98 accord engine "whine"

OK...here's a good one:
My trusty 98 Accord ExV6...115k miles. Transmission at 75K. Timing
belt/water pump at 98K, ball joints at 112k, battery last year.
After a normal uneventful drive home from work, stopped for a short time to
pick up take out. Started the car and BINGO, the alternator light, brake
warning light, and all of the "door open/trunk, and brake light out" lights
came on spontaneously. Car ran fine, accelerated fine. After about a mile or
so the lights went off as spontaneously as they went on. I breathed a sight
of relief, BUT, not I am hearing an ever so slight "whine" from the engine
compartment in gear as well as in park. Maybe it was there before and I did
not notice it, but I don't think so.

Bizarre set of circumstances?? Alternator??
Confused.

Matt

 

Alternator brushes worn out, most likely. Easy fix.

 

Easy Fix?? Can the brushes be replaced without replacing the entire
alternator? Only asking because the alternator alone is ~$275 + I'll assume
3 hous labor putting the cost at close to $600.

 

I just referred to my "Haynes" repair Manual. Apparently the Nippon Denso
alternators in 4 cyl Accord do have replacable brushes but the lousy
Mitsubishi/Delphi units in the 6 cyl models (ie: mine) have to be replaced
as a whole.

 

You trust Haynes? Idiot.

 

I have come to this group now as in the past to look for answers and while
the answers and opinions are greatly appreciated, the verbal abuse is NOT
thank you very much.....

 

The most useful piece of advice you can be given is to set your Haynes
manual on fire, and go buy the Helms manual...

 

Said that way...thank you for the useful advice!!

 

dude, you can take that comment personally, [in which case i'd ask why
you're posting on an unmoderated forum in the first place] /or/ you can
consider the reasoning for it. haynes manuals are frequently either
sparse on crucial information, or worse, just plain wrong. on that
basis, referring to a haynes and then using it as "defense" against
sound advice from a guy with /way/ more experience than you, well, let's
just say it's not going to be the smart thing to do.

best thing you can do for your honda [and yourself] - buy the factory
manual from helm. i believe you may have received this advice before
with one of your previous questions. it looks expensive, but it pays
for itself the first time you use it. and you won't find yourself in
the above position.

 

Perhaps "idiot" was a bit of a strong word. I therefore substitute for it,
"poor misguided soul about to damage more than he fixes by using a Haynes".

Is that better?

 

Does it get the response you want, and in an efficient way?

I'd check the Factory Service Manual on this point before
condemning Haynes on it. Haynes is not the best, but it's
far from wholly wrong. I'd check...

 

All responses much appreciated!
That being said...drove the car today. Whine is significantly diminished
from yesterday and no "idiot" lights on the instrument panel. I did notice
the SRS light appearing at completely random fashion, and that too
disappeared after an hour or so of stop and go driving.
In my limited experience, I'll blame the 3 inches of rain we had here on
Long Island and a wet engine compartment for the bizarre series of
events.Maybe, maybe not.
IF however, any of the symptoms recur...to the dealer it goes.
Thanks again. This group has been of great assistance to me over the years.
84 Accord LX
88 Accord LX
98 Accord EX V6

 

I depend on both. Often, the verbiage is more understandable in the
Haynes but confusion can result due to the dual US/UK coverage.

JT

 

Just another thought...if the alternator was bad wouldn't the electrical
warning light come on??

 

Only if it quit charging..

JT