Hey - has anyone ever installed a high output alternator in a 2001 Honda Civic before? I just bought a 160amp from alterstart in Dallas and they supplied me a 4 gauge power output cable for upgrading. Is it necessary to upgrade it to 4 gauge?

If I do need to upgrade to 4 gauge, I would have to connect it to positive output terminal of alternator, then to battery right? Is it that straight forward, or do I have to route that power output cable from alternator to various fuses and stuff?

One more thing, I can't seem to locate the positive power output terminal! Nor can I find a negative ground terminal! All I see is an 8 or 10 mm bolt for a terminal (positive or negative is unknown) and a 4 pin electric plug.

Not like I'm a newbie at installing alternators, I've installed one on a Mazda before, but all of this wire upgrading is driving me nuts.

Thanks for any help - I will do a DIY write up w/ pictures if I can understand how to upgrade that damn power output cable.

Lewis

 

It should be fairly straight forward, but I do not know exactly how it will work on your Civic. I did an alternator swap on my old Chevy Tahoe, but that's a completely different story. I would recommend having someone or a company give you advice, but maybe that's just me being cautious.

 

I havn't looked at the alternator on my civic, but on my old accord the 10mm nut was the negative and the plug was my positive. I would assume honda didn't change much about the external alternator connections, but I'm not sure.

 

The 10 mm nut is usually the positive and the ground works throught the engine and chasis. The 10mm nut holds the wire in place that goes to the battery. Make sure to disconnect the battery first or you run the risk of melting the power wire. This is where you would also attach to for the 4 gauge wire to the battery. As for grounds i would clean them all up and replace the wires if needed. You will only get the full benifit of the alternator if you make sure it has a solid ground.

 

The bolt is for the + and it is grounded through the engine, like trishieldfan said. You should also think about upgrading your car's grounds to complete the circuit. I'm real intrested in the diy and how this alternator works for you. Good luck.

 

High Output alternator install is almost complete! I had to leave for work so I will continue on the project when I get home. Will post up new DIY thread over the weekend! Thanks for all the help =D

 

Here is the DIY I composed over the weekend - Enjoy!
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1802650

 

Hey my 03 civic ex d17a2 alternator just died as well. I have a sound system and all that good stuff in my car as well. Any ideas why it would die? I stuffed a bigger battery in my car as well, I'm thinking it's cause of that it died. I would like to know the website for that performance alternator you're talking about, I need to get one too! lol.

 

web site: 4alterstart.com

I also have an 01 and bought the same alternator from them. however, after a month of my car not on the road, i will never buy from them again! They sent me the first alternator that i paid 2nd day delivery for because my car died from my system, that was the wrong casing. they said the 01-03 civics had two different mitsubishi alternators. after calling my dealer i found out it was all BS! so i had to pay for the shipping back only for them to send me the right casing but the regulator was bad. so after having that tested to prove to them it was wrong, i sent it back again. oh and i had to pay for all the shipping!! finally, after reporting them to the better business bureau, they sent me another one 2nd day (that i didn't have to pay for!) anyway, i just wanted to let everyone know about this before buying from them.

the alternator should just bolt right in though. One i had the new one it went in real easy, also because i had to do it about 8 times! I did but new grounds and wiring in though. Good luck!