benji7288

For the past week, my civic has been acting weird. When rolling from a complete stop, my car's light seems to fade away for a second then comes back. Also, my CD player turns off then on at the same time. What might be the problem?

93egSLEEPER

might be an alternator not charging correctly.

benji7288

Ok, do u think that the gas has to do anything w/ it?

93egSLEEPER

gas wouldnt really affect how the lights and stuff are unless it is idling down really low and dying. does it "ping" at all? what motor and what kinda gas?? alternator sounds like its the problem though.

benji7288

It's a B16A2, I add Valero Supreme gas. Not sure about idling really low because i've had this car for a year n have never noticed this problem.

93egSLEEPER

well its probably the alternator. do you have a volt meter handy to test the charge it gives off?

benji7288

I have a radar that only reads the battery charge. This problem only happens around 3 times a day.

93egSLEEPER

well if the alternator isnt charging correctly then your battery wont charge correctly either. i suppose you might be able to tell by checking the battery.

benji7288

well it reads 13.3 when driving but let's say when it's in neutral, it'll go down to 12.1

93egSLEEPER

well the battery is charged well enough then... how many miles on the alternator? might just be going out.

benji7288

not sure if it's just the one that came w/ it but it has 86,000

93egSLEEPER

well if itshas to be a the original then it probably needs replaced. no CELS? it has to be a charging issue.... does it start ok or do u havta crank on it?

benji7288

It starts ok, no problem w/ that

93egSLEEPER

hmmm well the only thing that comes to me is alternator..... so try and get a voltometer on it and see how well its charging. might just be a bad voltage regulator also. those are cheap and easy to fix.

benji7288

what should be the reading when checking the charge on it?

93egSLEEPER

thats i cant tell you...lol. try searching it on the forum with the "red search button"