Honda Car Forum

New to the group, and Honda owner for past 6 years (not counting
motorcycles). Problem is my '87 Si hatchback has a weird charging
problem. The charging light stays on till I hit 4K rpm, then goes
off. This is all the more weird because if it's a cold night, I can
come out, start the car up, and the charging light goes off at idle
rpm's, like normal. Next day (when hotter), back to minimum 4K rpm
for charging light to quench. I suspect worn fan belts. Yes? No?

FYI: Black '87 hatchback with original engine (225K mi), replaced
tranny (vx or vh, very high gearing), the rest all stock. Engine just
purrs and still gets 36 mpg (with help of new tranny). Honda, best
car on the road!

notbob ...working toward an S2000

Worn communtator (slip ring.) Brushes worn too. Use to have the same
problem. Brushes goes for about 5 bucks but you can always file down
the communtator (slip ring.)

> New to the group, and Honda owner for past 6 years (not counting
> motorcycles). Problem is my '87 Si hatchback has a weird charging
> problem. The charging light stays on till I hit 4K rpm, then goes
> off. This is all the more weird because if it's a cold night, I can
> come out, start the car up, and the charging light goes off at idle
> rpm's, like normal. Next day (when hotter), back to minimum 4K rpm
> for charging light to quench. I suspect worn fan belts. Yes? No?
>
> FYI: Black '87 hatchback with original engine (225K mi), replaced
> tranny (vx or vh, very high gearing), the rest all stock. Engine just
> purrs and still gets 36 mpg (with help of new tranny). Honda, best
> car on the road!
>
> notbob ...working toward an S2000

In article <IlL7b.311388$Oz4.100955@rwcrnsc54>, notbob
<notbob@nothome.com> wrote:

> New to the group, and Honda owner for past 6 years (not counting
> motorcycles). Problem is my '87 Si hatchback has a weird charging
> problem. The charging light stays on till I hit 4K rpm, then goes
> off. This is all the more weird because if it's a cold night, I can
> come out, start the car up, and the charging light goes off at idle
> rpm's, like normal. Next day (when hotter), back to minimum 4K rpm
> for charging light to quench. I suspect worn fan belts. Yes? No?
>
> FYI: Black '87 hatchback with original engine (225K mi), replaced
> tranny (vx or vh, very high gearing), the rest all stock. Engine just
> purrs and still gets 36 mpg (with help of new tranny). Honda, best
> car on the road!
>
> notbob ...working toward an S2000

It could be an alternator problem. Some of the larger auto parts stores
will test your alternator for free.

Forgot to mention it's an alternator slip ring + brushes.

> Worn communtator (slip ring.) Brushes worn too. Use to have the same
> problem. Brushes goes for about 5 bucks but you can always file down
> the communtator (slip ring.)
>
> > New to the group, and Honda owner for past 6 years (not counting
> > motorcycles). Problem is my '87 Si hatchback has a weird charging
> > problem. The charging light stays on till I hit 4K rpm, then goes
> > off. This is all the more weird because if it's a cold night, I can
> > come out, start the car up, and the charging light goes off at idle
> > rpm's, like normal. Next day (when hotter), back to minimum 4K rpm
> > for charging light to quench. I suspect worn fan belts. Yes? No?
> >
> > FYI: Black '87 hatchback with original engine (225K mi), replaced
> > tranny (vx or vh, very high gearing), the rest all stock. Engine just
> > purrs and still gets 36 mpg (with help of new tranny). Honda, best
> > car on the road!
> >
> > notbob ...working toward an S2000

For that matter, test your battery too. you can ruin an alternator on a bad
battery.

"Bill B. Johnson" <billbjohnson555@nospamhotmail.com> wrote in message
news:billbjohnson555-1109031236580001@pm1-broad-107.snlo.dialup.fix.net...
> In article <IlL7b.311388$Oz4.100955@rwcrnsc54>, notbob
> <notbob@nothome.com> wrote:
>
> > New to the group, and Honda owner for past 6 years (not counting
> > motorcycles). Problem is my '87 Si hatchback has a weird charging
> > problem. The charging light stays on till I hit 4K rpm, then goes
> > off. This is all the more weird because if it's a cold night, I can
> > come out, start the car up, and the charging light goes off at idle
> > rpm's, like normal. Next day (when hotter), back to minimum 4K rpm
> > for charging light to quench. I suspect worn fan belts. Yes? No?
> >
> > FYI: Black '87 hatchback with original engine (225K mi), replaced
> > tranny (vx or vh, very high gearing), the rest all stock. Engine just
> > purrs and still gets 36 mpg (with help of new tranny). Honda, best
> > car on the road!
> >
> > notbob ...working toward an S2000
>
> It could be an alternator problem. Some of the larger auto parts stores
> will test your alternator for free.

On 2003-09-10, notbob <notbob@nothome.com> wrote:

> for charging light to quench. I suspect worn fan belts. Yes? No?

Yep, it was the fan belt. I've never seen this new style fan belt.
Usually, with old v-type fan belts, if the belt was there, it would
work. Sure, it might slip, and be terribly noisey, but it would work.
I never experience a fan belt that could be tight and still slip. Oh
well. Live and learn.

Thanks all who offered help.

nb