1996 HONDA CIVIC 1 page

Charging System
Troubleshooting
lf the charging system light does not come onthe order listed below:
1. Baftery (see page 23-91)
2. Charging system light
3. Voltage
4. Alternator control system (USA)
5. Alternator/regulator
Charging Systom Light Test
or does not go off, or the battery is dead or low, test the following items in
ALTERNATOR 4P CONNECTORIUSA)
Wire side offemale terminals
IG(8LK/YEL}
ALTERNATOR 3P CONNECTORlC.nadal
Wre side oftemale terminals
[ ]: Canada
23-114
Charging Svstem Light Check-l :lvlake sure the charging systemlight comes on.
Check for a blown No. 15 t7.5 A)fuso .nd a blown charging sys-tom light bulb. ll the fuse .ndbulb .re OK, ropair the open inth6 WHT/BLU wi16.
Does the charging systemlight come on?
Charging System Light Chec*-2:Start the enoine.
Does the charging systemlight go off?
Volta96 ChecklMeaslre the voltage at the No. 1lNo. 2l terminal of the 4P [3Plcon-nector with the ignition switch ONflr).
R6p.ir the op6n in the BLK/YELwire b€twsen tho altornator andund€r-dash tuso/.glay box.
ls there battery voltage?

-
Wire side offemale terminals
LtwHT/8LUl
ALTERNATOR 3P CONNECTOR
lCanada)
Wire side oftemale terminals
LIWHT/BLUI
L
{W}IT/BLU)
.+1lr l2l
l3T.l-l-
ir/
(WHT/BLUI
(cont'd)
23-115
{From previous page)
Check tor an open in tho L cir'
cuit-1:1. Turn the ignition switch OFF
2. Disconnect the 4P [3Pl con-
nector from the alternator.
3. Ground the No. 3 terminal of
the 4P l3Plconnector.4. Turn the ignition switch ON (ll)
Turn the ignition swhch OFF, and
rep.ir tho open in tho wHT/
BLU wire.
Does the charging system
light come on?
Check for an open in the L cir-
cuit-2:Disconnect the No 3 terminal o{
the 4P [3PI connector from theground.
Does the charging system
light go off.r
Turn lhe ignition 3whch OFF, and
.epair the 3hort to gtound in the
wHT/Bl-U wire.
ALTERNATOR 4P CONNECTOR(USAI
r?-rl1l2l
FFI
]--
I
I l: canada

Charging System
Troubleshooting (cont'd)
Alt6rnator/Regulator Test
NOTE: Make sure the baftery is sufficiently charged (see page 23-9j).
FIELDSELECTOR
LOAD AOJUSTER{CARAON PILEI
FULL FIELOTESTERLEAD IBLUI
VOLTMETERNEGATIVELEAD IBLKI
VOLTMETERPOStTtVELEAD (REDI
NEGATIVE TESTERCABLE IBLKI
POSITIVE TESTERCABLE IREDI
TEST SELECTORswrTcH
INDUCTIVEPICK-UP
IGRNI
INDUCNVEPICK.UP
TIVETEBMINAL
Alte.nator/Regulator Test'1 :L Connect a Sun VAT 40 (orequivalent tester), and tu rnthe selector sw;tch to position1(staning).2. Shift to neutral (A/T in E orE) position, and start theengine. Hold the engine at3,000 rpm with no load untilthe radiator fan comes on,then let it idle.3. Raise the engine speed to2,000 rpm, and hold it there.
ls the voltage over 15.1 V?
Alternalor/Regulator Te3t-2:1. Release the accelerator pedal,and let the engine idle.2. Make sure all accessories areturned ofi. Turn the selectorswitch to position 2 (charging).3. Bemove the inductive pick-up,and zero the ammeter,4. Place the inductive pick-upover the battery ground cableso that the arrow points to thebattery negatlve terminal.5. Raise the engine speed to2,000 rpm, and hold it there.
ls the voltage less than 13.5 V?
Alternator/Regulator Test-3:Apply a load with a VAT-40 untilthe battery voltage drops tobetween 12 - 13.5 V.
tffil rCI
[ @lBt* . ,*n 'aHrl
L-;-;l rs-
23-11A
To next page

The charging system is OK.ls the amperage 50 A or more?
Alternator/Regulator Test-4:
With the engine sPeed still at
2,000 rpm, fulltieid the alternator.
J
From previous page
CAUTION: The voltage will rise quickly when the allGrnator is flll-fielded Do not ellow
the vollage to exceed 18 V; il may damage the electrical syslem
NOTE: Attach a probe to a VAT 40 full field test lead, and insert the probe into the full field
access hole at the back of the alternator' Switch the field selector to the "A (GroLrnd)" posi
tion momentarilV, and check the amperage readlng
23-119

Charging System
Alternator Replacement
NOTE: Remove the alternator from below the vehicle.
'1. Make sure you have the anti-theft code for theradio, then write down the frequencies for theradio's preset buttons ('99 - 00 models).
2. Remove the battery negative cable, then disconnectthe positive cable.
3. Disconnect the 4P (or 3P) connector from the alter-naIor.
TERMINAL NUT7.85 N.m (0.8 kgf.m, 5.79lbf.ftl
{ }: Cansd.
4. Remove the terminal
the B terminal.
nut and the WHT wire from
23-120
5. Remove the adjusting bolt and through bolt nut,then remove the alternator belt from the Dullev.
UPPER MOUNTBRACKET BOLT44 N.m 14.5 kgt.m, 33 lbl.ftlALTERNATORAD.'USTING BOLT24 N.rh l2.a kgf.m, 17 lbtft)
ALTERNATORBOLT
a4 N.m 14.5 kstm.33lbf'ftl
LOWER MOUNTBRACKET BOLTSa4 N.m l{.5 kgf.m,33lbfft)
Pull out the alternator through bolt, then removethe alternator.
lf necessary, remove the mount bracket bolts. andthe upper and lower mount brackets
Adjust the alternator belt tension after installation(see page 23-125).
Enter the anti-theft code for the radio, then enter thecustomer's radio station presets ('99 - 00 models).
7.

JRotor Slip Ring Test
1. Check the resistance betlveen the slip rings
There should be 1 8 - 3 0 ohms
. lf resistance meets the specification, go to step 2.
. lf resistance does not meet the specification,
reolace the alternator'
SLIP BINGS
2. Check that there is no continuity between the slip
rings and the rotor or rotor shaft.
3. lf the rotor fails either continuity check, replace the
alternator.
Stator Test
'1. Check that there is continuity between each pair of
leads.
CORE
Check that there is no continuity between each lead
and the coil core.
lf the coil fails either continuity check, replace the
alternator.
ROTOR SHAFT
LEADS
1.
Alternator Brush InsPection
Separate the drive-end housing from the rear hous-
ing as described on page 23-121
Separate the rear housing from the stator/rectifier
assembly by removing the four screws and the ter-
minal nutfrom the rear housing {see page 23-121}
lvleasure the length of the brushes with vernrer
calrpers.
Alternator Brush Length:
O Standard {NEW} @ Service Limit
19.0 mm (0.75 in) 1 5.0 mm (0 20 in)
lf the brushes are less than the service limit, replace
them.
23-123

Gharging System
Rear Bearing Replacement
1. Pull offthe rear bearing,
. Make sure the tips of the bearing puller jaws arethin enough to fit between the bearing and theslip rings.
. Do not reuse the bearing.
SLIP RINGSBEARING PULLER
Use a hand press to install the new bearing. Applypressure only on the inner race to avoid damaging
the bearino.
REAB BEARING
23-124
Alternator Reassembly
1. Push the brushes in, then insert a pin or drill bit(about 1.8 mm diameter) to hold them there.
Heat the rear bearing seat in the rear housing asdescribed on page 23-121. After heating, continueimmediately with assembling before the rear bear-ing seat cools completely,
Put the rear housing/stator assembly and drive-endhousing/rotor assembly together. tighten the fourthrough bolts and pull out the pin.
REARSTATOR ASSEMBLY
After assembling the alternator, turn the pulley byhand to make sure the rotor rotates smoothlv andwithout noise.
BRUSHES
THROUGH BOLT
Iq
%*z
BRUSH AOCESS HOI."E

Fan Controls
Component Location Index
UNDER.HOOO
CONDENSER FAN RELAYTest, page 23-87
RADIATOR FAN RELAYTest, page 23 87
CONDENSERFAN MOTOR
TOR FAN MOTORRemoval, section 10
ENGINE COOLANTTEMPERATURE (ECTI
swtTcHRemoval, section 10Test, section l0
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23-126