What's up with my Civic?

[Tnhawk]

Any low voltage light on the instrument panel?

 

[Lead Belly]

Here- read this to better understand the complexities involved in Honda charging.

Honda dual mode alternator and charging systems explained

Learn how the Honda dual-mode alternator and charging system works. If you don't understand it, you will misdiagnose it

ricksfreeautorepairadvice.com

Using a good smart charger will prolong your battery- they have re-conditioner functions that pulse and clean the plates (overly simplified). I have resurrected many expensive batteries that no other charger would work with.

Low voltage on computer equipped dependent cars can and will become expensive if you throw odd codes, strain/kill modules. I can't stress how much newer cars need healthy battery to function.

PulseTech

PulseTech

pulsetech.com

Military relies on these

 

[no2gates]

Regarding the battery you bought, how many CCA was it? Maybe it's not enough? Are you sure you don't have some phantom item hooked to your electrical system (like a CB or ham radio) that's draining it slowly?

 

[DaBull]

Any low voltage light on the instrument panel?

No warning lights of any kind.

 

[DaBull]

Regarding the battery you bought, how many CCA was it? Maybe it's not enough? Are you sure you don't have some phantom item hooked to your electrical system (like a CB or ham radio) that's draining it slowly?

Can't recall the CCAs exactly, but it was more than the original factory battery that lasted 7 years (6 CO winters, and 1 TX summer). Nothing extra added.

 

[kbaxter60]

Is this something in the battery wire bundle? Pos or neg terminal?

Was thinking neg when I wrote that. If possible, ohm it out while moving it around.
Bonus points if you can trace out the positive side, as well.

 

[no2gates]

Can't recall the CCAs exactly, but it was more than the original factory battery that lasted 7 years (6 CO winters, and 1 TX summer). Nothing extra added.

YOu were pretty lucky to get that amount of time out of a battery. My 2020 CIvic battery lasted 3 1/2 years.

 

[Fishkiller]

Can't recall the CCAs exactly, but it was more than the original factory battery that lasted 7 years (6 CO winters, and 1 TX summer). Nothing extra added.

I had a similar issue. Old battery made the alternator work harder. New battery did not solve problem. Took it to the garage and they tested alternator, output was about half what it should have been. New alternator solved problem


I also find that checking the tire pressure regularly keep the truck running

 

[Tnhawk]

YOu were pretty lucky to get that amount of time out of a battery. My 2020 CIvic battery lasted 3 1/2 years.

Most of the batteries I've had lasted 3-4 years.

 

[lone_star_state]

I had a sedan that experienced a similar issue. An aged battery damaged the starter and the car would act as you described. A new starter solved the problem.

In new cars, an underperforming battery can do a ridiculous amount of damage over time. Now I test my batteries quarterly and do top up charges whenever the SOC is below 95%.

 

[DaBull]

The alternator has been charging my new battery. Battery tested at 89%. So, it is likely my starter. Will have the starter and my combination starter-battery-alternator tested later today.

Can a starter occassionally not work...as in fail every 150 or so tries?

 

[Bozz10mm]

The alternator has been charging my new battery. Battery tested at 89%. So, it is likely my starter. Will have the starter and my combination starter-battery-alternator tested later today.

Can a starter occassionally not work...as in fail every 150 or so tries?

A newish battery should not be testing at 89%. Should be closer to 100%. Get a a battery tester and check the battery while the engine is running. It should show slightly over 14 volts. If not, have the alternator checked at O'Reilley's or Advance Auto or Auto Zone.

Also, don't rule out a bad battery. I had a new one go bad after 4 months.

 

[robertc1024]

The alternator has been charging my new battery. Battery tested at 89%. So, it is likely my starter. Will have the starter and my combination starter-battery-alternator tested later today.

Can a starter occassionally not work...as in fail every 150 or so tries?

Hell yes. I had a Maxima that did that.

 

[DaBull]

Hell yes. I had a Maxima that did that.

If a starter relay is bad, is that the same thing as saying a starter is bad? (Replacing a part of a part vs a part)

 

[robertc1024]

If a starter relay is bad, is that the same thing as saying a starter is bad? (Replacing a part of a part vs a part)

I would think the symptoms would be the same. I'm not saying it isn't the relay, but that wasn't the problem I had. If your fuse box has the same relay for different functions, maybe swap them? The starter on my Maxima would just randomly do nothing when I twisted the key. I didn't think to try the old mechanic's trick of whacking it with a hammer if it did nothing to see if that makes it temporarily work.

 

[DaBull]

Went for the starter-battery-alternator test. All passed, but the "new" battery was 69% charged. I then drove 20 miles and returned for a re-test. Battery was at 70%. So, battery goes back to Costco for not holding a charge.

 

[Fishkiller]

Went for the starter-battery-alternator test. All passed, but the "new" battery was 69% charged. I then drove 20 miles and returned for a re-test. Battery was at 70%. So, battery goes back to Costco for not holding a charge.

And change it in the parking lot. I hear they really like that and sometimes lend a hand

 

[Bozz10mm]

Went for the starter-battery-alternator test. All passed, but the "new" battery was 69% charged.

That's very interesting. Everything is working, but something isn't working.

 

[Tex929rr]

Had a similar intermittent problem with my wife’s old Samurai last year. I thought it was the starter but when I replaced it I found that the bolt that connected the ground wire to the starter was loose enough that the connector could move and had been causing the problem.