Honda CR-V Alternator: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults
On the CR-V, a real money-saving story: a new alternator and belt didn't fix a whine — a known tensioner pulley was the actual cause.
Illustration for editorial purposes
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OEM Part Number: 31100-5PA-A01 (genuine alternator — confirm via VIN) — aftermarket alternators Bosch 0 986 082 410 / Denso DAN1326
| Alternators (aftermarket) | Denso DAN1326 (150 A, freewheel clutch pulley, 7 ribs, 65 mm, new, OE quality); Denso DAN1370 (105 A, rigid multi-rib pulley, 6 ribs, 60 mm, new, OE quality); Bosch 0 986 082 410 (105 A, rigid multi-rib pulley, 7 ribs, 60 mm, reman exchange, PL60 plug, double pivot mounting, excludes vacuum pump, core charge GBP 23.10); AS-PL A6566S (150 A, freewheel clutch pulley, 7 ribs, 65 mm, new, PL_1000 plug); AS-PL A6667S (150 A, freewheel clutch pulley, 7 ribs, 65 mm, new, PL_1000 plug); AS-PL A6413S (130 A, freewheel clutch pulley, 7 ribs, 65 mm, new, PL_4801 plug); AS-PL A6172 (105 A, rigid belt pulley, 7 ribs, 60 mm, new, PL_4001 plug); Ridex 4G1164 (150 A, freewheel clutch pulley, 7 ribs, 65 mm, new, excludes vacuum pump) |
|---|---|
| Outputs & variants | Confirm the amperage and pulley type against the old unit |
| Genuine (OE) numbers quoted | AS-PL A6566S quotes 104210-1650; AS-PL A6667S quotes 104211-8040; AS-PL A6413S quotes 104210-1150; AS-PL A6172 quotes 1042105370. |
| Fitment notes | Petrol and diesel CR-Vs take different alternators, so match the output and pulley to the engine; the 150 A diesel units come with 65 mm or 70 mm pulleys; Bosch and Ridex exchange units carry a refundable core charge; Bosch 0 986 082 410 and the Ridex units exclude engines with an alternator-driven vacuum pump; Casco CAL40430AS is a replacement for Denso original fitment only. |
A Genuinely Valuable, Real Money-Saving Story Worth Knowing — Honda CR-V Alternator
If you've already replaced the alternator and the drive belt but a whine persists, this is genuinely worth knowing before assuming the new alternator is faulty: one documented case on a related Honda model saw exactly this happen, with the actual cause eventually identified as the auxiliary belt tensioner pulley — a known failure point separate from the alternator itself. The pulley alone was sourced cheaply and fitted, resolving the whine completely.
It's also worth knowing that alternator whine is sometimes confused with a genuinely different noise from a poor electrical connection heard through the audio system — if the whine changes pitch only when the stereo is on, this points toward a grounding issue entirely separate from the alternator.
Honda CR-V Alternator: Often Blamed on the Battery Instead
Because a weak Honda CR-V battery and a dying alternator both cause dim lights, slow starts and charge that won't hold, it's an easy mistake to replace the wrong one first. That mix-up sends plenty of people back to the garage a few weeks later, the real fault still there.
Honda CR-V Alternator: Watch: Replacing It
2.4 petrol, US-market car
Honda CR-V Alternator: What It Does
Every time the Honda CR-V's engine runs, the alternator is generating the electricity that charges the battery and directly feeds the electrical systems. A properly working alternator leaves the battery mostly responsible for engine starts and short demand spikes — not for running the electronics unaided.
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Honda CR-V Alternator: Warning Signs, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice
These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Alternator Guide for symptoms to watch for (plus a genuinely useful two-minute test to confirm it's not the battery instead), confirming the right amperage and fitment against your VIN, and which brands are worth trusting.
More Honda Alternator
The same part, covered across other Honda models.