Hey guys, got a little bit of a problem here with my 93 CX hatch. When I left for work this morning, the car started and drove fine. When I left work to go to class, it was still working perfect. I left class and hauled *** to a bookstore, again it started up perfectly, just like I've come to expect from my honda, then as I left the bookstore the car wouldn't start. The radio and fan were still working fine, so I know that the battery is working. I popped the hood and checked the caps, they were all full. I called my mom to meet me and maybe give me a jump start and when she showed up the car wouldn't jump. It was throwing up a CEL and the dead battery light when I would try to start the car. I don't have any idea what code it was as I was in the bookstore parking lot without an auto parts store anywhere nearby. I'm leaving work early to get out to where I left the car and try to get it to the house, but I'd like to have an idea of what the hell is going on so I can try to fix it. I work at a motorcycle shop and the mechanic also lives with me and my parents, so the mechanics aren't going to be the hard part, diagnosis is going to be the hard part. Like I said, he's a motorcycle mechanic, not a car mechanic and while some stuff crosses over, he's clueless about a lot of things [I.E. Bolting on tie bars, etc.]. If you guys could help me out and maybe suggest things to check out, I would appreciate it a great deal. He said he could bypass the starter somehow and get the car to start if the battery is decent, but I'm a little worried about it. I don't like jimmy-rigging my cars, I tend to lean more towards the overkill side of things. I'm getting a new Optima Yellow-top here in a week or two to power my sound system [haven't installed yet], so the battery is being replaced anyway. Thanks in advance.

 

I do believe that it won't run for very long without the alternator. Check the alternator somehow... plus if the battery is dead enough it will take a long time to get enough of a charge to get it to even turn over. Believe me, I know this from my times with an 80 Impala. If it is that bad your definetly going to need a new battery. ^_^

But then again I don't know if the radio would come on if the battery is >that< dead.

 

hmmm, I like sugar

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by macrobatics &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">hmmm, I like sugar</TD></TR></TABLE>

....wtf are you talking about?

 

Check your alternator. The same thing happened to my former 1991 CRX Si. If you are not sure, get a new(er) battery and see if the car works. If it is the alternator, the car will work for some time and then it won't start again. If you can get it to drive, try turning the lights on and watch your gauges. If they stop working and the lights get dimmer, that's the alternator.

FYI: never get alternators from AutoZone, PepBoys or whatever you have there. Go to a Honda dealership, pay a butt load of money, but get a genuine Honda replacement. I went through 2 GM rebuilds before I spent $280 on a quility part.

 

Hey guys, thanks for the replies [except macrobatics, you worthless POS, post something helpful or don't post. I don't appreciate my thread being whored for your postcount.]. I heard I need to run a beefed alternator to power my sound system. I'm going to run two 10" subs off a 760 watt amp, probably pushing 250 to 300 watts max to each speaker. Should I upgrade for this or will I be alright? I'm also planning on installing a car-puter in the coming months, and among other power woes, the alternator is on the top of my 'concerns' list. If I'm going to be running both, should I upgrade? I'd rather spend the bucks once rather than twice. Also, does anyone make a reliable alternator that puts out a little more 'oomph'? Thanks in advance.