Honda Car Forum

Hi,

I have a 93 Civic - new to me.

The battery light is on and the speedometer and Tach stop working once
in a while.

Any suggestions on what I should check out?

Jim

"Jim" <jferree@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1152576015.510029.56840@h48g2000cwc.googlegro ups.com...
> Hi,
>
> I have a 93 Civic - new to me.
>
> The battery light is on and the speedometer and Tach stop working once
> in a while.
>
> Any suggestions on what I should check out?
>
> Jim
>
Check out the alternator first. The battery light is telling you the
alternator is probably not keeping your battery charged. Most places that
sell alternators will do a quick test in the car.

Mike

The warning lamp with the battery icon in it is actually the
"malfunction, charging system" light.

See about the middle of
http://home.earthlink.net/~honda.lioness/id13.html for some
quick voltage checks you can do that might tell you more.

Congrats on your new Civic. How many miles? Do you have any
maintenance records on it?

"Jim" <jferree@gmail.com> wrote
> Hi,
>
> I have a 93 Civic - new to me.
>
> The battery light is on and the speedometer and Tach stop
> working once
> in a while.
>
> Any suggestions on what I should check out?
>
> Jim
>

Thanks for you help everyone.

Definitely need a new alternator. Please advise on which ones are
good, how to install and which repair manual to buy.

Mileage is 133K, no maintenance records. I will see if I can contact
the previous owner to get his feedback on the car.

Jim


Elle wrote:
> The warning lamp with the battery icon in it is actually the
> "malfunction, charging system" light.
>
> See about the middle of
> http://home.earthlink.net/~honda.lioness/id13.html for some
> quick voltage checks you can do that might tell you more.
>
> Congrats on your new Civic. How many miles? Do you have any
> maintenance records on it?
>
> "Jim" <jferree@gmail.com> wrote
> > Hi,
> >
> > I have a 93 Civic - new to me.
> >
> > The battery light is on and the speedometer and Tach stop
> > working once
> > in a while.
> >
> > Any suggestions on what I should check out?
> >
> > Jim
> >

Elle wrote:
>
> The warning lamp with the battery icon in it is actually the
> "malfunction, charging system" light.
>
> See about the middle of
> http://home.earthlink.net/~honda.lioness/id13.html for some
> quick voltage checks you can do that might tell you more.

-----------------------------------------

I notice the troubleshooting part mentions 'warmed up', but doesn't seem
to stress this important fact I came across the other day:

"a no-charging system may not be the alternator. Honda has been using an
ELD (electrical load device) relay for the last 10 years or so. Honda
uses PCM strategy to control the voltage regulator. We have learned to
let the engine run a few minutes before checking alternator output (the
PCM lets the initial start up to stabilize before turning the alternator
on, reducing the load on the engine). Honda uses the ELD relay to
control alternator output -- no load, no work at idle."

I found it when I was searching 'honda ELD' with google.

The OP may need brushes only, not a whole alternator, also.

'Curly'

The alternator belt is missing and the alternator does not turn by hand
so I assume the alternator is seized up.

Can I get a rebuilt alternator?

Thanks again,

Jim


'Curly Q. Links' wrote:
> Elle wrote:
> >
> > The warning lamp with the battery icon in it is actually the
> > "malfunction, charging system" light.
> >
> > See about the middle of
> > http://home.earthlink.net/~honda.lioness/id13.html for some
> > quick voltage checks you can do that might tell you more.
>
> -----------------------------------------
>
> I notice the troubleshooting part mentions 'warmed up', but doesn't seem
> to stress this important fact I came across the other day:
>
> "a no-charging system may not be the alternator. Honda has been using an
> ELD (electrical load device) relay for the last 10 years or so. Honda
> uses PCM strategy to control the voltage regulator. We have learned to
> let the engine run a few minutes before checking alternator output (the
> PCM lets the initial start up to stabilize before turning the alternator
> on, reducing the load on the engine). Honda uses the ELD relay to
> control alternator output -- no load, no work at idle."
>
> I found it when I was searching 'honda ELD' with google.
>
> The OP may need brushes only, not a whole alternator, also.
>
> 'Curly'

"Jim" <jferree@gmail.com> wrote in
news:1152631010.833599.251900@h48g2000cwc.googlegr oups.com:

> The alternator belt is missing and the alternator does not turn by hand
> so I assume the alternator is seized up.
>
> Can I get a rebuilt alternator?
>
> Thanks again,
>
> Jim

I'm sure most of your local auto stores sell rebuilt alternators,along with
the more pricey Honda ones. You can get an idea of their price and
availability by shopping online,Advance Auto,NAPA are a couple of good
sites.

Some models may be difficult for accessing the alternator without removing
a drive axle half-shaft and dropping the alt. from below the car..

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

it requires removal of the drivers side axle. unless you toy with the master
cylinder which leads to way too many problems.

-jeff
"Jim Yanik" <jyanik@abuse.gov> wrote in message
news:Xns97FD82036C512jyanikkuanet@129.250.170.83.. .
> "Jim" <jferree@gmail.com> wrote in
> news:1152631010.833599.251900@h48g2000cwc.googlegr oups.com:
>
>> The alternator belt is missing and the alternator does not turn by hand
>> so I assume the alternator is seized up.
>>
>> Can I get a rebuilt alternator?
>>
>> Thanks again,
>>
>> Jim
>
> I'm sure most of your local auto stores sell rebuilt alternators,along
> with
> the more pricey Honda ones. You can get an idea of their price and
> availability by shopping online,Advance Auto,NAPA are a couple of good
> sites.
>
> Some models may be difficult for accessing the alternator without removing
> a drive axle half-shaft and dropping the alt. from below the car..
>
> --
> Jim Yanik
> jyanik
> at
> kua.net

Thanks - I was afraid of that.


hondaman wrote:
> it requires removal of the drivers side axle. unless you toy with the master
> cylinder which leads to way too many problems.
>
> -jeff
> "Jim Yanik" <jyanik@abuse.gov> wrote in message
> news:Xns97FD82036C512jyanikkuanet@129.250.170.83.. .
> > "Jim" <jferree@gmail.com> wrote in
> > news:1152631010.833599.251900@h48g2000cwc.googlegr oups.com:
> >
> >> The alternator belt is missing and the alternator does not turn by hand
> >> so I assume the alternator is seized up.
> >>
> >> Can I get a rebuilt alternator?
> >>
> >> Thanks again,
> >>
> >> Jim
> >
> > I'm sure most of your local auto stores sell rebuilt alternators,along
> > with
> > the more pricey Honda ones. You can get an idea of their price and
> > availability by shopping online,Advance Auto,NAPA are a couple of good
> > sites.
> >
> > Some models may be difficult for accessing the alternator without removing
> > a drive axle half-shaft and dropping the alt. from below the car..
> >
> > --
> > Jim Yanik
> > jyanik
> > at
> > kua.net

"'Curly Q. Links'" <motsco__@interbaun.com> wrote
E
>> See about the middle of
>> http://home.earthlink.net/~honda.lioness/id13.html for
>> some
>> quick voltage checks you can do that might tell you more.
>
> -----------------------------------------
>
> I notice the troubleshooting part mentions 'warmed up',
> but doesn't seem
> to stress this important fact I came across the other day:
>
> "a no-charging system may not be the alternator. Honda has
> been using an
> ELD (electrical load device) relay for the last 10 years
> or so. Honda
> uses PCM strategy to control the voltage regulator. We
> have learned to
> let the engine run a few minutes before checking
> alternator output (the
> PCM lets the initial start up to stabilize before turning
> the alternator
> on, reducing the load on the engine). Honda uses the ELD
> relay to
> control alternator output -- no load, no work at idle."
>
> I found it when I was searching 'honda ELD' with google.

I'll study this further and potentially make revisions.
Little time right now--taking another automotive course for
fun. Thanks, though!

> The OP may need brushes only, not a whole alternator,
> also.

Not sure if the above is for me, but I think that point is
well covered at my site.