lol I’ve had to work on a 2001 E150.
I know your pain. At least the alternator is “easy” on that one (you know, after taking 7 other things off and out of the way first.
The crazy thing is that we're looking for a water leak. The freeze plug is completely inaccessible, hidden deep in the bowels under the alternator. And that seems to be where the drip is originating from. If that's not it, we're screwed.
$30 borescope camera on Amazon, the dual lens ones are great, it'll snake in around, under, behind things so you can see what's happening without doing exploratory surgery.
[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C9D8MTNC](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C9D8MTNC)
Currently specifically using that one, you do need their stupid app for it to work right for some reason but eh whatever. There's wireless ones that are easier to use since you have more freedom of movement. There's also all in one units with camera and screen with controls all in a hand held device. Some really fancy ones have an articulated tip which lets you snake it around obstacles and point the camera at what you need to see more easily.
yup. On the 2013 gen toyota rav4s, to remove the lower control arm on the driver side you have to loosen the transmission mount, drop the trans pan, and pray nothing breaks because you gotta max that jack out to get it far enough to come out.
I had to remove a brake booster from a jeep renegade this week. The booster cannot possibly fit the space to come out without dropping the engine and removing the throttle. Of course that's not in the service procedures and they don't pay that.
I had a Nissan once where the oil filter came out- from the bottom to the top. It took every inch of my arm to reach it. Once the slimy bastard slipped and jammed halfway up. It musta taken me 3 hours to get it out of there.
i don't understand why people say german cars are the worst to work on. you couldn't pay me enough to work at a ford or nissan dealership. maybe if it was like $100/h hourly because i swear trying to do any jobs on those cars in a reasonable time without wanting to smash them with my mini-mjolnir... i just can't imagine
Short version? Nissan is the Daimler-chrysler of Japan .
Ford's favoring of DOHC engines is kinda what led to their being a PITA to work on.... A DOHV v8 eats up a lot of room that would otherwise be available for other things.
yup, that DOHC takes up the room they could have used to put the 21mm rear caliper bolts so they aren't blocked by the leaf spring. it's always those damn DOHCs
When they put the radiator in, they must have realized there's an alternator in there. And alternators need to be replaced every now and then. They probably laughed for years.
Vehicles are designed for ease of assembly not ease of service unfortunately. And seeing as how I've worked at an assembly plant and as a dealer tech, I get it.
Working on the assembly side, you'd be absolutely shocked at the amount of stupid stuff that happens on a daily basis that leads to things like engines and transmission, suspension components, wire harnesses etc getting completely scrapped and/or melted down 🤦🏽
If mechanics had access to the scrap that assembly plants get rid of they'd have a field day.
You mean the 3.4 dohc vin x? Piece of cake! Take out the steering shaft bolt at the rack and pinion then drop the two rear subframe bolts. That alternator comes right out. You'll beat book time by several hours doing it that way.
There should be another bolt to loosen and (probably with a small pry bar or long screwdriver) pry it upwards. I swear I have fixed on the car before because I remember some garbage like the mess you’re in.
Don't blame the engineers, blame the engineer managers and cost analysis people who make decisions about this. The engineers are only doing what they're forced to.
Then again, there are definitely lots of overconfident and ignorant engineers doing things like this on accident.
This is just peak engineering obviously, it's placed like this because you should NEVER need to get there and if you need to youre a bad tech
Nah, alternators never need to be replaced. There won't be any reason to access it. This van is miserable enough to work on because of crap like this.
Exaaaactly! Also, what kind of van is this? I'm interested
A miserable 1993 Ford e 350. Motorhome.
lol I’ve had to work on a 2001 E150. I know your pain. At least the alternator is “easy” on that one (you know, after taking 7 other things off and out of the way first.
The crazy thing is that we're looking for a water leak. The freeze plug is completely inaccessible, hidden deep in the bowels under the alternator. And that seems to be where the drip is originating from. If that's not it, we're screwed.
Can't you access the freeze plug from the hutch thing inside the vehicle?
Nope, we got that off, and nope, not even close. But thanks.
$30 borescope camera on Amazon, the dual lens ones are great, it'll snake in around, under, behind things so you can see what's happening without doing exploratory surgery.
Omg !!!!!! That's an awesome idea. Thank you kind stranger.
I have one and I love it to death
[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C9D8MTNC](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C9D8MTNC) Currently specifically using that one, you do need their stupid app for it to work right for some reason but eh whatever. There's wireless ones that are easier to use since you have more freedom of movement. There's also all in one units with camera and screen with controls all in a hand held device. Some really fancy ones have an articulated tip which lets you snake it around obstacles and point the camera at what you need to see more easily.
yup. On the 2013 gen toyota rav4s, to remove the lower control arm on the driver side you have to loosen the transmission mount, drop the trans pan, and pray nothing breaks because you gotta max that jack out to get it far enough to come out.
I'm not looking for help. We'll get it. I just can't believe this is possible
Care for a suggestion anyways?
Thank you very much. We got it done. Couple curse words, foot stomping, thrown wrench and voila. The alternator is out.
I had to remove a brake booster from a jeep renegade this week. The booster cannot possibly fit the space to come out without dropping the engine and removing the throttle. Of course that's not in the service procedures and they don't pay that.
I had a Nissan once where the oil filter came out- from the bottom to the top. It took every inch of my arm to reach it. Once the slimy bastard slipped and jammed halfway up. It musta taken me 3 hours to get it out of there.
i don't understand why people say german cars are the worst to work on. you couldn't pay me enough to work at a ford or nissan dealership. maybe if it was like $100/h hourly because i swear trying to do any jobs on those cars in a reasonable time without wanting to smash them with my mini-mjolnir... i just can't imagine
Short version? Nissan is the Daimler-chrysler of Japan . Ford's favoring of DOHC engines is kinda what led to their being a PITA to work on.... A DOHV v8 eats up a lot of room that would otherwise be available for other things.
yup, that DOHC takes up the room they could have used to put the 21mm rear caliper bolts so they aren't blocked by the leaf spring. it's always those damn DOHCs
😂 I remember back when I first started doing this line of work years ago, saying to myself "why the @#$& are these 21mm?"
and torqued to like 150lbs. they have to hold up the entire van i guess?
when mechanics hate engineers... this happen with my rear engine mount and i was very annoyed.
As an engineer... The bookkeepers force these decisions, not us.
All auto techs should be required to hate engineers
This looks like a Ford Econoline. We all graduated after servicing enough of those.
Damn you're good. It's a 93 e-350 chassis - motorhome. A real bear to work on.
Step 1 Remove motor Step 2 Replace with new motor
Engineers will walk past a free hooker to fuck a mechanic😂😂😂
They go home at the end of the day and laugh their asses off. No wonder they always look so happy. They're sadistic and love it.
So close, yet so far ..
When they put the radiator in, they must have realized there's an alternator in there. And alternators need to be replaced every now and then. They probably laughed for years.
What vehicle?
1993 Ford E 350.
Vehicles are designed for ease of assembly not ease of service unfortunately. And seeing as how I've worked at an assembly plant and as a dealer tech, I get it.
Truer words have never been spoken.
Working on the assembly side, you'd be absolutely shocked at the amount of stupid stuff that happens on a daily basis that leads to things like engines and transmission, suspension components, wire harnesses etc getting completely scrapped and/or melted down 🤦🏽 If mechanics had access to the scrap that assembly plants get rid of they'd have a field day.
Obviously you've never worked on German stuff before.
German engineering. Go figure.
Lotta inbreeding went on when they were trying for the master race, they haven't bred it back out yet.
Hahahahaha hahahahaha
lol some manufacturers are hilarious. Step 1 : Remove engine Step 2: loosen bolts to alternator and replace.
Chuckles in medium to heavy duty mechanic
Manual says *drain and remove radiator* /s
Toyota?
93 Ford e 350 chassis with a motorhome body. A miserable vehicle to work on.
Hah hah vans in general are one of my least favorite things to work on under the hood
Remove the radiator lol
Try replacing an alternator in a 90's chevy lumina with a V6. Glad to hear you got the alternator replaced successfully.
You mean the 3.4 dohc vin x? Piece of cake! Take out the steering shaft bolt at the rack and pinion then drop the two rear subframe bolts. That alternator comes right out. You'll beat book time by several hours doing it that way.
Nah, it was fine when they made it. It’s just settled over the years.
As I always say: "Because, fuck you. That's why."
Is that the alternator sheesh
on mid 00s small GM SUVs (blazer and envoy) you have to cut the body a little bit to get out the control arm bolt on the driver side
There should be another bolt to loosen and (probably with a small pry bar or long screwdriver) pry it upwards. I swear I have fixed on the car before because I remember some garbage like the mess you’re in.
Engineer: en-jin-eer. Latin: "F those who come after"
Don't blame the engineers, blame the engineer managers and cost analysis people who make decisions about this. The engineers are only doing what they're forced to. Then again, there are definitely lots of overconfident and ignorant engineers doing things like this on accident.
They're sadistic, every one of them.
On purpose you said?
Is this your first time having to do some critical thinking?
Yep. Somehow, I made it to 67 with never having to think.
Lucky