Am l unfairly blaming my battery

[amateurbob]

I recently replaced my 8 year old diehard gold battery with a new interstate from Costco. I changed it out because the battery tester showed it at 78% after one night but performance issues at all.

The new battery supposedly has 680 (cold cranking amps)CCA and the old one 640 cca. Since l got the new battery l have noticed no difference in the starting time.

All that background... Today after the coldest night in Michigan, l started the car and it almost didn't start. It turned over for a bit, stopped, and then turned over for a bit and started.

Is the battery junk, is it the cold, is my starter or are my expectations unrealistic?

 

[Rand]

I recently replaced my 8 year old diehard gold battery with a new interstate from Costco. I changed it out because the battery tester showed it at 78% after one night but performance issues at all.
The new battery supposedly has 680 (cold cranking amps)CCA and the old one 640 cca. Since l got the new battery l have noticed no difference in the starting time.
All that background... Today after the coldest night in Michigan, l started the car and it almost didn't start. It turned over for a bit, stopped, and then turned over for a bit and started.
Is the battery junk, is it the cold, is my starter or are my expectations unrealistic?

Cold does 2 things, it lowers the output of your battery, while raising the energy required to crank your engine.

You don't provide any details so any responses would be a Guess at best.

For example you don't even mention the vehicle or any information about it.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

What vehicle? Motor? Miles? Maintenance history?

 

[TomYoung]

I would keep it in the car for the next month and see how it goes. The battery is probably fine, the super cold weather impact starting negatively, and I am assuming the charging system is in good order. But, if this does not go your way, Costco will swap that batter without even a whimper. There is nothing wrong with Interstate Costco batteries as a moderately priced battery replacement especially compared to the very high price of new Die Hards.

 

[amateurbob]

2012 accord decently maintained, 220k miles, 0w20 oil original starter. Kept in the garage, -19 f sitting overnight

 

[amateurbob]

2.4 l engine

 

[hemitom]

how long has the battery been in the Car ? one month two ?
Was it fully charged on install ?
Has the car recently been short tripped repeatedly ?

 

[amateurbob]

2.4 l upgraded to group 35 battery

 

[amateurbob]

I make a point to drive at least 15 miles a trip. Battey tester shows a 100% after every trip. Battery was manufactured in November 25, and in stalled in December of 25

 

[oil pan 4]

My group 65 that tested 80% this time last year is still going strong. Only thing wrong with it was it was leaking a bit of acid around the posts.
I sold it to my buddy for a hundred dollars in a battery now, pay next paycheck scheme. It's 8f this morning, I'll tell him to start his truck this morning.

 

[TomYoung]

2012 accord decently maintained, 220k miles, 0w20 oil original starter. Kept in the garage, -19 f sitting overnight

That temperature, I think, is the whole story here.

 

[Eddie Hudson]

I recently replaced my 8 year old diehard gold battery with a new interstate from Costco. I changed it out because the battery tester showed it at 78% after one night but performance issues at all.

Was that SOC or SOH?

 

[amateurbob]

Was that SOC or SOH?

I am slow, what do those acronyms stand for?

 

[twX]

Kept in the garage, -19 f sitting overnight

I assume that's the outdoor temperature, and that the garage isn't nearly that cold. The engine should crank just fine with a good battery and starter.

Are you sure the battery connections are good? A poor connection can drop a lot of voltage when it needs to flow >100 amps.

If you want to test both the battery and the connections, connect a voltmeter to the battery clamps and check the voltage while the engine is cranking. It should settle to >9.6 V if the battery and connections are good, even in cold weather. Preferably it should be >10.0 V with a new battery. If the voltage is low, do the same test but with the leads connected to the battery posts themselves instead of the clamps. If the voltage is a lot higher then the connections are the problem. If it's still low, the battery is bad or undercharged.

 

[fantastic]

I am slow, what do those acronyms stand for?

State of Charge & State of Health?

 

[DEWFPO]

What was the CA/CAA of there old battery compared to the new battery?

Souble check your connections for tightness.

I always charge a new battery before I install it.

 

[Donald]

Need to get the battery tested on a Midtronics battery tester that does temp compensation.

 

[The_Jeff]

Probably your starter "dragging", as they get old they take more amps to do the job. An inductive ammeter should tell the story; a typical starter takes around 1100 watts, which with the dip to 9 volts is only around 122 amps.

But check the connections as well.

 

[Donald]

Probably your starter "dragging", as they get old they take more amps to do the job. An inductive ammeter should tell the story; a typical starter takes around 1100 watts, which with the dip to 9 volts is only around 122 amps.

But check the connections as well.

Make sure the clamp on amp meter can measure DC amps. Many can only go AC amps.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

Read the the threads on Honda Battery, Honda 2.4 starter etc. Check some other Honda and Accord forums for the same thing.

The starters wear, crank slow until they don't crank. It doesn't matter what larger or new battery you throw at it or how clean the connections are. Take it from someone that has changed a couple starters on 2.4L CRV's, same motor as yours.

You have 14 years and 220k on the original. MANY 2.4L Honda's are getting changed a second time at that point.