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HELP! PLEASE!

H

Hamid92

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Messages
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Location
London
Car
Honda Accord Type S
Hi all

My car is playing some games with me and I tried telling it to fix itself up but that clearly hasn't registered!

A few weeks ago I went for a normal service, spark plugs, filters, oil etc etc and car was purring like a kitten :)! Lovely!

Then I took it for a car wash so the exterior matched the engine sort of, Brett knows my engine is seriously clean ;)!

Anyways I went for a drive with some fellow enthusiasts (driving within limits) and started hearing a whine from the engine :eek: so we all pull over and the lads go at it at my engine but no one knows what the heck it is!! Didn't think too much of it as the car was running fine, performance was all perfect.

The next day I started her and started heading to Uni when I noticed my wipers were going slowly and in steps, my music started cutting off then.......................every single light on my
Cluster was flashing at me, ABS light, check system, battery light, etc etc then all of a sudden all the dials went to zero and the car turned off in the middle of the road -.-!

Tried starting but it was ticking over like a dead battery! So went to the bonnet not even knowing what the heck I'm doing and touched some things and with a bit of a push it turned on but was a very weak start up!

So drove it for the last week about 200 miles ish and had no problems at all! And the noise from the engine was alot quieter. Yesterday I went was going for a meal with the gf and two other couples, lovely ;) so I thought I would get it washed.

Big mistake, took it home and got changed drove to get my gf and the noise came back. Drove to meet the others and on the way music started cutting off again! But car was running, then came to drive to the resteraunt and car started flashing at me again on the A406!! I flashed for mate to stop and the car just wouldn't start! Eventually like last time after 10/15 mins it started but was whining. So took it my friends house and on the way being cold I turned on the heater and the car turned off! Turned on again and put the window down then up and it turned off!

Got out the car came to lock it and it wouldn't lock so I had to put the key in the door to lock it! Went for a hoon in a rather loud and fast civic type r came back and door wouldn't open! As you can imagine I'm not overly impressed!

Could this be related to the car wash? Water getting in somewhere? Or could it be the timing belt (78000k mileage) or the battery/alternator?

Apologies for the essay but I thought I would say everything that happened so you all know the facts! Someone help me pleaseeeeeeee!

Thank You
 
If you have a voltmeter, multimeter or (some types of) OBD2 reader you should easily be able to monitor the battery voltage to check that the alternator is consistently pushing 14+ volts under all load conditions when slightly revved.

If you can't measure voltage then probably best to find someone who can!
 
When cold
On idle the car is 12.32
2k rpm is 14.02
Turning lights on is 11.96
Windows up 11.12
Heater on, goes into single digits car flashes lights at me

When warm
On idle 12.16
2k rpm 13.12
Lights on 11.93
Windows up 11.35
Heater on 10.68

Does that help?
 
Did a test, heater on, rev to 2k was 10.99
With putting windows up or down goes down below 9 and system light comes and and car dies
 
sounds like a knackered alternator mate. The whine is the alternator bearing. Water and bearings don't mix!
 
That's what I feared :(

I will upload a video and you can see, you can actually the whining at the start just bear with while I upload
 
the symptoms point to a knackered alternator pal. Take it to a motor factor store or battery place and they can do a free check for you usually. I would start there.

The lights and warnings coming on is probably due to the voltage drop
 
Remember these are smart alternators, and might not always charge the battery during the test.
 
did you cover up the bits of your engine bay when you washed it? i mean you can't just go hosing the entire engine without covering the alternator, abs/vsa module and fuse box. at the very least.

this is my engine, i covered up all the above when i ever washed it, the alternator is on the lower left, with slots.

8625141648_67107aa9e9_k.jpg
 
Sorry if I didn't make it clear, I didn't wash the engine bay itself, I just went for a car wash and I think the water has gone through the grill maybe? Haven't directly washed it the actual engine
 
Have a call around your local motor factor stores or even an alternator specialist. They normally do it on an exchange basis meaning they'll take your old one and knock some money off.
 
Could be alternator but before having to get it removed id have a look under the bonnet for your earth points, I once replaced a clutch on a toyota avensis and forgot to tighten an earth up and it did similar things to your video!
 
It could be worth noting that even if the alternator is knackered (or there's a bad connection somewhere) and the problem kept presenting itself after washing the exterior of the car, then it would be worth making sure 100% that there isn't a water getting through somewhere otherwise any new parts you fit could end up being prematurely worn or damaged.
 
arctic said:
It could be worth noting that even if the alternator is knackered (or there's a bad connection somewhere) and the problem kept presenting itself after washing the exterior of the car, then it would be worth making sure 100% that there isn't a water getting through somewhere otherwise any new parts you fit could end up being prematurely worn or damaged.
Click to expand...
Good point :)

There could be water dripping on a major electrical connector somewhere. Maybe check the entry point of that sub woofer power cable through the firewall. ***uming all terminals are tight and free of corrosion on the battery right?
 
Took it to my garage and got the guys to go nuts!

After many tests of swapping batteries etc, the conclusion is that the alternator is on it's last legs and the battery is shot!

Happy days -.-
 
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