Short note to share my experience with alternator on our 2004 EXL (207K miles). Replaced brushes, but they would have gone another 100K miles.
We are parents of a college freshman and a high school senior, so I am hoping to get another 100K miles or more out of our 2004 Ody. With that in mind I decided on a list of maintenance items, one of which was to replace the brushes in the alternator. I was replacing the timing belt, drive belts and water pump, so I thought the alternator would be accessible -- and with an 1991 Accord I had the experience of checking the alternator brushes at about this mileage only to find them almost gone.
Two observations: 1) Removal of the alternator is not so easy without removing other items, AND 2) If my experience is general, we have alternator brushes designed for about 300,000 miles. Because I had the brush pack (about $10), I put it in, but there was a lot of life left in the old brushes. I never fully removed the alternator from the engine bay, but removed the back cover and replace d the brush assembly "in place".
Happy motoring !
Mariner4
We are parents of a college freshman and a high school senior, so I am hoping to get another 100K miles or more out of our 2004 Ody. With that in mind I decided on a list of maintenance items, one of which was to replace the brushes in the alternator. I was replacing the timing belt, drive belts and water pump, so I thought the alternator would be accessible -- and with an 1991 Accord I had the experience of checking the alternator brushes at about this mileage only to find them almost gone.
Two observations: 1) Removal of the alternator is not so easy without removing other items, AND 2) If my experience is general, we have alternator brushes designed for about 300,000 miles. Because I had the brush pack (about $10), I put it in, but there was a lot of life left in the old brushes. I never fully removed the alternator from the engine bay, but removed the back cover and replace d the brush assembly "in place".
Happy motoring !
Mariner4