Battery light not going off with new alt and battery
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Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Jun 2021
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Battery light not going off with new alt and battery
1990 Honda civic hatchback Ef STD made in Canada. All stock.OBD0 with a viper alarm system and 1400 watt amp for subwoofer.
So recently ive been having some weird issues.
first I was on a bumpy road full of pot holes' I hit a pot hole and my radio started sounding all static. Then a minute or so later I parked and killed the engine. Came back and the car wouldn't start at all. I could hear the main relay clicking when I turn the key but the starter wasn't budging. (2 week old starter by the way) put the jump box on the battery and the car started up but sounded like it was misfiring real bad. Then a minute later it "fixed" itself. Drove it for two days without any issues then my battery light comes on.
car started to run like absolute trash. Sputtering when I press the gas. Exactly like how limp mode does to cars.
tried to make it home and it died in the street. Towed it home. Put the jump box on it and it started. Removed the positive cable from the battery to test the alternator. Went dead immediately. Bought a new alternator. Mitsubishi brand from O'Reillys. Installed it. Car started up but the battery light was still on. I searched the forums. Decided maybe the battery is bad although it's only 6 months old. Put a brand new battery and the battery light is dimmer than normal but still illuminated. Then while driving it goes off and will randomly come back on.
my only three guesses are Bad ground but I've checked them they seem fine visually (I don't have a voltmeter)
bad ELD maybe???
And bad ECU? It's not throwing any codes as far as I see.
blinks 1 time when I turn the key forward. Doesn't do any additional blinking.
any insight here?
So recently ive been having some weird issues.
first I was on a bumpy road full of pot holes' I hit a pot hole and my radio started sounding all static. Then a minute or so later I parked and killed the engine. Came back and the car wouldn't start at all. I could hear the main relay clicking when I turn the key but the starter wasn't budging. (2 week old starter by the way) put the jump box on the battery and the car started up but sounded like it was misfiring real bad. Then a minute later it "fixed" itself. Drove it for two days without any issues then my battery light comes on.
car started to run like absolute trash. Sputtering when I press the gas. Exactly like how limp mode does to cars.
tried to make it home and it died in the street. Towed it home. Put the jump box on it and it started. Removed the positive cable from the battery to test the alternator. Went dead immediately. Bought a new alternator. Mitsubishi brand from O'Reillys. Installed it. Car started up but the battery light was still on. I searched the forums. Decided maybe the battery is bad although it's only 6 months old. Put a brand new battery and the battery light is dimmer than normal but still illuminated. Then while driving it goes off and will randomly come back on.
my only three guesses are Bad ground but I've checked them they seem fine visually (I don't have a voltmeter)
bad ELD maybe???
And bad ECU? It's not throwing any codes as far as I see.
blinks 1 time when I turn the key forward. Doesn't do any additional blinking.
any insight here?
Last edited by SlowCivicD15; Sep 4, 2021 at 11:58 AM. Reason: Missed a few details
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 18,961
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From: I am Tyson
Re: Battery light not going off with new alt and battery
A bad distributor rotor could answer some of the intermittent misfiring. Take the cap off and see if the rotor set screw is tight.
The battery light is a charging system issue. Check the voltage at idle and with headlights, fans and heater blowing. Needs to be 14.5V from the alternator terminal to ground. I know you said you replaced the alternator, it's pretty common to get a bad one straight from the parts store.
Also check your thermostat ground.
1 blink is O2 sensor. Check the wiring. Cheap to replace too.
The battery light is a charging system issue. Check the voltage at idle and with headlights, fans and heater blowing. Needs to be 14.5V from the alternator terminal to ground. I know you said you replaced the alternator, it's pretty common to get a bad one straight from the parts store.
Also check your thermostat ground.
1 blink is O2 sensor. Check the wiring. Cheap to replace too.
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