Replacing the alternator in a MKI MR2 normally aspirated (4AGE)

 Replacing the alternator in a MKI MR2 normally aspirated (4AGE)
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By Carl Johnson (cjohnson@conch.aa.msen.com)


Tools required:
Car ramps
14 mm socket
12 mm socket
10 mm socket
14 mm box wrench
crow bar
hammer (not as bad as you think)

Special Tools:
Block of wood about 1"x1"x12" (I needed this, you might not)
Chase vehicle (gotta get the new part)

First put the car up on the ramps.  To make things easy take off
the radiator overflow tank.  Take off the overflow tube on the left
side of the tank.  Remove tank by pulling up on the bottom of it.
It will come off with a little resistance. (Mine was kinda tough)
Leave the cap on or else you will spray coolant all over.  You can
lay this over on the valve cover and it will be out of the way.

Take the 10mm socket and remove the nut holding on the top wire.

Take the 12mm socket and remove the adjuster bolt.

Climb under the car and remove the wiring harness.  This is done by
pushing the little ear to the back of the car and wiggling the
connector back and forth.

Take the 14mm socket and the 14mm box and remove the bolt and nut
that the alternator pivots on.

After removal check and see how loose the alternator is.  Mine was
in there really good.  If you can't seem to get yours loose take
the block of wood and the hammer and use some elbow grease.  I hit
mine from under the car.  Once you have gotten it part of the way
out the belt can be taken off the alternator.

Once you get it loose the alternator can be grab from the top and
pulled out.  The secret was getting the overflow tank out of the
way.

Put the new alternator in.  Again mine was a tight fit.  I had to
use the block of wood and the hammer to hit it in from the top.
Once close I climbed under the car and use the crow bar to line up
the pivot bolt.  An extra set of hands helps here.  Hammer the bolt
through and start the nut.  Don't tighten it yet.  Go back up top
and put the belt on and then the adjuster bolt.  Use the crow bar
again to take out the slack and tighten down the adjuster.  Put the
top wire back on.  Get under the car and tighten up the pivot bolt
and reconnect the harness. Put the overflow tank back in place,
reconnect the overflow tube and you should be good to go.  Make
sure you cleared out your tools and such and start it up.   If you
get some belt squeal you might have to put a little more tension on
the belt.  Grab the crow bar and put on a little more.

The prices I found for alternators varied a lot.  The local foreign
auto parts store wanted $104 plus my old one.  The Toyota dealer
wanted $320 or so.  The local rebuilder wanted $65 to rebuild mine.
I went with the $65.  Check your yellow pages under automotive used
and rebuilt parts for a rebuilder.

I hope this wasn't too long or overly simplified just trying to
cover all the bases.  Questions, comments or additions are welcome.