Questions and Answers

Honda Civic Lights Brighten And Dim Q. I recently bought a 1998 Honda Civic EX. I have noticed that my headlights and interior lights do not stay at the same brightness as I drive. They don't go out but they go from the normal brightness to dimmer and then back again. This is definitely a problem because I live in Alaska and go to work in the dark and come home from work in the dark. Do you have an idea of what might be going on? Thanks for your help! Rebecca

A. The first thing to do is clean the battery terminals. First clean the top of the battery with some baking soda and water. Make sure you wear eye protection. Flush the top with plenty of clean water. Then, with a battery brush, clean the outside of the battery post and the inside of the cable terminal.

If the terminals are rotted away or won't tighten to the battery post, replace them. If, after you clean the battery, still have the problem, the next thing to have tested is the battery. If it is the original battery, it's about due for replacement. A shop, or the dealer, can do a battery load and charging system test.

Oh, almost forgot, make sure the alternator belt is tight as well.