Honda Civic alternator help...

[Mark Bernard]

Ok all you master mechanics out there. I have a 87 Civic that the alternator took a dump in. I have it un bolted and disconnected. The problem is that I cant get the little prick out. Has anyone changed out one? How did you manage to get it out? I am at a loss for the moment. Any and all help would be apreciated. Thanks in advance. Mark

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

YOu might have to rotate the motor a little like you have to do on some Generic Motors FWD cars to get to the spark plugs. Is there a brace from the motor to the firewall or radiator support?

[Mark Bernard]

Yea... but there is no room for it to come out from the top. The only thing I can think of Rob is to remove the strut and try and lower the k frame a couple of inches. I might call the local Honda dealership and talk to there service people. There has to be a simple way to extract this alternator.

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

Yea... but there is no room for it to come out from the top. The only thing I can think of Rob is to remove the strut and try and lower the k frame a couple of inches. I might call the local Honda dealership and talk to there service people. There has to be a simple way to extract this alternator.

C4 will work. ;D ;D


Really makes you wonder why they put common replacement parts in inaccessable areas. Kinda like the starter on my 92 4X4 Sonoma and the heater core in my dakota.

[Mark Bernard]

The reason manufactures do that, is to make it impossible for the common idiot to replace it. The manufacturers want you to take the car back to the dealership for even the simplest of repairs. An alternator change should talke less than an hour to do. But now days, thats a whole different animal. Its gonna be a long day today....  :(  :-/

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

Need some help? Not that far away from ya.

[Mark Bernard]

Thanks any way but I got it. Its amazing how easy it comes out when you remove the drive axle...  ??? I had it back together and road tested by noon. But hey.. now I am an expert alternater changer on a 87 Civic. Thanks again Rob.

[Burt Munro]

Heard a rumor that Daimler Chrysler was close to making a decision on adopting the Honda philosophy of assembly procedures.....  first step required all Daimler Chrysler factory workers to spend the next 2 years learning to speak and read Japanese ;D

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

Hell I was gonna replace my heater core today. Dont feel to great today and its a bit chilly to be climbing around the truck. Want to get it done by sat.

Also I thinks my battery is dying. It sat for 3 days and wouldnt start.

[Mark Bernard]

Heard a rumor that Daimler Chrysler was close to making a decision on adopting the Honda philosophy of assembly procedures.....  first step required all Daimler Chrysler factory workers to spend the next 2 years learning to speak and read Japanese ;D

Damn! And I just got through learning German! I need a less frustrating job!  ;)  ;D

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

I need a less frustrating job!  ;)  ;D

Wendy's is hiring. ;D

[Super Dave]

Mark, I had an 88 Accord.  I got it cheap from a place that bought it for a hundred bucks...cause it needed an alternator.

Same gig.  

To remove it, yeah, pull off the wheel, drop the strut, etc.  That was the way to do it.

And some people complain about Harleys?  This is one of these things where I enjoy Honda cars for driving and how they last, but once things start getting a little worn...give it up and move on.  Someone will buy it for good money 'cause it's a Honda. ;D

[Mark Bernard]

Mark, I had an 88 Accord.  I got it cheap from a place that bought it for a hundred bucks...cause it needed an alternator.

Same gig.  

To remove it, yeah, pull off the wheel, drop the strut, etc.  That was the way to do it.

And some people complain about Harleys?  This is one of these things where I enjoy Honda cars for driving and how they last, but once things start getting a little worn...give it up and move on.  Someone will buy it for good money 'cause it's a Honda. ;D

About the same with this car Dave. Bought it for $200 and right away it blew a timing belt and took out the cylinder head. $1200 later and the car runs like a little champ! Becky drives it daily from Rockford to Elgin and the stupid car gets 30 MPG. Any how... I had to pull the L/F drive axle out to replace the alt. The CV joint had a ripped boot so it was essentual to pull the axle out to replace the boot. Any how. it all worked out fine. I had the car back together by noon last Saturday. About the only thing to replace now would be the starter should that go south on me. Fortunatly... that is an easy access item. All in all, I have replaced the exhaust, front struts, brakes, water pump, timing belt, cylinder head, alternater, CV boot, fuel filters, tune up parts, and still only have about $1400 into it. Good little car now! And yes.... when were through with it, we could probably get all our money back out of it. The bad thing is that I cannot drive it to my place of employment... I work for Daimler-Chrysler so if I parked it in the parking lot it probably would get blown up before I got off of work! LOL! Mark!  
And Rob... thanks for the offer to help! It was appreciated!  ;) Mark!

[Super Dave]

The bad thing is that I cannot drive it to my place of employment... I work for Daimler-Chrysler so if I parked it in the parking lot it probably would get blown up before I got off of work! LOL! Mark!

LOL, yeah, but that's like Animal House...

It gets blown up "...and the insurance company buys your brother a new car!"  
 8)

[Mark Bernard]

I'm not that lucky... LOL!  ;)

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

The bad thing is that I cannot drive it to my place of employment... I work for Daimler-Chrysler so if I parked it in the parking lot it probably would get blown up before I got off of work! LOL! Mark!  
And Rob... thanks for the offer to help! It was appreciated!  ;) Mark!

I would. ;D Wouldnt phase me one bit. Hell come up to Janesville mid week and drive by GM. Theres more DODGE RAMS there than Silverados and Sierras combined. ;D

BTW took the dash out today. WHAT A CLUSTER F@@@. Cant make replacing the heater core easy can they? Sad thing is the dash came out rather easy. The heater box is gonna be another story. Why do I have to take half the engine compartment off to get the heater out? Really thinking about selling this truck and either replacing it with a mid 70's Dodge power wagon 440 4X4 or a brand new F250SD with a manual. Decisions decisions. ;D

This is the LAST Dakota I'll ever own. Hell its the last SMALL truck I'll ever own. Have you seen teh new 05 Dakota? For some reason when I looked at one Nissan came to mind.