Honda Car Forum

Hi,
I just bought a used Honda Civic 98 and I noticed now that if I try to start
the car while it's been unused for a day or 2 in cold weather the battery
sounds weak.
What's the best battery to get for a Honda Civic 98 Dx Hatchback 5 speed
manual 1.6L engine?

Thanks
Mark

> What's the best battery to get for a Honda Civic 98 Dx Hatchback 5 speed
> manual 1.6L engine?

This of course is my personal opinion. From what I read on consumer reports
the Megatron Interstate batteries are one of the best out there. Those
batteries also sport 500CCA's (cold cranking amps) compared to the stock
410CCA; thus, it makes cranking somewhat easier. The model for my car (94
Civic 5 speed) is a MT-51R. Should be the same for yours.
By the way, the stock battery from the dealer is pretty good. It is made by
AC Delco and the price for it is ~$51, which is very resonable for a
stealership.

- JR

--
Hunt hard...Kill quick...Offer No Apologies!
"Mark" <marcoraicevic@videotron.ca> wrote in message
news:Ga4Bb.34176$pQ1.916929@wagner.videotron.net.. .
> Hi,
> I just bought a used Honda Civic 98 and I noticed now that if I try to
start
> the car while it's been unused for a day or 2 in cold weather the battery
> sounds weak.
> What's the best battery to get for a Honda Civic 98 Dx Hatchback 5 speed
> manual 1.6L engine?
>
> Thanks
> Mark

First be sure that the battery is the problem. Make sure all of the
connections, the battery itself, and the tray are clean. A dirty battery
will discharge itself (albeit rather slowly). In regards to a replacement, I
can only speak for batteries made in the US. There are only three companies
that build batteries (major companies that is) in the US. 1) Exide; 2)
Delco; and 3) Johnson Controls. All batteries are built by these companies
to specifications provided by the retail companies, such as, Sears, NAPA,
Auto Zone, etc. The difference lies there. Look for a strong batt, high cca
and a good warranty such as offered by Sears and NAPA. However, I restate my
case - first check the cleanliness! That is the major cause of battery
problems...
Dave D
>
>

In article <Ga4Bb.34176$pQ1.916929@wagner.videotron.net>, "Mark"
<marcoraicevic@videotron.ca> wrote:

> Hi,
> I just bought a used Honda Civic 98 and I noticed now that if I try to start
> the car while it's been unused for a day or 2 in cold weather the battery
> sounds weak.
> What's the best battery to get for a Honda Civic 98 Dx Hatchback 5 speed
> manual 1.6L engine?
>
> Thanks
> Mark

Mark,
I'm sure that some will disagree but I've had great success with Sears Die
Hard batteries. Don't buy one unless it's on sale. Sears will be running
lots of sales during the next couple of weeks.

Dave,
How does a dirty battery discharge itself? I assume we
are talking about the terminals. If they are corroded and
not making a good connections, then the batteries full pwr.
can not make it to the starter. AND the alternator's full
pwr. is not going into it.

I do agree to have to charging system checked first to see if it
is that battery. I do a "quick and easy" check with volt-ohm
meter of the voltage on the battery when the car is running to
check the charging system. It should have a voltage higher than
12V when all of the accessories are on: high beams, rear de-
froster, A/C, radio. I am aware of times where an alternator has
one or more of its diodes blown,. However, an under load test
should discover that the alternator is just not working well enough
and needs replacement for most alternator problems (worn brush-
es, bad diodes, field shorts....)

chuck

PS: The exception to the load test is the "super high power" stereo
systems that can overload the battery and the charging system.

Dave Dodson wrote:

> --
> Hunt hard...Kill quick...Offer No Apologies!
> "Mark" <marcoraicevic@videotron.ca> wrote in message
> news:Ga4Bb.34176$pQ1.916929@wagner.videotron.net.. .
> > Hi,
> > I just bought a used Honda Civic 98 and I noticed now that if I try to
> start
> > the car while it's been unused for a day or 2 in cold weather the battery
> > sounds weak.
> > What's the best battery to get for a Honda Civic 98 Dx Hatchback 5 speed
> > manual 1.6L engine?
> >
> > Thanks
> > Mark
>
> First be sure that the battery is the problem. Make sure all of the
> connections, the battery itself, and the tray are clean. A dirty battery
> will discharge itself (albeit rather slowly). In regards to a replacement, I
> can only speak for batteries made in the US. There are only three companies
> that build batteries (major companies that is) in the US. 1) Exide; 2)
> Delco; and 3) Johnson Controls. All batteries are built by these companies
> to specifications provided by the retail companies, such as, Sears, NAPA,
> Auto Zone, etc. The difference lies there. Look for a strong batt, high cca
> and a good warranty such as offered by Sears and NAPA. However, I restate my
> case - first check the cleanliness! That is the major cause of battery
> problems...
> Dave D
>