When changing the alt on an M50, how many people actually remove the fan?

[repenttokyo]

By a show of hands?

[glen-sj]

I did on my 92 525ia. Needed to gain access to the belt tensioner to get belt off the alternator pulley.

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

Not me

Just the airbox, boot, & MAF

[winfred]

i don't usually but if i am changing the belt it comes off

[Bill R.]

almost always remove it first thing with the shroud.... Keeps me from
A. breaking the blade or the Shroud
B. Breaking me on the blade.
C. makes life easier in general. More room to work, better visibility, I also like to lift the car up a little to work on it, raise it up and put it on jackstands so its at a height thats easy to bend over, in the long run anything you do to make the job easier and more comfortable makes it more likely that you'll do other jobs later on.

[repenttokyo]

i've managed to release the belt tension with the fan in place, so I am going to try to sneak it by.

The rear battery terminals are quite difficult to get at! Any tips there?


Thanks for the answers guys.

[632 Regal]

disconnect the battery!!!


i've managed to release the belt tension with the fan in place - do you think the fan will be in the way of removing the alternator itself? I am unsure as to whether I can sneak it by.

The rear battery terminals are quite difficult to get at!

[repenttokyo]

disconnect the battery!!!

yes, I have done that. What I mean is, the rear terminals on the back of the alternator, the b and D cables.

[bad_manners_god]

yes, I have done that. What I mean is, the rear terminals on the back of the alternator, the b and D cables.

What about remove the bolts for the alternator and then turning the alternator to get more access to the bolts, I've never done an alternator on a M50, but I did that when I did one on a Kia Sephia, Mazda Protege, Chevy Malibu and a few others.

[russiankid]

Just remove all the bolts for the alternator and then turn the alternator and you'll get the two wires.

I've done this twice and both times I removed the fan.

[repenttokyo]

thanks for the tips guys. Bentley says 32 mm wrench to remove fan, so I'll dig through the toolbox once it gets warm enough to try this again.

[bad_manners_god]

thanks for the tips guys. Bentley says 32 mm wrench to remove fan, so I'll dig through the toolbox once it gets warm enough to try this again.

Or a 1-1/4 inch

[Dave M]

thanks for the tips guys. Bentley says 32 mm wrench to remove fan, so I'll dig through the toolbox once it gets warm enough to try this again.

I've never needed anything more than a large adjustable wrench.

[repenttokyo]

I managed to do it without removing the fan - I tried to take out the fan, but it was corroded fairly good.