has anyone else ever had this problem, i checked my connections and my battery cable, i'm just wondering cause i don't wanna have to take it to a shop and have them tell me it was a ground or something, so pleaase. I am a poor *** college kid with no money. oh and my car is a 97 civic dx.
Thank You

 

You mean your alternator won't charge your battery?

It's most likely a bad diode in the alternator. Take it to Sears or somewhere and have them do a battery/alternator test. It's usually free and if it's you alternator, you can probably pick one up real cheap (if you turn in your old one).

Rebuild alternators is a bitch. Just get a new one if that's your problem.

 

just get a new one thats it

 

I don't know too much about Honda alternators, but I do know enough about alternators itself to help you out..

First thing I'd check is the wires and the belt.. Loose wires or belts will cause the alternator to not charge..

Next, take a screw driver and move it along the back of the alternator where the fan ISN'T spinning.. Is there a magnetic field there??

If there is a magnetic field, you know that your problem is in the output circuit of the alternator.. I'd find a way to bypass the voltage regulator and full field the alternator. Now that's the tricky part because you have to know the circuit or have a wiring diagram for it. Because if you don't know the circuit, you might end up ruining the alternator altogether.. But if you do know how to full field the alternator and it turns the alternator on and starts charging, your problem is the Voltage Regulator..

If there is not a magnetic field, you know that your problem is in the input circuit of the alternator.. And if that's the case, you probably have the battery light on in your cluster.. What I would then assume is that you've got worn brushes or slip rings which is not allowing the rotor to get kick start..

Good luck..

 

alright, thanks, i'll try all of the suggestions and get back to you all