I looked in the repair manual and saw drain coolant and remove front bumper ....What?

 

Old Rotor- The Service Manual calls it a generator, not alternator.
Check page 207 in the Engine Details manual.

 

Ok so there is no generator DIY...

This is what I found. Am I reading this wrong? Drain coolant remove front bumper remove fresh air duct.

go engine..... charging...generator...removal....

http://foxed.ca/rx7manual/2003mazdarx8/

 

Look and then comment....

 

 

Yes and when you go through those steps it says drain coolant remove front bumper(in notes), remove fresh air duct.

 

How about you just ignore that altogether and listen to what you've been told here at least twice.

 

Who here has changed one and had luck doing those simple steps and got it changed out or are there some info missing?


disconnect battery

Remove belt from pully

remove wires

Unbolt alternator

reverse installation




Here are some of the steps that are in the manual.



1. Drain the engine coolant. (See ENGINE COOLANT REPLACEMENT.)

2. Remove in the order indicated in the table.

3. Install in the reverse order of removal.





1 Air hose
(See Air Hose Installation Note.)
2 Air cleaner cover
3 VFAD solenoid valve (13B-MSP (High power))
4 Vacuum chamber (13B-MSP (High power))
5 Air cleaner element
6 Air cleaner case
7 Throttle body
8 Extension manifold (upper)
9 Extension manifold (lower) (13B-MSP (High power))
10 Oil filler pipe
11 AIR solenoid valve
12 SSV solenoid valve
13 VDI solenoid valve
14 Air cleaner insulator
(See Air Cleaner Insulator Installation Note.)
15 Bracket (13B-MSP (High power))
16 APV motor (13B-MSP (High power))
17 Fresh-air duct
(See Fresh-air Duct Removal Note.)
(See Fresh-air Duct Installation Note.)


Fresh-air Duct Removal Note
1. Remove the front bumper. (See FRONT BUMPER REMOVAL/INSTALLATION.)

Fresh-air Duct Installation Note
1. Install the clips.

2. Tighten the bolt to the specified torque.




Tightening torque
7.8-10.8 N·m {79-111 kgf·cm, 69.0-95.6 in·lbf}
Air Cleaner Insulator Installation Note
1. Temporarily tighten nuts.

2. Temporarily tighten bolts.

3. Tighten the nuts to the specified torque.

4. Tighten the bolts to the specified torque.




Tightening torque
7.8-10.8 N·m {79-111 kgf·cm, 69.0-95.6 in·lbf}
Air Hose Installation Note
1. Align the alignment marks with the air hose notches.

 

I dont understand your point of view here. You have 2 basic choices.

1) do what the manual tells you.

2) do what we tell you.

You decide. Use common sense. No offense, but if you're having this much trouble figuring this one out, you probably dont need to be doing the job to begin with.

 

+1 look at it and analyze it, im pretty sure u will figure it out.

 

i think ur looking at wrong thing, i just took a look at manual and it says this

1. Remove the engine cover. (See ENGINE COVER REMOVAL/INSTALLATION.)

2. Remove the battery cover.

3. Disconnect the negative battery cable. (See BATTERY REMOVAL/INSTALLATION.)

4. Remove the front suspension tower bar. (See FRONT SUSPENSION TOWER BAR REMOVAL/INSTALLATION.)

5. Remove the fresh air duct. (See INTAKE-AIR SYSTEM REMOVAL/INSTALLATION.)

6. Position the drive belt out of the way. (See DRIVE BELT REPLACEMENT.)

7. Remove in the order indicated in the table.


http://foxed.ca/rx7manual/2003mazdar...718300W01.html

it is correct.

i just figure out you were looking at, you are looking too deep into the thing, when it says remove airduct, just unbolt the throttle body and take it out.. simple. no draining.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nK38j9IC7L4

 

The other steps tell you what part to remove but in this step where it says "remove fresh air duct" which is part number "17". You feel just doing all the steps that get the throttle body out is really what they meant? OK so there are some more steps then...

disconnect battery

Remove belt from pulley

remove wires

Unbolt alternator

reverse installation


I thought so because before I started this thread I was already competed with the last step "unbolted alternator". I've done many alternators and a few generators too but now I'm sixty two and disable so I need shortcuts. Then I looked for a DIY. I know someone on here has done this before. There has to be some shortcuts that a mechanic will find after he learns his away around the engine compartment.

 

is the only way, and is exactly what the manual calls for.

removal of airduct and the suspension cross member thingy is just to give you room to work (which i recommend since room to work = good for your hands and sanity)

 

I removed the alternator this past weekend and the steps mentioned here are extactly what you have to do to have enough room.
remove engine cover
disconnect battery
take off the strut brace
take out the air box
loosen the tensioner bolt and slide the belt off
remove all clips and plugs from the alternator
Remove the bolts holding the alternator on and take it out.
go in reverse.

 

Moderators please add to DIY list.



Thanks now we have all the steps for a DIY for the alternator replacement! The wife and I got it out! Where's my new 16X Mazda............ This was my last minor repair......I hope.

 

i can't add it without pics sorry.

 

Thats too bad I was't aware of that. I hope someone can find it easy with search like the DIY for....

DIY: brake squeal fix

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

i have almost 9K on my 8 and the brakes squeal like crazy. i know there is a TSB out for this, but instead of going to the dealership, explain my problem, maybe/maybe not argue with the service writer that i should have the TSB, drop off or sit there and wait...i decided to just do it myself for a quick 15-30 mins.

- all i basically did was remove the front wheels
- remove the 14mm bolt from the bottom of the brake caliper
- swing the caliper upward
- remove the brake pads
- clap all the dust out of the little groove in the center of the pads (this is what makes the squeal)
- sanded the pads with either sand paper or brillo pad
- applied anti-seize to the back and sides of the brake pads

drove about 50 miles today around town and haven't heard a squeal yet!!



another few step DIY with no pics....

 

Yo, have any of you talking about "Oh it's easy!" even tried to take this piece of crap off? Old Rotor was unfortunately reading the wrong thing but the service manual instructions are absolute **** useless. This just took me like 2 and a half hours. (Including taking breaks because I was getting pissed and throwing tools.) Here are REAL instructions:

1. Remove Anti-Roll Bar(Or whatever you wanna call it.) Otherwise it WILL be in the way and you WILL be pissed off.
2. Disconnect Battery Ground.
3. Loosen the alternator tension from the belt and move belt out of the way.
4. REMOVE WATER PUMP PULLEY! This crap is ridiculous, you may be able to break the bolts loose while there is still tension on the pulley, but I had already removed mine so this is what I had to do. Stand IN the engine compartment while wedging a pipewrench (don't have a pry-bar) between the block and the pulley to keep the pulley from moving. I had to put my foot on the pipewrench because I couldn't get enough leverage with just my hand. Then break each of the pulley bolts loose with a 10mm wrench.
5. Remove the alternator bracket. It's that big black piece of steel mounting the alternator to the block. It will be annoying.
6. Finally remove the main bolt that the alternator hinges on, muster up all your strength and pull on that sucker as hard as you can. It should come off.

The End...

 

I know your pain. I got to "REMOVE WATER PUMP PULLEY! This crap is ridiculous" and remembered when I thought of doing that step. I have wrenched many cars since my first a "FIAT" I rebuilt by myself(top and bottom) at eighteen. There's no way any one would be expected to do that step. We just have a very tight area and the alternator has to be turned to get out.

 

Anyone who changes this cars alternator should be pretty happy with how easy it is compared to some other cars. My last car called for about 3 hours shop labor for the alt change, so you can imagine how fun that would be to do in your garage.

 

This was the easiest alternator I have ever changed and I hate working on car. Pulled it in 20 minutes and replaced it in 5. I didn't drain anything but a beer.

 

Tell us more, Oh Wise One......

 

All I did was disconnect battery. Loosen belt tensioner. I did unplug a vacuum line that ran over it. Unscrew the
alternator bolts. The tricky part was removing it from the bracket area. I had to almost fully rotate it and pull it out on an angle. After getting it tested I dropped it right back in and twisted it to make the holes for the bolts line back up. I didn't remove any pulleys, fluids or anything.