Car is stalling while driving. Just installed new alternator, battery and serpentine belt.

The alternator in your car is one of the easiest fixes you can do. First, remove the NEGATIVE (-) battery cable.
You must relieve the tension on the serpentine belt by loostening the retaining bolt, then remove the wiring harness plug from the back of the alternator, then remove the two retaining bolts from the alternator. Reverse the procedure to install the new alternator, making sure that belt tension is adequate. Replace the netgative battery cable last, and test.
If the serpentine belt is loose, replace the belt.

Have you checked alternator output when the problem starts ? Could be a wiring problem including the alternator circuit.

hard to steer and battery light on sounds like a broken belt

Vehicles: Chevy (GM) Malibu 2001-2005 3.1L SFI OHV 6-cylinder

Your battery has died since the alternator is not charging it. Jumping the car works to start the engine since the Malibu is using the energy of the second car to start and turn the engine.
Its possible that your belt may not be correctly routed or tensioned.

Check your 3.1L engine accessory drive belt routing. The arrow points in the direction in which the drive belt moves.





Fig. 1
Serpentine drive belt routing-GM 3.1L engine L/N bodies

Accessory Drive Belt Installation/Removal
GM 3.1L Engine

NOTE
Routine inspection of the belt may reveal cracks in the belt ribs. These cracks will not impair the belt performance. The belt should be replaced if the belt slip occurs if a section of the belt ribs are missing. A single serpentine drive belt is used to drive all engine accessories. All belt driven accessories are rigidly mounted with the belt tension maintained by a spring loaded tensioner. The indicator on the movable portion of the tensioner must be within the limits of the marks of the stationary portion of the tensioner. Any reading outside of these limits indicates either a defective belt or tensioner.

(1) Remove engine mount.
(2) Rotate the drive belt tensioner in a clockwise motion using a breaker bar or serpentine belt tool.
(3) Remove the drive belt.




Fig. 2.
Removal and installation of the drive belt - tool is shown installed on the tensioner. Arrow points to the power steering pump pulley.

To install:

(1) Rotate the drive belt tensioner in a clockwise motion using a breaker bar or serpentine belt tool.
(2) Install the drive belt. Connect the serpentine drive belt last to the power steering pulley.
(3) Install engine mount.

Its possible the alternator that was installed is defective. If you have a six cylinder check for power at the positive post on the back of the alternator. If you see battery voltage than I would suspect the alternator is bad.

BTW, you had the serpentine belt replaced as there is no timing belt on either of the motor options for that vehicle.

I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/jeremy_d728a59f986299fa

Hello, Alternators are a car part that can be very costly to fix because of labor costs. But with an hour or two of time and a little elbow grease, you can do it yourself. And to replace the alternator follow the following steps below:

Step 1. Pull your car into the garage or your work area. Turn the car off and let it sit for a while to cool.

Step 2. Begin by disconnecting the negative cable of the battery.

Step 3. Remove the serpentine belt from the pulley on the alternator. Do this by using a socket wrench to turn the serpentine automatic belt tensioner so that it allows slack in the belt. Then simply slip the belt off the alternator pulley.

Step 4. Locate and disconnect all the mounting bolts on the alternator, use a vehicle specific manual if you have any trouble.

Step 5. Disconnect all wires attached to the alternator then remove the alternator from the car.

INSTALLING NEW ALTERNATOR.

Step 1. Slide the new alternator into place. Do not worry about the serpentine belt yet.

Step 2. Replace the bolts that held the previous alternator to secure the new one in place.

Step 3. Attach the wires to the new alternator the same way they were attached to the old one.

Step 4. Adjust the serpentine belt tensioner the same direction you did in Section One to put slack in the belt. Wrap the belt around the pulley of the new alternator and then remove the socket wrench from the automatic belt tensioner.

Step 5. Inspect the belt to be sure it is not snug and follows the path required in the pulley and belt configuration diagram.

Step 6. Hook the negative battery wire back to the negative terminal on the battery.

Thanks

Power windows are a drain on a car, especially in GM models. They tend to go slower as the battery weakens. I'd check the battery terminals for corrosion and the cables for tightness. If the terminals/cables are corroded, that could very well be the source of your problem. There are some very good products that just spray on the cables/terminals to remove corrosion or you can remove the cables and use emery paper to clean off the corrosion.

If the cables and terminals are clean and the connections are tight, then check the drive/serpentine belt for snugness. A loose drive belt will slip which in turn the alternator won't put out it's normal charge. This would make a car stall over time. If the drive/serpentine belt is not slipping (check for shiny spots or cracks on the inside of the belt) then lastly, the problem would lie with your charging system, mainly the alternator.

I hope this answers your question. Please feel free to post back with any other questions and thank you for using Fixya! All the best!
Greg

Disconnect the battery first and formost.
Then disconnect the electrical plug on the old alternator.
Take off the serpentine belt.
Unbolt the old alternator off the engine.
Bolt new Alternator on engine
Re-install serpentine belt
re-connect the electrical plug.
Reconnect battery.
All Done.

here is step by step instruction on how to replace you alternator. please do not forget to rate and comment abotu your experience with fixya today 3.8L (VIN 1) Supercharged Engines

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
   
2. Remove the serpentine drive belt from the alternator, as outlined in Section 1 of this manual.
   
3. Detach the electrical connections from the alternator.
   
4. Unfasten the alternator mounting bolt and mounting bolt and nut.
   
5. Remove the alternator from the vehicle.
   To install:
   
   1. Position the alternator in the vehicle and secure with the mounting nut and bolt. Tighten to 5 ft. lbs. (8 Nm).
      
   2. Install the remaining mounting bolt and tighten to 5 ft. lbs. (8 Nm).
      
   3. Attach the alternator connections. Tighten the output terminal nut to 66 inch lbs. (7.5 Nm).
      
   4. Install the serpentine drive belt.
      
   5. Connect the negative battery cable.
      

3.8L (VIN 3, C & L) Engines

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
   
2. Using a suitable breaker bar or ratchet, rotate the tensioner counterclockwise, then remove the serpentine drive belt. For more information regarding serpentine drive belt removal, please refer to Section 1 of this manual.
   
3. If necessary, remove the fuel rail cover.
   
4. While supporting the alternator, remove the mounting bolts.
   
5. Tilt the alternator forward, then label and detach the electrical connectors.
   
6. Remove the alternator from the vehicle.
   
7. To install:
   
   1. Support the alternator in position, then install the alternator.
      
   2. Install the mounting bolts and tighten to 1 ft. lbs. (11 Nm).
      
   3. Attach the electrical connectors at the back of the alternator. Tighten the alternator output terminal nut to 93 inch lbs. (10.5 Nm) for 1987-92 vehicles, or to 66 inch lbs. (7.5 Nm) for 1993-94 vehicles.
      
   4. If removed, install the fuel rail cover.
      
   5. Install the serpentine drive belt and rotate the tensioner into position.
      
   6. Connect the negative battery cable.
      

Removing the Old Alternator Step1 Pull your Mazda into the garage or your work area. Turn the car off and let it sit for a while to cool. Step2 Begin by disconnecting the negative cable of the battery. Step3 Remove the serpentine belt from the pulley on the alternator. Do this by using a socket wrench to turn the serpentine automatic belt tensioner so that it allows slack in the belt. Then simply slip the belt off the alternator pulley. Step4 Locate and disconnect all the mounting bolts on the alternator, use a vehicle specific manual if you have any trouble. Step5 Disconnect all wires attached to the alternator then remove the alternator from the Mazda. Installing the New Alternator Step1 Slide the new alternator into place. Do not worry about the serpentine belt yet. Step2 Replace the bolts that held the previous alternator to secure the new one in place. Step3 Attach the wires to the new alternator the same way they were attached to the old one. Step4 Adjust the serpentine belt tensioner the same direction you did in Section One to put slack in the belt. Wrap the belt around the pulley of the new alternator and then remove the socket wrench from the automatic belt tensioner. Step5 Inspect the belt to be sure it is not snug and follows the path required in the pulley and belt configuration diagram. Step6 Hook the negative battery wire back to the negative terminal on the battery.