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I hesitate to call it a problem since so many feel that idle engine shut-off is an unnecessary annoyance. But mine hasn't worked for well over a month. I get the "system is warming up or charging" message every time. Rain or shine, temps in the 30's or 50's, my fan is on low usually, heated seats on or off, doesn't matter. The question is this: Is this a sign of a failing battery?
Mine is the same way - it has shut the engine down maybe 2 times in the last several months. I had the same thought, that the battery can no longer store enough power to activate the stop/start functionality. I also wonder if the cold weather affects it. I'm not really complaining. While I don't find stop/start to be annoying like many do, I don't miss it either. Plus I keep a portable jump starter in the trunk just in case.
^
The Owners manual has some good information, I'm thinking these guys referenced the OM to try and understand what the 'Idle Stop' particulars are?
If you look at the last picture there appears to be some ATF, battery & coolant 'temperature' related factors going on?
Maybe you can tie this into your individual experiences, somehow to see if that is the culprit?
Thanks, zeta, I have actually studied all of this already. Wanted to see what folks here on the forum think. Since "battery charge is low" is listed as a possible cause, and nothing else in their cause list is occurring, I am erring on the side of caution and taking it into the dealership on Saturday to have it looked at. I don't want to wait until electronics gremlins, dimming interior lights or slow engine cranking to start occurring - I don't want to push my luck. The idle stop feature itself is a function I can take or leave. But it came with the car, and I paid for it, dammit! So I want it to work on principal if for no other reason.
In my experience, OEM Honda/Acura batteries last exactly 3 years -- no longer. Except the original battery in my TL which went south before 2 years and was replaced under warranty.
In my experience, OEM Honda/Acura batteries last exactly 3 years -- no longer. Except the original battery in my TL which went south before 2 years and was replaced under warranty.
I have absolutely no other electrical gremlins or issues going on, but don't want to wait for them to start. My car is about 3.5 years old. Unless the dealer finds an obvious fault with the idle stop system, I'm having them install a new battery as a preventive measure anyway.
I had a 2011 Civic that needed a new battery after 1 year. One day everything fine, the next the car was dead as a doorknob in the parking lot at work at 5 PM. The battery was so dead it couldn't even be jumped. It was all under warranty but the whole incident was a tremendous pain in the buttocks.
Last edited by Flapjackura; Feb 29, 2024 at 04:03 PM.
So the dealer ran all the diagnostics including battery check and everything was normal. Battery test showing very strong. The tech says it's a normal thing at this time of year. I'm going to give it until after I make a road trip over Easter weekend. Admittedly, since Christmas, I don't think I've run the engine for longer than any trip anywhere for more than about 40 minutes at a time.
What are you going to do after your Easter road trip?
If the idle stop function still throwing me the same error it'll go back to the dealership. I don't have the specific battery test results in front of me now, but they were decidedly NOT scary. Whatever is causing this, it is not a weakening battery.
I had the same problem and it was the battery in my 2021 TLX. If the battery is below the stated level, the idle stop will not function to eliminate the risk that the battery is insufficient to restart the car. At least that’s what my service advisor said. I also had the same issue previously with my 2019 Honda Pilot. I got a new battery under warranty and problem solved. Now if idle stop stops working, I know I will need to replace the battery in the near future.
I had the same problem and it was the battery in my 2021 TLX. If the battery is below the stated level, the idle stop will not function to eliminate the risk that the battery is insufficient to restart the car. At least that’s what my service advisor said. I also had the same issue previously with my 2019 Honda Pilot. I got a new battery under warranty and problem solved. Now if idle stop stops working, I know I will need to replace the battery in the near future.
Hmmm. Then this is really weird. I keep forgetting to look again at the test result that was included on my receipt so that I can quote specific numbers here (I did need my cabin and engine air filters replaced). But they also gave me a diagram to illustrate the battery test result, which looks like a picture of an indicator dial. Battery health for dummies, in other words. The needle is illustrated to be pointed far into the green, almost at the very top of the "good" range. Looking at that, it just seemed kind of dumb to insist they replace the battery anyway. I'm gonna give it another few weeks and see what happens.
Hmmm. Then this is really weird. I keep forgetting to look again at the test result that was included on my receipt so that I can quote specific numbers here (I did need my cabin and engine air filters replaced). But they also gave me a diagram to illustrate the battery test result, which looks like a picture of an indicator dial. Battery health for dummies, in other words. The needle is illustrated to be pointed far into the green, almost at the very top of the "good" range. Looking at that, it just seemed kind of dumb to insist they replace the battery anyway. I'm gonna give it another few weeks and see what happens.
It would be interesting to know what the dealer charged you for the replacement of the cabin air and engine air filter. Ny dealer recently had a special for $129.95. I did my own (22 RDX) and with an OEM engine air filter and a 3rd party cabin air the parts came to about $25 and the time involved about 20 minutes. Doing the engine air filter was a bit of the learning curve so I would venture the 2nd time I could trim 5 minutes off the time.
On the battery, the test the dealer does in my experience about 99% reliable so I would not replace the battery just on the basis of age. I’ll give an example…my 2013 Accord on 4-year battery once would not start on a return to an airport. The car had been parked for about 10 days. The dash lit up, some clicking of relays, etc. was all I got. Years ago a test was to turn on the headlights and judge them for brightness. Nice and bright! Repeated attempts the car started without any issues but this happened about once or twice a week. Some research indicates a TSB to unbolt the starter, rotate the torque converter one bolt hole and then reinstall (or replace) the starter. Dealer wanted $1200 to do the torque converter rotation and replace the starter. No dice on my part. I went to an old time mechanic who still has an old fashioned load bank of battery tester. These thing draw about 50 amps from the battery. It failed miserably. Battery was replaced almost 6 months ago and I’ve never had a repeat of the problem. Torque converter, nothing touched.
throw a battery tender on there, it could be a 'good;' battery with just a low charge.
Unable to, as I live in a condo with nowhere to plug a tender in overnight. Well, technically, there is an outlet near my garage space - but our condo association is run by a lady who makes Lizzie Borden look like a nice lady by comparison.
Yesterday on my drive home, my engine turned off at a stop for the first time in months. It only turned off at one of several red lights, but it's right on cue with the warmer weather. Glad I didn't jump to a conclusion and replace the battery!
Yesterday on my drive home, my engine turned off at a stop for the first time in months. It only turned off at one of several red lights, but it's right on cue with the warmer weather. Glad I didn't jump to a conclusion and replace the battery!
That's good news. Of course, in my area it's become unseasonably cold, with snow flurries on the way Friday. Perhaps I'll experience this too once the weather warms up again.
Yesterday on my drive home, my engine turned off at a stop for the first time in months. It only turned off at one of several red lights, but it's right on cue with the warmer weather. Glad I didn't jump to a conclusion and replace the battery!
It won't activate when the temperature is less than 4 deg F. Has it been that cold in Charlotte NC (from your profile?).
It won't activate when the temperature is less than 4 deg F. Has it been that cold in Charlotte NC (from your profile?).
Not even close. I just made the observation that as the temperatures dropped, the Stop/Start system started engaging less and less until it stopped engaging entirely, and now for the first time in months it engaged again. I'm theorizing that while my local temperatures haven't dipped below the hard cutoff, the colder temperatures affect the other parameters enough that it hardly activates in Winter. I'm sure my battery's age (almost 3 years) is affecting the performance too, but it still starts the car just fine.
