So I finally got my car to start. Now I am checking my alternator. The original voltage on the battery is at 12.4v when the car is off. When the car is on, the voltage meter reads some where between 13.5-14v. But it jumps up and down. Here is a video to show what I am talking about. Is this normal? I've seen other videos on good alternators where the volts stays consistant.

97 accord LX 230k miles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXViW-Unu84&feature=plcp

 

Whats the symptoms? Is the battery light on?

 

The battery light flickers when the car sits at a stop light.

 

Then it's on it's way out. The one on my H22A does that at idle. Actually, it stays on at idle til I get going then it shuts off. I drove on it for a whole day, swapped it out for a new one and problem fixed.

Should be a constant 13-14v running.

 

That's odd because i've just changed the alternator a year ago. Do the alternator go out that fast?

 

Get the alternator tested. But before you do that, see if you can remove the brushes from it. On occasion they will get stuck and wont be making good contact with the armature. or maybe one will and one wont. Sometimes if you take a rubber mallet, smack it, and the brushes will reseat. But, if it is under warranty, say you got it at autozone or wherever. Then you can just swap it out. but to answer your question, those parts store alternators/or starters, are not built very well.

Also, is there oil or crap on the alternator, wiring? bad connections SO many times mess with people trying to figure out electrical problems.

 

Not really. A new can go bad anytime though just like saying a brand new part can still be defect right out the box.

 

At first i thought that the belt on the alternator was loose, is there any way I can tighten up the belt?

I believe that there is some powersteering fluid on the alternator since my powersteering pump is leaking fluid. You can see some fluid leaking out of the power steering pump from the pic in the other thread i made.

https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-accord-1990-2002-2/am-i-missing-something-3074850/

Will this cause the alternator to act up?