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weird problems with car charge


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Pyrcide
User

Sep 24, 2011, 11:12 AM

Post #1 of 23 (2132 views)
weird problems with car charge Sign In

1994 Honda Civic EX
4 cyl
178,000

Battery light came on a few weeks ago. I let a friend borrow the car and it ended up being dead and needed a jump. I rarely drive the vehicle, but I have since and have had no problems with starting it or what not. After looking at the battery the positive post was loose and wanted to come out with the terminal when trying to remove the clamp. I just replace the battery, hoping the bad post was the problem. Charging light in dashboard is still on. I have a Black and Decker smart charger which reads volts and has an alternater check function. When the car is running it reads 12.1 volts, turn the lights on it reads 11.9, turn the lights off and it idles very erratically back to 12.1 volts, yet idles fine with lights on at 11.9. The alternator check function comes up with a fault light everytime. My question is why does the car seem to run better with the lights on at lower voltage and idle erratically when I shut them off. I know it should be reading 14+ volts, I'm yet to rule out the alternater though, with these weird symptoms, any ideas?


(This post was edited by Pyrcide on Sep 24, 2011, 11:45 AM)


Pyrcide
User

Sep 24, 2011, 11:44 AM

Post #2 of 23 (2123 views)
Re: weird problems with car charge Sign In

sorry it is a Vtec engine, and the car reads 12.4 battery volts when not running


(This post was edited by Pyrcide on Sep 24, 2011, 11:44 AM)


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Sep 24, 2011, 11:44 AM

Post #3 of 23 (2120 views)
Re: weird problems with car charge Sign In

With the age and miles you really need to check all wiring connections, belt tension and free at many parts outlets to test the alternator and know the battery is good. 12.1 if accurate to the point is close but 12.2 after a wait of charging is more normal.

A quick look showed voltage regulator was more expensive on this than a reman alternatorCrazy


I don't make the rules so I wouldn't take the thing apart for more money as regulator is inside. Check all fuses and connections and look for any fusible links that have blown. Not sure if Honda did that.

In short, have it bench tested suggested in nothing else found,

T



Pyrcide
User

Sep 24, 2011, 11:50 AM

Post #4 of 23 (2115 views)
Re: weird problems with car charge Sign In

Yes it is an old car with some time on it. Appreciate the advice, but if it was the alternater, would the battery read more volts when I shut it off, that means it's getting a charge, right? Yes I've read about the voltage regulators.... my other car is a domestic, I'm not use to working on foreign cars, nor at all familiar with them. I'll do some more digging and see what I can find, thanks again


(This post was edited by Pyrcide on Sep 24, 2011, 11:52 AM)


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Sep 24, 2011, 12:38 PM

Post #5 of 23 (2101 views)
Re: weird problems with car charge Sign In

"Would battery read more volts when shut off?"

Yes if - not run down as it' s not using power for fuel pump or other items when just shut down if alternator isn't helping at all which it is not by your #s,

T



Pyrcide
User

Oct 22, 2011, 4:08 PM

Post #6 of 23 (2032 views)
Re: weird problems with car charge Sign In

Ok, so Ive got every bolt off the alternator... I actually think it was missing one... Ive got it to the point to where it swivels on the lower bracket, and probly just needs pounded out. I dont see how I can pull up from the top, or drop it from the bottom to remove it. I really don't want to, and don't even think I can remove the lower bracket without gringing down my brand new set of wrenches. Anyone know if its possible to get this alt out with the lower bracket still in place? Thanks for the help


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Oct 22, 2011, 5:51 PM

Post #7 of 23 (2021 views)
Re: weird problems with car charge Sign In

Many of those Hondas you have to remove the axle to get it out.



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re-tired
Veteran / Moderator
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Oct 22, 2011, 6:00 PM

Post #8 of 23 (2018 views)
Re: weird problems with car charge Sign In

If memory is correct (50 /50) lately you can remove top bracket and wiggle it out the top ..


LIFE'S SHORT GO FISH


Pyrcide
User

Oct 22, 2011, 7:52 PM

Post #9 of 23 (2014 views)
Re: weird problems with car charge Sign In

The diagram is helpfull, and yeas the axle is in the way. I thought it just needed beat out of the bracket, I was wrong. I can't get it to move a millimeter out of the bracket. It swivels rather easy forward and back, but will not budge out of the bracket, and yes the trough bolt is out. Am I missing something other than brute force?


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Oct 23, 2011, 6:09 AM

Post #10 of 23 (2003 views)
Re: weird problems with car charge Sign In

If you're sure you have the bolt removed, there is a sliding bushing that tightens against the alternator. You caneither slip a bar behind it and push it out or rock the alternator side to side, (opposite of the direction it swivels).



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Pyrcide
User

Oct 23, 2011, 2:58 PM

Post #11 of 23 (1988 views)
Re: weird problems with car charge Sign In

Yes the bolt is removed, the alternator basically should be floating in mid air. How big is this bushing? And does it go the length of the alternator, or just near where the through bolt comes out. I just went back out to the garage to try what you said, It does not rock side to side whatsoever, nor can I budge what appears to be a metal sleeve that the through bolt goes through. I'm missing something or just not seeing it...


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Oct 23, 2011, 3:02 PM

Post #12 of 23 (1985 views)
Re: weird problems with car charge Sign In

The bushing is pressed in and when the bolt is tightened, it pushes tightly against the alternator and has to be pushed back away to loosen the alternator. It's pinched into the bracket tightly.



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Pyrcide
User

Oct 23, 2011, 3:08 PM

Post #13 of 23 (1981 views)
Re: weird problems with car charge Sign In

Ok so does the bushing actually go into the alternator? The only thing I see Is a metal sleeve looking deal about 1 1/2 inches long that appears to go through the alt and through the bracket, other than that, there is nothing.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Oct 23, 2011, 3:13 PM

Post #14 of 23 (1974 views)
Re: weird problems with car charge Sign In

It can go through either one but not both. Some are on the alternator and some go through the bracket.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



re-tired
Veteran / Moderator
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Oct 24, 2011, 11:35 AM

Post #15 of 23 (1945 views)
Re: weird problems with car charge Sign In

PLACE A PRYBAR OR LARGE SCREWDRIVER BETWEEN ALT MOUNTING TAB AND BRACKET AND WIGGLE BACK AND FORTH


LIFE'S SHORT GO FISH


Pyrcide
User

Oct 24, 2011, 2:21 PM

Post #16 of 23 (1942 views)
Re: weird problems with car charge Sign In

I got the blasted thing out, used a screw driver and hammer. Pulled it up from the top by removing power steering hose. Thanks for all the help, I just ordered a new alt online (way cheaper than any parts stores around here), I'll let you guys know how the installation went and if it fixed my charging problem. Thanks again for the help.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Oct 24, 2011, 3:01 PM

Post #17 of 23 (1935 views)
Re: weird problems with car charge Sign In

Tap that bushing a little further in with a drift punch so the alternator will drop back in easily.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Pyrcide
User

Nov 2, 2011, 4:01 PM

Post #18 of 23 (1903 views)
Re: weird problems with car charge Sign In

 Well Hammer Time your already ahead of the game. I got my new alt today, can't get the blasted thing in because of that bushing. I even tried grinding it down just a little with my dremmel, using grease on both sides, and tapping it back a little. The bushing wont budge and now neither will the new alternating I have wedged into the bracket not aligned proplerly. I had to give up tonight, my arms feel like jello from wiggling that thing back and forth and trying to pound it into place, any other ideas thanks...


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Nov 2, 2011, 4:05 PM

Post #19 of 23 (1899 views)
Re: weird problems with car charge Sign In

That bushing is not that tight. A drift punch and a hammer will push it back easily.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Pyrcide
User

Nov 2, 2011, 5:16 PM

Post #20 of 23 (1893 views)
Re: weird problems with car charge Sign In

Well it may not be tight on other hondas, but it seems seized on this one, yet there is no room to get a hammer on it, let alone a punch, I'll keep trying, thanks


Pyrcide
User

Nov 3, 2011, 3:50 PM

Post #21 of 23 (1871 views)
Re: weird problems with car charge Sign In

   I want to say thanks to everyone who helped me. The alt is in and it took care of my charging light/ charging issue. After using a bottle jack to push out the new wedged alternator I ended up having to grind down the press bushing. After that all went well. Thanks again ALOT, to all you folks, this was one of the most strung out and bad fit repairs I've done. Unfortunatly Im having another issue with my other car so I'll be posting again soon, but thats for another day.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Nov 3, 2011, 3:57 PM

Post #22 of 23 (1868 views)
Re: weird problems with car charge Sign In

Glad to hear you got it resolved.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Nov 3, 2011, 5:03 PM

Post #23 of 23 (1863 views)
Re: weird problems with car charge Sign In


Quote
Thanks again ALOT, to all you folks, this was one of the most strung out and bad fit repairs I've done.


Now imagine doing that 5 days a week and having a customer breathe down your neck.





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