Re: brushes, replacement

[Huw Powell <human@nh.ultranet.com>]

-- [ From: Huw Powell * EMC.Ver #3.1a ] --

>On the alternator, do you need to remove it from the car to get at the
brushes?
I guess they are accessible from the rear of the alternator, but don't know
where to start.

on your back, with your head under the alternator, you should be able to see
a little "can" like or plastic rectangle thing held in with two screws, and
I think one wire going to one of the alternator terminals.  It's a bit
awkward but definitely do-able (BTDT) with the alternator still on the car. 
On the other hand, you could pull the thing, clean it up, get at it easily,
replace the bolts with stainless steel, and use a new belt...

>Re: the starter...I think others have posted that the brushes could be
changed with the starter on the car.
Here again...I guess I don't know what I'm looking at.
I expected to see screw caps on the side of the motor which would have the
brushes under them.  Not so.

This had never occurred to me!  But... I remember seeing things like that on
one of my spare starters - just went to look, and the Bosch replacement I
had put in my coupe has two big round things with slots in them.  Bet that's
what you are looking for.  the car came with, and has again, a Japanese made
starter (the Bosch unit developed solenoid problems after a little
"navigational" difficulty in the Lakes of October) which also seems to have
a couple of round covers with screw slots.

So it looks to me like you're headed in the right direction.  I would say,
ditto the starter - awkward on the car, a lot easier off, removing lets you
replace the hardware and clean and protect the electrical connections.

PS you don't mention the year on model of your car.  This may matter a lot.

Huw Powell
HUMAN Speakers

Quote me out of context here ... Friedrich Nietzsche

http://www.thebook.com/human-speakers