Alternator bad?

Tiny
HEATHER ROLLINS
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 HONDA CIVIC
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 146,000 MILES
I have a 99 honda civic Dx and today the battery died so we jumped it and then when I started driving id stop and then when I tried to accelerate again it didnt want to go and also my engine and srs light came on and my speedometer sopped working. Is this my alternator?
Wednesday, April 27th, 2011 AT 8:59 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Have the charging system checked could be the alternator malfunctioning
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Wednesday, April 27th, 2011 AT 9:05 PM
Tiny
HEATHER ROLLINS
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
So would that mean I would have to get a new alternator?
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Wednesday, April 27th, 2011 AT 9:38 PM
Tiny
SLOBEACHBOY
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
Based on your response to the expert’s advice I take it that you do not want to take it to a mechanic and you want to do it yourself. The problem is you likely do not have the proper equipment to test your charging system yourself and there is no way to know for sure if your alternator is the problem simply from describing the issue. Fortunately there are very few components to the charging system though. In the old days it was just the alternator, the battery, and a simple voltage regulator. Nowadays the current regulation is controlled by a more complex system but batteries and alternators haven’t changed much over the years and many auto parts stores will test things like starters and batteries for you. Anyway I would have the battery tested first. You see, although technically the alternator should be able to keep the car running normally even when the battery is bad this is not always the case. In fact my mothers Honda did all the exact same things as yours and it turned out to be the battery so it is possible. If that’s not it have the alternator tested and if that’s also good it means there is a problem somewhere in between the battery and alternator and you will have to have a mechanic sort it out for you. Good luck.
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Thursday, April 28th, 2011 AT 7:36 PM

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