defino

First of all the vehicle is a 94 lx sedan. Converted from automatic to manual and swapped to a mini-me.

I've been fighting an issue with my battery and alternator for a while. My battery used to die down but seemed to keep enough power to turn the motor over and I was fine. But then it finally started to completely drain so i first replaced the battery because test showed it to be bad. Then it continued so i moved to the alternator. It also turned out bad and then replaced it. Now the batter still isn't getting charge.

I've been told to check the Alternator fuse but I'm not able to locate a fuse designated for the alternator.

While searching for a resolution I found several plugs and wires that I couldn't identify and lead to no where. Here are some pics of those if anyone can help i.d. them.

This one is a plug that I found dangling on the passenger side laying on the backside of the tansmission. Its both sides of the plug but the one end has no wire.





Any help would be appreciated thanks.

EFbomb

That last pic is the oil pressure sending unit connector, or the water temp sensor on the back of the block, typically there are 2 of them. make sure you dont have any sensors unplugged on the back of the block.

Former User

Test for parasitic drain.

94EG8

First plug is for a 1 wire unheated O2 sensor, I have no idea why its there though, It would have originally come with a 4 wire O2 sensor, unless someone used a CX harness. Second plug is for the oil pressure sending unit on the back of the block above the oil filter.

EFbomb

check/recheck all grounds.

I bought an "OEM" replacement alternator from Orileys a few years back and ended up exchanging it 2 times before they gave me one that worked for more than a few days.

defino

Thanks for the help so far I'll go back to work haha.

defino

ok got the second plug in place. the first one must be o2. The o2 that is in the header is 4 wire but just tied up and not hooked to anything. I guess i need to get a 1 wire o2? or should I replace the whole harness?

As far as the charging situation i'm still looking for things but not finding anything.

I'm going to exchange my battery today. Is there a way to tell if the battery is receiving charge?(other then the obvious of running it until it dies or not)

Thanks again guys.

Former User

Those unplugged sensors are unlikely causes for your battery drain or failure to charge. Test for parasitic drain and have the alternator tested at an auto parts store. Does the dash battery/charge light remain on while driving?

defino

Alternator was tested then replaced. I didn't think those plugs had anything to do with it but they were other issues i wanted to get straight. The battery/charge light has never come on during any of this.

I tested for parasitic drain according to the link that was posted, but i only checked the fuses in the engine bay. checking the underdash fuses in a few.

Former User

How many milliamps of parasitic drain did you measure?

sirmugenpower

how many ground wires do you have and also you said you got a swap done right???if so check the two cables on your fuse box under the hood the two cables #1-from the altenator and #2-from your positive cable or starter, make sure they're not backwards on the fuse box that could cause a discharge in your battery.....

defino

I'm using a multimeter and I haven't used one in a while so not sure if i'm reading it right. Its reading about 5.07. Would that be 50mA? or is it 5

Former User

What mA scale is the meter set to? Post a picture of the meter and how it is set if necessary.

defino

Former User

The meter is reading 5.0 mA of current, which is normal and not a sign of parasitic drain.

defino

OK, So I got the new battery in this morning. Went to test it again, now i'm getting oL(overload?) on the 300mA setting, so I switch to 10A and I'm getting .29

Former User

All electrical components were turned off when you did the test, right? If so, your bad battery was masking a large parasitic drain. Start pulling fuses to pinpoint the source of the drain.

defino

I went back out and remembered my cigaretted lighter hasn't worked for a while so i just unplugged it. I redid my test and came up with 5.7mA. I don't know if that was the problem or not but as of right now everything is working fine.. we'll just have to see if this battery dies overtime i guess.

Thank you for all your help.