Questions and Answers

Honda Civic Has A Bad Alternator? Q. Hi, I am facing one problem. Please help me to trace the problem. I have a 1997 Honda Civic. Due to starting trouble I got changed the battery just three month before. Now few day back I started facing the problem of starting. I checked the battery from the Firestone and found that battery is bad. I changed the battery again.

Now after two days again the starting time is increased. I mean the time to car start after turning the key is increased. I went to Auto Zone and Sears. They told me that my alternator is bad. My observation: the head light intensity don't very with car speed. I mean, light remain bright even car at very low speed. Is this mean that alternator is not bad?

Can my alternator gone bad due to bad battery? As when battery is bad then my alternator will keep charging that battery always as required voltage will never be achieved at battery, that may turn alternator to bad? How can I confirm that my alternator is really bad ? Please guide me.

With best regards,
Rajesh

A. The only way to confirm the alternator is bad is by doing a charging system test. A test that, according to you, was done by both Auto Zone and Sears. Based on that, I would also have to say the alternator is bad.

If you put a voltmeter on the battery while the engine is running and turn on all the lights, air conditioner and rear window defroster and the voltage drops to less than 12 volts, the alternator is bad.

There was probably nothing wrong with the original or replacement battery.