Honda Car Forum

My wife's 2002 civic was having some electrical problems whereby it
would start well and then after being driven for a while it would not
start once stopped. As it turns out, it was that the alternator would
charge while at idle but go dead upon higher rpms. In the middle of
figuring all of this out, after stopping the vehicle, the daytime
running lights (drl's) and the parking lights would blink on and off
after taking the key out or even while driving as long as the lights
were off at the switch. I took out the associated relay and at least I
could leave the car without the drls and the parking lights blinking
forever. And no, the hazzards were not on. I thought it was a bad
relay but a new one didn't change anything. Any ideas? HELP!

John B. wrote:

> My wife's 2002 civic was having some electrical problems whereby it
> would start well and then after being driven for a while it would not
> start once stopped. As it turns out, it was that the alternator would
> charge while at idle but go dead upon higher rpms. In the middle of
> figuring all of this out, after stopping the vehicle, the daytime
> running lights (drl's) and the parking lights would blink on and off
> after taking the key out or even while driving as long as the lights
> were off at the switch. I took out the associated relay and at least I
> could leave the car without the drls and the parking lights blinking
> forever. And no, the hazzards were not on. I thought it was a bad
> relay but a new one didn't change anything. Any ideas? HELP!

If the alternator was not actually replaced, then I strongly believe that it
is the cause of these problems. I had similar issues last year with my 2004
Civic, and only the alternator needed to be replaced. It seems to be a
somewhat common problem on this version of Civic.

On Jul 22, 4:49*pm, Eternal Searcher
<eternalsearcherREMOVE7...@yahoo.ca> wrote:
> John B. wrote:
> > My wife's 2002 civic was having some electrical problems whereby it
> > would start well and then after being driven for a while it would not
> > start once stopped. As it turns out, it was that the alternator would
> > charge while at idle but go dead upon higher rpms. In the middle of
> > figuring all of this out, after stopping the vehicle, the daytime
> > running lights (drl's) and the parking lights would blink on and off
> > after taking the key out or even while driving as long as the lights
> > were off at the switch. I took out the associated relay and at least I
> > could leave the car without the drls and the parking lights blinking
> > forever. And no, the hazzards were not on. I thought it was a bad
> > relay but a new one didn't change anything. Any ideas? HELP!
>
> If the alternator was not actually replaced, then I strongly believe thatit
> is the cause of these problems. *I had similar issues last year with my2004
> Civic, and only the alternator needed to be replaced. *It seems to be a
> somewhat common problem on this version of Civic.

the alternator was replaced but the situation continues. the blinking
of the drls and the parking lights continues until either you turn on
the lights at the switch or you pull the relay. As i said before, the
relay replacement doesn't make a difference.