Notices

battery light came on :(

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 02-09-2012, 09:02 PM
  #1  
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
 
tyvtec23's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default battery light came on :(

my battery light came on in my crx HF which is bone stock, it came on last night while i was driving but the battery is brand new, i thought it could be the alternator also but the car starts up everytime and doesnt lose power i check the battery with a multi meter and it starts at 12.10 then goes down to 12.9 and so on very very slowly but when i restart the car its back at 12.10

battery or alternator?
Old 02-09-2012, 09:12 PM
  #2  
Honda-Tech Member
 
sumdewd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: The Familiar Realm
Posts: 448
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default Re: battery light came on :(

Starting at 12.1 and then going down to 12.9 doesn't make much sense grammatically... First off, the battery should be at LEAST 12.5 pretty much no matter what. Being a new battery makes me suspect the alternator or grounds ESPECIALLY if the battery light is on when the car is running. The only time the battery light comes on is if you lose charging almost entirely.

1. Make sure your alternator wire is connected,
2. Make sure the terminals are clean and check the 3 major grounds.
3. Make sure your belt is on and adjusted correctly
4. If that all fails have Autozone test the alternator and replace if bad.

Do all of that and get back to us with the results, I am curious.
Old 02-09-2012, 09:44 PM
  #3  
Honda-Tech Member
iTrader: (1)
 
KINGVEM^^ED6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: suck it easy,WA
Posts: 15,766
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default Re: battery light came on :(

Best post iv seen from a new member in a while
Old 02-09-2012, 10:02 PM
  #4  
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
 
tyvtec23's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: battery light came on :(

?
Old 02-09-2012, 11:02 PM
  #5  
Touching My Member
iTrader: (1)
 
.Manny.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Downey, CA
Posts: 4,792
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default Re: battery light came on :(

Originally Posted by sumdewd
Starting at 12.1 and then going down to 12.9 doesn't make much sense grammatically... First off, the battery should be at LEAST 12.5 pretty much no matter what. Being a new battery makes me suspect the alternator or grounds ESPECIALLY if the battery light is on when the car is running. The only time the battery light comes on is if you lose charging almost entirely.

1. Make sure your alternator wire is connected,
2. Make sure the terminals are clean and check the 3 major grounds.
3. Make sure your belt is on and adjusted correctly
4. If that all fails have Autozone test the alternator and replace if bad.

Do all of that and get back to us with the results, I am curious.
Follow that. /thread. your voltage with the engine running should be mid 13s.
Old 02-10-2012, 01:34 AM
  #6  
Honda-Tech Member
 
Tyson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: I am Tyson
Posts: 18,915
Received 66 Likes on 64 Posts
Default Re: battery light came on :(

should be 14.5V while running.

not 12.5, not 13.

its not a battery light, its a charge warning light and it almost always means you need a new alternator. "new" ones from autozone and parts stores fail very often, and soon, if not right out of the box. so get used to replacing them.
Old 02-10-2012, 07:09 AM
  #7  
Touching My Member
iTrader: (1)
 
.Manny.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Downey, CA
Posts: 4,792
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default Re: battery light came on :(

Originally Posted by Tyson
should be 14.5V while running.

not 12.5, not 13.

its not a battery light, its a charge warning light and it almost always means you need a new alternator. "new" ones from autozone and parts stores fail very often, and soon, if not right out of the box. so get used to replacing them.
Holy crap, I was way off. Thanks for the correction. That means I have to go back and take a better look at my friend's scion. oops.
Old 02-10-2012, 08:49 AM
  #8  
Honda-Tech Member
 
sumdewd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: The Familiar Realm
Posts: 448
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default Re: battery light came on :(

For less than the price of an autozone alternator I actually bought a Hi-output one off of ebay. You can buy any 88-95 Civic d-series alternator, they're all the same I believe. 92-95 put out 10 more amps.

(Not sure if it's actually Hi-output or not, I just needed an alternator.)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI...m=130645690631

At the same time I did the big 3 upgrade and it took care of all of my electrical problems including a lingering charging light problem and lights dimming at idle. The new alternator and grounds also made my A/C suck less power; my car didn't bog as bad coming from a stop. My car now turns over so fast you could probably drive it with the starter alone.

Cleaning/replacing the terminals made a big difference for me. If you can afford it, (like 20$ in cables) it's an awesome upgrade. If not, just clean em.
Old 02-10-2012, 08:54 AM
  #9  
Touching My Member
iTrader: (1)
 
.Manny.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Downey, CA
Posts: 4,792
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default Re: battery light came on :(

Or buy a mechman alternator.
Old 02-10-2012, 10:42 AM
  #10  
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
 
tyvtec23's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: battery light came on :(

well guys it turns out my battery is good and it was the alternator, the funny thing is that i never thought an alternator could slowly fail lol, i thought it would be all at once but its somehow still charging the battery, thx for the input everyone
Old 02-10-2012, 11:22 AM
  #11  
Honda-Tech Member
 
schueytenten's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: wally world next three exits
Posts: 347
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: battery light came on :(

Originally Posted by Tyson
"new" ones from autozone and parts stores fail very often, and soon, if not right out of the box. so get used to replacing them.
So true Tyson. Between the "lifetime" alternators and starters I am a pro. Once I changed out the OEM parts for the "new" parts, they each seem to fail within a year. You'll be a pro in no time.

Should be no more than a two beer job
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Dj HeetazMalone
Classic Hondas
4
06-15-2017 07:24 AM
meelow
Honda CRX / EF Civic (1988 - 1991)
2
04-29-2010 09:35 PM
ef9one6
Honda CRX / EF Civic (1988 - 1991)
4
04-17-2007 07:31 PM
smash fascism
Tech / Misc
3
12-22-2005 09:13 PM
idriveadelsol7
Honda Civic / Del Sol (1992 - 2000)
5
12-11-2005 04:05 AM



Quick Reply: battery light came on :(



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 03:03 PM.