2001 battery light flicker
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Registered User
Joined: Jul 2005
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2001 battery light flicker
I bought the car used with 98k miles (hardly broken in for a Honda. right?)
When I test drove it, I got a solid battery light - took it in got an alternator replaced. Months pass with no real problems, but I noticed that the battery light will flicker once once in a while. I can't pin down something I can use to reproduce the flicker at will, so mentioning it to my mechanic gets no great solution.
Recently, while driving, the cd player cut off. Then the ABS light came on, then the SRS light. The cd player came back and stopped again. I arrived at my destination and turned off the car. Came back and attempted to start it - clicking, no start. Towed to dealer. They replaced the battery. I asked about the charging system, any codes in the "flight data recorder?" - no. And the charging system tested okay. Within a 1/4 mile the battery light flickers. The next day (hot day, heavy traffic) - the cd player stops (powered off, no clock display), ABS light, SRS light. I called the dealership, spoke with the servcie manager - sounds like the alternator.
The next day, I'm miles from home when the symptoms begin again. I hightail it to the specialty shop where I got the alternator replaced originally - they test an find it to be intermittently charging properly, the alternator is under warranty - it gets replaced for free (yippee!). When I pick it up, within a mile the battery light has flickered already.
A week later on vacation, I take the Civic to the dealership to get them to test drive the car, witness the battery light flicker and immediately plug their probe into the car to get the possible error code. I also get the timing belt replaced, tune up, yadda yadda... I leave it there over night, inviting them to drive it until they see the flicker - they never do. I see it within a couple miles. My wife drives it for a short drive for icecream - she sees it.
It's driving me nervous. I'm going to try to remember to stop in for a probe when the flicker has occurred and I'm near the dealer. But what I want to know is if anyone else out there has seen this flicker; is the car committing slow hari-kiri, or should I ignore it. Is there anyone out there who has an answer?
Thanks for your attention...
When I test drove it, I got a solid battery light - took it in got an alternator replaced. Months pass with no real problems, but I noticed that the battery light will flicker once once in a while. I can't pin down something I can use to reproduce the flicker at will, so mentioning it to my mechanic gets no great solution.
Recently, while driving, the cd player cut off. Then the ABS light came on, then the SRS light. The cd player came back and stopped again. I arrived at my destination and turned off the car. Came back and attempted to start it - clicking, no start. Towed to dealer. They replaced the battery. I asked about the charging system, any codes in the "flight data recorder?" - no. And the charging system tested okay. Within a 1/4 mile the battery light flickers. The next day (hot day, heavy traffic) - the cd player stops (powered off, no clock display), ABS light, SRS light. I called the dealership, spoke with the servcie manager - sounds like the alternator.
The next day, I'm miles from home when the symptoms begin again. I hightail it to the specialty shop where I got the alternator replaced originally - they test an find it to be intermittently charging properly, the alternator is under warranty - it gets replaced for free (yippee!). When I pick it up, within a mile the battery light has flickered already.
A week later on vacation, I take the Civic to the dealership to get them to test drive the car, witness the battery light flicker and immediately plug their probe into the car to get the possible error code. I also get the timing belt replaced, tune up, yadda yadda... I leave it there over night, inviting them to drive it until they see the flicker - they never do. I see it within a couple miles. My wife drives it for a short drive for icecream - she sees it.
It's driving me nervous. I'm going to try to remember to stop in for a probe when the flicker has occurred and I'm near the dealer. But what I want to know is if anyone else out there has seen this flicker; is the car committing slow hari-kiri, or should I ignore it. Is there anyone out there who has an answer?
Thanks for your attention...
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 505
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This problem is most likely a loose connection. There won't be any codes for this. Check for loose fuses and connectors. Start at the battery and work your way towards the fuse box. It is possible for a fuse to break but not blow and cause an intermittent connection problem. I would start the car and begin wiggling things. The problem is intermittent and as you say if the light isnt on when at the shop they wont find anything wrong. I'm suprised nobody has found the problem yet. It is obvious what type of problem is occuring.