My ’04, bought in October of 2003, is well into its sixth New England winter, and the original battery is still under the hood and performing fine. Over the years, I’ve read countless posts
from TSX owners disgusted with the Panasonic battery that came with the car. I’ve obviously had much better luck with the battery than they did, and I’m sure I’m not the only one.

If you’re still using the original battery, how many miles are on the car and how’s the battery performing? If you replaced the battery, when did you do it (miles/years) and why? Was it so weak that you had to replace it or did you replace it as a precautionary move?

More about my experience with the battery:
Reading the many A’zine posts about the Panasonic battery being a piece of junk had me starting to contemplate battery replacement after just three New England winters; even though my battery seemed fine, I figured I’d better not chance keeping it much longer.

But I never quite convinced myself to replace it, reason being that the battery wouldn’t even hint at being on the way out. Here in the Boston area we’ve just had a stretch of extreme cold – daytime highs in the teens and overnight lows around zero – and I can honestly say the car’s been starting just the way I remember it starting during the severe-cold spells in the previous winters: just a trifle slower than if the temperature was, say, 30.

My local dealership has tested the battery a number of times over the years, during routine service visits (usually oil changes). Correct me if I'm wrong, but the OEM battery had a CCA rating of 410 when new. Here are the last four readings I can find in my records:
 Feb. 1, 2007 -- 370
 Nov. 30, 2007 -- 356
 March 18, 2008 (tail end of winter #5) -- 336 (service advisor said that reading put the battery in the "iffy" category)
 Oct. 15, 2008 -- 365
I'm going in for an oil change tomorrow, so I'll give them a "please check the battery" reminder.

About a week ago, when all the meteorologists were hammering us with their “here comes the brutal cold” forecasts, I got nervous about the battery, so I called my local Advance Auto Parts store to inquire about the availability of an Optima battery. The guy I spoke with invited me to come over for a free battery test, so I took him up on the offer. The tester he used didn’t give a CCA reading; it was some sort of a voltage check. Anyway, his assessment was that the battery was showing signs of age but appeared plenty strong enough to make it through this winter.

By the way, my car has about 69,500 miles on it, my daily commute is about 20 miles each way, my car has the stock audio system, and the only extra demand I put on the battery is occasionally using a car vacuum that I plug into the Not An Ashtray power outlet.

 

I have about the same mileage on my 06 tsx but it is 2+years old with the original battery. I accidently left the dome light on for almost 3 days. Car started right up. I do alot of driving so the battery gets a excellent charge.

 

I get horrible starts espcially in the cold.

This whole week in buffalo with temps under 10 degrees i had failed starts or struggling starts.

Luckily had a friend jump me.

 

For me, my car sits sometimes for a while because either I'm out of town or driving something else. With that said, I don't drive it enough to charge the battery, therefore it can become weak. Unfortunately, last week I was putting a AUXHON4 in the car and the car hadn't been driven in 3 weeks, the battery was so weak, the navi didn't even boot. I replaced it with an optima. As far as I can remember, it's been a slow starting battery anyway and when someone said it's the same battery as a Civic, I basically said to myself "no wonder why!" I'm glad to have replaced it.

 

I've had my car (an 04) for about 4.5 years, just over 50K miles. The battery has been a sluggish starter since day one but has always started for me. This week the temps have been below zero (central Ohio) and the thing barely turns over for a couple cranks but invariably starts. A year or so ago when I had it in for service I asked the dealer about it because the indicator eye said it required service but the dealer said it was a sealed unit so there was no servicing that could be done (then why would it have such in indicator?) but he said they tested it and it was fine. I too read alot of complaints about the battery but so far (knock wood) it has always started. That said, at any given time this winter, if I go out one morning and it won't start, I won't be entirely surprised.

 

I just replaced the original battery in my 2004 New Year's week. It was struggling to start in 30 degree weather so I figured it was time to replace it. I was right, the dealer said it was testing low. I just replaced it with the 500 CCA replacement battery from the dealer. All is well now. Glad I did it when I did, because it's been in the teens and twenties here for highs the last week or so. Car had 52k on it and will be 5 years old next month.

Mine had always been a sluggish starter, too, and I had asked the dealer one or two times in the past couple years to test it. It always tested fine before the last time so I dealt with the slow starts.

 

04 with original battery and just under 40k. Couple of past days here in NYC have been brutal, but the battery has come through nonetheless. I personally don't equate a slow crank with a crappy battery. Admittedly, I do get nervous sometimes, but the batter hasn't failed me yet.

 

Another '04 owner here (in service, Aug. '03, 56K miles now). The original battery is still in the car and even though it's a slow start, it always starts. We just had the cold blast with temps below zero and the battery did fine.

 

i have about 40k on my 2006 tsx.. acura replaced my battery last week.

 

Had the car 3.5 years (MY 2005), 105,000km, on my 3rd Canadian winter. Car still starts on first attempt even when it's -20C.

 

Im right around your stats too.. I have an 04 with 67k miles.. and I live in NY where it's been pretty cold as well.. I usually drive about 50 miles a day for my work commute but I got into an accident at work (work vehicle not the tsx) and have been out since october.. That being said, my cars seen limited driving thru this cold weather and the battery has yet to let me down. Maybe it's the energy conserving interior led's haha..

 

'06, 9,500 miles, garage kept, mild winters, very short commute to work, about 3 miles each way. Original battery doing fine.

 

nope, wish i had as good luck, but I drive my car all the time, and all city. add in the amp/subs and it's just a bad combo...

original service date: 04/2004
Upgrade to Optima 51R 05/2005 for fun
Optima shorted cell 06/2006
Les Schwab installed new battery in 2006, and this past winter with under freezing the car failed to start 2x and had hard starts numerous times. time to get a 75 series.
(I have a Vector battery reconditioner / charger so i doubt it's the battery, and just my driving style (average 13-18mph on a tank ~20mpg to give you an idea of how much city driving i do... ))

 

I've had terrible experience with my battery. I have a 06 TSX and had the battery replaced at 30000 miles. Battery would like 30 seconds if engine was shut off (literally) and I also had a issue with my bluetooth which had to be replaced.

Everything is all well and fine now though.

 

I haven't had a single issue with my battery. My 04 has 40k on it and i live in colorado and drive it all year.

 

04 with 84K and no problems.

 

I never had "trouble" with my OEM battery. My 04 (bought Dec 03) started up fine. However, two service visits in a row (for oil change) resulted in the dealer telling me that the battery was testing low and that I should think about replacing it. I didn't want to find myself stuck and needing a jump start one day so I replaced it myself with a Costco battery (500CCA I think) sometime early last year. I did notice that the engine would turn over a little quicker with the new battery. All told the OEM battery lasted about 4 years and around 33K miles without once failing to start.

 

Did they say why it was replaced. Covered under warranty?

 

My 06 turns over very slowly in NJ winters, should just bite the bullet and get a new battery ...............

 

my 2006 TSX purchased Dec 19, 2005 and has almost 50,000 miles on it. We drive it regularly, and it's garage kept. The battery is amazingly horrible. In my driving lifetime - 10 yrs - i may have accidentally left a dome light on, or sat with the radio on - many many times. and of all those times, i can't think of any car i've ever had that the batter needed a jump - ever.

in the 3 years of TSX ownership - i can count quickly at least 10 times our battery died. this amazes me.

i'm finally on a new battery and hope we have better luck - but i know have one of those portable jumpers in my trunk - just in case.

 

My original battery lasted about 4 years & 40,000 miles. Luckily it never died & left me stranded anywhere: I noticed it was taking longer for the engine to start & @ my next oil change they informed me that it was time ...

This seems to be about the life span of my previous batteries as well ...

 

05 TSX with OEM battery
Purchased July 05 New from dealer
Current Mileage: 112,000 + miles
Stock stereo system
Stored: Outdoor driveway

Currently I've noticed that it would be harder to start the car after colder winter nights. Fortunately, the temperature in SoCal has warmed up for the past few weeks and engine starts in the morning seem to be easier, but I've been looking around to find a replacement. I'm not interested in getting stranded anywhere due to an old battery.