Alternator help!!

[iwannacivicsi]

My 2000 honda civic ex wasnt starting so my friend jumped it for me and it worked for 10 min. I turned off the car and tried to start the car and it isnt starting again so we think it is the alternator. I dont know which alternator to get for my car...I have a 10in kicker solo baric l5 sub with an eclipse xa5000amp. Any suggestions of alternators to get? Help me please!!!! I want to start working on my car but this is holding me back...

 

[Trekk]

A battery starts cars and run lights when the car is not running.
Alt's keep the car running, and power flowing.
The car would not of ran 10min on a jump if your alt was bad, sounds like your battery is no good. Then again it might just be really dead and need a longer deep charge. 10 min is really not enough time, even more so if you were not driving around, alts dont produce much power at idle.

 

[iwannacivicsi]

A battery starts cars and run lights when the car is not running.
Alt's keep the car running, and power flowing.
The car would not of ran 10min on a jump if your alt was bad, sounds like your battery is no good. Then again it might just be really dead and need a longer deep charge. 10 min is really not enough time, even more so if you were not driving around, alts dont produce much power at idle.

so do you think i should jump the car again and let drive it around for a while than go to autozone or something to check the batttery? what battery do you think i should get to withstand the audio system i have?

 

[2slo4u]

To test th alternator, start the car..undo one one if the battery terminals..if the car dies, it's the alternator. If not. It's something else

 

[iwannacivicsi]

To test th alternator, start the car..undo one one if the battery terminals..if the car dies, it's the alternator. If not. It's something else

how do i undo one of the battery terminals?

 

[CRX_dude]

1st jump the car again drive it to autozone turn it off, see if it starts again, if it doesnt, have them test the battery. if its dead get a new one and get a cap for your amp so it wont put a strain on you alt or battery...

 

[iwannacivicsi]

1st jump the car again drive it to autozone turn it off, see if it starts again, if it doesnt, have them test the battery. if its dead get a new one and get a cap for your amp so it wont put a strain on you alt or battery...

what is a cap? is it the think on the red terminal? sorry if that makes no sense lol

 

[CRX_dude]

yea a cap could be on the red terminal lol but im talking about a capacitor for your amplifier.

 

[iwannacivicsi]

yea a cap could be on the red terminal lol but im talking about a capacitor for your amplifier.

lol well i might have one, i have a cap on the red terminal on my battery

 

[00siboy]

To test th alternator, start the car..undo one one if the battery terminals..if the car dies, it's the alternator. If not. It's something else

^^Do this.

1st jump the car again drive it to autozone turn it off, see if it starts again, if it doesnt, have them test the battery. if its dead get a new one and get a cap for your amp so it wont put a strain on you alt or battery...

^^Autozone can tell you the health of your battery and alternator, so its also an option

 

[RonJ]

sounds like your battery is no good.

This^

Remove the battery and have it tested at an auto parts store.

To test th alternator, start the car..undo one one if the battery terminals..if the car dies, it's the alternator. If not. It's something else

Avoid this^ test. It may damage sensitive electrical components in your car.

 

[TigBitties]

Avoid this^ test. It may damage sensitive electrical components in your car.

im curious as to how it could. it wont cause a short or a surge. it will simply run out of current and die. your alternator should be able to support the car on its own and its a pretty common test.


oh and nice to see you again, its been awhile since you posted

 

[RonJ]

im curious as to how it could. it wont cause a short or a surge. it will simply run out of current and die. your alternator should be able to support the car on its own and its a pretty common test.

The battery buffers the electrical system from voltage spikes. While common, it's a risky test to do.

 

[TigBitties]

ah true true, i forgot one. ironic considering im doing my automotive electrical hw at the moment

 

[Trekk]

The battery buffers the electrical system from voltage spikes. While common, it's a risky test to do.

+1

I see far to many people saying to do this, while a car like a older civic might not hurt so bad since parts are cheap, you do that to a newer car and burn up a $1k+ computer, that can only be installed by a dealer because the vin has to be flashed to the new computer. You could be $2k in the hole really fast.