replacing an alternator in my son's 05 Trailblazer in Montgomery? I can pay you for your time and expertise with cash, beer, or both. I'd rather help an Aldeer brother out than take it to a shop. Lemme know!

Dr. B

I'd show him how to do it if I were nearby. Somebody will step up. I'm all about teaching kids how to do things for themselves. Probably taught a dozen of my sons friends how to do a variety of things. I never do it for them.

That's usually a pretty simple change out that you can prolly find on YouTube.

I'm not close enough, but it is pretty easy. Take it off and have it rebuilt. My experience is they have it ready in 1 or 2 days and less than $100. reinstall and off again.

That should be an easy repair. You Tube is your friend.

Straight forward and easy

YouTube looks like it wouldn’t take but maybe 30-45 minutes for someone who knows what they are doing. Which means a 4 hour job for us 🙄. I think the biggest problem I’d have would be getting the serpentine belt on and off.

Dr. B

There is a tensioner pulley. Put the correct socket on it and it will “roll over” relieving pressure and you take belt off alternator. Then once you get new one on, “roll over” pulley and replace belt

Belt is relatively easy. Takes a 15 or 17mm boxed end wrench (do NOT use the open end) to twist the idler pulley. This lets tension off the belt and it can be laid aside. Spin the idler pulley by hand hard. If you detect ANY resistance, NOW is the time to change it. Likely a good time to change the serpentine belt as well, but if you have an engine driven fan, you have to thread the belt around the fan blade and between the fan shroud. It's one of those things that would be hard to describe verbally or worse in print, but is reasonably easy to do once you see the way it works. Good luck.

I'd go to a Parts House and offer one of the workers $20-40 to do it on his break. I'd do it for you for free, but I ain't ridin' to Monkeytown to do it unless you're broke down in the hood. Lol

Good luck

Update:

It took 2 hours but it’s in and working!! Biggest pain was that bottom bolt to the engine block. Major PITA but we finally got it done. Belt went back on with some effort but it worked out. I was so proud when it turned over and volt meter showed 14! Good bonding time with my sons too!! Thanks for the advice guys!

Dr. B

👍

Need pics of busted knuckles to verify.

Ha Ha! both hands got busted up pretty good!

Dr. B

My mother still has an 05 in her garage, believe it only has around 80k.

Alternator is one of the few auto repairs I do myself. Good job Doc 👍🏻

Eye Doc is now an auto mechanic. Good Job Aldeer!

Funny you say that. After we were done, my oldest made the comment "Dad, we can now open a garage and call it "Harris and Sons Auto!" We had a good laugh. I think they were as proud of helping as I was the dang thing actually worked! By far the biggest job auto mechanical job I've ever attempted. Aldeer to the rescue again!

Dr. B