Flat battery Dead battery

Skaven252 · 22nd March 2007, 21:14

Hello everyone. It turns out I don't drive my Civic enough.

This afternoon, when I was going to load stuff into my car for next morning, the key button didn't open the car doors. The battery was dead. Fortunately, a neighbor happened to pass by, and helped me get the car cable-started (followed by ear-piercing burglar alarm, since I had not opened the door locks with the code key).

For several weeks I have been a good sport and walked to work most days, only driving on fridays and sometimes in weekends. And this had gradually drained the battery. Gah! I thought this couldn't happen with modern cars, but apparently it does!

I suppose I need something to keep the battery charged even when I'm not driving. Any recommendations?

I keep my car in the house's garage, where every parking place has an electric outlet with a 2-hour timer (you can pre-heat your car for 2 hours before departure). Is a 2-hour time window enough for charging a car battery, or at least keep it alive?

Is there anything I should do to the battery now that it has died once, and has only been barely charged for now?

PTR · 22nd March 2007, 21:33

I would go for a bit longer journey or put on the charger for more hours.

When you are done, battery fully charged the 2h daily charging will be enough to keep the batt in a good condition!

It would be good to buy a quality charger and set a current limit at 4-5Amps.... then don't have to worry about your batt. anymore!

czechplastik · 22nd March 2007, 22:00

This can happen in any car, all batterys will run out eventually. If you are going to have long periods of non-usage i recommend using a trickle charger to keep it topped up so it's ready for action when you are!

TimM · 22nd March 2007, 22:11

When i first got my civic this happened a couple of times and after a trip to the honda dealer they found a lose connection on the back of the radio - never had a problem since might be worth them sticking it on their computer for a while which is how they found mine.

Skaven252 · 23rd March 2007, 05:03

Thanks for your replies!

Quote:

Originally Posted by PTR

It would be good to buy a quality charger and set a current limit at 4-5Amps.... then don't have to worry about your batt. anymore!

A friend of mine told me to go as high as 20 amps (with a quality charger) to make sure the battery gets fully charged. Another friend of mine told me that a too powerful charge may damage the battery. Which one of them is right?

I've been thinking about getting one of these, so it would be installed under the bonnet and get its power from the same plug as the engine block and interior heaters. Should be handier and more "available" than a separate charger.

You see, I ran into an embarassing practical problem when my battery was dead. I kept the starter cables in the secret compartment in the bottom of the trunk. As the trunk door couldn't be opened, I had to fold the seats and crawl into the trunk, only to find that the compartment won't open very far because the door prevents it. Luckily there was enough gap for me to squeeze my arm in and pull out the cables.

(Is there a way to open the door manually without electricity? Gotta consult the manual...)

LoonyJohn · 23rd March 2007, 05:15

I have seen solar powered trickle chargers that plug into the lighter socket. The panels are placed on the dashboard, under the windscreen.

I don't know if you get enough ambient lighting in Finland though!

Skaven252 · 23rd March 2007, 05:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoonyJohn

I don't know if you get enough ambient lighting in Finland though!

I doubt it. Especially in my garage, under a concrete roof.

pikkumies · 23rd March 2007, 07:43

Skaven, did you turn your lights off from the AUTO setting? If not, that's one cause..

Skaven252 · 23rd March 2007, 08:50

I always turn my lights "OFF", because in Scandinavia they have been set so that the lights are always on when the car is running (even when set to "OFF").

How does the "OFF" setting use up battery?

steeeveee · 23rd March 2007, 09:05

I used to have a 12volt trickle charger that can (and is remomended) to be left on all the time. It's about the size of a laptop transformer and can be installed inside the car.

I think it's designed for motorcycles but works equally well on cars.

Definately works as I used to have flat battery on my MGF when it was hardly used over winter, Since installing the charger it always starts first time.

richierich · 23rd March 2007, 10:12

I overheard a discussion between a salesman and a customer whilst waiting in the service area, the lady wanted to see the dash as she had heard about it, the comment was that the batteries go dead really quick on the Civic if you don't use them, at that point she left, with the comment that she would only use the car every couple of weeks. Mines been okay when left for a fortnight when on holiday, might think twice about leaving it for 2 weeks in winter though.

alastair b · 23rd March 2007, 10:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skaven252

Thanks for your replies!

A friend of mine told me to go as high as 20 amps (with a quality charger) to make sure the battery gets fully charged. Another friend of mine told me that a too powerful charge may damage the battery. Which one of them is right?

I've been thinking about getting one of these, so it would be installed under the bonnet and get its power from the same plug as the engine block and interior heaters. Should be handier and more "available" than a separate charger.

You see, I ran into an embarassing practical problem when my battery was dead. I kept the starter cables in the secret compartment in the bottom of the trunk. As the trunk door couldn't be opened, I had to fold the seats and crawl into the trunk, only to find that the compartment won't open very far because the door prevents it. Luckily there was enough gap for me to squeeze my arm in and pull out the cables.

(Is there a way to open the door manually without electricity? Gotta consult the manual...)

Hi,
There is a small cover on the inside of the hatch which,when removed gives you access to the latch,Flicking this opens the hatch from inside the car.Had to use this method myself.

Skaven252 · 23rd March 2007, 11:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by richierich

the batteries go dead really quick on the Civic if you don't use them, at that point she left, with the comment that she would only use the car every couple of weeks. Mines been okay when left for a fortnight when on holiday, might think twice about leaving it for 2 weeks in winter though.

I guess the problem, in my case, is not how long the car remains completely unused, but rather, how long I drive whenever I use the car. Most of the trips I've made in the recent weeks have been way under 15 minutes, which, I guess, is not enough to compensate for the charge used whenever the car is started. So the frequent starts and too short charge cycles eventually drained the battery.

Quote:

Originally Posted by alastair b

There is a small cover on the inside of the hatch which,when removed gives you access to the latch,Flicking this opens the hatch from inside the car.Had to use this method myself.

Thanks for the tip!

Gotta find it and try it, in case for future battery incidents.

22nd March 2007, 21:14	#1 (permalink)
Skaven252 Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 1st June 2006 Location: Espoo, Finland Posts: 247 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Dead battery Hello everyone. It turns out I don't drive my Civic enough. This afternoon, when I was going to load stuff into my car for next morning, the key button didn't open the car doors. The battery was dead. Fortunately, a neighbor happened to pass by, and helped me get the car cable-started (followed by ear-piercing burglar alarm, since I had not opened the door locks with the code key). For several weeks I have been a good sport and walked to work most days, only driving on fridays and sometimes in weekends. And this had gradually drained the battery. Gah! I thought this couldn't happen with modern cars, but apparently it does! I suppose I need something to keep the battery charged even when I'm not driving. Any recommendations? I keep my car in the house's garage, where every parking place has an electric outlet with a 2-hour timer (you can pre-heat your car for 2 hours before departure). Is a 2-hour time window enough for charging a car battery, or at least keep it alive? Is there anything I should do to the battery now that it has died once, and has only been barely charged for now? Last edited by Skaven252; 22nd March 2007 at 21:17.

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This thread is about: Dead battery, it's in Electronics at the Honda Civic forum Civinfo; Hello everyone. It turns out I don't drive my Civic enough. This afternoon, when I was going to load stuff into my car for next ...

22nd March 2007, 21:33	#2 (permalink)
PTR Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 4th October 2006 Location: Hungary Posts: 668 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	I would go for a bit longer journey or put on the charger for more hours. When you are done, battery fully charged the 2h daily charging will be enough to keep the batt in a good condition! It would be good to buy a quality charger and set a current limit at 4-5Amps.... then don't have to worry about your batt. anymore!

22nd March 2007, 22:00	#3 (permalink)
czechplastik King of the rodeo Civinfo guru Join Date: 24th October 2006 Location: Belfast Posts: 4,672 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader: (0)	This can happen in any car, all batterys will run out eventually. If you are going to have long periods of non-usage i recommend using a trickle charger to keep it topped up so it's ready for action when you are!

22nd March 2007, 22:11	#4 (permalink)
TimM Valve Cap Join Date: 29th August 2006 Location: Guildford Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	When i first got my civic this happened a couple of times and after a trip to the honda dealer they found a lose connection on the back of the radio - never had a problem since might be worth them sticking it on their computer for a while which is how they found mine.

23rd March 2007, 05:15	#6 (permalink)
LoonyJohn Captain Slog Locking Wheelnut Join Date: 18th February 2007 Location: NE Derbyshire Posts: 108 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader: (0)	I have seen solar powered trickle chargers that plug into the lighter socket. The panels are placed on the dashboard, under the windscreen. I don't know if you get enough ambient lighting in Finland though!

23rd March 2007, 07:43	#8 (permalink)
pikkumies Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 14th May 2006 Location: Jyväskylä, Finland Posts: 282 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Skaven, did you turn your lights off from the AUTO setting? If not, that's one cause..

23rd March 2007, 08:50	#9 (permalink)
Skaven252 Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 1st June 2006 Location: Espoo, Finland Posts: 247 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	I always turn my lights "OFF", because in Scandinavia they have been set so that the lights are always on when the car is running (even when set to "OFF"). How does the "OFF" setting use up battery?

23rd March 2007, 09:05	#10 (permalink)
steeeveee Locking Wheelnut Join Date: 4th December 2006 Location: Bristol / Bournemouth Posts: 102 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	I used to have a 12volt trickle charger that can (and is remomended) to be left on all the time. It's about the size of a laptop transformer and can be installed inside the car. I think it's designed for motorcycles but works equally well on cars. Definately works as I used to have flat battery on my MGF when it was hardly used over winter, Since installing the charger it always starts first time.

23rd March 2007, 10:12	#11 (permalink)
richierich Smell My Cheese! Rocketship door handle Join Date: 17th May 2006 Location: Bicester, Oxfordshire Posts: 1,847 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader: (0)	I overheard a discussion between a salesman and a customer whilst waiting in the service area, the lady wanted to see the dash as she had heard about it, the comment was that the batteries go dead really quick on the Civic if you don't use them, at that point she left, with the comment that she would only use the car every couple of weeks. Mines been okay when left for a fortnight when on holiday, might think twice about leaving it for 2 weeks in winter though.