How To Replace Toyota FJ Cruiser Alternator | BIFB Short 

Looks like you put the belt back on the wrong side of the tensioner

You put the belt in the wrong way

This is one of those videos that gets to 2 million over 5 years

i am no mechanic but why was the belt in the begging under the shiny pulley but over it at the end

Remove the negative terminal first, then the positive terminal When putting back on, connect the positive first, then the negative. Come on lol, you got me all confused and i had to check google.

Usually start by removing negative terminal so you don,t do short circuit with wrench on chassis while unscrewing positive terminal. And you put belt the wrong way

I've been with you since the beginning and this isn't me trying to shit on you but if you are making an instructional video DON'T SKIP ahead, record and show the whole process even if it seem tedious, because that's what people who don't know how to do this need

Best to put your positive terminal on first that way if you do contact any metal on the body it won't arc out then when you put the negative on it won't matter it you contact anything

Fix the belt you put it on wrong

I just finished this and have a couple of additions. First if you can weed through all 900 comments about the terminal order (please read the comments before adding a new one), Princess Jonna Farms has good advice on the sockets to use. At the 2:37 mark of the video an inverse T bracket above the alternator makes it's first appearance. The only point I can tell of this bracket is to remove your knuckle skin when you try to remove the 10mm mounting screws. I took the bracket off before removing the screws. I removed the top 14mm bolt of the alternator first and then the bottom. Once it was off and the alternator swung down it occured to me it would have been better to remove the bottom bolt first and then all the tension and weight of the alternator wouldn't be bearing down on the bottom bolt (that was a gotcha on the last alternator I changed @ 1995 also). One might want to try the bottom 14mm first and see if that makes an easier go of getting those bolts off.

Thank you for this video! It saved me lots of time and money on a road trip. Took me about 1 hour with a basic ratchet set.

Thanks for posting this video. My 07 alternator went out last night. Your video was a lifesaver, picked up a new alternator. I installed it early this morning and the FJ is back on the road.

I have the exact FJ. The best write up I have seen on a repair. GREAT job. I will stop here first next time. The fact he has the tools needed listed and has great video angles is perfect.

You cannot believe how timely this video is. Alternator on my ‘07 literally just went out today and I logged in to my RU-vid to look up videos and first on my subscriptions was this video. Thanks!

Thank you so much 💓 I followed your video step by step and successfully installed my new alternator. A couple points to all... 1) you DEFINITELY need a breaker bar for the 14mm bolt on the bottom of the alternator. You have to have that leverage to torque that sucker loose. 20-30 bucks if you don't have one. I got mine at Napa for 32. You may find cheaper, but I live in a small town and I got what they had. 2) its ALOT easier if you have a buddy help when pulling the tensioner while you remove/replace belt on the alternator. Just my opinion. 3) took us literally an hour start to finish. Thanks again!!!!

At 2:58 in the video a screw is mentioned that needs to come out. I'm about to make your life so much easier for both the removal and install of this screw... don't try to get it from under the hood, rather look inside your wheel well. You'll see it right next to the UCA. Knowing this will save you a lot of time and frustration (both of which I faced not knowing you could so easily access it from the wheel well. Hope this helps. Other than this one piece of missing info, this video was great and made my alternator replacement much easier.

Surely it's meant to be negative terminal of battery removed first then positive

Please keep these kinda how to videos coming, this is youtube GOLD! Great job Chris , Keep drinking them beers and making great videos and content like this

I love watching your show, I know I'll never work under a hood it still intriguing to me. You really helped me my car was doing a lot of whining. I had know idea it was my alternator. My battery was draining. Now I know why thanks to you buddy.

Thank you for this video. I followed it and did it myself. Best quick how to out there for this on the FJ.

Thanks for this! Did mine today and this vid was a good reference. Not my first time doing an alternator job, but good to watch a vid first as different cars have different variations.

great vid man. I used this blue print to change my FJ's alternator with ease. thanks again for the concise delivery. And 'F' everybody with the issue with the belt. honest mistake.

Digging the new format, very understandable and easy to folow at home, keep it up

Great job Chris. I dig this new video format in addition to your other videos. Keep up the great work.

Nice these steps are the same for the 05 and up v6 tacomas and 4runners. Very good video of replacing the alternator.

Thanks for the video changing my alternator tomorrow on my 2007 Toyota FJ

Hey Bro- great vid and excellent cinematography. After watching I changed out the alternator in my '07 FJ in about an hour. Thanks again man.

Thanks for the tutorial, Cris, regardless of the minor critiques. I wouldn't have attempted this repair without it - saved me hundreds in labor. Although, the heads on both mounting AND cable harness bolts stripped out completely :( ...Harbor Freight bolt extractor sockets to the rescue!!!! Replaced mounting bolts with ones with larger heads along with some anti-seize compound. Also, I found you can access the cable harness bolts more easily from the wheel well.

I like this new format!!!!

was more informative than I thought it would have been very well done.

Just changed the alternator in my honda. Watching this video brought back all my struggles changing it. Still a good vid thou!

Dude you killed it!!! These are the videos I like to see!!! Keep it coming.

good vid i dont have an fj but i enjoy your videos for the past couple years i never liked to "like" video before but i started with your vids. keep it up and thanks for all the tips

Great new idea Chris. Don't have an FJ and not mechanically inclined but enjoyed it.

@bisforbuild : this is a really good type of videos, please continue to make evolving this kind of content, it fit the channel really well ! (on my way to fix the alternator of my MG now ...)

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You. Very Well Done Instructional Video !!

Love this type of videos

Excellent video.

sup Chris great videos man keep them coming

Great idea. Bound to bring more views to the channel without being baity

Good Video thank you

outstanding, task well done.

well done Sir! thank you so much.

Great concept for new vids

BIG help thanx

Hey bro, I owe you a beer or three. If you're ever up in western WA let me know. Excellent f'in vid!

Love the fj content

Thanks Chris!

i like the idea of this new series

Great video! But when it was back on you shouldve explained to retension the belt after loosening and check with a finger before putting power to the battery. Just for the people who wouldnt know. Keep the videos coming : )

Great job, keep the how to videos on a separate upload schedule and be prepared for all the Internet Mechanics to tell you how you did it wrong. There are at least twice as many people telling you how you should put battery terminals on as compared to getting the belt wrong.

Hey man. I'm not a mechanic by any means, but this seems so easy. Bout to try and replace mines in my 07 fj so wish me luck. Thanks man.

Good idea. Youll pick up subscribers quick if you do these.

These videos are a great idea great way to get more viewers too. Need to fix the routing of that belt and update the video though!

that belt lol

Well done. Mine died on the road I live on. Subscribed.

I love the highly detailed videos of one single fix. You should make your name a part of the title! Like ChrisFix or something!... Oh wait a sec....

I like it keep doing it

Quick question? Did your alternator die due to the two batteries your charging. Really wanted to do that with my 4Runner here soon

Thanks for sharing! My alternator died after 11 years today, gonna do the job this weekend.

How the raptor liner holding up on the fj? I got inspired to do it myself at your video.

Hey guys, B fix it here.

good video, didn't watch all the way coz i don't need to change the belt on an fj but like the idea, Don't be discouraged if this doesn't get as many views as your normal vids Chris coz of people like me but it will be super useful for random people just searching for stuff like this. :)

Thank you!!!!

You have to have the negative terminal off while you put on or take off the positive the put the negative on after positive is on

do u think removing that coolant hose will make more room for right angle impact gun

A chirsfix style video. When he said "good" at 7:26 with the thumbs up is when I realized it

Great job. My 2008 just died on the side of the road. Had the ole lady grab a new battery, installed it and the friggining horn kept on honking. Had to pull the fuse just to hammer to the auto parts store to grab the alternator. Made it home, having a beer and gonna go tackle it before we get 18" of snow tomorrow. So, in advance thanks. Did you have the illustrious horn honks as well?

First off great video. I only want to add one thing. On that clip that’s on the wiring harness I actually had to 10mm bolts so for anyone doing this and it doesn’t break free save yourself some time and look for the second one. It’s near the one shown in the video. Again great job though.

Thanks for posting this. I just changed out the alternator on my son's 2007 FJ. The only gripe I have is who the hell puts alternator bolts on so tight that one needs a breaker bar to get them loose? I guess Yoshiro at the factory got paid extra for working the impact wrench on those bolts. I could see if they were head bolts or suspension bolts...but alternator bolts? That was a bit ridiculous. But the new alternator is in and charging the system, so my son and I are happy!

Do what you wanna do Chris! I wanna see the evora's bumper fixed. XP

Was brought to this video by whiny alternator noise and low charging system voltage. This video is pretty helpful, barring any belt routing issues. Just to be sure, bring your alternator to a shop that can test your alternator to verify it’s bad and check your battery as well.

any tips how to replace the fanbelt?

This video was kind of helpful and educational funniest thing is I'm getting ready to get my license myself probably looking into getting a used car ... interesting

Thanks

This is the same for the 4rd gen 4runner and 2nd gen Tacomas with the 4.0L v6

Did you go with OEM alternator or aftermarket

its always best to take negative off first and put negative on last so that when doing up or undoing the nut if you was to touch body work it wouldn't short the battery and cause a arc (a burn across the palm of your hand is no fun as the tool will get hot very quick )

Can you do a fj Cruiser header change!?

The upper and lower alternator bolts are the same size; 10 mm x 1.25 x 70 mm type 10.9. Removal of the lower alternator bolt can be quite challenging (using a deep socket is a good tip). A standard 14 mm socket doesn’t allow enough length for a wrench to be applied. Use of extenders allows for pivoting of the socket which irrevocably rounds off the bolt head. Standard 3/8 and 1/2 inch socket wrenches aren’t long enough to leverage the needed force to remove the bolt. Breaker bars also may not be useable due to a narrow work zone. I used a 14 mm standard 6 point socket 1/2 inch drive and 3 inch extender and despite my best efforts rounded off the head of the bolt (and dang near lost my cool). I blind sprayed penetrating oil over the mid body of the alternator blind aiming for the nut of the lower alternator bolt. I waited an hour then tapped on a 9/16:10 mm Irwin bolt extractor on the rounded head (5 socket kit purchased at Lowe’s for $20). I also used a long ratcheting 1/2 inch drive torque wrench with a 1/2 inch to 3/8 inch adapter. The ratcheting wrench gave me the ability to turn the bolt in the narrow work zone that the breaker bar did not allow. To my pleasant surprise the bolt extractor removed the bolt very easily (I think the penetrating oil deserves much of the credit, but I was very pleased with the extractor). I used the upper bolt in the lower bolt position. I could not find a 10mm x1.25 70 mm bolt and used a 10mm x 1.25. X 60 mm type 8.8 bolt in the upper hole (which threaded without difficulty but had a 17 mm bolt head rather than 14 mm). On further research I’ve learned that metric 8.8 is equivalent to standard 5 which means it will not tolerate vibration and will have an increased likelihood of cracking I will need to find a metric 10 mm x1.25 60 - 70 mm type 10.9 in the near future gl avoid more problems. Also, a note of caution to triple check th path of the serpentine belt prior to test run. It would be easy for the belt to be 1/2 over a pulley.

but without net neutrality that google search will cost me $1.99 just to search a toyota fj cruiser serpentine belt diagram

Just asking but do you think your altinator went out cuz you have it charging two batteries?

Chris I think you need to look up how to put on Fj cruiser serpentine belt Kappa

This works with 4th gen 4runners as well since they have the same power plant so add that to it

it looks like you put the belt over the idler pulley when you reinstalled it back,it should be under or the grooves/tooth is gonna wear out..

Chris - "First thing you will need is a 10 mm socket" Viewers (collectively) - well Fuck.

My 2010 had an extra bolt and "L" bracket on the back of the alternator. It is very hidden and took awhile to find.

Always take the Negative off first, then replace it last. And you did put the belt on wrong.

Has anyone ever experienced an alternator falling out off the engine block and resting on the oil filter?? Cause I have and it scared me as the serpentine belt also broke and was resting on the ground and the car wouldn't start anymore. Mind you on the side of a highway when it happened.

13 years with my 2007 FJ Cruiser and replaced my alternator 3x, two front calipers replaced 2x. Water pump replaced 2x, I dont do off roading, I dont know if this is normal wear or it just FJ is suck on parts 🤷‍♂️

How many cars has that battery been in from the brz? Lol

Hey guys, check out all these cool light bars I just put all over my car! Aww shit the alternator died now.

When removing a battery remove negative first and when installing install positive first. The reason is because if you undo the positive first and your wrench slips or something and hits anywhere that is metal on your vehicle(a ground) it’s going to arc out and cause some serious problems. If the negative comes off first then the positive won’t arc out on any ground because there is none. Unless u touch the pos and neg posts at the same time. Don’t do that.

Is good

This is relevant for any vehicle with 1GRFE engine. 02+ 4-Runner, 05+ Tacoma, FJ, 05+ Tundra, many overseas Toyotas.

*****please read***** Though this is a helpful video, it’s NOT the same for every FJ year. I think it covers 07-08? Not sure about the others. But for 2011 models, this isn’t fully correct. There is a THIRD bolt that holds the alternator onto the engine that’s on the BACK side of the alternator that’s a real pain in the ass. It’s a size 12. I’m still trying to figure out how to get out off.

You should put the TRD supercharger on the FJ.

When removing a battery remove the negative terminal first then the positive. That way there’s no chance of shorting the battery out. Same goes in reverse when you are installing the battery.

Great video, EXCEPT, from 2011-14 4X4's there is another bracket behind the alternator and another wire harness bracket on the back of the alternator. Be careful what you include on your videos if you're not sure whether they are all the same or not.

Suggestion for future search-ability, change "short" to "How-to"