96 Civic question

Ok here goes,

'96 civic DX 5 speed,I was driving into work this morning and had the wipers
on,headlights and defog.My dash lights started (how do I explain this)
acting like they were almost blinking like my emergency lights.Headlights
were doing the same thing.It was raining out at the time.I kinda think it's
my alternator going up on me or the belts are loose.Any thoughts on this?Oh
yeah the speedometer was jumping around like a monkey on crystal meth going
from 20 to 100 to 30 to ...you get the picture.
Thanks in advance,
Will

PS I had a prior question about whether my speed sensor or speedometer was
going up on me,it WAS the speed sensor.

 

That's quite a description! Never seen a monkey of meth, but I got the
picture

Be sure the battery connections are tight and clean first.
Check the voltage across the battery (you can get a cheap multimeter at
sears or radio shack, if you don't have one). With the car running, you
should see over 14 Volts.
If not, it could be your alternator or belt so check back here.

Remco

 

My first guess is that an UFO flew above you and was trying to beem up
your car but decided at the last moment to beem up the new BMW that was
behind you.

Remco gave you some great advice in case I was wrong.

 

The wide range of electrical symptoms points right to the battery, charging
system or grounds (or UFO, of course.)

Most of the symptoms could be slipping belts, but I dunno about the
speedometer. Check the engine ground - probably a braided wire from the
valve cover to the frame near the radiator - for tightness at each end.
Really weird electrical problems always make me think of engine ground
first. As Remco suggests, from there it is checking the battery connections
and voltage. I also had a battery once that was intermittently open and
caused all sorts of problems while driving until I caught it in the act once
when I tried to start the car... no crank. But focus on the common stuff
first.

Mike

 

Yeah, I hate it when that happens!

 

: : > Ok here goes,
: >
: > '96 civic DX 5 speed,I was driving into work this morning and had the
: > wipers
: > on,headlights and defog.My dash lights started (how do I explain this)
: > acting like they were almost blinking like my emergency
lights.Headlights
: > were doing the same thing.It was raining out at the time.I kinda think
: > it's
: > my alternator going up on me or the belts are loose.Any thoughts on
: > this?Oh
: > yeah the speedometer was jumping around like a monkey on crystal meth
: > going
: > from 20 to 100 to 30 to ...you get the picture.
: > Thanks in advance,
: > Will
: >
: The wide range of electrical symptoms points right to the battery,
charging
: system or grounds (or UFO, of course.)
:
: Most of the symptoms could be slipping belts, but I dunno about the
: speedometer. Check the engine ground - probably a braided wire from the
: valve cover to the frame near the radiator - for tightness at each end.
: Really weird electrical problems always make me think of engine ground
: first. As Remco suggests, from there it is checking the battery
connections
: and voltage. I also had a battery once that was intermittently open and
: caused all sorts of problems while driving until I caught it in the act
once
: when I tried to start the car... no crank. But focus on the common stuff
: first.
:
: Mike

I will check the ground,didn't think of that.You guys are the Einstein of
Hondas.I did clean the terminals and battery and still have the same
symptoms.I was told if you disconnect the positive side of the battery while
it was running and it shut right down and that would suggest that the
alternator is shot but I will STILL look at the ground to make sure all my
bases are covered.As far as the alien thing is concerned they already ate my
Buick.That's why I bought a Honda to replace it.For some odd reason they
don't like Japanese metal or something.Well hell, here I am babbling about
aliens eating my Buick and I still haven't looked at the gound yet.Thanks
again for the help fellers!
Git 'er done

 

: : > Ok here goes,
: >
: > '96 civic DX 5 speed,I was driving into work this morning and had the
: > wipers
: > on,headlights and defog.My dash lights started (how do I explain this)
: > acting like they were almost blinking like my emergency
lights.Headlights
: > were doing the same thing.It was raining out at the time.I kinda think
: > it's
: > my alternator going up on me or the belts are loose.Any thoughts on
: > this?Oh
: > yeah the speedometer was jumping around like a monkey on crystal meth
: > going
: > from 20 to 100 to 30 to ...you get the picture.
: > Thanks in advance,
: > Will
: >
: The wide range of electrical symptoms points right to the battery,
charging
: system or grounds (or UFO, of course.)
:
: Most of the symptoms could be slipping belts, but I dunno about the
: speedometer. Check the engine ground - probably a braided wire from the
: valve cover to the frame near the radiator - for tightness at each end.
: Really weird electrical problems always make me think of engine ground
: first. As Remco suggests, from there it is checking the battery
connections
: and voltage. I also had a battery once that was intermittently open and
: caused all sorts of problems while driving until I caught it in the act
once
: when I tried to start the car... no crank. But focus on the common stuff
: first.
:
: Mike
:


Looked at the engine ground strap and it's tight as a drum.I guess I'll be
pulling my alternator this weekend.

 

You didn't actually disconnect the positive, did you? Alternators don't
generate clean voltages by themselves and the battery actually filters
this to its normally seen 14.5 volts.
The high spikes from the generator can take out other components. (ecm,
etc)

In old cars, the electronics used to not be very sensitive and could
take these spikes so that was the trick to determine whether the
alternator is working. The new cars' electronics are a lot more
sensitive t voltage spikes so I hope you didn't do damage pulling the
positive lead off...

 

: You didn't actually disconnect the positive, did you? Alternators don't
: generate clean voltages by themselves and the battery actually filters
: this to its normally seen 14.5 volts.
: The high spikes from the generator can take out other components. (ecm,
: etc)
:
: In old cars, the electronics used to not be very sensitive and could
: take these spikes so that was the trick to determine whether the
: alternator is working. The new cars' electronics are a lot more
: sensitive t voltage spikes so I hope you didn't do damage pulling the
: positive lead off...
:


Yeah I did that.Hopefully it hasn't caused any damage.The big question I
have now is:
Ok Now that I have the alternator disconnected from the wiring and the
hardware ,how the **** do I get the sonofabitch out of the engine crate?I
tried 15 ways to sunday to do it and the only alternative I see is to pull
my master brake cylinder.Any suggestions?This is trying to drive me nuts
ok,I am at wits end at this point.

 

It comes out from below:
I've gotten it out by jacking the car up and removing the front
driver's tire. It may be tight, but there's just enough space to get it
out.

 

: It comes out from below:
: I've gotten it out by jacking the car up and removing the front
: driver's tire. It may be tight, but there's just enough space to get it
: out.


Thanks man I got it out.Had to finagle it thru the shroud and stuff and it
was definitely tight but I got it. Sorry for the use of expletives in my
prior post.

 

Glad you got it.
In the use of expletives the repair manuals are just seriously lacking

 

: Glad you got it.
: In the use of expletives the repair manuals are just seriously lacking
:

No doubt in my mind.They make it look so cut and dry then when it's time to
do it............Fuggetaboutit!

 

To test the alternator run the engine at about 1500-2000 rpm with all
electrical off. Voltage should be around 14.5 volts. Turn headlights and
other electrical on and watch voltage. It should hold around the 13.5 to
14.5 volt area. If you have added a lot of high power consuming devices
(large subwoofer) don't turn these on. The battery could still be bad with
an internal loose connection and intermittently show good. I had one this
way and it blew the top off when I hit the starter. This can cause lots of
electrical noise and the indication seen.