When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
This is my wife's 2010 Acura TL base, with 124K miles, full timing belt service was done at 105K, including the serpentine belt etc.
Last Friday morning, when she was leaving, she got the "Check Charging System" warning light. I was in the middle of a meeting so I just told her to drive another car. I did smell a slight wire burning smell and a whining noise under the hood - which seemed to indicate the alternator was gone which is fairly common for Honda/Acuras at this age/mileage.
I had some time during lunch time on Friday, so I did some testing which seemed weird:
I first scanned the error code with a cheap wireless OBDII scanner, nothing showed up. And the last cleared happened over 17K miles ago which was probably when I replaced the car battery about 1.5 years ago.
The car battery measured 12.6V at rest which is perfect.
The DC voltage maintained a steady 14V regardless the load (A/C, headlight, radio on/off) between the positive terminal and the ground.
The DC voltage showed a little more fluctuation on the OBDII scanner, but maintained at 13.4-13.8V all the time.
The AC ripple voltage was minimum under 10mV.
No warning light, no weird noise, no smell at all.
I went to the Advance Auto parts this weekend, both battery and alterna
tor passed the test. They told me it could be my wife left something on, but I am not convince. I wonder whether the alternator is on its way out, but still has the last leg on it. I am somehow under the impression that the alternator voltage should be 14.2V instead of the sub 14V.
I know a technician at a local Acura dealership, and he can replace the alternator for $80 labor. A new part costs $400. I don't know whether he has better ways to diagnose the issue. I don't mind paying $480 for a failing alternator a little ahead of time, but I don't know whether it could be something else and replacing a good alternator simply is a waste of money.
This is my wife's 2010 Acura TL base, with 124K miles, full timing belt service was done at 105K, including the serpentine belt etc.
Last Friday morning, when she was leaving, she got the "Check Charging System" warning light. I was in the middle of a meeting so I just told her to drive another car. I did smell a slight wire burning smell and a whining noise under the hood - which seemed to indicate the alternator was gone which is fairly common for Honda/Acuras at this age/mileage.
I had some time during lunch time on Friday, so I did some testing which seemed weird:
I first scanned the error code with a cheap wireless OBDII scanner, nothing showed up. And the last cleared happened over 17K miles ago which was probably when I replaced the car battery about 1.5 years ago.
The car battery measured 12.6V at rest which is perfect.
The DC voltage maintained a steady 14V regardless the load (A/C, headlight, radio on/off) between the positive terminal and the ground.
The DC voltage showed a little more fluctuation on the OBDII scanner, but maintained at 13.4-13.8V all the time.
The AC ripple voltage was minimum under 10mV.
No warning light, no weird noise, no smell at all.
I went to the Advance Auto parts this weekend, both battery and alterna
tor passed the test. They told me it could be my wife left something on, but I am not convince. I wonder whether the alternator is on its way out, but still has the last leg on it. I am somehow under the impression that the alternator voltage should be 14.2V instead of the sub 14V.
I know a technician at a local Acura dealership, and he can replace the alternator for $80 labor. A new part costs $400. I don't know whether he has better ways to diagnose the issue. I don't mind paying $480 for a failing alternator a little ahead of time, but I don't know whether it could be something else and replacing a good alternator simply is a waste of money.
alternator is going out. Mine had the burning electrical smell and whining noise before I replaced it.
People reported similar findings on this discussion https://acurazine.com/forums/4g-tl-p...tl-awd-961092/ which makes me think it's most likely the alternator. I will get it replaced unless my technician friend tells me otherwise.
Agree with Thoiboi. Denso alternator is 1st choice.
RockAuto.com if you can wait at least two days for delivery or local NAPA store if you can't wait (costs more)
Got the alternator replaced this afternoon. Prior to 5:45PM was the way to the dealership; 6:30PM was the way back home. I am not seeing a ton of difference. If any, the old alternator seemed more tightly regulated. I hope this warning light wasn't caused by anything else.
My tl is doing the same thing, did you find out what it was
If you have the whining noise and the Check Charging System light it is almost certainly the alternator.
Because the alternator electronics interact with the car electronics it's highly recommended by mechanics, other members in this forum, and myself to utilize an OEM quality part (Denso).
The Denso is ~$240 at Napa stores or ~$136 Rockauto.com (if you can wait for it to be shipped).
My tl is doing the same thing, did you find out what it was
The error message never showed up again afterwords, and when I scanned it there was no error code captured by the car. There was no weird noise either. But I went ahead and got the alternator replaced with a Denso.
07-12-2020, 07:54 PM
