Can replaced alternators go bad in 6 months - I need to replace it again!

Tiny
SAJANISCH
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I am currently having the exact same problem. Did you have any success?

Thanks, Scott
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 11:43 AM (Merged)
Tiny
97CIVIC
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I did have luck actually.
You must be VERY careful, I just undid the two bolts holding the main brake cylinder on. Then after pulling it free, I CAREFULLY pushed it towards the passenger's side (be careful! As you probably know, you don't want to kink any of your brake lines) while you're pushing it towards the passenger side, you need to have another person pull the alternator out through the top.

There was also a lot of having to push tubes out of the way.
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 11:43 AM (Merged)
Tiny
TVANG285
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1996 HONDA CIVIC
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 140,000 MILES
My car has a electrical problem. Recently the headlights and the cluster are dimmed and the speed and rpm odometer were dead. I recently changed the alternator, battery, and check all the fuses. However, my car has a kill switch and an alarm install. It was not professor installation. There were smoke coming from inside the dash. What are the possibilities. Could it be some of the wires touching each other such as negative and positive wires. I had check everything that I can think off besides testing all the wires for voltage.

Thanks
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 11:44 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ERNEST CLARK
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,730 POSTS
It's impossible for me to say with certainty what your problem is, but anytime there's smoke from a circuit, it's bacuse the wires have shorted (to ground or each other), or a component has failed.

If your wires shoted, it should've poped a fuse. Otherwise, they would've burned completely and possibly started a fire.

You should take your cluster apart and have a look.
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 11:44 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DRKTM5
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1995 HONDA CIVIC
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 11,000 MILES
A loud buzz through the stereo with engine RPM I replaced alternator buzz still there. Removed alt belt no noise. What next help
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 11:44 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HONDAMIKE
  • MECHANIC
  • 71 POSTS
Is it a stock Honda stereo or aftermarket?

Sounds like the connection to the antenna is picking up the noise. Check to make sure it is all the way in. Also, you can wrap some metal insulation tape around the connector base to try and help with the problem.
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 11:44 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ZYTEL22095
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • HONDA CIVIC
I have a 1994 Honda Civic LX with 183000miles. I am trying to get the alternator off. My problem is the pivot bolt. How does it come out? I have tried everything I can think of and it will not move. I have taken the nut off and the alternator moves back and forth, but the bolt will not come out. I have hammered on it, lubed it up well, and it still will not back out.
I have tried to get the alternator bracket off but it is impossible to get a wrench on the bolt head that is directly under the alternator.
Any help would be appreciated.
So the main question is "how do I get the pivot bolt to back out?"
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 11:44 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BRUCE HUNT
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,754 POSTS
Try soaking it down with liquid wrench and then you will need to get physical with it. Another method is to heat the joint with a torch but you want to be careful about fuel in the area and overheating. It is frustrating.
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-1
Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 11:44 AM (Merged)
Tiny
VARAKICKSASS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • HONDA CIVIC
I have a 1991 honda civic si, 100,000 kms.
I am changing my alternator and I have it detached and freefloating in the engine but can't find a large enough space to bring it up through the top, or drop it through the bottom. What is the best method?
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 11:44 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SIOMY
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
I had a 1991 civic and it took me a while but I removed it through the left rear of the engine. Where the transmission is mounted.
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 11:44 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DIANA 97127
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • HONDA CIVIC
I have a 1991 Honda Civic manual transmission with approx. 165,000 miles on it. I have had to replace the alternator and battery 3 times in 9 months. What could be causing the alternator to fail prematurely?
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 11:44 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Hi there,

Good question, are you going to the same workshop each time? Maybe their testing is some what questionable, normally an alternator should be fine for a very long time, possible if there is a short somewhere it may be blowing a diode or affecting the regulator, they should be checking these things and not throwing a new part at it just to get it going. Start asking questions and maybe try a different work shop next time.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 11:44 AM (Merged)
Tiny
WILDHRT98
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1991 HONDA CIVIC
Electrical problem
1991 Honda Civic 4 cyl Manual 114, 00 miles

I am a novice car person and I am trying to find information for replacing the alternator on my car. I need to know the tools that I need, the belts that I need, which alternator you would recommend (Brand). Half the stuff I read says to take of the drivers side wheel, the others don't. Can you please give me as much details (with exception to opening the hood and unplugging the battery) that you can to help me out? I can't afford to have someone do it, I have already gone through two other cars since summer and I'm about tapped out. Thank you so much for your help!
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 11:44 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Hi wildhrt98,

Disconnecting the alternator is one thing. Taking it out from the engine compartment is another. Removing the brake master would increase the access for you to take the alternator out. Do not disconnect the brake lines, just remove the 2 holding bolt of the master cylinder and you can pull it out to gain clearance.

REMOVAL
1. Disconnect the ground wire from the battery negative (-) post. See Fig. 9 .

2. Disconnect the alternator connector from the alternator.

3. Remove the terminal nut and the WHT wire from the B terminal.

4. Remove the adjusting bolt and alternator nut, then remove the alternator belt from the alternator pulley.

5. Remove the alternator through bolt, then remove the alternator.

6. If necessary, remove the mount bracket bolts, and the upper and lower mount brackets.

INSTALLATION
For installation, reverse removal procedure.
Adjust the alternator belt tension after installation.


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/192750_AlternatorRemoval91CivicFig09_1.jpg


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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 11:44 AM (Merged)
Tiny
TIFFANYANN18
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1989 HONDA CIVIC
I have an alternator problem. We bought the car & a week lator the alternator stopped charging the battery. The battery charge got so low that we couldnt even jump it to move it. We put another alternator in the car, and a week later, that alternator also went out. What is wrong? And also, will a 1987 Honda Civic alternator replace the alternator in this car?
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 11:45 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JESSE777
  • MEMBER
  • 37 POSTS
Was the replacement alternator new or used?

Did you charge the battery before using the replacement alternator? An alternator is not designed to charge a dead battery.
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 11:45 AM (Merged)
Tiny
TIFFANYANN18
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
The alternator was used. They told us it was in working condition. Yes. The battery was completely charged up because we had the battery tested before we bought a new alternator.
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 11:45 AM (Merged)

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