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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If the only thing wrong after your first DIY repair job is a belt, yoy DID do a good job. What you experienced was quite normal, and you have now gained experience for the future.
I’m so glad that that seems to be the consensus, I was getting gown on myself there for a bit. :) thank you!
Sounds like you learned a lot. As far as the belt tensioner and not being able to budge it, usually stuff like that is a matter of leverage. You probably just need a breaker bar. Those are basically a longer version of a ratchet and are very useful for tight bolts. Usually they are pretty cheap too.
Dude, I’m super proud of you! Tackling something like that with almost zero experience is fucking awesome, and the fact that you almost completely fnished it by yourself–100% solo, no less–is bad ass as hell.
Congrats on saving $800! Sure you had to bust your ass and in the end pay whatever task rabbit is - what, a 1-hour minimum for under a further $100. Take that $700 you didn’t need to spend on car repairs, and and if you have it, save it. If you don’t have it, think of all that credit interest you don’t have to pay. And go order yourself a pizza.
This is how it starts. Soon, you’ll start putting together a small collection of tools, and more knowledge about how the car is put together, and you will be driving a perfectly maintained and operational car that has a ton of miles on it, and it won’t give you any trouble - or at least, it won’t give you trouble you can’t solve.
Looks like you could have done it with a little leverage. Im sure the belt tensioner would have been tough to move as well. Spend that money on better tools. A big breaker bar seems to be a good start. Proper tools make everything easier. Welcome to the ill fix this shit myself club!
There’s a belt tensioner tool that can be rented from the auto parts store. This helps greatly to pull back the belt pulley to get a belt on. Had to do it once and having that tool made a big difference.
Just to add to this, you may be able to rent it for free - you pay a deposit that you get back when you return the tool. Advance auto does this, but it may vary by location.
experience gained is priceless
In some cars you really just need an extra set of hands to get a belt back on. One person on the tensioner and another actually moving the belt into place. Don’t feel bad, feel good. You did great.
You got pretty damn far. Those tensioners can be a bitch, I usually call a buddy whenever I have to muck with one because it’s easier to manipulate either the tensioner or the belt. Good job!
You got further than I’ve ever gotten trying to fix anything car-related. Good job! I feel like technology’s in such a complicated place at this point that nobody’s expected to be able to handle every single step of every situation on their own. You did awesome.
With car stuff it’s always “easy” in basic steps but it’s the knowledge and expertise how to handle all the exceptions to the process that is why labour costs what it does.
There’s tips and tricks for different car models but stuff like what to deal with a stuck bolt where even if I know what to do I probably don’t have the right tools.
I’m not sure getting the tools is worth the once every few years job.
It’s not too dissimilar from electronics work. Like laptop or cellphone repair. It’s easy… But what’s hard is troubleshooting when it all goes sideways on you.
Idn’t workin’ on cars fun?
Srsly tho, happens to the best of us. You’ll get better as time goes by.
Listen, I took autoship in highschool, my dad talked me into doing an engine swap on his 1969 Volvo and got me to do all kinds of maintenance on his 1955 Chevy pickup truck, all before I turned 18. Out of highschool I got a job in a shop that specialized in Mazda rotary engines. I have worked on so many cars for money and as a favor for friends and I can tell you I have been similarly defeated so many times by similar simple things. It happens to everybody sooner or later, even guys with giant toolboxes and years of experience. Sometimes you just need help, and that’s ok.
I’m proud of you, cuz I know how these kinds of jobs can be, and how exhausting it is just getting hard to reach bolts undone. You’re not a failure, you are great. Bongo Stryker says so.
