Ok, my buddy has a 96 Civic CX. He did the Z6 IM and header install a while back.

Suddenly his gauges and lights started to act up. After testing the voltage, it was around 12.5V with the car off, around 12V with the car on, no change when the engine is revved.

So we installed a new alternator. Same voltages, but now the lights aren't dimming, gauges acting ok.

The grounds seem good, I'll tripple check them tonight. The battery terminals are tight and clean.

Any ideas? Is there a fuse?

Thanks!

 

bumppity

and it's a 97 civic

 

sorry, a slow 97 Civic.

 

Some batteries are actually 12 volts. Are you thinking it should be 14.4 instead?

 

with the car running it should be 13.2+

something obviously got disconnected or a fuse blown when the work was done.
there is a fuse for the alternator signal wire in the underdash fuse box. (#15 I think)
there is also a larger fuse in the underhood fuse box for the alternator power wire.

take your meter and start probing the backside of the fuses, it's obvious when you find a blown one. (it may not even look blown)

 

That little fuse was the culprit.

Thanks!

 

did your car ever dim n then eventually die out?