Honda HR-V Alternator: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults
On the HR-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-R1A-A01 (genuine alternator — confirm via VIN) — aftermarket alternators Bosch 0 986 086 650 / Denso DAN1326
| Alternators (aftermarket) | Bosch 0 986 086 650 (105 A, rigid multi-rib pulley, 6 ribs, 57.5 mm, reman exchange, plug 205, double pivot mounting, 175 mm long, excludes vacuum pump, core charge GBP 23.30); Bosch 1 986 A01 498 (150 A, freewheel clutch pulley, 7 ribs, 65 mm, new, plug 205, double pivot mounting, excludes vacuum pump); Denso DAN1326 (150 A, freewheel clutch pulley, 7 ribs, 65 mm, new, OE quality); Hella 8EL 015 630-821 (150 A, freewheel clutch pulley, 7 ribs, 65 mm, new, qualified fitting advised); AS-PL A5646S (105 A, freewheel clutch pulley, 6 ribs, 57 mm, new, PL_1300 plug); AS-PL A5500S (105 A, rigid belt pulley, 6 ribs, 57 mm, new, PL_1000 plug); AS-PL A6667S (150 A, freewheel clutch pulley, 7 ribs, 65 mm, new, PL_1000 plug); Ridex 4G1164 (150 A, freewheel clutch pulley, 7 ribs, 65 mm, new, excludes vacuum pump). |
|---|---|
| Outputs & variants | a 135 A seven-rib 58 mm version covers some 1.8 cars. |
| Genuine (OE) numbers quoted | AS-PL A5646S quotes A5TZ0081A; AS-PL A5500S quotes A5TZ0391; AS-PL A6667S quotes 104211-8040. |
| Fitment notes | Check whether the original 105 A petrol alternator has a freewheel or rigid pulley before ordering, because both are offered; the diesel 150 A unit is a different, larger alternator; Bosch, Ridex and Walker exchange units carry a refundable core charge; Bosch units exclude engines with an alternator-driven vacuum pump and Bosch recommends renewing the belt. |
A Genuinely Valuable, Real Money-Saving Story Worth Knowing — Honda HR-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 HR-V Alternator: Often Blamed on the Battery Instead
Because a weak Honda HR-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 HR-V Alternator: Watch: Replacing It
2nd-gen HR-V; an alternative covers 2019-2023 facelift (EW4fQtJn3EE)
Honda HR-V Alternator: What It Does
Every time the Honda HR-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 HR-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.