'Alright, I have 2000 Honda Civic EX. Today while driving, I shifted into 2nd gear and the SRS light came on and my radio cuts out while driving or revving the engine. While driving and actually pressing the gas pedal the head unit is never playing, it`s on but nothing is coming out. When I stop at a stop sign or parked it plays fine until, I go to move again or rev it past 1700 RPM and it cuts out again. What really gets me, besides the radio, is the SRS staying on. I don`t know if they are related in any way but, they occurred at the same time. I`m not sure if it`s a battery or alternator issue either.

Remove and fully charge the battery and check the alternator, afterwards. Here's how:

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cars-trucks/faq-how-troubleshoot-repair-maintain-hondas-selected-other-vehicles-46563-10.html#post1973613

All right, thanks. I'll give it a try.

Ok... I have a few new developments with the issues stated above. When I first start up my car, when the car is cold basically, the radio doesn't work at all unless... I turn on the headlights, the heater/AC to full blast, and the rear defroster on... then the radio works fine until the car is completely warmed up. Also, there is another issue though. It might be because my other battery was a little old but... recently my battery, while driving for a little while, started to emit this nasty smell and after a little while was starting to smoke. So I pull over and see that the battery was spurting out fluid and looked like it was going to explode. So I go and get a new battery but now... my new battery seems like it's starting to do the same thing. Whenever I drive for a while, I start to smell the same thing... so now I don't even attempt to drive longer than 30 minutes at a time. And looking at the new battery, it looks as if the battery starting spurting out fluid as well. I had checked all the fuses in my car, under hood and under dash, and they all check out fine. I also checked the battery cables and connections and they are fine as well. Could the issue be the alternator? Before that other battery died though, I had AutoZone use their tool to check the battery and alternator and they said it was fine. That SRS light is still on also but, I don't have the kind of money to take it to Honda to diagnose the problem. One more thing to add... from Nov 07- Feb 09 I was deployed and had kept my car in an outside storage lot for the duration of the deployment. When I came back, I saw traces of rat feces in my trunk. But these problems with my car didn't start until Feb, is it possible that rats could've eaten through something and not effect anything until a year later? I need some help with this, I asked a lot of my co-workers, who have experience working on automobiles, and none of them really know what to do or what to check.

It sounds like the alternator is overcharging and creating a lot of hydrogen gas, which is very explosive. Perform the regulated voltage test in the link below:

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cars-trucks/faq-how-troubleshoot-repair-maintain-hondas-selected-other-vehicles-46563-10.html#post1973613

All right, I'll give it a try when I can borrow my buddies multimeter. But, maybe this might help your judgement... whenever I accelerate hard a little bit, the gauge cluster dims out a little bit.

1. How many miles are on the car?

2. Did you test all under dash (including SRS fuses) and under hood fuses with a test light or multimeter?

About 118,000

I suspect your alternator is bad. I think the voltage regulator has failed (excess charging is creating excess hydrogen gas) and I think the brushes are too far worn (the gauge lights dim, due to brush bounce under acceleration). Brushes bounce when they are really worn.

I was thinking the alternator was suspect too. Because I was thinking about it after the battery died, what would make it spurt out fluid and about to blow... then I thought the only thing that could do it was the alternator overcharging it. And come to think of it, I've never changed the alternator on it, I bought it at around 70k miles. All right, thanks for the help... should I just go and get a new alternator or a refurbished one?

Military reliability demands new (genuine Honda). There are a lot of poor rebuilts on the market.

Keep us posted.

Tips to keep your Civic going 350,000 miles:

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cars-trucks/faq-how-troubleshoot-repair-maintain-hondas-selected-other-vehicles-46563.html#post219991

This outfit has good prices on Honda genuine parts:

College Hills Honda Parts (http://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cfm?siteid=215070)

I've used them several times and they are very good. Give them a call tomorrow.

All right I will let you know if changing the alternator worked and I'll give that place a call tomorrow. Thanks for the help again.

God bless.

Worn alternator brushes account for a host of weird electrical problems simultaneously showing up. I'm sure your alternator is toast.

If warning lights (e.g., battery, ABS, SRS, or others) start appearing in concert with one another on the dash, immediately suspect the alternator.


Access is often enhanced if you remove the driver's side wheel and fender liner, while removing and installing the alternator. This is a trick for working on FWD cars. Here's how to do it yourself:

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cars-trucks/faq-how-troubleshoot-repair-maintain-hondas-selected-other-vehicles-46563-2.html#post224856

All right, I'll get a replacement and let you know how it goes. Thanks for the information and the help.

Sorry, I didn't get back to you on this but... yup, the problem was the alternator. Got a new one in there and no problems that I had before.