Battery light still on after replacing battery...

[offthahook]

Some of you guys are better at electrical issues than I am, so here's my simple issue. I was idling my 2G the other day and the battery light came on, but the car still idled fine. I have had the car a couple years and the battery that was in there didn't look great, so I thought it was just the battery. I turned off the car and it wouldn't restart. I put the battery charger on it on the setting "START" and it fired right up. I figured my little car wouldn't enjoy the surge, but I was in a hurry and wanted to know if it would start.

I figured the battery just wouldn't hold a charge anymore, so I put in a new battery. It started up fine, but the damn battery icon light is still on. I disconnected both cables a couple days ago, so there was no power to anything for a couple days. The only difference I can tell is what happens to the radio when I turn the bright headlights on. With the old battery and the battery dash light on, the stereo would "interrupt" when I hit the hi beams. It's like the power was cut for a fraction of a second, but it picked up playing the CD in the same place. It only did this when I hit the high beams; the other lighting didn't affect the radio. With the new battery, at least for now, the radio doesn't stutter when I hit the hi beams switch.

So, am I looking at an alternator issue? I know it isn't the battery as of now. The thought of replacing the alternator doesn't excite me, but the ONLY other time I've had a Honda battery light stay on... well, it was an alternator. I wish it were a simple wire issue, but I kinda have my doubts. And I don't think the fast charge burst helped my alternator in any case. What does this sound like to you electrical whizzes? I haven't had the time to actually drive it to see if it bogs or anything like that. If it is an alternator, the car will eventually just not run, correct? Thanks for your helps.

[Ichiban]

I would most likely point the finger at your alternator. The battery light is in fact a "charge light", your battery could be fine, but the light is indicating a charging system fault. I would load test the alternator, then start looking at things like voltage regulators and the charge light relay. Of course, check basic things like battery terminal connections, grounds, and main power connections. I doubt the "start" setting on the battery cart will cause any problems with your car, it just provides power when the battery does not.

[offthahook]

I would most likely point the finger at your alternator. The battery light is in fact a "charge light", your battery could be fine, but the light is indicating a charging system fault. I would load test the alternator, then start looking at things like voltage regulators and the charge light relay. Of course, check basic things like battery terminal connections, grounds, and main power connections. I doubt the "start" setting on the battery cart will cause any problems with your car, it just provides power when the battery does not.

Right on. I checked the terminals when I had the battery out and I wire brushed the cable terminals. I had those cables ends glowing copper color. Everything looked really nice and tight when I installed the battery; I was hoping I would stumble across a loose cable or something while I was in there. I didn't, but cleaned everything all up nice and shiny.

[2ndGenGuy]

Yeah man, it really sounds like your alternator. It's really not terrible to get at if you're comfortable at getting that driver's axle out. I guess I've done it about 4000 times now, so I can do the alternator in these cars in about 20 minutes. You can just barely squeeze it out the top, but it's really not worth the pain. Just pop that axle and drop it out the bottom. Not a really fun job, but it could be worse.

[ghettogeddy]

Yeah man, it really sounds like your alternator. It's really not terrible to get at if you're comfortable at getting that driver's axle out. I guess I've done it about 4000 times now, so I can do the alternator in these cars in about 20 minutes. You can just barely squeeze it out the top, but it's really not worth the pain. Just pop that axle and drop it out the bottom. Not a really fun job, but it could be worse.

i wounder if u could install a removable plate in the wheel well so u can get it out easyer lol just cut a hole then put a plate over it bolted down lol

[MessyHonda]

i wounder if u could install a removable plate in the wheel well so u can get it out easyer lol just cut a hole then put a plate over it bolted down lol

or just get a fuel injected car.

[ghettogeddy]

or just get a fuel injected car.

well im not gona have the prob soon just still then it be nice not to have to jiggle it out lol

[epic1400cs]

I had alternator trouble this summer during our trip. I replaced my alternator to refurbished one before the trip, on the safe side, but that refurbed one was faulty! The service guy in Amsterdam told me that when you turn the ignition key to "ON"(one before starter motor to operate), you should see charging lamp(battery lamp in US may be?) in the panel. This is to check the regulator in the alternator. After few seconds, if the regulator is ok, the charging lamp should stay on till actually start the engine. If not, the regulator is out. (was my case) If the lamp stays on before starting engine, but still doesn't charge, other part must be faulty - brush, bad multi connector connection etc.
I went to a garage in Amsterdam to fix this and guess what, the replacement alternator they fitted was faulty again! so I had a chance to see the mechanic replacing alternator twice in 1 hour!