Re: 2003 Honda Accord battery
 

On 4/19/07 4:41 PM, in article eqnf231qq8p138kf50ind1640cifnrjjhp@4ax.com,
"Rudy" <Rudy> wrote:

> 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??)

They call it a 12 volt system (as opposed to 6 or 24), but it actually runs
at something in the vicinity of 14. A battery that only reads 12 volts is
usually all but dead. 13.9 is a reasonable reading for an OK battery almost
full charged.

> 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
 

Rudy wrote:

>
> 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.
>

You probably wasted your time and money, but no harm done.

Re: 2003 Honda Accord battery
 

The last time I had one of those as soon as I hit the starter an internal
arc blew the top of the battery to smithereens. Acid went everywhere. Glad I
was in the car and not looking at the battery. Work safe and keep yourself
shielded from the battery.


<Rudy> wrote in message news:miuf235v4ka9mphdadrifrh3mduhhfh0t6@4ax.com...
> 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 :( .
>

Re: 2003 Honda Accord battery
 

On Sat, 21 Apr 2007 16:07:51 GMT, John Horner <jthorner@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>Rudy wrote:
>
>>
>> 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.
>>
>
>You probably wasted your time and money, but no harm done.


Agreed about the no harm done but for $65, it gives me peace of mind
too. Regardless of the test (assuming a good test???) it was a 4 year
old battery and around here, thats usually as good as it gets.