This doesn't look good. Looking down toward the alternator, I just spotted this. Trying to work out what it is holding but can't get a mirror or my hand down there. Edit: I took a better pic with gizmo Obviously I have to push that bolt back in and find a nut for the other end. So anyone had this happen and is there a nut on the other end or should there be a threaded mount?
Could be wrong but looks like top alternator mount bolt that has a Tab on back end of it. Instead of a nut. Bugger of a thing to get to for an old bloke.
It is a bugger of thing for this old bloke. Lucky she is a NoTurbo, but that only means I can see it. I can touch it with a 17mm spanner Put a socket on it but can't get it to turn very much. Why does everything have to be engine out joking. But I will have to take radiator out, if lucky just the shroud.
Loosen belt, push bolt through and using braille you should be able to get a nut on it. With a NA motor its a piece of Donald. LOL. If this old bloke can do it you can.
I know this must be easier on a NoTurbo but something is a bit off. So loosen off the belt you say, that means I have to get underneath. OK. Did that. Alternator didn't shift as I loosened off the bolt that tightens the belt. The bolt just poked out. Got the goose camera out to try and see what's up. I think the alternator is wedged in and the bolt is just spinning without finding its thread. Why is this bolt so long. Should that open sided hole on the alternator be on the bolt?
I find it a lot easier to use a 3/8 drive right angle air ratchet on those bolts. Also jack mine up high and slide 4wd ramps under the front wheels and pull the jack out then roll under on a creeper. Always find that every thing is just that bit harder on a Zed. Cheers Dave
TT Dave, I have a creeper and I did get 4WD wheel ramps because the wheel ramps for cars specify a maximum tyre width of 200mm. The 4WD ramps are wide enough to let the wheels drop in, but isn't that risking damage to the alloy wheel as it might scrape? Anyway I might have to get the alternator out with a crowbar because I am starting to wonder if it is bolted in where it should be. I could be wrong because I can't get a good straight angle view of it, but it looks a bit wrong.
I used a suitable bolt and nyloc nut on my old NA for this task. You mention you were looking for the thread, there is not thread. It's got a nut with a locking tab on the other end... chances are this is long gone. Loosen alternator tensioning hardware, then tap loose with a hammer on a solid part. It should not be 'that' stuck
oh this bolt is a shocker. when i did my timing belt my car developed a weird sound, turns out that this alternator mount bolt slid itself out and was rubbing against one of the other accessory belts. pushed it back in, and got a nut on the rear of that bolt. got a spanner around the rear of the alternator which was a major pita securing the nut whilst I tightened the mount bolt from the front side of the alternator.
OK, what he said is exactly what has happened...but something doesn't look like it fits. Looking at the FSM I can't see the same same bolt holes. I think this might be an aftermarket part that is missing an adapter bracket. Still trying to get it out to get a good look without it falling on my head.
Take out radiator and shroud, then its straight forward and you will be able to see from on top and below. Loosen off and take belt off of alternator. Take bolt fully out and find correct size nut. This bolt has a 17mm head but 14mm spanner is used on nut.
Well no danger of this thing falling on my head, it is surrounded by so much belt and brace and hard line. Probably should disconnect battery while fiddling with alternator. Anyway I couldn't get the bolt out but while I was rolling the belt off the bolt must have cleared whatever was stopping it and slipped almost all the way in. I thought I might be lucky enough to turn it and find a thread. No such luck, I can see where it pokes out and it is obvious what everyone is describing now. A nut has just fallen off. Here is a photo of the back end. I might have to remove the shroud as Martin advised (but my lower shroud is a PITA to put back on) will try to find a bolt and jamer it on first.
My 4wd ramps i welded an extra piece of steel on each ramp to stop the wheels from dropping in and scratching. As for getting the nut started try using a magnet pick up stick to hold the nut until it starts on the thread. Someone with small girly hands might be a help Cheers Dave
Lesson learnt. I JINXED myself. I could not get the rear nut on. It looks like there is thread there, but very fine, so I can believe that Nissan might have used one of those push on nuts, as suggested by someone. Had an idea of pulling out the bolt and drilling a hole in the end for a cotter pin, but after pushing it in, the bolt won't come out. Might be bent? So I gave up because I couldn't get my hand in, even with shroud and clutch fan out. I tried using a magnet on end of stick, but couldn't do it. Tightened the lower adjustment mount. Decided that it is a stock alternator and packed up tools. If it pops out again I might pull it out and replace it with something like the locking pins to secure the rear flap on a box trailer.
Surely it's not that hard... you need the right nut to secure it though. Changing an alternator would only take 30 mins or (excluding time to get it on stands and removing the under engine splash guard.) See below pic which I nicked off the american forums: As soon as you get the nut onto the bolt's thread, you start to tighten it from the front using a small ratchet and that nut will grab and not rotate freely.
"Nut that holds pivot bolt" OK, that is what it looks like with locking tab. On my Zed, the pivot bolt is the upper mount. I think that tab needs to fold around for the depth of the alternator body and stick out the front, so it can be used to place the nut and lock it against the body of alternator while it is being tightened.
yes, it goes without saying that the pivot bolt is at the top on zeds. The tab that sticks out will obviously push against the alternator itself while being tightened. If you have the correct nut just get it on the thread and start tightening. It's easier if your head is looking up at the front of the alternator and use your left hand to try and get the nut on the back of the bolt.
Would it be possible to weld a nut (with the correct thread) onto a piece of rod then holding the rod get the nut on the thread and tighten it. Leaving the rod and nut in place ?. As long as the rod does not interfere with anything. Some times I do this on machinery that we are unable to easily access the nuts on. Cheers Dave
