So tonight, I get off work and jump into my 90 si hatch to go home. Car starts fine but when I turn on the lights, they go really dim and the radio turns off. I turn on the brights just to see what happens and the car dies. I start it right back up and the same problem. I drive the car home with the radio off and notice the tach is at zero and the temp is all the way up. When I turn off the lights, everything went back to normal.

It just seems odd, I haven't done anything to the car in a long time besides drive it everyday. I guess there could be a short somewhere but who knows. Maybe the alternator decided to take a dump? Battery is newer and the terminals are tight.

Any ideas?

thanks

 

You need new alternator, happen to me before.

 

You need a new alternator, test it yourself or bring it to us and we'll test it for free www.RCautoworks.com

 

you need a new alternator,you can get it checked for free at any parts store.well atleast where I live.

 

I was thinking that but I was a little unsure because it happened out of nowhere.

 

definitely an alternator, i see this all the time at my work.

 

I kept driving the car and it eventually died on my way home yesterday-dead battery. I got it home, charged the battery and put in an new alternator. When I run the in the garage and check out all the levels using a multimeter, everything looks good. As soon as I put it on the road and the car is in motion, things start acting funny again. If I turn on the brights and turn signal, radio turns off and the gauges start bouncing around again..........could I have fried the battery?

 

its possible, go up to an autoparts store like autozone and have them check the battery and see if its alright but you may have fried one or 2 of the cells

 

ANOTHER UPDATE - just back back from a drive - car died, this time it wouldn't start. Just driving along ok, then it just died. I took the key out and (I think it was the main fuel relay on the fuse box) was clicking like crazy. Some of the lights where still on in the dash (faded) with the car of, key out. When I put the key back in and turned to to start, 20 red flashes on the ecu. ???? wtf

 

The battery almost dry out, code 20 is the electric load detector, and the main relay for fuel pump locate behind the coin tray by the left vent. You really need new alternator.

 

indeed ^. test it out

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/7572/eldtest.jpg

 

put a new alternator in already

 

OK - just for updates, new alternator, battery is good, connections are nice and tight, grounds appear to be okay. Checked ELD and everything is within specs.

I started it today and everything was fine. When it ideals in my garage, everything works. I can turn on every accessory at the same time and no problems.

When I drive the car, say about 30-40 mph and start using the accessories, that's when i get the problems. Lights flash, dim, sometimes turn off. This is the same thing it was doing yesterday until the car eventually turned off.

What could this be???

 

you check all your grounds?

 

I think so, what could I be missing

 

Anyone?

 

did you check the ground on the thermostat housing?

 

Yea, everything looks good to me.

I seem to only see the problem when the car is moving forward. ???????????????

WTF?????????

 

HEY BRO HAVE YOU FIXED? IF NOT MAYBE THIS MIGHT HELP..MY CRX WAS DOING THE SAME THING BUT, I THINK I FIXED IT.THE NEGATIVE CABLE TO THE BATTERY IS GROUNDED BY THE CLUTCH CABLE THEN TO THE BODY. ON MY CAR THE PART GROUNDED TO THE BODY WAS LOOSE I TIGHTEN AND MY CAR HAS BEEN OK SINCE GOODLUCK!!