 PM

I just recently replaced my alternator in my '91 NA and did it exactly the way that lioneljones2001 describes. There is no reason to disassemble anything underneath the car.

1. Remove all the crap above the alternator.

2. Disconnect the alternator and manuever it around so it's sitting below it's bracket. The space is tight so this takes a little futzing; it will go.

3. Remove bracket. (Can't get alternator out with it in place)

4. Remove alternator.

To relace it just do the opposite sequence.

lioneljones2001 · 10-05-2005, 10:35 AM

gairloch is exactly right. that is the way i did my 91 na and it is alto easier that way and faster. you are already half way there.

lioneljones2001 · 10-05-2005, 10:41 AM

the 91 alt is 80 amp because we have no power steering, while the turbo is 100amps. you can put a 100 amp alt on a non turbo. i did it to mine because i have 4 tv's, a playstation, sound system, and a extra battery connected in mine. so i need more amps. even if you just put a system, the 100 amp alt is great. it prevents your lights from dimming when the bass hit, or you could just buy a capacitor for your batt. this way you dont loose any power.

skybandit · 10-06-2005, 11:12 AM

Hey fellows,thanks a bunch for the help.How many bolts are on the alternator bracket,I got two removed from the bottom that are close together,but I am having problems with the 2 that are in the middle of the bracket.If I get those 2 off is that it...? Just 4 bolts and I then can remove the bracket? I tried to feel around for other bolts but all I found was the 4,is 4 all it has,thanks again for helping me in this rather frustrating job,lol.

Gairloch · 10-06-2005, 04:01 PM

I looked on the bgb online to confirm it, but it doesn't seem to show the installation of the bracket.

I do think there were 4 but I'm not 100% on that. If you get those 4 off and it still won't come off, you know what the problem is

lioneljones2001 · 10-07-2005, 11:10 AM

i dont quite remmeber but its either 4 or 6. but i believe its 4.

skybandit · 10-11-2005, 10:55 AM

Thanks to everyone who gave advice.The easiest way to remove the alternator from an 91 and up MR2 is from the top, lioneljones you are correct(thanks).There are 5 bolts or nuts to remove,2 bolts from the bottom of the bracket,2 nuts near the middle and 1 more long bolt also in the middle of the bracket,take those critters out,give it a jiggle and the bracket comes right out.I'm not a mechanic but to me taking an alternator out from the bottom with all the hassle involved just don't seem right..............way to much work. So again I thank everyone who gave advice,my sanity has officially been restored,lol.