ok i have a wierd problem. when i start my car the charge warning stays on. btw i got a honda civic 89 DX hatchback 5 speed. and the charge light stays on, but when i give it some gas then the charge light turns off and the heater fans kick in harder and the headlights get brighter. then another time the other night driving home and the light stayed on and wouldnt turn off. fearing the car was running directly off the battery i started speeding home getting there as fast as i could. but its wierd because the car didnt die as i expected it to. and i turned on my amplifier "i have a manual power switch for it" because the amps really picky about voltage (amp protection circuit will stay on and in red until a sufficient voltage is there". amp stayed on and sounded good. so i dunno. came home and checked the manual. read that if the 10a no14 fuse is blown the light will constantly be on. checked the fuse and it was good. im stumped as what it can be. i replaced the alternator the beginning of this year in january 2nd. but the car wasnt actually driving until around march "timing belt slipped out of time and my dumbass didnt know it" any ideas?

 

Sounds like a bad alternator. Also check whether the belt may be slipping.

 

damn they go out that fast? i got a rebuilt alternator january and didnt really start using it till later. someone also mentioned the white wire on the top of the alt could be a culprit. if anything i dont have the cash to shell out for a new alt. how hard is it to rebuild these things? can they be dissassembled at the junkyard and parts removed "such as the voltage regulator?"

 

I purchased a rebuilt alternator from AutoZone for about $100. It has a lifetime warranty. I needed to replace it after about a year and a half, free of charge of course. I think rebuilt alternators are in general pretty crappy, and are only worth it if you don't mind removing and replacing them. Otherwise, spend more a get a new one from Honda.