Looking for advice on an alternator bolt

[jimmyw]

I've determined that my alternator needs replacing and I've started the job, but I hit a hurdle. I have 07 4runner that is a V6.

The lower mounting bolt (left side if facing the windshield from the front of the vehicle) on my alternator is being stubborn. Everything is off the alternator except the lower mounting bolt. I tried a wrench, I tried a cheater bar on a ratchet, and now soaking it in PB blaster from the front. The rear can't be accessed to spray PB blaster from the other side. I don't have a torch to heat with, but I could try a warming it up with a heat gun. I don't expect that will get the bolt hot enough to help.

Any suggestions other than taking it to a shop would be appreciated.

Got any smart ideas?

 

[dkyleb]

Go buy a cheap propane torch from Walmart or something. They're a life saver.

What I use instead of PB or whatever else is a 50/50 mix of Acetone and ATF. This is military grade penetrator juice and works way better than PB. I live up north, all of my vehicles have rust. All I've ever needed is a propane torch and my juice!

 

[ghs215]

I had this problem when my alt died out in the middle of bum-fu@k-egypt Arizona desert.

After 8 hours of :gun5: I finally had to remove the radiator to be able to get a socket on square and have the leverage to remove it. It was on too feaking tight.

Good luck!

 

[jimmyw]

Update

Well... soaked in penetrating anything didn't work. Removing the idler pulleys and the skid plate to open up access did. My neighbor held the socket square to the bolt and I used a breaker bar from below. Still took a heck of a lot of force for that one stupid bolt. Thanks for the suggestions. This forum is always so helpful.

 

[jmv7680]

I also have an 07 v6, just changed my alternator too. Very stubborn lower bolt. I removed my skid plate and was able to get more leverage from the bottom. That was the only way I got mine off. I was determined not to pull the radiator or remove any hoses. I did pull the battery though to gain a little more working room from the top. Hope this helps.

 

[BPmtn]

Lower Bolt Broke Off?

Got stuck out of town with a battery light on Friday afternoon so I stopped and picked up a new alternator at NAPA. Found a local garage that was willing to put it in for me but upon removal the lower bolt broke off and is 100% corroded into the water pump housing.

Is there any reason this can't be drilled out? This garage is trying to tell me they can only install with the top 2 bolts and "who knows" how long it will charge. This is going to be a really expensive trip if I have to take it back in to the dealer, etc... to have the alternator re-installed again.

Any advice? Thanks....

 

[AuSeeker]

Got stuck out of town with a battery light on Friday afternoon so I stopped and picked up a new alternator at NAPA. Found a local garage that was willing to put it in for me but upon removal the lower bolt broke off and is 100% corroded into the water pump housing.

Is there any reason this can't be drilled out? This garage is trying to tell me they can only install with the top 2 bolts and "who knows" how long it will charge. This is going to be a really expensive trip if I have to take it back in to the dealer, etc... to have the alternator re-installed again.

Any advice? Thanks....

I'm just guessing that no penetrating fluid or heat was used to help remove the bolt, just a lot of muscle/leverage, but I could be wrong, sometimes no matter how hard you try a bolt will break on you, that being said IMHO any competent mechanic should be able to remove/drill out a broken bolt, BUT they would most likely have to remove a few other components to be able to get at it with a drill, whenever I work on someone's vehcile and a bolt breaks I always get it out and replace it, it sounds like they just don't want to deal with it, removing a broken bolt is never any fun!

I wouldn't trust it without replacing that bolt, IMHO, it shouldn't affect the alternator from doing it's job of charging as long as the belt stays on but if it gets loose and the belt comes off you will also lose power steering and most importantly your water pump will stop doing it's job of cooling the engine, the engine can survive no power steering, and a dead battery, but it most likely will not survive being severely overheated.

 

[Sarge]

Is there a welding shop nearby? Most old school welders are experts at removing broken fasteners - if it were here I'd have it out in short order. Welding a nut onto a broken bolt will break the corrosion loose quickly between the shock of the heat and cooling the part back off - after welding it I just use a stick of paraffin and let it soak into the joint, most bolts just screw right out.

Sarge

 

[88skisupreme]

Well... soaked in penetrating anything didn't work. Removing the idler pulleys and the skid plate to open up access did. My neighbor held the socket square to the bolt and I used a breaker bar from below. Still took a heck of a lot of force for that one stupid bolt. Thanks for the suggestions. This forum is always so helpful.

Same situation here, I pulled the skid plate but only because I dropped so many bolts and tools down there! Ran out of daylight so I'll try working it from below tomorrow morning......