Advice: Is it just my battery, or the alternator?? - Honda Prelude Forum

yield · 08-14-2002, 11:00 AM

Hey guys,
Usually my 93 SI starts right up after 2 cranks but over the last week, I could tell it was slowing down. It was literally like listening to a tape player slow down and the music starts to die. So for the last week it's been turning over harder and harder, and today it barely cranked at all but finally ignited. Do you think this is just an old battery dying, or an alternator. But I would think it would just die completely if it was an alternator and I've never had a battery die so I don't know if they take a while to konk out. The other thing is I have a ****load of oxidation on my battery terminals that I haven't cleared off for a couple of weeks - could that do it??

NoShoNoGoAccord · 08-14-2002, 11:27 AM

If I were you I would clean off the terminals and COMPLETELY clean and make sure your ground with is attached to the car at a clean point of contact.
One time my dad's ground wore was loose and it exhibited similar symptoms. NO ONE could figure it out. He figured it out himself eventually.Good luk and let us know if you figure it out.
Andy

go pre · 08-14-2002, 11:34 AM

i have a ton of green stuff on my positive battery terminal too, and usually it starts fine but the other day it took at least 10 seconds to fire up. is this a sign of the battery going or what?

Lude[g] · 08-14-2002, 11:48 AM

i have a similar problem. if i dont drive my car for a few days and then try to start it up it takes 4 or 5 cranks. but if it has been driven on consecutive days, its fine.. weird. what u think it is?

blakdeth77 · 08-14-2002, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lude[g]
i have a similar problem. if i dont drive my car for a few days and then try to start it up it takes 4 or 5 cranks. but if it has been driven on consecutive days, its fine.. weird. what u think it is?

I get that same shiZZo... hehe... if anyone can explain the "if you dont drive me I wont love u" attitude that comes from our rides.. please do!

ME · 08-14-2002, 12:41 PM

In my experience batteries die a sudden death. They start fine once and the next time you just hear clicking. Check the terminals for corrosion and then have a place load test your alternator. They should do it for free, it's a five minute deal. There's some stuff called Boeshield T-9 that works great on battery terminals. You spray it on like twice a year, it eats up corrosion and then coats the terminals to prevent more from forming. You can buy it at www.mcmaster.com

overdose · 08-14-2002, 12:47 PM

Coca Cola is also great for dissolving and eating corrosion

but for some reason we also consume this stuff :P

bk94si · 08-14-2002, 04:50 PM

If your battery is more than 5 years old, it is probably time to get a new one anyway or else it will strand you this winter. Batteries lose power as they age and in the cold and also when not in use.

yield · 08-14-2002, 05:56 PM

Well, looks like it was both!! I had it checked out and it was totally dead and leaking a little but then when the new one was plopped in, it wouldn't charge up!
Great... I just spent over $400 getting my apexi ws delivered and installed, then I pay $80 for the battery, now I'll spend probably another $300 or so for a freakin' alternator...BAH! What a week.
Thanks for the help guys.

brendon2k · 08-15-2002, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by yield
Well, looks like it was both!! I had it checked out and it was totally dead and leaking a little but then when the new one was plopped in, it wouldn't charge up!
Great... I just spent over $400 getting my apexi ws delivered and installed, then I pay $80 for the battery, now I'll spend probably another $300 or so for a freakin' alternator...BAH! What a week.
Thanks for the help guys.

What do you mean it won't charge? Did you car start ok with the new battery first put in? It should even with a dead alternator. I don't think the alternator is the problem. It is if the car worked ok at first with the new battery but after a while of driving your car started to lose power.

yield · 08-15-2002, 10:07 PM

The old one gradually lost power. Once I got the new one in, it started great. They can test the battery to see if it's charging and the new one wasn't....so that means alternator. Taking it in tomorrow to have a test and rebuild. I just hope the guy wasn't lying when he said the original battery was truly dead and not just dead because the alternator stopped working. It was leaking a bit though.