After nearly 390,000 miles, my original alternator finally seized. I started the car for the first time in a few weeks today, and the seized alternator pulley snapped my belt (which was also 2009 original, so it was long overdue!)

I have a used alternator on the way already, but I'm a little stumped on how to remove the old one. The top bolt looks easy, but the bottom bolt seems inaccessible. Are there any tricks to replacing it? I've got basic Craftsman hand tools to work with, as well as a moderate amount of experience (just not much with this car... CB Accords are my thing.)

I haven't found much info online. One thing said that the intake manifold has to come off (which I'm not too keen on doing).

Advice would be greatly appreciated! I just quit my job to go back to school, so I'd REALLY like to do this myself, rather than using my quickly dwindling savings to pay a pro to do it for me!

 

If your concern is that bottom pivot bolt, yeah you need wobble extensions for your ratchet to put any torque on it. Straight sets won't work.

You can get either impact type or regular.

3 Piece 1/2" Drive Impact Wobble Socket Extension Set


These are some of the most-used tools in my toolbox.

 

Awesome. Thanks!
A friend of mine provided a diagram showing how to get at the lower bolt (I didn't realize that it went in the other direction from the upper bolt). Looks like I'll just need to shell out a few bucks for some of those, and I'll be good to go!

 

Is the engine still running with the original timing chain?

 

Yep.

Honestly the only things I've changed on the car are:
Oil/Filter (roughly every 10,000 miles, using Shell full synthetic)
Air filter (probably 4-5 times now)
Headlight/Taillight bulbs (twice each)
Tires (I'm probably on my 6th set now... I prefer General Altimax HP, or whatever has replaced them.)
Brakes (Rotors 3 times, Pads 6 times, Shoes once)
Front shocks (once, with used OEM shocks bought from a FitFreak member)
Clutch and Flywheel (3 times, always OEM Daikin... and they always drop a hub spring)
Shifter mechanism (once... not sure if there's a proper name for it, but that's what Honda told me they were replacing for $1000.)
Transmission fluid (3 times... each time the clutch was done.)
AC compressor (twice, it needs to be replaced again)
Blower motor (twice, it also needs to be replaced again)
Spark plugs (twice. first time at 188k miles)
O2 sensors (once each.)
Battery (once)
Radio faceplate (once. volume knob was acting up... it's doing it again.)
I took it in for the VTEC spring recall, and had a valve adjustment done at the same time (that was well before 200,000 miles, I believe.)
And I added the iPod connector (base model didn't come with it.)
Also added a shift knob that I got as a gift from my friend for being in his wedding.



That's it. Everything else is 100% original. Honestly, this car is lasting a good deal longer than I expected! Once I hit 300,000 miles, I pretty much figured it had run its course. It's dinged and dented like crazy, due to idiot NJ drivers (and 95% of my driving has been in NJ.) Most of it was never repaired because I didn't want my insurance company learning how many miles are on the car!

 

It is more or less 640.000 Km, Well Done!

I believe mine will rust completely before I reach the 250.000 Km.

 

I'm amazed that mine isn't rustier... though everything under the hood is pretty gross. The hood and roof have a number of rock chips that are starting to rust (I was good about hitting them with paint right away... but I stopped caring.)

I'll probably be selling or trading it in favor of a 1st gen Miata at some point, when I no longer need it for work. It's been a great car, but when you've been in that seat for nearly 400,000 miles, it's time for a change!

Aside from the clutch, AC, and blower motor failing numerous times (I assume due to prolonged periods at 4,000 RPM), this thing has been a treasure. Paid $15,200 for it on September 26th, 2008. One of the first 2nd gens in the area. I had considered other brands, but I'm a Honda guy at heart... and I couldn't have asked for a better car. This car has paid for itself MANY times over!

 

In my case the body will rust before the engine will look gross

 

I managed to get the "new" alternator installed last Friday. I was a little scared that I'd damage an AC line, but I was able to squeeze the alternators by it without too much trouble. I didn't even need the wobble extensions! Though they did make it easier to remove the bolts once they started to back out, so I'm really glad I got them.

I still have to get a belt for it. I'll probably pick one up at Advance Auto sometime this week (30% off coupons for online orders are almost always available, and picking up in the store results in no shipping costs... makes most things very affordable!)
I'm going to have to flip through my manual to see if there's a diagram and instructions for working the tensioner.

Thanks for all the help, everyone!


Here's the two alternators side by side:

 

How much did the restored alternator cost?
Did you have to hand in the old one?

 

It wasn't restored, just used. I believe it was a junkyard part. It must've had few miles on it, though, because it looked quite good!
I got it on eBay for $35 shipped. In fact, the seller just emailed me this morning reminding me to leave feedback (which I'm holding off on doing until I install a belt... gotta make sure it works before I say I'm happy with it!)