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Alternator question....

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    Alternator question....

    What are some of the signs that my alternator is crapping out.
    My Project, My Concept
    1990 LX Coupe

    "Certified CB7 Tuner"

    #2
    The alternator is there to provide electrical power to operate the car and charge the battery while it is running. If you start with a good, fully charged battery and your alternator is not working at all, the car may actually run for an hour or two before the voltage drops to the point where the computer won't operate correctly and the car shuts down. If driving at night, this will happen quicker with things like dimming headlights being an obvious sign that voltage is dropping. If you try to restart the car, it won't because you've sapped all the energy from the battery.

    All that being said, the easiest way to check is with a simple volt meter. A good battery will read about 12.5 volts (DC) across the terminals with the car off. With the engine running, there should be approximately 14-14.5 volts across the battery; somewhat lower with a lot of electrical accessories on.

    What are your symptoms?
    90 LX 4dr 5 spd 396,014 (sold 1/1/2022) - MRT: http://www.cb7tuner.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=201450
    08 Element LX FWD AT 229,000 - MRT: fleetw00d : 2008 Honda Element LX - CB7Tuner Forums

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      #3
      No matter how long it runs at idle my battery doesnt charge, it charges some when I actually drive it. When the radio is on after about 20 or so minutes I'll lose power to it but if I give the car a little throttle it comes back on. If I turn on my A/C it'll bog down and die. My dash lights and exterior lights will dim until I give it some throttle then they brighten back up.
      When I bought the car it was doing this. As long as I was in full motion I could operate all my electronics.
      If it is indeed my alternator then I wanna upgrade to the 230 amp instead of the stock 60-80 amp because I have some audio equipment I want to add.
      So what do you think? Bad Alternator?
      My Project, My Concept
      1990 LX Coupe

      "Certified CB7 Tuner"

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        #4
        Sounds like it. Did you do any testing? If you want it tested, take it out and take it to an auto parts store; best they can usually tell you is if it is good or bad - in their interest to say it's bad.

        You might go around and check the condition of your wires and grounds. I had one that had trouble starting - determined that the negative battery cable connection to the transmission was corroded/loose. Corrected that and all was well.
        90 LX 4dr 5 spd 396,014 (sold 1/1/2022) - MRT: http://www.cb7tuner.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=201450
        08 Element LX FWD AT 229,000 - MRT: fleetw00d : 2008 Honda Element LX - CB7Tuner Forums

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          #5
          So, just a heads up I replaced the stock "burnt up" alternator, and all the weird crap that was going on with the electrical was indeed due to the old alternator.
          After the new alternator and a new optima battery all is running perfectly.
          My Project, My Concept
          1990 LX Coupe

          "Certified CB7 Tuner"

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            #6
            It's always weird how so many electrical problems that seem to be confusing gremlins, are really just the product of a bad alternator or battery. Glad you got it worked out.
            My Members' Ride Thread - It's a marathon build, not a sprint. But keep me honest on the update frequency!

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              #7
              battery light should come on too if the alternator isnt charging it and the battery looses power.

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