The Lounge - Non civic car issue.

Hi,

On another forum I frequent some one posted a problem with there car and im wondering if any of you genious's could shed some light. Here is the post:

My car has been good to me for the past few months... Today, out of the blue while shopping, I stop for gas, and boom, my ABS, washer fluid and airbag lights come on... the car then dies... i get it to start again, start driving home, and boom... dead on the side of the road... get a quick boost and i'm on my way again... a few feet further dead again... so i get the towing service to come out... he boosts me and plays with my engine... the car starts no problem, follows me home, no problem... so my friend and i drive it around the block a few times, even to the plaza near my house, no problem... we decide to try the grocery store... we needed something at another store so we head there... and boom, dead again... call my wonderful roommate to come boost my car... but i get it started and was able to make it home... The towing guy says maybe my connectors on the battery terminals are too tight... who freaking knows... anybody got a clue?

Thanks
Jeff

My first guess would be the alternator.

eehh....I had something like this and it turned out to be the voltage regulator...but that was on a dodge

really sounds like a bad alternator, but that doesn't explain the fact that the car shut off on its own

ORIGINAL: andryuha
really sounds like a bad alternator, but that doesn't explain the fact that the car shut off on its own


If the alternator is gone and the battery gets low, the engine can sometimes stall. Getting a boost will actually give the battery a small charge to last a while again, until the battery gets low again.

ORIGINAL: ngoti8tor

ORIGINAL: andryuha
really sounds like a bad alternator, but that doesn't explain the fact that the car shut off on its own


If the alternator is gone and the battery gets low, the engine can sometimes stall. Getting a boost will actually give the battery a small charge to last a while again, until the battery gets low again.


[sm=icon_ladiesman.gif]

Sounds like when the alternator died on our Chrustler. The car never died on me, I pulled over and switched it off when the electical stuff (like the radio) started cutting out. It wouldn't start up after that, but there was still a little bit of juice in the battery as when I tried all the guages started moving about.

There's a way to see if the alternator is working by using a voltmeter at the battery. I think there's supposed to be like 14v flowing through if the alternator is working ok. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

ORIGINAL: shellebelle

Sounds like when the alternator died on our Chrustler. The car never died on me, I pulled over and switched it off when the electical stuff (like the radio) started cutting out. It wouldn't start up after that, but there was still a little bit of juice in the battery as when I tried all the guages started moving about.

There's a way to see if the alternator is working by using a voltmeter at the battery. I think there's supposed to be like 14v flowing through if the alternator is working ok. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.


How old are you shellebelle.....if I were not already married you would be in trouble!

My wife can't even drive a stick! (and I own 3 vehicles that are 5 speeds).

sorry to jack the thread but I could not resist!

ORIGINAL: trickyvick
How old are you shellebelle.....if I were not already married you would be in trouble!


Aaaahhhhh, HCF brings out the romance in the best of us!

ORIGINAL: ngoti8tor

ORIGINAL: trickyvick
How old are you shellebelle.....if I were not already married you would be in trouble!


Aaaahhhhh, HCF brings out the romance in the best of us!


Look who's talking [sm=crossbonesgif.gif]

OMGosh you guys are too funny!

I'm 21. I also gave up learning stick on an '87 Civic when I burned out the clutch and the new one was intentionally adjusted to catch VERY quick. I was 16 and had no say in the matter. I wasn't going to go through all the agony of learning it all over again. Some day I hope to learn, though.

The alternator knowledge was from when my battery died and my dad was making sure it was just the 'ol juice box.

Best advice people gave me on this forum for driving stick is "slow" means SLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWW" when dealing with the clutch. Ive been driving stick for 2 weeks and I got the hand of it after about 3 days. Just takes time and patients. Only made one major mistake and thats going the wrong way on a major 1 way street. :D Quick U'ie and a bump up[ on the curb and I avoided a headon lol. Don't get discouraged.

And thanks for the tips on her problem. Feel free to commence thread jacking :D

Jeff

ORIGINAL: ngoti8tor

ORIGINAL: andryuha
really sounds like a bad alternator, but that doesn't explain the fact that the car shut off on its own


If the alternator is gone and the battery gets low, the engine can sometimes stall. Getting a boost will actually give the battery a small charge to last a while again, until the battery gets low again.


not really. It's possible to drive around without a battery

but only if the alternator is charging properly. i think thats what was meant.

ORIGINAL: andryuha

ORIGINAL: ngoti8tor

ORIGINAL: andryuha
really sounds like a bad alternator, but that doesn't explain the fact that the car shut off on its own


If the alternator is gone and the battery gets low, the engine can sometimes stall. Getting a boost will actually give the battery a small charge to last a while again, until the battery gets low again.


not really. It's possible to drive around without a battery


I think you're reffering to our good old "Kopeyka" which 99%of didn't have a battery and always either got push started or boosted by a nearby import:-D

ORIGINAL: andryuha

ORIGINAL: ngoti8tor

ORIGINAL: andryuha
really sounds like a bad alternator, but that doesn't explain the fact that the car shut off on its own


If the alternator is gone and the battery gets low, the engine can sometimes stall. Getting a boost will actually give the battery a small charge to last a while again, until the battery gets low again.


not really. It's possible to drive around without a battery


Yeh, as sacs said.......and if the alternator is faulty, you need a charged battery to keep your engine running.

In this case, I'm saying that the alternator is faulty, and when the battery gets really low, the engine cuts out. Then someone comes along and boosts the car which actually gives the battery a bit of a charge again that allows it to run for a while until the battery gets low again.

Take the battery for a Midtronics test (its a battery conductance test) and if you suspect the alternator, charge the battery disconnect the alternator and see how she runs. If the alternator is bad, the car should run fine until the battery dies (if the alt is disconnected).

ORIGINAL: shellebelle

OMGosh you guys are too funny!

I'm 21.

Too bad.....man I am SO OLD!

Oh..and as for the car problem....check the alternator belt....if the alternator checks good the belt could be slipping. (my $0.02)

if the belt is slipping, it will check out bad, an alternator should put out up to 15 volts, and as low as 12.8 sometimes depending on the manufacturer, to check, use a voltmeter on the battery, and if its bad, put it on the back of the alt. usually a red wire to be sure its not a bad connection. also remember that it takes power for the alt to make power. there might be a blown fuse. . there are many things that this problem could be. the alt. makes sence, i know on a ford it cuts out after the battery is below 9.5? volts. it also might be an intermittent short to ground, which will kill the battery.