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'92 Accord Battery Problem
Honda/Acura Vehicles Discussion group for Honda/Acura vehicles. (alt.autos.honda)
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#11
 
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Re: '92 Accord Battery Problem -
03-27-2007
, 06:13 PM
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Hi JT: Thanks for your post. Yes, the problem is that the thing keeps getting down below 12 volts if it sits for just a few days in the garage, and I don't want to damage my starter. Bottom line is I do my homework from now on before purchasing an automotive battery. Live and learn. - Paul On Tue, 27 Mar 2007 15:09:39 GMT, Grumpy AuContraire Grumpy (AT) ExtraGrumpyville (DOT) com> wrote: That's probably it. It's not the first time I've seen a battery suffer from a total discharge. However, 12 volts or more should not hamper starting (or operating) your vehicle and I would ignore it until it drops below 12 volts... JT Paul wrote: Hi Tegger: I pulled out my digital multimeter tonight and checked the idling voltage as per your suggestion...it appears to be normal at 14.38 volts. Please correct me if I'm mistaken, but I am assuming that this reading, in addition to the facts I mentioned earlier, suggests that my issue is NOT charging system, starting system, or alternator related. The battery problem, I now recall, actually seemed to start about six months ago when my wife accidentally left the dome light on all night, necessitating a jump the next morning. Everything charged back up OK after driving around a bit, but I don't think the battery has ever been quite the same since. I'll take your suggestion and head down to Wal-Mart tomorrow for a new one. Thanks for your help. - Paul On Tue, 27 Mar 2007 02:22:55 +0000 (UTC), Tegger <tegger (AT) tegger (DOT) c0m wrote: Paul <paul (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote in news:sqtg03ttotnd619922icd779bq7uf86k8e@ 4ax.com: Greetings To All: I have a rather mysterious issue with the battery in '92 Accord LX (4 dr. 2.2 liter) which I have been trying to resolve. In a nutshell, the battery voltage keeps dropping to less than 75 percent (down from 12.6 v freshly charged) to about 12.25 to 12.35 v after only a few hours of sitting. This voltage drop occurs whether the battery is connected to the cables or not, Have you checked for charging voltage across the battery terminals? At idle it should be 14.4V. If the battery is running down even though you have the cables disconnected, then you truly have a weird problem. I suggest trying the different manufacturer. Wal-Mart's Eveready batteries are pretty good. It's NOT weather-related. If anything, Canada's cooler weather helps contribute to longer battery life. |
#12
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If it's holding twelve volts, it will start fine. |
The car will start fine with a battery well below 12 volts. That doesn't
mean the battery is any good.
And it's hard on the alternator trying to charge a battery that won't hold
12.65V. The more amps an alt has to produce, the more heat it makes and the
shorter its life.
Remember that the voltage regulator will reduce charging amps the closer
the battery gets to full-charge.
--
Tegger
The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/
#13
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Hi Tegger: I pulled out my digital multimeter tonight and checked the idling voltage as per your suggestion...it appears to be normal at 14.38 volts. Please correct me if I'm mistaken, but I am assuming that this reading, in addition to the facts I mentioned earlier, suggests that my issue is NOT charging system, starting system, or alternator related. The battery problem, I now recall, actually seemed to start about six months ago when my wife accidentally left the dome light on all night, necessitating a jump the next morning. Everything charged back up OK after driving around a bit, but I don't think the battery has ever been quite the same since. I'll take your suggestion and head down to Wal-Mart tomorrow for a new one. Thanks for your help. - Paul |
Ah ha, even one run-it-stone-dead event can kill a lead acid battery,
especially a cheap one.
John
#14
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Hi JT: Thanks for your post. Yes, the problem is that the thing keeps getting down below 12 volts if it sits for just a few days in the garage, and I don't want to damage my starter. Bottom line is I do my homework from now on before purchasing an automotive battery. Live and learn. - Paul |
You are right to replace it. A battery like that puts a great deal of
extra load on the alternator and doesn't do the starter any favors
either. If it can barely make 12 volts unloaded then I wonder what it
collapses to under the load of starting.
Automotive batteries are not built to take the stress of full deep
discharges. There are special deep discharge batteries made for marine
trolling motors and such.
John
#15
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Greetings To All: I have a rather mysterious issue with the battery in '92 Accord LX (4 dr. 2.2 liter) which I have been trying to resolve. In a nutshell, the battery voltage keeps dropping to less than 75 percent (down from 12.6 v freshly charged) to about 12.25 to 12.35 v after only a few hours of sitting. This voltage drop occurs whether the battery is connected to the cables or not, and a "probe light test" revealed no hidden drain such as a trunk or glove box light. I guess my basic question is: do I need to buy a new battery? I know this may seem obvious, but a mechanic did a full electrical test on the vehicle a few months ago, and the only thing he found was that the 10 amp alternator fuse had corroded terminals. This fuse was replaced, but the alternator itself tested as good. I just tested the alternator again yesterday with a Motomaster Elminator unit from Canadian Tire, and it showed operation at 100 percent. I also charged the battery in the 12 amp mode from about 12.25 v up to 12.6 v in short order, but it quickly lost voltage down to 12.35 v within a few hours. Please note that the surface charge had been dissipated prior to all testing. The battery itself is a sealed, "maintenance-free" dealership OEM model and is less than a year old. It is the second new battery (in a row) to run low or bad in this car within the past three years. If the car sits in the garage for just a week, the voltage goes down to 11.5 v and of course the car then has to be jumped in order to start. I am relatively new to Canada, so I was wondering if part of the problem with short battery life up here may be weather related. In any event, thanks in advance for any information or suggestions. - Paul If the battery is loosing charge while disconnected, that is just sitting in |
dirt, etc on the outside of the case) and dry; secondly - have a mechanic do
a hydrometer test to check the condition of the electrolyte. If the battery
has been discharged severely, even once, it may never recover even with a
full recharge....
DaveD
Quote:
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#16
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I don't notice that you say how old the battery is anywhere. If you got it from a Honda dealer, they have a 3 year free exchange warranty (no pro-rated charges until after 3 years), at least they have that here in the US. If it is still in the free period, I would take it back to the dealer where you got it and ask for another one. On 3/27/07 10:09 AM, in article TsaOh.200117$5j1.141269 (AT) bgtnsc04-news (DOT) ops.worldnet.att.net, "Grumpy AuContraire" <Grumpy (AT) ExtraGrumpyville (DOT) com> wrote: That's probably it. It's not the first time I've seen a battery suffer from a total discharge. However, 12 volts or more should not hamper starting (or operating) your vehicle and I would ignore it until it drops below 12 volts... JT Paul wrote: Hi Tegger: I pulled out my digital multimeter tonight and checked the idling voltage as per your suggestion...it appears to be normal at 14.38 volts. Please correct me if I'm mistaken, but I am assuming that this reading, in addition to the facts I mentioned earlier, suggests that my issue is NOT charging system, starting system, or alternator related. The battery problem, I now recall, actually seemed to start about six months ago when my wife accidentally left the dome light on all night, necessitating a jump the next morning. Everything charged back up OK after driving around a bit, but I don't think the battery has ever been quite the same since. I'll take your suggestion and head down to Wal-Mart tomorrow for a new one. Thanks for your help. - Paul On Tue, 27 Mar 2007 02:22:55 +0000 (UTC), Tegger <tegger (AT) tegger (DOT) c0m wrote: Paul <paul (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote in news:sqtg03ttotnd619922icd779bq7uf86k8e@ 4ax.com: Greetings To All: I have a rather mysterious issue with the battery in '92 Accord LX (4 dr. 2.2 liter) which I have been trying to resolve. In a nutshell, the battery voltage keeps dropping to less than 75 percent (down from 12.6 v freshly charged) to about 12.25 to 12.35 v after only a few hours of sitting. This voltage drop occurs whether the battery is connected to the cables or not, Have you checked for charging voltage across the battery terminals? At idle it should be 14.4V. If the battery is running down even though you have the cables disconnected, then you truly have a weird problem. I suggest trying the different manufacturer. Wal-Mart's Eveready batteries are pretty good. It's NOT weather-related. If anything, Canada's cooler weather helps contribute to longer battery life. |
#17
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Paul wrote: Hi JT: Thanks for your post. Yes, the problem is that the thing keeps getting down below 12 volts if it sits for just a few days in the garage, and I don't want to damage my starter. Bottom line is I do my homework from now on before purchasing an automotive battery. Live and learn. - Paul You are right to replace it. A battery like that puts a great deal of extra load on the alternator and doesn't do the starter any favors either. If it can barely make 12 volts unloaded then I wonder what it collapses to under the load of starting. Automotive batteries are not built to take the stress of full deep discharges. There are special deep discharge batteries made for marine trolling motors and such. John |
#18
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"Paul" <paul (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote in message news:sqtg03ttotnd619922icd779bq7uf86k8e (AT) 4ax (DOT) com... Greetings To All: I have a rather mysterious issue with the battery in '92 Accord LX (4 dr. 2.2 liter) which I have been trying to resolve. In a nutshell, the battery voltage keeps dropping to less than 75 percent (down from 12.6 v freshly charged) to about 12.25 to 12.35 v after only a few hours of sitting. This voltage drop occurs whether the battery is connected to the cables or not, and a "probe light test" revealed no hidden drain such as a trunk or glove box light. I guess my basic question is: do I need to buy a new battery? I know this may seem obvious, but a mechanic did a full electrical test on the vehicle a few months ago, and the only thing he found was that the 10 amp alternator fuse had corroded terminals. This fuse was replaced, but the alternator itself tested as good. I just tested the alternator again yesterday with a Motomaster Elminator unit from Canadian Tire, and it showed operation at 100 percent. I also charged the battery in the 12 amp mode from about 12.25 v up to 12.6 v in short order, but it quickly lost voltage down to 12.35 v within a few hours. Please note that the surface charge had been dissipated prior to all testing. The battery itself is a sealed, "maintenance-free" dealership OEM model and is less than a year old. It is the second new battery (in a row) to run low or bad in this car within the past three years. If the car sits in the garage for just a week, the voltage goes down to 11.5 v and of course the car then has to be jumped in order to start. I am relatively new to Canada, so I was wondering if part of the problem with short battery life up here may be weather related. In any event, thanks in advance for any information or suggestions. - Paul If the battery is loosing charge while disconnected, that is just sitting in its holder, check two things. First - ensure that the battery is clean (no dirt, etc on the outside of the case) and dry; secondly - have a mechanic do a hydrometer test to check the condition of the electrolyte. If the battery has been discharged severely, even once, it may never recover even with a full recharge.... DaveD |
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