For about a week now my battery light,coolant light,and strangely enough my parking brake light,have been flickering.Not all the time,just for a couple seconds,then they go out,when I get on it hard,they come on,or hit a bump sometimes.I am thinking bad ground,anyone else had this happen at some point.And tonight my battery was dead,tested it ,its toast .

Classic dying alternator symptoms.

When you're in there replacing it check that you don't have an exhaust leak near by (including the flex section), or power steering fluid dripping on it.

its the original alternator,so I guess 20yrs isn't to bad lol

SATURN ALT INSTALL!!!

Cambridge Auto Wreckers sells them for $45, 90 day guarantee.
That, or you can retrieve your own from the yard and have it tested for free. Total cost $35. Make sure you get the pigtail

Could also be damaged wiring near alternator. At least it was for me

Exactly how much is entailed in the swap, does it bolt up to thE bracket, and you need a different wire., do you have to cut? bend anything?

I find it easiest to do it in these steps.
1) Front end up, battery disconnected.
2) Remove the AC fan for more clearance
3) Swing the power steering pump out of the way (up to the right) and remove the bracket
4) Disconnect charging cable and connector from the alternator.
5) Consult and study Saturn Alt Install for where you have to grind. If you get an '01 Saturn alt, you may not even have to take anything off the alternator itself and it's only 1 wire to hook up.
The trick it so grind the block and rear part of the front cover to match the smallest part. (Make A match B)


Literally took me 2 minutes with a worn out grinding wheel on an angle grinder
6)Test fit as required. There is a compression fitting on one side of the alternator. I opened the gap up as much as I could while keeping that in for the test fit. If you can get the pivot bolt in and the belt on, you're golden. If not, keep grinding away.
Bolt up, route the belt and get ready for the fun part.
7) Tensioner bolt..... I've been able to use the stock set up with an additional bolt and locking nut (so the damn thing doesn't depart the vehicle....) There are many different thoughts on how to do this.



Personally, I like Jays the best, but I couldn't find a solid turnbuckle in my area.



8) Route the belt on the ribs closest to the alternator. The stock Saturn wheel has 5 ribs, but we only use 4. Who loves free ribs?!
9) for 95-98' DSMs, the single wire on the pigtail you got with the alternator (you did get that... right?) will hook up to the black/yellow wire on the existing connector. For'99s, it'll go to the blue wire.
I just used a spade connector and trimmed it to plug into the female DSM connector and secured it. That way if I ever wanted to go back to a Mitsu alt, it's a drop in. (not that I ever would though...)
10) Put everything back together, and make sure all the bolts on the alternator are tight. (ESP the tensioner bolt that attaches tot he alternator.)
11) Start up and enjoy that awesome bullet proof alternator.

None of the pictures are mine, But the setup is the same with exception to the alternator style.
Mine looks like this. The fan is now internal.

Turnbuckle option also doesn't work if you still have power steering in the stock location, I picked up and test fitted it and there was no way to get it on.

Touche. I didn't think about that one. The whole assembly would be in the way of the belt.

If you pull the alternator yourself, take the pivot bolt from the Saturn. Thread a longer portion of it and cut it to size, that would be the best option. You can then add a lock nut to the end of it as well.

Or you can just get the oem alt rebuilt, there's a place near me that does them for around $90 and gives you a 1 year warranty.

+1

Rocking OEM alt for 20 years without issues. Make sure you have heat shield on your o2 housing.

I just got a oem rebuild,trying to get the 1 bolt out the original is being a real bitch,I guess after 20 yrs it pretty stuck,soaked it with release all and try again tomorrow

I just got a oem rebuild,trying to get the 1 bolt out the original is being a real bitch,I guess after 20 yrs it pretty stuck,soaked it with release all and try again tomorrow

oops double post lol

I always preheat old bolts with gas torch. It works great for me