Car battery keeps dying?

Question

I have a 2007 Honda Civic and it hasn't been starting. I have already jump started it 3 times in the past two weeks. The first time I jump started it and it was fine for a few days. Then the second time it was for a shorter amount of time, and I jump started it yesterday and now this morning it wouldn't start again.

Should I replace the battery, or is there anything else I can do or try? What else can be wrong?

When I drive, there is no indicator that the battery isn't charging or anything. Everything's the same as it always was. It was pretty cold here (around 20 degrees), when this first happened, so I thought it was the cold. But it's been around 45 for a while, but it's still happening.

What can I do?

Answer 1

Might be the alternator. Sounds like a battery though, not unlikely to go bad in a couple years depending on how they were used and what brand. Have you ever accidentally left something on? Then when you came out the battery was dead? With today's maintenance free battery's, its only takes a couple times draining the battery dead to kill the battery, they are not designed to deep cycle. Having the battery be completely drained and need a jump start more than a couple times, more than likely your battery is dead.

Answer 2

Try leaving it set with one battery cable disconnected! See if it " runs down" ! You can have good battery, and good alternator and still have dead battery often! --- If somethng in car using power when car parked! If you take an old headlignt and connect between battery and cable on one side, -- the bulb will light up pretty good if it is leaking enough power to run battery down in about 24 hours! This is about the oldest piece of "test equipment" there is! If you start disconnecting, and turning off stuff till the light goes out, (or is just real dim- making filiament reddish).... If computer equipped,clock, and radio with memory and this sort of stuff, it will pull a very small amount of current to maintain memorys! This will take quite some time to draw battery down to where it isn't able to crank engine to start it! ...Connect a couple 3' wires to bulb, and you can put it where it is easy to see while working inside car! Save it when done, -- it also is useful for finding shorts that blow fuses, -- just connect in place of fuse that is blowing, ---- as long as light stays lit ,- it is still shorted! When light goes out, you have reached area of short, - then it is just finding where it is hiting frame, or shorting to another wire, and taping up or repairing so that short no longer exists! Question, is the alternator charging at proper voltage, (and amps)??? Just charging and "charging right" are two different things! Overcharging over a period of time can ruin a battery too! This would indicate a bad regulator in alternator! Or possibly a bad diode (in altrenator) can be dragging battery down, -- (but charge just fine when engine runnng!) Way back when alternator became common, I had big arguments with "electric shop" doing repairs, -- they woud say an alrernator was "good", but it would have bad diode (one that "leaks"), - finally I just started doing my own, and then had no problems! Alternators were a "radical change" from generators!

Answer 3

Could be there is a short that is draining the battery. Get the car looked over. Otherwise, assume your battery has had it and replace it.



NB you can test your battery for voltage by buying a pocket analogue meter (c. £10.00). Switch the dial to 25v DC. Put the red lead on the 'P' terminal and the black one on 'N'. If the needle comes halfway up the dial, your battery is OK.



If not, get the battery and alternator checked.

Answer 4

Auto zone will put your whole charging machine for free if you request it.

all you have to do is request a charging system diagnostic and they can and will check the battery,alternator and your starter.. the longer you wait the more money you will spend...

once a battery or starter goes out usually the others follow if you wait to fix the problem

Answer 5

buy a new battery. Yours isn't holding the charge. and plus run your vehicle for 30 mins after you get it jumped

Answer 6

easy really, get a test on your battery, and also an alternator check, garage will probably do it for free in anticipation to selling you a new battery !

Answer 7

battery is getting weak ,not enough cold cranking amps for the frigid starts,replace it with a battery having 900 or so cold cranking amps,should do the trick.

Answer 8

have your battery tested at Auto Zone for free.More than likely you need a new one.

Answer 9

check the alternator

Answer 10

stop using the ac