Is my 2004 Civic's battery almost dead already?

My 2004 Civic started up fine in the bitter cold this morning, albeit with
some expected slow cranking. I did a quick errand and returned home. 2
hours later, I get in the car to go out again... but now it won't start. It
cranks but does not want to fire up. I even tried the procedure that
involves holding the gas pedal down while cranking for 15 seconds, but
nothing.

Based on what I have read here recently, I guess it's not unusual for a
4-year old car to have its original battery fail this soon. My '93 Accord's
original battery lasted almost 8 years, but its first replacement (a Sears
DieHard) lasted 4 years.

I have to admit that I use the remote keyless entry religiously, and a
strange incident happened briefly the other day in the parking lot of a
local shopping center. When I went to remotely unlock the car, it beeped as
if I was pressing the lock button a second time. The issue went away when I
got home and did not return.

So is it not unusual for a 4-year old original battery to fail, and could
that unexpected unlocking beep have been a warning sign?

High Tech Misfit wrote:
> My 2004 Civic started up fine in the bitter cold this morning, albeit with
> some expected slow cranking. I did a quick errand and returned home. 2
> hours later, I get in the car to go out again... but now it won't start. It
> cranks but does not want to fire up. I even tried the procedure that
> involves holding the gas pedal down while cranking for 15 seconds, but
> nothing.

if it's cranking, it's not a battery problem. run injector cleaner
through it and maybe get a new set of plugs. report back accordingly.



>
> Based on what I have read here recently, I guess it's not unusual for a
> 4-year old car to have its original battery fail this soon. My '93 Accord's
> original battery lasted almost 8 years, but its first replacement (a Sears
> DieHard) lasted 4 years.
>
> I have to admit that I use the remote keyless entry religiously, and a
> strange incident happened briefly the other day in the parking lot of a
> local shopping center. When I went to remotely unlock the car, it beeped as
> if I was pressing the lock button a second time. The issue went away when I
> got home and did not return.
>
> So is it not unusual for a 4-year old original battery to fail, and could
> that unexpected unlocking beep have been a warning sign?

High Tech Misfit wrote:
> My 2004 Civic started up fine in the bitter cold this morning, albeit with
> some expected slow cranking. I did a quick errand and returned home. 2
> hours later, I get in the car to go out again... but now it won't start. It
> cranks but does not want to fire up. I even tried the procedure that
> involves holding the gas pedal down while cranking for 15 seconds, but
> nothing.
>
> Based on what I have read here recently, I guess it's not unusual for a
> 4-year old car to have its original battery fail this soon. My '93 Accord's
> original battery lasted almost 8 years, but its first replacement (a Sears
> DieHard) lasted 4 years.
>
> I have to admit that I use the remote keyless entry religiously, and a
> strange incident happened briefly the other day in the parking lot of a
> local shopping center. When I went to remotely unlock the car, it beeped as
> if I was pressing the lock button a second time. The issue went away when I
> got home and did not return.
>
> So is it not unusual for a 4-year old original battery to fail, and could
> that unexpected unlocking beep have been a warning sign?

---------------------

Your location is the most important bit of info. If you're in TEXAS,
your troubles may be normal (replace battery).

Did you notice if the immobilizer icon was flashing on the dash? there's
a TSB that mentions batteries with one failing cell. The immobilizer
stops working when voltage gets a bit low. Have the battery load-tested
at a real battery shop.

'Curly'

The first two batteries for my 1991 Civic each died at about
four years. The car was driven almost exclusively in the
northern U.S. for the whole time. I accidentally ran each of
the first two batteries down to 'dead' a few times. This
reduces battery life notably, from my reading.

But say, you're pretty experienced, right? Go get a
multimeter and see what the battery voltage (car not
running) is. Anything below say 12.3 volts, and I'd say you
have confirmed it's time for a new battery.

"High Tech Misfit" > wrote
> My 2004 Civic started up fine in the bitter cold this
> morning, albeit with
> some expected slow cranking. I did a quick errand and
> returned home. 2
> hours later, I get in the car to go out again... but now
> it won't start. It
> cranks but does not want to fire up. I even tried the
> procedure that
> involves holding the gas pedal down while cranking for 15
> seconds, but
> nothing.
>
> Based on what I have read here recently, I guess it's not
> unusual for a
> 4-year old car to have its original battery fail this
> soon. My '93 Accord's
> original battery lasted almost 8 years, but its first
> replacement (a Sears
> DieHard) lasted 4 years.
>
> I have to admit that I use the remote keyless entry
> religiously, and a
> strange incident happened briefly the other day in the
> parking lot of a
> local shopping center. When I went to remotely unlock the
> car, it beeped as
> if I was pressing the lock button a second time. The
> issue went away when I
> got home and did not return.
>
> So is it not unusual for a 4-year old original battery to
> fail, and could
> that unexpected unlocking beep have been a warning sign?

Elle wrote:

> The first two batteries for my 1991 Civic each died at about
> four years. The car was driven almost exclusively in the
> northern U.S. for the whole time. I accidentally ran each of
> the first two batteries down to 'dead' a few times. This
> reduces battery life notably, from my reading.
>
I'm in Canada (Ottawa to be exact) and it is very cold right now.


> But say, you're pretty experienced, right? Go get a
> multimeter and see what the battery voltage (car not
> running) is. Anything below say 12.3 volts, and I'd say you
> have confirmed it's time for a new battery.

Well, I'm not as experienced as other DIY'ers on here; I'm not even a DIY'er
myself. Most of my contributions to these NG's are based on past knowledge
from reading them for years.

I just checked the indicator on the battery itself, and I could just barely
see it lit green.

And Jim Beam, I put fuel injector cleaner in it a few weeks ago.

It may be the battery-they can do strange things when they are going bad.

Before doing anything drastic, check for some simple causes such as loose
and or corroded battery cables.

Autozone can check your battery, or Sears, Walwart etc. No charge usually.
"High Tech Misfit" > wrote in message
...
My 2004 Civic started up fine in the bitter cold this morning, albeit with
some expected slow cranking. I did a quick errand and returned home. 2
hours later, I get in the car to go out again... but now it won't start. It
cranks but does not want to fire up. I even tried the procedure that
involves holding the gas pedal down while cranking for 15 seconds, but
nothing.

Based on what I have read here recently, I guess it's not unusual for a
4-year old car to have its original battery fail this soon. My '93 Accord's
original battery lasted almost 8 years, but its first replacement (a Sears
DieHard) lasted 4 years.

I have to admit that I use the remote keyless entry religiously, and a
strange incident happened briefly the other day in the parking lot of a
local shopping center. When I went to remotely unlock the car, it beeped as
if I was pressing the lock button a second time. The issue went away when I
got home and did not return.

So is it not unusual for a 4-year old original battery to fail, and could
that unexpected unlocking beep have been a warning sign?

High Tech Misfit wrote:

> Elle wrote:
>
>> The first two batteries for my 1991 Civic each died at about
>> four years. The car was driven almost exclusively in the
>> northern U.S. for the whole time. I accidentally ran each of
>> the first two batteries down to 'dead' a few times. This
>> reduces battery life notably, from my reading.
>>
> I'm in Canada (Ottawa to be exact) and it is very cold right now.
>
>> But say, you're pretty experienced, right? Go get a
>> multimeter and see what the battery voltage (car not
>> running) is. Anything below say 12.3 volts, and I'd say you
>> have confirmed it's time for a new battery.
>
> Well, I'm not as experienced as other DIY'ers on here; I'm not even a DIY'er
> myself. Most of my contributions to these NG's are based on past knowledge
> from reading them for years.
>
> I just checked the indicator on the battery itself, and I could just barely
> see it lit green.
>
> And Jim Beam, I put fuel injector cleaner in it a few weeks ago.

I just called Honda roadside assistance (part of my extended warranty), and
even the rep said it's likely not the battery. It will be towed to the
dealer in a bit. I'll report back with the verdict.

The car currently has 65,000km (about 40,000 miles) on it.

Thanks for the advice so far.

Well, it turned out to be a flooded engine. :-/ Dealer cleaned the spark
plugs and changed the oil (it was due for an oil change anyway).

Thanks again for the responses.

High Tech Misfit wrote:
> Well, it turned out to be a flooded engine. :-/ Dealer cleaned the spark
> plugs and changed the oil (it was due for an oil change anyway).
>
> Thanks again for the responses.

Oh gee.

I knew a few people who had a flooded engine after hurricane Bob years
ago. They need more than spark plugs cleaned and new oil (I was smart
enough to move my car inland away from the shore of the island I was on
[Cape Cod]).

Jeff

High Tech Misfit wrote:
> Well, it turned out to be a flooded engine. :-/ Dealer cleaned the spark
> plugs and changed the oil (it was due for an oil change anyway).
>
> Thanks again for the responses.

change the plugs anyway. and run more injector cleaner through it.