Re: Alternator Output
 

MHolland.
Here is a suggestion on how to check for elect. system drain on battery.
Simply disconnect the Neg. battery cable end and connect a test lamp between
the two. Touch the post and cable end together while the test lamp is
attached form one minute to reset the computer. Now move them apart and
check to see if the lamp illuminates, if so begin disconnecting fuses till
the light goes off. You will then know which circuit is causing you battery
drain. If the lamp doesn't illuminate you have no electrical system draw,
and it sound like the battery has a problem. Also charge battery and let sit
over night disconnected from car. If it is weak or dead the next day you
have an internal drain in the battery.
Mike the mechanic

"MHolland" <mhollandsprint@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:%Hftb.1149$n56.309@newsread1.news.pas.earthli nk.net...
> I bought a '92 Civic in August. Within a week the battery died. Since then
I
> have replaced the computer, and the distributor. Today my daughter drove
it
> to work. When she tried to drive it home the engine would not crank. I
> jumped it, and it started right up. After disconnecting the jumper cables
I
> checked the voltage at the Civic's battery terminals with a voltage meter
> and it read 14.2 volts. When driving it home I heard a high pitch whine
that
> seemed to come from under the hood. I took it to Autozone and had the
> charging system checked. They said the alternator was putting out 62 amps
at
> 2000 rpm and 35 at idle. I think that should be good enough to keep the
> battery charged. Here in Arizona batteries are usually failing because of
> heat (bad cells). This acts like a bad cell to me.
>
> Thanks
>
>

Re: Alternator Output
 

MHolland.
Here is a suggestion on how to check for elect. system drain on battery.
Simply disconnect the Neg. battery cable end and connect a test lamp between
the two. Touch the post and cable end together while the test lamp is
attached form one minute to reset the computer. Now move them apart and
check to see if the lamp illuminates, if so begin disconnecting fuses till
the light goes off. You will then know which circuit is causing you battery
drain. If the lamp doesn't illuminate you have no electrical system draw,
and it sound like the battery has a problem. Also charge battery and let sit
over night disconnected from car. If it is weak or dead the next day you
have an internal drain in the battery.
Mike the mechanic

"MHolland" <mhollandsprint@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:%Hftb.1149$n56.309@newsread1.news.pas.earthli nk.net...
> I bought a '92 Civic in August. Within a week the battery died. Since then
I
> have replaced the computer, and the distributor. Today my daughter drove
it
> to work. When she tried to drive it home the engine would not crank. I
> jumped it, and it started right up. After disconnecting the jumper cables
I
> checked the voltage at the Civic's battery terminals with a voltage meter
> and it read 14.2 volts. When driving it home I heard a high pitch whine
that
> seemed to come from under the hood. I took it to Autozone and had the
> charging system checked. They said the alternator was putting out 62 amps
at
> 2000 rpm and 35 at idle. I think that should be good enough to keep the
> battery charged. Here in Arizona batteries are usually failing because of
> heat (bad cells). This acts like a bad cell to me.
>
> Thanks
>
>

Re: Alternator Output
 

MHolland.
Here is a suggestion on how to check for elect. system drain on battery.
Simply disconnect the Neg. battery cable end and connect a test lamp between
the two. Touch the post and cable end together while the test lamp is
attached form one minute to reset the computer. Now move them apart and
check to see if the lamp illuminates, if so begin disconnecting fuses till
the light goes off. You will then know which circuit is causing you battery
drain. If the lamp doesn't illuminate you have no electrical system draw,
and it sound like the battery has a problem. Also charge battery and let sit
over night disconnected from car. If it is weak or dead the next day you
have an internal drain in the battery.
Mike the mechanic

"MHolland" <mhollandsprint@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:%Hftb.1149$n56.309@newsread1.news.pas.earthli nk.net...
> I bought a '92 Civic in August. Within a week the battery died. Since then
I
> have replaced the computer, and the distributor. Today my daughter drove
it
> to work. When she tried to drive it home the engine would not crank. I
> jumped it, and it started right up. After disconnecting the jumper cables
I
> checked the voltage at the Civic's battery terminals with a voltage meter
> and it read 14.2 volts. When driving it home I heard a high pitch whine
that
> seemed to come from under the hood. I took it to Autozone and had the
> charging system checked. They said the alternator was putting out 62 amps
at
> 2000 rpm and 35 at idle. I think that should be good enough to keep the
> battery charged. Here in Arizona batteries are usually failing because of
> heat (bad cells). This acts like a bad cell to me.
>
> Thanks
>
>