MichaelkTSX

I had my 2005 TSX for a little over 1 1/2 yrs and today the car wouldn't start. I tested the headlights/horn and they both worked but the car wouldn't start. So I jumped it and it turns on.

I have never had a car battery die in less then 3 yrs. So I'm confused on why the battery seem to be dying?

I'm running stock HU/Amp with TypeS speakers upgrade and no other major modifications that would strain the battery.

I did not leave any lights on or do anything that would drain the battery.

I don't use the radio or anything if the engine isn't on.

It was a 89 degrees when I try to start the car, so I can't blame the temp.


I took a look at the battery and its has a 410 cold crank rating (WOW CRAPPY BATTERY). Even the cheapest walmart battery for our car has a 500 cold crank rating. I called up the Acura dealership and they want $80+ for a new battery (RIPOFF).

After driving the car around town, the car starts up now but I'm not so sure that it will do that tomorrow. Should I get an Optima or just go with the cheap $45 battery from walmart? I called up a couple of pepboys and they don't have any Optima in stock around the Orlando area. Advice/Experiences/Ranting appericated.

EuRTSX

Optima is better. JTso recommends it.


And we all know what JTso says, is what the pro says.

MichaelkTSX

Ya I know Optima is better but its also 3x more expensive then the walmart battery. Is the extra cash worth it if I don't plan on upgrading my system?

Should I go with Yellow or Red top Optima? if I am running a stock system except for upgraded TypeS speakers.

I am also having trouble locating Optima batteries in Orlando and if the car doesn't start tomorrow I might have to go with what I can get my hands on.

Xtremespeed2102

you too huh.

apparently one of the times my TSX was in the shop getting warranty junk fixed they said my battery was at 60 or 70%. what a suprise. im acutally afraid to go outside one day and have it not start.... a $30k car thats barely 2 years old not starting.

its weak some days and i live in florida, not NJ or any place else where it might actually get cold....


oh, and im not looking foward to replacing the battery, optimas are not cheap.

Xtremespeed2102

oh yeah, and red if u plan on normally using the car... starting and what not.

if u plan on using the battery for extended periods of time w.o charging then youd want a yellow.

hrj

iTrader: (1)

my battery was about to die last weekend, but dunno what happened, it turns blue again after a few highway driving..

MichaelkTSX

Well we do have free road side assistant. I used it a couple of times, took from 15mins - 45mins to get someone to you. Still I'm pissed off at the crappy battery used in our TSX.

MichaelkTSX

Thanks. Guess I'll get the red top, still trying to locate one in stock in Orlando, doubt I have any luck.

hrj

iTrader: (1)

Optima RT35

Optima YT34/78

you can get it online

http://www.1st-optima-batteries.com/

peter_bigblock

I'm kind of a battery newb, can somebody explain why, if you're just using the battery for starting, oem stereo, headlights, etc. (i.e., nothing aftermarket), is the Optima Red Top battery "better" than a 550 or 600 CCA battery from Autozone? What does the Optima battery do in an electronically stock car that the Autozone battery won't do?

CJams

OEM battery does suck.

If you get the Optima, ya gotta get JTso's custom Stainless battery tray

sidssp

Before you buy a new battery, you might want to ask the dealer to check the electric system just to make sure there is no short some where. Even an OEM battery should not run down like this unless you haven't driven the car for a while.

mg7726

funny i just got the yellow top at costco. it cranks the TSX with conviction - highly recommended!

jiggaman

which size did u go with?

mg7726

^^ jigga, search for minkl81's thread - i got the YT34/78.

ChrismanTSX

Now, I'm worried about winters up here! i wonder how the car will behave once temperatures drop to -10F/-20F up here in Montreal...

Are we talking about a few isolated incidents here, or is this a widespread issue with the TSXs?

Still Water

You're driving a $30K car with computers, HID's, alarms, etc. Get a Optima, red or yellow.

EuRTSX

Yep, I plan on getting a new battery myself soon. It's already died on me once, and that was just using the radio for like 10 minutes.

dalieu

i actually had my 2005 tsx in a few months ago because sometimes it took multiple cranks before starting. service advisor said the battery failed a load test and replaced it with a new one...

hrj

iTrader: (1)

that sucks, I hope my batt wont die during my road trip this dec..

EuRTSX

Just be worry free and replace it before hand. Better safe than sorry.

Powered by Honda

What happens if you buy Yellow and drive it frequently?

Xtremespeed2102

shouldnt make a difference. Optima batteries are made differently than costco/autozone cheapos. These are sealed gel cell batteries meaning theyre pretty shock resistant and what not. If you look how they are made, each "cell" is sealed in itself and tightly wrapped. Almost like having 6 batteries in one.

The yellow tops are made to take longer abuses of power drain. therefore using the yellow top normally day to day shouldnt make much of a difference to it, but you probably arent taking full use out of its ability to produce power for longer ammounts of time.

In the robotics lab i used to/will again work at, we use the yellow tops to power our vehicles during testing and what not becuase we dont have to charge them all too often. maybe once a day. Now the battery is made to be charged and discharged often and discharged almost compeletly. As where if we used the redtops, they would charge and discharge normally, but wouldnt have the extra capacity, nor the endurance of many many complete drains and recharges.

Im not too sure if theres more advantages to the red top, but im fairly familliar with the yellow...

how much is that yellow going for btw at costco. I have no clue what we paid for ours, most of it is paid for by grants and what not. Did they sell the red there aswell?

Xtremespeed2102

you know, now that i sit here and think.
last month my radar was crapping out. after speaking with the really nice tech at escort i deemed it to be a voltage spike when the car started. I almost wonder if this is a result of the crappy battery, dipping too low and then shooting up upon start.

I have yet to look into all of this, mainly becuase i figured it wouldnt be an issue but apparently not.

back to the escort issue, knock on wood, by not starting the car with the radar plugged in has worked well.

Still Water

It has been a while since I researched the Optima line but if I remember correctly the biggest difference between the Yellow or Red is, as said above, the cycling load on use v. recharge. That being the Yellow is designed for higher power needs (e.g. big, bad car stereo amps, etc.) with a draw down in power and multiple recharge cycles. The Red Top is designed more for regular car requirements like all weather startups, adverse driving conditions, staying power and longevity. These guys are one tough battery that's close to bullet proof.

Hit their web site and do some reading and I think you will be impressed. I replaced my still good OEM battery after a little less than 2 years simply because I didn't ever want to have to think above my battery going bad or stressing out the electrical system. Call it proactive intervention. Kind of like good car karma. I'll take car of you and you take care of me.

Still Water

"Brown" power or low, possibly unstable power is generally harder on electronics than "hot" power. Where you never want to subject your electrical goodies to a spike, etc.; you will have a harder time noticing or determining the presence of a low power condition. Moral of the story, you can never have a too clean or stable power source*. Overall it's cheap insurance and helps make your voltage eaters long lived. How much does it cost to replace a car brain that's out of warranty???







* Maybe that's why they named them Optima. Just a guess.

TinkyWinky

Acura using a shitty part? Does not surprise me anymore.

But I suppose batteries never really last forever. Any oem generally lasts 40~50k miles +/- whatever, right?

Xtremespeed2102

theres barely 26k on the clock of my 2004 tsx

Xtremespeed2102

yeah, well the goodies that arent warrentied arent plugged in until the alt is running.

trust me 50k or 4 years, this cars being traded out... hopefully traded up if i have my degree and job

aaronng

410cca is not bad. Honda here in Australia supplies the Accord Euro with a 300 cca battery.

MichaelkTSX

Had a talk with my conscience (ya that's my significant other) and she got me doubting about putting 150 dollar + on a new battery. We're saving to get married so I guess money does matter. I'm not going to go with the cheap 45 dollar walmart battery (435cca), so I guess I'll go with the 500cca battery from pepboys for $60.

Maybe if I lived in colder parts or if I didn't have the road side assistance or a secondary car....I might justify the purchase. I also don't like the fact that the optima battery is slightly bigger then the 51R batteries and stretches the plastic on the battery holder. You guys are more then welcome to try an talk me out of getting a cheapo battery.

btw I guess the TSX battery died because I have been letting it sit in the garage. I use it about 2-4 times a week with each trips being 8-16 miles. I do that with my TL and had never had problems, but then again the battery on the TL is much bigger. Guess I'll use the TSX more regularly.

aaronng

The 500ca battery is fine. If you are not getting a yellow top, then you won't be gettin gthe deep discharge advantage of the Optima.

Your short trips should be alright. With my 410cca battery, I do 8 mile trips 5 times a week and I don't have the battery failing. So with your 500cca should be sufficient as long as you don't leave any lights off.

PJS

God damn you all for turning me on to these batteries!
£150 - or $285 ish for the D34......bloody hell!
Mind you, with 17.5% VAT included, it's no wonder, but even so.
With respect MichaelkTSX, thank your lucky stars you're not getting married over here.
So, since you're saving a bundle, quit your whining and get it - it's the best $150 you'll ever spend.
Either that or put down as a wedding present.

Gen4MDX

To the OP, if your car is a 2005, wouldn't this still be covered under your warranty?

TinkyWinky

I think the "cheaper" replacement should be more than enough, unless you're using your TSX as a cab or delivery vehicle.

Your SO/fiance sounds much more intelligent than those of other A-TSX members.

aaronng

No, if he was using his car as a cab or delivery vehicle, he would be driving it enough to sufficiently recharge his battery and thus never encounter a battery problem like this.

His problem is that he is not driving his car enough and discharging the battery to less than 60%. Once you discharge the battery to less tha 60%, it will never hold charge as good as before.

MichaelkTSX

Battery are covered for full replacement for 12 months. I have own this car for more then 12 months. They would prorate the battery but for $8X.XX for a new 410 cca battery I don't care how they prorate it at the Acura dealer, I'm not touching these batteries again.

Still Water

Hey TinkyWinky, I seem to remember you as well as other long-timers getting more than a little bent over having their "intelligence" questioned or impugned. For me it was more like the old adage, "Do you know why a dog licks his balls???" I could afford to get what I wanted and I got it. If you can't justify the cost than go with plan B. It's that simple. I got mine delivered by UPS for the total cost of $125.00us. If that's too much to pay for some than simply buy the best battery for you budget. Pretty straight forward stuff, hopefully not requiring much brain power to accomplish.

bz268

The battery has a 2-year warranty regardless the mileage. Why do you have to pay for a new one?

I put 50k miles on my car in 1 1/2 years. My battery was worn out. The little green thingie was not green anymore. I took my car to the dealer and they put a new battery in free of charge.

MichaelkTSX

You're right, the battery has a 2 yr warranty replacement warranty (yes I finally looked it up in the warranty booklet). The freaken parts guy at Fountain Acura in Orlando told me it was only covered for 12 months and new battery costed $80. I should have talked to the service manager instead of the parts guy.

However. the reasons I paided for a new battery is because I really don't want to deal with the OEM battery anymore. I don't have the time to make an appointment and drive 10 miles to the Acura dealership (I have work during their service hours). I also don't want to wait when my car needs a jump every morning to drive. Plus I believe you are expected to pay the installation and service charge, even if the battery is free.

I went with the 63 dollars 500 cca battery, car starts way better then it has in months.