Saturn 92 SL2 in Intensive Care... Pull the plug?

afko · 09-30-2003, 05:43 AM

Hello people... I would appreciate some response... and some assistance. I have a saturn 92 sl2 and i was pulling out of my appt. complex when all of the sudden i heard a pop in the engine compartment and imediately lost my power steering. I imediately turned around and headed back pretty much sure that the belt had stripped... no worries cause these things do happen. When i opened the hood... something was not right... the belt was all loose but not broken... there was something out of place... after a 45 sec inspection... THE ALTERNATOR FELL OFF!!!. I have to say... it is the first time ever this has happened to me. Unfortunately this happened pretty late and did not have the time to inspect more... but I am FREAKING OUT because i tried to get to the alternator which thank goodness for the control arm that caught it... i tried to look if the bolts where still there or what had happened.

All i can see right now is a piece of aluminum still attached to the alternator. Doing some quick research... all i can see is that the alternator is directly mounted to a casted stub off the engine block. PLEASE correct me... becuase if this is true and the piece of alum did break off... I would imagine that i may as well as sell the car as scraps... which is something I really dont need right now. If it is a mount directly to the block... can it be rewelded... and how much would a job like this cost... obviously... i am looking at removing the engine... dont know... my mind is going crazy of all the posibilities. Any assistance of description on how this is mounted will be good. Unfortunately the appts that i live in... do not allow mechanic work... so i sort of need to rely on what i can see from the top... or through you all.

Any help would help

Whelan · 09-30-2003, 06:25 AM

The alternator cannot be welded back in place. The tension and pressure put on it from the pullies would be too much I think. I cant remember if the alternator was mounted directly to that plate or is the plate was removable.

Take it to a Saturn Tech and let him have a look see. Although that might be tough with the condition. Take some pictures, throw them up here and also try bringing them to the dealership or trusted mechanic to see for sure.

Ive never heard of that happening on a Saturn, that is strange.

Joeybagodonuts · 09-30-2003, 03:34 PM

whelan it CAN na dhas been fixed NUMEROUS times, weve done at least 3 this year.
chris pointer over on satspeed was the most recent, any good aluminum wleder can fix that, but you have to either drop the engine or strip off the intake and such this way the wleder can get in there, also drop the power steering pump, if you do the work yourself the welding should be less then a 100.00 so theres no reason to scrap the car, call some welding shops.
we do it ALL the time.... LOTS of saturns have had this happen.

afko · 09-30-2003, 07:30 PM

Thanks man... that gives some hope... i think i found out what happened... I noticed that the top support bolt is missing so probably it must have some how fallen and then the torque of the belt just tore the bottom support off. I will try to find some welding shop... I just moved to Fort Worth, TX so I will have to do some major research. Let me know if you do happen to know of anybody around the area.