Question about using a 92-95 Civic alternator in a 1988 Civic

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hondaman - 15 Oct 2005 17:38 GMT

my alternator is almost totally gone at times it quits charging then will
start charging again. i bought a nicely rebuilt alternator from Ebay for a
fraction of what auto parts stores charge. it's for a 92-95 civic though and
my civic is an old 1988 one. the 92-95 alternators are rated at 70amps the
88-91 civic alternators are rated at 60amps. i know already that they mount
up the same and even the 3 groove pulley doesnt matter because the 2 groove
belt on my civic with not slip using only 2 of the grooves on the different
alternator pulley. what i want to know is what effect the different
alternator would have on my engine. will it be overcharging by charging too
much at idle speed or will it go lower to what my engine requires and not
overcharging? if anyone has info or experience with this let me know.

thanks,
-jeff

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TeGGeR® - 15 Oct 2005 19:24 GMT

> my alternator is almost totally gone at times it quits charging then
> will start charging again.

Sounds like worn brushes. You can buy a new brush holder assembly for about
$25 at the dealer. You can get new bare brushes at a rebuilders for $5, but
you need to know how to solder.

> i bought a nicely rebuilt alternator from
> Ebay for a fraction of what auto parts stores charge. it's for a 92-95
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> will it go lower to what my engine requires and not overcharging? if
> anyone has info or experience with this let me know.

Go for it. There are no downsides to your wish. The alternator's internal
regulator will prevent overcharging.

The only question I'd have is whether or not your electrical connectors are
the same and have the same number of wires.

70 amps just means is that your new alternator has a greater capacity to
produce power than the old one did, even if you never end up using that
additional capacity.

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TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
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Jim Yanik - 15 Oct 2005 21:06 GMT

> 70 amps just means is that your new alternator has a greater capacity
> to produce power than the old one did, even if you never end up using
> that additional capacity.

It also means more load(probably not a big increase) on the engine,as you
don't get more power for nothing.

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Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

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TeGGeR® - 16 Oct 2005 00:57 GMT

>> 70 amps just means is that your new alternator has a greater capacity
>> to produce power than the old one did, even if you never end up using
>> that additional capacity.
>
> It also means more load(probably not a big increase) on the engine,as
> you don't get more power for nothing.

Yes, but you need to be using that power before it shows up as a load.

If your power draw is only 50A, you'll get the same load on the engine
whether the alternator is capable of supplying 60A or 70A.

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TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

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hondaman - 17 Oct 2005 02:25 GMT

the electrical plugs are the same to. i think it should be fine. i did it
once before with my 89 civic but it seemed like my engine got a case of the
rumbles while idling at red lights but i don't know if that was something
else doing that because i think it smoothed out over time. thanks for the
input though.

-jeff

>>> 70 amps just means is that your new alternator has a greater capacity
>>> to produce power than the old one did, even if you never end up using
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> If your power draw is only 50A, you'll get the same load on the engine
> whether the alternator is capable of supplying 60A or 70A.

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