Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting alternator

Is it possible for someone mechanically inclined to install a new alternator on a 99 contour or should it be left to a shop. They are asking $580.00 installed.

It not that hard to install an alternator on our cars my friend and i did it on his in like an hr.

I was told that it required dropping down a big part of the front end. The alternator is on the right side and way up in there.

Considerable difference between v6 and I4 engines re alternator re & re. Best to state engine type to avoid ambiguity.

v6 requires access via right wheel well as well as from under car, not a first time DIY job.

If shaggz has one hour how-to on v6 let's hope he shares it with us.

sorry for the confusion. It is a six cylinder. My problem is that the lights are flashing and the ford dealer told me that it needs a new alternator. I crawled under the car and found a wire that has had the coating stripped/damaged, but ford told me that is not the problem

my father and i just put an alternator in on one of our contours this past weekend. all you have to do is remove the right front wheel and splash sheilds. using extentions you can reach the three bolts on the back of the alternator. then by twisting and turning is will come out.

I did not see the removal but for install the alternator was in in 10 minutes and it took about 30 after that to bolt in and plug in.

either set the two main bolts in first or you have to reach around to get them in. no to bad to do but it took two of us, one guiding and one getting the bolts in. the little bracket you might want to bolt to the alternator first, my father got it out with it on, but you can get it on after wards. found it was easy to get the bottom bolted on and swing the alternator up to get the top bolt. Then all you have to do is install the bracket and plug it in.

oh I forgot you need to remove the sway bar link to get the alternator in and out.


the reason it costs so much is by the service manual you are suppose to remove the y-pipe, and the tie rod end, and sway bar link and who knows what else....

The job is worth anywhere near $580, but it's a major pita

Hmm, my local shop did it, plus installed a new battery, for $525 or so, IIRC. Maybe less than that. Pretty sure that labor and parts were split almost equally.