1996 ACURA RL KA9 alternator

Charging Syste m
Componen t Locatio n Inde x
ALTERNATO R BEL TInspectio n an d Adjustment , pag e 4-3 3
ALTERNATO RAlternator an d Regulato r Test , pag e 4-2 7
Replacement , pag e 4-2 9
Overhaul , pag e 4-3 0
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Troubleshooting
If th e chargin g syste m ligh t doe s no t com e o n o r doe s no t g o off , o r th e batter y i s dea d o r low , tes t th e followin g item s i n
th e orde r liste d below :
1. Batter y (se e sectio n 23 )
2. Chargin g Syste m Ligh t (se e below )
3. Alternator/Regulato r (se e pag e 4-27 )
Chargin g Syste m Ligh t Tes t
Chec k th e No . 2 0 (7. 5 A ) fus e i n
th e under-das h fuse/rela y box .
I s th e fus e OK ?
Chec k fo r a n ope n in th e L circuit :
1 . Disconnec t th e 4 P connecto r
fro m th e alternator .
2 . Groun d th e No . 3 termina l o f
th e 4 P connector .
3 . Tur n th e ignitio n switc h O N (II) .
Doe s th e chargin g syste m
ligh t com e on ?
Disconnec t th e No . 3 termina l
o f th e 4 P connecto r fro m th e
ground .
Doe s th e chargin g syste m
ligh t g o off ?
Chec k fo r a shor t t o bod y groun d
i n th e L circuit :
1 . Tur n th e ignitio n switc h OFF .
2 . Disconnec t th e AB S contro l
uni t (C447 ) an d passenger' s
multiple x contro l uni t (C401) ,
a s applicable .
3. Tur n th e ignitio n switc h O N (II) .
Doe s th e chargin g syste m
ligh t sta y off ?
Chec k fo r shor t i n contro l unit(s) :
1 . Tur n th e ignitio n switc h OFF .
2 . Reconnec t th e AB S contro l
uni t connector .
3 . Tur n th e ignitio n switc h O N
(II) , an d chec k th e chargin g
system light .
Did th e ligh t sta y of f whe n yo u
turne d o n th e ignitio n switc h
afte r connectin g AB S contro l uni t
connector ?
Substitute a known-goo d AB S
contro l unit , an d recheck .
ALTERNATO R4P CONNECTO R
Replace th e fuse .
Chec k fo r a blow n chargin g sys -
te m ligh t bulb . I f th e bul b i s OK ,
repai r th e ope n i n th e WHT/BL U Wir
e sid e o f
femal e terminal s
(T o page 4-26)
Tur n th e ignitio n switc h OFF , an d
repai r th e shor t t o groun d in th e
WHT/BL U wire .
Substitut e a known-goo d pas -
senger' s multiple x contro l unit ,
and recheck .
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Charging Syste m
Troubleshootin g (cont'd )
(From page 4-25)
Chec k fo r a n ope n in th e IG circuit :
Measur e th e voltag e a t th e No . 1
termina l o f th e 4 P connector .
I s ther e batter y voltage ?
Chec k th e Alternator/Regulator :
1. Tur n th e ignitio n switc h OFF .2. Connec t th e 4 P connecto r t o
th e alternator .
3. Tur n th e ignitio n switc h O N(II).
Doe s th e chargin g syste mlight com e on ?
4. Star t th e engine .
Doe s th e chargin g syste m
ligh t g o off ?
Th e chargin g syste m ligh t circui t
is OK .
Turn th e ignitio n switc h OFF , an drepai r th e ope n circui t i n th e BLK /YEL wire .
ALTERNATO R4P CONNECTO R
Wir e sid e o f
femal e terminal s
Check th e alternator/regulato r
(se e pag e 4-27 ).
Chec k th e alternator/regulato r
(se e pag e 4-27 ).
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Alternator/Regulator Tes t
NOTE : B e sur e th e batter y is sufficientl y charge d (se e sectio n 23 ).
1 . Connec t th e Sun VAT-4 0 (o r
equivalen t tester) , an d tur n
th e selecto r switc h t o positio n
1 (starting) .
2. Shif t t o o r position , an dstar t th e engine . Hol d th eengin e a t 3,00 0 rp m wit h n oloa d unti l th e radiato r fa ncome s on , the n le t i t idle .
3 . Rais e th e engin e spee d t o
2,00 0 rpm , an d hol d i t there .
I s th e voltag e ove r 15. 1 V ?
I s th e voltag e les s tha n 13. 5 V ?
Appl y a loa d wit h th e VAT-4 0until th e batter y voltag e drop s t obetwee n 12-13.5V . FUL
L FIEL D
TESTE R
LEA D (BLU )
LOA D ADJUSTE R
(CARBON PILE )
VOLTMETE R
NEGATIV E
LEAD (BLK )
VOLTSELECTO R
VOLTMETE R
POSITIV E
LEAD (RED )
NEGATIV E TESTE RCABLE (BLK )
FIELDSELECTO R
TEST SELECTO R
SWITC H POSITIV
E TESTE R
CABLE (RED )
B TERMINA LWIRE
INDUCTIV EPICK-UP
Replac e th e voltag e regulator .
Tes t an d repai r th e alternato r com -
ponents .
(T o page 4-28)
INDUCTIV EPICK-UP(GRN)
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Charging Syste m
Troubleshootin g (cont'd )
(From page 4-27)
I s th e amperag e 7 5 A or more ?
The chargin g syste m is OK .
Wit h th e engin e spee d stil l a t2,00 0 rpm , full-fiel d th e alternator. CAUTION
: Th e voltag e wil l ris e quickl y whe n th e alternato r i s full-fielded . D o no t allo w
th e voltag e to excee d 1 8 V ; i t ma y damag e th e electrica l system .
NOTE : Attac h a prob e t o th e VAT-4 0 ful l fiel d tes t lead , an d inser t th e prob e int o th e ful l
fiel d acces s hol e a t th e bac k o f th e alternator . Switc h th e fiel d selecto r t o th e " A (Ground) "
positio n momentarily , an d chec k th e amperag e reading .
REGULATO R(Located insid e
th e en d cover )
FULL FIEL DACCES S HOL E
END COVE R
Is th e alternato r outpu t 7 5 A ormore ?Test an d repai r th e alternato r com -ponents .
ALTERNATO R4P CONNECTO R
Tes t th e BLK/YE L Wire :
1 . Tur n th e ignitio n switc h OFF ,
the n tur n i t o n (II ) again .
2 . Disconnec t th e 4 P connecto r
fro m th e alternator .
3. Measur e voltag e betwee n bod ygroun d an d alternato r 4 P con -
necto r terminal s No . 1 an d
No. 2 individually .
Is ther e batter y voltage ?
Repair th e ope n in th e wire . Wir
e sid e o ffemal e terminal s
Replace th e voltag e regulator .
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Alternator Replacemen t
1. Mak e sur e yo u hav e th e anti-thef t cod e fo r th e radio ,
the n writ e dow n th e frequencie s fo r th e radio' s pre -
se t buttons .
2 . Disconnec t th e batter y negativ e termina l first , the n
th e positiv e terminal .
NOTE : Th e PC M memor y mus t b e rese t afte r recon -
nectin g th e batter y (se e pag e 11-125 ).
3 . Remov e th e batter y an d batter y bas e (se e pag e 4-6 ).
4 . Remov e th e mountin g bolt , loc k bol t an d adjustin g
rod , the n remov e th e alternato r belt .
LOC K BOL T8 x 1.2 5 mm22 N- m (2. 2 kgf-m ,
1 6 Ibf-ft ) ADJUSTIN
GROD
ALTERNATO RBELT
MOUNTIN G BOL T10 x 1.2 5 mm44 N- m (4. 5 kgf-m ,33 Ibf-ft )
5. Remov e th e alternato r bracket .
ALTERNATO RBRACKET
10 x 1.2 5 mm44 N- m (4. 5 kgf-m ,
3 3 Ibf-ft )8 x 1.2 5 mm22 N- m (2. 2 kgf-m ,
1 6 Ibf-ft )
6.Disconnec t th e 4 P connecto r an d harnes s cli p bracket ,
the n remov e th e termina l nu t an d th e BL K wir e fro m
th e B terminal . Tak e ou t th e alternator .
BLK WIR E8 x 1.2 5 mm12 N- m (1.2 kgf-m ,
8. 7 Ibf-ft )
4 P CONNECTO R
ALTERNATO R
7. Instal l th e revers e orde r o f removal .
8 . Adjus t th e alternato r bel t (se e pag e 4-33 ).
9 . Ente r th e anti-thef t cod e fo r th e radio , the n ente r th e
customer' s radi o statio n presets .
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Rectifier Test

NOTE: The diodes are designed to allow current to pass

in one direction while blocking it in the opposite direc-

tion. Since the alternator rectifier is made up of eight

diodes (four pairs), each diode must be tested for conti-

nuity in both directions with an ohmmeter that has diode

checking capability; a total of 16 checks.

1.

Check for continuity in each direction, between the

B and P, and between the E (ground) and P termi-

nals of each diode pair. All diodes should have con-

tinuity in only one direction.

2.

If any of the eight diodes fails, replace the rectifier

assembly. (Diodes are not available separately.)
Alternator Brush Inspection

1. Remove the end cover, then take out the brush holder

by removing its two screws.

2. Measure the length of the brushes with a vernier

caliper.

Alternator Brush Length:

Standard: 10.5 mm (0.41 in)

Service Limit: 1.5 mm (0.06 in)

ALTERNATOR BRUSHES

VERNIER CALIPER

If the brushes are less than the service limit, replace

the alternator brush assembly.ProCarManuals.com

Charging System

Rotor Slip Ring Test

1. Check the resistance between the slip rings.

There should be 2.9 ohms.

If resistance meets the specification, go to step 2.

If resistance does not meet the specification,

replace the alternator.

ROTOR SHAFT

SLIP RINGS

ROTOR

2. Check that there is no continuity between the slip

rings and the rotor or rotor shaft.

3. If the rotor fails either continuity check, replace the

alternator.
Stator Test

1. Check that there is continuity between each pair of

leads.

LEADS

COIL CORE

2. Check that there is no continuity between each lead

and the coil core.

3. If the coil fails either continuity check, replace the

alternator.ProCarManuals.com