Alright it started last week when I had my 98 civic out in the snow. The first problem was that the speedometer stopped working, I figured I hit a chunk of snow that messed up the speed sensor. I also just put a SI cluster in it so figured something could be wrong with that.

Anyway, the next day I autostarted my car to let it warm up. The auto start is part of my clifford matrix 2way alarm system and was installed by myself over three years ago with out any problems. When I went out to the car, it wasn't running when it should have been. So I figured the alternator died and the car ran on the battery for a little then died.

The next day, just to make sure before i got an new alt, I jumped the car, and expected it to died once i removed the cables, and it did not!

However now the speedometer and the tach don't work on the cluster. The temp guage and fuel level work though. Also my radio won't power up when the car is running. However when i turn the key to acc before i try to start it, it powers up fine.

The battery is dead but I haven't tried to charge it for too long. The car has a turbo jdm b18c in it, it is my daily driver and I have NEVER had and serious issues with her before. The motor has been in for three years and she has been boosted for a year and a half.

Just to recap:
Speedo not working
Now tach not working
Radio only work when key is at the acc position, not when the car is running
Car won't start under her own power, but will run once its jumped.

I am stumped, I check all the fuses under the hood, haven't checked under the dash yet, thats next. If anyone has any info to help me out of this I will be greatly appreciaded. Thanks H-T!

 

i jumped it again this morning, while the cables were still attached to the other car, the tach and radio worked fine, then i took them off and they went dead, and eventually the car died while it was idling there. and now my srs light is on...

 

Sounds like it may be as simple as a battery problem? I'd go have it tested, and see what they have to say. Also, they can tell if your Alternator is putting out the right amount of amperage while running, and idling, and what not - its a cheap $20 way to figure out whats wrong. I think Midas shops actually do the electrical system test for free.

 

thanks, problem is just getting the car there...