Installation Method for 12V Generators of Infiniti, Mitsubishi and Nissan Vehicles

General Premises and Preparation (Applicable to All Three Brands)

Vehicle Status

Accessories and Tools

• Parts: New generator (matching the VIN/model), drive belt, bolts/gaskets (replacement with new ones is recommended).

• Tools: Socket wrenches (commonly used sizes: 10/12/14/17mm), torque wrench (range: 0–100N·m), belt tensioner tool, insulating gloves, multimeter.

Safety Principles

• Disconnect the negative battery terminal throughout the entire process.

• Tighten the B-terminal nut to the specified torque and ensure proper insulation.

• When plugging or unplugging connectors, operate the buckles gently and avoid pulling the wiring harness violently.

Removal of the Old Generator (Common Process for All Three Brands)

1. Remove the Drive Belt

   Use a belt tensioner tool to press the tension pulley and release belt tension, then remove the drive belt and take a photo to record its routing direction. Avoid contaminating the belt with grease.

2. Disconnect Electrical Connections

   Loosen the nut on the generator’s B-terminal, remove the positive power cable and insulate it properly. Press the buckle to pull out the excitation/control plug and mark its position for reference.

3. Remove Mounting Bolts

   First, loosen the adjusting arm/tensioner bolt, then unscrew the bottom mounting bolt. Hold the generator securely and take it out slowly to avoid colliding with the radiator and pipelines.

Installation Steps for the New Generator (General Process + Brand-Specific Differences)

1. Pre-installation Positioning

   Place the new generator into the mounting bracket, align it with the bottom bolt hole and adjusting arm hole, screw in the bolts without fully tightening them, leaving room for fine adjustment.

2. Install the Drive Belt

   According to the recorded routing direction, fit the belt onto the crankshaft pulley, water pump pulley, generator pulley and tension pulley. Press the tension pulley to seat the belt fully into the grooves, release the tool and check the belt tension (a deflection of 10–15mm when pressing the middle of the belt is optimal).

3. Tighten Bolts (Torque Reference, Subject to Vehicle Manual)

4. Restore Electrical Connections

   Connect the positive power cable and tighten the nut to the specified torque, then fit the insulation sleeve. Plug in the connector firmly and confirm that the buckle is locked in place.

Post-installation Testing (Applicable to All Three Brands)

1. Restore Battery Connection

   Reconnect the negative battery terminal and tighten the cable clamp bolt to 10–12N·m.

2. Startup Test

   Start the engine and let it run at idle speed; ensure the pulley operates smoothly without abnormal noise. Use a multimeter to measure the battery voltage, which should be 13.5–14.5V. If the voltage is below 13V or above 15V, inspect the excitation circuit or voltage regulator.

3. Load Test

   Turn on high-power electrical equipment such as headlights and air conditioners; the battery voltage should remain within 13.0–14.2V without a significant drop. Troubleshoot potential faults if voltage fluctuates drastically.

4. Final Inspection

   Turn off the engine and recheck that the bolts, terminals and belt are not loose. Confirm there is no oil leakage or electric leakage.

Key Precautions for Installation of 12V Generators of Infiniti, Mitsubishi and Nissan Vehicles

I. General Electrical Safety Protection (Applicable to All Three Brands)

1. Power-off Operation Throughout the Entire Process

2. B-terminal Wiring Specifications

• When connecting the power cable to the B-terminal, tighten the nut according to the torque value specified for the corresponding brand (8–12N·m for Nissan, 10–12N·m for Infiniti, 9–11N·m for Mitsubishi). Loose tightening will lead to poor contact and overheating, while over-tightening may cause thread slipping and terminal damage.

• After tightening, be sure to install the original factory insulation sleeve; do not leave metal terminals exposed. No oil stains or water marks are allowed at the connection points to avoid degradation of insulation performance.

3. Requirements for Plugging and Unplugging Connectors

II. Bolt Tightening and Drive Belt Tension Specifications

1. Core Requirements for Bolt Tightening

• Priority to Sequence: For all three brands, follow the tightening sequence of tightening the bottom mounting bolt first, then the adjusting arm/tensioner bolt. Reversing the sequence is strictly prohibited, as it will cause generator misalignment, leading to belt deviation or bearing noise.

• Precise Torque: Must use a torque wrench for operation; never tighten by hand feel. Torque values for Infiniti are slightly higher than those for Nissan and Mitsubishi. Refer to the vehicle-specific manual for exact figures. After tightening, shake the generator to confirm there is no loose clearance.

• Bolt Inspection: Before installation, check that bolts are free from thread slipping and rust; replacing with new gaskets is recommended. Some Mitsubishi models adopt through bolts, which must be used with lock nuts.

2. Prohibitions for Drive Belt Installation

• Absolutely Correct Routing Direction: Be sure to take a photo to record the belt routing direction during disassembly. Incorrect routing will cause generator reverse rotation and power generation failure for all three brands. For Infiniti models equipped with an automatic tensioner, incorrect routing will also damage the internal structure of the tensioner.

• Unified Tension Standard: Press the middle part of the belt; the deflection must be controlled within 10–15mm. Excessive tension will accelerate the wear of generator and water pump bearings; insufficient tension will cause belt slippage noise and reduced power generation efficiency.

• 
  

• References：
  

• The two texts mentioned—Installation Method for 12V Generators of Infiniti, Mitsubishi and Nissan Vehicles and Key Precautions for Installation—are original technical summaries compiled by expanding the content to cover Infiniti and Mitsubishi models, based on the disassembly, assembly and torque specifications for charging systems/generators from Nissan’s original factory service manuals, standard maintenance procedures of authorized dealers, as well as industry standards and hands-on operational experience. They are not directly copied from any publicly available online articles, official manuals in their original form, nor do they cite third-party source links.

• Core Sources and Basis

• Basic Framework

• The framework is derived from the disassembly and assembly steps, torque values, safety guidelines and authorized dealer standard workflows for charging systems/generators outlined in the original factory service manuals for various Nissan models. Later, the commonalities and differences of Infiniti (Nissan’s premium brand, sharing the same technical specifications in origin but with slight variations in torque values and spatial layout) and Mitsubishi (adopting universal disassembly-assembly logic for models of the same class, yet featuring distinct bracket and tensioner structures) were integrated to form a universal process applicable to the three brands, with brand-specific key points clearly marked.

• Content Features

• The text integrates and simplifies the step-by-step operations, torque ranges, safety prohibitions and common on-site operational errors (such as belt routing direction, terminal insulation and load testing) specified in the official manuals, while retaining all critical technical parameters (including bolt torque and voltage ranges). It is designed to be easy for maintenance personnel to understand and apply in practice.

• Differences from Public Online Tutorials

• Most scattered tutorials available online are simplified versions. In contrast, this summary adheres closely to the rigor of original factory service manuals while being presented in a concise and accessible format, making it more suitable for on-site operation reference. Moreover, it specifically distinguishes the differences among the three brands, facilitating cross-brand maintenance quality control.