Here's the deal...

A couple of weeks ago the battery light starts flickering a bit. We go on a trip for two weeks (leave the car at home), come back, and the light is still flickering. But now we can tell the battery is just dying. Lights are dimming, etc. We go shopping, come back out, and the car won't start. We get someone to boost us, then we drive over to a local store and buy a new battery. We install the battery and the car is now running just fine... but... the battery light is still flickering (although less once the car is actually moving).

It's a 2005 4-door Civic. We've had it since new. I was told the stock battery lasted more than 5 years, which is actually pretty good. But my question is regarding the alternator: does it sound to you as if it is going as well? Is that why the light would still be flickering? How long should the original alternator last?

Thanks for any advice!

 

That sounds like it could be the alternator. One of the signs is dim lights at low idle/stop that brighten once the rpm's pick up.

Some parts place will test alternators you know...

 

Check that the alternator belt is not loose. If that's not the problem, you are experiencing typically what happens when the alternator is worn out. The test is just to connect a voltmeter to the battery with the engine running, if the voltage is low that means the alternator is not charging the battery. By the way your old battery is probably still good if you were to just charge it up. With a bad alternator, soon your new battery will also run down and the car will not start.