Alternator and coolant check - Honda-Acura.net

civicburner · 02-15-05, 12:57 PM

Is using a coolant tester like this actually work?

Is there another method? My coolant passes the test, but the color isn't bright green anymore. It's more brownish. I have a volt tester, that I bought from radioshack I used it to test the battery when the car was off and it has 12.5V which is good. How do I test the alterantor though? I'm not exactly sure where to put the probes. To test the alternator the car has to be running but with the belt in the way, it's hard to get my hands near it.

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JimBlake · 02-15-05, 03:24 PM

That thing is a hydrometer, it measures specific gravity. That tells you the strength of the antifreeze, as far as what temperature it'll freeze. It tells you ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about whether the anti-corrosion chemicals are used up. The brown color tells you that you should've changed your antifreeze a long time ago.

Check your battery again (engine off) & turn on the lights & blowers & stuff. It shouldn't drop much below 12v.

Now run the engine, check the voltage at the battery. Running, it should be about 14 or 14.5v. Turn on all the electrical stuff you can, it should still stay about the same. This checks the alternator.

JL95AccorD · 02-15-05, 03:53 PM

Yeah, brown antifreeze doesnt sound good. Do a coolant flush ASAP. Before you cause further damage to the entire system due to corrosion and rust.

Why is it that you are testing these things?

civicburner · 02-15-05, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JL95AccorD

Yeah, brown antifreeze doesnt sound good. Do a coolant flush ASAP. Before you cause further damage to the entire system due to corrosion and rust.

Why is it that you are testing these things?

Just routine maintenance. I used to get everything done at the mechanic, but for the past few months I've been trying to get more hands on. I just changed my oil today, and thought to myself I've had this car for two years, I think I should check to the battery and the alternator. Antifreeze is supposed to be changed every two years or 30,000miles right? How often do you guys check the battery and alternator?

JimBlake · 02-16-05, 09:51 AM

I check the battery 3 or 4 times a year, especially beginning of winter. I also check the water level & specific gravity in the battery. Add distilled water if needed. If the specific gravity of the 6 cells start getting different from one another, that's an early warning that the battery is not gonna last too much longer.

civicburner · 02-16-05, 03:26 PM

How much of this antifreeze do I have to pour into the bucket. It's a gallon of antifreeze, so do I pure half of the bottle into a bucket. And then fill up the other half with water? And is it necessary to take of the thermostat off while doing this?

JL95AccorD · 02-16-05, 05:18 PM

You gotta fill up the radiator first, and make sure you have the bleeding valve open. The tank you fill up like halfway, there's a MAX line there. After you drive it for the first time, once it gets cool, go back and check the radiator and tank to make sure levels are still good.

civicburner · 02-17-05, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JL95AccorD

You gotta fill up the radiator first, and make sure you have the bleeding valve open. The tank you fill up like halfway, there's a MAX line there. After you drive it for the first time, once it gets cool, go back and check the radiator and tank to make sure levels are still good.

Nah I'm talking about an actual bucket. I bought a gallon of prestone antifreeze. It's not the premixed kind. My question is how much of it do I need to mix with water in a bucket before I pour it into the radiator. Half the container, less than half? Once I have everything I have to pour it directly into the radiator until it reaches the top right? Then have to also pour it into the reservoir? Do I need to take off the thermostat while I flush the radiator?

westcoaststyle · 02-17-05, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by civicburner

Nah I'm talking about an actual bucket. I bought a gallon of prestone antifreeze. It's not the premixed kind. My question is how much of it do I need to mix with water in a bucket before I pour it into the radiator. Half the container, less than half? Once I have everything I have to pour it directly into the radiator until it reaches the top right? Then have to also pour it into the reservoir? Do I need to take off the thermostat while I flush the radiator?

It depends on how cold it gets where you live. You need to figure about 20 deg colder than the coldest day and try to mix appropriately. You can test this on a smaller scale by adding 1/4 cup water and 3/4 cup coolant to a small cup or something - then test it with your tester. If that's the right mixture for your desired temp then you know how to mix it into your car. It's not rocket science, just go out there and mess with it... you'll figure it out.

You can easily go to any local auto parts store and they will test your alternator for free without you having to remove anything from the car. hih

civicburner · 02-17-05, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by westcoaststyle

It depends on how cold it gets where you live. You need to figure about 20 deg colder than the coldest day and try to mix appropriately. You can test this on a smaller scale by adding 1/4 cup water and 3/4 cup coolant to a small cup or something - then test it with your tester. If that's the right mixture for your desired temp then you know how to mix it into your car. It's not rocket science, just go out there and mess with it... you'll figure it out.

You can easily go to any local auto parts store and they will test your alternator for free without you having to remove anything from the car. hih

Yeah, I already got the alternator tested. It's only throwing out 25 amps. I think you guys are missing the point of my question. I want to know how much fluid actually fills my radiator(the volume)-96 civic ex. And that still doesn't answer the question about removing the thermostat, and whether I feel the radiator to the very top and also feel the reservoir between the min and max line?

JimBlake · 02-17-05, 08:05 AM

I don't know the total coolant volume for that car. Got an owner's manual? It's in there. Probably less than 2 gallons.

When you drain the coolant, it never ALL comes out. Even with the block drain plug... If you make up a 50/50 mix & add that, you end up too weak because of the water that's left in the system when you drain it.

So I do a little math(!) & figure out what's 1/2 of the total coolant volume. After draining/rinsing/draining however many time I want, now what's left in there is just distilled water. I add the anti-freeze, whatever is 1/2 the total volume. Then I add more distilled water & bleed the air out. When I fill the reservoir, I just eyeball a 50/50 mix. After driving a few times that stuff will all become well-mixed.

Try your best to get all the air out of the reservoir & fill to the very top. Then fill the reservoir between min & max. If you leave any air in the radiator, you have to hope it works its way out thru the reservoir.

JL95AccorD · 02-17-05, 09:19 AM

When you do the flush you don't have to remove the thermo. What I do, is that with the engine cold, remove the top hose from the radiator, and aim it downward into a bucket (It's illegal to dispose of coolant on the ground I think) and then start the car, and feed a hose right into the radiator once the car hits temp and opens the thermostat. It'll keep keep water running through the system. (use a radiator flush solution sold in stores. You drain radiator, fill with solution and water, let car run for about 10 minutes warm) then at that point just do the flush with a hose. When you see that the water comming out of the hose is comming out clean fresh water, turn off car, turn off hose, drain radiator, connect hose, and fill with the coolant. There's still water in the system. I don't know how much it will take, but if you need more, then add water to top off. put 50/50 in the resevoir.

PS. Don't forget to open bleed when doing final fill, have your heater on high when the car is running, and to check your levels after the frist drive.

JL95AccorD · 02-17-05, 09:20 AM

I just read what I wrote, and it sounds like too many hoses. I'm also talking about using your garden hose, not only the radiator hose.

civicburner · 02-20-05, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JL95AccorD

I just read what I wrote, and it sounds like too many hoses. I'm also talking about using your garden hose, not only the radiator hose.

Well I just finished flushing and filling. I wasn't quite sure where the bleeder screw was so I burped the system instead. When you squeeze the upper radiator hose are you supposed to just continuously hold it, or are you supposed to squeeze and let go, squeeze and let go, and on and on and on? Another thing the radiator only took in 2 quarts of coolant. I had mixed about 70/30 antfrizeeze/water. In a 2 quart bottle, which means the other 2 quarts that must have been in system already was just plain water. Should I drain a little of it out and just put antifreeze in there to get more of a 50/50 mix or do you think I'm ok?

02-15-05, 03:24 PM	#2
JimBlake Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,994	That thing is a hydrometer, it measures specific gravity. That tells you the strength of the antifreeze, as far as what temperature it'll freeze. It tells you ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about whether the anti-corrosion chemicals are used up. The brown color tells you that you should've changed your antifreeze a long time ago. Check your battery again (engine off) & turn on the lights & blowers & stuff. It shouldn't drop much below 12v. Now run the engine, check the voltage at the battery. Running, it should be about 14 or 14.5v. Turn on all the electrical stuff you can, it should still stay about the same. This checks the alternator. __________________ JimBlake '03 Accord, '07 Civic '01 Saab 9³, '05 9²x

02-16-05, 09:51 AM	#5
JimBlake Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,994	I check the battery 3 or 4 times a year, especially beginning of winter. I also check the water level & specific gravity in the battery. Add distilled water if needed. If the specific gravity of the 6 cells start getting different from one another, that's an early warning that the battery is not gonna last too much longer. __________________ JimBlake '03 Accord, '07 Civic '01 Saab 9³, '05 9²x

02-17-05, 08:05 AM	#11
JimBlake Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,994	I don't know the total coolant volume for that car. Got an owner's manual? It's in there. Probably less than 2 gallons. When you drain the coolant, it never ALL comes out. Even with the block drain plug... If you make up a 50/50 mix & add that, you end up too weak because of the water that's left in the system when you drain it. So I do a little math(!) & figure out what's 1/2 of the total coolant volume. After draining/rinsing/draining however many time I want, now what's left in there is just distilled water. I add the anti-freeze, whatever is 1/2 the total volume. Then I add more distilled water & bleed the air out. When I fill the reservoir, I just eyeball a 50/50 mix. After driving a few times that stuff will all become well-mixed. Try your best to get all the air out of the reservoir & fill to the very top. Then fill the reservoir between min & max. If you leave any air in the radiator, you have to hope it works its way out thru the reservoir. __________________ JimBlake '03 Accord, '07 Civic '01 Saab 9³, '05 9²x

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02-15-05, 03:53 PM	#3
JL95AccorD Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 662	Yeah, brown antifreeze doesnt sound good. Do a coolant flush ASAP. Before you cause further damage to the entire system due to corrosion and rust. Why is it that you are testing these things?

02-16-05, 03:26 PM	#6
civicburner Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Albany,NY Posts: 420	How much of this antifreeze do I have to pour into the bucket. It's a gallon of antifreeze, so do I pure half of the bottle into a bucket. And then fill up the other half with water? And is it necessary to take of the thermostat off while doing this?

02-16-05, 05:18 PM	#7
JL95AccorD Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 662	You gotta fill up the radiator first, and make sure you have the bleeding valve open. The tank you fill up like halfway, there's a MAX line there. After you drive it for the first time, once it gets cool, go back and check the radiator and tank to make sure levels are still good.

02-17-05, 09:19 AM	#12
JL95AccorD Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 662	When you do the flush you don't have to remove the thermo. What I do, is that with the engine cold, remove the top hose from the radiator, and aim it downward into a bucket (It's illegal to dispose of coolant on the ground I think) and then start the car, and feed a hose right into the radiator once the car hits temp and opens the thermostat. It'll keep keep water running through the system. (use a radiator flush solution sold in stores. You drain radiator, fill with solution and water, let car run for about 10 minutes warm) then at that point just do the flush with a hose. When you see that the water comming out of the hose is comming out clean fresh water, turn off car, turn off hose, drain radiator, connect hose, and fill with the coolant. There's still water in the system. I don't know how much it will take, but if you need more, then add water to top off. put 50/50 in the resevoir. PS. Don't forget to open bleed when doing final fill, have your heater on high when the car is running, and to check your levels after the frist drive.

02-17-05, 09:20 AM	#13
JL95AccorD Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 662	I just read what I wrote, and it sounds like too many hoses. I'm also talking about using your garden hose, not only the radiator hose.