- 1). Disconnect the negative battery terminal using a wrench to loosen the nut. Some Impalas have a cross vehicle brace installed across the engine compartment. If yours does, remove the bolts with a socket and ratchet and take it out of the car.
- 2). Loosen the top bolt of the alternator with a socket and ratchet. Back off of the adjusting bolt with a socket and ratchet enough that the alternator belt loosens up. Take the alternator belt off of the car. Disconnect the electrical wires to the alternator using a wrench to remove the nuts. Unplug the alternator wiring harness.
- 3). Remove the retaining bolts from the coolant reservoir with a wrench. Move the reservoir to the side so that you can get the alternator out of the car. Remove the bolts from the alternator using a socket and ratchet and pull the alternator out of the car.
- 4). Put the new alternator in place and loosely install the bolts. Put the alternator belt on, then pull the alternator until the belt tightens. Tighten the top bolt with the socket and ratchet. Tighten the bottom bolt with the socket and ratchet, then turn the adjusting bolt.
- 5). Reconnect the electrical wires to the alternator and tighten the nuts with a wrench. Plug the alternator wiring harness back in. Attach the coolant recovery reservoir, tightening the retaining bolts with the wrench. If you removed a cross vehicle brace from the Impala, reattach it and tighten the bolts with a socket and ratchet. Reconnect the battery terminal and tighten it with a wrench.
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