Testing the alternator in your 1.6L Honda Civic, to see if it is bad (or not), can be accurately done with just a multimeter.
Not only that, testing it is easy and fast and in this tutorial, I'll show you how.
Contents of this tutorial:
You can find this tutorial in Spanish here: Cómo Probar El Alternador (1996-2000 1.6L Honda Civic) (at: autotecnico-online.com).
APPLIES TO: This tutorial applies to the following vehicles:
- 1.6L Honda Civic CX: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000.
- 1.6L Honda Civic DX: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000.
- 1.6L Honda Civic EX: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000.
- 1.6L Honda Civic LX: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000.
Symptoms Of A Bad Alternator
Since the alternator provides the electrical current that your Civic needs once it starts and charges the battery so that it's ready to crank the car the next time so when it fails, you'll notice one or several of the following symptoms:
- Charge light On: The charge light (or battery light) is shining nice and bright on your dashboard, letting you know there's a problem with the charging system.
- Dim headlights: When driving at night, the headlights seem unusually dim, a clear sign that the alternator isn't supplying enough power.
- Won't crank but starts with a jump: The engine won't crank on its own, but with a jump-start, your Honda starts up without any issues.
- Battery keeps dying: The battery constantly needs recharging or jump-starting. Even after starting, the vehicle only runs briefly before stalling.
- Lights flicker or dim intermittently: The headlights or interior lights fluctuate in brightness while driving, pointing to irregular alternator output.
- Unusual noises: A failing alternator might produce a whining or grinding sound due to worn bearings or internal components.
- Weak or dead battery: The battery becomes weak or drains completely, even if it's been replaced or charged recently.
Where To Buy A Brand New Alternator
You can buy a brand new alternator for what it will cost you to buy a rebuilt one at your local auto parts store.
Check out the links below and shop/compare and see for yourself:
Not sure if the above alternator and alternator belt fit you particular 1.6L Honda Civic? Don't worry, once you get to the site, they'll make sure the parts fit and if they don't they'll ask you about your Civic's specifics to find you the right parts.
TEST 1: Battery Voltage Test With Engine Running
This very first test will confirm that the alternator is either not working and thus not charging the battery or it is working and thus charging the battery.
We'll do this by simply checking the battery's voltage with your Civic's engine running and your multimeter set to Volts DC mode.
NOTE: For this test to be effective, the battery has to have enough of a charge to keep your Civic running for at least 5 to 10 minutes. So, if the battery is completely dead, charge it up.
These are the test steps:
- 1
Crank and start your Honda Civic.
- 2
Select Volts DC mode on your multimeter.
- 3
Connect the red multimeter test lead to the positive (+) battery terminal.
- 4
Connect the black multimeter test lead to the negative (-) battery terminal.
- 5
Your multimeter is gonna' register one of two possible readings:
1.) A steady 13.5 to 14.5 Volts DC.
2.) Or 12.5 Volts that will decrease the longer the engine stays running. - 6
Put an electrical load on the alternator to further confirm that it's either charging or not charging.
This can be very easily done by turning on every accessory possible (inside the vehicle). Turn on the A/C or heater on high, turn on the windshield wipers, turn on the headlights, turn on everything and anything that uses electricity inside and outside of the vehicle. - 7
Your multimeter will show you one of two things (as you turn on all of this stuff):
1.) The multimeter will register a nice and steady 13.5 to 14.5 Volts DC no matter what gets turned on.
2.) It will register 12.5 V DC and this voltage will decrease more and more as you turn on stuff inside your Honda vehicle.
OK, let's interpret your multimeter test results:
CASE 1: Your multimeter registered 13.5 to 14.5 Volts. This is good and it tells you that the alternator is working and is charging the battery and providing enough juice for the electrical needs of your Honda Civic.
No further testing is required, since this multimeter test result eliminates the alternator on your Honda Civic as bad.
CASE 2: Your multimeter registered a voltage that steadily dropped down to 9 Volts. This is a clear indication that your Honda Civic's alternator IS NOT charging the battery.
Replacing the alternator at this point usually solves around 90% of the No Charge conditions on any 1.6L Honda Civic around the world. That's right, you could stop testing here and say: ‘The alternator is fried’ and be done but..
I suggest two more easy tests to be absolutely sure it is bad. For the first test of the two, go to: TEST 2: Checking The Continuity Of The Bat (+) Cable.
