My alternator is going bad but still producing good voltages but inconsistent. So I bought another used one from Ebay but it has 148000 miles on it just about the same as my current bad one. Since the component that usual worn out on the alternator is the brushes, I wonder if I could change the brushes out on the new one I am getting to avoid it's going bad again soon.

1) Any one has any experience with it? I just need instructions and pics preferably so I won't mess it up. Nothing really came up on google about Honda's Alternators.
2) Is there good vs bad quality brushes? Or a brush is a brush? What makes one better than the other? The amount of copper?

Thanks.

 

Go get the brush assembly from the dealer. Honda part number 31105-PR7-A01.

The Denso alternators for the 4th gen and 5th gen Accords should use the same part number.

You can even replace the brush assembly for the alternator currently in your car, while it is still in the car. Refer to this link:

http://www.hondaaccordforum.com/foru...ad.php?t=37116

 

It does not get better than this.
Thanks so much.

 

I'm dealing with an alternator that doesn't charge as well. I opened it up without pulling the power steering or anything else, and this is what I found.

As you can see, the plastic around the brushes has melted and one of the pieces of carbon that's supposed to contact the alternator is gone completely. So my question is, does it seem like enough to replace the brush on the alternator? If not, what other parts are likely to have caused the meltdown? If I can avoid placing the alternator, obviously, I'd like that. But if I need to replace the regulator as well, I can cope with that.

Right now, I've ordered this part: DENSO ALTERNATOR BRUSHES / BRUSH HOLDER REBUILD KIT parts Toyota Honda repair eBay and I'll put it in next week. If the same thing happens, I guess I have my answer and I'm out the 7 dollars. I figure this is a worthy risk, since I paid 800 for the car in 2009, I might as well continue to minimize my costs!

Thanks!

 

Okay, I put the new part in, and the alternator is now charging steady at just over 14 volts! Maybe only time will tell whether or not that's a long-term solution or if the windings or regulator also are bad and that the brushing meltdown was just a symptom, but there's your update. It seems to have solved my issue for now! 7 dollars and a few hours of my time instead of 100+ dollars and several hours of my time! Call it a win for now.

 

Well this alternator failed again. I then went to a local junkyard and pulled an alternator from a same year car which I dropped into my car. It worked like a charm for almost 2 months and then started giving up. I replaced the brushes again and cleaned up the regulator and it seems to be working again. Is it possible that my car is frying these alternators? Maybe the junkyard alternator just needed new brushes, but seemed suspicious.

 

Are the bad alternators looking the same as that first one when they come out ? Instead of replacing just the brush you should replace the bearing too. It's possible the bearings are bad and when they are bad it makes the alternator run much more hot which could cause an issue. I can't be positive that's what's going on with you but it's worth a try. Also exactly how many have you gone through ? It's possible you just got another bad one. If you choose to replace the bearing it's imperative that you support the housing when you are tapping on it by having something slightly bigger on the outside as you push the old bearing out, as well as for when you are pushing the new one in. You don't want to bend the casing.