battery or alternator?
09-10-2007, 05:07 PM
#1
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battery or alternator?
a few weeks ago, i was washing the car, left the radio on. i guess the battery drained and car would not start. jumped it, started... drove it around. the next time i go to start, it starts but not strong. was fine for weeks.
until last saturday morning before. left my headlights on for 2 min while i was getting 5 gallons of gas... dead again. got a jump, and started okay like before just not strong.
leads to this afternoon... was about to head to the gym after work... dead again.
is this a case of a bad alternator or bad battery?
until last saturday morning before. left my headlights on for 2 min while i was getting 5 gallons of gas... dead again. got a jump, and started okay like before just not strong.
leads to this afternoon... was about to head to the gym after work... dead again.
is this a case of a bad alternator or bad battery?
09-10-2007, 05:10 PM
#3
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If you disconnect the negative battery terminal and the car dies, then it's your alternator. If not it is not the alternator.
It's a quick raw test, but isn't absolute
It's a quick raw test, but isn't absolute
09-10-2007, 05:10 PM
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batteries dont like to be drained.
they never really recover, especially just recharged by the alternator.
im thinking your battery just needs to be replaced.
you could try to properly trickle charge it too.
if you alternator needed replacement, your CHARGE WARNING LIGHT (its not a battery light) would be on.
they never really recover, especially just recharged by the alternator.
im thinking your battery just needs to be replaced.
you could try to properly trickle charge it too.
if you alternator needed replacement, your CHARGE WARNING LIGHT (its not a battery light) would be on.
09-10-2007, 05:11 PM
#5
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do you have a multi meter?
check the voltage at idle, and with high load on(high beam, a/c)
sound like you discharged your battery one too many times, user habit=battery worst nightmare.
check the voltage at idle, and with high load on(high beam, a/c)
sound like you discharged your battery one too many times, user habit=battery worst nightmare.
09-10-2007, 05:12 PM
#6
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Originally Posted by S2Koupe,Sep 10 2007, 05:10 PM
batteries dont like to be drained.
they never really recover, especially just recharged by the alternator.
im thinking your battery just needs to be replaced.
you could try to properly trickle charge it too.
if you alternator needed replacement, your CHARGE WARNING LIGHT (its not a battery light) would be on.
they never really recover, especially just recharged by the alternator.
im thinking your battery just needs to be replaced.
you could try to properly trickle charge it too.
if you alternator needed replacement, your CHARGE WARNING LIGHT (its not a battery light) would be on.
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09-10-2007, 05:14 PM
#8
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Originally Posted by iam7head,Sep 10 2007, 05:12 PM
all my honda's warning light didn't go off until it's about to die, i wouldn't trust my life on it to be honest.
But I really doubt MY04 will have a dead alternator just yet. Batteries only last about 2-4 years max
