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derekburke72
New User
Mar 24, 2015, 1:07 PM
Post #1 of 9
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Weird battery problem
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So I have a 07 Honda Accord with 135k miles on it. For the past few weeks I've had to jump it about 8 times. It's got the point where I purchased a jump pack to keep in my trunk.
I've had my battery tested and it comes back fine (AAA tested it), the draw when off and starting is all within norms. I purchased a trickle charger and charged it for 11 hours (book said it should be completely charged in 3.5 hours) so I'm fairly sure the battery was charged. Naturally after 2 days of driving around and it working fine it needed a jump again. Does anyone have any ideas as to what may be causing this to happen?
Thanks!
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 24, 2015, 1:25 PM
Post #2 of 9
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Re: Weird battery problem
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If that is a AAA battery, you should have someone besides AAA test it. They have this opinion that their batteries do not go bad. If you confirm a good battery, try disconnecting it overnight to see if it starts that way. That will tell us if we have a parasitic drain that we have to look for.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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derekburke72
New User
Mar 24, 2015, 2:08 PM
Post #3 of 9
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Re: Weird battery problem
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Thanks and I'll give that a try! It's not a AAA battery, it's from Honda, it's only a few years old (2-3).
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 24, 2015, 2:34 PM
Post #4 of 9
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Re: Weird battery problem
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Can still be bad and need to know. You charged it and it worked for a couple days then the problem again suggests it's either a parasitic draw as HT just mentioned or charging system just can't keep up and needs checking as well,
T
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derekburke72
New User
Mar 25, 2015, 7:46 AM
Post #5 of 9
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Re: Weird battery problem
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So I left it unplugged overnight and just hooked it back up and it started right up. Maybe 2 cranks before it started I shut if off and started it again and this time it took 3-4 cranks (which is what I'm accustomed to). The alternator is less than a year old so hopefully that's not crap LOL.
Thanks for the suggestions and help!
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 25, 2015, 8:03 AM
Post #6 of 9
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Re: Weird battery problem
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? Do you mean by cranks your guess of the # of revolutions engine makes before starting or how many total tries each time? Just wonder?
Without more info and if you have even a voltmeter I suspect you aren't charging enough, yet some. It wouldn't go from charged to no start for a couple days if not charging at all just not enough to keep up with what the car is using when running. You could see that with a simple voltmeter by...............
Run engine however you can get it to run. At idle should read 13.(some) and not over ~15V and stay in that range. It might just setting there and indicates it's charging. Now, turn on blower for heater, headlights, any RWD along with anything you normally use (radio stuff) and see what volts it reads. If that drops below 13V it too low IMO and experience. Why then?
Loose belt even possible or a single diode in alternator can lower power output of an alternator but usually that triggers a warning on dash.
OK: Checking for a parasitic draw will be another but somehow I don't really think that it right now - just intuition on my part.
Venture a guess if you see volts too low as mentioned without other warnings on dash the belt is somehow too loose and usually they squeal but sometimes not.
Engine off and not too hot check the longest length of belt between pulleys and see how much deflection you can make with you hands. That or if cooling fins on this alternator if you can turn those by hand the belt is not tight enough. Any of a tensioner if automatic, adjustment or belt has worn as far as it can go,
T
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Mar 25, 2015, 1:49 PM
Post #7 of 9
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Re: Weird battery problem
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Sounds like you have a parasitic drain
There is a procedure for finding a battery draw like that.
You will need a digital ammeter and a jumper wire with clips on the ends to do this.
First rig any door switches so you can have a door open without triggering the interior lights and unplug the hood light. Remove one battery cable and attach the meter in series between the battery cable and battery post. Take the jumper wire and also attach it the same way. Leave the jumper wire on for at least 10 minutes to expire all the automatic timers. Now remove the jumper wire and read the meter. Anything over 50ma is too much draw. The way you locate this is to start removing fuses one at a time until the meter drops to normal level. This will be the circuit with something staying on. Determine what components are part of that circuit and check them individually until the problem is isolated.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 25, 2015, 3:18 PM
Post #8 of 9
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Re: Weird battery problem
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Another thing you can do in conjunction with what HT suggested is till wait till it is dark outside. Then sit in the car and look for any interior lamps that may be on.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Mar 25, 2015, 7:47 PM
Post #9 of 9
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Re: Weird battery problem
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So true DS - Hood lights, trunk/hatch lights, glovebox or console storage lights, map/reading lights - most do NOT turn off by themselves. Any possible lights that are automatic such as for angle of trunk/hatch specially when or if car is parked on a decent slope,
T
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