I have a 1996 Honda Civic Hatchback CX with was made in Canada with the stock motor (D16Y7) and it has come time for me to replace the alternator but i have to use a Canadian alternator which has a different plug than a US alternator (which is $100 cheaper than a Canadian alternator), i was wondering can i just get a US alternator and find a US plug off the wiring harness and slice and dice?? thank you in advance for any help

 

yes.
you will need the US alternator and US pinout.
but are you sure that the canadian alternator is different?
i believe they are they same.
are you sure its a 96-00 civic alternator?

 

Yeah you should be able to just swap the plugs. Get a US plug and get a pinout for both to make sure you get the wires in the right spots.

I'm not sure why they would be, but they are definitely different.

They appear to mount up the same. Just the plug.

Top is canada. Bottom US.

 

All '96 - '00 Civic hatchbacks sold in north america were built in Canada, what matters is where it was originally sold. And as for the alternator issue, yes they are different. Civics that were sold in Canada do indeed have a different alternator plug (its 3 wire vs the US 4 wire version) IIRC its because we didn't get an ELD in Canada for the 6th gen civics.

 

Yes, Canada Civics are missing an ELD and the AltC wire from the alternator.

 

what are the wires that the US have that the Canada ones dont have.... are they important?

 

The alternator will work without the AltC wire but will lose the fuel saving function of the ELD/ECU and will likely throw CEL 20.

 

So what has to happen if he cut's off his 3 prong alternator connector and solders on a 4pin U.S. alternator connector?

3 of the 4 wires will line up, where does the fourth one go? Do you have to dismantle the entire engine harness to find where the 4th wire goes?

 

It simply won't have an AltC wire. I assume that the Canada Civic has no AltC wire to find.

 

Would you happen to know if not having an AltC wire will cause drivability problems? Or even perhaps check engine lights to come on?

 

I am not absolutely sure, but I think that disconnecting the AltC wire may not throw code 20 or turn on the battery/charge light. I believe the result would be that the alternator charges continuously.