calling all mechanics, woman needs help with 1990 honda civic?

  • Thread starter Thread starter KYO
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KYO

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First off never buy a used alternator, you will only have problems!!!!!

second it DOES sound like a alternator but that is a easy check go to you locale auto zone Chucks Shucks etc.all three of those will check your alternator for FREE, if your alternator is not the problem and given you have a new battery i would then assume that you have a exposed ground wire or pos. battery cable look at the top of you battery at the positive Cable is it clean and seated nice and firm? if so follow it down to your starter and make sure there is no cuts and cracks on the positive cable. make sure it is connected nice and firm to the starter.. if all is well there do the same for the negative battery cable.. it will go from the battery to a solid mounting point on the engine or frame. if none of the above is the problem i would then take it to someone who knows what to look for as it could be one of a few different things on the charging system.

I hope this helps
Kyo


Edit: looks like guy above me said same thing as i was typing this : )
 
lol, i am back. last week i was driving and my battery light came on. everything went dim and i barely made it home. i had the battery tested and they said it was fine. so i took my car to the shop, it was the alternator belt. good, only cost me $24. well a week later, it does it again. everything starts to dim so i run by walmart, they test the battery and said it was no good. so i get another one, luckily it was on warranty. so no charge. ok, i am good to go. i deliver pizza for a living and the whole night it was fine. til my last delivery everything starts to go dim again. now i have a new alternator belt and a brand new battery. i had to come home tonight with no lights on because when i turned on the lights, it would almost go dead. without the lights i made it all the way home. now, what its wrong? give me some ideas. is it just the alternator? if so, how much do they run at a salvage yard. just ball park figures, i know no one can answer without doing research. but if its not the alternator, what is it? please help a lady out. thank you.
 
Sure sounds like the voltage regulator is acting up and it could be internally built into the alternator or be external.
You really need to have a good look at the wires running to the battery , starter , alternator and engine block ground bec they could be rusted or corroded and only require an cleaning or basic overhaul.Minor job for a mechanic to perform removing each connection one by one, then cleaning them all with wire brushes etc but it takes a few hrs really to do yourself and a good hr or 90 mins for a shop.
Basically it sounds like you've had to replace the battery twice now due the battery or charging system over working.That tells you that more then likely due to the vehicles age that corroded or bad connections do exist and slowly cause the battery to go again but keep in mind that the alternator and voltage regulating is part of the charging system and it might of also had to over work causing it to fail too.
Walmart or a shop should be able to conduct a free charging system test and see if the alternator is working properly but also make sure that the alternator belt is tight enough too.

Hope that helps and best of luck.By the way a do it yourself auto wreckers would be the cheapest and the alternator or volt reg shouldn't run you more then 10 to 40 bucks if you or a friend pulls one off.Otherwise you'd be looking at 25 to 60 bucks if they have one in stock at a wreckers or remove one for you.Just be sure to have your alternator and charging system tested before buying any parts and have the used alternator tested too.
 
To test your alternator, you need a volt meter. Go back to Wally World and ask them to check your charging system. With engine running, you should have 13.8 to 14.5 volts without the lights, etc, on. A used alternator could cost $50-75 plus labor to install. Also, make sure the belt is not loose.
 
To test your alternator, you need a volt meter. Go back to Wally World and ask them to check your charging system. With engine running, you should have 13.8 to 14.5 volts without the lights, etc, on. A used alternator could cost $50-75 plus labor to install. Also, make sure the belt is not loose.
 
To test your alternator, you need a volt meter. Go back to Wally World and ask them to check your charging system. With engine running, you should have 13.8 to 14.5 volts without the lights, etc, on. A used alternator could cost $50-75 plus labor to install. Also, make sure the belt is not loose.
 
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