1991 Accord--tach goes to "0" when I turn lights or heat on

I have a 1991 Accord with a 5spd F20A SOHC motor that is having problems today. I woke up to take kids to school and car was dead. Car was not started for 5 days and my wife said that yesterday she heard the cooling fan running in the garage. Garage is heated to 55 degrees. So, I jumped the car and idle was fluctuating and car was running very "choppy". When I hit the gas, the engine sputtered and back fired through the throttle body. I left the car running for the 10-15 minutes that it took me to drop off kids in truck. When I came back, car was idling fine(@850rpms) and running smooth. I thought it was okay now. I turned it off after another 10 mins and went back inside. Now, I started it and went to work and everything seemed okay. When I went to go to lunch, battery was almost dead (laboring to turn over) so I let it run for a few minutes, then as I was about to pull off, I turned on the lights and the tach dropped to "0" like the car stalled but it was still running. When I hit the gas it was sputtering and back firing. I turned the lights off and the tach went back to normal. I turned the heat on and the tach went back to "0". Hopefully I will be able to limp the car the

6 miles to get home without getting pulled over for no head lights.

Any input is greatly appreciated.

Reply to
jim_l
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Disconnect the battery for 20 seconds so everything can reboot. You have a few ghosts in the machine. Then do an 'idle learn procedure, if things don't return to perfect:

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'Curly'

Reply to
motsco_

The thermosensor that controls the cooling fan is faulty. The fan won't be on at 55 degrees!! Your battery was wrecked by that stupid fan. And when the battery can't maintain proper voltage, the ECU is confused. So reset it (pull a fuse if your car has one, or simply disconnect the battery) then start the engine and let it idle for 10 minutes. Do not press the gas pedal during this process. But fix the sensor and replace the battery as soon as you can.

Reply to
bi241

"Dan C" wrote

Do you work for a dealership?

How long have you been reading at this newsgroup?

Hondas need not be abandoned until the engine has given up the ghost.

Reply to
Elle

No.

A couple of years.

Which is exactly what I'm talking about above.

Reply to
Dan C

"Dan C" wrote E

Some electrical part likely has given up the ghost.

Until the piston rings fail or similar, the engine is fine.

Reply to
Elle

...and even then, there are alternatives than high payments and plastic cars...

JT

Reply to
Grumpy AuContraire

"Grumpy AuContraire" wrote Elle

Oops. I forgot that low mileage used Honda engines (shipped from Japan) are available for under $900 in the U.S.

Reply to
Elle

Today I went and warranteed the battery for a brand new one and put it in. The car started right away with no problem. Idle still fluctuating (1200-

2000) and gradually made its way down to 850 rpms when it was at operating temperature. After the initial start I took off the battery terminals and let the car warm up on just the alternator to check if the alternator was bad. When the car was warm and at a steady idle I tried turning it off, reconnecting the battery and starting it again. Started fine and idled fine, I disconnected battery again and tried turning on the lights and the car shut off. Now, I reconnected the battery and started it again, this time when I took off the terminals the car died instantly and the lights weren't even on. The alternator is only a year old and I bought it new. Could the alternator be shot already? And would the alernator cause the tach to drop to "0" while the car is still running? I also put in the VSS that I had bought a few weeks ago when the speedo was jumping and tach still dies when I turn the lights on. Also, fyi, the check engine light didn't come on.
Reply to
jim_l via CarKB.com

You need to take the car to a facility that can properly determine if the alternator is working.

And find a mechanic that knows what he is doing.

Jeff

Reply to
Jeff

If this is an actual Honda alternator, it is pretty unusual to see a failure this soon. If this is a Chinese rebuilt from AutoZone or the like, its a surprise that it worked this long.

Reply to
E Meyer

As can any other car, if you're willing to do it.

I've got clues enough for the both of us, Gramps. What the f*ck is a sheeple?

Reply to
Dan C

It's "irrational" to want to drive a car less than 20 years old? Is that what you really think?

I don't care about MPG, or payments, or insurance. I can afford all of them. I own 5 vehicles (one Honda which is an 07 Accord), and all are less than 3 years old.

Are you sure? Wanna bet?

Reply to
Dan C

CarKB.comhttp://www.carkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/honda-cars/200802/1 oh no! you're not supposed to let the engine running on the alternator to test it!!!

Reply to
bi241

What I think is irrational is for a guy who has no interest in fixing cars to hang out in a newsgroup of people who do want to fix them.

Reply to
Al

"Fixing" isn't the only focus of this newsgroup. There are plenty of other things to discuss, as well.

Reply to
Dan C

"Dan C" wrote

You are an amateur who has barely studied the archives of this newsgroup, barely worked on older Hondas.

No way are the symptoms evidence of a failed engine.

Reply to
Elle

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Never do that to ANY vehicle. It's right up there with "I unplugged my hard drive and then plugged it back in with the computer running".

You've probably screwed up the alternator and possibly the ELD.

:-(

Reply to
motsco_

And would the alernator cause the tach to drop to "0" while

Jim,

The tach is electric. No juice, no tach. Have the charging system checked.

G-Man

Reply to
G-Man

More conjecture. You can't possibly know those things to be true.

I guess you didn't read my other post about how it doesn't matter what exactly has failed, if you're stranded on the side of the road. You're still stranded on the side of the road, and the *FACTS* are that this is much more likely to happen with a car such as the one being discussed here.

Do you have anything else that you'd like explained to you?

Reply to
Dan C

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