Ok, i'm back with a new problem. I have a 89 CRX and I'm floating around the idea that the alternator is gone, but i just replaced it last year. How long should an alternator work for??

Problem:
Lights dim if i keep my foot off the gas, but brighten when gas is on. What does this mean??
If its the alternator, wouldn't it just drain the power when it is driving??
It drives once its started but won't start if turned off.

My best guess is the alternator, but i'm not known for fixing ANYTHING that has to do with my car. I would like a second or third opinion. Any suggestions??

 

sounds more like the battery than the alt.

 

Hmmm, i was thinkin that too, but i wasn't really sure. I did replace the battery last year too, and i didn't think that an alternator should only work for one year then crap out on me. Which led me to believe that it could be the battery, but i wanted somebody else who knows more about hondas, to tell me if they had an idea. Thanks tho

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mr. carpenter &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">sounds more like the battery than the alt.</TD></TR></TABLE>

definitely your battery. sounds like it's not holding charge, that's all.

 

so it wouldn't mean that the alt is bad?

 

sounds like batt too... keep in mind the honda alt only puts out about a wooping 40amps at idle... check your grounds, make sure ur terminals are clean. but the batt is prolly shot. might want to think about getting a deep cycle or stopping at a local alternator shop and finding out how much a rebuild is... i'm in the process of the same..

i have a non obd b16a w/ jdm front coversion... running 2 amps 1 farad cap, 3 autometer gauges, radardetector ect... my headlights still dim at idle... battery is a big part of this.. my mini hawker deepcycle did better than a duralast... my friend needed a alt for his 240 we went to a local small time import parts shop. got one, turned out to be the wrong one. but name on the box was on the sign less than 1 mile from his house.. i'm like "i've seen that place before it's right around the corner" go to check it out. ends up being 30$ cheaper for his alt, and i now found the place i'm bringing my spair b16 alt to have rewound for atleast 80 idle cranking amps.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JDMCRXTypeR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">so it wouldn't mean that the alt is bad?</TD></TR></TABLE>
not neccesarily. the battery will not hold the charge the alt. is sending to it. that's why when you jump it it starts. the battery does not put out the necessary amps any longer. if your alt. was bad you would be running on battery alone and that would only last for an hour or so.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mr. carpenter &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if your alt. was bad you would be running on battery alone and that would only last for an hour or so.</TD></TR></TABLE>

depends on how much you drive. i lasted a week on a fully charged battery, no alt.

 

you drove for a week straight? kidding when mine died, the battery only let me drive for another hour.

 

Ok well that clears up alot of confusion for me, Thanks alot guys, you've been a big help and money saver.

 

yup. to and from work for four days straight, about a 10min. drive each way. on the fifth day, i had to get the battery charged.

 

i'm talking about nonstop driving. a good battery will charge back up if it's not being drawn on.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mr. carpenter &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i'm talking about nonstop driving. a good battery will charge back up if it's not being drawn on.</TD></TR></TABLE>

uh, what? ok, it wasn't non-stop driving when my alternator was dead. i was able to drive it to and from work for four days, minor trips to and fro. a good battery will not charge back up if the alternator is not functioning correctly. i think you might have confused his situation with what i've had happen to me in the past.

 

i had a car strand me outside of dallas when the alt. died. the battery went dead and the car stopped so i slept in the car in 20 degree weather. when i woke up my car started and drove for about an hour. i assumed that it regained it's charge. i don't see how else it would have started?

 

wow, i've never had that happen to me and i've had my share of alternator failures...interesting.

 

that's what i thought that morning when it started. i turned the key and was like "damn" . hour later it died and i was like "damn"

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mr. carpenter &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">that's what i thought that morning when it started. i turned the key and was like "damn" . hour later it died and i was like "damn" </TD></TR></TABLE>

haha. whatever it was, that's cool. i've never had the same luck, tho

 

Well, i checked the battery and its fine. The voltage is still high and its keeping a charge. My only guess is that its the alternator. Anyone else have another idea??

 

there's a quick, ghetto way to check if it's your alternator...start the car (jump it since you can't). remove the negative off the battery while it's running. if the car turns off, it's the battery. if it runs, it's the alternator...or is it the other way around? someone help me out here...

 

check your grounds or just replace them all

 

I'm having the same problem with my 92 teg. It's fine whenever I jump it but will not start up after I take the key out. Bought 2 new battery and 1 alternator . thinkin about another alternator too?

 

is the charge warning ("battery") light on at all? if not, then the alternator is probably fine. you said you tested your battery and its good. if you can test your batter,y you should be able to test your alternator's output. but it doesnt sound like your alt is a problem. so sounds like your only problem is your car doesnt want to start sometimes.

my bet the problem is your battery terminals need to be cleaned up, or may be loose. get some coarse sandpaper and clean it off, and use some dielectric grease and clamp as tight as possible. that should fix your starting problem.