Today I was driving and then the little battery light came on, since I was close to home, so I turned around and went home. I turned off the car and hooked it up to the trickle charger for a good 7 hours. Went back out tonight and started it and the light was still on and the car made a high pitched whine, and the RPM's went up to like 1800 and slowly dropped down to around like 500-700 (normal for me when I start). I really dont want to drive it because I don't want to get stranded on my way to Acura or anything. What do you guys think?

It is still plugged into the trickle charger. Also I bought and installed a new battery and the light remained on.

I am thinking the alternator, am I way off? What would cause this?

 

lol i remember this happend to me i had to push my car downhill for 1/2 a mile.. you should be able to make it to the dealer w/ a new battery..unless its stil bucking even w/ your new battery

 

its not bucking, it is just making a really high pitched whining noise... I love this car but I have dumped all my mod $$ into repairs. I am not too pleased right now.

 

not to threadjack, but sometimes when it is nighttime and my lights are on, they will fade in and out with the signal lights. in other words, if i signal, the headlights and interior lights fade in and out in the same rythm as the blinkers. could this be the alternator? i remember buying my car that acura said the alternator was a little weak.

 

the whine sounds like a slipping belt.

you may want to also clean all connections on the batt and on the alternator...just a little help

 

Alternator. think it runs $85 +install
It happened to mine already

 

Tighten your alternator belt. While you're down there, check to belt to make sure it's still in good condition.

 

i spend 250 on a 150 amp alternator and thing works amazing.... even with my 1000 watt system the lights dont dim

 

the belt is probibaly too loose, and not spinning the alternator fast enough. the wine could also be the alternator bearings going out. so poke your belt with your finger and see if its loose if not get a new alternator.

 

i had my alternator replaced like 3 months ago,
it was running great but recently when i idle the car makes a repatitive chich chich chich (dont really know how to describe it) sound and the lights dimmed on me once....
anyone have insight... or do i have to make teh dreaded trip to Ack...
thx

 

That's your alternator going bad. Mine went out 4 months ago. I had the same high pitched whining noise. It started out very low then got kinda loud, and it sounds like it's coming from somewhere in your dash. I bought a new one from Dave's DC Electric in CA. Paid too much for it though. Just get one from Pep Boys or Advance Auto Parts... cheap with warranty

 

First my starter went out(carmax fixed for free-warranty) and then my alternator went out(same symptoms) and I paid close to 200 for a new one... haven't had any problems... Oh, and I think my power windows is going next...

P.S. all that was just a warning to other CL's... I now of many that have had starter and alternator replacements... and only a few that have had the power windows replaced.

 

my alternator went out on me once...well actually the battery light and check engine light came on...so the nearest ACURA dealer is about 15 miles away....my damn car didnt even have enough power to do anything! im lucky i make it there! i coudnt use the radio or windows, shit, everytime i tapped the break the needles on the spedo would drop to zero (yes the car was still running...like when i came to a stoplight) then the needles would jump liek crazy, it actually said i was going 120 when actyually i was goin about 45mph..it was crazy...at one time, there wasnt even enough power to push fuel through the pump...the car was in drive and was just revving (like it was in nutural) when i tried to go at a green light...so i sat there revving it and all of the sudden the car kicked in and i pealed out...lol (a civic ricer next to me got a good laugh....i bet i looked soo stupid) so yea..bad stuff...

oh yea, the damn acura dealer charged me like $250 also!!!

 

the whine is usually your alternator bearing going out..

 

The whine is from the alternator. The turn sinal problem was from a pinched wire in the steering column.

 

my alternator started whining back in the summer... and one day... the whine disappeared.. and i thought my car cured itself.. :P hee hee.. newayz... later that day my car won't start ne more.. and that's when i found out that my alternator died completely.. heehee...