i have a 94 ex accord. While at mcdonald's drivcethrough i noticed my acceleration dropped when i stepped on it. My lights got dimmer and my stereo stopped. Then i notice my rpms were not really moving. So i parked the car in the parking lot. Now i cant fully start the car. It feels like it is very week. Recently while driving the car i had noticed the car battery light inside my car kept blinking on and off. What is wrong with my car. It is not stuck in the parking lot. When i jumped start the car it would only last 10 secs before it powers down again.

 

When the battery volts drop below 12.5 volts the computer shuts down.
Check the battery and if needed check the charging system
If the brushes in the alt are worn out they would cause this problem. Easy and cheap to replace, much less than a new alt.


Modified by hondadude at 1:20 PM 11/14/2006

 

when was the last time you replaced the batteries?

 

I havent replaced it since i got it last year. My dad got it for me at a car auction, and i think its a stock battery.

My uncle repalced my battery with my aunts accord and took my car home.


How do i check if its my alternator?


ANd does kragen check car batteries for free without me buying anything?

 

Autozone will check your battery and alternator for free if you bring it in to them. There is also a ghetto way to check the condition of your alternator but i wouldn't recommend it. Basically, with the engine still running, go to your battery and take off the negative terminal. If the engine still runs after doing so, the alternator is good but if the engine stumbles and then dies, the alternator is bad.

Try at your own risk.

 

It depends wether or not you can get electricuted.

 

yea disconnecting the negative terminal is a good way to check.. and fairly sure fire.. and you shouldnt electricute yourself unless your a complet indiot lol but if your alternator is bad than it wont charge your battery as your driving down the road.. not to mention your car runs off the alternator as your driving.. not really your battery unless the battery power is absolutely needed.. at any rate i remember a while back my car did the same thing.. and what is was was the fact that my alternator went out and so my car used the battery as the main energy source and it eventually drained my battery dead because my alternator wasnt charging it like originally intended... so i would have auto zone check both.. or if you want you can check it yourself if you have a DMM or DVOM.. goodluck

 

so is it my battery or my alternator?

 

Update: i asked my uncle what he did and he said to test to amke sure the alternator was not broken he removed both the positive and negative terminal and the alternator was sitll running.

The battery light is no longer blinking.

DId he do it right? hes not a real mechanic.


Modified by vietkangta at 9:55 PM 11/14/2006

 

nvm the light blinking went on again. So it must be my alternator right?

 

You really just need to take the alt into autozone or a parts store to get them to test it. Also test the batt. for a dead cell. Of course it's going to test weak because it is weak. It's either drained because the batt. is dying or the alt. is draining the car. There's a few other things on the circuit too. They can test your voltage regulator if you take that off and get it to them as well. Check your grounds and for good connection on everything. Check for corrosion and clean it as needed. Good luck.

 

I would start off with checking for a good and fully charged battery.
Then proceed to a alternator test. With the engine running disconnect the negative terminal. The engine should remain running if your alternator is charging.

Another would be checking for alternator voltage at the battery with the engine running.
For instance with a voltmeter. 13.8,13.9,14.0 etc is alternator voltage.

If your getting a reading of 12v then your car is running off of battery voltage.

9 out of 10 times its an alternator. Just make sure your B+ wire is live and reading battery voltage before replacing the alternator.

 

Not to be rude or anything but.. I wouldn't listen to any of these guys. Especially when it comes to disconnecting the battery while the car is running, only hacks do that.. You never know what you could fry on a car..

Simple diag.. Swap out your battery with a known good one. Start the car and take your trusty volt meter and check the voltage at the battery.. It should be at least 14V. If so, your alternator is fine. Next take your junk battery to the parts store and have them test it. You should fine it bad, and then purchase your new battery. I'm going off of what you said earlier.. Disconnected the battery and the car is still running.

Most people forget that the charging system will only work correctly if the battery is good. A sulfated/junk battery will prevent the alternator from doing its job.. Good luck.

 

PnX-R; right on.

 

You never skip the basics on things like this.

Make sure your battery is FULLY charged BEFORE you test it. Jump starting a battery and driving it for awhile doesn't mean the battery is still good.

With the good battery in place, you can then proceed to check the ampage from your alternator as said above by reading the voltage it is putting out.

Disconnection battery terminals while the car is running is for lazy and cheap people who shouldn't be touching a vehicle period

Do it right the first time.