Odyssey battery/VAK/poor alternator

[DavidT]

Yesterday, I hit WOT, activating the VAK. As usual, my 100K mile old alt. shut down completely. I had a longer than normal drive ahead of me though When I hit stop and go traffic, my volts gauge gave me a scare. It dropped to 12, then, 11, all the way down to 9 The ABS light came on. The tach. stopped working. The clock display dimmed. The transmission started to shudder on the 2-3 shift (while driving slowly). FORTUNATELY, I made it home. I immediately put the battery on charge. It was down to 10.5 volts.
Question: How much of this type of abuse can my battery take?
Also, should I expect everything to be back to normal (ABS, tach, etc...) once the battery is charged?

 

[Silver95]

Dam, that sounds pretty scary. I guess the "VAK" modification isnt that great? Or perhaps you just need a new alternator and a strong batery?

 

[Mike Kopstain]

Sounds like you may have lost the alternator or the voltage regulator. I wouldn't blame the battery for this one. Sounds like you need a new alternator or the relay in the VAK got stuck holding the alternator field open.

 

[SHOZ123]

Was this at night? What is your battery voltage when driving at night 15 minutes after starting and a rpm of at least 1500?

 

[DavidT]

The VAK is NICE, but the alternator needs to be in good shape.

I have talked to Paul numerous times already about this. This is probably due to the brushes in the alternator sticking. Others have had this same problem on original alternators with sev. miles.
The VAK itself is doing its job. The relays are fine. I know this because I have my power steering. What happens is: at WOT, the battery light comes on. (Every now and then it will ONLY flicker and when I let off the gas, the alt. will resume its charging.) But most of the time the light STAYS on, and my battery voltage drops to 12.5 volts, yet the power steering will kick back on.

Paul, this was during the day. EVERYTHING was turned off, even the radio and radar detector.
Battery voltage is 14.1 (max) if driving with NO accessories. If driving with headlights and A/C on, the voltage drops to 12.8 ish volts! With accessories on, the voltage runs between 12.8-13.4 volts.