YACT - battery problems?

[Greyd]

So lately, my car has been acting all weird. (1993 Honda Civic Ex Coupe) The speedometer needle zooms all over the place, parking brake light comes on when the brake isn't being used, dash lights won't turn on when I first start the car but then all of the sudden turns on. When I turn on the ignition, it feels like the battery is dying - so I'm wondering if all this is battery realted. How long should a car battery last anyway?

Any suggestions, thoughts appreciated.

 

[Saulbadguy]

Batteries usually last 3 to 5 years, sometimes less sometimes more. I'm not a car buff, but this does not sound like a battery problem.

 

[isekii]

Make sure all the wires and such are bolted down.
Did you have your car worked on ? Maybe the mechanic didn't tighten the wires and such.

 

[Greyd]

Originally posted by: isekii
Make sure all the wires and such are bolted down.
Did you have your car worked on ? Maybe the mechanic didn't tighten the wires and such.

Nope...no work recently, except on my muffler. Hmm....maybe wires....

 

[isekii]

I know in my old family minivan
the Speedo Needle went crazy cuz some screw that held the wire wasn't screwed in all the way.

 

[Zenmervolt]

The "parking brake light" is also a warning light that can mean something is wrong with the braking system. Have the brakes checked NOW.

As for the rest, have the main ground and the instrument panel grounds checked and have the battery and charging system load tested.

ZV

 

[Quixfire]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
The "parking brake light" is also a warning light that can mean something is wrong with the braking system. Have the brakes checked NOW.

As for the rest, have the main ground and the instrument panel grounds checked and have the battery and charging system load tested.

ZV

Zen is right about the red brake light. Check your fluid level as soon as possible. If it is low then have someone check the brake system out right away. As for the rest of your problems, I would have a qualified mechanic check it out.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Quixfire

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
The "parking brake light" is also a warning light that can mean something is wrong with the braking system. Have the brakes checked NOW.

As for the rest, have the main ground and the instrument panel grounds checked and have the battery and charging system load tested.

ZV

Zen is right about the red brake light. Check your fluid level as soon as possible. If it is low then have someone check the brake system out right away. As for the rest of your problems, I would have a qualified mechanic check it out.

The fluid could still be OK. IIRC on a car with a dual circuit braking system if one of the circuits fails it doesn't leech the fluid from the other circuit. I could be wrong though.

ZV