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Hey all, well I've just had a very frustrating experience with a Honda Dealership. A couple days ago, my alternator light came on...when I got home I tested the battery, it read 12.5 V. Good. Started the car, and it read about 13.5 V, good. Put the system under load by turning everything on , and it sagged a bit, but hovered around 13.3-13.6 V. So I thought it wasn't my alternator or battery, and brought it into the local Honda Dealer.

Well, they told me it was my alternator. They said it was just "on the verge" of failing, and that I should replace it. So I say ok. Well, they call me when the jobs done, and tell me that the Alternator light is still on. Now I'm pretty livid, because I never thought it was the alternator, and I really felt like I just paid $500 for nothing.

Now I've got a wiring diagram, and I plan on doing continuity tests to see if all the lines are solid, and then start proofing out components in the charging system. I guess I'm hoping someone here might have some helpful advice on where to look, because I'm not the greatest when it comes to this stuff. I just wasnt gonna give them any more money to spend a few more hours of $110 labor and possibly find nothing.

Thanks.

 
Rep Power: 308

You really should have a chat with the company who did the work. They clearly mis-diagnosed the problem.

 
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I've tried. They gave me a 10% discount on the total cost. But that doesnt mean much when I still have the warning light up.

I don't know how much further I could get with this, they seemed to not want to budge anymore.

 
Rep Power: 308

They at minimum should offer you some diagnostic time to see what the problem may be. ( if they charged you diag time it must not have taken long)

Maybe they could try an ELD unit ??

 
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The ELD unit should be in my underhood fuse box correct?

I just looked for it and in the space where its supposed to be theres nothing.

2004 Civic SI, dont think I mentioned that. Is this normal???

 
Rep Power: 308

US Si ??

Do you have the single serpentine drive belt ??

Do you have the manual ? ( Si has it's own, I have an 02 Si manual at home)

 
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Not sure where it was made, but I bought it in Canada. The manual for it looks like its not SI exclusive.

So I would presume its CA SI.

 
Rep Power: 308

Is it Canadian Si = US EX ?? I can't say for sure.

Does the engine have 2 drive belts or 1 ??

 
Rep Power: 308

Is this where you are looking ??

https://www.civicforums.com/forums/2...-detector.html

 
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Yessir, that was my point of reference.

Is it in a different place for Canadian models? The backside diagram of the fuse box makes no mention of it.

 
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I will look into the drive belts after supper.

Im 99% sure its a US EX. It isnt the hatchback, and the engine is the same as the other models for that year.

 
Rep Power: 313

Any 7th gen SI that's not hatchback is a Canadian SI.

 
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Ok, so does that mean they dont come with an ELD equipped? Or its somewhere else?

 
Rep Power: 308

I found this sheet in the manual... Only the US models have the ELD.

 
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K, thanks for everything so far Craig.

Not quite sure how to proceed next. Ive tested continuity between the plug on the alternator and the PCM, checks out. The other wires in the charging system are really not easy to get to. Not really confident taking things apart yet.

Think Im gonna have to try and negotiate with the dealership to treat this as a special case, and help me further, at a lesser charge.

 
Rep Power: 308

Here are 2 pages from the manual for the indicator troubleshooting. Maybe they can be of help to you. There is only 1 schematic shown it includes the ELD. Pay attention to the notes to prevent ecm damage.

 
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Ive gotten to step 8. I dont have the HDS, so I cant troubleshoot it further.

But looking at that, the tech at Honda told me to check continuity on those lines(steps 10-11), never mentioning that safety HDS part. So I may have damaged my PCM.

Is that pdf available online by the way? Also, if you could link the next page of the alternator/regulator troubleshooting.

 
Rep Power: 308

Here is the rest of it, If you need any other info let me know.

 
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Is there any way to jump the SCS line manually, without a HDS?

 
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Ok, got Honda to look at it again, and now they say its a defective PCM keeping the light on.

Being an almost $1000 repair, I think Ill live with the light and check my alternator every month.

Is there any reason to believe they are wrong?