I own a '98 Ford Contour with the 2.5L six. I'm on my fourth alternator and always dreaded the process. The last time the alternator went out was on the way to work and I had to be towed two blocks to a garage. I didn't have time to do the job myself. The alternator just went out a few weeks ago and now that I'm retired I decided to do the job myself using your wheel well procedure. What a time saver! I did have trouble getting to the bolts so I removed the Y exhaust pipe. We don't have salted roads here so the Y pipe was easy to remove. It was a pleasure not having to remove the axle. I'm going to do the oil pan gasket next. Thank you!
From the 1998 Ford Contour / Mercury Mystique factory shop manual Alternator Removal - 2.5L Engine 1) Disconnect battery ground cable. 2) Disengage the generator (alternator) drive belt from the generator pulley. 3) Raise vehicle on hoist 4) Remove RH wheel and tire. 5) Remove RH outer tie rod end from RH spindle. 6) Remove exhaust system Y-pipe. 7) Disconnect the wire harness attachments to the integral generator / voltage regulator. 8) Remove generator brace retaining bolts and generator brace from generator. 9) Remove RH halfshaft. 10) Remove generator retaining bolts from generator mounting bracket. Rotate generator and remove generator through RH side of vehicle. 11) Remove generator mounting bracket retaining bolts and generator mounting bracket from cylinder block.
Eric. I am not a sadist, but I have never enjoyed seeing you struggle so much. Last June I changed the alternator on my 2000 Ford Contour 2.0L. For me, I ended up replacing the serpentine belt, tensioner and oil filter in addition to finding unique ways to get to the alternator bolts. Two months after that I sold the car after owning it for 11 years and have never looked back. And you're right, this is a stark contrast to the 10 mins it takes to replace the blower motor. Glad to know I'm not the only one who thought this job as a pain in the ***. Keep up the great vids, I love to see the real challenges it takes to fix cars sometimes.
First we all though the Montana was a bad design, then we met Barbara's van and now I think the Contour take the cake. As humorous as it is to watch you struggle Eric, because thats when your comedy shines. I could not feel anything but pain for you.
I saw the this was an alternator replacement and thought it was going to be a straight forward replacement. you really had to dig to get the alternator replaced. good job Eric!
Your video saved me many hours and much frustration. The factory manual says to remove the control arm and drive axle; not necessary. I did remove the exhaust but not the stuff on top. THANK YOU!!!
I had one of these cars. I almost always work on my own cars. I read the instructions to change the alternator, and took it to my local shop. That was money well spent!!!
WOW, Eric! What a colossal PITA! Ford left NO provision for after-the-sale repairs. Shame, that. Was great to watch you soldier through it, and reminded me of all the times I lay in my driveway under my '56 Ford doing repairs by Braille... especially the knuckle-busting. Kudos to you, Brian, for capturing a most difficult shoot. Excellent work, you two.
Thanks so much for this! I am a disabled motorist in the UK,on a seriously tight budget,and panicking about how to replace my broken alternator...I got one from a scrap car easily enough earlier even though my back is feeling shot tonight. However,using this video I am much more confident now when it comes to replacement tomorrow. Then there is just the small matter of a leaking oil cooler pipe (radiator out so at least I can see it now) which is also dialled in for tomorrow. Wish me luck Folks! Oh to have a Cortina with a pinto fitted,used to take ten minutes to change the alternator!
Watching you struggle with that makes me feel better. I had a friend who is a master mechanic help me do that job it took us forever to finish it, hated that job!
Thank you mr. Eric, with help of this video I was able to replace the alternator on my '99 Mondeo. It really helps to see beforehand what you have to do to get it out. Note that you do not have to take the powersteering and stuff off, it can all be done from beneath and through the right wheelwell.The tensioner can be gotten to with a 3/8 rattlewrench, there's a square hole in it so you can put the 3/8 in and release the tension. Whole thing took me 4 hours with lots of extensions for the wrench and 2 angle connectors. It's actually not that bad if you know what to do, which is where this video came in. Again, Thanks!!!
I know that Americans does not like EU car brands, but take for example that VW - does not matter which year you take everything is well planned. I just think that in opposite to Ford engineers, a VW engineers think about future maintenance of the car. Not only how to put everything together ;) 2nd thing is rush - oh man - that ford cars did not even heard about such thing as rust protection ;) Cheers
I love working on cars... and this is exactly why I couldn't do it for a living!! Keep up the good work and the humor in your videos.. 02 jeep liberty head gasket..
This will be good for me on my newly aqquired Mondeo mk2, the only difference between mine and this is mine drives on the right side lol. Gotta love the sound of the V6 in it, as you rightly said in the last video about it. "Theres a good car undermeath!", my same words
I like you're video's but i especially like watching the fixingitforward video's . I know car repair's can get expensive with cost of parts and the big one labor and to watch you take time out of you're life to help people who need it.I know this can't be done with out the help from the viewers donations so i want to thank you and the people who donate to help you to do this, we need more kindness like this in this world with that in mind keep up with this video's an thank you.
I used to use an extension, about that long, to get to the Starter bolts, on '65, '66, and '67 Mustangs. I had more room at the front of the engine, than back near the Starter. I now know what kind of Used Car NOT to buy! Great video Eric!
Great video Eric, I don't plan to and don't think I'll ever have the need to do an alternator swap on a 98 Ford but I watched this from start to finish. What a nightmare that was, great work though, I'm sure the owner is thrilled as they should be. "Fixing it Forward" sounds like a great program you started. People like you make the world a better place to live in.
Thank you, so much for making this video. I have a 98 Taurus SHO that needs an alternator and after watching your struggle I realize what I need to do. Again thanks.
brought back some memories. Did that years ago on 1999 F Contour. Same thing, and yes from the bottom is what exactly I did. I run out of words from a dictionary Good Video i wish it was there 8 years ago.
They also had the Mercury version called the Mystique ( or Mercury Mistake ). I'm just baffled she shoved that V6 in there ! intake manifold is massive on it. Nice Video as usual! liking the balance of videos !
Big Kudos on your patience and skill with this one, what a pita-! Todays cars are so much harder to access and work on than the cars of the 60's and 70's. Amazing how many more tools and tricks one has to drag out to do what used to be a simple job. Like another commenter below said, I remember it took me like fifteen minutes tops to change the alternator on my old '89 Caprice, wish I had another one someone hit me and totaled it. That brake rotor sure looked thin on the inside, just a laymans observation-lol.
I'm facing this monster right now. Alternator died on my 1999 Mondeo Stationwagon. Normally I'd do this in no-time at all, Ford line-4's are like cracking open a beer. Used to work on 70's Taunus (Cortina in UK) and 2 Litre Sierra's. Those were fun. Swap an SIerrra 2L into a 1.6 Taunus in an afternoon, those were the days! Still I love the old tank, it's supercomfy, excellent for long autobahndrives @ 170km/h and pulls big trailers with no effort. The engine, despite being way too big for the bay it lives in, is a gem. It's supersmooth, revs like a racing engine and gets you there very, very fast. It's a bit of a gas guzzler but the nice thing is that it uses just as much gas doing 170 as when it's in city traffic. It's also a great driver's car, handling is brilliant. Confirmation of this can be seen in the "Death of the Cortina" episode of Grand Tour, the car that they agreed upon being the nicest, most universally likeable one ever was a Mondeo St220 2.5 v6. Basically the same car except the engine is tuned higher. Mine is a 2.5l V6 Ghia, same engine but tuned lower and much more luxurious inside. They really are fine machines, despite the fact they're impossibly cramped to work on. So I'll bite the bullet, get the required tools and follow this fantastically good video. Thank you so much Eric, now i've seen how it's done I'm confident it's possible to save a zillion bucks and DIY. - PS: Spiders are nice, they eat muskitos by the hundreds so if you leave 'm there you'll never get bit by a muskito in your car. I'd be supermad if you removed my army of 8-legged friends from my car. They're there for good reason and earned the right to live there, kind of a symbiotic benificial agreement.
I've actually replaced the alternator on my 2003 2-liter Mazda 3 just today. I thought I had quite a tight space to work with, but this is something else... :-)
Hey Eric, a buddy of mine showed me not to struggle and take those weird wiring clips all the way out, they can also push in and disengage :) It was an eye opener, hope it helps
This reminded me of my alternator that I removed on my trailblazer, had to bend a/c line to get a bolt out. Eric, you might get better use of your headlight if you get rid of that bill. I use a welders cap to get the same protection as a cap but without a bill. Can aim the light were you need it if your in a spot with your head back and looking over your lower eyelids. Thanks for the vids! Excited for the next fairmont video.
Ouch Eric - I did an alternator replacement on my 00' Contour SVT with a 3L DOHC swap from a Taurus and I did it in the driveway from under the car. You don't have to do anything from the top - it is all done with long extensions from the driver side of the car. I had the swap done in an hour - used every extension that I could get my hands on. That power steering line you removed, is probably going to leak forever due to the nut that is held in place with an internal snap ring with an internal o-ring. If it leaks - cut the nut in half and tighten the nut on the pump and then click the line into the pump. You can get the nut from Ford-
Good one. I'll probably just take some steel rod and weld some cheap tools to it. Taking the steering link off and getting the mudprotectors off probably is half of the job. Eric's vid is very helpfull though, it confirms you can get access to the bolts and it confirms you can get the alternator out through the rh side. The powersteering line is a pain, the front connection is prone to vibrations and leaks constantly when the little white plastic ring is cracked or missing. You can stuff any kind of seal in there, copper pressure ring, nylon ring, rubber, as long as it's oilresistant and thick enough to make the seal you're good. Make sure the metal pipe is secure and doesn't vibrate.
My 21 yr old Ford Contour SE 2.5L V6 (I bought it brand new) is still running, at 165,000 original miles! No CEL, everything (electrical/mechanical) still works, no slipping CD4E tranny, no rust, no driveability issues, gets 25mpg and always passes NY inspection. I can't kill this thing! Wifey says we got a Wednesday car. I do most repairs myself but I let PepBoys change the alternator. $200 alternator, $400 labor.
Eric as always great video... I did my 1st contour alt job about 10 years ago, was told it was a 14 out 10 on the difficulty scale, it was but I managed it ok. when I did it, I took the drivers side wheel & inner plastic shields off, came at the bolts with a couple long extensions & a swivel, wasn't that bad.. yes this is about the hardest alternator job of any car out there, But I have to tell you my 99 v/6 contour is so sporty and fun to drive. I've had to replace that alternator again, but it's still worth it.. Keep up the great video's bud
K.D. Pearce Sounds like my water pump, $24.00 part new, cheapest price I could find for labor was $420.00, ended up doing it myself, took about 17hrs total over 2 days.
I own a 1997 Mondeo, and it's on jobs like these where i am glad mines got the 2.0L 4 pot engine. I have heard plenty of horror stories about changing the alternator on the v6 version. I can see why!
Well done Eric, that was a bloody nightmare, it makes all other alternators look delightful. Surely they could have designed it with all the bolts going in from the wheel side access side only, the designer wants a dam good kicking for that crap design.
I had to do the alt on my 'tour V6. I think I used a 3 or 4 FT extension from the driver side wheelwell area straight across for that bolt and hit it w/an impact. Not fun and way more work than should've been needed. Thanks, Ford.
On my Lincoln Town Car it takes around 10 minutes to replace the alternator, including beer. Add another 10 minutes and you can do the water pump just for fun while the belt is off anyway...the belt itself can be done under a minute R&R if you´re fast.
Great video, I hope to see many more from fixing it forward. Its great to see the car you are building but I think you need a mixture of videos not just the build. Thanks
well that looked like a lot of fun, gotta thank Ford for this incredible design where they put the alternator a place where you need to lift the engine to be able to access it
You aren't the first mechanic/tech to comment about Fomoco (or for that matter) anyone else about the lack of clearance in the engine compartment. One guy was all for a Automotive engineer that designed that area tp do what you are doing and see what he says! BTW these are my favorite videos of yours. . .FIF or other videos!
This one is a nice video! I have to explain two "industrial" tricks for threading back bolts with no acces like this ones, if you have no room to fit your hands, and you only can fit the extensions and the sockets, fill the hex part of the socket with grease (heavy grease, not spray) and put the head on, it creates a bit of vacuum on the bolt and allows to put it on the hole. Another one, for heavier or longer bolts is to put a turn of electric tape arround the head of the bolt and the socket, just to ensure it wont fall, but in this case, you need to secure the socket to the extension or the universal with more tape than between the bolt to the socket, to ensure you dont leave the tool hanging on the bolts head when you remove the tool. I hove it helps somebody.
I used to have this exact same car except it was a 99 manual. The alternator on mine was impossible for me to get on the floor with the tools I had at the time. Oh, the memories. Right down to that stupid belt.
On the Duratec Taurus/Sable you can put a jack stand under the uni-body jacking point, use a floor jack under the sub frame, unbolt the sub frame, and lower it a few inches. took me about 30 mins to replace the Alternator after I found this out. The most difficult part was rerouting the new belt.
Now I know why my coworker promptly scrapped his contour when his alternator went out. His words were "I paid $450 for this car 9 months ago, it isn't worth the bullshit to fix it."
Ive got this task in front of me and I feel like crying! Have mercy on my soul!
I own a '98 Ford Contour with the 2.5L six. I'm on my fourth alternator and always dreaded the process. The last time the alternator went out was on the way to work and I had to be towed two blocks to a garage. I didn't have time to do the job myself. The alternator just went out a few weeks ago and now that I'm retired I decided to do the job myself using your wheel well procedure. What a time saver! I did have trouble getting to the bolts so I removed the Y exhaust pipe. We don't have salted roads here so the Y pipe was easy to remove. It was a pleasure not having to remove the axle. I'm going to do the oil pan gasket next. Thank you!
I have to say that I am glad that there are people that do this professionally so that I don't have to.
From the 1998 Ford Contour / Mercury Mystique factory shop manual
Alternator Removal - 2.5L Engine
1) Disconnect battery ground cable.
2) Disengage the generator (alternator) drive belt from the generator pulley.
3) Raise vehicle on hoist
4) Remove RH wheel and tire.
5) Remove RH outer tie rod end from RH spindle.
6) Remove exhaust system Y-pipe.
7) Disconnect the wire harness attachments to the integral generator / voltage regulator.
8) Remove generator brace retaining bolts and generator brace from generator.
9) Remove RH halfshaft.
10) Remove generator retaining bolts from generator mounting bracket. Rotate generator and remove generator through RH side of vehicle.
11) Remove generator mounting bracket retaining bolts and generator mounting bracket from cylinder block.
Funny, they didn't mention anything about rust or spiders. ;)
Eric. I am not a sadist, but I have never enjoyed seeing you struggle so much.
Last June I changed the alternator on my 2000 Ford Contour 2.0L. For me, I ended up replacing the serpentine belt, tensioner and oil filter in addition to finding unique ways to get to the alternator bolts. Two months after that I sold the car after owning it for 11 years and have never looked back. And you're right, this is a stark contrast to the 10 mins it takes to replace the blower motor.
Glad to know I'm not the only one who thought this job as a pain in the ***.
Keep up the great vids, I love to see the real challenges it takes to fix cars sometimes.
First we all though the Montana was a bad design, then we met Barbara's van and now I think the Contour take the cake. As humorous as it is to watch you struggle Eric, because thats when your comedy shines. I could not feel anything but pain for you.
Have to admit it's more fun to watch someone else struggle with these things. Misery loves company! Good video.
Yea, I suppose it does. I'm happy to suffer for your viewership. Well, sort of.
EricTheCarGuy couldnt you drop the engine slightly to give you more room?
I saw the this was an alternator replacement and thought it was going to be a straight forward replacement. you really had to dig to get the alternator replaced. good job Eric!
Your video saved me many hours and much frustration. The factory manual says to remove the control arm and drive axle; not necessary. I did remove the exhaust but not the stuff on top. THANK YOU!!!
I have no clue why, but this video was so satisfying to listen and watch to.
This video makes me appreciate my Chevy Blazer even more,
Owning one of these mysteries made me appreciate any GM product I've owned more.
I can't believe this design. My son replaced the alternator on my 93 Camry in literally ten minutes. Eric is just a prince of a guy! Brian, too!
I had one of these cars. I almost always work on my own cars. I read the instructions to change the alternator, and took it to my local shop. That was money well spent!!!
WOW, Eric! What a colossal PITA! Ford left NO provision for after-the-sale repairs. Shame, that. Was great to watch you soldier through it, and reminded me of all the times I lay in my driveway under my '56 Ford doing repairs by Braille... especially the knuckle-busting.
Kudos to you, Brian, for capturing a most difficult shoot. Excellent work, you two.
Thanks so much for this! I am a disabled motorist in the UK,on a seriously tight budget,and panicking about how to replace my broken alternator...I got one from a scrap car easily enough earlier even though my back is feeling shot tonight. However,using this video I am much more confident now when it comes to replacement tomorrow. Then there is just the small matter of a leaking oil cooler pipe (radiator out so at least I can see it now) which is also dialled in for tomorrow. Wish me luck Folks! Oh to have a Cortina with a pinto fitted,used to take ten minutes to change the alternator!
Eric, good to see you're revisiting the Fixing It Forward series. Was a huge fan of watching these.
Watching you struggle with that makes me feel better. I had a friend who is a master mechanic help me do that job it took us forever to finish it, hated that job!
Thank you mr. Eric, with help of this video I was able to replace the alternator on my '99 Mondeo. It really helps to see beforehand what you have to do to get it out. Note that you do not have to take the powersteering and stuff off, it can all be done from beneath and through the right wheelwell.The tensioner can be gotten to with a 3/8 rattlewrench, there's a square hole in it so you can put the 3/8 in and release the tension. Whole thing took me 4 hours with lots of extensions for the wrench and 2 angle connectors. It's actually not that bad if you know what to do, which is where this video came in. Again, Thanks!!!
Eric is still a pro. Greetings from Germany.
That car is known a Ford Mondeo here in Europe. I had one of these and I am so happy that I don't own it anymore
Indeed, it's listed in the description. It's not a bad car really. I like the way it runs and drives.
Austin Chase dear lord I hate the alternator location on these
Almost every time that I worked on a Ford Contour,I cursed a LOT.
Front struts? Good luck> Another nightmare.Rear brakes? Same deal.
Austin Chase Did you watch the video?
I know that Americans does not like EU car brands, but take for example that VW - does not matter which year you take everything is well planned.
I just think that in opposite to Ford engineers, a VW engineers think about future maintenance of the car. Not only how to put everything together ;)
2nd thing is rush - oh man - that ford cars did not even heard about such thing as rust protection ;)
Cheers
I love working on cars... and this is exactly why I couldn't do it for a living!! Keep up the good work and the humor in your videos.. 02 jeep liberty head gasket..
This will be good for me on my newly aqquired Mondeo mk2, the only difference between mine and this is mine drives on the right side lol. Gotta love the sound of the V6 in it, as you rightly said in the last video about it. "Theres a good car undermeath!", my same words
I like you're video's but i especially like watching the fixingitforward video's . I know car repair's can get expensive with cost of parts and the big one labor and to watch you take time out of you're life to help people who need it.I know this can't be done with out the help from the viewers donations so i want to thank you and the people who donate to help you to do this, we need more kindness like this in this world with that in mind keep up with this video's an thank you.
Thank you very much for that comment. I really appreciate it.
Correct tool - most important thing in repair! Bravo, Eric! Your tools set amazing!
Happy to see you back into more repair than build. These are what caught me on the channel in the first place.
akita inu yeah, that's why I moved onto South Main Auto's channel.
I used to use an extension, about that long, to get to the Starter bolts, on '65, '66, and '67 Mustangs. I had more room at the front of the engine, than back near the Starter. I now know what kind of Used Car NOT to buy! Great video Eric!
I have a mondeo now for a cheap run around car, works just fine!...Fixingitforward is my favourite episodes!! :-)
You are a better man than me. I would have just pulled out the jaws of life and called it done!
Great video Eric, I don't plan to and don't think I'll ever have the need to do an alternator swap on a 98 Ford but I watched this from start to finish. What a nightmare that was, great work though, I'm sure the owner is thrilled as they should be. "Fixing it Forward" sounds like a great program you started. People like you make the world a better place to live in.
This is the definition of a mechanics life. this should come up in a google search when you type in mechanic job.
Thank you, so much for making this video. I have a 98 Taurus SHO that needs an alternator and after watching your struggle I realize what I need to do. Again thanks.
I cant believe you helped this ungrait out again. God bless you sir.
Good video, Eric. It's interesting to see the tough jobs as well as the ones that are as easy as eating cake.
Thanks Eric. You just convinced me to take this project to the shop!
brought back some memories. Did that years ago on 1999 F Contour. Same thing, and yes from the bottom is what exactly I did. I run out of words from a dictionary Good Video i wish it was there 8 years ago.
They also had the Mercury version called the Mystique ( or Mercury Mistake ). I'm just baffled she shoved that V6 in there ! intake manifold is massive on it. Nice Video as usual! liking the balance of videos !
He did these same jobs WITHOUT A LIFT in his earlier videos. Great video
You're a better and more patient man than me Mr Eric sir. On ya mate.
It's just clever editing.
Glad to see this series. It truly is a good cause. Good job
Big Kudos on your patience and skill with this one, what a pita-! Todays cars are so much harder to access and work on than the cars of the 60's and 70's. Amazing how many more tools and tricks one has to drag out to do what used to be a simple job. Like another commenter below said, I remember it took me like fifteen minutes tops to change the alternator on my old '89 Caprice, wish I had another one someone hit me and totaled it. That brake rotor sure looked thin on the inside, just a laymans observation-lol.
Got to love how you link everything in the description.
Great work Eric!
I am a mechanic here in Brazil and i really love your videos! By the Fixingitforward rules!
@Eric one more month and you will be wit a million subscriber we love your work all away from lebanon in the middle east
I used to work at a local ford dealership, me and the other techs in my team dreaded this job on this model and it's mercury twin
I'm facing this monster right now. Alternator died on my 1999 Mondeo Stationwagon. Normally I'd do this in no-time at all, Ford line-4's are like cracking open a beer. Used to work on 70's Taunus (Cortina in UK) and 2 Litre Sierra's. Those were fun. Swap an SIerrra 2L into a 1.6 Taunus in an afternoon, those were the days!
Still I love the old tank, it's supercomfy, excellent for long autobahndrives @ 170km/h and pulls big trailers with no effort. The engine, despite being way too big for the bay it lives in, is a gem. It's supersmooth, revs like a racing engine and gets you there very, very fast. It's a bit of a gas guzzler but the nice thing is that it uses just as much gas doing 170 as when it's in city traffic.
It's also a great driver's car, handling is brilliant. Confirmation of this can be seen in the "Death of the Cortina" episode of Grand Tour, the car that they agreed upon being the nicest, most universally likeable one ever was a Mondeo St220 2.5 v6. Basically the same car except the engine is tuned higher. Mine is a 2.5l V6 Ghia, same engine but tuned lower and much more luxurious inside. They really are fine machines, despite the fact they're impossibly cramped to work on.
So I'll bite the bullet, get the required tools and follow this fantastically good video.
Thank you so much Eric, now i've seen how it's done I'm confident it's possible to save a zillion bucks and DIY.
-
PS:
Spiders are nice, they eat muskitos by the hundreds so if you leave 'm there you'll never get bit by a muskito in your car.
I'd be supermad if you removed my army of 8-legged friends from my car. They're there for good reason and earned the right to live there, kind of a symbiotic benificial agreement.
I've actually replaced the alternator on my 2003 2-liter Mazda 3 just today. I thought I had quite a tight space to work with, but this is something else... :-)
so happy fixing it forward is back
*Eric, we need more repair vids man :)*
That's the plan. Thanks for your input. th-cam.com/video/xXX9ZNbBtcw/w-d-xo.html
CR2504life definitely need more FIF videos
Good job, like your videos
Hey Eric, a buddy of mine showed me not to struggle and take those weird wiring clips all the way out, they can also push in and disengage :) It was an eye opener, hope it helps
Ugh- what a pain that replacement is for a commonly replaced item. Good work!
This reminded me of my alternator that I removed on my trailblazer, had to bend a/c line to get a bolt out.
Eric, you might get better use of your headlight if you get rid of that bill. I use a welders cap to get the same protection as a cap but without a bill. Can aim the light were you need it if your in a spot with your head back and looking over your lower eyelids.
Thanks for the vids! Excited for the next fairmont video.
Ouch Eric - I did an alternator replacement on my 00' Contour SVT with a 3L DOHC swap from a Taurus and I did it in the driveway from under the car. You don't have to do anything from the top - it is all done with long extensions from the driver side of the car. I had the swap done in an hour - used every extension that I could get my hands on. That power steering line you removed, is probably going to leak forever due to the nut that is held in place with an internal snap ring with an internal o-ring. If it leaks - cut the nut in half and tighten the nut on the pump and then click the line into the pump. You can get the nut from Ford-
Good one. I'll probably just take some steel rod and weld some cheap tools to it. Taking the steering link off and getting the mudprotectors off probably is half of the job. Eric's vid is very helpfull though, it confirms you can get access to the bolts and it confirms you can get the alternator out through the rh side. The powersteering line is a pain, the front connection is prone to vibrations and leaks constantly when the little white plastic ring is cracked or missing. You can stuff any kind of seal in there, copper pressure ring, nylon ring, rubber, as long as it's oilresistant and thick enough to make the seal you're good. Make sure the metal pipe is secure and doesn't vibrate.
My 21 yr old Ford Contour SE 2.5L V6 (I bought it brand new) is still running, at 165,000 original miles! No CEL, everything (electrical/mechanical) still works, no slipping CD4E tranny, no rust, no driveability issues, gets 25mpg and always passes NY inspection. I can't kill this thing! Wifey says we got a Wednesday car. I do most repairs myself but I let PepBoys change the alternator. $200 alternator, $400 labor.
Eric as always great video... I did my 1st contour alt job about 10 years ago, was told it was a 14 out 10 on the difficulty scale, it was but I managed it ok. when I did it, I took the drivers side wheel & inner plastic shields off, came at the bolts with a couple long extensions & a swivel, wasn't that bad.. yes this is about the hardest alternator job of any car out there, But I have to tell you my 99 v/6 contour is so sporty and fun to drive. I've had to replace that alternator again, but it's still worth it.. Keep up the great video's bud
Holy hell! Talk about a packaging fail. This video alone would keep me from buying one of these as a beater car.
The multimeter should read above 14 volts when the alternator charges the battery. On most 90s cars. Love these videos and Eric's commentary. :)
Wow, ETCG, you just made me retroactively glad that I owned a 4-cyl version of this car. MUCH easier to get at the alt.
Sucks he had issues with the car again but SO happy to see a new repair vid!
im glad you posted this video, as i need to do this to my 1999 Cougar V6 now i know how to thanks Eric.
Good luck.
Wow! You're one awesome mechanic !!! Good job Eric!
Brutal. I liked "The Jerk" reference. "Die Gas Pumper!". My Favorite is " He hates these cans!"
I say that about the cans all the time. The Jerk is one of my favorite movies ever.
Me also Eric!
Thank you for showing how it really is. I recognize myself in this.
$300.00 alternator $700.00 Labor.
+ the core charge,
no bueno. : (
60 dollar car
2 goat
Sounds like dealership prices
K.D. Pearce
Sounds like my water pump, $24.00 part new, cheapest price I could find for labor was $420.00, ended up doing it myself, took about 17hrs total over 2 days.
When I did the alternator on my Contour I removed the axle and the exhaust pipe to get it out. I wish I saw your video first.
I own a 1997 Mondeo, and it's on jobs like these where i am glad mines got the 2.0L 4 pot engine. I have heard plenty of horror stories about changing the alternator on the v6 version. I can see why!
CONGRATS ON 900K ERIC!!!!!
Thanks!
Wowza, that was a battle, well done Eric
Well done Eric, that was a bloody nightmare, it makes all other alternators look delightful.
Surely they could have designed it with all the bolts going in from the wheel side access side only, the designer wants a dam good kicking for that crap design.
That would have made things so much easier. Oh well.
Congrats on 900k Eric!
Thanks!
I had to do the alt on my 'tour V6. I think I used a 3 or 4 FT extension from the driver side wheelwell area straight across for that bolt and hit it w/an impact. Not fun and way more work than should've been needed. Thanks, Ford.
On my Lincoln Town Car it takes around 10 minutes to replace the alternator, including beer. Add another 10 minutes and you can do the water pump just for fun while the belt is off anyway...the belt itself can be done under a minute R&R if you´re fast.
I usually don't comment on your work but wow.
Eric I'm surprised you didn't throw that old alternator against the wall and spit on it. Very nice extraction on your part. Thanks Eric and Brian.
when that bolt broke loose, even I smiled. that can be the best sound ever
Good deed doesn't go unpunished
I have a Contour and these comments are funny. 😀
Wow, that really looked like the suckage. But there is always more than one way to put the skin back on the sausage. Good work.
Great video, I hope to see many more from fixing it forward. Its great to see the car you are building but I think you need a mixture of videos not just the build.
Thanks
I agree. Thanks for your input. th-cam.com/video/xXX9ZNbBtcw/w-d-xo.html
This man is very calm
Car designers must never have to fix the cars they make.
Axe Bob and they make 5 times as much as the people fixing
Toben Kinzle and they dont get much scrutiny.
No the mechanic had relations with his wife.
thanks
well that looked like a lot of fun, gotta thank Ford for this incredible design where they put the alternator a place where you need to lift the engine to be able to access it
Great video! Very informative. As a do-it-yourselfer, I have been there done that!!
if I could I would give you 1000 likes for your patience!!
Thank you!
EricTheCarGuy not a problem, I enjoye your videos very much, I learned lots of things from you. Thank you Eric
Imagine this w/o a lift
I know right?
I changed the alternator on the exact same car and managed, took me a couple days but I still did it without a lift. Lol.
PITA
I did it w a floor jack and some backup jackstands it was hard but i didnt have to take off the halfshaft or Y pipe
I wonder how many spiders Eric encounters while working on older cars.
Also, that feeling of slight success at 16:45 is so nice!
wow thats the hardest alternator replacement iv ever seen, all my cars have them wright on the top
so satisfying when he breaks that last bolt off , i feel like i got revenge on all the stubborn bolts ive delt with!
Remember the cabin filter videos?
They say A LOT about the engineering level of the whole car.
If it's hard to replace a filter, get a better car.
You aren't the first mechanic/tech to comment about Fomoco (or for that matter) anyone else about the lack of clearance in the engine compartment. One guy was all for a Automotive engineer that designed that area tp do what you are doing and see what he says! BTW these are my favorite videos of yours. . .FIF or other videos!
This one is a nice video!
I have to explain two "industrial" tricks for threading back bolts with no acces like this ones, if you have no room to fit your hands, and you only can fit the extensions and the sockets, fill the hex part of the socket with grease (heavy grease, not spray) and put the head on, it creates a bit of vacuum on the bolt and allows to put it on the hole.
Another one, for heavier or longer bolts is to put a turn of electric tape arround the head of the bolt and the socket, just to ensure it wont fall, but in this case, you need to secure the socket to the extension or the universal with more tape than between the bolt to the socket, to ensure you dont leave the tool hanging on the bolts head when you remove the tool.
I hove it helps somebody.
I often take a piece of paper and jam it into the socket to wedge a fastener in place in the same way you mention. Thanks for your input.
Love the commentary, great video!
This...seems like so much work for a simple alternator job O_O
It's Mazda stuff, triple the effort.
Except it's a Ford. ;) I have a Mazda (Miata) myself and changing an alternator on that is like half an hour job. It's really easy.
Totally Legit Gaming [TLEG] If you understood the Ford Mazda relationship, then you might get the comment
Mazda had literally nothing to do with the Contour. The Probe, yes, but not the Contiquegar/Mondeo.
@@RotaryJunkie maybe Mazda didn't have input but Ford used some components like those odd ball brake adjusters for the rear dums
Great video, I enjoyed it. Given the amount of time it takes to replace that alternator, I can only imagine what a shop might've charged him.
I used to have this exact same car except it was a 99 manual. The alternator on mine was impossible for me to get on the floor with the tools I had at the time. Oh, the memories. Right down to that stupid belt.
Now this looks almost exactly like I was replacing the alternator for Nissan Sentra. Only it wouldn't be so difficult for Eric.
I missed this series.
I'll be bringing it back later this year. th-cam.com/video/xXX9ZNbBtcw/w-d-xo.html
On the Duratec Taurus/Sable you can put a jack stand under the uni-body jacking point, use a floor jack under the sub frame, unbolt the sub frame, and lower it a few inches. took me about 30 mins to replace the Alternator after I found this out. The most difficult part was rerouting the new belt.
a 1998 Ford Contour....a marvel of automotive engineering
Now I know why my coworker promptly scrapped his contour when his alternator went out. His words were "I paid $450 for this car 9 months ago, it isn't worth the bullshit to fix it."
He's finally fixing it forward! :)