I was driving to the movies last night and noticed when Id be at a light or a stop, my lights were lightly surging from regular to just slightly dimmer. I really hate electrical crap , and hope this isnt a hard fix. I think the problem barely started yesterday and I havent donee anything to my car for months now. Any ideas.

 

They will do that as the battery ages and you have big draws coming on and off hitting the battery. Was you AC kicking off and on?

 

This.

Also your alternator could be going bad. But odds are you would have had more of a major issue at this point. How much of a load did you have on the engine at the time? (lights, a/c, aftermarket stereo especially if you're running a sub/amp).

The stock civic system is not very strong. If I remember correctly, the EX alternator is only rated for 90 amps or so.

 

Might be a dying alternator and/or weak battery. Is fuse 15 under the dash blown?

 

I was just about to post this again but remembered I had already done it. Their isnt any stress on the electrical system when it happens. no ac ,no heat,does it wit radio on or off. It was doing it again last night and it was kind of freakinn me out. Im taking a drive tan san fran in a few weeeks and its 400miles each way Id like to hopefully have this fixed. I dont want anything on the back of my mind on a trip that long. so check the fuse? and how would I know if the battery is going out or the alternator. would the alternator affect my car to act like that

 

have the battery load tested and the altinator to make sure they are up to snuff could also be bad ground wires from the frame to the engine/trans/ tstat housing

 

Definitely also check whether fuse 15 under the dash is blown.

 

thanks fellas Ill check all this stuff out tomorrow and post back up with the results.

 

checked all my grounds, and they are all good. checked the fuses under dash and everything was good. Im going to take the battery in thursday and have it tested. to check the alternator I'd have to remove it right? I really dont want to do this unless I really have to. I dont want be stranded though either. any other ideas. could it just do that and not effect anything

 

Mine did that even after a new battery and grounds. Got an 165amp alternator and no more problems. Needed it for the sound system and carputer.