Quote:
Originally Posted by msantos
Charging occurs when the voltage baselines at 13.6 to 13.9 volts.
So, I would suggest it is time to take it to the dealer for 20 minutes worth of HDS diagnostics. They'll tell you for sure what's up and what needs to be done about it.
Cheers;
MSantos
|
Well, I guess it makes sense the car does not have an alternator. Why does it have a starter, though? I have never heard a gear-drive starter engage on the car.
I wish I could be as confident as you regarding the Honda dealer's competence. In reality, it is up to the electrical savvy of the technician being paid to do the diagnosis. There is nothing quite as satisfying as paying $100+ for 'no trouble found'.
Is it possible that the DC-DC converter and/or battery charge controller does not
always output 14V? Perhaps it occasionally disconnects from the battery based on low input voltage (motor turning slow)?
I think a little better understanding of exactly how this charging system works would be good, before I go throwing money away. Can anyone point me to a block diagram or schematic? As an electrical engineer I have no problem understanding electronics.
I will reiterate that to date the car has not run the new battery down, but I did see some indication that it had low voltage while driving with the headlights on. If it actually did have low voltage it has to be intermittent for the battery to still have a charge.