ndantzler

I have a 99 base Prelude and it has some really bad luck. It's been hit 3 times while parked and been in a not my fault accident. Here is the latest problem:
I had it in the shop after the accident. Among other things, they replaced the alternator and the battery. The car ran great for about a month. After about a month I did some routine maintenance- changed the oil, topped off some fluids, and cleaned off the battery terminals. The next day, the car wouldn't start. I lifted the hood and could smell the battery acid, so I jumped it and took it back to the shop. They cleaned the terminals and cleared it, so I took it home. Next day it wouldn't start. It sat in the driveway for about a month because I just couldn't get it to the shop. When I finally had time I looked under the hood again. The air cleaner latch closest to the battery as well as the big battery tie-down bolt were totally corroded over, so I had it towed up in case anything else was messed up. They replaced the battery and the car starts and runs, but now I'm idling at about 400 and the battery and E-brake lights come on whenever I don't have the gas pushed. What is wrong with my car? Is it just idling so low that the battery isn't getting enough charge at the low idle speed? I'm used to working on 60s carbureted muscle cars, so I don't even know how to adjust the idle speed. Is that all I need to do?

 

ThatPreludeGuy

Sounds like the altenator is wasted so you're driving the car off the battery alone which is killing it. Maybe the replacement altenator was beat from the start(not impossible especially if its a refurb).

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ndantzler

They checked the alternator at the shop, so that shouldn't be a problem. I'll check that out though

ndantzler

OK there is something really wrong. I took it out for a drive and all of a sudden I lost my tach, speedometer and radio. I was about 1/4 mile from Advance Auto, so I just took it straight over there. I went inside to ask for a battery and alternator test. I went back out to the car to test some things out, and when I turned on the lights, it died. We managed to get it almost home and pushed it the rest of the way. The battery reads 12 volts and the alternator tests fine, so what the **** is wrong with my car? At 78k miles it shouldn't be screwing up like that, it has at least another 100k left. I NEED HELP

ThatPreludeGuy

How about the grounds, if the battery is fine and the altenator is testing ok my next direction would be the grounding. It has every indication of a charging issue so perhaps the ground is weak and/or loose.

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blue_lude_91

id have to agree about the grounds. the same thing happened to my mom's car when a squirrel chewed through her main harness. id have it towed to the dealer to have them check that out

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