Electrics Battery: is it that bad?

eighteentee · 30th September 2007, 22:51

Hi Folks,

Just awaiting delivery of my 57-plate ES and wondering about battery performance as I have been reading some pretty grim stories on this forum! One thing that was mentioned was that leaving the lights in the auto position could be a factor. I am currently driving a 55-plate Golf GTTDI with auto headlights and have left the car for over three weeks now and it's started first time. Surely leaving the lights on 'auto' is a good thing - I leave them on auto in the Golf all the time...

Type S Bournemouth · 30th September 2007, 23:19

I leave mine on auto all the time. Never had a problem.

czechplastik · 30th September 2007, 23:24

I've never had any battery problems in over a year of ownership.

PTR · 30th September 2007, 23:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Type S Bournemouth

I leave mine on auto all the time. Never had a problem.

what was the longest time you left it on AUTO?

(I don't know why is the Civ so sensitive on the AUTO mode.. when the IGN is off, lights and control of lights should be also OFF!
can it be that some control units go just only in stand-by if you keep AUTO on?)

Hartside · 1st October 2007, 00:06

Quote:

One thing that was mentioned was that leaving the lights in the auto position could be a factor

Not a factor at all - mine has been in the off position twice now and I still get a flat battery!

Essexboy · 1st October 2007, 08:59

Had my car 5 days and the battery went flat.

Worse than that thou was that the battery does seem to hold charge, the alternator is working but I can't seem to charge the battery.

Car is back at the dealer being fixed....

delorean_2k · 1st October 2007, 09:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hartside

Not a factor at all - mine has been in the off position twice now and I still get a flat battery!

Same here

Lights were in off position, as were wipers, and 3 days of non-use and battery flat.

Car booked into dealers for Wednesday this week so lets see what they make of it

m4rky · 1st October 2007, 11:26

The problem with Falt batteries now is that because they are calcium based, if they go very flat the alternator will never fully charge them back up again. They need to have a 16v trickle charge to get them back to peak performance and then the alternator will cope

Kremmen · 1st October 2007, 12:18

When mine arrived I noticed that the battery self-check window was not showing the blue circle. This I considered to be expected as it has only had a basic manufacturers charge, or similar, and has presumably stood around for a while.

It was only after 2 weeks of 20 miles each way per day journeys that it started showing what I would call a clear blue circle.

With all the electronics I'm not surprised some are going flat quite quickly when new.

And - as stated above, once you completely discharge a battery you will more than likely continue to have problems.

I was told a while ago that batteries have a two stage charge process. The first stage is the initial level that is usuakky performed by the manufacturers, and the second stage is the area that is kept topped up by the car alternator.

If you cause the battery to discharge through both areas then the car alternator will only ever recharge the second area.
Because the first area is still discharged, this will drag down the second area very quickly, even overnight can be enough, even after a journey of 100 miles or more.

Bungle · 1st October 2007, 12:42

Had car over ayear, and it has had some spells of well over a week or two with no use, and babtteray has been fine!

allan40alt · 1st October 2007, 12:56

The battery, like any other part of a car, needs looking after.

If you do lots of short trips or only go out once or twice a week locally, then you need to give the battery a boost as it still draws power when parked in the garage, and the alternator will not be able to compensate.

Have a look here (#31):

flat battery after hols

I have just had mine on a trickle charger as it hasn't been used in over a week, apart from a couple of local journeys, and we are going up to Hollin Hall in Macclesfield for our son's wedding on Friday/Saturday, and I want it to start from my garage!

civicfan · 1st October 2007, 12:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by PTR

what was the longest time you left it on AUTO?

(I don't know why is the Civ so sensitive on the AUTO mode.. when the IGN is off, lights and control of lights should be also OFF!
can it be that some control units go just only in stand-by if you keep AUTO on?)

I´ve had them on auto for about 1 month (2,2 diesel), no problem at all - seems to depend on specific setups (as third party accessories?)

Cad · 1st October 2007, 13:42

The cars that discharge their battery on a regular basis are faulty. If your car has the fault then leaving lights/wipers on auto won't make any difference. If your car doesn't have the fault then you will be fine, whether you leave lights/wipers on auto or not.

So, leave them on

czechplastik · 1st October 2007, 17:02

I've have left mine for four days at a time with no trickle charger attached, The longest I travel per day is a 30mile return journey to work and never hd a problem.

philippeclement · 4th March 2008, 10:17

Nothing ... nothing ... nothing at all !!!
Of corse i bought mine in Feb 2008, but for those earlier models, please kindly get your computer and controll system reprogrammed and updated to the 2007 or later models.
Only Honda can do it !!

Cookie · 5th March 2008, 10:37

Came to use my car yesterday flat battery..
Noticed the interior light buttons were depressed

so i had left the interior lights on
Last used the car Sunday afternoon.
Recharged the battery last night good 24hrs...
Started first time this morning

Charles_Harding · 5th March 2008, 15:44

Got one of them 'Battery Conditioners'

When I remember to put it on everything is great.

......but Charlie does not always remember!

"What did the priest say about sin in his sermon?
......he was against it!"

ritchie_perriam · 5th March 2008, 18:21

i just left my car at the airport for a week whilst i was away with everything in auto and it started up fine!

i wouldnt worry about any of these 'problems' untill it actually happens.

philippeclement · 5th March 2008, 18:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by ritchie_perriam

i just left my car at the airport for a week whilst i was away with everything in auto and it started up fine!

i wouldnt worry about any of these 'problems' untill it actually happens.

Yes ... ! why worry for the morrow !!? as the morrow holds its own day ! Time will tell.

Palindrome · 6th March 2008, 00:36

There clearly are cars with battery issues (ask any manufacturer what their biggest warranty claim is for,guess what the answer is ?Well it rhymes with flattery!)
Although I'm not convinced the issue is with the battery but something draining it!

From my understanding of the issue it seems the oil burner is more prone to this problem!
I have company van at home and rarely use civ for 3/4 days and then only local journeys............No problem yet!

30th September 2007, 22:51	#1 (permalink)
eighteentee Supporter Locking Wheelnut Join Date: 26th September 2007 Location: Clitheroe, UK Posts: 104 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Battery: is it that bad? Hi Folks, Just awaiting delivery of my 57-plate ES and wondering about battery performance as I have been reading some pretty grim stories on this forum! One thing that was mentioned was that leaving the lights in the auto position could be a factor. I am currently driving a 55-plate Golf GTTDI with auto headlights and have left the car for over three weeks now and it's started first time. Surely leaving the lights on 'auto' is a good thing - I leave them on auto in the Golf all the time...

1st October 2007, 12:56	#11 (permalink)
allan40alt Supporter Civinfo guru Join Date: 6th August 2006 Location: Rugby, Warwickshire. Posts: 2,247 Thanks: 12 Thanked 33 Times in 31 Posts iTrader: (0)	The battery, like any other part of a car, needs looking after. If you do lots of short trips or only go out once or twice a week locally, then you need to give the battery a boost as it still draws power when parked in the garage, and the alternator will not be able to compensate. Have a look here (#31): flat battery after hols I have just had mine on a trickle charger as it hasn't been used in over a week, apart from a couple of local journeys, and we are going up to Hollin Hall in Macclesfield for our son's wedding on Friday/Saturday, and I want it to start from my garage! Last edited by allan40alt; 1st October 2007 at 12:59.

6th March 2008, 00:36	#20 (permalink)
Palindrome Also found in orange Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 18th January 2008 Location: Warwick,UK Posts: 212 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader: (0)	Battery There clearly are cars with battery issues (ask any manufacturer what their biggest warranty claim is for,guess what the answer is ?Well it rhymes with flattery!) Although I'm not convinced the issue is with the battery but something draining it! From my understanding of the issue it seems the oil burner is more prone to this problem! I have company van at home and rarely use civ for 3/4 days and then only local journeys............No problem yet! Last edited by Palindrome; 6th March 2008 at 00:38. Reason: extra

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This thread is about: Battery: is it that bad?, it's in Electronics at the Honda Civic forum Civinfo; Hi Folks, Just awaiting delivery of my 57-plate ES and wondering about battery performance as I have been reading some pretty grim stories on this ...

30th September 2007, 23:19	#2 (permalink)
Type S Bournemouth Supporter Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 3rd October 2006 Location: Bournemouth Posts: 970 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	I leave mine on auto all the time. Never had a problem.

30th September 2007, 23:24	#3 (permalink)
czechplastik King of the rodeo Civinfo guru Join Date: 24th October 2006 Location: Belfast Posts: 4,500 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	I've never had any battery problems in over a year of ownership.

1st October 2007, 08:59	#6 (permalink)
Essexboy Supporter Locking Wheelnut Join Date: 9th June 2007 Location: Essex Posts: 179 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts iTrader: (0)	Had my car 5 days and the battery went flat. Worse than that thou was that the battery does seem to hold charge, the alternator is working but I can't seem to charge the battery. Car is back at the dealer being fixed....

1st October 2007, 11:26	#8 (permalink)
m4rky Civic Mad! Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 25th August 2007 Posts: 222 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	The problem with Falt batteries now is that because they are calcium based, if they go very flat the alternator will never fully charge them back up again. They need to have a 16v trickle charge to get them back to peak performance and then the alternator will cope

1st October 2007, 12:18	#9 (permalink)
Kremmen Krem de la Krem Civinfo guru Join Date: 7th January 2007 Location: West London Posts: 2,638 Thanks: 8 Thanked 11 Times in 11 Posts iTrader: (0)	When mine arrived I noticed that the battery self-check window was not showing the blue circle. This I considered to be expected as it has only had a basic manufacturers charge, or similar, and has presumably stood around for a while. It was only after 2 weeks of 20 miles each way per day journeys that it started showing what I would call a clear blue circle. With all the electronics I'm not surprised some are going flat quite quickly when new. And - as stated above, once you completely discharge a battery you will more than likely continue to have problems. I was told a while ago that batteries have a two stage charge process. The first stage is the initial level that is usuakky performed by the manufacturers, and the second stage is the area that is kept topped up by the car alternator. If you cause the battery to discharge through both areas then the car alternator will only ever recharge the second area. Because the first area is still discharged, this will drag down the second area very quickly, even overnight can be enough, even after a journey of 100 miles or more.

1st October 2007, 12:42	#10 (permalink)
Bungle Rocketship door handle Join Date: 3rd July 2006 Location: SE London/Kent Posts: 1,217 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Had car over ayear, and it has had some spells of well over a week or two with no use, and babtteray has been fine!

1st October 2007, 13:42	#13 (permalink)
Cad estranged Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 5th June 2006 Location: Upstairs Posts: 391 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	The cars that discharge their battery on a regular basis are faulty. If your car has the fault then leaving lights/wipers on auto won't make any difference. If your car doesn't have the fault then you will be fine, whether you leave lights/wipers on auto or not. So, leave them on

1st October 2007, 17:02	#14 (permalink)
czechplastik King of the rodeo Civinfo guru Join Date: 24th October 2006 Location: Belfast Posts: 4,500 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	I've have left mine for four days at a time with no trickle charger attached, The longest I travel per day is a 30mile return journey to work and never hd a problem.

4th March 2008, 10:17	#15 (permalink)
philippeclement Locking Wheelnut Join Date: 29th January 2008 Location: Malakoff, France Posts: 102 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Nothing ... nothing ... nothing at all !!! Of corse i bought mine in Feb 2008, but for those earlier models, please kindly get your computer and controll system reprogrammed and updated to the 2007 or later models. Only Honda can do it !!

5th March 2008, 10:37	#16 (permalink)
Cookie Valve Cap Join Date: 15th July 2007 Location: Manchester Posts: 36 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Came to use my car yesterday flat battery.. Noticed the interior light buttons were depressed so i had left the interior lights on Last used the car Sunday afternoon. Recharged the battery last night good 24hrs... Started first time this morning

5th March 2008, 15:44	#17 (permalink)
Charles_Harding Civinfo guru Join Date: 14th August 2006 Location: S.E. London Posts: 3,288 Thanks: 113 Thanked 27 Times in 26 Posts iTrader: (0)	Got one of them 'Battery Conditioners' When I remember to put it on everything is great. ......but Charlie does not always remember! *"What did the priest say about sin in his sermon?* *......he was against it!"*

5th March 2008, 18:21	#18 (permalink)
ritchie_perriam Tyre Shredder Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 30th November 2007 Location: guildford, surrey Posts: 288 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts iTrader: (0)	i just left my car at the airport for a week whilst i was away with everything in auto and it started up fine! i wouldnt worry about any of these 'problems' untill it actually happens.