huepowered

First off, whoever designed the civic engine is a piece of dog crap. So I've already pulled the alternator and in the process of putting everything back together.

I have the alternator hanging with the upper bolt in to hold it in place as I try to screw in the lower bolt onto the the sliding track. The problem is lower bolt thread is not lined up with the track and there's no way I can get it in. I've tried screwing in the lower bolt first, but then the upper bolt won't line up. I'm at my wits end.

Also WTF is up with the wing nut as a tensioner? What genius thought of that? There's absolutely zero space to get to the alternator tensioner! I was lucky enough to loosen it enough to pull the belt off.

It Wasn't Me

Is the alternator you're trying to put in the correct one? Where did you get it from?

Mr_Plenty

take you time and refer to the cars manual for a pretty simple techinique for the removal and reinstallation of the alternator....I have done it many times and it isnt as difficult as you are making it seem. If one approach that you are trying doesnt work then try another....otherwise consult the manual

huepowered

Yes it is the right one.

huepowered

Yeah, I've changed alternators before also.. in other cars. It's the wing nut that's killing me. I looked at some photos of an alternator on another 01 civic lx install and he had a regular nut where I have a wing nut.



I finally got the lower bolt in my loosening the tensioner slide bracket. I put everything back together but the belt wouldn't fit---and what do I have to do? Loosen that wing nut again! I have very room to work with and the wing nut is partially under the alternator. If it was a regular hex nut, I would have been done like 3 days ago.

chris11

Well i think you should consult the manual book .i am sure there will be some instructions given.

huepowered

Exactly what I thought it was say. Unscrew the wing nut.

honda.lioness

See photo below for thee solution to dealing with that nasty alternator wing nut. It turns out it's more than a wing nut: It's an OEM 'wing nut with hex nut.' I did not realize there was a hex nut integral with the wing nut until I closely inspected it just today. I was able to pretty easily squeeze my hand from the inboard side and position a 12 mm open-end wrench on the hex nut. I attached a piece of rope to the box end of the wrench and pulled vertically up, turning the nut about 1/4 turn each time. See photos and sketch below. I see a poster named s10xtremist at clubcivic.com took this a step further: He removed the bolt, cut off the wings, reinstalled it, and used a socket etc. on the 12 mm hex nut. He reports: "Made tightening the belt a breeze!"

After the first timing belt etc. change a few years ago, I had been unable to get the alternator belt tight enough. On cold mornings, I would get a belt squeal at startup. I even paid my favorite import cars shop $30 to set the tension a year-and-a-half ago. The squeal was worse after they returned it to me. I am delighted to have found the hex so I can get the alt belt set to the right tension.

It Wasn't Me

It's called a wing nut socket, and they start at about $4.


P.S. This thread is from 2010.

honda.lioness

It wasn't me: Excellent. I haven't found this wing nut socket/wrench for sale online yet, but meanwhile, I came across these two homemade versions. The PVC wing nut wrench is made from a 1/2-inch PVC irrigation Tee. The homemade steel socket wrench is made from an old abandoned hex socket. I imagine a grinder or hacksaw works fine to make these homemade tools.

MarkM01

You put a crow bar between the alt. and a solid piece to tighten belt, then tighten the wing nut. Couldn't get any easier.

You don't actually tighten the belt with your fingers on a wing nut.

honda.lioness

Just sharing my experience: The crowbar worked perfectly for extending the alternator and so easily tightening the wing nut on my 5th and 6th generation Civics. For my 7th generation Civic, despite numerous attempts with the crowbar from the top, sides and bottom, no joy.

I suppose some fellows have enough hand strength to tighten the alternator tensioner wing nut on the 7th generation. My hands are small and arthritic. I can't do it without a wing nut socket (homemade or store-purchased) or going in from the side with a 12 mm open-end wrench.