How do you replace the alternator on a 1990 Honda Accord?

Answer 1

Start by moving the Power Steering reservoir out of the way. Disconnect the battery and then remove the wires from the alternator. Take the tension out of the tensioning pulley and remove the belt from the alternator. Remove the bolts from alternator, you may have to take the top mounting bracket off of the engine. The hardest part I found was to get the alternator out after everything was unbolted. My brother-in-law the mechanic came over and advised me to put a floor jack under the motor (use a block of wood to protect the oil pan etc.). Remove the bolt in the engine mount and raise the engine with the floor jack until there is space to bring the alternator out of its hiding place. Bring it straight out from the front of the engine (front being the passenger side of the car. It might be easier to raise the engine and then take out the alternator, but I didn't have the opportunity to try that. But it's definitely easier to put the replacement in with the engine still raised. I spent all day trying to figure it out, after my brother-in-law helped me with the engine jacking, it took about 20 minutes to complete the job.

I've got the V6 and I didn't need to lift the engine, just remove the radiator fan directly in front of the alternator. The fan has 2 screw bolts(10mm) on top, 1 on bottom(which I could just manage to access from the top with a deep socket), unplug the wires and you can lift it out of the way. This gives you enough clearance to remove the alternator (be careful not to ding your radiator though). Also, I didn't relized that the tensioner pulley was a spring-loaded type...I've never seen one till now. Just put a wrench on the middle of the pulley and you can adjust it to move the alternater back in place. Another tip, since you're replacing the alternator, might as well replace the belt too. Good luck. 2hours - not hard, just hard to get to till you figure out what items you need to move out of the way.

If this is the LX or EX (4 cylinder)

1) Disconnect the battery cable (*).

2) Remove the green connector on the back of the alternator and the single wire (to help ensure you don't loose the nut, screw it back on the terminal).

3) Loosen the power steering pump - slip the belt off and then push the pump up out of the way. You do not need to remove the pump.

4) Remove the lower alternator bolt.

5) Loosen the upper alternator bolt.

6) Remove the tension bolt.

7) Slip the belt off the alternator pulley.

8) Remove the upper alternator bolt.

9) Grab hold of the alternator pull it out. You may need to move it up and down and wiggle it slightly to get it out.

Installation is in the reverse order. Be sure to set the proper belt tension on the alternator and power steering pump. Check the belt tension the next time you fill up for gas and adjust if needed.

Total time to R&R the alternator should be under an hour.

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Looking at the alternator with the pulley facing you, the right mounting hole (where the large upper alternator bolt slips into) is a bushing. Carefully take some channel lock pliers and push it in so it's flush. This will help make installing it easier. As you tighten the upper and lower bolts, it will slide this bushing into proper position.

(*) = If your radio has a security code, be sure you know what it is before you pull the battery cables! If you have access to a battery charger, it may not be a bad time to re-charge the battery while you are R&R'ing the alternator. I would suggest that if you do elect to recharge the battery to take the battery out of the car.

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email me if you have questions; rob@crxownersclub.com

Answer 2

Remove the upper through bolt of the alternator, remove the bottom bolt of the alternator by unscrewing the nut. Slide the belt off pulley. Install the new alternator. Replace and tighten the bolts (You will need to use a torque wrench to tighten to the proper foot-pounds of torque. You can find the torque specs for you bolts by going to a Honda forum). Adjust the tension bolt until there is enough tension on the belt (if not enough tension you will hear the belt squeak when you stat your car).

Answer 3

Take the negative battery cable off then the wires off the alt then loosten the bolts holding it on and remove the belt then remove the bolts and alternator.

Hi. I'm the fellow who put this question out on Friday night. Don't drop the axle if all you want to do is change the brushes. Just remove the alternator from it's bracket, disconnect the two wires goimg to it and just sit the alternator in a way you can do the brushes. Brushesprocedure is about 5 minutes. Good luck, Donald

Answer 4

I have the dreaded belt squeals, this happened after a valve job and the dealer didnt tighten the belts enough. Like the A/C compressor the alternator has an adjusting stud, a pivot bolt and a tightening bolt, this is what I can not find. I found all 3 components on the a/c compressor but am still looking for the alt

Somewhere it was said that it's the same as in the 91 Honda Accord.

IF true..

Both the alternator and the AC compressor run off the SAME belt.

And ther is NO adjusting stud, etc. on the alternator.

Soo..

Please tell me How to get to the AC adjust components.

(with only one belt, it makes no sense for BOTH to have adjustors.)

start off by taking out the power steering pump..one of the bolts you have to look through the pully to see it...it has 2 10mm bolts that hold the tensioner.the top blot on it is a 14mm and the bottom blot is a 12mm.....pull off the belt......next step is the alternator remove the 10mm tensioner blots...remove the belt....take out the top and bottom bolt and remove the alternator....putting it back in is the same why you took it out...hope this helps you out..

Additional info: The AC compressor does NOT have a tensioner. It does operate from the same belt as the alternator and the adjuster on the alternator is the one used. The power steering pump has it's own belt and adjuster.

Answer 5

My 2002 Lx has it held on with the serpentine bet and a few long bolts to a bracket on the block you release tension and remove the serpentine belt then remove the two bolts (twelve mm i believe) then disconnect the electrical couplers ( make sure the battery is disconnected) and there you go your own alternator. install is same as removal and i recommend removing the driver side tire and splash guard held on by standard body clips to help with access ( do it! makes a four hour job one hour) and make sure you tension your belt properly other wise it will slip and squeak and not transfer power properly to the power steering pump and other important things in there:( hope this helps Lonwel 2002 civic turbo @6psi

Answer 6

Re: How do you remove the alternator from an 06 civic? Step 1 find a midget

Step 2 have him uninstall the alt

lol no, but it is tight in that area find the wing nut than loosen the 2 bolts that are on that bracket than loosen the wing nut until the belt comes loose. Than unbolt the alt and unhook the wires to it and your done. Than in the reverse order install your new one.

Answer 7

To reach the alternator on a 2000 Honda Civic loosen the adjustment bracket. Pull the loose belt off then loosen the bolts for the alternator. Replace the alternator.