questions for the car guys

I've  been doing some work on my 2004 CR-V (mileage is 280k), and I have a couple of questions. It is my fishing car, so I figure it's appropriate for NCKA...

This car has had a slow fluid leak for years, and nobody could seem to find it. I was doing some other (exhaust system) work, and just happened to discover the oil leak problem was with the tiny screen in the first picture. It was a major pain to get access to it, as I had to remove a bunch of parts. But at least now I'm confident I can finally stop the leak.

Here are my questions:

1) How to clean up all of the oil goo? Online, quite a few people recommend brake cleaner. When I spray it on, it does some good, but don't think it'll get it really clean.

2) Surprisingly, the alternator seems to be working fine, but I'm not sure about cleaning it. What do you recommend as far as cleaning? Or, should it just be replaced?

3) Although it seems to be working fine, I'm thinking I should replace the serpentine belt. I don't think it's been replaced in the last 100k miles.

4) Anything else that should be done, since I've got access to areas that I might never see again?

Given if u have some time to put the vehicle down to clean and let all things dry…. Simple green, and hot water and spray it. Blow dry…. With air … silicone the terminals … this is the sprayer I like to use . Brake clean gets expensive.

https://www.amazon.com/TOAC-Blow-Pneumatic-Engine-Cleaning/dp/B09BHQRT81/ref=mp_s_a_1_18?crid=XNJHCMPTB4IJ&keywords=spray+cleaner+air+gun&qid=1643426028&sprefix=spray+cleaner+air+gun%2Caps%2C247&sr=8-18

Timing belt! Typically every 80,000-90,000 miles on Toyota and Honda.

Borrow a pressure washer.  Yes, change the serpentine belt.   It’s old and a pain to change, and not expensive.  You got it off, so replace it.  As to pressure washer, buy a light duty electric.  I paid $99 years ago for one at home despot.   I find it really handy around the house.   Takes the bugs off the front of the camper, clean the deck.  Here is a reconditioned one,
https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-Reconditioned-1-600-PSI-1-2-GPM-Electric-Pressure-Washer-ZRRY141612/303646622

Purple Power or most any degreaser and blast off it at a car wash if mobil. I don't have a pressure washer and can't just blast grease off in my driveway so a large plastic tote, degreaser, a tooth brush, a spray bottle and some rags work for smaller things.

Not sure about Hondas but often valve cover gaskets eventually leak and need replacement.

I have a pressure washer you can borrow.  It's new enough I haven't broke it yet like all the others.

Bushy

Borrow a pressure washer.  Yes, change the serpentine belt.   It’s old and a pain to change, and not expensive.  You got it off, so replace it.  As to pressure washer, buy a light duty electric.  I paid $99 years ago for one at home despot.   I find it really handy around the house.   Takes the bugs off the front of the camper, clean the deck.  Here is a reconditioned one,
https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-Reconditioned-1-600-PSI-1-2-GPM-Electric-Pressure-Washer-ZRRY141612/303646622

Thanks everybody for the responses.

I've actually got that pressure washer and tried it out today. A little dish soap and pressure washing cleaned up the mess under the hood pretty well. But, the alternator still looks hideous. I think I'll try this guy's approach to cleaning the alternator.

Dawn for Dishes

Pressure washing is a bad idea. Your keys of water will get inside the connectors and you will get electrical shorts down the road. Steam cleaning is the best way to go. San Jose steam clean is one facility. If the alternator is out and look like that just replace it. Don’t take the chance it will fail on you on a remote trip to a fishing spot.

It cleaned up nicely.

It is tempting to replace it, though, since I plan to drive this car until the wheels fall off. I have a few days to think about it, since I ordered the parts online (half the price) and they won't arrive until Wednesday, at the earliest...

After the fact but...Purple Power, a stiff nylon brush and a hand held steam cleaner.
Picked up a steamer for $15 on CL. Worth every penny for cleaning parts.

Thanks again for the help. I got everything back together and the alternator survived its cleaning. Getting the new belt on was a major PITA, but I eventually got it.

One last question...

I've been having a strange vibration issue for a while now. It seems to idle pretty much OK, but when I put it in gear it'll sometimes vibrate quite a bit. It is fine when driving a steady speed on a smooth road but, say, over a speed bump, the vibration becomes very pronounced. There's no engine light/code.

Searching online, one possibility seems to be that the a motor mount has gone bad. Those don't look to be too difficult to replace on this car, and not too expensive either...

Right about here "but, say, over a speed bump, the vibration becomes very pronounced." I started to think motor mount as well.....

Right about here "but, say, over a speed bump, the vibration becomes very pronounced." I started to think motor mount as well.....

Thanks. I've ordered motor mounts and hopefully that will solve the problem.

I got the motor mounts installed today, and that was definitely the problem.

Since it looks like I'm going to be able to drive this car for quite a while longer, I've decided to paint it, DIY rattle-can style. I haven't decided exactly what color, but I want to be sure it'll be impossible to lose in a parking lot. It'll probably be a few days before I can get to it--I'll post some pictures when it's done...