My car now has 204K miles, so I'm doing some preventative maintenance. One thing I'm thinking about replacing are the brushes in the alternator. The last time I replace brushes was on a Volvo. I did it without removing the alternator. Can it be done on a 2000 Accord? It looks like I can just remove a cable, a plug, and 3 nuts and the back cover should slide off. Once it's off, I just have to remove 2 screws to pull off the brush holder. Is it that simple or do I have to remove the alternator to replace brushes.

 

I think it would be easier to remove the alternator completely. I'm not too sure about volvos but it's only about 5-10 minutes to take out the alternator on a 2.3. And that will give you a lot more room to work with.

However, before you go through the trouble, test your alternator. I'm all for tinkering and maintenance once a car gets up there in miles but this may be something that's not necessary unless the alternator is starting to fail.

 

On the 5th gens it was just about that easy, the alt sat high on the engine and the back side of the alt was just looking you almost in the face.

Looking at the service manual for the 6th gen, it looks about the same. I'm just not as good with the set up on the 6th gen's to know if there is room to get to the back of the alt, it "looks like it" but I can't really tell.....I say go for

Take some pic's and make a small write up as you go.

 

Unless you enjoy the repair experience, I think you'll be disappointed at the cost/benefit ratio. Parts for alternator are expensive and unless you get OEM you may get same result as aftermarker rebuilt. Frankly, I like a low miles used alternator, but see below.

I've got the original alternator on my 94 Accord at 250k miles and 20 yrs, and recently had alternators fail on my 06 TSX and 03 MDX. Why? Who knows?

Point is, you are as liable to create a problem where none exists as prevent an unexpected failure.

good luck

 

Thanks guys. I did check the output on the alternator with a multi meter and it's fine. Putting out around 13.6v at idle. I did purchase the brush holder set, so I can slap them in whenever I began to see a drop in output. I'll definitely take some pictures when I do change them out. Since it's a manual transmission, I'll never be stuck with a dead battery as long as I can get it rolling.

 

"...you are as liable to create a problem where none exists as prevent an unexpected failure"

I like that, Texas. Very true.

 

You guys are right, I'm going to leave it alone, until I need to take action. BTW, it's putting out 14.5V at idle, I put my thumbs on the wrong keys.