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Battery/alternator light on
Hi all,
The battery/alternator light came on when I was driving my 1991 Accord today morning. The light goes off when the rpm goes above a certain level: it was 2500rpm in the morning, but when I checked in the evening, it was 4000rpm. I replaced the battery a few months ago, so my first guess was that the alternator is failing, but when I read related posts on this group, I saw that it could be a bad voltage regulator, loose connections, slipping belt, etc. The belt and connections seem fine. How do I determine if it's the alternator or the voltage regulator? Thanks much, Fijoy |
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#2
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Battery/alternator light on
On 03/11/2012 06:19 PM, Fijoy wrote:
> Hi all, > > The battery/alternator light came on when I was driving my 1991 Accord > today morning. The light goes off when the rpm goes above a certain > level: it was 2500rpm in the morning, but when I checked in the > evening, it was 4000rpm. I replaced the battery a few months ago, so > my first guess was that the alternator is failing, but when I read > related posts on this group, I saw that it could be a bad voltage > regulator, loose connections, slipping belt, etc. The belt and > connections seem fine. How do I determine if it's the alternator or > the voltage regulator? > > Thanks much, > Fijoy voltage reg is effectively the alternator too. your symptoms are typical of worn brushes. just get a decent reman alternator and you should be fine. assuming it's not something trivial like a loose belt. -- nomina rutrum rutrum |
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Battery/alternator light on
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#4
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Battery/alternator light on
On 3/11/12 9:19 PM, Fijoy wrote:
> Hi all, > > The battery/alternator light came on when I was driving my 1991 Accord > today morning. The light goes off when the rpm goes above a certain > level: it was 2500rpm in the morning, but when I checked in the > evening, it was 4000rpm. I replaced the battery a few months ago, so > my first guess was that the alternator is failing, but when I read > related posts on this group, I saw that it could be a bad voltage > regulator, loose connections, slipping belt, etc. The belt and > connections seem fine. How do I determine if it's the alternator or > the voltage regulator? > > Thanks much, > Fijoy It sounds like you're in over your head here. So to answer the question in your last sentence-- drive on down to your local Honda dealer, pull into the service reception bay, and ask the nice man to fix your car for you... -- You're all worthless and weak. Now drop and give me 20. |
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Battery/alternator light on
On Mar 12, 9:22*am, Tegger > wrote:
> Fijoy > wrote in news:634568ae-6662-4b70-93c9- > : > > > Hi all, > > > The battery/alternator light came on when I was driving my 1991 Accord > > today morning. The light goes off when the rpm goes above a certain > > level: it was 2500rpm in the morning, but when I checked in the > > evening, it was 4000rpm. I replaced the battery a few months ago, so > > my first guess was that the alternator is failing, but when I read > > related posts on this group, I saw that it could be a bad voltage > > regulator, loose connections, slipping belt, etc. The belt and > > connections seem fine. How do I determine if it's the alternator or > > the voltage regulator? > > The voltage regulator is inside the alternator. For most people, the > alternator is a one-piece, replace-the-whole-thing item. Voltage-regulator > replacement is considered an "advanced" repair. > > It sounds like you may just have worn brushes, which is a very easy fix > that may be done without removing the alternator from the vehicle. > > Is this the original alternator that shipped with the car from the factory? > > -- > Tegger Thanks much. It is probably the original alternator that shipped with the vehicle, but I'm not sure. I've had the car only for the past 6 years. Fijoy |
#6
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Battery/alternator light on
On Mar 12, 9:22*am, Tegger > wrote:
> Fijoy > wrote in news:634568ae-6662-4b70-93c9- > : > > > Hi all, > > > The battery/alternator light came on when I was driving my 1991 Accord > > today morning. The light goes off when the rpm goes above a certain > > level: it was 2500rpm in the morning, but when I checked in the > > evening, it was 4000rpm. I replaced the battery a few months ago, so > > my first guess was that the alternator is failing, but when I read > > related posts on this group, I saw that it could be a bad voltage > > regulator, loose connections, slipping belt, etc. The belt and > > connections seem fine. How do I determine if it's the alternator or > > the voltage regulator? > > The voltage regulator is inside the alternator. For most people, the > alternator is a one-piece, replace-the-whole-thing item. Voltage-regulator > replacement is considered an "advanced" repair. > > It sounds like you may just have worn brushes, which is a very easy fix > that may be done without removing the alternator from the vehicle. > > Is this the original alternator that shipped with the car from the factory? > > -- > Tegger My mechanic is checking to find out what the problem is. I asked him about the brushes, and he said that replacing the brushes will require rebuilding the alternator, which will cost almost the same as getting a new alternator, given the labor charges. Is he being reasonable? Thanks, Fijoy |
#7
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Battery/alternator light on
Fijoy > wrote in
: > > My mechanic is checking to find out what the problem is. I asked him > about the brushes, and he said that replacing the brushes will require > rebuilding the alternator, which will cost almost the same as getting > a new alternator, given the labor charges. Is he being reasonable? > That's not correct at all. You guy must not be familiar with Hondas. The brushes come from the dealer in a holder that costs about $25, and takes maybe 10 minutes to install on your car. It's so quick to remove the brush assembly that it would make the most sense to simply do that before anything else. Now, if this is an /aftermarket rebuilt/ alternator, there's a chance that it's actually bad. But you'll know once you pull the brush holder. A typical symptom of worn brushes is flickering of the battery light. This eventually goes solid given enough time. You can sometimes force the brushes to re-seat by tapping the rear of the alternator with a wrench or other tool. If the light comes on, and tapping the rear of the alternator makes it go off, then it's likely just the brushes. -- Tegger |
#8
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Battery/alternator light on
Tegger > wrote in
: > > Now, if this is an /aftermarket rebuilt/ alternator, there's a chance > that it's actually bad. But you'll know once you pull the brush > holder. > If you've gone 6-years with this alternator, it's probably original Aftermarket alternators don't last anywhere near that long. Any mechanic worth his salt will be able to tell at a glance if the alternator is aftermarket or not. -- Tegger |
#9
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Battery/alternator light on
On 03/12/2012 08:41 AM, Tegger wrote:
> > wrote in > : > > >> >> My mechanic is checking to find out what the problem is. I asked him >> about the brushes, and he said that replacing the brushes will require >> rebuilding the alternator, which will cost almost the same as getting >> a new alternator, given the labor charges. Is he being reasonable? >> > > > > That's not correct at all. You guy must not be familiar with Hondas. > > The brushes come from the dealer in a holder that costs about $25, and > takes maybe 10 minutes to install on your car. > > It's so quick to remove the brush assembly that it would make the most > sense to simply do that before anything else. not always true tegger. as you should know, there are many different types of alternator used on hondas. denso are indeed easy for brush replacement. but some of the others require complete break-down and special tools. for them, brush replacement is not viable, even for an averagely competent mechanic, so it is wrong and misleading to suggest otherwise. > > Now, if this is an /aftermarket rebuilt/ alternator, there's a chance that > it's actually bad. But you'll know once you pull the brush holder. > > A typical symptom of worn brushes is flickering of the battery light. This > eventually goes solid given enough time. You can sometimes force the > brushes to re-seat by tapping the rear of the alternator with a wrench or > other tool. If the light comes on, and tapping the rear of the alternator > makes it go off, then it's likely just the brushes. > > -- nomina rutrum rutrum |
#10
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Battery/alternator light on
On 03/12/2012 08:44 AM, Tegger wrote:
> > wrote in > : > > >> >> Now, if this is an /aftermarket rebuilt/ alternator, there's a chance >> that it's actually bad. But you'll know once you pull the brush >> holder. >> > > > > If you've gone 6-years with this alternator, it's probably original > Aftermarket alternators don't last anywhere near that long. you're just bull****ting. example: a bosch rebuild of a denso alternator is "aftermarket". but it's competent and reliable. and they can easily last as long as other oem. > > Any mechanic worth his salt will be able to tell at a glance if the > alternator is aftermarket or not. anyone worth their salt putting themselves forward as a honda "expert" should know that denso are not the only oem supplier of honda alternators, and that they're not all easily brush accessible. -- nomina rutrum rutrum |
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