Paprika

Hi everyone. Today we are talking about a 92 Civic Sedan w/ a d15b7 engine.

I was riding with my friends today. Totally NO Problems at all before this. ** Rolled up to a restaurant. Stopped got out. Everything seemed fine. really. We come back and I turn the key and nothing happens. I got indicator lights on 'RUN' but when I turn it one more click (into 'START') everything turns off but the starter doesn't engage. I got nothing. I move the key back to 'RUN' and the indicator lights fade back on.

If I get a jump start or use my jumper pack then the car starts, idles after warming it up by revving, but when I engaged into reverse the engine died. I had to get the car home so I got another jump but decisively keep the RPMs high as I shifted into drive to pull out (made the tire screech) and between holding 1st gear when I had to go slower and going into neutral at mandatory stop lights I kept the RPMs from getting low enough that the engine cut out.

At home I let the engine idle for a good while. Whenever the engine fan cut on the lights would dim very noticeably for a second but the engine's RPMS would also increase and the light's original brightness would be restored.

Turned the car off and it wouldn't start back up. My cousin has recommended a shop to call in the morning but I want some input from you all before I do that.

After I came inside for a good while I looked out the window and noticed that I apparently left my headlights on. So I mean the batter was apparently hold some type of power, but I can't imagine it was much because the engine still wouldn't start.

Back the restaurant my friend who was in auto class at our school tried a trick he tapped the starter with a hammer while i tried to start it, to get the voltage to jump or something. Didn't help, but I know he didn't damage the starter.

What do you guys think it could be? Offer me anything you have. Suggest some tests I could do on my own to help pinpoint the problem or anything. I'm all open. If you have any questions for me please don't hesitate to ask.

** Only thing there was to notice was that for a good while... months before this, having the lights on for a while w/o the engine running would have a noticable effect on the battery power avalible to the starter and result in a slower start-up.

Stoich EG2

check out the alternator. check to see if the battery is still good. check and recheck all grounds

1995Ex_Sedan

Alternator.

Paprika

Thank you both.


BUMP for more opinions and suggestions!!

ek-to-tha-max

check your plugs for your starter and alternator, maybe their loose. the starter is on the transmission and there should be a rubber peice over the plug with a 10mm nut holding it. check if its rusted or anything.

nocturnaldragon

Dont forget the fuses in the engine side fusebox, theres an 80amp one you should check out also, I belive theres also one for the chargine circuit so if its blown the alternator wont power or charge the battery.

Paprika

Good ideas, thank you both. I greatly appreciate it!

Keep the ideas coming.. Lets say I smelt some burning. Maybe some wires fused together and the alternator is unable to charge the battery now. Where could this happen at?

Paprika

ALSO, Let me note. I just remembered..

On the race home my speedometer was acting funky. At times it would drop sharply and quickly as if it cut off or something. I don't know what was up with that, but I thought i'd mention it. It's never done that before.

nocturnaldragon

That could be related to the ecu not getting enough power causing it to act eraticly. Check the fuses and what not. I know autozone or checker will check it for free for you (electrical system) in the hopes of selling you the stuff you need to fix it.

JDM-97CX

What it is not: Fuses, starter, ecu, grounds, plugs, wires.

Reason: How does jump starting a car bypass them? It doesn't.

What it probably is: Voltage regulator, (which I believe is integrated into the alternator so the alternator would have to be replaced) this would cause the battery not to charge properly. Battery may very well be going bad.

When you try to start a car all electrical accesories are supposed to turn off, i.e. warning lights, radio....etc.

Paprika

Thanks for your input, JDM-97CX.

What do you guys think about that theory??


Assuming it is the alternator, I have the ability to replace it. However me being my... "comphrehensive" self, I'd want to replace the alternator belt also. But that looks like a bia. Maybe I'll just replace the alternator now and then get someone else to do the belts later? :-p


Modified by Paprika at 10:54 AM 8/15/2005

Paprika

*Bump for more input*

Also, Why would the car have problems with a bad battery if the alternator is suppose to be powering everything anyway??

qat727

You don't necessarily have a bad battery, but I know that on at least two of the alternators that have died on me, it has taken the battery with it. If the alternator isn't putting out enough juice to the battery to charge it back up, it could just suck the life out of the battery. Another thing I've seen once before, and goes along with what JDM-97CX said is the voltage regulator going bad and frying everything. Then again, that was on an Escort, and I doubt yours would still be running if that were the case.