1988 Civic Alternator Removal - Help!

[sfong33]

I have managed to get the alternator on my 1988 Civic off of the alternator bracket, but am having problems actually getting the alternator out of the car. Space is very tight . It looks like it can only be removed from the bottom. Does the axle have to come off (I hope not) or is it just a matter of removing the alternator bracket? Any help is greatly appreciated.

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[oopsracing19]

alright man this is goin to bee kinda difficult to do but take off the alt bracket and take the alternator around the back of the engine between the fire wall and the engine. u may have to take off a coolant hose but from there if u can you should be able to move hoses/lines/wires around to get it out if that dont work post it by 3pm central (nebraska) time today and let me know if it works. ok? good luck

[oopsracing19]

also what is the engine size?

[sfong33]

GIT-R-DUN:

I am blocked off at the rear by the braking system components. Can't see the space that you are referring to that I can route the alternator through.
It is a 1.5 liter motor if that helps. Thanks for your replies.

[CivicHatch9one]

i used to bring it to the left side of the motor and pull it up from the top. or remove the axle. good luck... its easier without the stock airbox for the first method...

[oopsracing19]

you are going to have to route it down lower i do agree that it is easier without the stock air intake. but you should when u get it behind the engine slide right under the intake

[oopsracing19]

civichatch9one has the same idea i do cuz it will come out the left (passenger) side if pulled from the top

[oopsracing19]

what is the sub model? None, 1500 dx, dx, lx, se, 4wd?

[CivicHatch9one]

Originally Posted by oopsracing19

civichatch9one has the same idea i do cuz it will come out the left (passenger) side if pulled from the top

yup! (pete btw) and yea thats the way i did it after the first axle removal. its so much easier. but i might have to take out my motor to put my new one in. due to b18. i havnt touched my hatch in a while

[sfong33]

This is a 1.5 DX Wagon with A/C (don't think having A/C makes a difference). I am away for the weekend, but will try sliding it over to the passenger side of the engine bay. Just glad to hear that I don't have to remove the axle (not something I feel comfortable doing). Thanks to all who have replied so far. FWIW, I made a few phone calls and the dealer quoted me 1.8 hours of labor plus the cost of the alternator, which came out to almost $500. Even the local mechanic said he would charge $390. I'm sure they can remove it in way less time than the "book hours" quote. Thank goodness for these forums. You guys are the best!

[sfong33]

Update: managed to get it out up through the middle of the engine along the firewall. Took a LOT longer to do the swap than I anticipated. Some of the bolts were a real pain to get off (having the proper tools makes the job so much easier. I was using a cheap socket/wrench set from Target and just couldn't get enough torque to loosen 2 of the bolts). Also, because I cut the alternator belt off (it was worn anyway, but the main reason was that I couldn't get the adjuster bolt loose), I had to also remove the A/C belt. This involved more research and borrowing a proper wrench set. The remanufactured unit seems to be working great. Now, it seems that I might need new axles. Crap.

[oopsracing19]

the axles arent going to be as hard as the alt. i will tell you that

[CivicHatch9one]

true story