flyingv

Ok you said Autozone tested the alternator and found it to be faulty right? I say just have it replaced. That does seem like it is the cause of your problem. However, if you have access to a spare ECU I guess it's worth a shot. But your symptoms do appear to be alternator related - although I experienced similar symptoms when my ignition switch failed (gauges dropping out).

You should still have the "ignition switch recall" stuff done anyways when you get a chance if it hasn't been done already, and Honda has to do this free - they don't have a choice in the matter (parts/labor) assuming it hasn't been done already.

In my area (Chicago), there are some guys who rebuild alternators for around $75, maybe something to consider. Anyways, replace the alternator and/or have it tested somewhere else a 2nd time to be sure. Let us know how it goes.

flyVing

brotherdog

thank you so much for your reply 'flyVing'

umm yah i did get a new alternator today.. will install tomorrrow..

and as for the ignition recall, will honda still do it if my car has a salvage title..?

cuz i know how the service reps @ honda here, college station, TX. are lazy bums who arent nice first of all, dont look like they know anything.. , and even if they do know whats going on they are gonna find the easy wayy out (for them).. and replace one system after another stealing all my savings..

i talked to them about my messed up ss tranny,, they were like,, umm yah we donno anything about the 00, 01 models tranny being bad.. the 97, -99 tranny had a problem.. but the 00-01 trannys were perfect.. im like.. ok w/e man.. im sure they will make up some BS about the ignition thing.. is there anything, article posted somewhere that proves this recall thing.. so i can show them evidence of this recall??

thanks..
everyone.

btw, after taking off my old alternator i took it back to autozone and they hooked it up to their alternator check machine thing,, and it passed the test the 2 times he tested it..

so yah ill put on this new one.. and see what it does..

lilredlude

you should be able to put your vin # in somewhere at the honda site. i'm sure they have a honda owners area. it will find any recalls you need to have done. i'm guessing they don't look at title, so that shouldn't matter

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If you don't know what you want, you end up with a lot you don't.

lilredlude

https://www.ahm-ownerlink.com/login.asp

sign up there and you should be able to put your vin it, it will show if it hasn't been done.

__________________
If you don't know what you want, you end up with a lot you don't.

Tee-Dot

If you bring the car in under recall, they have to fix whatever needs fixing.

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brotherdog

thanks for this link.

just signed up, and under the recalls menu,, it only lists the transmission warrenty extension. nothing with the ignition thing.. i have a 2001 prelude BTW..

brotherdog

just installed the new alternator, too scared to turn on my stereo as i think its not installed right and killed my alternator somehow,, gonna un install and reinstall PROPERLY and get it looked at by an audio install guy so i dont fry my alternator again. and YES i put my heat shield back on my stock header.. but i mean seriously.. why would the heat kill it..? i wanna have nice headers. the hytech knockoff ones. !!!!
F!!

flyingv

I'm not sure if a poor stereo install could mess with your alternator, depending on what you mean by that. You could possibly be drawing too much power if you have excess hardware like subs etc.. but I haven't personally seen it happen. You could definitely blow some fuses if we're talking about poor wiring. However, the stereo installation is really simple if you're use wiring harnesses off the shelf, everything just snaps into place. If it was a custom job done by splicing wires and matching them up then you have to make sure it was properly done.

I'd also be weary of your Viper alarm if the install was done poorly. My car had one installed when I bought it, and it ended up giving me some issues so I had the whole thing removed. I don't know what the life expectancy is on those either.

It's possible your car wasn't affected by the ignition recall, not all of them were.

As far as your original issue though, hopefully the alternator replacement took care of it.

darth98lude

like someone said on this thread before make sure there is nothing drawing energy from the battery while the car is off even a small thing like a subwofer fan could kill the battery overnight. I would measure the alternator's output and compare it to the right output on the cars manual to make sure its bad.

brotherdog

well, car was starting really strong today, so im guessing the new alternator is doing a pretty good job of charging the battery.. , havent turned on my cd player or my alarm yet.. i wanna wait a couple more days before i do.. i am testing to see if my battery will die without those on.. if it does ill know for sure its something else.. if it doesnt.. ill turn those on,,, and see if it kills the car.. , but as for the stereo, it did have a harness but i think we had to combine the yellow and the red wires to make it turn on, im not 100% on that, but i think we had to do that, and i have stock speakers

thanks for all the responses.

methodprelude

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if the yellow and red wires are together, is your stereo on all the time? do you have to turn the head unit off when you get out of the car? Normally the blue is the remote, but if the yellow is, that could be your issue right there. Also check to make sure your amp's remote is hooked up properly so it only comes on when the ignition is on. AAND, You say your auto is acting up? if you're under 100k miles, get that s*** replaced son! Fo' Free!

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'99 SS Base JDM H22a JDM SS auto

brotherdog

i wish it was under 100k!!!!..

and the stereo thing ill see if it stays on,, i always turned it off before i got out of the car... so.. im not sure..

brotherdog

my stereo DOES turn off when i take the key out..