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Acura Vigor new alternator?
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alexdebie
New User
Dec 30, 2008, 2:51 PM
Post #1 of 4
(2037 views)
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Acura Vigor new alternator?
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I own a 92 acura vigor GS and ive been having tons of problems with it. My cooling system seems to have to much pressure and my hoses keep breaking and my radiator cracked. I had the rad changed and the shop told me the cooling fans werent cycling proporly. Could someone explain what this means to me? Anyways, after i got it fixed another 3 hoses started leaking and i dont know what to do. Every time i drive it i randomly get a check engine light which is accompanyed by a huge power loss and only letting me go up to 3000 rpm then it seems to govern or something. This happens sometimes not for a couple hours at most but other times every 5 mins. While im driving i have to put it in nutral and turn the car off and then back on and the CEL goes away and i get my power back. Ive been doing this for almost a year now and i have no idea whats wrong. Also i get surging idle when i start it up in cold weather but it goes away for a while. Sometimes when i stop at a light when the engine is hot the idle surges again and gets lower and lower almost hitting 0. It has stalled a couple times from this. Also my battery drains every time i park the car. I charge it up to full and in one or two days its empty again. Sometimes when im driving the battery almost dies like all the lights turn off and the radio but it never has died from that. Last thing, the fan that defrosts my front window only has low speed and high speed wont work. The car seems pretty messed up but ive been reading alot about it and ive come up with a couple things. Could it be the alternator that causes most of this? Or MAF? or a problem with my throttle body? please help i need to drive this car until the summer.
92 acura vigor GS
2.5L 190000km
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Loren Champlain Sr
Veteran
/ Moderator
Dec 30, 2008, 4:29 PM
Post #2 of 4
(2036 views)
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Re: Acura Vigor new alternator?
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Oh, my! Sounds like you've got your hands full. The cooling fans are supposed to come on, by themselves, once the engine temp reaches a set perameter. Usually, around 230F. While you are moving, the fans aren't really needed, but in stop and go situations, the engine will overheat if they are not functioning. If the cooling system really is over-pressurizing, I would suspect a head gasket failure, leaking hot exhaust gasses into the cooling system. However, if this is happening, you'd also notice a loss of coolant. If you are not having to add coolant, then that should be okay. The test for a leaking head gasket is very easy, and you should have it done as soon as
possible. It can be done with a gas analyzer (checking for HC in the cooling system) or chemically.
The power loss symptom is a bit puzzling. I've seen catalytic converters break up, internally, and a 'chunk' of it will block off the exhaust end and cause a severe loss of power; You'll shut off the engine, the chunk will fall away and everything will be good in the world until it lodges in the exhaust end again. This is just a guess at this point.
The surging could be as simple as low coolant level. The coolant must be full so that the coolant temp sensor is immersed. Could also be a faulty sensor or connection. Or, other things, too. But with your other symptoms, I'd suspect coolant level.
As far as the battery/charging system, have it tested. Of course, if the battery voltage drops enough, the computer will 'run home to mama' and can't control engine mgmt. Good luck.
Loren
SW Washington
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alexdebie
New User
Dec 31, 2008, 10:34 AM
Post #3 of 4
(2029 views)
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Re: Acura Vigor new alternator?
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I do need to add coolant quite often but one of the hoses behind the engine, i think its a heater hose is leaking so that could be where the coolant is going. The power loss i was talking about isnt really just a general power loss but only when my CEL is on. I think it might be limp mode becuase as soon as the light goes on i cant go past 3000rpm. i dont know what is causing the CEL to go on though i was told that it might be becuase the engine is running rich which could be caused by a bad MAF. All my symptoms, although they could be caused by worse things like the head gasket, could they be the result of not enough power getting to the sensors like my o2, MAF, FICV, and the other idle ones (cant remembner names right now). This could be a bad alternator? It would be nice if all my problems were just as simple as that and id like to think they are all related becuase if not i should just buy a new car becuase it seems to be falling apart
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Loren Champlain Sr
Veteran
/ Moderator
Dec 31, 2008, 2:33 PM
Post #4 of 4
(2022 views)
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Re: Acura Vigor new alternator?
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The very first thing you need to do is get that coolant leak repaired. If the CTS is not emersed it coolant, yes, the system will go rich. That can be detrimental to the engine, O2 sensors, and catalytic converter! I can't ever remember having to replace a MAF on a Honda or Acura. I'd put that idea out of my head, for at least the time being. Get that coolant lead fixed, then we'll go from there. As far as the alternator is concerned, have it tested. Very quick, easy, test.
Loren
SW Washington
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