Bad Electrical stuff going on.. 91 prelude - Honda Prelude Forum

jsuko1 · 08-26-2010, 10:22 PM

So just got a 1991 Prelude Si with the factory B21a1 and 135,000 on it. It has a supposed new head gasket, by the looks and the receipt that came with it, a brand spankin new alternator, new plug wires, and a new distributor cap. Took it for a test drive before I bought it and rattled through all 5 gears into the rpms just fine. I was satisfied enough to buy the car, mind you this was yesterday. Today take it for a drive, got there fine, but when I left my destination it immediately started to hesitate badly, lost power above 2500 rpms, it lurched and sounded like it was misfiring. I was able to limp it home and shut it off in the driveway. Opened the hood, waited a few seconds and tried to start it. Got the dead battery click. Jumped it with my truck and it seemed to run just fine. Took it around the block, got on it and it went into the rpms fine for about a minute then same thing again. Got it back into the driveway, jumped it, runs again and I proceed to disconnect the positive while its running to check the alt and it dies, no charge from the alt. I'm confused as to what I need to do now because this new alt for sure has less than 2,500 miles on it, I checked the receipt. ANY help would be appreciated and looking forward to hearing from ANYONE!! Oh yeah and the battery charge light is on while running

Colfax · 08-27-2010, 12:00 AM

Welcome to the forum and congrats on the lude! Sounds like you diagnosed your own problem. Pull the alternator and take it to NAPA or any other auto parts store near you. Have them bench test it and see if it's charging. They usually provide this service for free. But it sounds like a bad alternator to me. I've had brand new ones fail before, so it's not that unusual.

jsuko1 · 08-27-2010, 02:25 PM

Hey thanks Colfax. I was unsure about it being alt because of the fact that it was so new, but, tore it out and took it to Kragen to have it tested. Sure enough it failed. I still have the receipt from the previous owner, now I am gonna go to the shop where the work was done and see if the will cut me a break. THERE WAS LESS THAN 2000 MILES ON THAT ALT!!!!

Colfax · 08-27-2010, 03:27 PM

Glad I could help. Most reputable shops will stand behind their work. Hopefully this one is reputable. But how much time has passed since they rebuilt it? There is usually a time warranty as well as mileage. It may not matter if there are only 2000 miles on it if too much time has passed since they did the work. Good luck with it.