YACT: Changing out an alternator.

[AvesPKS]

Hey, all. I'm trying to help a friend of mine replace his alternator. He has a 1993 Ford Crown Victoria, with the 4.6L V8, and the Police Package. We already have the new alternator, and know how to bolt it back in, but we don't know how to release tension on the serpentine belt. We found the part that is supposed to be the belt tensioner, but we don't know how we are supposed to make it release tension. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Marshallj]

Originally posted by: AvesPKS
Hey, all. I'm trying to help a friend of mine replace his alternator. He has a 1993 Ford Crown Victoria, with the 4.6L V8, and the Police Package. We already have the new alternator, and know how to bolt it back in, but we don't know how to release tension on the serpentine belt. We found the part that is supposed to be the belt tensioner, but we don't know how we are supposed to make it release tension. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Buy a Haynes manual for the car. It will be the best $12 you spent. It will come in handy very often.

 

[TheNinja]

Originally posted by: AvesPKS
Hey, all. I'm trying to help a friend of mine replace his alternator. He has a 1993 Ford Crown Victoria, with the 4.6L V8, and the Police Package. We already have the new alternator, and know how to bolt it back in, but we don't know how to release tension on the serpentine belt. We found the part that is supposed to be the belt tensioner, but we don't know how we are supposed to make it release tension. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

I've changed out the alternator on my Bonneville 3 times (thank goodness for lifetime warranty on the part). Anyway there is most likely a wheel-type looking thing with a bolt holding it in place. It just looks like a normal wheel like the rest of your parts that are connected but it is actually the part that holds the tension for the belt. You need to get a good hold on the bolt part of the wheel with a ratchet (or wrench) and pull up on that thing. It we release all the tension and you are good to go.

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: Marshallj

Originally posted by: AvesPKS
Hey, all. I'm trying to help a friend of mine replace his alternator. He has a 1993 Ford Crown Victoria, with the 4.6L V8, and the Police Package. We already have the new alternator, and know how to bolt it back in, but we don't know how to release tension on the serpentine belt. We found the part that is supposed to be the belt tensioner, but we don't know how we are supposed to make it release tension. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Buy a Haynes manual for the car. It will be the best $12 you spent. It will come in handy very often.

I have the Haynes manual right here.

 

[iamwiz82]

I put my 1/2" breaker bar in the tensioner hole & pushed down (to the right, if you are facing the engine from the front of the car)

got that from http://www.mitchsplace.com/crownvicmuscle/cvmy93.html

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: AvesPKS
Hey, all. I'm trying to help a friend of mine replace his alternator. He has a 1993 Ford Crown Victoria, with the 4.6L V8, and the Police Package. We already have the new alternator, and know how to bolt it back in, but we don't know how to release tension on the serpentine belt. We found the part that is supposed to be the belt tensioner, but we don't know how we are supposed to make it release tension. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

"Just loosen the alternator bolts and detach the drive belt."

straight from the manual.

 

[AvesPKS]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
I put my 1/2" breaker bar in the tensioner hole & pushed down (to the right, if you are facing the engine from the front of the car)

got that from http://www.mitchsplace.com/crownvicmuscle/cvmy93.html

Ok, but do you think there is anything else you could use besides a breaker bar? We are working with limited tools, and don't have access to one of these?

Also, I am still trying to figure out where exactly you put the tool to release tension...from what I saw, there were two disks connected by a bent rectangular piece of metal, and this piece had a square hole in it.

 

[Mr N8]

There is a square in the tensioner that is for a 1/2" wratchet. Like iamwiz said, a breaker bar would work. Autozone usually has the tool that Ford made for it, and you can just borrow it from them. Once that is off, the job only takes about an hour.

 

[iamwiz82]

put a 1/2" rachet in that sqaure hole. You do not need a socket.

 

[AvesPKS]

Originally posted by: Iron Woode

Originally posted by: AvesPKS
Hey, all. I'm trying to help a friend of mine replace his alternator. He has a 1993 Ford Crown Victoria, with the 4.6L V8, and the Police Package. We already have the new alternator, and know how to bolt it back in, but we don't know how to release tension on the serpentine belt. We found the part that is supposed to be the belt tensioner, but we don't know how we are supposed to make it release tension. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

"Just loosen the alternator bolts and detach the drive belt."

straight from the manual.

Ok, we've got the old alternator off, and the new alternator on. Now we're trying to get the serpentine belt onto the alternator.

Thanks for all the responses.

 

[edfcmc]

YOu do know that AUtozone has the repair manual free online for this vehicle? Under the repair info.

www.autozone.com
Link to Autozone

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: Staley8

Originally posted by: AvesPKS
Hey, all. I'm trying to help a friend of mine replace his alternator. He has a 1993 Ford Crown Victoria, with the 4.6L V8, and the Police Package. We already have the new alternator, and know how to bolt it back in, but we don't know how to release tension on the serpentine belt. We found the part that is supposed to be the belt tensioner, but we don't know how we are supposed to make it release tension. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

I've changed out the alternator on my Bonneville 3 times (thank goodness for lifetime warranty on the part). Anyway there is most likely a wheel-type looking thing with a bolt holding it in place. It just looks like a normal wheel like the rest of your parts that are connected but it is actually the part that holds the tension for the belt. You need to get a good hold on the bolt part of the wheel with a ratchet (or wrench) and pull up on that thing. It we release all the tension and you are good to go.

i miss my bonneville because it was so easy to change the engine accessories