meandino

Don't have time to search as I'm driving right now. Pulled over to post this.

97 Civic EX Stock everything but aftermarket stereo. No cel

Been driving the car for two hours and all of a sudden out of no where my gauges just went haywire. It's like the car died then came back on like five times with (idont think) the engine turning off. (no power loss like distributor) Radio turned off with the gauges and came back on several times as well. Abs lite was lighting up during the cycles. Headlights stayed on. nothing else seem to be affected. Then when I dropped gears heard a belt. maybe alternator.

Is my alternator going bad or lose wire? Anyone else have this problem ever? I know the battery terminals are cleaned and tight because I just did that the other day.

Thanks H-T

Former User

When you turn the key from off to ON(II) (engine off), does the charge/battery light turn on and stay on?

meandino

Yeah right next to the oil light. It stays on.

Former User

Did you notice whether the charge light turned on when you were having the problems?

meandino

Nope just ABS. I was looking. Seeing if the cel would come on too

meandino

Okay it just happened again. So only the ABS light comes on for sure. When its happening the dash lights and headlights are dim. When I rev the engine the lights are restored.

When I jumped on the the freeway about an hour and a half before this happened the engine was accidentally over revved. Maybe outputting to much charge to something.

I almost want to say it's my alternator on it's way out or I'm already running on my battery. But I got to drive another 2 hours to get home. So I dont know. And I don't want to be stranded.

Former User

I would definitely have the alternator tested.

meandino

I wonder why it will do it sometimes and not all the time?

meandino

Yeah but who will do it at this time of the night?

Former User

Some problems are intermittent prior to complete failure.

Former User

You can also test it yourself with a multimeter.

meandino

Found an auto zone that's open late. They went to test the charging system but couldn't because battery only gave a 50% reading. So they got it on the charger and going to test it after. So we'll see.

meandino

Ok so here is the update. The alternator was pushing out 12 volts the battery charged really fast so I drove home for two hours and parked the car. Turned it off and it would not restart. So I came out today and the car started right up.

But here is the thing. I noticed there is fuel leaking out of one injector when the car is running. Toke it out and the gasket to the fuel rail is crimpt.

So maybe the fuel was leaking down to the alternator or a wire messing up the charging system.

Former User

This mean the alternator is not charging.

meandino

Do I have to put oil on the o rings before installing them?

alphalanos

+1 12v is way too low you should be close to 14

meandino

Yeah but now it's running again so I'm going to get another testing since I fixed the fuel problem

meandino

Got it up to operating temp and abs light is on with rpm needle bouncing around a little.

Just turned it off and now have nothing. Just the starter clicking. I think its time to pull the alternator before I have to get a battery as well