Alternator replacement question and oil question - Can't squeeze the alternator out
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Alternator replacement question and oil question - Can't squeeze the alternator out
Warning: This post involves two car savvy mothers who are attempting to change an alternator. First time. 
The Short Version:
Oil leak fixed. It was the filter that needed tightening. Replaced oil filter, changed oil after oil spilled on the ground from the old filter. The very next day the alternator went bad. Is there a reason? Did the oil problem do that or is that just bad timing?
Now that I am replacing the alternator, it's off but I can't get it out. There isn't enough physical room to fit it through. The power steering reservoir/metal hose is in the way and I can't move it out of the way like everyone is saying I need to because it is made out of metal. That little guy is blocking the last screw I need to take out in order to get the alternator out. Suggestions?
Detailed Version
I have a 1993 3.3 Grand Caravan with 210k miles on it. About a month or so ago the alternator started "forgetting" to charge the battery intermittently, especially in the mornings so I confirmed it with the power of deduction... then an actual test after it died. It was the alternator.
This Wednesday my oil filter was loose and leaking oil. When I got under the car I saw the gasket on the oil filter was just kind of hanging down. Uh oh. So I put it back in place, tightened it up, started her up and, looked at my mom like, "why is my oil light still on??" Her eyes got as big as saucers as she yelled back, "turn it off! OMG, turn it off!"
A huge puddle of oil under the car was getting bigger. It didn't get anywhere but the ground that I can see. I got a new filter, put new oil in and it drove like a champ. For a day.
On Thursday morning the alternator spun its last revolution. I hooked the battery up to two different cars via jumper cables and the car ran totally fine until we disconnected the cables. Then the battery ran off what it had left in it and the motor sputtered before it finally died.
Question #1. Could my former oil problem have caused the alternator to go bad somehow or is it just an every day thing where you change the oil then the alternator says adios 24 hours later?
Question #2. Everywhere I read it's the same thing on how to change the alternator. One thing I can't seem to do is move the power steering reservoir out of the way enough to get to the last screw so I can physically fit the old alternator through and put the new one in.
Thank you so much in advance for any information you all can provide!
The Short Version:
Oil leak fixed. It was the filter that needed tightening. Replaced oil filter, changed oil after oil spilled on the ground from the old filter. The very next day the alternator went bad. Is there a reason? Did the oil problem do that or is that just bad timing?
Now that I am replacing the alternator, it's off but I can't get it out. There isn't enough physical room to fit it through. The power steering reservoir/metal hose is in the way and I can't move it out of the way like everyone is saying I need to because it is made out of metal. That little guy is blocking the last screw I need to take out in order to get the alternator out. Suggestions?
Detailed Version
I have a 1993 3.3 Grand Caravan with 210k miles on it. About a month or so ago the alternator started "forgetting" to charge the battery intermittently, especially in the mornings so I confirmed it with the power of deduction... then an actual test after it died. It was the alternator.
This Wednesday my oil filter was loose and leaking oil. When I got under the car I saw the gasket on the oil filter was just kind of hanging down. Uh oh. So I put it back in place, tightened it up, started her up and, looked at my mom like, "why is my oil light still on??" Her eyes got as big as saucers as she yelled back, "turn it off! OMG, turn it off!"
A huge puddle of oil under the car was getting bigger. It didn't get anywhere but the ground that I can see. I got a new filter, put new oil in and it drove like a champ. For a day.
On Thursday morning the alternator spun its last revolution. I hooked the battery up to two different cars via jumper cables and the car ran totally fine until we disconnected the cables. Then the battery ran off what it had left in it and the motor sputtered before it finally died.
Question #1. Could my former oil problem have caused the alternator to go bad somehow or is it just an every day thing where you change the oil then the alternator says adios 24 hours later?
Question #2. Everywhere I read it's the same thing on how to change the alternator. One thing I can't seem to do is move the power steering reservoir out of the way enough to get to the last screw so I can physically fit the old alternator through and put the new one in.
Thank you so much in advance for any information you all can provide!