Electrical problem! Alternator? Anyone wanna help?
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Torrance, CA
Electrical problem! Alternator? Anyone wanna help?
Hello my name is David and i am a theft recovery victim. I have a 1998 Civic DX Hatchback, here's my problem.
When i got my car back from a recent theft recovery, my battery would die whenever i hit a red light. I'd reach a stop light, the car would idle horrendously and then the battery light went off and then the engine would stop. I was able to start up again.
This has happened only 4 times. I replaced the battery and everything turned out okay, for a while. A couple days ago, it did it again. I finally took it to a shop, the mechanic measured the voltage my car was putting out at 2000rpm. He told me that my alternator was not supplying enough energy to recharge the battery. He said whenever i hit the brake, the lights would come off and that would drain my battery causing it to die. He then told me i needed a new alternator.
Afterwards i went over to Autozone to get it tested, to make sure the previous mechanic wasnt trying to run me for my money. The Autozone mechanic measured the voltage showed a 12.5 V output from the alternator. He told me that 12.5 was just enough to charge the battery, and i didnt really need a new one. He said the
problem could be loose wires touching ground somewhere. I checked everything and taped everything up. Maybe theres something i missed?
Anyway my question is has anyone out there had a similar problem from a theft recovery? Do you think i should buy a new alternator? What else could contribute to this kind of engine behavior?
Thanks in advance...
When i got my car back from a recent theft recovery, my battery would die whenever i hit a red light. I'd reach a stop light, the car would idle horrendously and then the battery light went off and then the engine would stop. I was able to start up again.
This has happened only 4 times. I replaced the battery and everything turned out okay, for a while. A couple days ago, it did it again. I finally took it to a shop, the mechanic measured the voltage my car was putting out at 2000rpm. He told me that my alternator was not supplying enough energy to recharge the battery. He said whenever i hit the brake, the lights would come off and that would drain my battery causing it to die. He then told me i needed a new alternator.
Afterwards i went over to Autozone to get it tested, to make sure the previous mechanic wasnt trying to run me for my money. The Autozone mechanic measured the voltage showed a 12.5 V output from the alternator. He told me that 12.5 was just enough to charge the battery, and i didnt really need a new one. He said the
problem could be loose wires touching ground somewhere. I checked everything and taped everything up. Maybe theres something i missed?
Anyway my question is has anyone out there had a similar problem from a theft recovery? Do you think i should buy a new alternator? What else could contribute to this kind of engine behavior?
Thanks in advance...
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,962
Likes: 0
From: Torrance, CA
Re: (igo4bmx)
Yeah i HAD a system. Autozone guy said 12.5V was bare minimum to recharge battery, 14 was average, 16 is a good alternator. I was just wondering if it could be something besides the alternator? I'd like to know before i decide to purchase a new alternator or not. Keep them posts rollin in!
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