Battery Test

[N_Jay]

Sitting her eat the dealer (on line via free WiFi), The service writer comes out to tell me I need a new battery.

He has a very slick printout showing I have 12.61 V and 440 CCA.

Well it is rated as a 550 CCA battery, so do I realy need a new one?

I have never been shown a test result before, I have never seen anyone in the waiting area shown one, and while I was waiting I was waiting, another person was also told he needed a new battery.

So, did the dealer just get a new "cash-flow enhancing" tool?

Either way, after 4 1/2 years, I will probably just head off to Costco and spend $40 (instead of the $108, I was just quoted).

[Rapid Rob]

I've seen that gizmo Honda uses to sell batteries, too. My recommendation would be to use a battery tester that has a carbon pile to load the battery.
I would trust that machine. One of the brand names is BEAR "ARBST".

The dealer probably has one hanging around. Ask to observe the test. What happens is the machine is atttached, it asks what Cold Cranking Amps to test at. I think the bigger Honda batt. are 550A. Dial that into the ARBST & it will physically load the batt. for the correct amount. I don't trust any other way of testing a batt.

All that being said, those numbers of yours don't sound like it's time for a batt. Maybe some time on it, yes. Maybe a judgement call. See if you can get the real load test performed. It should never drop below 9.6v during the load test. The ARBST will tell you if it's weak.

[Sportymonk]

Hhhmm, lets look at the facts. You have a 12 volt battery and it measures 12.61 volts. Looks ok but was that under load as mentioned above?

Second you have 440CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) There are new batteries that don't have that much.

How old is the battery? Generally once it reaches about 3.5 years, don't be surprised if you need one. Less than 2 and I would be real surprised.

I vote for the stealership is making money. I too have never seen a customer in the waiting room told they "needed" a battery. much less two at the same time. Go to Autozone or Advance Auto and let them check it.

Originally posted by N_Jay
Sitting her eat the dealer (on line via free WiFi), The service writer comes out to tell me I need a new battery.

He has a very slick printout showing I have 12.61 V and 440 CCA.

Well it is rated as a 550 CCA battery, so do I really need a new one?

I have never been shown a test result before, I have never seen anyone in the waiting area shown one, and while I was waiting I was waiting, another person was also told he needed a new battery.

So, did the dealer just get a new "cash-flow enhancing" tool?

Either way, after 4 1/2 years, I will probably just head off to Costco and spend $40 (instead of the $108, I was just quoted).

[N_Jay]

Originally posted by Sportymonk
Hhhmm, lets look at the facts. You have a 12 volt battery and it measures 12.61 volts. Looks ok but was that under load as mentioned above?

Second you have 440CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) There are new batteries that don't have that much.

How old is the battery? Generally once it reaches about 3.5 years, don't be surprised if you need one. Less than 2 and I would be real surprised.

I vote for the stealership is making money. I too have never seen a customer in the waiting room told they "needed" a battery. much less two at the same time. Go to Autozone or Advance Auto and let them check it.

Nah, it will get the same "test" every battery I have ever replaced gets.

"Did it fail to start the car for no obvious reason?"

[Sportymonk]

If you are lucky it may get slow to crank on cold mornings. But many times mine has suddenly died when a cell shorts out internally and it suddenly dies. Have to admit that cold weather can make a weak battery inadequate but I still vote against the stealership this time. Maybe they are doing every customer an "above and beyond" service but I think they are doing themselves an "above and beyond" money maker service.

Just noticed you said you have had the battery 4.5 years. If that is the case, you might want to consider a new one, at least if you get any warnings. My problem is that it usually fails with no warning and at the worst time (ever had a good time?) I still say go by Autozone or Advance and let them check it (for FREE!).

[lxblack]

That's bunch of B.S. coming from the profit minded stealer.

After 4.5 years, if the car starts up fine every morning, I'd say "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Maybe carry a jumper cable in the back just in case, but don't be surprised if it lasts 5-7 years.

In my opinion, if it does fail one morning, make a short trip to Costco and be done with it for $45, not $108.

[xGS]

Originally posted by N_Jay
Sitting her eat the dealer (on line via free WiFi), The service writer comes out to tell me I need a new battery.

He has a very slick printout showing I have 12.61 V and 440 CCA.

Well it is rated as a 550 CCA battery, so do I realy need a new one?

I have never been shown a test result before, I have never seen anyone in the waiting area shown one, and while I was waiting I was waiting, another person was also told he needed a new battery.

So, did the dealer just get a new "cash-flow enhancing" tool?

Either way, after 4 1/2 years, I will probably just head off to Costco and spend $40 (instead of the $108, I was just quoted).

Recently, the local AAA ran a free car care clinic that included a battery test and charging system analysis. They hooked up a device (similar to this one: http://www.snapondiag.com/snapon-microvat.asp) to the battery terminals and a current sensor around one of the cables. After a restart, or two, and a few moments of idling, a printout was generated showing 12.85V and 485 CCA. This performance was categorized as marginal. More interesting was that the device determined the (4+ year old) OEM battery was likely to fail to start the Pilot if the temperature dropped below +20F.

Is it worth trying to find out if the OEM battery will make it through a fifth winter and have it die in the middle of snowstorm? Probably not.

Please advise the CCA rating and the length of the full-replacement warranty period on that $40 Costco battery.

[Samuel2003]

I just got mine replaced at the dealer (yeah, I know, I know) last week. It was about 3 1/2 years old and the dealer tested numbers were actually better than N Jay's (something like 12.6+ v and 500+ cca). My service guy actually suggested holding off on the purchase!

I went ahead and had them change it out anyway due in part to these factors (no particular order):
1. 100 month "warranty" on a new battery (from dealership)
2. "colder" weather in the near future plus possibly another trip up to No Cal
3. two or three times recently where listening to music with the fan on lowest blow (engine off) for about an hour was enough to drain the battery past the ability to turn the starter motor
4. didn't want to have to start really worrying about it

[CMasten]

Originally posted by xGS


Recently, the local AAA ran a free car care clinic that included a battery test and charging system analysis. They hooked up a device (similar to this one: http://www.snapondiag.com/snapon-microvat.asp) to the battery terminals and a current sensor around one of the cables. After a restart, or two, and a few moments of idling, a printout was generated showing 12.85V and 485 CCA. This performance was categorized as marginal. More interesting was that the device determined the (4+ year old) OEM battery was likely to fail to start the Pilot if the temperature dropped below +20F.

Is it worth trying to find out if the OEM battery will make it through a fifth winter and have it die in the middle of snowstorm? Probably not.

Please advise the CCA rating and the length of the full-replacement warranty period on that $40 Costco battery.

Available at COSTCO:
ALTERNATIVE SELECTIONS:
Part Number: 3
CCA: 640
Model Name: 100 Month
Battery Group Size: 35

[sjlee]

Bah, on my Integra, I just waited until the one time I needed to jump start my car after it had sat for about 30-45 minutes with the hazard lights on. I figured it was already over 8 years, so it was time for a new one anyway.

For the Pilot, I plan to do something similar... wait until it gives me some sort of indication that there's a problem (e.g. hard to start one cold morning).

If you'd prefer to be more proactive with the battery, then have it tested or simply replace it after 4-5 years.

By the way, snowstorms usually happen when the temps are warmer. It's when the temps get really low (teens and lower) that will affect battery performance.

[jumpyg]

It's cheap enough to drop in a new battery yourself that I think it's worth being proactive. I take that approach even more with my wife's car. I don't want her stranded somewhere because I wouldn't spend $50 and 10 minutes putting in a new battery. And she uses my Pilot from time to time as well, so better safe than sorry.

[thomasj2]

Originally posted by jumpyg
It's cheap enough to drop in a new battery yourself that I think it's worth being proactive. I take that approach even more with my wife's car. I don't want her stranded somewhere because I wouldn't spend $50 and 10 minutes putting in a new battery. And she uses my Pilot from time to time as well, so better safe than sorry.

Jumpyg, Well said. I support that 100%, 4 years on the OEM and I replace it. Why wait to be stranded? and I do carry a set of jumpers in each car and have never had to ask for a jump, I'm on the giving end of that transaction, every time.

[xGS]

Originally posted by CMasten


Available at COSTCO:
ALTERNATIVE SELECTIONS:
Part Number: 3
CCA: 640
Model Name: 100 Month
Battery Group Size: 35

For only $40 you get a battery rated at 640 CCA and if it fails at any time within 100 months you get a full replacement? That's incredible.

[jumpyg]

Originally posted by xGS


For only $40 you get a battery rated at 640 CCA and if it fails at any time within 100 months you get a full replacement? That's incredible.

I bought the Kirkland (Costco's brand) battery for my Accord.

I couldn't find the Pilot's battery at either of my area Costco's, though, so I went with the Wal-Mart battery for about $50. I thought it was really odd that Costco didn't even have shelf space for the Pilot-size battery.

[Mtnsummit]

My wife drives our Pilot. At 3 years, it is worth my marriage to change out the battery for $50.00, do it myself, rather than wife stranded who knows where, towed to who knows where, charged at a shop for who knows marked up fee. Nope, $50.00 seems well worth it!