Caroline,

The voltage regulator has two settings. Under normal operation the
output voltage should be 14.5 V +/- 0.6V. At idle with a warmed up
engine (and a few other requirements) the voltage is dropped to save
fuel. Try measuring the voltages again, but this time step on the brake
pedal when you measure the voltage at idle (stepping on the brakes will
force the voltage regulator into the 14.5 V mode). When you measured in
February, perhaps the engine wasn't fully warmed up?

Caroline wrote:
>
> 1991 Civic LX 4-door sedan, 1.5 Liter, manual transmission, no air conditioning,
> 156k miles, here.
>
> Voltage at the battery terminals when the car is
> -- idling = about 12.7 volts
> -- stopped, ignition off, also about 12.7 volts
>
> In February, these numbers were 14.5 volts and 12. 4 volts.
>
> Internet sources say a voltage when the car is idling of around 14 volts or so
> indicates a properly operating charging system. So something is wrong, IMO.
>
> I put in a new battery (Interstate) today, replacing the old one (4-years-old;
> Diehard; wrong climate design as I moved from up North to the Southwest in the
> past year?). The voltages above didn't change.
>
> The car is on its second alternator (OEM). This 2nd alternator is 5 years and
> 50k miles old.
>
> I installed a new alternator belt in June. I originally had the belt too loose,
> as indicated by a squeal at cold startup. I tightened it and the squeal stopped.
> Unfortunately I did not at this time check the battery terminal voltage.
>
> I did shake out quite a lot of white powder (indicating some corrosion) from the
> battery's positive terminal's cable connector while changing the batteries.
>
> I'm going to do the checks at
> http://www.honda.co.uk/owner/Concert...k301/16-66.pdf this weekend.
>
> Meanwhile, has anyone seen a condition like this? If so, what was the fix?
>
> I think this is not critical unless I do a lot of driving with the lights on
> (which I do not, as I drive mostly during daylight hours). But I do feel my
> battery isn't going to be maintained at optimal charge and so, as winter
> approaches, I need to fix this.