MM951

Friends N/A just started to do this. At first all lights are OK then after about 15 min everything gets very very dim (headlights become useless) and the car feels like the battery is about to run out. The engine sounds like its hardly firing and rpms go to ~600rpm. Tach needle goes all over the place.

Battery light does not come on, car will run as long as you want but when it is cold does not start. A slight jump will get it started right away.

The 2 8/10 gauge wires coming off of the positive lead are cracked up. I'm going to repair that today..does that sound like the problem or do you guys have any other ideas? I was also going to check out the grounds

thanks
Mike

robert944h

I would test your charging system, sounds like a bad alternator

Epic2112

You could take it to one of the big chain auto stores that tests batteries and alternators for free. No doubt those wires are at least part of the problem, but if the syptoms started suddenly it would make sense that something else went bad; wires get progressively worse over time, not all of a sudden. My money is on the alternator.

fork_included

how old is the battery

i would put money on the battery

if your gonna replace it get a honda civic battery

lightest / dollar value.

aeronautica86

I'm guessing the battery

owner944

+1 for battery.

cjeckert

Sounds like what happened to me when the voltage regulator in the alternator went.

Tom R.

i just got the 700CCA international battery from advance auto parts. my car started fine with the old one, i replaced it to be on the safe side.

when i turned in the old battery i had them test it. it was putting out 400cca.

You may want to try the civic battery. probably has polarity the other way and less CCA, but you will possibly save $5. Well worth the two hours to make it fit.

DDP

Start with the battery. It's a little easy of an install, hehe.

xsboost90

have your batt/alternator tested first. COuld be a bad ground-on the block- or positive wires to batt/starter are loose.

MM951

He brought it over and I found quite a few shoddy bits of wiring some PO did (and it wasn't me..wiring looked old) repaired what I could.

The other day I let him borrow a spare battery of mine and same thing happened... We are going to pick up the proper wire to replace the leads off of the positive terminal. I'll check the alternator too.

thanks guys
mike