My car runs fine as i drive normaly but if the car is not started and i have my radio on anything else on, when i try to start the car up agian its wont start at all. Also today i had to put my hazzards on with my car complete off came back to my car and the car wouldnt start at all once again. Hopeing you guys could shed some light on to what this could be, my guess is its my alternator slowly going out on me.

 

Yes.. sounds like the alternator or your car have a short somewhere.

 

if no battery light is coming on, it's safe to say that your alternator is not the problem. I would have your batter tested before you go any further. Most local autoparts store provide servicing like this free.

 

This Q is for HONDADNA (or anyone else): Voltage is applied to the battery light with the regulator providing a ground to light it up.

IF there was a break in the wire to the light, would the regulator still function normally?

I ask because in years past, the voltage supplied to/through the light served a purpose for the regulator. Not suggesting this was particular to Honda's, but such an animal does exist.

 

I'm not absolutely sure for Hondas, but you're right for at least some cars. Alternators don't have permanent magnets in them, so they need a little current to get them started.

I had an '89 Saab, and the battery idiot light provided that excitation current for the alternator. If the bulb burned out, the alternator wouldn't charge. Lotsa people posted to that BB about how their alternator didn't work, when that was the problem. Sometimes you have to pause when you turn the car on, just to check if all the idiot lights work...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EE_Chris &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">This Q is for HONDADNA (or anyone else): Voltage is applied to the battery light with the regulator providing a ground to light it up.

IF there was a break in the wire to the light, would the regulator still function normally?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

good question EE_CHRIS. but to answer your question, yes the regulator would still function.

On the battery warning light, there are positive voltage on bothside of the circuits. However, when the regulator shorts out it grounds the charge warning light.

Hope I was able to answer your question.

 

i just changed my bad alternator out for a new one. while driving, my tach and speedo would fall to zero among other things; my battery light however never came on. definitely head over to autozone etc. for a free alternator and battery check.