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My car defeated me today. (lemmy.ml)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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The alternator on my car went kaput. Nowhere in my area would do the job for less than $800-something, and most places were quoting $900-$1k.

So I looked up how-tos on YouTube and it looked like something I, a woman with zero experience or knowledge of working on cars, could do.

I got a remanufactured alternator for $180 and got to work following the tutorials I'd found.

It certainly did not go smoothly, but I managed it. It took me 6 hours to get the alternator out, mainly because every goddamn bolt holding the parts in place were basically cemented in. I had to use my foot to stomp one loose because I didn't have the strength in my arms.

Today I spent another 4 hours trying to put in the new one and all the parts back in place. And I did it!!

Except for the power steering belt. That fucker would not go into place, and trying to force the belt tensioner back took every ounce of strength I could muster.

All that work. All that time and effort and THE VERY LAST STEP to get my car up and running defeated me today. I had to get a task rabbit guy. He's coming tomorrow to get my belt back on.

On one hand I feel proud that I made it this far. On the other I feel like a complete failure because it turns out I couldn't complete the task myself.

Anyway, how was your weekend?

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Hate to be that person, but usually you leave the alternator loose before putting the belt on. Or force it on by sliding it with a screwdriver. I don’t know your particular car so I could be wrong.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Hmm, none of the videos I watched had them leaving the alternator loose, they tightened them up and left it as-is. I did see the screwdriver trick, and I tried that, but I just didn't have the strength to hold the tensioner at bay and force the belt into place.

Thanks for the suggestions though, I appreciate it. :)

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

I think he’s talking about the tensioner it’s loose so you can use it to tighten the belt via some threads. Depending on the car it might be attached at another part of the serpentine belt so you can loosen that one slip it on then tighten.