2003 Honda Accord battery
 

My 2003 Honda Accord (4 cyl auto) has the original battery. I can't
see the brand if it matters. Most batteries where I live last 3 to 4
years.

Last year I was going to replace it and a Honda service department
told me it was almost like new and therefore no need. My mistake was
not to note the color in the battery eye glass. Today I saw on the
top of the battery a note that says that a dark green or dark color
(forgot which) in the eye glass means insufficient charge. Right now,
the eye glass is dark. I used the car already today but like most
days, it only gets 5 to 10 mile runs at a time.

If the battery was on it's last leg regardless of how much I used the
car, would the eye glass remain dark? I will check the battery fluids
and then may try a battery charger on it if that is advisable. Any
suggestions. Is it time to buy a new battery?

Re: 2003 Honda Accord battery
 

Buy a multimeter for under $20 at your local auto parts
store or Wal-Mart, and do the five quick checks listed about
the middle of
http://home.earthlink.net/~honda.lioness/id13.html . Read
the rest of the site. Report back.

I think pre-emptive battery replacements will tend to
lengthen the life of the alternator.

<Rudy> wrote
> My 2003 Honda Accord (4 cyl auto) has the original
> battery. I can't
> see the brand if it matters. Most batteries where I live
> last 3 to 4
> years.
>
> Last year I was going to replace it and a Honda service
> department
> told me it was almost like new and therefore no need. My
> mistake was
> not to note the color in the battery eye glass. Today I
> saw on the
> top of the battery a note that says that a dark green or
> dark color
> (forgot which) in the eye glass means insufficient charge.
> Right now,
> the eye glass is dark. I used the car already today but
> like most
> days, it only gets 5 to 10 mile runs at a time.
>
> If the battery was on it's last leg regardless of how much
> I used the
> car, would the eye glass remain dark? I will check the
> battery fluids
> and then may try a battery charger on it if that is
> advisable. Any
> suggestions. Is it time to buy a new battery?

Re: 2003 Honda Accord battery
 

Rudy wrote:
> My 2003 Honda Accord (4 cyl auto) has the original battery. I can't
> see the brand if it matters. Most batteries where I live last 3 to 4
> years.
>
> Last year I was going to replace it and a Honda service department
> told me it was almost like new and therefore no need. My mistake was
> not to note the color in the battery eye glass. Today I saw on the
> top of the battery a note that says that a dark green or dark color
> (forgot which) in the eye glass means insufficient charge. Right now,
> the eye glass is dark. I used the car already today but like most
> days, it only gets 5 to 10 mile runs at a time.
>
> If the battery was on it's last leg regardless of how much I used the
> car, would the eye glass remain dark? I will check the battery fluids
> and then may try a battery charger on it if that is advisable. Any
> suggestions. Is it time to buy a new battery?

The eye is a state of charge indicator. Get a small automatic charger
and charge the battery overnight. Do not use a "manual" charger. Make
sure it is the kind of charger which shuts itself off when done. It is
possible that your short trip regimen is not getting the battery fully
charged back up. If the eye turns green after a full charge and the
car is starting well then you probably do not need a new battery. An
example charger is this one from Sears:

DieHard 10/2/50 amp. Automatic Battery Charger
Sears item #02871222000 Mfr. model #71222
http://s7.sears.com/is/image/Sears/0...=2.56&fmt=jpeg

Honda US sources it's batteries from Johnson Controls and the Japanese
made Honda batteries I have seen say Panasonic on them. Interestingly
enough, the green eye technology was an AC-Delco patented invention way
back when, but I think Johnson bought the AC-Delco battery business from
Delphi after GM kicked it's parts making division to the curb.

Re: 2003 Honda Accord battery
 

On Wed, 18 Apr 2007 10:04:48 -0500, Rudy wrote:

>suggestions. Is it time to buy a new battery?

If you have to ask, of course the answer is yes! Maybe you'll waste
$5.00 by buying it too early, but is it worth an afternoon of
diagnostics to find out?

J.

Re: 2003 Honda Accord battery
 

Just take it out and drive it on the highway for a half hour or so. If the
sight glass turns green, then your only problem was not driving enough to
keep the battery fully charged. If it stays dark, then you probably need a
new one.


On 4/18/07 10:04 AM, in article 08cc231gh5e86tjh6ucni5kqesbbj8kd4n@4ax.com,
"Rudy" <Rudy> wrote:

> My 2003 Honda Accord (4 cyl auto) has the original battery. I can't
> see the brand if it matters. Most batteries where I live last 3 to 4
> years.
>
> Last year I was going to replace it and a Honda service department
> told me it was almost like new and therefore no need. My mistake was
> not to note the color in the battery eye glass. Today I saw on the
> top of the battery a note that says that a dark green or dark color
> (forgot which) in the eye glass means insufficient charge. Right now,
> the eye glass is dark. I used the car already today but like most
> days, it only gets 5 to 10 mile runs at a time.
>
> If the battery was on it's last leg regardless of how much I used the
> car, would the eye glass remain dark? I will check the battery fluids
> and then may try a battery charger on it if that is advisable. Any
> suggestions. Is it time to buy a new battery?

Re: 2003 Honda Accord battery
 

Rudy wrote:
> My 2003 Honda Accord (4 cyl auto) has the original battery. I can't
> see the brand if it matters. Most batteries where I live last 3 to 4
> years.
>
---------------------------------

You said it yourself. The battery is due for replacement. Is it worth
the price of walking down the highway in a rainstorm?

'Curly'

Re: 2003 Honda Accord battery
 

Rudy wrote:
> My 2003 Honda Accord (4 cyl auto) has the original battery. I can't
> see the brand if it matters. Most batteries where I live last 3 to 4
> years.
>
> Last year I was going to replace it and a Honda service department
> told me it was almost like new and therefore no need. My mistake was
> not to note the color in the battery eye glass. Today I saw on the
> top of the battery a note that says that a dark green or dark color
> (forgot which) in the eye glass means insufficient charge. Right now,
> the eye glass is dark. I used the car already today but like most
> days, it only gets 5 to 10 mile runs at a time.
>
> If the battery was on it's last leg regardless of how much I used the
> car, would the eye glass remain dark? I will check the battery fluids
> and then may try a battery charger on it if that is advisable. Any
> suggestions. Is it time to buy a new battery?

I just put in a new one every five years. Been my rule since 1975. bob

Re: 2003 Honda Accord battery
 

My battery on a Chrysler 300M was over 6 years old when I replaced it. I
live in NC. It was still going strong and most people would have let it be.
Batteries can die instantly from an internal short even when new.


<Rudy> wrote in message news:08cc231gh5e86tjh6ucni5kqesbbj8kd4n@4ax.com...
> My 2003 Honda Accord (4 cyl auto) has the original battery. I can't
> see the brand if it matters. Most batteries where I live last 3 to 4
> years.
>
> Last year I was going to replace it and a Honda service department
> told me it was almost like new and therefore no need. My mistake was
> not to note the color in the battery eye glass. Today I saw on the
> top of the battery a note that says that a dark green or dark color
> (forgot which) in the eye glass means insufficient charge. Right now,
> the eye glass is dark. I used the car already today but like most
> days, it only gets 5 to 10 mile runs at a time.
>
> If the battery was on it's last leg regardless of how much I used the
> car, would the eye glass remain dark? I will check the battery fluids
> and then may try a battery charger on it if that is advisable. Any
> suggestions. Is it time to buy a new battery?

Re: 2003 Honda Accord battery
 

I wish my batteries would last five years. Here in Phoenix, the summer heat
really kills a battery. My average life for a battery is 4 years and that's
good around here. When I lived in the cold cruel north, battery life was 8+
years. I do take good care of my batteries. Watered and cleaned regularly.

Paul.
5 cars/trucks
3 motorcycles

"N.E.Ohio Bob" <rgstroud@neo.rr.com> wrote in message
news:46267dd3$0$8974$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> I just put in a new one every five years. Been my rule since 1975.
> bob

Re: 2003 Honda Accord battery
 

"Paul." <paul.blomberg@cox.net> wrote in message
news:WHBVh.190415$p17.53562@newsfe11.phx...
>I wish my batteries would last five years. Here in Phoenix, the summer
>heat really kills a battery. My average life for a battery is 4 years and
>that's good around here. When I lived in the cold cruel north, battery
>life was 8+ years. I do take good care of my batteries. Watered and
>cleaned regularly.
>
> Paul.
> 5 cars/trucks
> 3 motorcycles
>

I was thinking the same thing! I lived 26 years in Phoenix and never had a
battery last three summers.

Mike

> "N.E.Ohio Bob" <rgstroud@neo.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:46267dd3$0$8974$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>> I just put in a new one every five years. Been my rule since 1975. bob
>
>
>

Re: 2003 Honda Accord battery
 

"Art" <begunaNOSPAMPLEASE@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:FsAVh.1619$Ut6.249@newsread1.news.pas.earthli nk.net...
> My battery on a Chrysler 300M was over 6 years old when I replaced it. I
> live in NC. It was still going strong and most people would have let it
> be. Batteries can die instantly from an internal short even when new.
>

More common than an internal short is what I believe is a cracked internal
connection at one post or the other. The battery will suddenly seem dead or
nearly dead, but a judicious whack (or two or three) on each post with a
hammer will get it working again. The battery isn't fixed, just temporarily
patched. It is fairly common in the first year or two of a battery's life.

I taught the technique to my daughter, and she used it when I was out of
state and her mother's car died in traffic and wouldn't even click. She
scrounged a hammer out of the back of the car and did the trick. My wife was
astounded!

Mike

Re: 2003 Honda Accord battery
 

<Rudy> wrote in message news:08cc231gh5e86tjh6ucni5kqesbbj8kd4n@4ax.com...
> My 2003 Honda Accord (4 cyl auto) has the original battery. I can't
> see the brand if it matters. Most batteries where I live last 3 to 4
> years.
>
> Last year I was going to replace it and a Honda service department
> told me it was almost like new and therefore no need. My mistake was
> not to note the color in the battery eye glass. Today I saw on the
> top of the battery a note that says that a dark green or dark color
> (forgot which) in the eye glass means insufficient charge. Right now,
> the eye glass is dark. I used the car already today but like most
> days, it only gets 5 to 10 mile runs at a time.
>
> If the battery was on it's last leg regardless of how much I used the
> car, would the eye glass remain dark? I will check the battery fluids
> and then may try a battery charger on it if that is advisable. Any
> suggestions. Is it time to buy a new battery?

I had the "here today gone tomorrow, then back again" Green eye. I was told
that the Green eye is a measure of only one cell. It doesn't necessarily
mean that the battery is dead or needs replacement. The best way to judge
the battery's health is to get a shop to do a load test. Mine passed that
test. When it didn't, this past winter, I finally replaced it--can't
complain it lasted from Dec '99 to Jan '07
MLD

Re: 2003 Honda Accord battery
 

On Thu, 19 Apr 2007 05:54:09 -0700, "Michael Pardee"
<michaeltnull@cybertrails.com> wrote:

>More common than an internal short is what I believe is a cracked internal
>connection at one post or the other. The battery will suddenly seem dead or
>nearly dead, but a judicious whack (or two or three) on each post with a
>hammer will get it working again.

Works with pretty much everything!

If not, try again, harder.

That's life!

J.

Re: 2003 Honda Accord battery
 

On Wed, 18 Apr 2007 10:04:48 -0500, Rudy wrote:

>My 2003 Honda Accord (4 cyl auto) has the original battery. I can't
>see the brand if it matters. Most batteries where I live last 3 to 4
>years.
>
>Last year I was going to replace it and a Honda service department
>told me it was almost like new and therefore no need. My mistake was
>not to note the color in the battery eye glass. Today I saw on the
>top of the battery a note that says that a dark green or dark color
>(forgot which) in the eye glass means insufficient charge. Right now,
>the eye glass is dark. I used the car already today but like most
>days, it only gets 5 to 10 mile runs at a time.
>
>If the battery was on it's last leg regardless of how much I used the
>car, would the eye glass remain dark? I will check the battery fluids
>and then may try a battery charger on it if that is advisable. Any
>suggestions. Is it time to buy a new battery?


As an update I decided to give the car a run of about 50 highway miles
(about 45 minutes at 70-80 mph). I then checked the battery and the
built in hydrometer had no change in the appearance and showed
insufficient charge (assuming it's working?? or 50 miles isn't
enough). I decided to replace the battery at Autozone and while there
asked if they can check the battery. Well guess what, his battery
tester showed it to have 13.96 volts (I thought 12 was the max??) so I
don't know if his tester was any good but his tester then showed Good
Battery on it. Well I decided to replace it anyway because I wasn't
sure about his test, it's at least 4 years old now and since I already
took it out of the car so why gamble for $65 (cost of new battery).
Anyway around here we usually get 3 to 4 years so even if this battery
is extraordinary, how much longer could it go before I get stuck on
the road.

Anyway thanks all for the advice.

ps-- I took my daughter's car (Corolla) for the same 50 mile run too
because her battery's hydrometer also showed insufficient charge but
upon arrival back home, the hydrometer changed to a good color to show
the battery was okay.

Re: 2003 Honda Accord battery
 

On Thu, 19 Apr 2007 14:59:49 GMT, JXStern <JXSternChangeX2R@gte.net>
wrote:

>On Thu, 19 Apr 2007 05:54:09 -0700, "Michael Pardee"
><michaeltnull@cybertrails.com> wrote:
>
>>More common than an internal short is what I believe is a cracked internal
>>connection at one post or the other. The battery will suddenly seem dead or
>>nearly dead, but a judicious whack (or two or three) on each post with a
>>hammer will get it working again.
>
>Works with pretty much everything!

Sometimes I'd like to try it on my teenagers or wife but I
refrain :( .