In my car 91' Honda Accord LX 2DR the lighting indoor and outdoor is dim. The headlights and dome light both brighten up when accelerating. The headlight flash out whenever I put on the turn signal, are they related? I have thought alternator but whenever I use the voltmeter it is around 14V while running and 12.6 when off. But one day last year my alternator light went on after driving it went off and never came on. I don't want to throw parts at it because I don't have the money. Is there a relay for the lighting or something. I would like to at least be able to see inside my car when the lights are on.

Thanks

 

Seems like it's taking out more than what's coming in to be causing things to go dim and brighten up when you gas the pedal. I've had that before, and nothing went wrong for me.

 

What did you do to fix it?

 

Sounds like the alternator or voltage regulator. Your going to have to go into more diagnostics. Hondas also have an Electronic Load Detector (ELD) Unit that may be failing/ causing the problem. Sorry I couldn't be of more help. I would look toward the alternator. Good luck bud.

 

Mine wasn't low low dimmed out, but it's enough for you to noticed. I didn't do anything knowing that it's not harming anything. Nothing went wrong.

 

When you're measuring the voltage with the car idling, are the electrical loads turned on? If not, turn on the headlights, heater, rear defroster, etc and check the voltage again.

 

Yeah I tried it both ways when testing voltage, it dropped a little but nothing major with accessories on. What I don't like about it is it just isn't the lights but also the heater blower. The headlight flash out for a second when I put on the turn signals. I can get a used alternator from a junk yard for 30 bucks should I do that?

 

Personally, I would never bother with a used alternator unless I happened to have one laying around already.

As far as the lighting problem goes, do you have a way of measuring amperage? You can have good voltage, but not enough amperage from the alternator. What condition are the battery cables and connections in, including the wiring to the alternator?

 

Sounds like the battery is dying. Get it load tested at an autoparts store. The alternator seems to be doing its job @ 14V.

 

Wow I didn't even notice that the battery hadn't been load tested yet.

 

I just bought the battery last year It should be good, but I did buy it at walmart.

 

you can have both the alternator & battery tested for free at the parts store...

how's the belt tension/ condition?

 

After haveing the alt tested. Are the grounds to the lights are clean and tight.....test the voltage at the headlights while the car is running.....