The Honda Accord is one of the best-selling cars in the world. The Japanese automaker has won the hearts of many people with its top-class performance luxury vehicle. Unfortunately, with all good things are also some things that need to be addressed. While being one of the most sought-after cars, it has its fair share of issues.

One reason for battery problems in a Honda Accord is parasitic drain. This occurs when something continues to draw power after the engine is off. To fix this, identify the source of the drain. Check for any lights or accessories that might be staying on, or use a multimeter to test for current draw. Disconnecting different circuits can help pinpoint the cause. Once identified, repair or replace the faulty component.

If your Accord’s battery is frequently dying, it might be due to a faulty alternator. The alternator charges the battery while the car is running. If it’s not working properly, the battery won’t charge. Test the alternator with a voltmeter; it should produce around 13.5 to 14.5 volts when the engine is running. If the voltage is lower, the alternator may need to be replaced.

Another potential issue is a corroded or loose battery connection. Corrosion at the terminals can prevent proper charging and starting. Clean the battery terminals with a wire brush and ensure the connections are tight. This simple maintenance can often resolve battery charging and starting issues, ensuring a reliable electrical connection.

Read on to learn some of the most common issues related to Honda Accord batteries.

Honda Accord Battery Keeps Draining

We have many components in our car that use some electricity consistently. Not only that, even when idle, batteries are still draining (or discharging) even if a component is not using the battery, which is normal. What is not normal is to see your car battery drain so much all the time that you practically need to jump it each time for it to start.

There is

Every car has a “normal” drain. For a Honda Accord, the range is between 30 to 40 mV

Most components are rated at 3 to 5 Volts (or even 12V), so if the voltmeter is reading that much, you have an active drain. This is something you can try to identify yourself.

The Parasitic Drain Test

The best way to find out if your battery is being used by a component, you need to run the Parasitic Drain Test. To start with the test, make sure to follow these steps first.

Copyright protected article by Know My Auto and was first published on Sep 2, 2021. .

Test prerequisites:

1. Make sure the car is not running.
2. Ensure the key is not in the ignition.
3. The headlights, taillights, and interior lights are switched off, and nothing is connected to the car’s cigarette lighter or charger plug.
4. Have a multimeter in your possession.
5. (Highly recommended) Charge your battery fully to accurately measure the battery.

Testing the Honda Accord Battery for Drain

Now that the prerequisites have been met, follow these steps to carry out the test:

1. Disconnect the negative terminal (-) of the battery from the car.
2. Plug the black wire on the multimeter to “COM” (stands for common ground) input and the red wire to “A” (stands for Ampere).
3. Set the multimeter to measure in Ampere and set the dial to the maximum amp input.
4. Set the reading to read an up for 20 amps and down to 200 milliamps.
5. Attach the black wire from the multimeter to the battery’s negative terminal (-) and the red wire to the car’s terminal.
6. If the reading on the multimeter is more than 50 mA, then there is a “parasite,” i.e., something is draining your battery.

Identifying the Source of the Battery Drain

Following are the remedies you need to try to see if the problem has been solved or not:

1. Open the fuse box and remove a fuse and check the reading.
2. If the reading stays above 50 mA, then you need to remove another fuse.
3. Repeat step 2 until you see the reading fall below 50 mA (if it was reading a much higher number like 3 A or more).
4. Once you have identified which fuse it is, please use the reference to know what the fuse belongs to.

Now that you have identified the issue and its source, you can identify exactly the cause of battery drainage. Common issues that cause a parasitic drain include:

• Forgetting to turn off lights (such as headlights, taillights, interior lights).
• The lights are shorting/fusing and not turning off.
• Faulty battery cells or electrolytes that do not hold a charge and need replacement.

Identifying the problem is the greatest battle. From there, you can determine your course of action.

A Honda Accord Battery Is Not Charging

The most common issue when a car battery doesn’t charge is corrosion on the terminals. The terminals need to be thoroughly cleaned to remove any form of rusting or corrosion. The easiest method to do this at home is to use a mixture of water and baking soda and scrub it well to remove the contamination.

The other issue that comes with batteries not charging has to do with a faulty alternator. The alternator is a power generator that charges the battery when the car is running. If you determine an issue with the alternator, get it checked.

Honda Accord Battery Keeps Dying

Dying, as opposed to not holding a charge, means that the battery is in a state that no amount of recharge can bring it back to life.

Why It May Not Hold a Charge

If your battery has faulty cells or unstable electrolytes, then it is most likely that it needs to be replaced as it will not store any charge.

The copyright owner of this article is Knowmyauto.com and was first published on Sep 2, 2021..

If you are lucky, maybe it’s just a blown fuse that won’t allow the alternator to charge the battery. Check this first. If you do determine it’s a fuse, but the fuse is blowing consistently, this is an issue in itself and will need addressing.

How Often the Battery May Need to Be Replaced

Batteries that have been used for far too long need to be replaced, and a battery typically needs to be replaced every four to six years.

How Much a Honda Accord Battery Will Cost You

According to Kelly Blue Book, a Honda Accord replacement battery can cost upwards of $250 or as little as $50. It all depends on the quality, capacity, and size of the battery.

Where to Get a Replacement Battery for a Honda Accord

If you want to be sure to get the right battery for your accord, don’t just pick one up at a superstore. Go to your dealership or to a reputable auto parts store to find the right battery for your car.

Warning Lights Stay On After Changing Battery

One common issue with a Honda Accord is that you will notice warning lights on the dashboard light up at once. This issue usually arises if you faced a battery problem, as mentioned earlier. You do not have to worry about anything.

A simple fix is to simply take your car for a drive if you have fixed any and all battery problems, as mentioned earlier. The lights will turn off after a few minutes. If they are consistently on for a few hours or even days, then you will need to seek professional help.

Final Thoughts

There are a fair number of issues that can occur with the battery of a Honda Accord, but the car still remains a very reliable model, and most battery issues have an easy fix. Depending on how often you drive, what kind of conditions you drive in, and what kind of battery you’ve got under the hood, you can generally expect your Accord battery to last you about five years.

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KnowMyAuto is the sole owner of this article was published on Sep 2, 2021 and last updated on Dec 15, 2023 .