Rep Power: 0

I am new to this group and want to thank everyone in advance for the help/advice. I do have 2 questions...
First and most immediate.. I think I need a new alternator for my 02 EX Civic Sedan. Yesterday I was driving with my wife and 5 month old daughter home from vacation in NH to NY. When I turned the car on in NH the battery light was on. I grabbed the manual and it said it meant the battery isn't charging and to drive to a service station. I was thinking that was my course of action but as soon as I put the car in drive the light went off. I then put on the A/C and stereo and began my 7 hour drive. After our 3rd stop and on our final leg of the trip. The ABS light began to go on and off.. then the SRS light.. I knew something was wrong. The next thing I know.. everything shuts off and I pull to the side of the road 45 minutes from home with a dead Honda. I got it towed home. I have to say that since I bought the car, I have drained the battery about 5 times by leaving the lights on. Is this an alternator problem or just a dead battery that won't take a charge anymore ?

If this is an alternator problem - will the extended warranty I bought cover the alternator replacement plus towing the car from my driveway to the dealer?

Ok... one more question - I also have had the tranny replaced 2 years ago because it was slipping on cold days .. Is Honda not as reliable as it once was? Is the 8th gen better?

Thanks everyonee

 
Rep Power: 812

tranny slipping is well known. my 02 only has 50k miles and it slips, but warranty wont fix til it breaks. they covered a new alternator for me tho when mine went out after only two years of owning the car. yes the newer civics are crappy in some areas.

 
Rep Power: 0

Thanks for the info.. Hopefully with the tranny replaced and the alternator I will not get the reliable car I bought

 
Rep Power: 288

i had that electrical issue, no one could help me, all my guages went on and off and all my warning lights went on and off and the car just died. dealer couldnt find anything wrong, that was 2 years ago. just to let you know, the civic has a weak electrical system. i was running all my toys while i was driving: fogs, hvac and sub. AC and stereo shouldnt kill the battery, but if you have other stuff like fogs and ice, the alternator might not be able to keep up with your usage, esp if youre not driving fast.

tranny is a problem. honda was never that great at building autos... is it a reliability problem? well its more of a design defect that everyone knows about. hondas are still reliable overall, but 7th gen autos have a defect just like the previous accord based cars.

 
Rep Power: 0

I just went to an Autozone and had the Alternator tested and they said it was running at 40 amps which is weak but will work. they advised me to test it again before winter and most likely put a new one in then. I called the local dealer ( I bought the extended warranty ) and they said although it is weak and dying they can't replace it untill it is broken. So I asked " Do I have to wait till this car strands my family again?" he said unfortunately, yes..

Maybe I should just suck it up and buy one myself....

 
Rep Power: 314

Sounds like it was just your battery...

But my Honda has been my best friend since I bought it!

Yes Honda is just as reliable as it was 10 years ago!

"DONT LET ONE BAD APPLE ROUIN THE TREE!"

 
Rep Power: 812

best way to break an alternator? "accidentally" soak it with water when cleaning your engine bay at the car wash and then start the car. but make sure its dry before towing to dealer for new one.

 
Rep Power: 0

The warranty company was much cooler than the dealership and said they would fix it. So I had a mechanic next to my office work on it today. All was good till I was driving home and heard a lot of clicking in the engine. When I got home I see that the mechanic must not have put the serpentine belt back on correctly as it is frayed a bunch on one side and strings of it are hitting things in the engine making that clicking noise.... back the them I go. Not the cars problem but apparently it just isn't my week!