Is my 2004 Civic's battery almost dead already?

if it's cranking, it's not a battery problem. run injector cleaner through it and maybe get a new set of plugs. report back accordingly.

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Your location is the most important bit of info. If you're in TEXAS, your troubles may be normal (replace battery).

Did you notice if the immobilizer icon was flashing on the dash? there's a TSB that mentions batteries with one failing cell. The immobilizer stops working when voltage gets a bit low. Have the battery load-tested at a real battery shop.

'Curly'

The first two batteries for my 1991 Civic each died at about four years. The car was driven almost exclusively in the northern U.S. for the whole time. I accidentally ran each of the first two batteries down to 'dead' a few times. This reduces battery life notably, from my reading.

But say, you're pretty experienced, right? Go get a multimeter and see what the battery voltage (car not running) is. Anything below say 12.3 volts, and I'd say you have confirmed it's time for a new battery.

"High Tech Misfit" wrote

I'm in Canada (Ottawa to be exact) and it is very cold right now.

Well, I'm not as experienced as other DIY'ers on here; I'm not even a DIY'er myself. Most of my contributions to these NG's are based on past knowledge from reading them for years.

I just checked the indicator on the battery itself, and I could just barely see it lit green.

And Jim Beam, I put fuel injector cleaner in it a few weeks ago.

It may be the battery-they can do strange things when they are going bad.

Before doing anything drastic, check for some simple causes such as loose and or corroded battery cables.

Based on what I have read here recently, I guess it's not unusual for a

4-year old car to have its original battery fail this soon. My '93 Accord's original battery lasted almost 8 years, but its first replacement (a Sears DieHard) lasted 4 years.

I have to admit that I use the remote keyless entry religiously, and a strange incident happened briefly the other day in the parking lot of a local shopping center. When I went to remotely unlock the car, it beeped as if I was pressing the lock button a second time. The issue went away when I got home and did not return.

So is it not unusual for a 4-year old original battery to fail, and could that unexpected unlocking beep have been a warning sign?

I just called Honda roadside assistance (part of my extended warranty), and even the rep said it's likely not the battery. It will be towed to the dealer in a bit. I'll report back with the verdict.

The car currently has 65,000km (about 40,000 miles) on it.

Thanks for the advice so far.

High Tech Misfit wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@hightech.misfit:

Those aren't much use.

In the BATTERY? ;-) no wonder it doesn't work....

Well, it turned out to be a flooded engine. :-/ Dealer cleaned the spark plugs and changed the oil (it was due for an oil change anyway).

Thanks again for the responses.

Oh gee.

I knew a few people who had a flooded engine after hurricane Bob years ago. They need more than spark plugs cleaned and new oil (I was smart enough to move my car inland away from the shore of the island I was on [Cape Cod]).

Jeff

change the plugs anyway. and run more injector cleaner through it.