BuzzTL

I need some help - I have a 2012 Acura TL and I think my alternator is going out. It started making this whirring/whining noise a couple of months ago when I was at idle and the charging system light came on. The problem went away until today, and now the noise and the light are back and staying. The noise sounds like it is coming from the alternator side of the engine compartment. With the car not running, the battery voltage is around 12.6VDC. When I crank the car, the battery voltage of course drops and then goes up to around 13.4 VDC.

Incidentally, I just had to pay $500 for a mechanic to replace the alternator on my Honda about two weeks ago, so I am thinking about the DIY route. The alternator looks easy to remove, but I don't want to attempt it without a guide or video. A preliminary search turned up nothing for a 4th gen. alternator replacement. Anyone here change one out before and could link a guide or video? I will take it to the mechanic tomorrow just to verify it's the alternator. I have changed an alternator before on a G35, so I have some repair experience. Any help/guidance is appreciated!

BuzzTL

Nevermind - took it to a shop and verified bad alternator. I found the TL service manual on this site and was able to replace based on that. It took me about 4 hours and was a major PIA.

Cooldude01

how many miles do you have on your car?
The car only 4 years old, it seems a little odd to have the alternator going out., in my opinion. But everyone use their cars differently.

BuzzTL

The car only has 56,000 miles - I was surprised too. The cause was a shorted diode which explained the whining noise and that I was getting some charge out of the alternator.

crxb

on my 09 my alternator didn't last 60 k miles

but extended warranty was still in effect and covered it

mossman77

Were you experiencing any other issues due to the low voltage? What is your voltage at idle now with the new alternator?

the_razor

I think I have a bad alternator too. Mine just started a whiny sound but was gone after an hour but when I open the hood i can hear a slight whiny sound.

Lee C

Link to TL service manual please

mrphilipanderson

I there any way you could give me a copy of teh service manual? Is it PDF format?
2012 ACura TL? Please?

SchaferB

HI.. I am trying to get a alternator out of a 2012 Acura TL...but looks like the only way is to remove the FAN motor Shroud. I have removed the two screws at the top..but can not figure how the bottom is attached.

Does anyone know>

Thanks

losiglow

iTrader: (1)

I haven't watched it all the way through but this might help:

Vanderjdm

That's crazy. I'm old enough to remember when an alternator was about the easiest thing to access and replace on a car.

JordanF

I feel like mine is going too, either that or the battery or both. I did get a low battery voltage warning from the dealer the last time I was there but I don't really trust them as I have had some issues with them. The Battery was perfect the previous time which was 2 months prior and then apparently at half life (12.7volts) the last time I was in which was about 2 months ago as well. I am getting a whirring/screeching sound on start up now that cold weather has started that only goes away after its warmed up and if I leave the car off for a few days it struggles to start up. If it is very cold and I leave it for more then a day it won't start at all and needs to be boosted. I have not had any charge system lights or any MID indication.

Vanderjdm

If it were me, I'd replace it proactively just to be safe. I've replaced the alternator in literally every car I've ever owned and in my experience they usually do give you that whiny sound warning sign before they fail completely. Could be weeks could be months but if that's where the sound is coming frkm, it will fail eventually.

Vanderjdm

How many miles out of curiosity? Would like to know for my own future reference.

JordanF

Im at about 125k KMs so almost 78k Miles. Problem has only existed since around 120k KMs (75k Miles)

Anicra

Damn I have owned 4 Acura's/hondas and thankful the factory alternator lasted for 225k miles on 01CL, 144k miles 93 Prelude, 204k CRX . and 40K miles on 13TL. I just figured they had rock solid alternators.

Supersammanyo

You are not alone brother! I had to change my alternator out of my 2012 TL FWD at 60k miles. No videos or anything for me, just started ripping stuff out that was in the way LOL. Was small space but a pretty easy job in my opinion.

SeismicGuy

Yesterday the wife started up the car and heard a whining sound. Told her to drive by the local independent and he guessed (and verified) that it was an alternator bearing. She asked if that was normal for a car with only 40,000 miles and he said it had more to do with how many times the car is started versus the mileage (the car does get many short trips in a given week). So $636 later the whine is gone. Labor was reasonable $112 but the damn alternator was $475!! I supposed I could have shopped around for a better price for the part but didn't want to put my wife through the hassle.

losiglow

iTrader: (1)

Dang, it seems like the alternator has a higher failure rate than I'd expect from a Honda product. I've owned 4 Honda's and 2 Acura's and I've never had to replace any belt driven component with exception to the PS pump on my '93 Accord (and maintenance items like water pump and pulleys), which was likely my fault because I drove it to nearly 250K with the original fluid Sounds like it's worth keeping an eye on.....

thoiboi

not as big a markup as i would have thought; https://www.oemacuraparts.com/auto-p...tor-denso-scat

413 here.

losiglow

iTrader: (1)

Would it be worth just purchasing the bearings and replacing them? It seems the main problems lie with bearings based on everyone's symptoms, not the internals or electronics. I don't know what's involved in tearing down an alternator though. Possibly more than I know of.

SeismicGuy

Yeah I also did some googling and found you can get rebuilt ones for less than half that price but I guess this is a brand new one from Honda.

SeismicGuy

The episode brought back "fond" memories of what I went through with my very first car--a 1963 Pontiac. It had a "generator" (for some reason it was not called an alternator at the time) and there was a chronic whining from the bearings that would develop over time. So what I did (numerous times) was to remove the thing, take out the brushes, do some mild disassembly, rub some grease around the shaft, reassemble and reinstall. I somehow recall this exercise taking no more than maybe 1/2 hour and I was good to go for another few months. Those were the good old days

5.4ever

Reorge

My alternator started the "whine" two weeks ago. (110,900 miles, 5.7 years old). Changing was relatively easy. I followed the service manual and removed the pass-side radiator fan. You don't have to remove the lower fan bolts; just loosen and unscrew about 1/4". The fan lower mounts are "forked" and slide up once upper bolts are removed. Installed a NAPA Denso reman unit.

losiglow

iTrader: (1)

Well, sure enough, my alternator started making the whirring noise that others have described. Cabin fan slowed significantly when the lights and seat heaters were turned on. Voltage dropped as low as 11.7v when everything was on. At idle it was around 12.5v. Light never came on which was kind of weird. Anyway, I needed my car up and running ASAP to drive Uber on the weekend so I picked up a refurbished Duralast for $212 after core. Took about 1 1/2 hour to replace. Just two bolts hold it on plus three electrical connectors and the passenger side fan removal and reinstall. Also, a little tip for those that do the job - use a long ratchet or breaker bar to push the tensioner pully backward - the same as you'd do it you were reinstalling the belt. Then secure the ratchet with a bungee cord. That way you can easily access the bottom alternator bolt. If you don't move the tensioner, it's a major PITA to try to remove that bolt. You'd probably have to remove the tensioner altogether if you don't push it forward.

I'm a little leary of a house brand refurbished unit but a new Denso is super expensive. Based on the ease of replacement and the lifetime warranty on the AutoZone unit, I'll take my chances. Original alternator lasted 163k miles. I'm not too disappointed.

jglover

Mine started making noise at 96k miles. Car is currently at Acura for other work and they want $825 parts and labor. Rockauto denso alternator $132.
Looks like I am getting dirty this weekend.

mrphilipanderson

Mine went out at 96k. Replaced with Aftermarket Warranty (THANK GOD). 800.00 Bucks Acura Wanted to charge.

mrphilipanderson

You go to pleasanton? They are SUPER expensive, but the mechanics know what they are doing. Serramonte has some Unsavory Characters in their service dept. Not all, but they arent very nice at all. Oakland is Okay, but in THE GHETTO.

csmeance

That's a good deal!