I washed my engine bay 2 weeks ago using Wanabe's guide and remembered to cover the alternator and battery with aluminum foil before hosing down the engine. A week later I stalled and my battery wouldnt start. Today I tried to turn on my car after coming home and I hear the battery "cranking" but it wont start. I connected the battery to a charger in my garage but I dont want to do this on a regular basis. I am assuming water got into the alternator but I could be wrong. I also noticed that when starting the car it starts with 80% power. Its not as instant as I have seen other S2000's startup previously.

Other factors that could be somewhat related:
- 5 weeks ago I had a triple trumpet horn installed in my car and the installation could've been faulty.
- 3 weeks ago I left my headlight on by accident for a few hours and the battery died. I got the battery jumped but the battery may have never recouped fully.


Any help would be appreciated.

 

Have you just tried replacing the battery and seeing if the problem goes away? If you had the original battery in the car and it was fully drained by leaving your headlights on, the battery itself might not be able to recharge to it's original, factory new capacity. The first thing on my list would be to purchase a new battery if you haven't already.

EDIT: The fact that you mention that your current battery only cranks with 80% of the gusto that it used to have almost makes this too obvious. Time for a new battery.

 

Heres what I would do. Start by finding a DVOM. With the Engine running and accessories off measure the voltage of the battery (+) and ground. Then have a assistant turn on the high beams.. and watch to see what happens on the DVOM. If the voltage drops when the high beams are turned on then bump back up then you know the alternator is doing its job. If the voltage drops and continues to draw down then you know the alternator is not pumping out any juice. Also if you can get a hold of a battery load tester you can check to see if the battery is in good shape. Keep in mind that you can measure 12+ volts at the battery and still not have the amperage required to crank over the engine. Also recheck the installation of the horn. Maybee you have a constant parasitic draw that is causing the symptoms you speak of.. Good luck!

 

Take the battery to Auto Zone and have it tested. If it's the original battery your lucky to have gotton four years out of it.

 

Water won't hurt an Alternator. Imagine the bath it takes while driving in the rain at 60 MPH. All the rain you run into blows right through the radiator and onto the engine.

I agree that it's probably the battery.

 

Im going to Autozone tomorrow to get the battery checked. I will update this thread accordingly. Thanks guys.

 

I too have soaked my alternator and countless others with the hose. NOT pressure however

 

I accidentally spilled some coolant on the alternator. Its greenish now but still working.

 

I went to Autozone yesterday and the guy checked my battery with some volt meter pen thing and he said everything was ok. He said I should go get a continuity test to see what the problem is. Oh well...

 

continuity test what? the battery? hahahah

did he load test the battery or just stuck a DVOM on it and saw 12V and sent you on your way?

and you never told us if it is the original battery or not. it's not an optima yellow top is it?
before you drop big $$ into this, go to and auto parts store and get one of these

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Disp...temnumber=92571

i use it at work when customers request a charging system test. plug it in and BAM, done in less then one second. literally.