Well, the summary is:

Screech only occurs around idle speeds. Once you give it a little gas to get to say 1500rpm, it disappears. Its not droned by engine sound, it just disappears.

Headlights/Cluster lights/other electric stuff dim sometimes at low rpm's and over 3K rpm, they get bright again.

Car always starts with no problem. I work on the car while the radio is on sometimes so its not the battery.

Most obvious solution, I'm guessing the alternator. If its the alternator, is it the alternator itself or just the belt.

Also, if its the alternator, what was the solution I was reading a lot from searching that stated that the problem of the dim lights can be fixed by pulling a pin on the ecu that forces the alternator to run all the time and not just at high rpm's only. Is that true? Is that the right fix or a bandaid on a problem?

Here is a movie clip I made. Its 4.23MB and was filmed in my garage at night so its kinda dark, but you can hear the sound its making. BTW, its not the yelling My little nephew tried to run out the door cause I didn't close it all the way and my sister yelled cause she thought he was going to fall down the stairs. So its not that, its the constant noise.

http://www.deviantpixels.com/zdrive/010205ek3.mpg

right click -> save as for all the special people

 

Sound like a bad alternator to me......

 

i dont really know what the screech is from keenan...but that kid crying in the background is drowning out EVERYTHING!

if you want the diming to stop then cut the ALT-C wire at your ECU...problem solved....or you can de-pin it if you want to be clean about it...i just cut mine

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JOHN WAYNE &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i dont really know what the screech is from keenan...but that kid crying in the background is drowning out EVERYTHING!

if you want the diming to stop then cut the ALT-C wire at your ECU...problem solved.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have read about that and know where to do it at. My question is will tha have any bad effects? Will it overchare the battery or cause excessive engine pull? Does it effect the current of electricity in a bad way?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kay_animation &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I have read about that and know where to do it at. My question is will tha have any bad effects? Will it overchare the battery or cause excessive engine pull? Does it effect the current of electricity in a bad way?</TD></TR></TABLE>

nope its "supposed" to help fuel economy but i noticed NO change

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JOHN WAYNE &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

nope its "supposed" to help fuel economy but i noticed NO change</TD></TR></TABLE>

thats wierd. I didn't know that. Did you do it to yours?

I'm guessing so since you said "I noticed..."

So it won't wear your alternator out or cause any other bad problems. Does it stay on in other cars all the time?

 

Sounds like a bad bearing, on what???

take a stethoscope and listen to each part and determine which is giving off bad vibrations.

best I can do.

 

I bet it's the belt to the alternator screeching. Could be bad bearing in the alternator, could just be a loose/old belt. Try a new belt or tightening the existing one?

Do you know what a fan belt screech sounds like? It's a pretty characteristic sound. It's common in older cars that aren't well maintained Belts get old or loose.

-Chris

 

I didn't watch the vid, but screeching at low engine speeds is usually a belt.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris F &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I bet it's the belt to the alternator screeching. Could be bad bearing in the alternator, could just be a loose/old belt. Try a new belt or tightening the existing one?

Do you know what a fan belt screech sounds like? It's a pretty characteristic sound. It's common in older cars that aren't well maintained Belts get old or loose.

-Chris
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Nice. I kinda expected it to be problems with buying a swap. I guess I just need to do all maintnance on it now. So far, I just flushed every liquid under the hood, installed a new intake and filter, and check wires, regrounded ground wires with better contacts, checked all harness plugs, check spark plugs and wires, and all seemed ok. But I guess I might as well change all belts and pumps Fun.

 

My car just started doing the exact same thing a couple days ago. I'm pretty sure it's the alternator belt, as my friend's old CRX did the same thing after we put in a new alternator and were adjusting the belt.

As soon as the rain stops I''ll fix mine

 

The problem you have with the lights dimming is a common problem among EK's with swaps, particularly JDM ITR's. I don't know exactly why this is, it might have something to do with the wiring of the car, but I'm pretty sure its not caused by your alternator. If you do a search, you'll come accross many people who have / have had the same problem. Just curious, what ECU are you running? Also, does the pitch of the sound change with the RPM's?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kay_animation &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Nice. I kinda expected it to be problems with buying a swap. I guess I just need to do all maintnance on it now. So far, I just flushed every liquid under the hood, installed a new intake and filter, and check wires, regrounded ground wires with better contacts, checked all harness plugs, check spark plugs and wires, and all seemed ok. But I guess I might as well change all belts and pumps Fun.</TD></TR></TABLE>


After listening to the video, I second guess myself. It could be a belt, I guess, hard to tell.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EKology &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The problem you have with the lights dimming is a common problem among EK's with swaps, particularly JDM ITR's. I don't know exactly why this is, it might have something to do with the wiring of the car, but I'm pretty sure its not caused by your alternator. If you do a search, you'll come accross many people who have / have had the same problem. Just curious, what ECU are you running? Also, does the pitch of the sound change with the RPM's? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yea, I want to find out what the problem is and fix it once and for all instead of doing the ecu pull as it seems like a patch more than a fix. The ecu is the stock jdm itr ecu. The pitch kinda fades away as the engine revs. I reved it while under the hood to make sure it wasn't engine noise covering it, but it def disappears.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris F &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">


After listening to the video, I second guess myself. It could be a belt, I guess, hard to tell. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Thats what I'm thinking. I'm going to replace it and see what happens.

 

If the belt is dry or loose and is causing the screeching then start the car (get someone to rev it to whatever RPMs the noise appears at) and get a small bottle of water with a nozzle and spray it onto the belt, if it stops then teh belt is dried out and will need replacing, if it continues then it may be a worn alternator bearing

 

^^^^^^^ this man beat me to it..
also i know you checked the wires and plugs, but with an unknown motor i would just change all the belts, fluids, plugs, wires, cap and rotor. just so i knowits tip top!!!!!

i didnt dl to the video but it sounds lie abad belt. replace it, tension it correctly and see whats up........good luck!

 

hey man...I promise it's the belt that not on properly. I had the same problem with my prelude. What it is it's the belt slipping as the revs rise making the alternater less funtional. Just readjust the belt and you'll be fine.
Hope this helps.

p.s. do it soon or your battery will not be functional.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by erottik-R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">hey man...I promise it's the belt that not on properly. I had the same problem with my prelude. What it is it's the belt slipping as the revs rise making the alternater less funtional. Just readjust the belt and you'll be fine.
Hope this helps.

p.s. do it soon or your battery will not be functional.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thanks. I didn't know that. As far as a belt preplacement, is it best to go to Acura, (well, the online one for me cause I work and they close when I get off), or can I get a belt with as high quality from another auto store that stays open later?

Also, from looking, I am guessing that I have to take the ac belt of and everything to replace it. If so, is there a way to release the tensioner and removed the belts without half removing the engine like you would when changing a water pump? Well, if somebody has a pdf helms manual for R's, that would help as well, but if not, I'll just try to search for the actual book.

But I'll ask first cause its easier that way

And thanks again everybody cause I know you could be doing something else besides answering my questions

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris F &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I bet it's the belt to the alternator screeching. Could be bad bearing in the alternator, could just be a loose/old belt. Try a new belt or tightening the existing one?

Do you know what a fan belt screech sounds like? It's a pretty characteristic sound. It's common in older cars that aren't well maintained Belts get old or loose.

-Chris
</TD></TR></TABLE>


I would have to agree with him. My first guess was a belt as well. pop the hood with someone else ont he gas and listen around the engine. thats how I knew there was somethign wrong in my timing belt region

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by totsie7944 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I would have to agree with him. My first guess was a belt as well. pop the hood with someone else ont he gas and listen around the engine. thats how I knew there was somethign wrong in my timing belt region</TD></TR></TABLE>

You can blip the throttle by yourself, grab the throttle cable and tug.

I still don't know, it doesn't sound quite like a 'fan belt' whine in the video *shrug* Hopefully not a timing belt but that should be either quiet or snapped.

-Chris

 

It sounds more like a baby to me, but my guess would have to be something in the alternator/belts

 

i have the same screeching sound comin from m y91 da i bought for a beater........i start it up and sometimes its screeching but then goes away or when it revs it goes away.....mine sounds more like a grinding noise and it comes from the drivers side of the motor but i thought it may of been the power steering pump cause their wasnt too much fluid but idk i may try the alternator next.

dont mean to jack your thread i just wondered the same thing

 

i wouldnt be laughing if i was in your situation

could be ur belt. best thing i can say for now.