How to Remove a 1997 Mercury Mountaineer Alternator

Use a box end six-point wrench or breaker bar to release the belt tension.

A bad alternator on your 1997 Mercury Mountaineer may fail to charge your car battery or supply the 14 volts of current the different electrical circuits on your SUV need. Changing the alternator on your Mountaineer is a relatively quick and simple job that you can perform on your own driveway using some basic hand tools. However, if you are replacing the alternator, make sure the new unit has the same configuration and number of connections as the old one. Some models have an extra wire connector.

Things You'll Need

• Wrench
• 1/2-inch drive breaker bar or box end, six-point wrench
• Small standard screwdriver, if necessary
• Small wrench
• Ratchet
• Socket

Instructions

Remove the Alternator

1. Disconnect the negative battery ground cable using a wrench.

2. Compare the actual drive belt routing with the schematic provided on the label in the engine compartment and make sure it is the same. Otherwise, draw a quick sketch of the routing for reference during the drive belt reinstallation, if necessary.

3. Rotate the belt tensioner idler pulley away from the belt to relieve the tension using a 1/2-inch drive breaker bar or large, box end six-point wrench, depending on your particular model.

4. Slip the belt off the alternator pulley.

5. Unplug the single wire connector from the back of the alternator, if your alternator comes equipped with this wire connector.

6. Unplug the multiwire connector from the back of the alternator. If necessary, use a small standard screwdriver to disengage the connector latch and pull the plug straight off the alternator.

7. Unbolt the alternator battery wire from the back of the alternator using a small wrench.

8. Unscrew the alternator mounting bolts using a ratchet and socket. If you have a 4.6L Mountaineer engine model, unbolt the alternator mounting bracket as well.

9. Remove the alternator and mounting bolts from the engine.

Install the Alternator

1. Set the alternator and mounting bolts in position in the engine compartment. If you have a 4.6L Mountaineer engine model, install the alternator mounting bracket as well. Install the mounting bolts finger tight.

2. Tighten the alternator mounting bolts using the ratchet and socket.

3. Bolt the alternator wire to the back of the alternator using a small wrench.

4. Plug the multiwire connector to the back of the alternator. Make sure the plug is properly seated on the alternator connector.

5. Plug the single wire connector to the back of the alternator, if your alternator comes equipped with this wire connector.

6. Rotate the belt tensioner idler pulley as you did on step 3 of the previous section using the 1/2-inch drive breaker bar or large, box end six-point wrench, depending on your particular model.

7. Slip the drive belt over the alternator pulley. Make sure the belt is properly routed and seated on every accessory pulley.

8. Reconnect the battery cable using a wrench.

References

• "Ford Explorer, Mazda Navajo, Mercury Mountaineer & Explorer Sport and Sport Trac Automotive Repair Manual"; John H. Haynes and Jay Storer; 2005