Im hoping somebody has some thoughts on my problem because it is driving me nuts.

It started with a rough idle and pulsing lights. I checked voltage across battery and it was bouncing between 9-18v so i thought alternator was gone. Replaced alternator with used one and same thing. At first I thought that alternator was bad. Then i tried running the car with no alternator, still a really lumpy idle and doesnt run right.

Checked the voltage across the battery with no alternator and same thing, voltage bouncing from 9-18v with car running and 12.3 with car off.

I know both alternators are bad because I had both tested but why is the car running rough and the voltage screwed up with no alternator?

I dont want to get another alternator and have the car blow that alternator.

Any help would be seriously appreciated

Also no CELs but when the connector is jumped the CEL is solid but no blinking. Does that mean ECU? But shouldnt it show a solid CEL with connector is not jumped?

 

I think I may have a short because I am getting a small reading from chassis to the negative battery terminal. Any ideas on how I can track it down?

 

have you messed with any of your engine grounds lately?? especially the main one coming off the battery onto the right shock tower. broke that bolt off once and switched to the one next to it. car started once and then where i got to where i was it wouldnt start again. i didnt buff the paint off around the bolt hole so it wasnt getting a solid ground. hondas are especially finnicky and can cause wacky **** without a good ground. not only that but i had the same test results from the negative battery terminal to anywhere on the engine block or frame, it would always show voltage.

 

thanks for the reply, I havent done anything at all to the grounds or any wiring. I have already checked all grounds I think. and have wiggled them all while the car was running and no difference and no difference on the voltmeter. It just started all of a sudden

This leads me to think I have a short somewhere.
1. crazy voltage across the battery with car running with NO alternator in car
2. voltage from neg. battery terminal to neg. battery wire ( wire disconnected from battery post)

I dont know why i would develop a short all of a sudden on a stock harness but am going to try and disconnecting all fuses to see if the voltage goes away between neg battery terminal and wire