Thank you for your patience in making this video of a difficult job. I'm still contemplating helping a neighbor change their alternator and this video certainly helped set some expectations.
Definitely most through video on how to change an alternator for these years. Most do not show how to do the work. Eastern European accent very informative.
This has got to be the most detailed and thorough video of how to replace a civic alternator. And I have watched a crap-ton of them to prepare me for doing it myself to my son's 98 EX model. I don't know why, but these videos always make it look much easier than how it sometimes is. It took me almost 3 hours to complete this same job. But I found some of the other components to be a bit more difficult to work around. For one, it was IMPOSSIBLE for me to remove it from the bottom, due to the front drive shaft being in the way. I had to finagle it up through the top, where I left a substantial amount of knuckle meat. Also, the new alternator would not fit in the bracket where the large bolt goes until I filed it down a bit. I finished the job, but it kicked my ass. In retrospect, I would have rather paid some other fool to do it for me.
I have a 1998 Civic LX 4-door whose alternator needs to be replaced. Autozone ran a test on it and it said the diodes inside the alternator have gone bad. I read in another video's comment section that someone took their 1998 Civic's driver side wheel off and passed the alternator through where the splash guard would normally be. Taking it through the top does indeed look like a tight fit and I really don't want to remove the power steering line to do this job. The guy at Autozone also recommended going through the driver's side wheel location.
Good luck. I removed the driver's side tire and removed the splash guard and tried every which way but could not find a gap large enough through which to pull out the alternator underneath. I had no other choice but to pull out through the top. It required removal of a bracket and some wiring temporarily but I got it out.
I looked it over this morning and it appears it can be done from the top, if I remove the power steering hose and surrounding electrical wiring. The 1998 EX and LX models should be identical in this regard, so if you got it out, I should be able to as well. It's definitely a job for work gloves. Thanks for getting back to me!
Just did this job on my 93 DX and this video was fantastic! Took some finagling to drop the alternator out since on the DX the axle is in the way, but removing the alternator mount did the trick perfect. No way I could have done this without your very thorough walk through! Thanks!
I could not drop the alternator out of the bottom of my 1995 Civic, So I instead took off the mount that the very long bolt goes through, this left me enough room to easily remove the alternator through the driver wheel well.
This helped me a lot. I liked how I got to see each step. I can see you need to take your time and it is only difficult because there is not room to move. Thank you
Was going to pay a shop to do this but watching you take your time step by step. I will go ahead and do it. I just wasn't sure of how to remove it either from the top or bottom and you demonstrate exactly how to do it. Thanks.
Thank you for being so thorough. I will be doing this tomorrow on my 2000 HX. Of course I'll be having to work with the power steering hose in the way. The copper wire is a great idea....I'm by myself and that will definitely help out. Wish me luck and thanks for the great video. You really helped me understand what I'll be doing. I'm very appreciative.
@@PeterFinnTheCarDoctor Ended up taking it out the bottom. Had to remove the left drive shaft/axle but since I have a lift that was easier than all the torment in working from the top. Thanks again.
Good video sir and I am on the last step on getting my alternator out. Its just hanging in there and when you used that tool it popped right out so I will try that tomorrow and see how it goes. Thanks for the video!
Thanks for the video the computer at autozone said I need a new voltage regulator which is in the alternator they said, I'm going to attempt this job myself since I need to rotate my tires anyways, some dude on craigslist wanted $200 to do the job which seems kinda reasonable but I'm gonna try it myself
Well done detailed video. This is not the easiest alternator to remove. On some civics there is a plastic dust or rock shield on the bottom front of the engine bay that would have to be removed to drop the alternator down to the ground. Thank you sir.
Peter thanks, just replaced alternator to my 88 CRX si. Second time I have replaced it. First time I removed it upwards, releasing brake master cylinder to provide enough space, not a good idea. Now I followed your procedure and it was easier and less risks.
I didn't have as much space as you did behind the engine area. I removed the alternator mount off to take it out the wheel area. It's only two bolts for the mount. I also removed the oil filter to have more space.
I just did one, very similar. It did not have enough room to come out the bottom. I found loosening the two studs that hold the master cylinder to the firewall gave me just enough rock to carefully manuver the alternator out of the top. It does require you to get some of the wire connector brackets out of the way.
Great job considering the tools that you have. Thanks a lot now will do with my air tools and ratcheting wrenches and do it in forty minutes. Thanks V/R NC1(sw) Melchor
Frozen bottom bolt? Step one: Soak with penetrating oil. Step two: Air hammer/chisel the bolt loose with the nut partially on to protect the threads. Then, get a punch and drive it out. It sucks! You may have to use the air hammer in creative ways to work the bolt back and forth, and you can even hammer against the square end of the bolt. (Beating HARD with a sledge hammer and punch wouldn't work for me, but the "rattle" of the air hammer worked great) My bolt was ruined by the time I got it out so I ended up making a bolt out of all thread, some scrap metal, and a flange head nut. I cut the all thread to length, then drilled a hole in a square piece of scrape metal resembling the original bolt square end. I then stuck the tip of the all thread through the hole in the square piece I made and welded it to function just like the original bolt. Continue the repair according to this video. Note: If you don't have access to air tools, just slice the bottom of the alternator where the bolt goes through with an electric cut off wheel/dremel. You can always sawzall through both sides of the bolt between the bracket ears, keeping your cut on the junk alternator rather than the bracket. I also had steering rack lines where he dropped it out in this video. I found it easier to unbolt the brake master cylinder from the firewall and bungy it out of the way, and take it out the top.
I subscribed a long time ago, and I am a fan of Peter Finn. HowEVER, I must say that I marvel at his sometimes cumbersome methods. ; ] I'm stubborn, and I like to do things myself if possible, but I'm also pretty sure I would have fully removed the plastic shroud for ease of access. ; ] A couple of extra fasteners taken out on that would have made it much easier to get to that pivot bolt. Using a ratchet is pointless if not impossible if you can only get 3 degrees of rotation with it. Ha!
I got everything disconnected, but when I try to drop it down, there is no hole big enough for me to drop it down, let alone as easily as you have done it. What did you take out before you dropped it down?
Hello. It was difficult also to me take out alternator. Please rotate the alternator like Rubik cube and it drops out suddenly. And next you could take some photos or videos and I learn what parts you need to disassemble next.
Peter Finn Turns out our alternator mount is on a different part of the engine than yours. I had to take that out before I could get the alternator out of the car.
A good idea would be in the description the tools you used to do the job. I heard you say a 10mm wrench but it would be nice to have a printed list to go by.
👽after 4hours of buggaring around trying to pull it from top I moved the loose alternator out of the way, removed mounting bracket from block and the alternator was out in 2 minutes, replace took 15 minutes
I can not get the belt back on, it's like it's too short. I have the alternator inserted as far as possible. It is literally touching the engine. I don't get it the belt was just on there for months now it's acting like it 1/4 too short.
It is a nightmare. Location is very tight. And if you live in the rust belt like I do, forget about simply spinning the nut off and pushing the pivot bolt out.
Thank you for your patience in making this video of a difficult job. I'm still contemplating helping a neighbor change their alternator and this video certainly helped set some expectations.
Yes, it was quite complex job. :-)
Definitely most through video on how to change an alternator for these years. Most do not show how to do the work. Eastern European accent very informative.
Thank You for feedback. Best Regards Peter
This has got to be the most detailed and thorough video of how to replace a civic alternator. And I have watched a crap-ton of them to prepare me for doing it myself to my son's 98 EX model. I don't know why, but these videos always make it look much easier than how it sometimes is. It took me almost 3 hours to complete this same job. But I found some of the other components to be a bit more difficult to work around. For one, it was IMPOSSIBLE for me to remove it from the bottom, due to the front drive shaft being in the way. I had to finagle it up through the top, where I left a substantial amount of knuckle meat. Also, the new alternator would not fit in the bracket where the large bolt goes until I filed it down a bit. I finished the job, but it kicked my ass. In retrospect, I would have rather paid some other fool to do it for me.
Thanks for comment. :-)
I have a 1998 Civic LX 4-door whose alternator needs to be replaced. Autozone ran a test on it and it said the diodes inside the alternator have gone bad. I read in another video's comment section that someone took their 1998 Civic's driver side wheel off and passed the alternator through where the splash guard would normally be. Taking it through the top does indeed look like a tight fit and I really don't want to remove the power steering line to do this job. The guy at Autozone also recommended going through the driver's side wheel location.
Good luck. I removed the driver's side tire and removed the splash guard and tried every which way but could not find a gap large enough through which to pull out the alternator underneath. I had no other choice but to pull out through the top. It required removal of a bracket and some wiring temporarily but I got it out.
I looked it over this morning and it appears it can be done from the top, if I remove the power steering hose and surrounding electrical wiring. The 1998 EX and LX models should be identical in this regard, so if you got it out, I should be able to as well. It's definitely a job for work gloves. Thanks for getting back to me!
I would agree that they should be identical, but strangely enough, I did not have to remove any power steering line at all.
Just did this job on my 93 DX and this video was fantastic! Took some finagling to drop the alternator out since on the DX the axle is in the way, but removing the alternator mount did the trick perfect. No way I could have done this without your very thorough walk through! Thanks!
Glad it helped!
9years later i am here thanking you for this video DR😊
So nice of you
I could not drop the alternator out of the bottom of my 1995 Civic, So I instead took off the mount that the very long bolt goes through, this left me enough room to easily remove the alternator through the driver wheel well.
Thanks for comment my Friend. :-)
10 years later and this video is saving my ass, thank you so much!!!! I appreciate it infinitely!
Have fun!
This is a pretty and painstaking job...a lot of patience and time needed. Nice job
Yes, a lot of patience and Honda's service is Ok. Toyota is much more easy to service.
This helped me a lot. I liked how I got to see each step. I can see you need to take your time and it is only difficult because there is not room to move. Thank you
Kyra Prashaw Thanks for comment.
Was going to pay a shop to do this but watching you take your time step by step. I will go ahead and do it. I just wasn't sure of how to remove it either from the top or bottom and you demonstrate exactly how to do it. Thanks.
Hello. I suppose, that the only way is by bottom route.
You and "Eric the car guy" are my favorite mechanics. You both teach shortcuts, but do the job right :)
Thanks. Eric is cool guy too. :-)
You deserve a nice shop, it must be very difficult working outdoors on cars.
Very detailed! Saved me a lot of time. Thanks for the video!
Drink for every time he says alternator! Thanks for vid.
Thank you for being so thorough. I will be doing this tomorrow on my 2000 HX. Of course I'll be having to work with the power steering hose in the way. The copper wire is a great idea....I'm by myself and that will definitely help out. Wish me luck and thanks for the great video. You really helped me understand what I'll be doing. I'm very appreciative.
Thank for feedback. :-)
Peter found the video you need, very grateful, once again congratulation
The alternator on my 91 Civic with 200k finally went out. Did not know where to begin with the tight space. Thanks for this video.
👍😊
@@PeterFinnTheCarDoctor Ended up taking it out the bottom. Had to remove the left drive shaft/axle but since I have a lift that was easier than all the torment in working from the top. Thanks again.
Good video sir and I am on the last step on getting my alternator out. Its just hanging in there and when you used that tool it popped right out so I will try that tomorrow and see how it goes. Thanks for the video!
Thanks. :-)
My nephews alternator went and this video helped me ... Thanks comrade
Hi and thanks for your comment. :-)
Peter Finn has the best videos! Ive done so much to my del sol because of your videos man
Thank for info. :-)
thankyou for this video. It really helps. i would've had a very difficult time figuring this out on my own.
Thanks for comment.
thank you for your video, helped me fix my moms civic. cheers
+Huebert Farnsworth Many Thanks for comment. :-)
You the man Peter I was trying to take my alternator out but it was a tight space but you helped me out a lot thanks man
Good comment and Thanks ! 👍😀
Thanks for the video the computer at autozone said I need a new voltage regulator which is in the alternator they said, I'm going to attempt this job myself since I need to rotate my tires anyways, some dude on craigslist wanted $200 to do the job which seems kinda reasonable but I'm gonna try it myself
Best video on t he subject matter, thanks brother!
Excellent video. Very detailed. And you provided tips and tricks for us weekend mechanics.
Thank You. Good tips and tricks are always welcome.
Well done detailed video. This is not the easiest alternator to remove. On some civics there is a plastic dust or rock shield on the bottom front of the engine bay that would have to be removed to drop the alternator down to the ground. Thank you sir.
kevin Tucker Yes, Honda is little more complex to service than Toyota. Toyota is the Best.
Peter thanks, just replaced alternator to my 88 CRX si. Second time I have replaced it. First time I removed it upwards, releasing brake master cylinder to provide enough space, not a good idea. Now I followed your procedure and it was easier and less risks.
Magic Man Thank You.
Thank You Peter! Excellent video
Many thanks!
I didn't have as much space as you did behind the engine area. I removed the alternator mount off to take it out the wheel area. It's only two bolts for the mount. I also removed the oil filter to have more space.
Thank You for comment. :-)
I just did one, very similar. It did not have enough room to come out the bottom. I found loosening the two studs that hold the master cylinder to the firewall gave me just enough rock to carefully manuver the alternator out of the top. It does require you to get some of the wire connector brackets out of the way.
Hi, hard job ! :-)
Great, detailed video. Thank you so much!
Jolie Olsen Thanks.
Thanks a lot!! This video is quite helpful!!! I try to maintain my vehicle by myself.
Make more like this ;)
Ok and Thanks. :-)
Great video man helps so much
Thank You for feedback. :-)
Great job considering the tools that you have. Thanks a lot now will do with my air tools and ratcheting wrenches and do it in forty minutes. Thanks V/R NC1(sw) Melchor
arenaseparabe Thank you!
the way this dude say open and downstairs...... lol. great vid tho. very helpful
Hi and thanks for comment. :-)
thank you for your time Peter Finn
Thanks :-)
Helpfully video thanks now to go practice on a honda at the junkyard
Good
I watched the whole thing. I think it is a good video.
Good and many Thanks Sir. :-)
wow really really great video it was amazing how you did it it was step by step and really understandable great job. can you do a water pump video
Yes and Thanks for comment. :-)
Frozen bottom bolt? Step one: Soak with penetrating oil. Step two: Air hammer/chisel the bolt loose with the nut partially on to protect the threads. Then, get a punch and drive it out. It sucks! You may have to use the air hammer in creative ways to work the bolt back and forth, and you can even hammer against the square end of the bolt. (Beating HARD with a sledge hammer and punch wouldn't work for me, but the "rattle" of the air hammer worked great) My bolt was ruined by the time I got it out so I ended up making a bolt out of all thread, some scrap metal, and a flange head nut. I cut the all thread to length, then drilled a hole in a square piece of scrape metal resembling the original bolt square end. I then stuck the tip of the all thread through the hole in the square piece I made and welded it to function just like the original bolt. Continue the repair according to this video. Note: If you don't have access to air tools, just slice the bottom of the alternator where the bolt goes through with an electric cut off wheel/dremel. You can always sawzall through both sides of the bolt between the bracket ears, keeping your cut on the junk alternator rather than the bracket. I also had steering rack lines where he dropped it out in this video. I found it easier to unbolt the brake master cylinder from the firewall and bungy it out of the way, and take it out the top.
I subscribed a long time ago, and I am a fan of Peter Finn. HowEVER, I must say that I marvel at his sometimes cumbersome methods. ; ] I'm stubborn, and I like to do things myself if possible, but I'm also pretty sure I would have fully removed the plastic shroud for ease of access. ; ] A couple of extra fasteners taken out on that would have made it much easier to get to that pivot bolt. Using a ratchet is pointless if not impossible if you can only get 3 degrees of rotation with it. Ha!
+theoriginalbillholt Thanks you feedback ! :-)
Peter Finn
You're welcome, and you rock, Peter Finn!
very in-depth video. A+ for effort and clarity, could use some fast forward editing tho
Gene Clarke Thank You for comment.
Gene Clarke just go 2x i learned a lot quick
I got everything disconnected, but when I try to drop it down, there is no hole big enough for me to drop it down, let alone as easily as you have done it. What did you take out before you dropped it down?
Hello. It was difficult also to me take out alternator. Please rotate the alternator like Rubik cube and it drops out suddenly. And next you could take some photos or videos and I learn what parts you need to disassemble next.
Peter Finn Turns out our alternator mount is on a different part of the engine than yours. I had to take that out before I could get the alternator out of the car.
tnx peter!
Many thanks! I just pulled on that unfortunate squeaky belt :D
Glad it helped!
Thank you so much
+tonytigeer Thanks your comment. :-)
Thank you man. Great video. You helped me to save money. 👍
Greetings from Costa Rica.
great accent excellent for my diy
Hello, and many thanks for your comment. :-)
A good idea would be in the description the tools you used to do the job. I heard you say a 10mm wrench but it would be nice to have a printed list to go by.
Yes, good idea ! :-)
Or dont expect everybody to do everything for you and just watch the video and get the tools ya lazy bum
Best part is Khabib is showing you how to do it.
Good Comment 👍👍👍
hi I have a 1991 Honda Civic DX hatchback with 21,000 original miles, what model of civic are you working on here??
This is 1994 and sedan
Brandon Huntsinger this is the exact car I'm doing it on this afternoon. I love the car but the engine bay is so congested. Not looking forward to it.
I have a 1993 honda civic. Do you have more videos for this car? mine needs a lot of work.
Hello, I have some videos.
thankyou
I have 2005 honda hybrid how can I replace alternator thank you for your help
Hi, I need to do new video.
The alternator belt how did you take it off mine is behind another belt
Noted 👍
Nice
Thanks
👽after 4hours of buggaring around trying to pull it from top I moved the loose alternator out of the way, removed mounting bracket from block and the alternator was out in 2 minutes, replace took 15 minutes
Thank You my Friend. :-)
I can not get the belt back on, it's like it's too short. I have the alternator inserted as far as possible. It is literally touching the engine. I don't get it the belt was just on there for months now it's acting like it 1/4 too short.
Pry bar it back more.
thx peter
Thank you.
Lol now the bolt open I'm weak 🤣 😂 😭 💀 😅 😩 🤣 😂 😭 💀
👍
in 2004 alternator is in completely different place it's in the front under the power steering pump
+Andriy Muts Hi and Thanks for feedback. :-)
Bearing code please for 2000 civic.. thx
Please wait
I had a heart attack watching this
Thanks, please take some Nitros and continue watching... ;-)
Minus cable LOL :)
Thank you!😀
Move master cylinder
Unhook power steer line
Easy
2bolts
Be careful not to kink lines
Bring out thru top
Easy
Thats it
Just did it
Thanks 👍
great video but it looks like a nightmare
BIGG91732 Thanks for nightmare info. You you see something afraid.
It is a nightmare. Location is very tight. And if you live in the rust belt like I do, forget about simply spinning the nut off and pushing the pivot bolt out.
Blast it with PB Blaster and Kano Kroil penetrating oil a few days before and a few hours before removal to give yourself a fighting chance.
Task#1 -remove the minus cable away
Task#2- remove that piece of water pipe ????
Yes
Two of the wires from the alternator connector broke when I was changing it out now my car won't start 😭
Yes, repair those wires
So painful to watch!!
Thanks for comment. 👍
Whew power tools must save at least 25 minutes off this job
Thank You. 👍
Honda failed on this one. Such a waste of time design. Toyota does alternator placement much better✅
I have read your message, Thank you 😀👍 Please Join my member.