Will my christmas tree car ever be normal?

Okay- I'm a new "Member" and please bare with me, I am only female. I have a 1998 Honda Passport, which I have spent much time with lately-under the hood. A little background info may be helpful.. new intact gasket in Feb 2002 and yet another one in Nov 2003 and before the warrenty is up again, just wondering if any one can help me with determining if I am having the same issues or not. Any assistance would be great. ( Can't get my own father to help me seeing I live a bit away and that I drive a foreign vehicle :smile: )

Two weeks ago and 5 knuckle scars later, I replaced my dead alternator. "NAPA Dan" informed me of this after he tested the old one I hauled out from under the hood. The check engine light had been on for about 2 months (but whose hasn't) but one morning the car wouldn't start and when jumped wouldn't stay running (yes I had gas in it). Once the transaction was complete the car ran great, check engine light did reappear after about 3 days, but again who's hasn't. No biggy for me, but in the last few days when started the RPM are about 2000-1500 and then after a few moments they go down to about 750, and sometimes you can feel it go down lower almost ready to stall and then automatically they go back up to 750. (once, okay maybe twice it has stalled). This reminded me of my intake gasket problems, but today the brake light and battery light came on, went off for about a minute, and kept doing this back and forth (much like a x-mas tree in flasing mood). It never stayed "on" but now I pose a few questions:
1. Do I maybe just need to check the fuses? (Everyone stop laughing)
2. Buy a new battery?
3. Take the 30 minutes out of my day to drive to the nearest Autozone and get a code and drive back 30 minutes with a BUNCH of codes(it's like going to doctor)
4. Assume my intake gasket is kicking the bucket?
5. Send my boyfriend to mechanic school so I don't have to be figuring this stuff out.

Thanks SO MUCH for any assistance, sorry about such a long report but I'll be the first to admit women talk way to much :smile:
K8

This is really simple, and actually a VERY common issue. These trucks will ONLY run properly with an OEM alternator. They are super sensative to having a steady, clean 14v with the truck running. Aftermarket, rebuilt, remans dont work 90% of the time for this application. You will get performance issues, check engine light, brake lights, etc.. There are tons of other posts on this.
G/luck
Joel

Thanks for the response, you guys are quick. Tell me how one may go about telling if its a OEM, all I know was that it was fairly expensive canalope size alternator that was pretty shiny until I worked with it. It has a 3yr warrenty and cost about $140- not sure on the OEM "label" or if it rebuiltany suggestions on wehter or not I screwed my self from my new friends at NAPA. Thanks again for the help.K8

The only way I know of is to order/get one thru an isuzu dealer. They cost a small fortune (IIRC- $200-300), but it's the only way out of this :banghead:
G/luck
Joel

Joel's right. OEM alt is the only way to go.

For more maintance things check out the FAQ link below.

-Ryan

Okay- I'm a new "Member" and please bare with me, I am only female. K8

Never apologize for being a woman! Especially a woman who replaced an alternator on a Rodeo/Passport. The alternator on my '95 Rodeo recently went bad. I'm a mechanically-inclined male who has replaced alternators on other cars, but when I saw where this one was located I took it to Pep Boys.

P.S. Welcome to the board.