On Feb 7, 5:26 pm, jim beam <spamvor...@bad.example.net> wrote:
> lswpubrw wrote:
> > It's been really cold here (~10 F) over night and my car has developed
> > a strange problem. It's a 1991 Accord EX StatWag. The battery is 37
> potentially, but check the belt for slippage and the alternator brushes
> for wear first.- Hide quoted text -

Belt feels tight, little give when I press down. The brush assembly
be removed without removing the alternator? I'm trying to avoid
taking the power steering pump off.

Bob

 

On Feb 7, 5:26 pm, jim beam <spamvor...@bad.example.net> wrote:
> lswpubrw wrote:
> > It's been really cold here (~10 F) over night and my car has developed
> > a strange problem. It's a 1991 Accord EX StatWag. The battery is 37
> potentially, but check the belt for slippage and the alternator brushes
> for wear first.- Hide quoted text -

Belt feels tight, little give when I press down. The brush assembly
be removed without removing the alternator? I'm trying to avoid
taking the power steering pump off.

Bob

 

"lswpubrw" <lswpubrw@optonline.net> wrote in
news:1170889634.820448.318150@v45g2000cwv.googlegr oups.com:

> On Feb 7, 4:23 pm, "Elle" <honda.lion...@nospam.earthlink.net> wrote:
>> Try the five checks listed
>> athttp://home.earthlink.net/~honda.lioness/id13.html
>>
>> Has the battery been allowed to go dead in the last 37
>> months? If so, what means did you use to re-charge it? Is
>> the alternator the original one? If not, how old is the
>> current one?
>>
>> What is the make of the battery?
>>
>
> No, Don't know I've only owned the car for 3 years. Kirkland
> (Costco).
>
> bob
>

batteries can go bad early:I had one die after one year,it was replaced
under warranty(PepBoy battery.)

Cold weather can accellerate that death.

Get a load test on the battery.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

 

"lswpubrw" <lswpubrw@optonline.net> wrote in
news:1170889634.820448.318150@v45g2000cwv.googlegr oups.com:

> On Feb 7, 4:23 pm, "Elle" <honda.lion...@nospam.earthlink.net> wrote:
>> Try the five checks listed
>> athttp://home.earthlink.net/~honda.lioness/id13.html
>>
>> Has the battery been allowed to go dead in the last 37
>> months? If so, what means did you use to re-charge it? Is
>> the alternator the original one? If not, how old is the
>> current one?
>>
>> What is the make of the battery?
>>
>
> No, Don't know I've only owned the car for 3 years. Kirkland
> (Costco).
>
> bob
>

batteries can go bad early:I had one die after one year,it was replaced
under warranty(PepBoy battery.)

Cold weather can accellerate that death.

Get a load test on the battery.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

 

"lswpubrw" <lswpubrw@optonline.net> wrote in
news:1170889634.820448.318150@v45g2000cwv.googlegr oups.com:

> On Feb 7, 4:23 pm, "Elle" <honda.lion...@nospam.earthlink.net> wrote:
>> Try the five checks listed
>> athttp://home.earthlink.net/~honda.lioness/id13.html
>>
>> Has the battery been allowed to go dead in the last 37
>> months? If so, what means did you use to re-charge it? Is
>> the alternator the original one? If not, how old is the
>> current one?
>>
>> What is the make of the battery?
>>
>
> No, Don't know I've only owned the car for 3 years. Kirkland
> (Costco).
>
> bob
>

batteries can go bad early:I had one die after one year,it was replaced
under warranty(PepBoy battery.)

Cold weather can accellerate that death.

Get a load test on the battery.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

 

"lswpubrw" <lswpubrw@optonline.net> wrote in
news:1170889634.820448.318150@v45g2000cwv.googlegr oups.com:

> On Feb 7, 4:23 pm, "Elle" <honda.lion...@nospam.earthlink.net> wrote:
>> Try the five checks listed
>> athttp://home.earthlink.net/~honda.lioness/id13.html
>>
>> Has the battery been allowed to go dead in the last 37
>> months? If so, what means did you use to re-charge it? Is
>> the alternator the original one? If not, how old is the
>> current one?
>>
>> What is the make of the battery?
>>
>
> No, Don't know I've only owned the car for 3 years. Kirkland
> (Costco).
>
> bob
>

batteries can go bad early:I had one die after one year,it was replaced
under warranty(PepBoy battery.)

Cold weather can accellerate that death.

Get a load test on the battery.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

 

"lswpubrw" <lswpubrw@optonline.net> wrote in news:1170882481.289162.189470
@a34g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:

> It's been really cold here (~10 F) over night and my car has developed
> a strange problem. It's a 1991 Accord EX StatWag. The battery is 37
> months old. It's my wife's car so I only discovered the problem when
> I used it the other day. The car started fine but the battery light
> stayed on and eventually the car almost didn't start after one stop.
> When I got home I measured the battery voltage and it was about 12 V.
> I charged the battery and things started fine and light did NOT come
> on even as I drove it on a short trip. I measured the voltage at the
> battery with the engine running and it's 14.6V. Next morning a
> problem again with the charge light. The battery drops down to 12.5V
> overnight after being charged. When the car is running the voltage at
> the battery is only 12.1V under this low voltage condition. If the
> car runs long enough the charge light sometimes goes out and the
> voltage from the alternator goes up to 14.6V. So my question is can a
> low (going bad) battery make alternator voltage drop, and the charging
> light stay on?
>


Your alternator is faulty! During the low-voltage episodes, the alternator
is not charging. You need to replace either the brushes or the entire
alternator.

You can buy a new brush holder from the dealer for about $20.

Do yourself a favor if you replace the entire alternator. Go spend the
extra hundred or so dollars and get a Honda reman from the dealer. The
headaches and problems you'll save will be priceless.


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

 

"lswpubrw" <lswpubrw@optonline.net> wrote in news:1170882481.289162.189470
@a34g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:

> It's been really cold here (~10 F) over night and my car has developed
> a strange problem. It's a 1991 Accord EX StatWag. The battery is 37
> months old. It's my wife's car so I only discovered the problem when
> I used it the other day. The car started fine but the battery light
> stayed on and eventually the car almost didn't start after one stop.
> When I got home I measured the battery voltage and it was about 12 V.
> I charged the battery and things started fine and light did NOT come
> on even as I drove it on a short trip. I measured the voltage at the
> battery with the engine running and it's 14.6V. Next morning a
> problem again with the charge light. The battery drops down to 12.5V
> overnight after being charged. When the car is running the voltage at
> the battery is only 12.1V under this low voltage condition. If the
> car runs long enough the charge light sometimes goes out and the
> voltage from the alternator goes up to 14.6V. So my question is can a
> low (going bad) battery make alternator voltage drop, and the charging
> light stay on?
>


Your alternator is faulty! During the low-voltage episodes, the alternator
is not charging. You need to replace either the brushes or the entire
alternator.

You can buy a new brush holder from the dealer for about $20.

Do yourself a favor if you replace the entire alternator. Go spend the
extra hundred or so dollars and get a Honda reman from the dealer. The
headaches and problems you'll save will be priceless.


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

 

"lswpubrw" <lswpubrw@optonline.net> wrote in news:1170882481.289162.189470
@a34g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:

> It's been really cold here (~10 F) over night and my car has developed
> a strange problem. It's a 1991 Accord EX StatWag. The battery is 37
> months old. It's my wife's car so I only discovered the problem when
> I used it the other day. The car started fine but the battery light
> stayed on and eventually the car almost didn't start after one stop.
> When I got home I measured the battery voltage and it was about 12 V.
> I charged the battery and things started fine and light did NOT come
> on even as I drove it on a short trip. I measured the voltage at the
> battery with the engine running and it's 14.6V. Next morning a
> problem again with the charge light. The battery drops down to 12.5V
> overnight after being charged. When the car is running the voltage at
> the battery is only 12.1V under this low voltage condition. If the
> car runs long enough the charge light sometimes goes out and the
> voltage from the alternator goes up to 14.6V. So my question is can a
> low (going bad) battery make alternator voltage drop, and the charging
> light stay on?
>


Your alternator is faulty! During the low-voltage episodes, the alternator
is not charging. You need to replace either the brushes or the entire
alternator.

You can buy a new brush holder from the dealer for about $20.

Do yourself a favor if you replace the entire alternator. Go spend the
extra hundred or so dollars and get a Honda reman from the dealer. The
headaches and problems you'll save will be priceless.


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

 

"lswpubrw" <lswpubrw@optonline.net> wrote in news:1170882481.289162.189470
@a34g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:

> It's been really cold here (~10 F) over night and my car has developed
> a strange problem. It's a 1991 Accord EX StatWag. The battery is 37
> months old. It's my wife's car so I only discovered the problem when
> I used it the other day. The car started fine but the battery light
> stayed on and eventually the car almost didn't start after one stop.
> When I got home I measured the battery voltage and it was about 12 V.
> I charged the battery and things started fine and light did NOT come
> on even as I drove it on a short trip. I measured the voltage at the
> battery with the engine running and it's 14.6V. Next morning a
> problem again with the charge light. The battery drops down to 12.5V
> overnight after being charged. When the car is running the voltage at
> the battery is only 12.1V under this low voltage condition. If the
> car runs long enough the charge light sometimes goes out and the
> voltage from the alternator goes up to 14.6V. So my question is can a
> low (going bad) battery make alternator voltage drop, and the charging
> light stay on?
>


Your alternator is faulty! During the low-voltage episodes, the alternator
is not charging. You need to replace either the brushes or the entire
alternator.

You can buy a new brush holder from the dealer for about $20.

Do yourself a favor if you replace the entire alternator. Go spend the
extra hundred or so dollars and get a Honda reman from the dealer. The
headaches and problems you'll save will be priceless.


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

 

"lswpubrw" <lswpubrw@optonline.net> wrote in news:1170889741.527531.88730@h3g2000cwc.googlegrou ps.com:

> On Feb 7, 5:26 pm, jim beam <spamvor...@bad.example.net> wrote:
>> lswpubrw wrote:
>> > It's been really cold here (~10 F) over night and my car has developed
>> > a strange problem. It's a 1991 Accord EX StatWag. The battery is 37
>> potentially, but check the belt for slippage and the alternator brushes
>> for wear first.- Hide quoted text -
>
> Belt feels tight, little give when I press down.



3/8" deflection at the middle of the longest run with 20 lbs pressure
is proper tension. But this is not your problem here.



> The brush assembly
> be removed without removing the alternator? I'm trying to avoid
> taking the power steering pump off.
>


The brush assembly can be removed with the alternator in-situ, but you need
a NEW, WELL-FITTING Phillips screwdriver to remove the two holder screws.

My experience from 2002:
<http://groups.google.com/group/rec.autos.makers.honda/browse_frm/thread/611d2083a2bb174c/f963e0cb2ba9d689?lnk=st&q=&rnum=1#f963e0cb2ba9d689 >


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

 

"lswpubrw" <lswpubrw@optonline.net> wrote in news:1170889741.527531.88730@h3g2000cwc.googlegrou ps.com:

> On Feb 7, 5:26 pm, jim beam <spamvor...@bad.example.net> wrote:
>> lswpubrw wrote:
>> > It's been really cold here (~10 F) over night and my car has developed
>> > a strange problem. It's a 1991 Accord EX StatWag. The battery is 37
>> potentially, but check the belt for slippage and the alternator brushes
>> for wear first.- Hide quoted text -
>
> Belt feels tight, little give when I press down.



3/8" deflection at the middle of the longest run with 20 lbs pressure
is proper tension. But this is not your problem here.



> The brush assembly
> be removed without removing the alternator? I'm trying to avoid
> taking the power steering pump off.
>


The brush assembly can be removed with the alternator in-situ, but you need
a NEW, WELL-FITTING Phillips screwdriver to remove the two holder screws.

My experience from 2002:
<http://groups.google.com/group/rec.autos.makers.honda/browse_frm/thread/611d2083a2bb174c/f963e0cb2ba9d689?lnk=st&q=&rnum=1#f963e0cb2ba9d689 >


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

 

"lswpubrw" <lswpubrw@optonline.net> wrote in news:1170889741.527531.88730@h3g2000cwc.googlegrou ps.com:

> On Feb 7, 5:26 pm, jim beam <spamvor...@bad.example.net> wrote:
>> lswpubrw wrote:
>> > It's been really cold here (~10 F) over night and my car has developed
>> > a strange problem. It's a 1991 Accord EX StatWag. The battery is 37
>> potentially, but check the belt for slippage and the alternator brushes
>> for wear first.- Hide quoted text -
>
> Belt feels tight, little give when I press down.



3/8" deflection at the middle of the longest run with 20 lbs pressure
is proper tension. But this is not your problem here.



> The brush assembly
> be removed without removing the alternator? I'm trying to avoid
> taking the power steering pump off.
>


The brush assembly can be removed with the alternator in-situ, but you need
a NEW, WELL-FITTING Phillips screwdriver to remove the two holder screws.

My experience from 2002:
<http://groups.google.com/group/rec.autos.makers.honda/browse_frm/thread/611d2083a2bb174c/f963e0cb2ba9d689?lnk=st&q=&rnum=1#f963e0cb2ba9d689 >


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

 

"lswpubrw" <lswpubrw@optonline.net> wrote in news:1170889741.527531.88730@h3g2000cwc.googlegrou ps.com:

> On Feb 7, 5:26 pm, jim beam <spamvor...@bad.example.net> wrote:
>> lswpubrw wrote:
>> > It's been really cold here (~10 F) over night and my car has developed
>> > a strange problem. It's a 1991 Accord EX StatWag. The battery is 37
>> potentially, but check the belt for slippage and the alternator brushes
>> for wear first.- Hide quoted text -
>
> Belt feels tight, little give when I press down.



3/8" deflection at the middle of the longest run with 20 lbs pressure
is proper tension. But this is not your problem here.



> The brush assembly
> be removed without removing the alternator? I'm trying to avoid
> taking the power steering pump off.
>


The brush assembly can be removed with the alternator in-situ, but you need
a NEW, WELL-FITTING Phillips screwdriver to remove the two holder screws.

My experience from 2002:
<http://groups.google.com/group/rec.autos.makers.honda/browse_frm/thread/611d2083a2bb174c/f963e0cb2ba9d689?lnk=st&q=&rnum=1#f963e0cb2ba9d689 >


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

 

On Feb 7, 6:56 pm, Jim Yanik <jya...@abuse.gov> wrote:
> "lswpubrw" <lswpu...@optonline.net> wrote innews:1170889634.820448.318150@v45g2000cwv.google groups.com:
>
> Get a load test on the battery.
>

I measured the voltage while my wife hit the starter. Battery voltage
dropped to 10V but it started without much trouble.