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How do you change a pulley on an alternator?
I’m knee-deep in some engine repairs, and I’ve hit a wall. I’ve never done much work with the alternator, and people keep saying I need to swap out its pulley. But I don’t actually know how to change a pulley on an alternator. Any advice?
Matt Terzi · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Of course! We’re more than happy to explain the steps to change a pulley on an alternator. We assume you know to be safe, you have the required tools, and you’re observing good safety practices. Please be safe when doing DIY car projects, especially when they relate to the car’s electrical system!
Here are the general steps to follow:
- Disconnect the negative battery cable to prevent potential electric shock. If you have a battery saver device, now is the time to use it.
- Locate the alternator, which is usually found near the front of the engine
- Loosen and remove the tension belt connected to the alternator, which involves loosening the tension with a wrench. You’ll then be able to remove the alternator belt entirely
- Remove the bolts holding the pulley in place and remove the pulley. It can sometimes help to lubricate the bolts with WD-40 first. You may need to put some elbow grease into removing the pulley. You could even use a hammer, but do be careful and don’t go too aggressively.
- Install the new pulley. You’ll want to line up the bolt holes. The rest should be pretty straightforward.
- Reinstall the alternator belt and use a socket wrench to tighten the belt tensioner correctly
- Hook the battery back up, and don’t forget to remove the battery saver first if you’re using one.
- Test everything out to make sure your alternator is putting out the right voltage. Your multimeter should show reading at or above 13 volts
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- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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