Hope this is the right forum, I'm still not familiar with the body codes. I need to replace the alternator on my GF's 91 Civic Dx HB. For anyone who has done it, how easy was it and is better for me to just go have it done at a shop? It looks pretty buried in the engine bay. Thanks in advance for any info. This will be her 3rd alternator.

 

Ok on my old D16...i simply unplugged the wires going to it, unbolted the alternator from the lower and upper bracket, removed the belt, then unbolted the lower bracket itself from the block, set the lower bracket aside and lower the alternator out through the bottom. It wont just drop straight down though, it takes a little bit of time (2-5 minutes if its your first time) to figure out which way to angle it and so forth. Installation in the reverse of removal.

 

I detatched all my brake stuff from the firewall and moved it up and towards the driver side fender. I then undid all the clips, unbolted the thing and wiggled it out the top of the engine bay. Pretty easy. You'll figure it out once you get started.

 

If u do it my way, u dont have detach the master cylinder, therefore greatly reducing the amount of work involved. I recommend my way unless u enjoy bleeding the brakes (not that its hard but it is time consuming).

 

Thanks for all the info, hopefully the procedure is the same for the 1.5 as the 1.6. Now I just gotta find an alternator.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fourthgenhatchB17 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If u do it my way, u dont have detach the master cylinder, therefore greatly reducing the amount of work involved. I recommend my way unless u enjoy bleeding the brakes (not that its hard but it is time consuming).</TD></TR></TABLE>

I actually never had to bleed my brakes.

Either way, pulling the alternator should be pretty easy.

 

K, it is now Sun night and the alternator replacement is finished. I tried it on Sat lying on my back on a sloped driveway with the car on 2 stands and steel wheels for added safety. 4hrs and I still couldn't take the bottom bolt out. So no go on Sat. What a waste. Called in a favor after running around town looking for a shop and hired a mechanic to work on the car off-duty. Ended up having to grind off the nut and part of the bolt. Turns out that the shop that put in the last one didn't use anti-sieze on the nut and the whole thing just rusted together. The more we tried to get the nut off, the more it stripped. The actual replacement took less than an hour. FYI, the driveshaft does not need to be removed. We simply took the driverside wheel off, unbolted and unplugged the alternator and unbolted the lower bracket, the thing came right out. Most tools used were 10-14mm sockets/wrenches. Thanks all for your help and info. Alternator checks out to charge fine, car still cranks a bit slow, might be the battery and/or starter. Whatever, she has a new car anyways on the way.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Knightmare69 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">K, it is now Sun night and the alternator replacement is finished. I tried it on Sat lying on my back on a sloped driveway with the car on 2 stands and steel wheels for added safety. 4hrs and I still couldn't take the bottom bolt out. So no go on Sat. What a waste. Called in a favor after running around town looking for a shop and hired a mechanic to work on the car off-duty. Ended up having to grind off the nut and part of the bolt. Turns out that the shop that put in the last one didn't use anti-sieze on the nut and the whole thing just rusted together. The more we tried to get the nut off, the more it stripped. The actual replacement took less than an hour. FYI, the driveshaft does not need to be removed. We simply took the driverside wheel off, unbolted and unplugged the alternator and unbolted the lower bracket, the thing came right out. Most tools used were 10-14mm sockets/wrenches. Thanks all for your help and info. Alternator checks out to charge fine, car still cranks a bit slow, might be the battery and/or starter. Whatever, she has a new car anyways on the way. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I struggled with that same bolt too. Ended up breaking it loose w/a breaker bar.