2002 Buick Rendezvous alternator removal

To get the alternator out, I had to move that large electical fuse / relay box out of the way,and remove washer bottle and battery. then use a 3/8" drive ratchet to move the tensioner forward to get the belt off. I used a small mirrow to get a view of the back bolts on the alternator and removed them.[ I used meteric # 15 open end & closed end combo wench. Keep turning the back bolts until the alternator become loose.]

I did it this way today: 1) Disconnect battery then remove fusebox (alternator side) unclips in 4 places and 5 bolts also (8mm) then 4 sections of wiring harness flop out of the way. 2) Remove plastic trim under windshield (about 8 plastic clips - remove centre of clips upwards first) 3) Remove both wipers, let them flop down with spray hose still attached.Remove wiper transmission - 4 x 10mm bolts 2 at each side...actually let transmission rest on engine - drivers side won't clear an obstacle but will move a long way forward on alternator side. 4) Remove serpentine belt to alternator - use 3/8" socket wrench directly in square hole on tensionser device - unwind it and unhook belt. Pic on engine helps when rethreading belt. 5)Undo all bolts to alternator - it is fiddly but 15mm combination wrench works best on rear two. All done in 1 hour max. The rear bolts DO come out - ONLY JUST. then wiggle alt round to the passenger side hole you have made by removing wiper transmission and fuse/relay box. It really is easier doing this rather than removing dogbones and tilting engine - way too easy to dent radiator. Any ??? [email protected] * disclaimer undertake at your own risk I am not responsible for accidents/stupidity.

This will take some time, but really not that difficult. First, get a small section of two by four and jack. You will use these under the back of the engine to "rotate the engine forward". This means to shift the engine forward so that you can reach the bolts and such on the back of the alternator (and spark plugs if you want..
Next, remove the air hose from the air filter box to the engine, you will have to remove a couple of cables to to this.
Remove the bolts from the engine struts (those wishbone looking things on the front of the engine). This will allow the engine to move.Then, remove negative battery cable, wrap in electrical tape. Put car in neutral and use the jack and board (see above) to shift the engine forward.
Now, remove the electrical connections from the alternator, there are two, one forward connected by a bolt and one plug in on top. There are three bolts on the alternator. One in the front going across and two in the back. You can just feel your way with your hand, there is enough room to get a socket wrench back there.
Remove these three bolts and shift the alternator toward the firewall and just let it sit, you still will not be able to remove it yet.
Next, remove the idle pully. It has one bolt, very easy. Set aside. Then remove the three bolts that hold the alternator frame to the engine. There are two on the side, near where the idle pulley was and one in the back, near where the two bolts you took out of the alternator. The whole assembly should easily come out now, including a metal section under it which is there to allow you to hook chains to the engine. Remove all these.
Now, you have to remove the three screws holding the power steering pump. They are accessed through the holes in the wheel of the power steering pump. You will have to run the pump, feeling with your fingers, until you find each bolt. Now that the unit is loose, you have to look down behind the unit to find where the power steering lines run down. You will see them "locked" into two rubber sections which hold them in place, simply pop them loose from there and you can now move the whole power steering unit. DO NOT REMOVE THE HOSES FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP. You can remove the low pressure side if you want, its is the right one with a rubber section connection to the pump. Move the whole pump, with lines, to the left and down. You should be able to slide the pump out now. Some have recommended taking out the black electrical block to the left above the battery and/or the window fluid container, but I didn't need to.
Put new alternator back and reverse the process. Time consuming, but not technically difficult.

NO IT IS POSSIBLE TO USE ANGLE ADAPTERS TO GET TO THAT BOLT IT HARD BUT CAN BE DONE.NEVER TILT YOUR MOTOR WHY MAKE MORE WORK FOR YOURSELF.

Call it what you will but I took the alternator apart, separated the halves, and slid it out. Did the same to the replacement. Its easy if you know how. Just dont screw up the brushes.