After reading 109 threads about alternators my eyes are shot . Anywho..I bought a 89 CRX w/ZC about a year ago. After a few months of ownership the battery light came on. So I got the battery and alternator tested. Tests showed I needed a new alternator so that was done. About a week ago my car wouldn't start at the gym at 2 am. I had a friend jump it and it was fine for a few days, but I never got a "battery light" prior to the car not starting. While driving for those few days I never noticed any changes in lights being too dim/bright, clock fading out etc. A few days later my car wouldn't start again but I still didn't get a "battery light." I know it still works b/c it comes on while normal starting. So I get the battery charged and everything is fine...for a couple of days. Same **** today. I bought a voltmeter and will test the battery and alternator in the morning. But why didn't I get a battery light? I did notice some acid on the top of the battery before I had it charged. The terminals and cables are clean. If my alternator is close to death once the car is jump started shouldn't it die quickly? If it were my battery wouldn't my "battery light" given some warning? The battery is from Napa, it's called a Legend. I'm not throwing any codes. Suggestions?

 

either your battery is not holding a charge or you have a bad ground or a bad connection someplace... it sounds to me like your battery is going out... the reason the battery light doesnt come on is because the car is running and the alternator is putting enough electricity out to keep the light from coming on... i would put my money on the battery being bad... switch one for a day with somebody else and see who has the starting problem now
-Josh

 

I'm leaning towards the battery crapping out. Again, if the alternator was about to die I think the car would have stalled out at idle after the jump start since I was using my headlights and wipers. Also. the fact I was not seeing any of the electrical components fade out while driving lends me to believe the battery is just not holding a charge. Of course I could be wrong..as I usually am.

 

Well, I tested everything today. My old battery was at 12.50 with no load. After I recharged it it was at 12.9. I installed it and car still wouldn't turn over. My friend had a brand spanking new battery, so we installed that. It still wouldn't turn start. I would get a momentary flicker of the gauge lights and thats it. The alternator tested fine but I got a new loaner and my car still wouldn't start. I put everything back together and jump start it. NOW it starts!. My entire car is stock and has no parasitic draw. The main relay was replaced when I bought the car last year. The only thing I can think of is that the starter or ignition switch is bad. I keep reading through the achived threads but no one with my similar problem posted any findings.

But it can't be the starter b/c it turned over when I jumped it. Also, can't be the ignition switch since it starts up and all my accessories work after its jumped. Grrrr


Modified by korean_teg at 8:32 PM 9/30/2005

 

If you jump the car and it works. Then it's your battery.
It may have 12+ volts but your amp probably low enought for no juice.
Plus most error is the wire connections. most people are lazy to bolt the connections and they twisted it on. ( ME )
But sound like a lose wire. make sure all wires are tight and good connection.

 

But my friends new battery was at over 13 volts when I tested before install. I did a no load on my Teg battery and it was at 12.55 volts and it cranks perfect everytime. That's why I am ruling out the battery theory. I am ruling out the alternator theory since it tested fine and it powers the battery for a fews days before I have to jump it again. I guess I can't figure out why my car starts when it's jumped and won't start when I have a healthy brand new battery installed. I haven't had the started tested yet to that's on the agenda for tomorrow. I will check all the grounds again but I'm open to any suggestions.