hey hows it going. I usually post in the crx/civic forum but I have a buddy that has a problem with his da. Here is what he wrote.
The car will start up.. it runs.. but then after a few while the damn RPM drops and the car just dies..

I F**King feel like Setting this DAMN CAR on fire.. if I cant figure out the problem.. its really pissing me off.. So much hard work and now its giving me sh#@T..

Okay so the car starts up just great... runs after a good 2-3 mins.. then the RPM slowly drops.. and the car just dies.. I thought it was bad grounding.. so I took off the Neg. Cable and sanded down all the parts on the frame where the cable comes into contact with.. and that lil part where it mounts to the tranny bracket..

So I kno I got good grounding.. and the problem is still there... This problem started after I installed my JDM one piece headlights.. so Today I took the headlights off.. unplug everything.. and problems is still there..

I thought it was the alternator.. so I replaced that.. thought it was the MAIN relay.. and replaced that also.. and the DAMN problem is still there..

If you jump start the car.. the damn car starts up and runs.. after a while it dies.. but if you leave the jumper cables on the battery... with the other car running to give it juice.. the car RUNS..

It seems like the damn alternator is not charging the battery.. but the DAMN Battery and ALTERNATOR is NEW... all PLUGS are plugged in tight and correctly..

I thought it was the ECU, so I borrowed a friends ECU to test it out and NO it wasnt the ECU..

Okay so if the battery is full.. start up the car.. it runs great.. apply brakes RPM starts to drop.. the raise back up if you release.. if you hold it the car dies.. turn on any electrical accessories.. the RPm drops and car dies..

After the car die.. you cannot restart it without jump starting it..

I dont kno whats wrong.. or what the heck is going on..

So far I have replaced
-Alternator
-Main relay
-Battery

Also
-Cleaned up grounding points and reinstalled the Neg. Bat. cable
-Checked all FUSEs.. GOOD to go.. nothing blown..
-Try another ECU
-Fuel pump works
-Changed back to USDM headlights


Im lost.. I cannot figure out the problem.. I feel like giving up.. and selling the car.. it seems like the battery is not getting a charged.. but how can that be.. Damn alternator is new, damn battery is new, connections looks good..


Please somebody.. please know what might be wrong.. If I cannot figure out the problem.. I will Pull the engine out.. and put my OBD1 Main harness and engine harness onto it.. but thats alot of work.. that i dont want to go thru in the FREAKIN COLD.. so please help

 

i would have the alternator bench tested..esp if its a rebuilt alternator..

also when you install one DO NOT remove the battery cables when the car is running to see if the alt is working. i see it happen too many times and what happens is it messes up its curcuits in the alt from the voltage drop/jump. but your symptoms DO sound like alternator

 

you should definitely check you distributor! you could commonly have a problem with your ignition coil. while you're at it, check your cap and rotor, plug wires and spark plugs! if its not that...then it might be a fuel problem which usually isnt the case. but yeah, check the distributor! GL

 

bump any more suggestions. alternator tested good

 

Okay this is my car actually.. thanks Ak_ef9 for posting this up for me..

I know I have spark to all four plugs.. since the engine does fire up..

it seems like the alternator is not giving a charge to the battery.. but yet at the same time.. the alternator is new..

Im really stuck at the moment on whats wrong.. so far I checked all the wires.. and no problems..

Thanks for all your inputs.. today I will pull the disturbitor and run on a friends to see if that could be causing my problems.. and I'll pull the alternator again to get it checked out at my local schucks auto store to see if it tests good..

 

Okay so its not the dist... since im getting spark.. no problems..

we had one of those voltage meter thing stuck into the cig lighter.. and it reads zero.. nothing.. it doesnt even come on..

but during the jump start.. it reads 14volts.. then slowly it goes down to zero then engine dies.. and it doesnt even light up anymore.. on the Voltage tester that pluggs into the cig lighter part.. seems like I might have a mesked up wire somewhere.. the thing is.. its hard TRYIng to locate it without me having to rip the darn harness off.. so far no luck.. im completely stuck on what to do..

 

all wires do look good thoz.. so im kinda confused.. to why im not getting a charge to the battery..

is the 92-93 alternator for the Gen2 tegs the same as the 90-91 alternator for the G2 tegs??

I was just wondering.. cuz im running a 92 alternator on my 91 .. thanks

 

does your friend have a alarm system it could be something with that. some sort of safety switch so nobody could steal the car. how lond does it run for until the motor dies? there should be a fuesable link in the ignition system u may want to check

 

Okay the engine doesnt run for long at all it actually runs for a good 1-2 mins max.. I believe its just running off the battery.. maybe the alternator is just bad.. but im unsure also.. because it is a new one.. but maybe this new one is faulty.. I will bring it back tomorrow and have it tested and replace if not working properly..

Okay so if you pull the Neg. ground cable off the battery the engine dies right away.. so I know there is difinitely something wrong with the charging system..

 

Did you every find the issue??? I’m in the same situation and it’s driving me insane. Replaced the battery and alternator, still have my battery light stay on the dash. Some days it reads 14.5 volts while idling and then most it’s drives off 11.2 without any major electrical appliances turned on.

 

this post is 16 years old, highly doubt you're going to get a response.