What happens to the alternator when the car Idles?

What happens to the alternator when the car Idles?

by John Papiewski. When your car idles, the engine and alternator run slowly. The alternator provides enough electricity to charge the battery. If you use high-powered accessories, the idling alternator can’t keep up with electrical demand.

How does an alternator affect the charging system?

The alternator is at the heart of the charging system of your vehicle. Alternator problems and charging system problems can affect your vehicle in different ways. You may notice: your ALT or CHARGE indicator light comes on, your engine is hard to start and cranks slowly, or doesn’t crank, your battery demands lots of water,

What happens when Honda alternator does not charge?

The internal voltage regulator monitors the alternator output and reports it to the ECM. If the actual voltage didn’t match the commanded output, the ECM sets a P0562 (P1297) voltage too low or PP1549 for voltage too high. If the alternator doesn’t charge at all, the ECM sets a P056A for No Charging Malfunction.

What to do when your Honda Accord won’t charge?

In fact, you may throw away a perfectly good alternator when the problem might be a blown fuse. Check the Accord’s fuse box, which is located under the hood and near the passenger side. When this fuse is blown, the alternator won’t charge the battery. Replacing fuse number 15 with a new fuse of 7.5 amperage should be able to revive the alternator.

What happens if you have a bad alternator in a Honda Accord?

The alternator’s job in your Accord is to provide electricity as it is running. The battery stores enough voltage to be able to start the engine without the assistance of an alternator. It is turned by a serpentine belt. It’s worth noting that a bad serpentine belt can cause the alternator to stop charging effectively.

by John Papiewski. When your car idles, the engine and alternator run slowly. The alternator provides enough electricity to charge the battery. If you use high-powered accessories, the idling alternator can’t keep up with electrical demand.

Is it normal for an alternator to not charge?

Still, it’s perfectly normal for others to see the alternator not charge at all intermittently. One test is not enough if you are diagnosing a charging system problem. All too often, the alternator is condemned as the source of the problem if only battery voltage is present with the engine running.

How does the Honda alternator charge the battery?

During startup and periods of low electrical loads or after the battery has been recharged after startup, the ECM will set the charging voltage at a lower 12.4-12.9 volts. Honda maintains voltage at this low rate once the battery is fully charged in order to maintain battery charge.