Hello all; so, I have a question, it might be simple, it might not...I don't know. I'm not all that car savvy, as to what to look for and all that, and I don't trust the Honda mechanics around here because they always tell me something different and get me to buy things for the car I don't need - so, onto the matter at hand...

2001 Civic, Ex. 5 Speed 113,768 miles on it currently

The last time I took the car in for service, for the regular oil change and everything, the dealership came to me with a whole list of things that needed to be replaced soon (they said within a month); the timing belt, spark plugs, rotors, and brake pads.

3-4 months after that and another 2-3 thousand miles, easily, the car was still running fine. I'm not saying that stuff doesn't need to be replaced, and soon because it's six months later, but they acted like the car would fall apart right then and there if I didn't order on the spot. There's only one issue that they claim is a default in the car and that's the SRS light. There's no issue with the airbags or seatbelts, yet the car is reading it like there is. They would reset the computer and that SRS light will come back on within days and stay on. Still, no big issue.

With the turns that we take here on the autobahn in Germany, it didn't surprise me when I heard kind of like a metal clicking noise when a sharp turn was made at certain speeds (normally 30mph and below is fine, however, there was one time I made a left turn going 2mpg into a parking space and I heard the noise); left or right. I assumed it had something to do with the suspension, the axle. But, what do I know? Still, no major, major issues. The car still runs fine.

In the beginning of October the Honda had been sitting previously without moving, set into gear with the E-brake up, for two weeks. When I came back, it started without an issue. I popped the hood and there was a lot of battery acid on the battery, but no light came on, the engine ran fine, and the under the hood was cleaned, removing that acid. The car runs fine...

About four days later, still no issues at all, I get my new car and then I get an emergency back home. I leave the Honda with a friend of mine so he could use it if he needed it. He informs me about a week later, while still in possession of the car, that the battery light came on an hour after I left and remained on since. However, the car was fine. He drove it to work and back four times and then back to my place for a total of five times with about 100 miles onto, perhaps a bit less. I came back 16 days later, went to start the Honda...it was fine. He left the AC and radio on prior to shutting the car off, -_- , but there was nothing wrong. Sure enough, the battery light was on.

So, I assumed I needed a new battery. I expected the car to die because it's sitting. I go out to start it...it starts without an issue. Everything is running fine. So I'm now I'm wondering. I researched and wondered if it was the alternator? However, if that is the case, the car would still die because the battery isn't being charged, no? And yet, three starts later, taking the car to drive around, not too far of course in case anything happens, twice, using the lights, the ac, the defroster, and the radio...everything works.

Well, then I'm thinking...can it be the fuse? Is the car just reading the battery light wrong? Is this a default as well like the SRS is?

I want to check out whatever I possibly can so I don't get ripped off by someone, I don't order something I don't need, the car doesn't sit for extended periods of time if it doesn't need too, and just so I can sleep at night instead of worrying about this. The manual got ruined a few months back so there's nothing to go on in regards to the fuse box or what fuse I'm looking for in regards to this. What I really need to know now is that if the car seems to be charging, is working, no real indictors besides that light signals that anything is wrong...is the car still drivable, useable? I know the obvious thing, take it in and have someone look at it, but is the car really in danger of breaking down or stalling or losing power if its been fine for nearly a month since the light came on? I have been considering selling this car, though I don't want too, and if this is something I can come to resolve on my own, or at least know what direction to head into, it'll be great. So, please, experts, help me out! I'm begging!

 

okay first off have you had this car since new? If not do you know if the original owner replaced the timing chain? Because at that mileage it might be worth spending the money replacing it, the last thing you want is to have the chain break and bend all your valves... thats a very expensive job, its a part of normal maintenance and should be generally done every 90-100k miles on a car. Also brake pads and rotors you can check yourself, look in the wheel and feel your rotors? are they smooth or do they have waves as you rub your fingers over them, you can also see the pad and see if its almost metal on metal.

As for the battery light, I would say the alternator is probably going out and is undercharging the battery, if the alternator was completely dead then you wouldnt have got that much mileage out of it. Sometimes too the battery itself could be really low, due to leaving the electronics on for so long and the alternator hasnt recharged it fully, so first thing I would stick the battery on a charger and let it charge overnight and see if that takes care of the issue before replacing the alternator

 

for the battery light, take it to a local auto parts store and theyll test your battery and alternator for free

 

Wow. "But it still runs fine, so anyone suggesting I spend money to take care of these obvious problems is ripping me off".

OK fine, drive it until it just plain stops. Going to be a lot more expensive because you'll need a tow and you won't have much ability to shop for the best mechanic.

In particular, when the timing belt strips it's going to cause the car to instantly become immobile, without warning. If you're lucky (which is rare) there won't be severe engine damage caused by the pistons crashing into the valves. That's why you replace the belt pre-emptively about every 90 to 105 thousand miles (depending on the year, Honda recommends differently, but you certainly never want to go past 105,000.) Now it might last to 150,000, a lot of them have, or it might not. It'll be car runs fine one minute, dead engine the next. So you take the car apart while it is still running fine and replace the belt before it fails.

The acid on top of the battery suggests that it is being overcharged by the alternator, a simple test with a voltmeter will tell. The "battery" light is actually controlled by the alternator and indicates problems with that part.

The clicking noise is typical of an outer CV joint going bad. Look under the car at the rubber boots on the axles where they meet the wheel. If the boot is torn and the grease has come out, that also lets dirt into the joint to ruin it. The entire axle can be replaced for well under $150 per side (parts and labor) in the US.

 

Well, it is the alternator - I mean, it wasn't tested, but the battery was, and the battery was perfect, so the mechanic said it was one or the other. So I'll get that taken care of just to get it moving again, and then the belt, and then the CV joint - and with the CV Joint, you only hear it the first ten minutes the car moves, and then it's gone. I think that's why I never caught it right away. But, this car has fight to it, I swear, because it's still running and getting up and going with no issues. Everyone told me it wouldn't be and yet it still is. But, thanks for the advice, again - you all, as usual, are on point. Thanks