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How to Change the Alternator on a 2003 Chevrolet Impala

The alternator on the 2003 Chevrolet Impala engine provides the proper amount of voltage to the battery and other areas of the engines electrical system. When the engine is running, the alternator belt turns the alternator pulley. This enables the alternator to generate the power needed to keep the battery charged and the electrical system working. If the alternator begins to malfunction or stops working completely, the battery will be drained completely and the engines entire electrical system will stop working. Once this happens, change the alternator immediately.

Instructions

1

Open the hood on the 2003 Chevrolet Impala and prop it in place. Locate the battery and remove the cross bar from the top of the battery by unscrewing the two bolts with a open end wrench. Loosen the negative battery cable bolt with an open end wrench. Pull the cable to the side of the battery so that it does not touch the negative battery post.

2

Locate the alternator on the front of the engine. Loosen the top pivot bolt from the top of the alternator with a ratchet and a metric socket. Loosen the lock nut on the lower front of the alternator slide bracket with the ratchet and socket. Turn the adjustment bolt on the end of the alternator slide bracket counter-clockwise to loosen the tension from the belt. Slide the belt off of the alternator pulley.

3

Remove the two electrical wire connectors from the back of the alternator by unscrewing the stud nuts that hold the wires in place with the ratchet and socket. Unplug the wiring harness from the back of the alternator by squeezing the tabs on both sides of the plug and pulling outward on the plug.

4

Locate the coolant reservoir behind the alternator. Loosen and remove the small mounting bolts that secure the coolant reservoir in place with the ratchet and a socket. Pull the coolant reservoir out of the way enough to remove the alternator.

5

Remove the alternator mounting bolts from the top and bottom of the alternator bracket with the ratchet and a socket. Pull the alternator out through the coolant reservoir opening and out of the engine well.

6

Lower the new alternator through the coolant reservoir opening and into the alternator bracket. Repeat the same steps as outlined above for hooking the alternator back up and for tightening the belt. Once the belt is put back around the alternator pulley and tightened, check the tension of the belt by pushing inward on the belt with your hand. The belt tension should be around one-half inch to be properly tensioned. Adjust the belt tension as needed.

7

Reconnect the coolant reservoir back to its base and screw the bolts in to the reservoir. Tighten the bolts with the ratchet and a socket.

8

Re-install the negative battery cable back onto the battery and tighten with the open end wrench. Set the cross brace back over the top of the battery and screw the bolts back through the brace. Tighten the bolts with the open end wrench. Crank the engine up for about thirty seconds so that the new alternator can fully charge the battery and the engines electrical system. Turn the engine off.