[TooTall516]

Two of us, with PP Elites bought the same week, could not start our engines yesterday. Each of us had driven to different destinations for 1-2 hours in a wind/snow storm. Electrical load was high with headlights, read defrost, windshield wipers, ventilation fan, seat heaters, radio, etc... The next day, both of us had discharged batteries unable to put out enough voltage for the starter motor to turn-over the engine for it to start. One PP has ~2500 km, the other ~5000km, each barely 2 months old.

The odds of us having simultaneous & identical problems are next to zero. The only logical answer seems to be that the alternator is not large enough to supply sufficient current to the battery in similar high-load conditions and it eventually discharges over time (1 - 2 hours) that it drops below the minimum voltage (around 12V is my guess).

Has anyone seen the same or similar pattern that might support my theory that the alternator is too small (not enough charging capacity)?

 

[MattyNice]

I believe Honda has had some issues with the batteries themselves in the passport. I know they specifically checked the voltage on mine during the delivery process.

 

[stevenD]

Welcome to the Forum, sorry your first post is due to problems you are having...!

 

[Wrascal]

While I can not confirm your accusations I will say that I now shed electrical loads several miles before shut-down; with the hope that it'll be quickly replaced.
Beyond that I will say that for many years Honda (and other manufacturers) have provided batteries too weak for their intended instantaneously load.

I quickly burned thru a 2014 Ridgeline battery, it was replaced by my Honda dealer perhaps 13 months later.

 

[Reno_bk]

While ours hasn’t died on us, our Passport has given us an alert a few times telling us the battery charge was low and we needed to turn off all accessories. When this has happened, we were either sitting in the car listening to the radio for 15-20 min or unloading camping gear with the doors/hatch open for 15-20 min.

ive never had a car warn me about a low battery, and certainly not after such a short time with such a light electrical load. The lights are all LED (Elite trim) is they can’t draw much power in 20 min. Leads me to think the battery and/or alternator might be weak.

 

[Wrascal]

I'm glad to hear that the car will provide a warning prior to it's complete battery doom.
So while I carry cables (from what I understand there is more to it than a simple quick connect) without further disassembly they may not necessarily be helpful.

 

[hondo]

Why guess and not actually measure the voltage? We use a Foxwell BT705 to check all possible conditions and it also includes a test scenario for engine start voltage. Highly recommended. It is trivial to install a battery extension coupling that allows access to battery without having to remove anything under the hood. Easiest way to kill a battery in any car is to allow it to remain below optimum voltage and AGM batteries should be charged at 14.4 volts

 

[rls002]

Had my first oil change around 4500 miles on my Elite. Service person told me my battery was at 60 or 65%. If I did not have my VTM installed, I would have had them I talk it.
i, too, had battery warning lights/alarms go off within the first two days of ownership this past August. Just loading it up for vacation with the hatch open. Happened three more times on vacation. I agree there’s a problem. I dint know of any resolution coming from honda though.

 

[HPWJR]

I have gotten the low battery warning i believe three times and at random times. I have never had a starting problem but something doesn't seem right that it should throw that warning. It's either the battery or the alternator. I'd like to get it fixed even though thus far it has caused no problem.

 

[HPWJR]

I just went out and did a voltage check. 12.1v just sitting from overnight in 42 degee temps. 14.1v charging at idle. Seems low all the way around.

 

[hondo]

We've installed a few of these from Sam's Club -- Group size 48/H6 and prices often less during sales
You STILL MUST MAINTAIN the battery by regularly maintaining for sulfation. It is not enough to just drive & park.

 

[hondo]

12.1v just sitting from overnight in 42 degee temps.

You did not measure the CA or CCA so we don't have full picture but generally anything under 12.6v at everything disconnected is an undercharged battery and the plates are sulfating. If you connect it to a maintainer, be sure you have ability to use AGM Mode which is 14.4 volts as the generic type maintainers do not have this capability. CTEK MUS (all models) is highly recommended.

 

[Beachbum07]

We've installed a few of these from Sam's Club -- Group size 48/H6 and prices often less during sales
You STILL MUST MAINTAIN the battery by regularly maintaining for sulfation. It is not enough to just drive & park.

View attachment 4862

I’ve never heard of having to maintain a battery with a trickle charger for a daily use vehicle, especially not a new one. Where is this in the manual?

 

[hondo]

.. especially not a new one.

Your battery may have been manufactured MONTHS before the car and may have sat for MONTHS slowly discharging due to all the parasitic systems every late model Honda comes with.

 

[HPWJR]

I just checked my battery after it had been driven quite a bit and it registered just 11.9 volts. No wonder the warning light comes on. I'm going to charge it and let it go all the way to just the maintenance trickle charge and see what it does. Something is not right. My diesel truck, which has been largely sitting for a number of days, registers 12.43v

 

[Wrascal]

It's said that summertime heat is a larger battery killer than cold weather.
If I'm stuck with a dead battery I'd prefer to be standing in the shade - rather than the cold.

 

[5500]

I've had new car batteries last anywhere from 3 to 9 years in my daily drivers. My only maintainance is preventive... keeping the terminals free of corrosion. Sorry to hear about your issue, it is pretty odd that it would happen to 2 different vehicles almost simultaneously but lends credence to battery issues vs charging issues.

 

[sprocket]

Anyone think these low voltage levels would have anything to do with the infotainment issues.
When I start my vehicle, just about every time the infotainment screen in blank or snowy (but radio, etc still functions) and after driving for 10-15 minutes it will come back on.

 

[larryd]

I just went out and checked my voltage after setting for 3 days in my heated to 42 degree garage and the voltage was 12.3 V and then I started it and it showed 14.2 V...Charging rate is dead on...Static voltage should be 12.6, ???

 

[hondo]

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