Upper console idler pulley replacement

[jesse7flying]

The upper console idler pulley on my 2003 Boxster needs to be replaced and I have secured the proper replacement pulley. When I tried to remove the bolt, it is so long that it hits the body work where the engine cover attaches inside the cabin. Am I missing something or does removal of this bolt require pulling the engine? I guess this bolt is also used to secure the alternator, therefore, quite long. Any help is appreciated.
Jesse

[Brian in Tucson]

Originally Posted by jesse7flying

The upper console idler pulley on my 2003 Boxster needs to be replaced and I have secured the proper replacement pulley. When I tried to remove the bolt, it is so long that it hits the body work where the engine cover attaches inside the cabin. Am I missing something or does removal of this bolt require pulling the engine? I guess this bolt is also used to secure the alternator, therefore, quite long. Any help is appreciated.
Jesse

The bolt for the alternator IS very long but the bracket is slotted so that once loose, you can rotate the alternator out of the bracket. Check this out: https://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/Boxster_Tech/82-ELEC-Alternator/82-ELEC-Alternator.htm Follow their guidance. Wayne knows his stuff!

[jesse7flying]

Thanks Brian. I have Wayne's book,so I'll take a look and see if it makes sense to me. BTW, I grew up in Tucson. Left to join the military 45 years ago and haven't been back except for visits with the folks. Still miss the desert and the mountains.
Regards--Jesse

[svandamme]

Don't know this specific bolt on the boxster coz i got a later cayman
But BTDT with the idler tensioner pully bolt.

It's a pain in the neck, and while unscrewing it
To the point where my ratched socket driver while screwing out hit the firewal.
I was unable to switch the ratched to screw back in. STUCK.

Busted my knuckles for more then an hour getting it back in with a vice grip...
fractions of a turn at a time

It's such a tightly packed car, if you don't have the right tool or do something out of sequence it's gonna be a bad day..

[jesse7flying]

Just as an update, I was able to remove the bolt for the idler pulley by beating on the bolt with a punch as pointed out in Wayne's book. Loosening the other alternator bolt allowed me to swivel the alternator enough to get the bolt past the bodywork. I found a guy on youtube, Burner's cars, who has a series of videos for his 2000 Boxster S. Pretty good stuff and very helpful. Take a look if you can. Thanks for the help.
Jesse