Well the RDX was sitting outside in -15 degrees celcius weather for a good 8 hours today and when I went to start it up it was like starting a car that has a near dead battery.

Anyone else experiences this too? It already sounds like a dying battery when starting up in normal weather but the cold really does kill it.

I'm going to do that battery drain test found on one of the TSB's about the sub draining power. I think the sub is draining some power but the car is able to start in the normal temps but it affects the CCA of the battery with its drain.

 

Do yo use your seat warmers alot? and any other defrosting acc.?

 

We barely got to the 20's and mine was doing the same.

 

Usually when the car is in motion yes, I never turn on anything when the car is cold. I turn off everything (even radio!) when I turn off the car (habit).

 

My car starts slow in the cold as well, but it has never not started. I just went on an 11 day trip and had the car parked at the airport the entire time in low to mid 30 degree weather. I was worried when I left for the trip that it wouldn't start when I got back, but it cranked slowly and started right up. This after more than a year with the same slow cranking whenever it gets cold out. I've had the RDX since sept of 06 and have 25000+ miles on it. Everytime I go on a trip, I put the spare jump start battery in the back just in case, but I have never had to use it. And I am in the VIN range for that amplifier problem.

 

How long are the seats ran for(duration)?

 

usually the entire trip but turned off before car is shut off.

 

Well that can't be good on your BAT at all...

Any heating element will have an huge impact on your BAT(aka: premature or ecessive drain), I think this is also stated on your owner's manual...

 

Usually have it on HI until it reaches a temp I like then set it to LOW. HI draws alot of power, low draws less (thats what honda states in both the rdx manual as well as my preludes manual)

Either way I usually try not to use heated seats but when its -20 outside its a must.

 

I can confirm my car is not one of the cars to be part of the battery draw TSB (mines the 801 some odd thousandth car built lol)

It sucks that it starts like a 80 year old man.

 

Maybe you need more CCA (cold cranking amps) out of the BAT for your area?

 

could be, I'm going to do a comparison between my prelude and the rdx. The prelude even in -30 degrees weather starts like a champ. But I think it has a bigger battery then what came stock (I can't confirm as I bought the car with aftermarket interstate battery)

I had similar issues with the CRV as well, start up was becomming sluggish and it turned out to be the 7 year old battery was on its way out.

Could it be honda/acura did not put the proper size battery in all rdx's ?

 

Could be an oversight on their end....

 

Hey vrflyer if you have the rdx near you can you tell me the numbers off the battery? Won't be seeing the rdx till tonight.

 

My battery also hesitates a bit to start the car, when it's cold in the mornings, around 40F in California, which is not very cold.
We rarely use the seat warmers.

When I got my 2007RDX a year ago, I had my stereo replaced because its tuner died. At that time, Acura also replaced the battery because it was low they said.
So it seems the battery was losing charge while the car was in storage for a few months...
It seems the battery might be a bit "undersized" for the vehicle.

 

I have heard that it is normal for manufacturers to put undersized batteries in their vehicles. It's a cost saving thing I believe. I had the same problem with my Nissan Pathfinder, the battery was way to small for the car.

 

Sorry missed this post/reply, been out on town on business, etc...

Anywho, took 3-sluggish cranks this morning @ -5F with windchill.

 

ya me too , watering the battery didn't help much.


Taking the rdx in on wednesday for the loud pop on cold starts, and this battery issue. I did glimpse at the battery and I beleive it was in the upper 400 CCA's vs my preludes which is in the upper 600's.

I think acura cheaped out bad on the battery, either way gonna see if acura can throw in a higher cca battery.

 

WOW - def. needs at least around 525 CCA's (thanks for looking) ....

 

Just had a looksy this morning its actualy 409 CCA, f'ing rediculous. I don't know if acura is gonna do anything if they aren't im gonna replace it my self.

My preludes is 630 CCA and it has a smaller motor then the RDX :P