squealling alternator

[holyniht]

sup everybody, i let my cousin use my 94 civic yesterday, and upon returning it, he said that the battery light had came on while he was driving it. i started up my car ready 2 go 2 school and didnt see any light come on, so i assumed everything was ok, while driving to school, my radio started switching on and off, so i shut it off and turned it back on and no text came up on the lcd display, so i figured it was the battery, so i pulled over 2 get gas, and turned the car off, it refused 2 start back up, needed 2 get boost. needed a boost again 2 get from school 2 my crib. i made my friend give me a boost and just left em run connected for like 5 minutes or so. made it home turned off the car and turned it back on, and it started, but i here a squealing sound comin from around the alternator, my cousin said its the alternator cause the radio went dim, but i searched and it could just be a dead battery, any clues, since it my daily and only driver, i really need it running withouta hitch. I hate da bus thanx alot

[i_a_n112784]

First, check to make sure the connections to the battery are on tightly. I'd bet it's the battery. If it were the alternator, the car wouldn't keep running after it is started. The squealing could be due to the massive load on the alternator by trying to charge the battery. If the battery is getting old, like 3-4 years or so, it might be time to change it anyway, and most batteries have some way of telling when it was put in the car (like one of those labels where you punch out the month, etc..)

[Dumped91Hatch]

Just take it to your local autoparts store and have them test the batery and alternator.

[djnoodle]

If i had to bet on what was the problem, i would say alternator belt. if the squek wasnt there before and now it is, either the belts becoming loose and all you need to do is tighten it, or the squiking is gone now becasue the belt is gone. if the belt was going bad or not quite tight enough, that could explain why your battery died and then when it finally started up by itself, the belt finally caught

[BullShifter]

Check the alternator belt & tension, if those are fine then your alternator is shot - which would be my guess from your description of the jump starting and so on . . alternators can be very noisy when their shot.

I a n112784 a car will run with the battery disconnected, we do it all the time at the shop when we change batteries. We do that because the computer does not loose any memory(driver settings, radio preset, anti theft codes, etc. Now if you disconnect the battery and the car dies, that usually means the alternator is not charging the battery, in which case its running off the battery.

[holyniht]

thanx for all the info guys, my friend told me to do the alternator test by unpluggin the battery while the car was running, and my car continued to run with the battery unplugged. so i guess it was just the belt or a low charged battery, waitin 4 my boss 2 call me in so i can finally start gettin paid. ill finally be able 2 give my car the care it really needs

[mtdxx]

From what I know, pulling the cables off the battery while the car is running is not good for the car. someone correct me if i'm wrong, but Isn't there a risk of damaging the ECU?

[BullShifter]

Originally Posted by mtdxx

From what I know, pulling the cables off the battery while the car is running is not good for the car. someone correct me if i'm wrong, but Isn't there a risk of damaging the ECU?

Right, it is dangerous if both cables touch each other. This is why you remove 1 at a time & wrap the ends in a rag to prevent contact - if your that worried about it, DON'T DO IT!

[y2kcav]

where can i find step by step instructions on replacing my alternator belt?

[y2kcav]

Btw its a 92 civic hatchback.

[GScivic7]

1. Please don't bring back old threads. It's cool you searched and everything, but no need to bring back an old thread if your search didn't come up with anything, just post a new thread.

2. Loosen the bracket that allows you to adjust the tension on the belt. Then just take off the belt. I don't know if there are any other belts in the way on your car, but the belt for my power steering was in the way in my 90 civic so I had to remove that one too.

[BullShifter]

Buy a repair manual
Factory is the only way to go - www.helminc.com

[92'SiHatchBack]

hey y2k what color is the hatch mine is blue with black hubs and steelies lol