I am not a car mechanic, I work on computer hardware. This seems to me to be computer related (ECU? I don't know the terms fer sure.)

I have a 2001 civic ex. Ever since I got it (used), the battery light would wink, seemingly at random. I could never willingly reproduce the wink (by accelerating, letting off gas, pulling G's, etc.). It died a couple of times - the symptoms were that things would die piece by piece: The radio, then the AC, then the SRS light would come on, then the ABS light. I think the engine light (emissions) light came on in there somewhere. Eventually I couldn't keep it running, and had to get towed into the dealership. They replaced the battery. It ran for a short while then died again. I took it to a shop that specialized in electrical problems. I got a new (rebuilt) alternator and another battery,

Flash forward: Approximately every 11 to 18 months, I'm getting another alternator (and maybe a battery). I was told that the alternator for the civic was under-engineered for someone who did as much driving as I did. After every replacement, the battery light would continue to wink at random (except sitting still, or cruising on an interstate highway).

Recently it did it again, and this time, I had it towed to a different Honda dealer. They jumped it to get it into the service bay - and they couldn't find anything wrong. I described my history, and what I'd heard and asked if Honda sold a beefier alternator. He said no, the were all rebuilts, but they offered a 3 year warranty. I contemplated that and spoke with my local mechanic. He advised me to go with a NAPA alternator - lifetime warranty, for about the same money. The battery light no longer winks. It would have been a happy ending...

A few days after the new alternator, my engine light came on. I went right to my mechanic. Since that light is supposed to warn that some emissions control function was having problems, but the car ran okay, he advised me to watch it while starting the car several times; that the computer was relearning its settings. Sounded plausible. Sure enough, after two more start-ups, the light went out and the car was running fine. Then, the car idled funny - when I pushed in the clutch coming to a stop sign, the engined died. The car idled way slow and revved and slowed, if it didn't die. Another couple starts, and that went away. Then the AC stopped blowing cold. The AC button light was on. It sounded and felt like the compressor clutch wasn't coming on. I started the car again to head home - and the AC is back on and cold. It looked like it finally figured itself out, and ran fine for a few days. Then it did the same progression of weirdness all over again.

What do you guys think? I haven't gone back to the dealer's service department yet - who can afford the time and expense when if it ain't failin' at the time, they aren't going to find anything?

Thanks for listening to the tale. I feel a little better with the telling. I like Hondas. I've been driving them since the accord first came out. This is just weird.