Yes, You can do that, But what if the alternator goes out in the middle of no where USA and you are able to swap it out and it still doesn't work. Then what do you do or who do you call for tech help. It isn't alway's the alternator that is the problem. It's the first thing everyone wants to blame but not alway's the problem. there are other things in the circuit that can go wrong and the alternator quit working. I have trouble shooted several. John << I can skip down to any auto parts store and swap it out and install it with minimal tools that day and continue my journey. >>