97 Civic Hatch Electrical Upgrades??????

[snb778 5,000+ posts]

CAN A 97 CIVIC GET ELECTRICAL MODS?? ANYONE SEEN IT, OR DONE IT??

Hey guys... I'm serious about buying this 97 civic hatch that I found yesterday. I just went and drove it now, everything is great, runs great, and its in great condition.

My concern is that the battery in it is VERY small, and I don't know if I can get anything much bigger in there.. I already have an Optima Bluetop, but I don't think it will fit...

Also, the major concern is the ALternator, does anybody know if I can get a big alternator for this car, and if it take a ton of work to do it. I looked at it, and it seems like there is quite a bit of tearing stuff apart to even get to it... can't get to it from the bottom, at least it didnt appear so.

http://image.sportcompactcarweb.com/f/9344187/0407_01z+Honda_Civic+Engine_Bay_View.jpg

Here is a pic of the engine bay... you can see the batt is already almost touching where the struts for the suspension are bolted down, and the ALT is right under the decal on the intake pipe, and as you can see, there is a sheit ton of brake lines/whatever other steel lines right there

IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY INPUT, PLEASE LET ME KNOW...I WANT TO GET THIS CAR ASAP, BECAUSE IT WON'T BE AROUND FOR LONG!!

ill try to get a pic of the battery

Click to read more...

 

[joker4096 10+ year member]

you can easily get to the alternator from the bottom, if not it'll be a squeeze to get behind the intake manifold. you can get high output alt from several companies. just run a bigger battery in the back of the car

 

[grooverider 10+ year member]

hey we have the same year and same car.

just do the big 3, and you could throw an ex alternator in for now. we have 70a they have 90a. I have one laying around if you wanna pick it up.

I would reccomend a larger bat for the hatch, and then later on alternator

 

[snb778 5,000+ posts]

hey we have the same year and same car.
just do the big 3, and you could throw an ex alternator in for now. we have 70a they have 90a. I have one laying around if you wanna pick it up.

I would reccomend a larger bat for the hatch, and then later on alternator

yea but isnt the general rule go, "the batt in back is only as good as whats powering it....seems to make sence, no??

 

[cj407]

if you still running stock alt and throw in a bigger battery in the back....its just gonna put a strain on your alt causing it to prematurely burn out. so best bet is to do big 3...(quick and simple) then upgrade the alt then the back battery.

In that order you wont have a problem at all.

 

[cj407]

also if you take the air intake(whether it be the stock air box or new ram air intake) off you can pass the alternator thru that side of the intake and under into its stock location. removal of the oem one is just the opposite.

 

[blackdragonaudi 10+ year member]

Dued I use to have a 99 hatchback you are going to love yours. I use to have a 6 channel amp in mine and never had any problems than kept the 6 channel amp and got a alpine 500 watt amp everything was fine. if you are close to me say up to 3 hours close I will come help with whatever you need. Miss that car

 

[snb778 5,000+ posts]

Fellas, I know the proper way to do the upgrades, I just need to know if anybody has seen an upgraded ALT put into this car ANDDDDDDDDDDD a bigger battery....

GOTTA KNOW SOON.. car won't last another week!! FYI... Some of you are under the impression I have the car already, but I don't, im looking to buy it, BUT VERY SOON!!

 

[grooverider 10+ year member]

well i own the car, and im looking for the info too

 

[MTX520 10+ year member]

you can also remove some things in the hood to fit a bigger bat...i seen people do that specially on civic's

 

[grooverider 10+ year member]

Or you can mount it behind your passenger headlight.....

 

[snb778 5,000+ posts]

Or you can mount it behind your passenger headlight.....

yea but that would require to extend all your other battery cables...which seemed near impossible to do with my last car

 

[Pyro_By_Nature 5,000+ posts]

yea but isnt the general rule go, "the batt in back is only as good as whats powering it....seems to make sence, no??

If you're installing the set-up in your sig. you should be able to get by with a HC2400 or a Group 31 battery in the back with a 90a alt. You just won't be able to play your system for extended amounts of time.

 

[snb778 5,000+ posts]

sry guys, all bets are off... car sold.... soooooooo pissed

 

[grooverider 10+ year member]

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