Small pipe? :?

Try a really long wrench. I have a special belt wrench. It'* long.

yea, I changed my own alt an F%^$#@ up my pinky finger on the fan blade; Dammit, gotta be more careful next time,

Hey I would reccomend not to replace your alt until you are sure it is bad. My alternator started making that exact noise you're describing last year. It was quiet one day, and noisy the next. I didn't even drive it for a few days because i assumed that it was going bad too. But it is still fine, and still making the whistling noise. it makes me mad cause it'* only two years old...stupid thing shouldn't be that noisy.

For the wrench! Seth wanted a small pipe to extend a socket wrench, Derek turned around with a 3 foot pipe.

WATCH IT CLOSE. My folks had a 93 Blazer, alternator whistled from the time they bought it. They drove it on a 1000 mile trip home, put about another 500 on it in a few weeks, Dad wasnt too worried about it, commenting that the whistle was strange but seemed harmless. They started on a trip home when the alternator FLEW APART. The internal rotor thing came loose...split the case into 3 pieces, shredded the belt and the red hot rotor melted thru the fan shround and came to rest on the steering linkages. this was after it went thru some hoses, including the upper radiator hose and made a big hole in the hood insulation. This happened at the side of the interstate and it was a long 4 hour wait until a state trooper stopped, gave them a ride to town where he got a belt, new alternator, enough tools to work, new hose and gallon of antifreeze. Results could be catastrophic if ignored and I would hate to see that happen to you

wow....thanks for sharing that

Yes that seems to be an extreme case, and like you said, it was very obvious.