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Hello Eric,
I was trying to replace the alternator on my 2001 MDX and got into a big trouble by using the ratchet to unscrew the alternator bolt. Now, as I loosen the bolt the ratchet is stuck between the bolt and the tensioner pulley. Since the turn director (not sure what it is called) is right on the ratchet head and stuck in between, I can’t even change the direction of the ratchet to tighten the bolt, so that I could get the ratchet out.
The only option I think of is removing the whole tensioner assembly but one of the bolt is right behind the oil check pipe and cannot be reached from any angle without removing the crankshaft pulley. I tried to save some money by avoiding the mechanic but ended up in this big mess. When I try to loosen the bolt of the Crankshaft, it just turns and I neither have air compressor gun nor any tools that work for this job.
Anyway, do you think you have any other options for me without going through all this hassle to get out the mess I have created? I am attaching some photos here for your perusal.
Thank you and look forward for your help,
Vincent D’Souza
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Can you release the tensioner pulley (in the same manner for removing the serpentine belt) to free the ratchet? Alternatively, can you swivel the alternator out of the way (shot in the dark)?
Not sure what do you mean by swivel the alternator away. Alternator is still holding the bolts and that is where the ratchet is struck. Even though I had the Tension release tool, I could not use it because the moment I remove the belt, the tensioner was going lot lower than its original position and my bar was getting stuck against the front body and I could not get the bar out of the tensioner. Therefore, I had used the open ended Combination Wrench and the long socket on the ring wrench to release the belt. Now since I tried it a few times the bolt edges turning rounded and the wrench is slipping. However, the ring wrench is holding it but I do not have a long socket or a metal pipe that can go over the open wrench to use it as a bar. So, I ordered a few variety of wrenches from Amazon and expecting them today.
Now, I am not sure whether I damaged the tension pulley, if I did to replace it I have to remove the crankshaft to remove the other bolt of the tension pulley. The work should have been easier now became harder than I thought because of my one stupid mistake and it is haunting me day and night now, until I clear this mess I created. I learned my biggest lesson, never ever use the ratchet on a tight spot to loosen the bolt if the ratchets direction changer is on it back of the head. I had another ratchet that has the direction changer below the head. Had I used it, I could have changed the direction and tighten the bolt and able to remove the ratchet but in my current scenario I can nether use long bar, nor the open end wrench.
[quote=”vpdsouza” post=196732]Not sure what do you mean by swivel the alternator away. Alternator is still holding the bolts and that is where the ratchet is struck.[/quote]
I thought if the other bolts and bracket were removed, the alternator can be pivoted around the “trapped” bolt, which then would free the ratchet or allow the ratchet to be reversed at least. It was just a guess based on the picture.[quote=”vpdsouza” post=196732]Now, I am not sure whether I damaged the tension pulley…[/quote]
Does the tensioner have two bars on one side and a triangular arrow on the other? If the triangle points outside of the two bars, then the belt or tensioner is out of spec.It seems as there isn’t much clearance for the tensioner. A long pattern box wrench with zero-offset (eg GearWrench) has worked well for me.
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