Write-Up: Replacing Alternator

I would like to know if anyone can give me a step by step to replace just the belts and the alternator on my 1998 Supercharged Riviera. I have seen the post with replacing the pulleys and everything but i just need a guide for replacing the belts and alternator.

Has anyone done a write-up for changing belts on Series II?

from the riviera FAQ website:
Jack the R's Write-up: Replacing Belts and Tensioner Pulleys

You can find the link to the FAQ website in the 1st sticky in the FAQ section of this very forum.

Oh... RegalGS.org has a critical error message this morning. I'm moving that write-up over to our site asap - if Jack doesn't. We don't want to lose that kind of info!

goldiemike wrote:

I would like to know if anyone can give me a step by step to replace just the belts and the alternator on my 1998 Supercharged Riviera. I have seen the post with replacing the pulleys and everything but i just need a guide for replacing the belts and alternator.

The alt is pretty easy.
Remove Belt: Find the tensioner, it is the smooth pulley just under the alt pulley. Use a wrench on the tensioner, counter clock wise will compress the spring so you can remove the belt.

Remove tensioner idler pulley: This is a reverse threaded bolt, turn the bolt clock wise to loosen the bolt and remove the pulley. This will give you more acess to the lower alt bolt.

Unhook the battery: It is a good idea to remove the negative side of the battery. Most of the alt is grounded and zap in the wrong place could damage it.

Remove bolts: The back of the alt is attached to the SC, with an elaborate looking bracket. You may be able to get away with just removing the rear bolt attached to the alt. You may have to loosen this bracket up to get the new alt in place. There are three large bolts on the pulley side, remove these. Remove the pwr cable from the Alt.

While the battey is unhooked, clean the electrical contact on the alt cable. Wire brush usually works, just make sure it isnt corroded.

Reverse to install.

Dont forget, the tensioner pulley bolt is reverse threaded, turn it counter clockwise to tighten.

This was written from memory, but It really isnt that difficult. Swaping in new belts is much more involved.

urbsnspices wrote:

goldiemike wrote:

I would like to know if anyone can give me a step by step to replace just the belts and the alternator on my 1998 Supercharged Riviera. I have seen the post with replacing the pulleys and everything but i just need a guide for replacing the belts and alternator.

Unhook the battery: It is a good idea to remove the positive side of the battery. Most of the alt is grounded and zap in the wrong place could damage it.

You should ALWAYS disc the NEG side of the battery

I was thinking the same. I always do the neg side. Seems like I get less sparking?

fixed

New link to Jack's write up:

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/Supercharged-3800-Tech-c2/Series-II-Engine-Transmission-f4/Write-Up-Replacing-Belts-and-Pulleys-t725.htm

See any problems here? The fan has a visible wobble but AFAIK that isn't necessarily an issue.

What made you remove it from the car? Did it make a wining sound? One way to diagnose a bad alternator bearing is to check operating temp of the unit with the car running. You should be able to touch a healthy alternator with your hand on a warm engine. A bad bearing will heat up the unit - it will be too hot to touch.

AA wrote:

What made you remove it from the car? Did it make a wining sound?

Had it off to remove the SC snout.  

Here's a vid from October 2016 where you can hear the months-old alternator chirruping - (@:55)



The alternator has since stopped chirruping (and I replaced the bad tensioner).