A few months ago I started having sporadic power steering fluid drips and leaks from the lines between the pump/reservoir and the steering rack. As I replaced one line another would leak, etc. At some point the pump started whining, so I replaced it (coming up on 200k miles). I figured that it had pulled in air some time during these leaks. Apparently some of the PS fluid (AT fluid) spilled onto the alternator because I would hear an intermittent whine and the battery light starting coming on once in a while. Here is my method for ~1.5 hour battery replacement with vehicle on the ground, and without dealing with wheel removal or sway bar end links:
After installing I started and idled the engine for a while. It was much quieter, I must have not noticed the gradual increase in bearing noise from the alternator.
After about 10 minutes of idling the battery light came on again. I shut it off and charged the battery. I ASSUMED that the Alt not charging had permanently damaged the old battery at some point. I drove 10 minutes to the Auto Parts store and it did not stall or stumble. I swapped batteries in the parking lot. With the new battery installed I drove on the highway for 15 miles. The battery light flickered a few times then stayed off. I am assuming that the battery at the auto parts store did not have a full charge sitting on the shelf.
After driving for a while with no battery light showing, I got home and checked the voltage at the battery terminals with the engine idling and got 13.9V which seems good. I kept my old Denso Alternator and am waiting on the rebuild parts so I can tear it down. I believe it is worth more than the $40 core charge.
- Remove battery connections
- Remove 3 bolts on the coolant reservoir and flip it up out of the way
- Use breaker bar to press tensioner and slide off belt
- Put socket extension through PS pulley and loosen nut
- Slide off PS pulley
- From Pass. Side remove 10mm nut/wire and electrical connector from alternator (I did not remove wheel or sway bar link)
- Remove skid plate
- Remove 2 nuts and one bolt from front of alternator
- Remove 1 nut holding wire loom from bottom of alternator
- Remove coolant line bolt to give wiggle room for alternator
- Remove 4 sway bar 17mm bolts and flip it forward onto a jack stand
- Remove alternator toward front/bottom of vehicle and reverse for install
After installing I started and idled the engine for a while. It was much quieter, I must have not noticed the gradual increase in bearing noise from the alternator.
After about 10 minutes of idling the battery light came on again. I shut it off and charged the battery. I ASSUMED that the Alt not charging had permanently damaged the old battery at some point. I drove 10 minutes to the Auto Parts store and it did not stall or stumble. I swapped batteries in the parking lot. With the new battery installed I drove on the highway for 15 miles. The battery light flickered a few times then stayed off. I am assuming that the battery at the auto parts store did not have a full charge sitting on the shelf.
After driving for a while with no battery light showing, I got home and checked the voltage at the battery terminals with the engine idling and got 13.9V which seems good. I kept my old Denso Alternator and am waiting on the rebuild parts so I can tear it down. I believe it is worth more than the $40 core charge.
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