'91 Civic Alternator removal: please help

[Rick Holland]

Hello Honda experts:

I am trying to replace the alternator on a '91 Civic DX hatchback, but
I cannot remove the old one from the engine compartment.

The old alternator is now loose within the engine compartment, but it
appears to be too big to move further.

I have replaced alternators on other vehicles before with no problem--
is the situation I describe Honda's retaliation against
do-it-yourselfers?

If there's a trick to this, or something I have overlooked, please let
me know.

Thank you.

Rick Holland
<rick.h...@worldnet.att.net>

[Andrew & Wendy]

I have had to replace alternator on my 89 Accord twice. My Chiltons manual
says the left halfshaft needs removed to get the alternator out. I didn't
do it myself because of this and had a garage do it. I watched them and
they seem to use a long pry bar and a block of wood on the oil pan and pry
the engine a bit to get room to remove the alternator. Maybe you could
remove the pulley to get room. Anyways, good luck!

Andrew Pottle
e-mail --- awpo...@nb.sympatico.ca

[Unknown]

Jack up the drivers side and remove the plastic guards...

[Bruce Nolte]

Rick Holland wrote:

> Hello Honda experts:
>
> I am trying to replace the alternator on a '91 Civic DX hatchback, but
> I cannot remove the old one from the engine compartment.
>
> The old alternator is now loose within the engine compartment, but it
> appears to be too big to move further.
>
> I have replaced alternators on other vehicles before with no problem--
> is the situation I describe Honda's retaliation against
> do-it-yourselfers?
>
> If there's a trick to this, or something I have overlooked, please let
> me know.
>
> Thank you.
>
> Rick Holland
> <rick.h...@worldnet.att.net>

Here is the trick: Remove the alternator mounting bolts and wiring (which
you have done) and disconnect the speedometer cable.
Slide the alternator across the back crossmember and you should be able
to bring it out from above on the passenger's side between the firewall
and the intake manifold. I just put an engine into a 91 Civic, and took
the old alternator out from the bottom with the oil filter, exhaust pipe,
and left CV axle removed, ordered a new alternator, but had to reuse the
old alternator for a while. I reinstalled the old alternator the same
way, but when the new alternator arrived, the car was back together. I
seriously considered dropping the pipe and CV axle again, but figured out
Speedo Cable trick. It is a tight fit, but it works. Good luck and let
me know what happens.

[JSnyder445]

Take out the engine first - then the alternator will be easy to remove.

[Bryan Wernick]

Rick Holland wrote in message
<36dcdeea....@netnews.worldnet.att.net>...

>I am trying to replace the alternator on a '91 Civic DX hatchback, but
>I cannot remove the old one from the engine compartment.
>
>The old alternator is now loose within the engine compartment, but it
>appears to be too big to move further.
>
>I have replaced alternators on other vehicles before with no problem--
>is the situation I describe Honda's retaliation against
>do-it-yourselfers?
>
>If there's a trick to this, or something I have overlooked, please let
>me know.

I replaced the alternator on my '90 Civic Si, and I had to remove the intake
manifold to get the alternator out. It was a real pain in the butt.
However, after I did that, I discovered that there is room to get the
alternator out on the passenger side of the engine compartment. What you
need to do is drain your radiator, disconnect the coolant hoses, disconnect
your air filter pipe, and possibly a couple other odds and ends. There
should be just enough room to squeeze the alternator out, if you push some
of the wires and hoses out of the way. I was able to get a huge 160 amp
alternator in, and out, with this method. Remember, that this is on an Si
engine, so your results might vary. Good luck!

Bryan Wernick
wer...@usa.net

[Unknown]

"Bryan Wernick" <wer...@usa.net> wrote:

WHOA!! You went to a lot of work to get that sucker out. I also have a 90 Civic SI and all I did was
jack up the drivers side to allow the suspension to drop down a bit, removed the plastic flap and it slid right out.( after loosening the bolts on the
alternator)
The new one was just as easy. As a matter of fact, I have to replace my alternator again, cause the one I put in it
went out on me. Guess that's what I get for not using the OEM one, huh?? hehehe

[Bryan Wernick]

RdHondaSI wrote in message <36dde59e...@news.mindspring.com>...

>WHOA!! You went to a lot of work to get that sucker out. I also have a 90
Civic SI and all I did was
>jack up the drivers side to allow the suspension to drop down a bit,
removed the plastic flap and it slid right out.( after loosening the bolts
on the
>alternator)
>The new one was just as easy. As a matter of fact, I have to replace my
alternator again, cause the one I put in it
>went out on me. Guess that's what I get for not using the OEM one, huh??
hehehe

From what I remember, there didn't seem to be enough room for the new
alternator that way. I had the car up on jack stands for two days working
on the project. The new alternator was HUGE!!! Works great, except it has
a tendancy to eat the alternator belts I use. Rock solid 14.5 volts (or any
other setting I choose) for my system. Gotta find a better belt.

Bryan Wernick
wer...@usa.net

[vulgar_power]

I did mine about a month and a half ago. All I did was pass it toward
the passenger side UNDER the intake manifold. Then I just carefully
fished it through the heater hoses and it was out. Removing axles and
draining radiators isn't necessary if you're careful. Unless you like
the extra work.

-vp

<||:Hello Honda experts:
<||:
<||:I am trying to replace the alternator on a '91 Civic DX hatchback, but

<||:I cannot remove the old one from the engine compartment.
<||:
<||:The old alternator is now loose within the engine compartment, but it
<||:appears to be too big to move further.
<||:
<||:I have replaced alternators on other vehicles before with no problem--
<||:is the situation I describe Honda's retaliation against
<||:do-it-yourselfers?
<||:
<||:If there's a trick to this, or something I have overlooked, please let
<||:me know.

<||:
<||:Thank you.
<||:
<||:Rick Holland
<||:<rick.h...@worldnet.att.net>

------------------------------------------------------------
If it's tourist season, why can't we shoot them?
------------------------------------------------------------

[bob-e]

I had no way of taking mine out, so I took off the master cylinder and bled
the brakes afterward. It was a bitch.
vulgar_power wrote in message <36e46640...@news.erols.com>...

[BRG1500]

Ii just used a long 2x10 and lifted up the front of the car behind the left
front tire. The suspension arms opened up just enough so that a helper can
pull alternator out.

[nc...@my-dejanews.com]

Thanks for the tip!
I was not the original author of the post but I worked for 3 hours
to remove screws from my alternator (Honda Civic Sedan 90) just to
realize that I could not take the part away from the car. I also
removed the oil filter and stayed outside in the Canadian cold winter
trying to solve the puzzle. Then I decided to search the internet for
a solution and this is when I saw this posting. What a life saver!

I carefully slipped the alternator between the hoses and speedometer
cable. What a joy to realize that it worked.

ncc

In article <36e46640...@news.erols.com>,

vulgar...@NOSPAMhotmail.com (vulgar_power) wrote:
> I did mine about a month and a half ago. All I did was pass it toward
> the passenger side UNDER the intake manifold. Then I just carefully
> fished it through the heater hoses and it was out. Removing axles and
> draining radiators isn't necessary if you're careful. Unless you like
> the extra work.
>
> -vp
>
> <||:Hello Honda experts:
> <||:
> <||:I am trying to replace the alternator on a '91 Civic DX hatchback, but
> <||:I cannot remove the old one from the engine compartment.
> <||:
> <||:The old alternator is now loose within the engine compartment, but it
> <||:appears to be too big to move further.
> <||:
> <||:I have replaced alternators on other vehicles before with no problem--
> <||:is the situation I describe Honda's retaliation against
> <||:do-it-yourselfers?
> <||:
> <||:If there's a trick to this, or something I have overlooked, please let
> <||:me know.
> <||:
> <||:Thank you.
> <||:
> <||:Rick Holland
> <||:<rick.h...@worldnet.att.net>
>

> ------------------------------------------------------------
> If it's tourist season, why can't we shoot them?
> ------------------------------------------------------------
>

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