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Hopefully someone can help as the car, 1999 9-5 3L V6, is close to becoming a death statistic from my frustration of trying to replace a failed alternator. I've searched the prior posts and don't see this issue addressed (actually removing and replacing an alternator) but after a couple days of calling local parts stores and checking the Net I was finally able to find a replacement (another amazing thing that it was so hard to find one). The problem is I can't get the thing out! I've seen a lot of screwed up access to parts over the years but this gets the cup for the worst. After two+ hours I have the two main bolts out (the main power wire and small wire were easy comparatively) and took the tensioner pulley off to loosen the drive belt. I just can't find the room to remove the alternator either back a little and up (between the firewall and the engine, too many A/C pipes in the way) or forward / sideways out the side access hole after the plastic panel is removed. The alternator cooling duct was no treat to take off as well.
I'm really at a loss here and am hoping for a litle direction. My charging system problem started about a week ago (car starts and runs fine up to this point then when it goes to start I get all the dash idiot lights staying on and the characteristic low battery sound of the clicking solenoid). I get a jump start from someone fortuneately, it dies again, jump again, it runs and I drive it right home. At home I check with the multimeter across the loaded battery, ~12V with the engine off and ~14V with it on, so I figure the alternator is working fine, I have power to run the engine and charge the battery. The next day I drive, start and stop it several time and all is fine. The following day it has its fit again and this time on the freeway on the way home from work, right in the middle of the heaviest traffic I lose power and barely coast to a stop in the breakdown lane. Three hours later (and the one independent Saab shop in town (Salt Lake City) is already closed) the car is on the flatbed tow truck for home. The car will now start and run with the aid of the tow truck guy's portable battery and almost die when the additional battery is off. Now when the engine is running the loaded battery voltage is only ~11.5V and when off the same, clearly no more alternator charging voltage. Charging the battery (battery a little less than a year old) and starting the car it will run for a little while and you can watch the battery voltage continue to drop so it's clear there is not a working alternator.
Having mentioned that I was finally able to locate an alternator after what I thought was way too much effort and time for what I thought was such a common item and having described these things above I don't want to just replace any little parts on the alternator (I'm not seeing that there is any room to get at it to replace parts anyway), I just want to get rid of it and install the new one which brings me back to, how does one get such a big thing out of what seems to be much smaller holes? I hope it is not a 'pull the engine' type of answer or it is going to go back onto a flatbed tow truck to a garage.
Please help. At this point this is my first Saab and likely the last if I get more of these 'opportunities for patience'. As I've noticed other stating mileage this one is just over 70K and to my knowledge (just bought it from a private party in early April at about 67K) the dreaded DI cassettes that I've read so much about here have never needed to be replaced so I can feel lucky on some regard.
thank you,
Dave B
posted by 208.186....
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