renthewog

Hi guys,

I was a bit unsure where to post this help thread so hope I put in right spot.

Okay I urgently need some help with something with my '91 Prelude, I'll try to explain best I can.

Only recently whilst driving the car, noticed at night the headlights and dashboard lights etc. started to get dimmer..and if i slowed car down or come to a stop the battery light and (i dont know what the other light is) the warning light that looks like a rectangle overheating *(refer to picture) these 2 warning lights come on when i slow down, and then when i start to accelerate they dissapear, and come on again as i slow down.

My guess was the alternator is'nt charging the battery back up and the engine and whole electrical system is running of the battery and draining it!

Anyway it seemed okay for a while, until last night I was driving home and it started to all happen again, but this time the gauges started going spastic and speedo flickering up and down and the tacho stoppped dead, all gauges didnt respond properly..then the car started losing power until i couldnt drive anymore and had to pull over.

Once I pulled over the car stalled and wouldnt start again as battery was dead, also there was a lot of burning smoke coming from somewhere behind the engine but couldnt tell exactly where.

I dont know what to do, I am rechaging the battery overnight and try again tomorrow but does anyone know exactly what that other symbol means (in picture the light lit up next to the "check engine" light)

Any help/ideas suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Ren

Enzo15

The one on the left that looks like its over heating is the symbol for a overheated Catalytic Converter.

91 luder

ChecK your coolent level your car has fans that stay on after the car is turned off, if it's over heating. This might explain why your battery also died. You might have a coolant leak at the back of the motor.

98ekb18c

First light def looks like its telling you the cat is overheating. If the car isn't charging right then the ignition may not be working right. if its not firing right then you may have excess gas pooling in your cat and burning in there. Either that or it's clogged and needs to be replaced.

The battery problem sounds like your alternator needs new brushes. It's a very easy job to do. There is a write up on how to change them on www.prelude3g.com under common problems.

1funryd

First issue to attack is your alternator, it is dead or dying. The next thing would be to replace your battery, because after dying so much it probably has some dead cells anyways.

After those issues are taken cared of, then move onto that very rare indicator light that looks like a catalytic convertor.

As for your guages freaking out, that is due to your batter dying as well as your alternator not charging, these are common electrical issues when the power system fails.

And head over to: p r e l u d e p o w e r.com(no spaces) thats going to be your best source of information for your 3rd gen Prelude.

renthewog

Hi, thanks for all the suggestions so far. Didn't really get a proper look at the car today, but what I have noticed is the power steering pump directly above the alternator has had a leak for quite some time..(just another thing I havent gotten around to fixing yet :-/ ) so this is probably the result of what's happened, power steer fluid is dripping all over and into the alternator which I can't imagine is good for it!

I have had the battery on charge overnight and seems some cells may be damaged as its still showing white on battery indicator (either red/white/green)

My first idea was to buy another alternator but it's $80 at Hondaworld and I think it's worth a shot trying to clean my one up
First and re-using it.

As for the overhearing catalytic convertor I had a look underneath car and theres oil all over it from the leaking engine oil on the sump. Maybe this is what's causing the smoke of burning oil on the hot exhaust?

Will look into it better tomorrow.

Cheers,
Ren

1funryd

Yes
Yes
and Yes.