Honda Car Forum

I have a 2004 TL with less than 30,000 miles and already had to replace the
battery.

Have others had similar experiences? It seems to me, Acura/Honda chose an
inexpensive Delco battery to save money, just like the terrible Bridgestone
OEM tires.

- Russ

In article <C3B7D31A.1111%rll_mac@cox.net>, rll_mac@cox.net says...
> I have a 2004 TL with less than 30,000 miles and already had to replace the
> battery.
>
> Have others had similar experiences? It seems to me, Acura/Honda chose an
> inexpensive Delco battery to save money, just like the terrible Bridgestone
> OEM tires.
>
> - Russ
>
4 years for a battery is just about right. If you live in areas of
extreme temperature, you'll be lucky to get 4 years.

Bob

2004 TL Battery Replaced
"Russell Lombardo" <rll_mac@cox.net> wrote in message news:C3B7D31A.1111%rll_mac@cox.net...
I have a 2004 TL with less than 30,000 miles and already had to replace the battery.

Have others had similar experiences? It seems to me, Acura/Honda chose an inexpensive Delco battery to save money, just like the terrible Bridgestone OEM tires.

- Russ

We have replaced the battery on our 03 Pilot twice so far. Where we live, the Summer heat kills them.

Russell Lombardo <rll_mac@cox.net> wrote in
news:C3B7D31A.1111%rll_mac@cox.net:

> I have a 2004 TL with less than 30,000 miles and already had to
> replace the battery.
>
> Have others had similar experiences? It seems to me, Acura/Honda
> chose an inexpensive Delco battery to save money, just like the
> terrible Bridgestone OEM tires.



Honda installed the Delco battery and the Bridgestone tires most likely to
help meet the government's local-content regulations.

Does your car's VIN start with a "J" or something else?


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Hi Bob,

I should have noted that I live in perhaps the most moderate climate in the
US-- Santa Barbara, California. It never gets hot, nor cold here.

In addition, I have other cars where the battery has nearly seven years.

With respect to the other question regarding the VIN, I think only cars made
in Japan start with a J. I think all TLs are manufactured in Ohio.

- Russ in Santa Barbara

"Bob" <nottooslow@forevermail.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.21fc5eb624b839b1989901@news-server.satx.rr.com...
> In article <C3B7D31A.1111%rll_mac@cox.net>, rll_mac@cox.net says...
>> I have a 2004 TL with less than 30,000 miles and already had to replace
>> the
>> battery.
>>
>> Have others had similar experiences? It seems to me, Acura/Honda chose
>> an
>> inexpensive Delco battery to save money, just like the terrible
>> Bridgestone
>> OEM tires.
>>
>> - Russ
>>
> 4 years for a battery is just about right. If you live in areas of
> extreme temperature, you'll be lucky to get 4 years.
>
> Bob

Russell Lombardo <rll_mac@cox.net> wrote in
news:C3B7D31A.1111%rll_mac@cox.net:

> I have a 2004 TL with less than 30,000 miles and already had to
> replace the battery.
>
> Have others had similar experiences? It seems to me, Acura/Honda
> chose an inexpensive Delco battery to save money, just like the
> terrible Bridgestone OEM tires.
>
> - Russ
>
I have a 2005 with about 50,000 miles. Had to replace the battery a few
months ago. I've never had an OEM battery in any car I've owned, foreign or
domestic, go more than 3 years. They alwasy use cheap batteries.

In article <rAJkj.1023$ov5.274@newsfe15.phx>, rlombardo@cox.net says...
> Hi Bob,
>
> I should have noted that I live in perhaps the most moderate climate in the
> US-- Santa Barbara, California. It never gets hot, nor cold here.
>
> In addition, I have other cars where the battery has nearly seven years.
>
> With respect to the other question regarding the VIN, I think only cars made
> in Japan start with a J. I think all TLs are manufactured in Ohio.
>
> - Russ in Santa Barbara
>

Russ,

Having lived in Texas and Florida for the past 25 years, I've never
gotten more than 4 years out of a batter, OEM or replacement.

Bob

"Bob" <nottooslow@forevermail.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.21fdde9f30ea3f66989902@news-server.satx.rr.com...
> In article <rAJkj.1023$ov5.274@newsfe15.phx>, rlombardo@cox.net says...
>> Hi Bob,
>>
>> I should have noted that I live in perhaps the most moderate climate in
>> the
>> US-- Santa Barbara, California. It never gets hot, nor cold here.
>>
>> In addition, I have other cars where the battery has nearly seven years.
>>
>> With respect to the other question regarding the VIN, I think only cars
>> made
>> in Japan start with a J. I think all TLs are manufactured in Ohio.
>>
>> - Russ in Santa Barbara
>>
>
> Russ,
>
> Having lived in Texas and Florida for the past 25 years, I've never
> gotten more than 4 years out of a batter, OEM or replacement.
>
> Bob

Bob,

Texas and Florida? I'm not surprised. Hotter climates are harder on the
batteries. There was a chart I ran across online yesterday showing the
lifespan of auto batteries and the hotter the climate the shorter the
lifespan. I have an '05 Accord here in Maryland and the OEM battery is
supposed to have a green eye if it is in good condition. Right now, it's
clear and the car has 34k miles and 2.5 years old. Dealer did a test on it
and it's showing 377 CCA, and it's rated for 410 CCA. Haven't had any
trouble starting the car but the eye showing the condition of the battery
makes me nervous..

Russ,
Correct - the 1st position of the vin# does show the country it was made.

J - Japan
K - Korea
S - England
W - Germany
Z - Italy
1 - United States
2 - Canada
3 - Mexico
4 - United States

Those are the ones I can think of...

-Dave

-Dave

Waiving the right to remain silent, "Dave L" <davelieuREMOVEME@yahoo.com>
said:

> "Bob" <nottooslow@forevermail.com> wrote in message
> news:MPG.21fdde9f30ea3f66989902@news-server.satx.rr.com...
>> In article <rAJkj.1023$ov5.274@newsfe15.phx>, rlombardo@cox.net says...
>>> Hi Bob,
>>>
>>> I should have noted that I live in perhaps the most moderate climate
>>> in the US-- Santa Barbara, California. It never gets hot, nor cold
>>> here.
>>>
>>> In addition, I have other cars where the battery has nearly seven
>>> years.
>>>
>>> With respect to the other question regarding the VIN, I think only
>>> cars made in Japan start with a J. I think all TLs are manufactured
>>> in Ohio.
>>>
>>> - Russ in Santa Barbara
>>>
>>
>> Russ,
>>
>> Having lived in Texas and Florida for the past 25 years, I've never
>> gotten more than 4 years out of a batter, OEM or replacement.
>>
>> Bob
>
> Bob,
>
> Texas and Florida? I'm not surprised. Hotter climates are harder on
> the batteries. There was a chart I ran across online yesterday showing
> the lifespan of auto batteries and the hotter the climate the shorter
> the lifespan.

We had a new Volvo wagon in 95. Before the car was 3 years old, the
battery was kaput. We lived in the SF bay area, which is a Mediterranean
climate, never very cold or hot, and the car was garaged all the time.
Don't remember what the OEM battery type was, but it must have been
crap...

--
Larry J. - Remove spamtrap in ALLCAPS to e-mail

"A lack of common sense is now considered a disability,
with all the privileges that this entails."

Larry in AZ wrote:

>
> We had a new Volvo wagon in 95. Before the car was 3 years old, the
> battery was kaput. We lived in the SF bay area, which is a Mediterranean
> climate, never very cold or hot, and the car was garaged all the time.
> Don't remember what the OEM battery type was, but it must have been
> crap...
>
--------------------

I owned a few Volvos. In my heavily-biased opinion, it wasn't likely the
battery that was crap. More likely the Bosch charging circuit cooked the
battery prematurely.

'Curly'