imported_gatherer

ok on my 1990 Civic Si I think I have something wrong with the electrical system not sure what has failed or is failing just wondered if someone can popint me in the right direction

first on my way to work today I turned the headlights on... no issue there... then I came to a stop and turned on my signal to make a turn... (car was Idling) as the blinker went, in time to that my battery light would go on and off... so I know there's an issue if I turned off the headlights or gave it gas or turned off the signal the battery light would stop coming on...

any Ideas guys?

imported_JookSingKid

just a theory...

Could be your alternator is going...

Battery light flashes when the battery is not being charged or its dying.

When the blinker is flashing on, it could be creating an additional load that the alternator can't handle, hence the battery light flashes in time with turn indicator...

scarlemthug

check your grounds and test the output of the alt at idle.

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

yeah, I also would suspect the alternator current... how many amps is it putting out?

imported_gatherer

yeah figures it be the basics I'd have to check

scarlemthug

should be around 14.4 at idle, less with the headlights on of course.

i would test it idling with the headlights on and the blinker going but im sure you knew that:P.

imported_gatherer

your talking voltage ....

scarlemthug

yeah, Amperage would be about 50-60amps in the upper rpm range. I would check to see if its even keeping the voltage steady at idle or if the alternator is struggling.

coreyhayman

id def say its 100% your alternator or also check your belts to make sure there tight and not slipping.

Whiplash

alternator sounds like it's going..

had any issues starting it Jason??
how far is it to work??
first clue is "usually" it's inability to re-charge the battery..
if shyt starts dying out on ya it's, again "usually" cuz the alt is shot and the car is running off the battery alone..

and as corey mentioned check the belt

imported_loudsubz

id grab a cheap $10 multi meter, hook it up inside the car and watch your voltage all day and pinpoint what the prob is

or you could also grab a dc clamp current meter and put all accessories on in the car and watch the draw on your main line from the alt and see if its ok

imported_gatherer

hell I have a multimeter .. just gotta remember to come home during daylight hours so that I can test it..

no issues starting...

one thing I noticed was I had the fans for the heater going that morning .. couldn't reproduce it till I turned the fans on full.. seem to only happen with the heater fans on.. so if I check the voltage tomorrow and find it's ok then I at least know what circuits to check for shorts.

imported_gatherer

didn't think of the all day thing I'll have to try that ....

as for the DC clamp .. I'll have to grab one from work ....

scarlemthug

definitely sounds like your alt is going, with the heater on full blast, headlights on and your turn signals blinking thats all putting a nice strain on the stock alt. You can have my stock 1 if it will fit in your car Jay.

imported_gatherer

Thug thats mighty kind of you ... can you bring it wednesday so that I can see if it's the same thing....