On 11/3/03 12:30 PM, in article
60e37826.0311031030.1c62a59@posting.google.com, "Santa"
<santa19992000@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Honda dealer said (when I took my car for 60K miles service), Battery
> test Bad - recommended to change battery, Sears said no need to
> cgange, unless the car started with jumpstart. These are the results
> when Honda printer for me when the dealer tested my battery (5 years
> old car, bought brand new 5 years back, sofar I didn't change the
> battery).
>
> Battery size - 440CCA
> Initial voltage - 12.97V
> Loadvoltage 9.90V
> State of the charge - 91%
> Resistance - 0.0mOhm
> Battery temp - 70F
>
> Bad tested BAD
>
> When I show this info, in sears, they said, unless the car comes to
> stage of it needed jumpstart, no need to change. Finally I didn't
> change the battery, no problem in starting, no problem in headlights
> sofar, but I am getting scare is, suppose of I turn on my headlight
> while I am driving, will that makes my car down?. I am thinking of
> whether to change the battery or not?. Can some expert suggest me,
> what to do. Thanks and appreciated.

Turning on your lights (or radio, etc.) while the car is running is not
going to have any effect on the battery. The power comes from the
alternator when the car is running.

The problem you are going to have will be on some cold morning, when you
don't have any extra time, the car is not going to start and you will need
that jump start that Sears is telling you about. At that point you will
have to get a new battery. It might happen tomorrow. It might be fine for
another 6 months.

5 years is pretty good for a Honda OEM battery. Around here (Texas) we're
lucky if they make it through two summers.