Dead Battery?

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TomC - 15 May 2007 01:57 GMT

7 year old accord with 82,000mi. No indications of battery problems,
corrosion, etc.. Still had the little green eye. Went to the store; no
problems. Returned about 20 mins., Tried to start the car and nada,
nothing, ziltch, zero; not even a click. I couldn't even get the thing out
of park. Thought that I could at least push it out the parking place so I
could jump it. Had to wait for an adacent spot to open; not a happy camper.
Jump started OK. Battery wouldn't take a charge, so replaced it. I've never
had one just stop like that; used to be one would get some indication that
the battery was dying. Are they making 'em different these days? I thought
this scenario highy unusual. Thoughts? TIA
TomC

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Paul. - 15 May 2007 16:47 GMT

Very common failure mode here in Phoenix. No warning, just dead. Up north,
you get some warning with sluggish turn over of the engine during startup,
etc. The heat here kills a battery quickly (2 to 3 years).

The little green eye measures the specific gravity of one of six cells in
the battery. It is possible that one cell is good and some others are gone.

Paul.

>7 year old accord with 82,000mi. No indications of battery problems,
> corrosion, etc.. Still had the little green eye. Went to the store; no
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> this scenario highy unusual. Thoughts? TIA
> TomC

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jmattis@attglobal.net - 16 May 2007 05:09 GMT

> Very common failure mode here in Phoenix. No warning, just dead. Up north,
> you get some warning with sluggish turn over of the engine during startup,
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>
> - Show quoted text -

They're making the chemistry, i.e., the grid paste, better these
days. The internal connectors are now cut to the bone, however. So
the "instant failure mode" is becoming more common, because the
internals can literally break suddenly. Happened to me about 5 years
ago. Fortunately in the garage of my house. The battery was simply
dead, no output at all.

My current battery is at 31 months. Spins my V6 around something
fierce. It will never the less be replaced within the next couple of
weeks. Can't trust it, and I will be spending camp time several miles
out in the country, where there's no cell towers and no help coming if
it quit.

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Tegger - 16 May 2007 11:49 GMT

> Very common failure mode here in Phoenix. No warning, just dead. Up
> north, you get some warning with sluggish turn over of the engine
> during startup, etc.

We get the "sudden-death" up here too (Rust Belt).

> The heat here kills a battery quickly (2 to 3
> years).

My original Panasonic lasted eleven summers and ten winters, then it
started to get sluggish. The replacement Interstate M25 is up to 65 months
so far with no sign of weakening.

I guess living in a cooler climate does have at least a couple of
advantages: 1) our interiors last longer, and 2) so do our batteries.

> The little green eye measures the specific gravity of one of six cells
> in the battery. It is possible that one cell is good and some others
> are gone.

Yep.

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Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

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ACAR - 16 May 2007 12:04 GMT

> > Very common failure mode here in Phoenix. No warning, just dead. Up
> > north, you get some warning with sluggish turn over of the engine
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> > The heat here kills a battery quickly (2 to 3
> > years).

Here in the Baltimore area heat also does 'em in.
I've had one battery go in the winter with the typical "slow cranking"
warning sign.
The other batteries I've "experimented" with have all been summertime
sudden failures. Not convenient. These days I simply replace them
after no more than 5 years.

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