98 Accord, i4, manual
When I'm at low revs and turn on my AC, the electrical power goes off for split second.
The cluster goes off, radio off, panel off, lights off etc.
The engine does not stop.
Does anyone have an idea what it could possibly be?
Thanks in advance...

 

Since the AC is powered by the engine rather than electrical, I'm thinking a control circuit may be messed up. I guess it's also possible that the charging system could be on its last leg and the AC fan puts the draw over the edge .... if the car seems sluggish to start, get the battery and alternator checked out to rule this out ..... also, it's usually free.

 

Thanks for the reply.
Would this be a control circuit on the AC unit itself? or some other major central circuit?
I'll get the Alternator and Battery tested.

I guess it doesn't help that my Engine Light is ON, and my RPM's drop at idle... in which event at times all electrical goes OFF as well.

Oh well, the car has 250K km.

 

It actually DOES help that your engine light is on ...... go get your codes read and post the P#### codes. I'm not a tech, so I don't have the diagrams handy, but I'm sure someone that knows your systems will hop on soon.

 

Since you say KM, I bet youre not in USA...

1998 Canada cars are the same as US, with some differences in the electrical system. But UK, Europe, & AsiaAccords are a completely different car.

 

Not US, but still in NA... the great white north.

 

OK, I used to have a 98 & a Helm manual for it.

I remember the entire headlamp circuit was different for Canada. For some strange reason they didnt just use the same wiring harness & plug in a DRL module.

I dont recall any differences for the radio, dashboard, others...

 

In that other thread, you talk about a whistling sound. Try to pinpoint the location. Try a piece of scrap garden hose (poor-mans stethoscope).

If the diode bridge in your alternator is going out, sometimes that makes a whine or whistle. The electrical output may even seem OK unless you use an oscilloscope to see the real spikey output.

 

Ok
I got the codes via the DLC manually.

22 >> P1257,P1258,P1259 >> VTEC
67 >> P0420 >>Catalyst System Efficiency below Threshold

I did have my catalytic converter changed about a month ago, I'm not sure if that second code P0420 would apply here.

I'll try to pinpoint the whistling sound and figure out if my alternator is causing my electrical problems, but it seems that I have 2 different issues here at the moment.

 

22 could be low oil??

If your oil is OK, then maybe you should remove the VTEC spool valve & clean the screen.

The difference between P1257, 1258, 1259 might be the VTEC oil pressure switch vs. the VTEC solenoid or loose wiring. I dont have my detailed list (Helm book) any more for 6th-gen.

Ive been told that by 1998 the ECU is pretty good at telling the difference between a bad catalyst vs. a bad 2nd O2 sensor. Your original post doesnt say anything about catalyst, so maybe reset your ECU & see what comes back?