TheSSG

So, I just got a '98 Civic LX after my beloved CRX was T-boned.

Trying to do a headgasket on it, but for the life of me, I cannot get the alternator to rotate forward enough to slip the belt off.
As I move it forward, it butts up against the timing belt cover (the lower half) which has some wire loom for some kind of sensor under the Intake Manifold.
I can't try slamming it forward with a prybar because there's nothing to leverage it off of thanks to the Master cylinder.

I've been dicking with this for quite some time now.

I don't get it, what am I missing? Is there some trick?
I miss my CRX :,( This was like a 5 minute affair on my rex....

Lizardslap

just loosen the lower and upper bolt and just ram a screw driver or small pry bar and push it may need a love tap from a hammer to move and it it dont loosen the upper and lower alternator mount bolts more

TheSSG

It moves freely.
The problem is it only rotates so far, then butts against some bullshit wire pathway in the timing belt cover. With the bracket on, there is a good 1/4 of an inch of space left to rotate forward as it's slamming into this stupid cover.

I'm about ready to just set this car on fire and get a bus pass, hahah

TheSSG

Now with pictures!

tlarimer

iTrader: (3)

No real trick, may be the wrong belt was installed by the previous owner. I just did something similar to my 99 Civic Lx and the belt slipped right off before the alternator touched the timing cover/CKF sensor wiring harness.

It's not ideal, but if you're taking the head off, pull the intake manifold off first so you can access the engine wiring harness behind the alternator and free the harness clips tucked up behind it.

Lizardslap

just peal that there belt off its dont look super tight

CivicInUse22

check the part number on the belt. It should slip right off fairly easily if it is all the way back. If it is the wrong one cut it off and get the right one. There not expensive.

bgdriver

take a razor blade to that bitch and figure it out later.

TheSSG

So, I pulled that stupid sensor off (which is a NIGHTMARE if you have large hands), and then I peeled it all the way down.

Then I took my trusty Craftsman hickory hammer (circa 1960's), and used that the pound the alternator forward, collapsing that little channel.
Then I was able to just BARELY slip it off.
I think I am going to snip off that channel when the head is off, cause I don't know how I am getting a new belt on, hahah

The belt is in good condition, but I am just going to get a new one at this rate...I never want to replace this again, hahahah
I'll try to check out the part number if I remember, or at the least, try to get a different brand...

I started to try and drop the alternator out, then realized it has the same horrid, rusty bracket that the EF's had (seriously, this was never updated?!), and I remember how much of a nightmare it is to get the alternator back into these brackets.

Now I'm too far behind to get my head off tonight and get it checked out at a machine shop before the weekend....

[sigh]

Thanks for the replies, though!

tlarimer

iTrader: (3)

I got over 150K miles out of my oem Honda belts, I only replaced them because I was doing the timing belt and already had all three off. The previous owner had them replaced 6 yrs ago, I got lucky and got every service record when I bought the car back in 2010. And they are only like $10 each

TheSSG

Yeah, I was coming on a decade with the alternator belt I put on my CRX, hahah
I'm more wondering if I should splurge past my budget and get a new Alternator for this one....or just wait for it to die.

This current civic was owned by an old lady (who drove stick, hahaha), so I think most of it is original parts.
140k miles, but, my god, it's clean under the hood...Until this belt, most of the disassembly had been going SMOOTH. Everything you would expect to be rusted on a 15-year old Wisconsin car is totally fine.
Even the nuts for the covers on the bottom slipped off without a hitch.

tlarimer

iTrader: (3)

If it ain't broke....got 270k on my original alternator and its still going strong, my 99 went from CA to VA, VA to ID/WY and WY to CA but still looks great under the hood too, I am the third and final owner, its been too good to me, Driving it until its no longer roadworthy