How do you change the alternator for a 1992 Honda Civic?

Answer 1

Here are the relatively easy steps I took. The alternator is difficult to access, and cannot be removed without removing something--preferrably the easiest thing. # Turn the steering all the way to the left (makes things easier) # Disconnect the battery ground wire. # Jack up the car and remove the front driver's side wheel. # Remove the 2 alternator mounting bolts. Access to top bolt from top, bottom bolt from underneath. # From top or underneath (both are difficult access), rotate alternator so you can remove all the wiring (one plug, one wire wired to the post, and one retaining clamp on the back). # From underneath, move alternator back behind the engine to clear it from the alternator mounting bracket. # From underneath, remove alternator mounting bracket. Two 14 mm bolts (need a socket for one of them). # From side, in wheel well, unscrew back-most plastic screw holding front inside wheel-well splash guard on. # Pull Alternator out just behind the splash guard, flexing it out as you go. # Put the new alternator back in through the same hole. # Set the alternator aside and put the alternator mounting bracket on--tighten it up because you won't be able to access one of the bolts once you put the alternator on.

Notes:

You might want to make sure that the new alternator will fit in the mounting bracket while both new alternator and bracket are off the car. Sometimes the bolt sleeve in the bracket can be too tight and need a little tap to move it out.

You will probably lose the wheel well nut behind the plastic screw retaining the wheel well splash guard; mine fell into the body frame, never to be seen again. To fasten it back, I just used a pinched piece of coat-hanger wire to hook the wheel well back in place and then put some silicone on the hole so that water didn't go into the hole.