1998 Honda Accord LX 2.3L VTec

Hey guys, just want to confirm that this is an alternator issue and not something else.

Over the past few weeks, I've been having this strange issue. I'll be driving (any speed) and with no apparent cause (it's extremely random), the red dashlights will start to flicker on and off and sometimes stay on for a good 10-20 seconds before turning off again. This flickering of the dashlights is also correlated with my heater fans blowing heavier and my headlights shining brighter.

Thought it was a short circuit somewhere but yesterday when it started happening again, I stopped on the side of the road and popped the hood. Saw that my battery was pissing out acid from vents near the terminals. It's strapped in well so it's not a movement thing. I pull out a multimeter and check the battery terminals and they were getting an 18v volt charge.

When the headlights/fans/dashlights went back to normal, the charge at the battery terminals dropped back to a 14v charge.

Is this my alternator 100%?

 

Wow, that's a problem. the system is overcharging and has probably damaged the battery, should be addressed ASAP...or you may experience the fun of cleaning up an exploded battery under the hood. surprised, no fuses have blown yet, not to mention your computer is in grave danger of being fried...

 

Definitely changing the battery, no doubt about that.

Aside from that, is it the alternator or something else?

 

should have been more clear. yes, the alternator is overcharging the system, probably due to a defective internal regulator.

 

Funny, was just readin on the voltage regulator. You kno what, could this be caused by overtightening of the serpentine belt? Saw the last mechanic I went to ****ing with the tension.

 

anything is possible, but unlikely.