How To Replace The Alternator On A 2001-2007 Dodge Caravan/chrysler Town: A Step-By-Step Guide

Brian Eslick from How to Automotive www.howtoautomotive.com takes you step-by-step through the process of replacing the alternator on a 2001-2007 Dodge Caravan/Chrysler Town & Country with the 3.3L engine.
Affiliate link mentioned in the video for 140 AMP Alternator 13871 for Chrysler Town & Country Dodge Grand Caravan 2.8L 3.3L 01-07 amzn.to/2tOCYmo
Affiliate link mentioned in the video for 160 AMP Discount Starter and Alternator 13870N Dodge Caravan Replacement Alternator amzn.to/2tL8TEB
Affiliate link mentioned in the video for Milwaukee 2457-21 3/8-in Cordless M12 Lithium-Ion Ratchet Kit amzn.to/2tIJHPk
Affiliate link mentioned in the video for Mountain (MTNRM6) 5 Piece Metric Double Box Universal Spline Reversible Ratchetin amzn.to/2tOHEJ1
Affiliate link mentioned in the video for GearWrench 3680 Ratcheting Wrench Serpentine Belt Tool amzn.to/2tTIlS9
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Disclaimer
Owing to factors beyond the control of How to Automotive/Brian Eslick, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modification of this information, or improper use of this information. How to Automotive/Brian Eslick assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any information contained in this video. How to Automotive/Brian Eslick recommends safe practice when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jacks and jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemical lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Because of factors beyond the control of How to Automotive/Brian Eslick, no information contained in this video shall express or imply warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not How to Automotive/Brain Eslick. #howtoautomotive

[@mattbaca8905]

If you don't have a serpentine belt remover use a big channel lock plyer on the back side and pull down, worked perfect! Thanks for the video great instructions

[@drewcifer9755]

When you have the right tools working on cars is actually therapeutic

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Am Moo I would agree

[@craigshelhammer5683]

It really is.

[@TaijiArban]

The only tool I need at this point is a lift and my life would be complete lol

[@mountainmischief3828]

Knowing what you're working on helps immensely as well. I can swap an entire drivetrain on my project car in a single day, but any other car would be almost impossible for me to do the same

[@Googlehackedacct707]

Fact Checker = TRUE

[@celmonico]

Thank you Brian. Your get to the point presentation, your pronounciation, and pace, was excellent and I am confident that I will be able to do by myself, and the people that gave you thumbs down are the ones that will not be able to make money off me. Thank you so much. May God bless you and give many years of life to continue helping people to know how, and avoid the schemers from the auto mechanics business.

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Jesus Cristo Reina I’m glad you like the video. Thank you for watching and be safe out there!

[@pf210]

How did it go?

[@tonyrichardson9930]

Very detailed explanation and easy to follow in a step by step guide. I LOVE the fact that you DON'T do an excessive amount of talking and kibitzing. If I wanted entertainment, I'd go to another channel. I'm just trying to change an alternator NOT be entertained. I haven't done the job yet but I feel confident now that I can get the job done. I had some concerns about the belt tensioner but now I know how to relieve the tension. I will let you know how the job turns out. Thanks in advance

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Tony Richardson glad the video helped. Thank you for watching and yes let know how it works out.

[@SeeItQuick]

Thank you, Sir. You so good at explaining things and the speed is perfect. You have to be the best automotive teacher I've ever seen. Kudos to you, rock on Sir!

[@dgiz279]

Most important THANK YOU for not spending so much time talking about what to do like other guys do, you got right to the job and did it - alot of us dont have all day to watch unnecessary talking, a great video helped me out alot with all hand tools in my driveway it took me about 40 mins total start to finish, the only difference from video to what I did - I removed the entire EGR assembly in one piece, I didnt like the looks of my 2 small rusty bolts he took off I didnt want to risk snapping them off causing other issues, I bought the entire tensioner kit from Autozone for $32 and it worked perfectly keep up the good work and the short to the point videos!

[@davedavies6518]

Great job on the video. Straight to the point with clear step by step instructions. I'm just doing my alternator today, thanks for the guidance.

[@jimisnotunique]

One of the best auto-repair videos I've found--thank you! My experience: * The pick-tool was great, for removing the electrical connector. * The ratcheting box-wrench makes the job much easier. I was able to shift the belt tensioner, with just a box wrench. * There's a metal "tab" on the end of the tensioner, for a box wrench to fit over. * It can be used to shift the tensioner. There's videos on this. * An extension bar is needed for the box wrench, to get enough leverage over the spring. Advance Auto usually has 20% off coupons, if you order on-line, and pick-up in the store.

[@HowtoAutomotive]

jimisnotunique glad the video was helpful. Thank you for watching!

[@al2eken]

Not all tensioners have that tab. When they do, it's wonderful for backyard mechanics without funds for the specialty tool.

[@lostsoul3154]

Best video on this job! Good lighting, etc. If you have to take it to the repair shop, plan on $500 minimum.

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Patrick Joseph glad to help. Thank you for watching!

[@tampapropertygirl3422]

I'm in Tampa Florida and was quoted $615 to replace with a new, not rebuilt, alternator. My friends told me I was getting ripped off, should be around $200, so I appreciate your information.

[@johnnyversaci7091]

@@tampapropertygirl3422 well a new alternator can be 300-400 dollars so maybe not completely ripped off but they're not really helping u out

[@mbeduhn]

This was extremely helpful! It would have been very frustrating to try and figure out myself. I got the alternator replaced fairly easily after watching your video.

[@KellyBlackwell]

Awesome video. I replaced my alternator, tensioner and idler this weekend with very little automotive knowledge. I learned a lot in the process and saved myself about $500 in repair costs. THANK YOU! That Mountain wrench was the real MVP.

[@landondale8496]

Yes! 2007 T&C 3.8 Touring. This video helped a ton as I replaced my alternator & belt. Shop quoted $700, I did it with parts & tools for $250 in 90 minutes. I couldn't find the ratcheting combo wrench locally that you used, but I did purchase a 3/8" + 1/4" Drive Long Reach Dual Flex Head Ratchet from Harbor Freight. It saved me on removing the manifold-side alternator bolt since there wasn't much clearance due to an A/C line. The lower EGR valve bolt was tricky, but a 1/4" drive 10mm deep socket did the trick.

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Glad the videos able to help you get back on the road and save some money. Thank you for watching!

[@Pa1ntpro]

HUGE thanks! I greatly appreciate those that take the time to shoot these types of vids!

[@andrewdelapp]

Thanks for the video! Really helped me out! I learned it’s a lot better to leave the EGR and tube connected to each other. Instead, the connection at the top of the tube at the intake is much more forgiving; the bolts and gasket in mine were pristine. The bolts and gasket at the connection between tube and EGR were in horrible shape by comparison.

[@denny3161]

Think you're Right.... Had cross thread and marginal gasket

[@AFatherToTheFatherless]

Nice use of the semicolon

[@jt0mi]

Best DIY on the subject, perfect pace, precise information... This video is amazing and super helpful. I wonder how much money you've saved all of us in total, I bet it's a ton! Thank you sir!

[@zombiegeneralpatton]

Video is done so professionally... You cover everything needed... gotta love your product placemen on your tools... thank you keep making wonderful instructive videos

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Thank you!

[@larryschlote]

Great video! Thanks Brian, I replaced my alternator today. Made my life easier for sure. Didn't have the special tools so had to have a little more patience. Great pace and to the point. Thumbs up & New Subscriber here!

[@robshandl3]

Maybe the best video I've ever seen on How to remove or undo the Clip on the EGR Valve.

[@malcolmbrown9182]

This video was perfect for the van I worked on. I didn't have the EGR valve to deal with. The removal went just as slick as the video showed it. Thanks for an understandable, well-made video!

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Glad the video was helpful. Thank you for watching!

[@1apostolicchaplain]

Big help for me. Gotter done. Appreciate you mentioning the nut and bolts sizes. Did not have to remove the shroud on mine. Thanks for posting. :-)

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Mickey Powell glad the video helped. Thank you for watching!

[@ritadanowski9147]

Well Thank you!! You've seriously helped prepare me for replacing my alternator right now!! Appreciate it!! Making life easier!!

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Glad to help. Thank you for watching!

[@marioquintero6039]

Very easy to follow your instructions and great quality on your video, thank you so much Brian.

[@GBRmedic]

My wife will make it to work tomorrow because of your video... Thank you... It was a real PITA wo the fancy tools, and my knuckles are plenty bloody... The belt tensioner tool was too long, used a big-assed screwdriver... I didn't have much confidence coming in, or during. I got the job done, she fired right up. I disconnected the pos battery terminal and the car just kept in running Thanks my man

[@mattmgarza]

Thank you so much for this video! I am helping a friend I met today and this will make that so much easier.

[@piercingsbyjj]

Just a tip for the lazier among us... You don't have to completely remove the EGR valve. Once you remove the two 10mm bolts on the side you can rotate the whole valve out of the way enough to allow for the alternator to be removed. Granted, it's only saving you two bolts, but it keeps you from having to mess with one of the gaskets. If your luck with gaskets is anything like mine you'll do almost anything to avoid interacting with one 😂😂😂

[@KellyBlackwell]

I wish I had read this! Dangit.

[@TrashTakeCallouts]

Thanks for this video, it was very well done. I followed it to a T yesterday. The only thing I had trouble with was that I didn’t have the clearance to replace the EGR valve after I installed the alternator, so I had to unbolt the new alternator to get the EGR valve put back in.

[@Leonidas1262]

I wanted to personally thank you for this video man. It helped me out a lot. I was successful with dealing the alternator. Can't thank you enough. Great video by the way.

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Glad to help. Thank you for watching!

[@dimokokilala8950]

Thank you! I've watched many videos out there and yours topped them all! I was able to successfully change my alternator! 👍

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Glad the video was helpful. Thank you for watching!

[@king_beastakajohn605]

I've watched alot of videos and this 1 here explained everything, thank you for making this video

[@philbell906]

I want to thank you for your videos. They are so easy to follow and it makes the job so much easier and I feel a lot more confident in doing my own repairs to my vehicle. Keep up the good work you have a new subscriber.

[@jeffhall6115]

This was a very well done and informative video. It will make my alternator replacement much easier. Thank you

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Jeff Hall Glad to help. Hope everything goes smooth for you. Thank you for watching!

[@denisebryant7356]

Thanks for posting this! Saved us so much hassle! You're awesome.

[@Angelic8renegade]

Very informative. Looks like it will work on my 2003 Chrysler Voyager as well. 3.3L engine also. Its the same van except with just a different name.

[@Mike-hr6jz]

Excellent Nonsense, free video straight into the point giving the size ranches necessary. Thank you very much. I have subscribed because of your technique in teaching. Thanks again.

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Thank you! Glad you liked the video and appreciate the sub!

[@anthonyklanke1397]

That was an excellent video 👏👏 thank you very much for taking the time to show step by step each process on camera 👍

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Thank you for watching!

[@raymondhenry33]

Great job. Not often do you come across detailed videos like this one

[@HowtoAutomotive]

raymond Henry thank you! I try to make all of How to Automotive's videos this detailed. Thank you for watching!

[@AeroRamer]

Just did this today. I was able to get the alternator out without removing the two 8mm EGR bolts. I only had to remove the two 10mm bolts and the EGR line move out of the way enough to slide the alternator up and out. Total time was about 2.75 hours adding the setup time, jacking the car up, removing/installing the tire and removing the wheel well plastic.

[@HowtoAutomotive]

AeroRamer thank you for the tips 👍

[@showmeyourfuzzy]

Great vid. Not sure why there are dislikes. Keep up the good work!

[@matheussoares2490]

Thank you for the video, a little tip if you don't have the gaskets, you guys can take the bar that hold the hood latch and the fan off it's pretty easy too.

[@justinbecker3340]

We have a 2003 T&C. I replaced the alternator in 2011 with roughly 80,000 miles. The issue then was a growling bearing set. The unit was actually still working, charging wise. Well here we are 92,000 miles later and .....you guessed it...... the unit had to swap out again for crazy loud bearing growling noise. Autozone was the supplier of a lifetime warranty rebuilt unit and they swapped it out for me, no questions asked. The hardest part of the project is definitely the "third bolt" and disconnecting the electrical connection plug body. Start to finish, well under an hour. Happy motoring to all. These vans are awesome. We have owned our since 2004 and it has been a champ.

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Justin Becker I Glad AutoZone helped you out that’s cool. Glad you got it fixed thank you for watching!

[@RobbieWood2]

I am having trouble with my slide tab for my electrical connector, any ideas? thanks for an awesome video!!

[@worldclassels3863]

Great job...probably one of the most efficient how-to vids I've ever seen! No shit....EVER! KUDOS, MY FRIEND.........KUDOS!

[@Blazecoyote1426]

You're a lifesaver! And nice tools! My wife thanks you for the Christmas gift ideas!

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Blaze Wallace glad the video helped with both the repair and Christmas👍🏻 thank you for watching!

[@stevejosephii]

Excellent video. Thank you for this. Im going to have to do this job now and now i have the insight to get it done quick and correctly. 👍👍

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Good luck with the repair and thank you for watching!

[@heli400]

Thanks for this video, I am about to replace the alternator on my 2005 3.3L (Bearings are shot and noisy). I discovered that the 160 amp is a "'towing package" alternator and I bought it because it is $100 cheaper that the lesser amperage one. Not sure which one my Van needs, but I went with the 160 amp because of lower price. Should I be concerned if the alternator in my van currently is the lesser amperage one? I would think it doesn't matter because once the battery is charged, it's charged, correct?

[@bikerfogg1]

Hey mate, thanks for making this video. The attention to detail was awesome!

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Thank you! Did everything go smooth for you?

[@nathanlarson624]

Really appreciate the video. Saved me alot of time knowing exactly what I need to do ahead of time. Great video. 👍

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Glad the video was helpful. Thank you for watching!

[@Earthstein]

Excellent presentation. Thank you.

[@MYPROJECTS101.]

Very nice video and well explained. Thank you!

[@Whybnorma1]

Followed your video and everything worked great. If I were to do this again, I would buy a serpentine belt tool kit. I was able to get the belt off, but it was a bitch to get the tensioner back into position without the proper tool. I was able to make due but struggled to get the pulley forward enough to slip the belt back on. I will definitely invest in the proper tool for any future projects. Thanks for the great video!

[@chukandsarahpratt]

Very well done good advice before I did my change

[@jamesmegill]

Buy the gear wrench serpentine set, and the long 15 MM. Changed mine today. Went good!

[@VietPho]

I lost the red slide clip for the bottom alt attachment when u slides it too far. Is it dangerous to use the connection without this lock? In addition how much force do I need to remove the plastic clips behind the wheel to get to the alt area? These plastic clips seem to be hard to remove without breaking anything

[@madjimms]

You don't need the serpentine tensioner tool.... you can use a long wrench and a pipe.

[@robertlove1334]

Well produced video with easy instructions. Thanks!

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Thank you for watching!

[@monkeyman8265]

This is a great tutorial and will probably save me hundreds of dollars that I don’t have to pay a mechanic, thanks.

[@HowtoAutomotive]

MonkeyMan glad to help. Thank you for watching!

[@timogreenwold122]

I agree. I another video, I watched ,that left the wheel on and using a crowbar for the belt. That is what I did. It took me 2 hours.

[@ferenzi7741]

What size ratchet does the belt tensioner take when I release the pressure?

[@XtremiTeez]

No need to take the wheel off. I just changed mine without jacking it up. Everything is accessible from above. Remove the snorkel from the air box to give you room to loosen the tensioner. I used a big torque wrench for that. No special tool needed.

[@huntershortrepairs]

Awesome video! I did this on a 2002 5 or 6 years ago, and just wanted a refresher, took me hours the first time because it was 27 degrees out and it was ice raining, so I could only do a little at a time before my hands froze. Now it's a 2007 Dodge Gramd Caravan, and it broke down in an asphalt parking lot 😅 I'll have to fix it after work so we can get it home, but it's 83 out 😅

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Well, at least the weather is good. Hope everything goes smoothly. Thank you for watching!

[@huntershortrepairs]

@@HowtoAutomotive Thanks! Went pretty smoothly, none of the power tools I brought would fit in the small spaces lol, but with some hand tools, it took about 2 hours. The battery ended up being bad as well.

[@bernleve8187]

Thanks for the video, it’s well done and to the point

[@keetag]

...nice job !!!! ...thanks for the very informative video !!! Excellent !!!

[@featherstonecraig9]

Thank you for this information

[@crazystang69s75]

Best how to video on you tube

[@chaddthebadd]

nice video! but is there a negative cable attached to this alternator?? thanks..

[@eddelossantos3083]

Thank you. Detailed explanation. Great.

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Ed Delos Santos glad to help. Thank you for watching!

[@mrW1ckedstylezZ]

Good detail 10/10 video right here

[@melchoragundez6888]

Muy helpful gracias thank yuo senor

[@puma101076]

Muchas gracias lo voy a intentar por primera vez 👍

[@peterjemas7613]

Thanks for sharing!

[@TrueNorthXJ]

Great video, thanks very much.

[@rastacraw]

Very helpful video. I have a 2005 Grand Caravan. What are some other common issues that I should anticipate with these cars? Just want to stay ahead of the curve.

[@TH3C4NN4BL3C0W]

year later, but, coolant leaks..

[@MrFungi69]

Saved a little over $200.. Thank you.

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Nice love hearing that! Thank you for watching!

[@cnosnevets1]

well done video, a great help!

[@samanthaallman6588]

Awesome video I will be replacing my alternator on my 07 Dodge caravan 3.3 l only thing I wish you could have said how long it took to do so because I will be doing it in a parking lot unless I miss that part but awesome video

[@chenchen2895]

Sir, I bought 160 amp Alternator, can I use that? For the 2004 town & country 3.3 liter 2W Drive ?

[@alchemy1]

Those plastic covers down below are held by cheap plastic snaps, cut them out with a side cutter or drive a chisel right behind their think wide flatheads. They are not designed to be saved. No sir, no how. You will see. Yes, sir, you do need a special tool for the belt tensioner. There is hardly any room between the belt tensioner and the frame of the van. Thanks to Chrysler. I took a short 1/2 inch extension and used a grinder to grind its body down and then used the closed end of a cheap 9/16 wrench and drove it down into the 1/2 nipple end of that extension, leaving the open of the wrench for use of another wrench as an extension for leverage. It worked. Trust me. In regard to the alternator bolts. Take out the one in the back of the alternator first. The one this gentleman in the video and the other video taking out last. That bolt faces you and comes out towards the radiator fan. Why, because the other two bolts hold the alternator in place tight. Once you loosen that bolt you can just your finger to unthread them and out they come with no tension on it. The bolts come out with a 15mm socket. You do not need a ratchet wrench. Be careful with the two bolts holding the EGR valve. Those bolts are tight. Watch for its metal gasket, it goes back one way to know how it was in place so you put it back in the proper way. Cheers.

[@jeremylandis4228]

Very simple, complete instructions. Thanks for making it possible for us to work on our own cars!

[@moonebass]

Is a test drive needed to charge the new alternator after replacement ?

[@matsjhansson4769]

Good video, thanks. Now its easyer to change generator.

[@evianrave7683]

I just did this on a 2007 grand caravan 3.3l and just a few quick notes, i jacked up the passenger side, busted all the push pins off both plastic guards, removes the screws and then got access. I removed the two 8mm on top of the EGR valve and one from the bottom and let it swivel. I loosened the manifold on top of the pipe to make this easier. I did remove the dip stick mount bolt but im not sure that was necessary. I used the 1/2" serpentine belt tool to remove but couldn't get the correct angle going back together so i used half of that tool with my 3/8” ratchet to release the tension and install the belt.

[@anthonylara4874]

Do you need to do a idle relearn after this?

[@GregMcLaughlin]

Thanks for posting Brother! Strong work!

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Greg McLaughlin thank you for watching!

[@michaelmorris6575]

Great video! Thank you

[@RRaucina]

Good radio voice and fine information, many thanks!

[@HowtoAutomotive]

I don’t know about the radio voice but thank you for watching the video!

[@RRaucina]

@@HowtoAutomotive Amazon has alternators for this van from $75 to $300. Outside of a Mopar alternator, can I shop by price? Seems like a crapshoot with all the knock offs available... Thanks!

[@nikolaishriver7922]

Would a 1/2 drive socket wrench not work for the belt tensioner?

[@christiontorres5329]

Thx for sharing just did entire video twice😅 heat bypass pipe didn’t seal to water pump once all together. Tore back apart ended up gunking lube on o ring and gasket sealant just past o ring all good now😅

[@vanleigh6796]

question: I broke the bracket thing that the alternator mounts to. what is the bracket called?

[@pauljohn5554]

Thank you for your video.

[@zepzosorox6823]

Thanks for the video. Looks like I'm screwed. I'm in my mid 60s with a very bad back & on a fixed income. Probably a 3 to 4 day project for me. At least with this video I know what I'm in for. Thanks again!

[@royengle]

Get a grand son to help.

[@miketingley1496]

Fantastic thank you very much for your helpful video!

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Glad to help. Thank you for watching!

[@ap422]

Good work

[@ronbaynes2755]

Nice work !

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Ron Baynes thank you!

[@beardedtoolreviews7185]

Are those mountain wrenches good?? Because another mechanic on KZbin says he breaks the mechanism because how long they are. Thanks

[@SirDeanosity]

I used a pipe wrench on the belt tensioners' square end. My van is a 2004 with 327,000 miles so the EGR valve bolt resemble rivets. My method to remove the alternator (and much more room is had to work if you do this first) is to remove the cross member that would be a step in the radiator replacement. Then remove the cooling fan on the alternator side.

[@pf210]

Thank you for this video!!!

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Thank you for watching!

[@jerrykolberg6046]

Excellent job thanks

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Thank you for watching!

[@davidsims4983]

I am in the middle of doing this now on a 2003 caravan. However we cant get to the tensioner on the side behind the tire because theres a metal piece behind the plastic. We already have the belt and alternator off. How can we get to the tensioner from the top?

[@gilbertgarcia8172]

Thank you so informative and able to understand.

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Thank you for watching!

[@Googlehackedacct707]

Well done and thank you very much.

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Thank you and thank you for watching!

[@fadeles]

How do I make my van go faster I have a cold intake on and lots more help me thanks