Just got it done on my wife's vehicle. Your instructions are very helpful. Thank you. I just want to add a variation in my case that i couldn't remove the sway bar due to rusty bolts. I'm afraid I would break them. I did remove the two 10mm retaining bolts holding the transmission fluid hard pipes on the front cross member. This gives me enough wiggle room for the alternator to come out between the front cross member and the sway bar.
Thank you for the ~great~ how to. 07 4Runner 4.7 V8 the same. - Other videos show removing the alternator through the passenger wheel well access (instead of dropping the sway bar)... I fiddled with that but saw no way for it to fit. Should have just dropped the sway bar right off. :) - Note to others to check the idler pulleys while the belt is off. I found my tensioner pulley bearing a bit loose. The 90mm pulley is available separate (and cheaper) from the tensioner The bolt that holds it on the tensioner is LEFT handed (righty loosey ...). - On my 07 sway bar brackets the front of the bracket is slotted, so no need to remove (just loosen) the front bolts. Rear bolts need removed.
Great video, I replaced my friends alternator on his 2008 gx470 it only took me about 1.5 hours total. Alldata calls for 2.8hrs. I didn't have the long wrenches so I ended up using my 3/8 torque wrench for the pulleys. I will be purchasing those mountain wrenches soon though! I will say the hardest part was putting on the new serpentine belt the rest was cake.
Thank you for making a complete, and actually useful video that doesn't mislead about the complexity, or the simplicity of this job. Simple fact you mentioned the PS pully, let alone, accessing the plugs from behind the axle, and removing the sway bar (instead of being an idiot and screwing with the cooling system) earns a 5-star from me. Great video. 11/10 👍👍 Oh, almost forgot to mention the belt routing diagram. This is the one video I needed from the start.
The service manual for my 2000 LC says to remove the radiator and PS pump. Your way seems a little less tedious and I don't have to buy new antifreeze. Do you think I can take mine out through the bottom or should I follow the service manual?
I ended up pulling the radiator. The 2000 LC is quite a bit different than the 04' and up. The anti-sway bar is not a factor because it's so far back. The only thing bolted to the alternator is the wiring for it. The other lines are tied to the frame. It was worth a try though...
Brian how long will this take us non-pros to tackle this task? My alternator is shot on my 06 GX470 and I need to replace it. I got an estimate from one mechanic to get it done for $250 including the alternator or $100 for the labor and I provide my own alternator (but he won't guaranty the work). Or is this a project that is doable for us regular joe's? I looked under the car after I removed the skid plate and there are just hoses everywhere. They could not have put this cot damn thing in a more difficult location.
I thought $100 (a little over an hour of labor) for the install sounded too good to be true and I even asked the Mechanic if he was sure it was only going to be an hour and he said he was familiar with the car and can do it at that time frame. Another mechanic quoted me $350 for the labor which I thought was more accurate. I've watched your video several times already and got my tools lined up so I'm gonna give this a shot today. I would feel a lot better doing this myself. Hopefully all goes well. Thanks for you valuable wealth of info bud!
Just finished up replacing the alternator today. Took me about 3 hours. It was a bit challenging, especially when it came to removing the power steering pulley. That itself took about 30 minutes. But I followed your steps to a T and got it done. Definitely a rewarding feeling doing it myself :-). Can't thank you enough for this video Brian.
JimmyD there's no recommended mileage or year went to change an alternator. Sometimes you get a good one and lasted 10 years and sometimes you get a bad one the last like year.
Great video. Saved a ton of money and time doing it myself. I love that you give sizes as you go.
Daniel Ward glad the video was helpful. Thank you for watching! Did the job goes smooth for you?
Just got it done on my wife's vehicle. Your instructions are very helpful. Thank you. I just want to add a variation in my case that i couldn't remove the sway bar due to rusty bolts. I'm afraid I would break them. I did remove the two 10mm retaining bolts holding the transmission fluid hard pipes on the front cross member. This gives me enough wiggle room for the alternator to come out between the front cross member and the sway bar.
Thank you for the ~great~ how to. 07 4Runner 4.7 V8 the same.
- Other videos show removing the alternator through the passenger wheel well access (instead of dropping the sway bar)... I fiddled with that but saw no way for it to fit. Should have just dropped the sway bar right off. :)
- Note to others to check the idler pulleys while the belt is off. I found my tensioner pulley bearing a bit loose. The 90mm pulley is available separate (and cheaper) from the tensioner The bolt that holds it on the tensioner is LEFT handed (righty loosey ...).
- On my 07 sway bar brackets the front of the bracket is slotted, so no need to remove (just loosen) the front bolts. Rear bolts need removed.
Great video, I replaced my friends alternator on his 2008 gx470 it only took me about 1.5 hours total. Alldata calls for 2.8hrs. I didn't have the long wrenches so I ended up using my 3/8 torque wrench for the pulleys. I will be purchasing those mountain wrenches soon though! I will say the hardest part was putting on the new serpentine belt the rest was cake.
Josh B sounds like you applied whatever it takes to get the job done👍🏻 that’s awesome!!
How did you get the pulley installed tightly? Seems like it's only going in halfway
Completed today. Great instructions! Thank you.
Thank you for making a complete, and actually useful video that doesn't mislead about the complexity, or the simplicity of this job.
Simple fact you mentioned the PS pully, let alone, accessing the plugs from behind the axle, and removing the sway bar (instead of being an idiot and screwing with the cooling system) earns a 5-star from me.
Great video. 11/10 👍👍
Oh, almost forgot to mention the belt routing diagram.
This is the one video I needed from the start.
How did you get to put back the PS pulley? Im having hard time getting it to fit all the way in. Thanks for this detailed instructional video
Make sure the pulley is not backwards. Also you can use penetrating oil to help.
@@HowtoAutomotive i just realized I might have installed it backwards. Good thing I haven't driven it. 😅
Man. You made that look easy. No a job for big hands
My sway bar bolts have a nut in the back side of them and they don’t come out doesn’t mean it slotted?
"remove the swaybar"
Way ahead of you m8
good instructional video. you said you twerked the tensioner?
So when I went to jam the 6 inch extension it cracked something from the power steering :( it leaked all out
The service manual for my 2000 LC says to remove the radiator and PS pump. Your way seems a little less tedious and I don't have to buy new antifreeze. Do you think I can take mine out through the bottom or should I follow the service manual?
Michael Lloyd I would go out the bottom. You will save time and money.
Very good. That's what I'll do then. Thanks for the video
I ended up pulling the radiator. The 2000 LC is quite a bit different than the 04' and up. The anti-sway bar is not a factor because it's so far back. The only thing bolted to the alternator is the wiring for it. The other lines are tied to the frame. It was worth a try though...
good job as alway thanks for sharing.cheeeers
j georges thank you!
Sweet!!
Brian how long will this take us non-pros to tackle this task? My alternator is shot on my 06 GX470 and I need to replace it. I got an estimate from one mechanic to get it done for $250 including the alternator or $100 for the labor and I provide my own alternator (but he won't guaranty the work). Or is this a project that is doable for us regular joe's? I looked under the car after I removed the skid plate and there are just hoses everywhere. They could not have put this cot damn thing in a more difficult location.
damannoa I would say it's going to take you two to three hours. 100 bucks sounds like a good price.
I thought $100 (a little over an hour of labor) for the install sounded too good to be true and I even asked the Mechanic if he was sure it was only going to be an hour and he said he was familiar with the car and can do it at that time frame. Another mechanic quoted me $350 for the labor which I thought was more accurate.
I've watched your video several times already and got my tools lined up so I'm gonna give this a shot today. I would feel a lot better doing this myself. Hopefully all goes well.
Thanks for you valuable wealth of info bud!
damannoa if you want to job done right do it yourself:) thank you for watching and good luck.
Just finished up replacing the alternator today. Took me about 3 hours. It was a bit challenging, especially when it came to removing the power steering pulley. That itself took about 30 minutes. But I followed your steps to a T and got it done. Definitely a rewarding feeling doing it myself :-).
Can't thank you enough for this video Brian.
damannoa glad you got it done. Thank you for watching and sharing!
I hate getting stranded, how many miles or years before you should replace it?
JimmyD there's no recommended mileage or year went to change an alternator. Sometimes you get a good one and lasted 10 years and sometimes you get a bad one the last like year.
thx.
JimmyD thank you for watching!
For reference I have a 2007 with almost 70k miles and it’s experiencing the symptoms of needing a new one.