When Do I Need To Replace My Battery?

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Old Sep 25, 2007 | 03:55 PM
  #1  
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When Do I Need To Replace My Battery?

I own a TSX'04. I recently installed my usa-spec and during the installation my battery died. now it feels like the car starts uneasily and takes longer time for ignition. mine is running 65k km and i'm thinking it might be the battery.

could you recommend me some replacement batteries and the costs?
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Old Sep 25, 2007 | 05:19 PM
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my dealer just quoted me $100 installed for oem
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Old Sep 25, 2007 | 06:21 PM
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Don't be purchasing a battery at the dealer; unless it's comp'd. There's plenty of good car batteries out there.
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Old Sep 25, 2007 | 06:23 PM
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Originally Posted by plee9
I own a TSX'04. I recently installed my usa-spec and during the installation my battery died. now it feels like the car starts uneasily and takes longer time for ignition. mine is running 65k km and i'm thinking it might be the battery.

could you recommend me some replacement batteries and the costs?
i like ur avatar
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Old Sep 25, 2007 | 11:08 PM
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Go aftermarket battery for sure. The OEM one is poor.
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Old Sep 26, 2007 | 12:46 AM
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yeah but which ones though? is there a DIY for replacing batteries?
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Old Sep 26, 2007 | 01:49 AM
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You don't need a DIY for replacing batteries! Just take the -ve terminal off, then the +ve terminal. Remove the battery tie down and lift the battery up. Reverse the order to install your new battery.

Just get any good high CCA sealed battery. I'm using an ACDelco.
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Old Sep 26, 2007 | 04:43 AM
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Originally Posted by aaronng
Go aftermarket battery for sure. The OEM one is poor.
The OE battery and the replacement are not the same. The OE in the TSX is made in Japan. The replacement is made in the US by the same supplier as the TL battery and almost all of the Honda batteries.

Interstate Battery dealers and most Honda/Acura dealers have a tester that will estimate the life of your current battery.

I have an Optima battery in all my cars.
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Old Sep 26, 2007 | 06:50 AM
  #9  
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Optima Yellow FTW
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Old Sep 26, 2007 | 06:53 AM
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Originally Posted by LoveMyTSX
Optima Yellow FTW
x2
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Old Sep 26, 2007 | 09:36 AM
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I guess guess your "search" button was broken....

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...hlight=battery
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...hlight=battery
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...hlight=battery
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...hlight=battery
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Old Sep 26, 2007 | 11:01 AM
  #12  
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Originally Posted by LoveMyTSX
Optima Yellow FTW
Not unless you have a huge, thumping stereo that drains your system...the Optima Red is better suited to daily driving. The Yellow won't perform any better in day to day stuff and might perorm worse as it is optimized for deep discharge installations.
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Old Sep 26, 2007 | 02:12 PM
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S14 n Tsx's Avatar
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Originally Posted by LOL888
my dealer just quoted me $100 installed for oem
waste of money. I got my optima red top for $130 and installed it myself.
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Old Sep 26, 2007 | 02:13 PM
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Originally Posted by LoveMyTSX
Optima Yellow FTW
RED TOP FTW.
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Old Sep 26, 2007 | 06:18 PM
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Consumer Reports did a comparison of batteries. Napa, Duralast, AC Delco, Interstate scored well. Kirkland (Costco house brand) was considered a good value. October 2006 ish if you wanna catch it at the library.
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Old Sep 28, 2007 | 06:31 PM
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Originally Posted by davidspalding
Consumer Reports did a comparison of batteries. Napa, Duralast, AC Delco, Interstate scored well. Kirkland (Costco house brand) was considered a good value. October 2006 ish if you wanna catch it at the library.
All but NAPA are made by Johnson Controls. They also make the Genuine Acura Replacement battery and Optima.

My car was a week old and put the Yellow Top 51R in it.
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Old Sep 28, 2007 | 06:35 PM
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The OEM battery is what should go into a f***ing Yugo not a $30K Acura.

I'm not that mad. At least Honda decides to cut the cost where it can easily be taken care of by the aftermarket scene. Unlike Ford who cheaps out on core elements like the transmission and cooling system.
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Old Sep 28, 2007 | 08:38 PM
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The size of the battery in the TSX is used in the Mazda 121! The previous JDM Accords used a larger battery.
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Old Sep 29, 2007 | 06:58 AM
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Originally Posted by aaronng
The size of the battery in the TSX is used in the Mazda 121! The previous JDM Accords used a larger battery.
In the US the 51R is a very common Honda battery. Some people take the tray out and put a bigger battery in. I work for a battery company, so I guess you could say I get a "deal" on batteries for my cars.
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Old Sep 29, 2007 | 10:14 AM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by plee9
yeah but which ones though? is there a DIY for replacing batteries?
There's a battery holder tool (not sure what to call it) that lets you lift and carry the battery. The hooks connect to the positive and negative terminals. I suppose this is done so you won't have to physically touch the battery and possibly get battery acid on yourself. This is what I usually use to lift the battery out of a car (instead of reaching down the sides to lift it manually).

As mentioned before, you just have to remove the battery holder and the two cables. After that, you can lift the battery. Be careful, car batteries are usually heavy.
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Old Sep 29, 2007 | 01:35 PM
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I could be wrong, but if you get one and replace it yourself, ask about where to turn in your old battery for recycling/disposal.
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Old Sep 29, 2007 | 02:55 PM
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Originally Posted by davidspalding
I could be wrong, but if you get one and replace it yourself, ask about where to turn in your old battery for recycling/disposal.
Anyone that sells batteries has to take the old one. It doesn't matter were you bought it. Lead is $1.50 a pound, so plenty of people want them.
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Old Sep 29, 2007 | 08:22 PM
  #23  
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in the 24th and a half...
 
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Originally Posted by timd38
Anyone that sells batteries has to take the old one. It doesn't matter were you bought it. Lead is $1.50 a pound, so plenty of people want them.
And most of those places levy a "core" charge that is refunded when you bring in an old battery...
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Old Oct 1, 2007 | 10:03 AM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by DuckDodgers
And most of those places levy a "core" charge that is refunded when you bring in an old battery...


Any Acura dealer will take the "core" back. Acura of Cerritos (for example) will give you $9 for it.
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Old Oct 1, 2007 | 01:16 PM
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i replaced mines after couple of months when i bought my car. i replaced it with a red top. thee best....
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Old Oct 1, 2007 | 11:44 PM
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New Consumer Reports

Originally Posted by davidspalding
Consumer Reports did a comparison of batteries. Napa, Duralast, AC Delco, Interstate scored well. Kirkland (Costco house brand) was considered a good value. October 2006 ish if you wanna catch it at the library.
FWIW The issue of the Consumer Reports that is on the newsstand now has a battery review and a tire review. Glanced at it at the supermarket tonight.

As I recall, the review results were similar to the one David remembers from last year. Optima is included.
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Old Oct 5, 2007 | 06:29 PM
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Last month I replaced my OE battery. The service life was a bit disappointing. I have about 17K miles and the car makes 4 years in December. Went with a Kirkland 51R for $46 and so far no complaints. Costco also refunded the core charge of $5 when I returned the old battery. The Optimas are better batteries but come with a premium price. The Kirkland specs and warranty are comparable to Duralast, Diehard and others at almost half the cost. They're worth looking into.
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Old Oct 5, 2007 | 09:32 PM
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Battery life is based on years, not miles. And for a low mileage car like yours, battery life will be shortened because of the shorter charging duration for each start.
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Old Oct 17, 2007 | 02:27 PM
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oem battery is crap. Just had my front speakers replaced and added a new amp. playing music in my car for about 20 minutes or some times less than 10 minutes with the motor off, the battery dies out. I had to jump start my car about 4-5 times already.
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Old Oct 17, 2007 | 02:56 PM
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Originally Posted by zidenx
oem battery is crap. Just had my front speakers replaced and added a new amp. playing music in my car for about 20 minutes or some times less than 10 minutes with the motor off, the battery dies out. I had to jump start my car about 4-5 times already.
Too Much
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Old Oct 17, 2007 | 04:39 PM
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Originally Posted by zidenx
oem battery is crap. Just had my front speakers replaced and added a new amp. playing music in my car for about 20 minutes or some times less than 10 minutes with the motor off, the battery dies out. I had to jump start my car about 4-5 times already.
Of course, it's because of your new amp.
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Old Oct 17, 2007 | 09:23 PM
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Originally Posted by tsxman04
Last month I replaced my OE battery. The service life was a bit disappointing. I have about 17K miles and the car makes 4 years in December. Went with a Kirkland 51R for $46 and so far no complaints. Costco also refunded the core charge of $5 when I returned the old battery. The Optimas are better batteries but come with a premium price. The Kirkland specs and warranty are comparable to Duralast, Diehard and others at almost half the cost. They're worth looking into.
All the batteries that you have listed are made by Johnson Controls including the Optima. Of course each of them have different specifications to meet and different warranty. Please remember that warranty is a function of marketing, not quality.
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