Oil Soaked Alternators
Do you know what it's like to break down at a gas pump and have to have your truck pushed off to the side then jump started? Because I sure do. Even if it's a light truck to push it's not a fun experience. After this little excursion my dad and I drove to our local Canadian tire and bought a new battery. Keep in mind this wasn't the first break down. But after having to trickle charge the new battery twice and more breakdowns it turned out I didn't have a battery issue to begin with. My alternator was faulty. Apparently if you let an alternator sit in an engine bay for 34 years as it's getting soaked in oil you're going to encounter problems.
As the type of person I am I decided I wasn't going to take her into the mechanic for this issue. No I got him to do my ball joints and fan belts but I was going to pull this alternator at home.
Wedged in the front corner of the engine bay, it's a tricky spot to get to. Instead of going from the top of the engine I had to go behind the passenger side wheel. Behind the wheel I encountered a rubber protector plate held on by some stoppers, it's easy to peel back. Behind that is where I found my alternator. After removing the screws and disconnecting it from the belt, It took two of us to wiggle it out. It was rather stuck.
After pulling the alternator I found a guy to rebuild the thing for me. Well my dad found a guy to rebuild the thing for me. The before and after of it are like night and day (refer to pictures attached). Sadly because of the spot the alternator goes into it took longer than I'd like to admit to get it back in. Let's just say I definitely didn't need to do arm day that day.
Don't do work on your engine without disconnect the battery first!
