Electrical nightmare

[cjmguitarist87]

I have a 91 accord se. have been replacing parts on it for the last 3 years and this is the first one to stump me. about two weeks ago, i started my car (just starting to get cold in the mornings here) and when i came back out to leave for work 10 minutes later, my serpentine belt was smoking. but stopped and ran fine. 2 days later i start it up and even though its running, it is dying. i checked the alternator and it was turning fine. so i left to try to see how the charge would be while running her. the belt broke off. so assuming the alternator was bad i removed it and went to autozone (where i have a lifetime alternator) and they tested it. it read that it passed. so i put it back together and it ran fine for the day. the next morning i started it up and it was dying again. (once again its one of the first cold days around here) so i removed the belt and alternator and replaced the alt. i drove to work (nissan dealership) and tested the electrical system. said starter pass, alt pass, and battery needed charged. car ran fine at the time. that evening it died and would not start. so i removed the battery and took it to the advanced auto i had purchased it from 5 months ago. they tested it and it read it had a bad cell. so i took a new one and installed it. so at this point the battery alt. and belt are new, and the starter has tested ok. i drove the car to work today (2 days since installing new alt, 1 day from new battery) went back home, no problem. in the evening i was driving my friends girlfriend home and it started dying again. it seems like when i first start it everything runs great. then it slowly dies off til i shut it off and re start it ( maybe goin a few miles before dying again) also i noticed my cruise control (which always works) stopped working today. my trunk open light is staying on, and at one point when it was dying out my tranny error light was flashing....... im stumped... bad ground? where would it be.... im lost

[cincy90h22]

While we are on the electrical side of this, what is the battery voltage showing while the engine is running good? and when its running bad? too much voltage (16-17V+) can cause funny things, ie your alt overcharging. Is your battery light on when its dying?

Mechanically, have you checked for a vacuum leak? That would cause your cruise to not work, and it to essentially run fine at start up (when car is at full rich). When it warms up and it goes into closed loop, it has less fuel, then the air leak becomes more evident. ?? any help to you ??

[cjmguitarist87]

the battery light is not on. the battery was almost completely dead with no voltage. this was tonight with it running. alternator was pushing 12.5 with zero on the battery. the cruise worked fine til the electrical problems. i use it everyday. the autozone douche said it wasnt the alt. because the light would be on. i am not sure how to check a vacuum leak but i do know that during the day when it is warmer and the headlights are not on it runs like there is no problem at all times

[cincy90h22]

the battery was almost completely dead with no voltage. this was tonight with it running. alternator was pushing 12.5 with zero on the battery.

The battery was dead? before you started it tonight? Then when you got it started, battery voltage was 12.5? How many amps was the Alt charging? And the car was running fine?

Did the car start dying? What was battery voltage then? And Alt amperage?

the autozone douche said it wasnt the alt. because the light would be on.

That is why he works at autozone.

i am not sure how to check a vacuum leak but i do know that during the day when it is warmer and the headlights are not on it runs like there is no problem at all times

Check for dry rotted vacuum lines, a 20+yr old car is bound to have some. Use carb cleaner if you have to, spray the lines, intake etc.

[cincy90h22]

i do know that during the day when it is warmer and the headlights are not on it runs like there is no problem at all times

So it runs bad with lights on, and runs fine with lights off? Correct.. always?

[cjmguitarist87]

The battery was dead? before you started it tonight? Then when you got it started, battery voltage was 12.5? How many amps was the Alt charging? And the car was running fine?


as of today car was running fine after replacing battery last night. i was driving my friends gf home and on the way back the gauges starting jumping(rpm, and speed). it began fully dying out by the time i made it to autozone. i shut it off, went in and asked them to test it. came out, wouldnt start. attached the jump box and it started. disconnected box and it kept running. guy hooked up test said the battery had no charge and the alt was putting out 12.5. shut it off. 5 mins later started it up with out the jump box no problem. seems like when its idle its charging somewhat. then when driving its crap. im going to start looking over grounds tomorrow morning and see what happens. i just done know where to start.

Did the car start dying? What was battery voltage then? And Alt amperage?

i do not personally own a tester so i cannot give further test results. but yesterday before i changed the battery, the tester at my job said the alt and starter were good and the battery needed charged. replaced battery that night

[cincy90h22]

Sounds to me the alternator is bad, or the stator in it anyway. I see new alternators that are bad all the time. Have someone you work with put the car on an old-fashion battery system tester, not one of the new ones you just hook up to the battery and press enter a few times. Monitor the voltage, amperage, and diode. Both when the car is idling, and 3k rpms. And honestly, If you have to explain that to the technicians at your work, they dont need to work there, if they cannot diagnose a bad alternator.

[cjmguitarist87]

it seems to only run bad with the lights on, but even when its dying and i kill the lights and drive in the dark with no headlights the gauges dont come back up as if it were a short) i just t hink the lights are draining it harder

[cjmguitarist87]

would the *** ass machine at autozone pass it if i take it off and bring it there? my work is closed tomorrow, and need the car to get to work monday. i know the one that fried the belt tested good, and it was the only thing on the belt minus the crank, they sent me home with the one i had the first day because it tested good

[cincy90h22]

then turn your lights on while there testing it. simulate what causes the problem to find the correct diagnosis. I told you what I think, without looking at it, just taking your word for it. I check charging systems everyday.

Like I said, you work at a dealership. I assume you are not a technician, so get one of them to check your car out. If they cant tell you that it is or isnt your batt/alt. they shouldnt work there.

edit: Im not trying to be a dick, just being honest. If you dont have the tools, let someone who does, do it.

[cjmguitarist87]

no im not a tech. im a fiddler lol. i have had autozone give me bad alternators before. they are just dicks about exchanging them. the tester was one that hooked up to my battery at work. most of the techs like to charge me for help on my car, so thats why i turned here. thank you for all your information though, you have been very helpful

[cincy90h22]

would the *** ass machine at autozone pass it if i take it off and bring it there?

I dont believe in those. never used one, never will. I can do more testing with the alt still on the car.

the autozone douche said it wasnt the alt. because the light would be on.

That is why he works at autozone.

and it could be the operator

[cincy90h22]

no im not a tech. im a fiddler lol. i have had autozone give me bad alternators before. they are just dicks about exchanging them. the tester was one that hooked up to my battery at work. most of the techs like to charge me for help on my car, so thats why i turned here. thank you for all your information though, you have been very helpful

Your welcome. Whats a fiddler?
ask them when they go on break to check it out.. throw them a $20, that will be more than they make on the clock.

[cjmguitarist87]

i like to fiddle with things. im not trained but i can figure most things out. so i trial and error things, once i get stuck i turn to them or the internet. lol thanks again

im in detail in the shop

[evil_demon_01]

I have a 91 accord se. have been replacing parts on it for the last 3 years and this is the first one to stump me. about two weeks ago, i started my car (just starting to get cold in the mornings here) and when i came back out to leave for work 10 minutes later, my serpentine belt was smoking. but stopped and ran fine. 2 days later i start it up and even though its running, it is dying. i checked the alternator and it was turning fine. so i left to try to see how the charge would be while running her. the belt broke off. so assuming the alternator was bad i removed it and went to autozone (where i have a lifetime alternator) and they tested it. it read that it passed. so i put it back together and it ran fine for the day. the next morning i started it up and it was dying again. (once again its one of the first cold days around here) so i removed the belt and alternator and replaced the alt. i drove to work (nissan dealership) and tested the electrical system. said starter pass, alt pass, and battery needed charged. car ran fine at the time. that evening it died and would not start. so i removed the battery and took it to the advanced auto i had purchased it from 5 months ago. they tested it and it read it had a bad cell. so i took a new one and installed it. so at this point the battery alt. and belt are new, and the starter has tested ok. i drove the car to work today (2 days since installing new alt, 1 day from new battery) went back home, no problem. in the evening i was driving my friends girlfriend home and it started dying again. it seems like when i first start it everything runs great. then it slowly dies off til i shut it off and re start it ( maybe goin a few miles before dying again) also i noticed my cruise control (which always works) stopped working today. my trunk open light is staying on, and at one point when it was dying out my tranny error light was flashing....... im stumped... bad ground? where would it be.... im lost

All ANYONE sees is "im lost" If you want help at LEAST try to structure you problem/paragraph/essay/sentence structure/grammar . . . .

Seriously, If you want help type like an adult.


Here - I spent time and done it for you.








I have a 91 accord se.

I have been replacing parts on it for the last 3 years and this is the first one to stump me.

About two weeks ago, I started my car (just starting to get cold in the mornings here) and when I came back out to leave for work 10 minutes later, my serpentine belt was smoking, but stopped and ran fine.
2 days later I started it up and even though its running, it is dying.
I checked the alternator and it was turning fine. So I left to try to see how the charge would be while running her.
The belt broke off, so assuming the alternator was bad, I removed it and went to autozone (where I have a lifetime alternator) and they tested it.
It read that it passed. So I put it back together and it ran fine for the day.
The next morning I started it up and it was dying again. (once again its one of the first cold days around here) so I removed the belt and alternator and replaced the alt.
I drove to work (Nissan dealership) and tested the electrical system. The tester said starter pass, alt pass, and battery needed charged.
Car ran fine at the time. That evening it died and would not start, so I removed the battery and took it to the advanced auto I had purchased it from 5 months ago.
They tested it and it read it had a bad cell, so I took a new one and installed it.
At this point the battery, alt, and belt are new, and the starter has tested OK.
I drove the car to work today (2 days since installing new alt, 1 day from new battery) went back home, no problem.
In the evening I was driving my friends girlfriend home and it started dying again. It seems like when I first start it everything runs great, then it slowly dies off till I shut it off and re-start it (maybe going a few miles before dying again)
Also:
I noticed my cruise control (which always works) stopped working today.
My trunk open light is staying on.
And at one point when it was dying out my tranny error light was flashing.

....... I'm stumped... bad ground? where would it be.... I'm lost








So after fixing that:

1) What serpentine belt? CB's don't have one.
2) How did your serpentine belt "stop, and run fine"?
3) How did it run, but dye?
4) How did the belt break off, then you "put it back together, and it ran fine"?
5) (You work at Nissan, and you spell it without a capitol?) On that - The test said the battery needed charging, but you didn't charge or replace it then.
6) The next day you got a replacement battery.


Have you considered that the problem might not be the alt or batt?
Have you considered that "then it slowly dies off till I shut it off and re-start it" doesn't really mean a-lot to many people.
You are the one experiencing the problem, you need to give the best description you can.







To me - The problem sounds like a fuel or spark issue, like a blocked fuel filter, or a faulty coil/ignitor.