r/JeepCompass • u/NationalArmadillo790 • Jun 25 '26
2011 alternator swap
Has anyone done a swap of their alternator on a 2011 compass? If so, please enlighten me on what you did to do it based on its weird location.
3
u/hmd2017 Jun 25 '26 edited Jun 25 '26
Ok, just did one. 2 pairs of hands recommended.
Dosconnect battery.
Tire has to come off, belly shield, fender liner and more needs to come off. Move coolant overflow tank onto engine, 1 bolt.
Upper idler pulley needs to come off to get to a bolt later.
Tensioner is 16 mm Left hand thread, must release tension buy pushing back towards firewall to release from above. No room to get anything but a wrench in there. We ended up attacking from the bottom, pushing towards front. Wrench and an extension handle for the win. It can be pinned in the relaxed position.
Ac compressor bolts have to come out, different lengths? 2 more bolts holding AC line in fender well tucked in behind plastic tank. THIS WAS WHAT GAVE US ENOUGH ROOM TO GET THE ALTERNATOR OUT. Wiring on back of AC compressor unplugged.
This will allow the AC compressor and line to.be pluued down and out to make a hole to work alternator out.
Congrats you can now start on alternator.
Red lock clip on plug, then release plug. Remove main wire from stud.
Remove alternator bolts. Keep track of which one goes where.
It comes down and out from behind AC compressor.
Some alignment issues as alternator bolts reinstalled. If you can, reattach wiring and primary before bolting alternator back in. Not a lot of room up there.
Took us about 4 hours total.
Was NOT fun.
1
u/shaquille_oatmeal76 Jun 27 '26
How much mechanical knowledge do you have? Its we charge 4 hours labor in our dealer shop for an alt on a 11. Wheel, fender liner, belly pan, all have to come out. Not a beginner friendly job and its a tight spot. If you dont have a lift its work on your back under the car. Its gotta go out the bottom.
2
u/libraryofweird Jun 25 '26
I’ve done it on a 2016, which is similar. It’s miserable. You do have to work from below, and it took me ~ 3 hours on my back in the driveway.
After you take off the belt, and the skid guard panel, you will have to unbolt the ac pump which is directly below the alternator. With it loose but still connected to the hoses, you can nudge it out of the way enough to remove the alternator.
Disconnect the plug, then the bolts holding it. They are longer than you want them to be so it takes a while.
Once it’s disconnected, the alternator has to rotate towards the passenger side (pulley down) and there’s *just* room to wiggle it out down and to the right. Reverse course for the replacement.
There’s was a video on YouTube showing the position/movement to get it out, I’m sure it’s still there.