Why Does My Honda Accord Battery Keeps Dying?

The most common complaints from 2004 Honda Accord owners concern drained batteries, but owners of the 2005–2010 versions have also voiced concerns about battery drain. Many owners have expressed dissatisfaction over the battery draining soon after purchasing the vehicle or even after only a few days of inactivity.

What then is happening to create the widespread battery drainage issues seen by Honda Accord owners?

Unfortunately, there isn’t a universal solution to this confounding issue. The large number of complaints can’t be attributed to the typical battery drain offenders, like leaving an electrical device on in the car. A parasitic drain is the most likely explanation for the Honda Accord battery drainage problem.

A parasitic drain is exactly what it sounds like: A piece of the software in the Honda Accord uses an excessive amount of power, which causes the battery to discharge quickly. Many Accords won’t start after a few days of inactivity due to this electrical parasitic component, which continues to drain battery life long after the car is switched off.

The Accords Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) system, the A/C relay system, or even an improper battery charge management mode appears to be the source of the parasitic drain. A malfunctioning battery or alternator may occasionally be the culprit, but the parasitic drain issue with the Accord explains why so many versions have the same battery issues.

In This Article...

The battery in my automobile keeps dying; what’s wrong?

What Reawakens a Dying Car Battery? Loose or corroded battery connections, chronic electrical drains, charging issues, continuously consuming more power than the alternator can supply, and even extreme weather are some of the most typical causes of recurrent automobile battery failures.

Why does the battery in my 2017 Honda Accord continually failing?

According to a class action complaint, the 2017–2019 Honda CR-V and the 2016–2019 Honda Accord suffer from parasitic battery drain that leads to eventual shut-down.

According to reports, the parasitic draw is to blame for car stalling, failure of the alternator, headlights, emergency danger lights, and other critical safety features.

The lawsuit claims that Honda first reported battery problems with select Honda Accord vehicles to the authorities in February 2017. Although some 2017 Honda CR-Vs were the subject of an inquiry for having weak batteries, the automaker purportedly stated that the cars and batteries “check out good.”

Honda discovered a software flaw in the Vehicle Stability Assist system, which might lead to parasitic drain and weak or dead batteries.

In March 2019 and 2017, Honda sent technical service bulletins to dealers. For Honda CR-V models from 2017 to 2018, it released a battery collection program in 2018.

The class action lawsuit uses a number of additional actions taken by Honda as proof that the impacted models’ batteries are still having issues. Some owners of the impacted vehicles said that their stalled multiple times over the course of several weeks, occasionally on highways or in other extremely risky driving circumstances.

How can battery drain while a car is not in use be stopped?

If so, you can follow these steps to save your car’s battery when it’s not in use.

1) Make use of a battery conditioner or trickle charger.
2) Avoid starting and stopping your car repeatedly.
3. Steer clear of quick trips.
4) Take turns driving your car for 15 to 20 minutes.
5) If your home has multiple vehicles, alternate your journeys.

How can my alternator be tested?

How can you identify if the problem is with the battery or alternator?

In its most basic form, starting and operating an engine is a 3-step procedure. The battery first jolts the starter with power. The alternator is then activated when the engine is started. The alternator then charges the battery to end this cycle.

Bypassing the battery’s function and jump-starting your vehicle, you can use the process of elimination to identify the offender. The alternator is probably not keeping your battery charged if the engine starts but soon shuts off. If your automobile can be started and maintained by a jump start, but it won’t restart on its own power, you most likely have a dead battery.

While the automobile is off, can the alternator drain the battery?

If your battery is not old but it continues to discharge when the engine is off, you should check the alternator.

The car’s electrical systems, including the radio, lights, ignition, etc., are powered by the alternator, which also recharges the battery. Even with the engine off, a damaged or malfunctioning alternator diode will improperly keep the circuit charged. Your car’s battery will eventually be drained as a result, and the vehicle won’t start.

What causes my Honda battery to discharge?

Parasitic drains continue to pull power from the batteries as the car is left unattended.
Honda has been sued for employing flimsy batteries that can’t power the electrical systems of the Accord and CR-V.
The vehicle stability assist (VSA) system, a bad A/C relay, or the incorrect battery charge management mode could all be to blame for the drain.

Batteries in specific Accord and CR-V generations use up power. If you leave one of these idle for a few days, there’s a strong possibility the battery will be underpowered, the charging system will be inefficient, and there will be parasitic drains.

Honda has issued numerous technical service bulletins (TSB) explaining potential software remedies for battery issues throughout the years. These changes, however, have only been made for the 2012 and 2017 model years and aren’t always successful.

How is a parasitic battery drain fixed?

Within a few minutes, you should be able to identify the cause of your battery drain. This project doesn’t require further assistance, but it may be helpful. Keep in mind that you may have many fuse panels, depending on your car. Most cars feature at least two fuse panels—one within the passenger compartment and one under the hood. There may be several fuse panels located in various places inside some foreign autos. You might wish to consult your owner’s manual or a discussion board.

Step 1: Remove Negative Battery Cable

The negative battery cable should be taken away from the battery post using the proper tool or socket. In our situation, the battery terminal was secured with an 8mm bolt because we were working on a 2000 Ford Explorer. Either the positive or the negative cable can be used for this test or diagnosis, but the negative cable is significantly safer. Negative wires can be grounded without issue, but positive wires may damage devices, including your multimeter.

Step 2: Check the Draw Across the Negative Cable and Battery Post

Make sure your multimeter is turned on, Amps (A) selected, and set to DC (Direct Current). An image resembling a solid line with dashes underneath should appear. You don’t want AC (); this is for the electricity in your house. Decide whether to start with Amps or mA (milliamps) because you will likely have the option; ideally, 10A or 20A. On the multimeter, check that the wire leads are in the proper position. The multimeter should have a diagram that shows you where to connect the test lead wires.

Your multimeter will be connected in series with the current draw or battery drain. This implies that the multimeter will be used to measure the current draw. In our scenario, the multimeter was receiving power because we had a 4.4 Amp draw. Make sure your leads and dial are in the appropriate places.

Put one of the multimeter’s wire leads—it doesn’t matter which one—on the negative battery post and the other on the battery cable that has been detached. The amount of Amps actively depleting your battery should be displayed on the multimeter. To keep the multimeter leads attached to the battery terminal and battery wire, use zip ties or tiny clamps.

Tip: The battery will draw roughly 50 milliamps of amps while a vehicle is working normally.

How long does the battery in a Honda Accord last?

The typical battery life of a Honda Accord is three to five years, but this might vary based on the weather, the driver’s behavior, the battery type, and other factors. Your Honda Accord needs to be started frequently in order to extend the life of the battery. Avoid letting your battery sit idle for extended periods of time.

How can I tell if the fuse for my alternator is blown?

Signal Lights If the alternator fuse blows, the dashboard warning light for the charging system will probably come on. Due to system undercharging, a blown alternator fuse might also turn on the check engine light and numerous other dashboard alerts.

How much does replacing an alternator cost?

If the alternator is broken, it is typically wiser to replace it totally. Even though they can be expensive, new ones are generally preferable than remanufactured or rebuilt alternatives. Since the mechanical components have a lot of miles on them, they most likely won’t last as long as a new one.

Check for a remanufactured or rebuilt alternator at your neighborhood auto parts store if you can’t afford a new one. If a mechanic is handling the installation, be sure they provide you a brand-new alternator rather than trying to save money by using a refurbished or rebuilt one.

A high-output alternator, which is more expensive, may be required for some vehicles with increased electrical needs, such as ambulances or vehicles with sizable, power-hungry sound systems.

Depending on the type of car, the cost of the parts varies widely, but it often falls between $150 and $300. An OEM alternator for a more recent Mercedes or Audi can easily cost close to $1,000 as more costly automobiles would typically demand more expensive parts.

Since certain alternators are simpler to access and require less time to work on, labor expenses also vary, but budget between $200 and $600 for the work.

Expect to shell out anything from $350 to $900 in total for an alternator replacement. In most circumstances, it will be less expensive to have an independent mechanic handle the work than a dealership.

An alternator can be damaged by what?

How frequently do alternators go down, you might wonder if your automobile is having trouble starting. A normal alternator can last up to seven years or 100,000–150,000 kilometers. However, according to some mechanics, alternators need to be replaced after 80,000 miles.

Do you really understand how the alternator operates? It is situated on the engine and supplies the battery with electricity, continuously charging it along with the computers and electrical system. The alternator keeps the car going once the battery powers it up. How long an alternator lasts depends on several factors, including the alternator’s quality, how the car is driven, and how many electronics are used within the vehicle. Unfortunately, it can be challenging to determine whether issues with the auto starter, the battery, or the alternator are to blame for starting issues.

The alternator may malfunction for a number of reasons, including improper jump-starting or the installation of an accessory that overloads it. Alternator bearing damage, which results in early wear, can also be brought on by leaking fluid in the alternator or a tight belt. The electronics attempt to pull all of their power from the battery when the alternator fails, which eventually results in the battery dying. For this reason, you should examine the alternator even if you think the battery or the car starter may be the issue.