Today, I got in, and started the car, and my VTC's which I have grounded, were clacking like crazy....also, on my dash, the brake light is now on (handle is down, all fluid is good)...and the battery light is on, but I've got a detector that says it's fine.

 

classic signs of alternator failure (the dash lights are)

 

Check the alternator output...Good Luck!

 

I just had the alternator off this week.....could it be the belt?

 

sure, or a loose connection too.

those 2 lights just mean that it isn't charging correctly

 

Okay, I checked the belts and the connectors, and they seem okay...along with the charge on my battery. Everything seems okay.


Any advice on the VTCs?

 

check your grounds for the motor, maybe the one that grounds the alternator and the VTCs is the same and that one is bad

 

I checked them, and they appear OK. I also notice that the battery light is NOT on, only the BRAKE.

 

Try disconnecrting/reconnecting the VTC ground wire and see if the solenoids click. Check that the VTC solenoid hot wire has 12 volts. Could a burned out taillight cause the brake warning light to come on?

 

the brake warning light normally means either low pressure in the MC or the e-brake lever is up.

when it comes on in conjunction with the light diagnal from it then it's a malfunctioning alternator

 

What was the voltage output from your alternator when you tested it???

A dead alt will cause 3rd gens to do all kinds of crazy things...When my alt was dieing, the cel light came on intermitently along with the brake and battery light,the idle was funky,vtc's were louder,etc.

 

I tried this, nothing, it just continues to click as if nothing is happening...

About the taillight....My wife's honda does turn the brake indicator on, and I DO have a bulb out, but my car has never done that before, but I'll check it.

 

I did not voltage check the alternator. I only checked the grounds to it, along with all other engine grounds. I will have AutoZone check it later today.


Yeah, sounds like what is happening to me. Break and battery lights are on (which ARE diagonal), idle is bad, and VTC's are MUCH louder, and I cannot seem to make them quiet by grounding.

 

My bet is on the alternator....

 

Well, I bet $170 on an alternator, and I lost....however my alternaotr WAS bad, just not causing THIS problem.

What I did find out is that the VTCs are getting NO POWER ...I tested them with a voltage meter..but based on what else I see while driving, the VTC, are not the only thing that has no power right now that should.

 

how can you tell if the probelm is the vtc or just bad lifters????

 

i think you grounded your VTC's incorrectly, some people have done this and it blows a certain fuse and relay (the correct one escapes my mind right now.) Did you verify you grounded the correct wire?

 

My VTC's have been grounded properly for over 50,000 miles.