I know it's a stupid question but should a alternator light come on when i turn my key to the on position in my 89 crx si? I've been having troubles keeping the battery charged and am wondering what's going on. After jump starting it I drove the car for and hour or so and it ran fine, but when i shut it off at the gas station it died. Do you think it was just the battery being old and not holding a charge? I hate electrical problems!

 

anybody?

 

Ya if anything is wrong with the charging system the little BATTERY light is for the ALTERNATOR.

 

I used to have a simlilar problem.

But first I'll answer your first question. YES - the alternator (looks like a battery) light should come one once the key is turned to the ON position. From what it sounds like, I'd say it's a safe guess to say that your battery is getting worn out...

Now what used to happen to me was the alternator light came on only about half of the time I turned the key to the ON position. And sometimes while I was driving, the alternator light would start blinking a little bit every once in a while, like as if it was trying to come on, but it was too retarded to stay on....

Anyway, just charge it back up, drive it around a little bit and see if that battery light comes on at all while your driving (it's easiest to see at night). If that's the case, then your alternator is bad (I replaced mine, light comes on properly now).

BUT I doubt your alternator is bad. It's most likely the battery.

Good luck!