Alternator swap. Easy, right?

[1990C4S]

The alternator on my V70R dies two hundred miles from home, Friday of Memorial Day weekend.

I limped into Harbor Freight at 11.2 volts and dropping fast. Six trips into HF to buy 'more tools' to get my alternator out. Blazing hot sun.

Uber to and from O'Reilly's to get the replacement.

Replacement alternator was wrong (it was for a non-R car), and the correct parts was four days away at the earliest. My phone dies, and I couldn't charge it in my car because the battery was disconnected.

Discover my alternator will only come out of my car if I remove the fan shroud and/or the rad. Nope, not doing that.

In the end I crossed my fingers and swapped in the voltage regulator from the new alternator, with my alternator unbolted, but not out of the car.

It worked. I think the brushes on my VR were worn out and too short.

So, $375 for the wrong alternator, that I can't return. $150 for tools I had at home. But I made it home that night.

Plan B was a HF trailer basket, a cheap generator on the basket, and a battery charger plugged into the generator.

[Brian 162]

Originally Posted by masraum

Embed of the video above.


I've seen some that were just going to be a beyotch. I haven't watched your video, but I think the winner is the (I think Ford) product that has the starter in the V under the intake manifold.

The early 90’s ZR1’s also had the starter under the intake. That would be a joy to replace.