Alt Replace Problems HELP!!!

**ericn33** · 06-01-2003, 08:33 PM

I have a 88 LX w/ 2.0 carb. I turn on the car today and my battery light comes on an the idle will not drop even after 15min of driving. I went back home and discovered that the battery light comes on when the alt is not charging and in line with the light is the auto choke thing for the carb ( i think it helps the car idle well from cold start). So when the alt is not charging the idle of the car gets messed up. I could be wrong but i found this funny.

MY POINT. I gotta put a new alt in and it sounds simple but on the carb lx it is not easy. (if you saw the carb version you would know) The book says i have to take out the driver side cv axle, and i talked to someone who had to do just that. I can replace a cv join no prob, but i dont want to take it out if i dont have to. Anyone have a LX and done an alt replacement????

***A20A1*** · 06-01-2003, 10:55 PM

you can raise the car up and slide the alternator over to the transmission side and get it out that way.

**ACCORD EX** · 06-01-2003, 11:53 PM

Originally posted by A20A1
you can raise the car up and slide the alternator over to the transmission side and get it out that way.

did you actually do that ?

MIKE

**88LXi/87CRXSi** · 06-02-2003, 02:22 AM

It could also be your choke heater. Try disconnecting the heater with the engine running, if the light goes out, your choke heater is shorted. Might be worth checking.

***A20A1*** · 06-02-2003, 03:26 AM

Originally posted by ACCORD EX
did you actually do that ?

MIKE

Nope, but i don't have to.

**ACCORD EX** · 06-02-2003, 05:49 AM

:lol :lol !

MIKE

**mindlos** · 06-02-2003, 09:58 AM

:flipa: I had to slide it along the firewall and took it out by the starter. Took only a minute to negotiate. With the vacuum trees and controllers removed I think I can slide it past the manifold now ..... maybe. :flipa:

**ericn33** · 06-02-2003, 06:57 PM

thanks, I will give it a try this weekend. Good point on the heater. Ill be driving my little bro's 89lxi for the rest of the week. I dont want my car back... its so slow.

**ericn33** · 06-05-2003, 12:39 PM

i unplugged the choke heater, and found a break in the housing. I think the rain shorted it out. The car is fine now. Thanks for the help.

**88LXi/87CRXSi** · 06-05-2003, 02:16 PM

I'm glad you didn't have to replace the alternator needlessly !

Is the choke heater easy to remove? Your idle is probably gonna take a long time to drop down, when you start it, till you get that fixed.

**ericn33** · 06-05-2003, 08:30 PM

well, the choke heater was not broke. TThe wire leading to it had a split in the housing. I believe this caused it to short or something. Anyway when i unplugged it and fixed it, and plugged it in again everything worked fine(including choke heater). i got 150000, i want 250000

Without the choke heater the idle never drops. in my recent experience at least

**chukka** · 07-20-2003, 06:24 PM

where do you find the choke heater...thanks

**RustyHo88** · 07-21-2003, 03:53 AM

so, a problem with choke heater can cause your battery light to come on? i just replaced my alternator, and the battery charges, but my battery light stays on. yes... where is this infamous choke heater?

**accordlxi2.0** · 07-24-2003, 02:47 PM

not trying to start a debate issue here or change the subject but i drove an carbed 3g and it's not that different from mine sure all them five million line are hell. but it could be worse yall could have a manually controlled carb?

**LyFeWoRx** · 04-25-2004, 05:14 PM

wehre is the choke heater can someoen send me a picture. Im going to pick up a haynes today, but iw ant to know for now.

**Gemini2003** · 09-08-2004, 04:26 PM

Thank you for all your posts guys i was really pissed off at my alternator then i read a couple of posts and tried the firewall route and Bingo!

Thanx alot!