I keep getting the low battery warning in my MID, especially in the cold mornings and it is getting annoying.

Granted, I do take a lot of short trips (I know this can lead to the battery not being fully recharged), however, for example, yesterday I took a 40-mile round trip run out to the airport and then parked the car at home. This morning, I get in to run an errand and sure enough, the beeping low battery warning goes off. The car always starts without problem.

I just checked the battery with a digital multimeter after I got home - it shows 14.5V when off and 16.1V when the engine is running. I haven't been to the dealer in about 4 months, but their last battery load test printout showed all was well. The battery is OEM and was replaced when I bought the car as CPO last January.

Is this just something I have to live with? Even on Acura's own website they mention that it's just a warning from the battery management system, but it's annoying when it goes off about 80% of the time!

 

Acura OEM batteries are generally known as weak.

 

There is a software update for this, ask your dealer to research the service bulletin database. It started with the Honda Odyssey a while back "Service Bulletin # 11-073 dated December 13, 2011" and it looks like it is slowly expanding everywhere...

 

You might want to have your dealer run a battery test that will show not only the voltage but also the cold cranking amps (they should be able to do this for free). All Acura dealers have this hand held tester, and it is used to determine if the battery needs to be replaced (the test only takes about 2 minutes).

Since you said the battery was replaced in January with an OEM, you might be under the 100 month pro-rated warranty. If the dealership PAID for the battery in January, the first 3 years are free replacement and then it goes to a prorated warranty for the rest of the 100 months.

The only exception is if the battery was replaced under warranty in January (meaning a customer or dealership did not pay for the replacement battery), the warranty does not start over and just continues from where the old battery left off.

You also did not mention the age and mileage of the car. If you are still under 4 years or 50K, the battery (and battery management system) is still under the factory warranty, even if it has already been replaced before.

 

I bought the car in STL before moving - the battery was replaced under warranty, I believe. It is a CPO '12 Advance and has about 42,000 miles on the ODO, so it's still under the original warranty, not the CPO extension. The servicing dealer now is in Richmond, VA, but I know that will have no impact.

I'm wondering if I should stop screwing with Acura batteries and just go get an Optima or other replacement.

 

TSB 12-013 - MID Shows BATTERY CHARGE LOW
Applies To: 2012 TL 2WD – From VIN 19UUA8...CA000001 thru 19UUA8...CA008239
2012 TL SH-WD – From VIN 19UUA9...CA000001 thru 19UUA9...CA002516
http://www.urvi.net/forumfiles/SB/B12-013.PDF
http://techinfo.honda.com/Rjanisis/pubs/SB/B12-013.PDF

 

Thanks. Next time I'm in I will ask about this. The last couple of times I've been in they have said there are no outstanding TSBs for my car (my VIN does fall in the range listed for this one).

I have a feeling the selling dealer may have already done this TSB when I bought the car in January 2014, as the TSB was dated almost 2 years prior.

 

Well I went out to start my car this morning and received the "Battery Should be Checked or Replaced as Soon as Possible" message on my Nav Screen.

Immediately drove to the dealer - did a battery test and it showed good (12.33V/513 CCA). They performed the TSB listed above in this thread (it had not been performed previously as I had assumed) and all seems good now. Time will tell, I guess.

 

First trip in the car since the TSB was applied. A 45 mile trip on the highway and upon parking and turning the car off I got the beeping "battery charge low, turn off all electronics" message.

Any suggestions? Back to the dealer or get a non-OEM battery at Autozone?

 

Spend $100 and get Costco or Walmart battery. I had same warning on NYE and all's good after replacement with non OEM. Worry-free issue with starting for next five years = $20/year investment. Done.

 

My only concern is if the battery really isn't the issue and putting an non-OEM won't really fix the issue.

I am second guessing here since the TSB really didn't fix anything.

 

The MID message hasn't returned in over 2 months of Canadian winter after battery replacement. My TL was sitting outside in -20C temperature overnight for past week and starts like a champ in the morning.

 

I may see if Autozone can test it and see what's up. The reason I am waffling is it seems like the problem may be with the battery management system and not the battery since the voltage and CCAs *seem* fine. Or am I off base here? I'm not wanting to drop money on a new battery to just deal with the same thing.

 

I would question your DMM measurements.
That or your charging system.
A standard battery voltage will be 12.6V to 12.9V open circuit voltage at rest depending on battery type. And if you are measuring 16.1V with the engine running, that battery Is being overcharged. I am assuming you have a good battery in the circuit.

 

While I agree with you post - you do realize you are responding to a thread that is 27+ months old???

 

I do, but since old threads come up in Searches, new info should be added.

 

Not sure what the exact problem with the car is. Is it safe to drive the car consistently with this being on the dashboard.