Honda Car Forum

Hi,

I have recently purchased Honda Civic Ex 2004. It only has 200 mi on it.
Couple of days ago, i accidentally left one of the internal light turned on
for around 13-14 hours. Next day i tried to start it but it would not. in
fact i was not even able to use key-less entry and had to use the key. My
neighbour helped me jump start and i took it to a nearby pepboys for
charging. I also asked them to check the conditon of battery (for which
they also charged $$, so it was a professional check). They charged the
battery but told me that battery was pretty weak and i should go to the
dealer and have it replaced because obviously i still have warranty. I have
2 questions:

1.Is it possible that battery really became so dead that it needs to be
replaced ? it was in a brand new car !!!
2. Obviously it was my fault that battery drained. would the warranty still
be valid ?

thanks
kn

>1.Is it possible that battery really became so dead that it needs to be
>replaced ? it was in a brand new car !!!

Batteries, when properly used, should last 5 years.


>2. Obviously it was my fault that battery drained. would the warranty still
>be valid ?
>

Of course not. Misuse and/or abuse is never covered by the warranty.

But it doesn't hurt to ask.





....................
I do not killfile nor use do-not-call lists.

On 11/8/03 7:13 PM, in article Xns942DCDAC74740knabccom@130.81.64.196, "KN"
<kn@abc.com> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I have recently purchased Honda Civic Ex 2004. It only has 200 mi on it.
> Couple of days ago, i accidentally left one of the internal light turned on
> for around 13-14 hours. Next day i tried to start it but it would not. in
> fact i was not even able to use key-less entry and had to use the key. My
> neighbour helped me jump start and i took it to a nearby pepboys for
> charging. I also asked them to check the conditon of battery (for which
> they also charged $$, so it was a professional check). They charged the
> battery but told me that battery was pretty weak and i should go to the
> dealer and have it replaced because obviously i still have warranty. I have
> 2 questions:
>
> 1.Is it possible that battery really became so dead that it needs to be
> replaced ? it was in a brand new car !!!
> 2. Obviously it was my fault that battery drained. would the warranty still
> be valid ?
>
> thanks
> kn

It is possible to completely drain a battery regardless of its age if you
put a load on it for a long enough time. That it needs to be replaced is
questionable. All you really needed was a jump start and a half hour or so
on the freeway to charge it back up. I would not have taken a new car to
Pep boys. A new car with 200 miles on it goes straight back to the dealer
for anything.

If you check your warranty book, I think you will find that for the first 2
years or so, Honda will give you a new battery gratis if the one that came
with the car dies. After that they start prorating it. I don't remember
any exclusions for leaving on lights, etc., so they should not care what
happened to it. If it were me, though, I wouldn't tempt fate by telling
them anything beyond "it wouldn't start".

> 1.Is it possible that battery really became so dead that it needs to be
> replaced ? it was in a brand new car !!!
> 2. Obviously it was my fault that battery drained. would the warranty still
> be valid ?

1. It is possible but if it still can start the car then it is ok. I
think yours is still ok as long as it starts the car.

2. You have answered your own question.