Need help.. weird problem..Bad alternator??

[honda91accord]

I have this weird problem that I can't figure out.
I was driving for about 2 hours during snow storm last
Wednesday. All of sudden my dash board and everything that had to
do with power just went out, nothing was working even the hazzard light worked for 10 seconds and went out. So here I am about 2 miles away from my house with no power but suprisingly the car didn't die but barely moving. Luckly due to snow storm everybody was going slow so, I deciede to follow a moving truck that was going 5 miles per hour.
After I got home I turn the car off and try to start again but nothing would work. So, I thought that my alternator was gone and I was driving under the battery power. But then when I came back out and try to start the car after 2 hours, it started right up. And ever since the car has been running as nothing happen.
That day was the only day I drove more than 1.5 hours. I only drive 1 hour to get to work and home. I know this sound weird but what could it be.

Possible cause :
1. Could it be that my alternator is going bad and if I drive it for a long time that it is dying.

2. I know there is a after market alarm in this car but it's not being used. WHen I changed the battery 6 months ago I disconnected the line that goes into the alarm. This is an old alarm that was put in back in 1991. Perhaps this alarm is disabling something in the
circuit somewhere. Should I take this alarm out?

Did anyone have this weird problem? Or any suggestion or comments would be appriciated.

Thanks,

[Whyte7]

sounds like a bad alternator, i doubt the unhooked alarm is draining your battery like that..

[ACCORDianate]

Its your alternator. My old 90 Tercel did the same thing.

[alb_accord]

did the battery light came up???
next time it does that go out of the car and disconnect the battery while the car is still on. if the car turns off then u got a bad altenator if not then check all the graudings etc. it everything is ok then u got a short somewhere in the egnition system or the altenator is going aband and th esensor its not working properly.

[NoSloCB7]

Yeah..check the alternator. It could be as simple as the plug in the alternator being loose or completely out. That happened to me. The locking tab on the plastic green plug that attaches to the back of the alternator broke off. As a result the plug came out and the same shit happened to me that happened to you. If its not the plug, then most likely you'll have to replace the alternator...let us know if we can help you out anymore!!

[honda91accord]

Thanks for the quick replies guys...
I'll check my alternator and let you know the outcome of this prob.

[91AccordLX]

once again i must suggest slighty hitting the alternator with a blunt object (hammer, mallet, wrench, ) my battery light was coming on all the time, and my battery would loose a full charge in less in 5 miles of driving, and my lights did the same thing yours did, i just hit it a few times and my battery light has been off ever since and no problems......this was just a week ago too....try it, it may work, or atleast it can be a temporary fix!

[honda91accord]

I have checked all the things you guys mentioned but they are all o.K.

1. Check the plug in the alternator and it's in very tight and clean.
2. Unhooked the neg. battery terminal to see if the car dies but the car was still running fine.
3. Battery warning light does not come on.
4. checked the alternator at the local auto shop but they said that it was putting out correct amp and nothing was wrong with my alternator.

I haven't had a problem since the last incident but my dash light dims and brightens on and off without reving the engine.

Is there anything else I can do to check for the bad alternator? Whatelse can I check? I would hate to replace my alternator spending $100 and find out that it's not the alternator.
Otherwise, I guess I just have to wait until it dies completely again to diagnose the problem. I better have my towing company's number handy.....

[tommi]

hey have u tried running your car or crawling your car down to a auto parts store like autozone or something to have them check it out? they can diagnos it to see what is wrong then u can go from there, other than that i think a short is involved? i was just in this situation one week ago i lost all power and crawed home with no power. and turns out my alternator burned out cuz of my system over working it but i doubt u have that problem?? that is my guess, i got my alternator exchanged cuz of the warrenty still intact. but getting my alternator outwas a bitch to do cuz it was cold and i was getting frustrated.

COLBALT CB7 2NER

[honda91accord]

Hey, you guys were right.
It was the alternator that was causing the problem.
I went to the different Autozone for second testing just to make sure that first guy tested my alt. correctly ( the first guy who told me that I had good alt. seemed to not know how to use the tester.) but he was wrong because the guy from the other Autozone told me that my alt. was only putting out 8 amp... So, I bought the Autozone lifetime warranty brand ( cost $108) and replaced it.
Now I don't have the dim dash and interior lights and everything seems o.k. except.
There is a slight change in interior and head light intensity when I hit the gas. Is this normal after changing the new alternator and the belt?
I tighten the heck out of the belt that I don't think I can't tighten it anymore. Will I have a problem if I over tighten the belt?

Belt doesn't sqeak or I don't hear any unusual sound.

Thanks for all your input.....

[NoSloCB7]

Yeah thats normal, when you are at idle, the alternator puts out roughly 12 to 13 volts. Under acceleration/driving it puts out 15 to 16 volts. So when you come to a stop, your lights are going to dim due to lesser power being produced by the alternator....Don't worry about it bro

[91AccordLX]

hmm my lights dont dim or get brighter when i hit the gas....but i wouldnt think it is something to worry about...glad you got it fixed though