How to Change the Alternator in an Mitsubishi Cars

Without the power from the alternator, your ignition system will have to depend on the battery for electrical power. If the alternator is not working, the battery will fail very quickly and the car will stop running. If you suspect that the alternator in your Mitsubishi car is not working properly, you can replace it or remove it and have it tested; most auto parts stores will test the alternator for you free of charge if you bring it in.

Under The Hood:

• How to Change the Alternator in an 02 Eclipse
• How to Replace the Alternator in a Mitsubishi Galant
• How to Replace an Alternator in a Montero Sport
• How to Replace an Alternator on a Mitsubishi
• How to Replace the Alternator on a Mitsubishi Eclipse

 How to Change the Alternator in an 02 Eclipse

Removing the Alternator

Raise the front of your Mitsubishi using a floor jack and support it on two jack stands.

Remove the engine undercover using a ratchet, ratchet extension and socket.

Remove the engine mount bracket, if you think you will need some clearance to access the lower alternator mounting bolt. Use a ratchet, ratchet extension and socket.

Unscrew the two oil pressure hose-tube assembly bolts and the oil return tube assembly clamp bolt using a ratchet, ratchet extension and socket, if you have a 2.4L engine model.

Remove the power steering and air conditioning drive belt, if you have a 2.4L engine model. Use a ratchet and socket to loosen the center tensioner pulley bolt and adjusting bolt.

Remove the alternator drive belt using a ratchet and socket to release the tension.

Unfasten the oil dipstick tube guide mounting bolt using a ratchet and socket, if you have a 3.0L engine model. Then remove the dipstick tube guide.

Unfasten the four water pump pulley bolts using a ratchet and socket, if you have a 2.4L engine model. Then remove the water pump pulley.

Unplug the alternator electrical connector and detach the wire from the back of the alternator using a wrench.

Remove the two bolts from the alternator bracket using a ratchet and socket. Then remove the bracket.

Unscrew the remaining alternator large mounting bolt, working from under the vehicle, using the ratchet and socket. Then remove the alternator from the engine compartment.

Installing the Alternator

Position the new alternator in place and start the large mounting bolt by hand. Then tighten the bolt using the ratchet and socket.

Install the bracket on the alternator using the ratchet and socket.

Plug the alternator electrical connector and attach the wire to the back of the alternator using the wrench.

Install the water pump pulley using the ratchet and socket, if you have a 2.4L engine model.

Install the oil dipstick tube guide using the ratchet and socket, if you have a 3.0L engine model.

Install the alternator drive belt using the ratchet and socket.

Install the power steering and air conditioning drive belt, if you have a 2.4L engine model. Use the ratchet and socket to tighten the adjusting bolt and center tensioner pulley bolt.

Install the two oil pressure hose-tube assembly bolts and the oil return tube assembly clamp bolt using the ratchet, ratchet extension and socket, if you have the 2.4L engine model.

Install the engine mount bracket, if you had to remove it. Use the ratchet, ratchet extension and socket.

Replace the engine undercover using the ratchet, ratchet extension and socket.

Lower your vehicle.

 How to Replace the Alternator in a Mitsubishi Galant

Determine which alternator your Mitsubishi Galant will need. You'll want to be sure the new alternator is compatible with your Galant's engine. Models made from 1969 to 1973 will have a 1.3 L or 1.5 L engine, 1973 to 1975 models have a 1.6 L engine and models made from 1976 to 1983 may have a 1.6 L, 1.85 L, 2.0 L or 2.6 L engine.

Look at later versions of the Mitsubishi Galant. Models made from 1983 to 1991 have 1.6 L, 1.8 L and 2.0 L engines. 1992 to 1998 versions may have 1.8 L, 2.0 L, 2.4 L and 2.5 L engines. Models for 1999 to 2003 add an option for a 3.0 L engine. The latest generation debuted in 2004 and may have a 2.4 L, 3.8 L or 3.8 L engine.

Disconnect the negative battery cable with a socket wrench. It may be necessary to remove additional components to gain access to the alternator assembly and this varies by model. This will frequently include the alternator drive belt and California models may require you to remove the rear bank converter assembly.

Unplug the electrical connections to the alternator and disconnect the mounting bolts on the alternator with a socket wrench.

Remove the alternator assembly. It may be easier to do this from under the vehicle in some models.

Install the new alternator assembly and tighten the mounting bolts with a torque wrench to the correct force. This should be in the 14 to 18 foot pound range.

Plug in the electrical connections to the alternator and replace any additional components that you removed to get to the alternator. Connect the negative battery cable with a socket wrench.

 How to Replace an Alternator in a Montero Sport

Remove the negative battery cable from the battery with a wrench. Lay the cable aside and locate the alternator on the front of the engine.

Remove the adjusting bolt at the top of the alternator with a wrench or socket and ratchet. Loosen the lower mounting bolt and push the alternator toward the engine to loosen the belt. Remove the belt from the alternator.

Locate the wiring harness connections on the rear of the alternator. (There are two of them, a ring connector on the “B” terminal and a plug in connector.) Remove the ring connector, using a wrench, then unplug the second connector by pushing the locking tabs on the connector and pulling it free of the alternator.

Remove the mounting bolts from the alternator with a socket and ratchet, then lift the alternator out of the engine compartment. Position the new alternator in place and install the lower mounting bolt. Leave the bolt loose.

Install the upper adjusting bolt and leave it loose. Attach the two wiring harness connections on the rear of the alternator, then tighten the bolt on the ring connector with a wrench. Ensure that the second connector is secure.

Slide the drive belt onto the alternator pulley and pull the alternator out away from the engine. Tighten the adjusting bolt with a wrench once the belt is tight. Tighten the lower mounting bolt with a socket and ratchet.

Install the negative battery cable on the negative post of the battery and tighten the bolt with a wrench or socket and ratchet. Start the engine and verify that the belt is correctly running over the pulleys. Check to see that the alternator is charging as well.

 How to Replace an Alternator on a Mitsubishi

Disconnect the battery by turning the positive terminal mounting bolt counter clockwise, using a 10 mm socket. Some older Mitsubishi models use larger bolts.

Press the tension pulley arm firmly until the serpentine belt loosens.

Quickly pull the loose belt out from underneath the idle pulley wheel, located at the top of the motor.

Release the tension pulley arm and the belt becomes slack.

Remove the belt from the alternator's pulley wheel by sliding it around the edge.

Remove the wiring harness adapter plug from the alternator by pressing the small catch on it's underside and pulling it directly out of the socket.

Remove the primary positive terminal by turning the mounting bolt counter clockwise and sliding the wire's ring terminal from the post.

Turn the alternator's mounting bolts counter clockwise and slide them out, using the socket wrench.

Remove the alternator by pulling it free of the mounting arms.

Replace the unit, and slide it back into the mounting bracket arms. Match the bolt holes up to the correct orientation.

Press the mounting bolts in and turn them clockwise until very snug.

Replace the primary electrical wire by pushing the ring terminal over the alternator's post and securing the bolt clockwise.

Replace the wiring harness adapter by pressing it into the socket until the catch clicks.

Wrap the drive belt back over the alternator's pulley wheel.

Press the tension pulley arm and slide the belt back underneath the idle pulley wheel.

Release the tension pulley arm and the belt tightens to the proper tension.

Reconnect the battery's positive terminal and secure it tightly by turning the terminal bolt clockwise with the socket wrench.

 How to Replace the Alternator on a Mitsubishi Eclipse

Removing the Old Alternator

Very carefully pull your Mitsubishi up on car ramps and put the transmission in park. Lock the emergency brake.

Open the hood and use a crescent wrench to remove the negative terminal from the battery.

Locate the alternator at the top of the serpentine belt assembly. Remove the electrical connection on the alternator using a 12 mm socket wrench.

Climb under the vehicle and locate the swing pulley near the bottom of the serpentine belt assembly. The swing pulley is smaller than the other pulleys in the assembly and is accompanied with a brass bolt end called the 'auto tensioner.'

Connect a crescent wrench to the auto tensioner and twist it counter-clockwise. This will let up pressure on the serpentine belt. While holding the auto tensioner, slide the belt off the swing pulley.

Access the alternator from the top of the engine carriage once again. Slide the serpentine belt off the alternator's drive.

Remove the three mounting bolts around the sides of the alternator with a 12 mm socket. Slide the alternator away from its mounting assembly.

Installing the Replacement Alternator

Slide a new alternator into place and secure it with the three mounting bolts you just removed.

Slide the serpentine belt over the alternator's drive and climb under the vehicle.

Connect a crescent wrench to the auto tensioner once again and twist it counter-clockwise. While keeping pressure on the part, slide the serpentine belt back over the swing pulley.

Replace the electrical connection on the alternator.

Replace the negative terminal on the vehicle's battery.