2004 Honda Accord Alternator

2004 HONDA ACCORD
45,000 MILES • 4 CYL • FWD • MANUAL
Avatar
BILL DEM
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
The battery in my 2004 Accord went dead, but it took a jump. I pulled the pos cable off battery and within a minute car started to sputter, guages jumped, etc. Do I need a new alternator or could it be something else?
Nov 8, 2008 at 1:09 PM
Advertisement
Avatar
KHLOW2008
  • CAR REPAIR CONTRIBUTOR
  • 41,814 POSTS
Hi Bill,

Most probably the alternator is not charging. I would suggest testing the charging voltage with a voltmeter.

There are 2 things that you should not have done.

1. Pulling off the Positive terminal when the engine is running. If the alternator had been good, current surge could have fried the PCM.

2. When disconnecting battery terminals, it should be the negative that should come off. While removing the terminal if the tools had contacted with anything nearby, the positive terminal would have caused shorting which could do a lot of damage.
Nov 16, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Repair Safety Notice: This information is for general instructional purposes only. Vehicle repair can be dangerous. Verify all information, follow manufacturer service procedures, use proper tools and safety equipment, and consult a qualified repair shop when needed.