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Honda failed my car inspection cuz battery was low, replaced battery, now 5 days
- Thread starter E Y E
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stell1102
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later my car wont start!? I have a 2004 Honda Accord. Honda failed my car inspection because they said my battery was low and the computer wasn't logging the cars activity (or something like that). Luckily I was under warranty with my battery and they replaced it with a "new one"...supposedly - at no cost. To pass inspection they said I had to drive the car about 90 miles so the computer can log the cars activity and bring it back to get re-inspected at no cost. That was on Tuesday. By Sunday I was left to take the bus home because my car wouldn't start. I got AAA to jump it and it started. I got home and the car died again after I parked it. Can someone please explain how the car fails inspection for that and how is it that my car is running with no problems prior to bringing it to Honda and now I have all these problems? Coincidence??...I think not! I know nothing about cars so please give me some insight. Another time I brought my car their for inspection...the next day my windshield wiper motor magically broke. I was told I had to pay to have the issue inspected. I can't help to think that they are always trying to screw me! Mechanics, unfortunately, don't have the best reputation.
In this case your failure is tied to your charging system not recharging the battery. That is why your battery died in the first place and why the new one is dying. Your alternator is not doing its job, either because it has failed or because the drive belt is slipping and needs to be tightened. On such a new car, neither option seems likely, but I would start with the drivebelt. I think your failure is a matter of happenstance and bad timing, not the dealership's mechanics.
I share your distrust of mechanics and do all my own mechanical work, have for many years now. I also drive very old cars, so they are sure to need repairs after a while, but with yours only being 5 years old I would not expect to have a failure in the charging system like you have, unless there are a lot of miles on the vehicle.
If you have a battery guage in your car instead of an idiot light, you should be able to tell if the alternator is charging. With the engine off, note the voltage (probably around 9 volts with a dead battery that won't start the engine). Then have the car jumped from another car or battery charger and the volt meter will read about 13 volts. Start your car and removed the battery cable from the charger or other car and check your voltage again. If it is back down to 12, 11, or lower then you know your charging system is not working properly. If it is 14 volts or so, then it is normal and I would look at battery cables, the connectors themselves being loose or not clean.
I share your distrust of mechanics and do all my own mechanical work, have for many years now. I also drive very old cars, so they are sure to need repairs after a while, but with yours only being 5 years old I would not expect to have a failure in the charging system like you have, unless there are a lot of miles on the vehicle.
If you have a battery guage in your car instead of an idiot light, you should be able to tell if the alternator is charging. With the engine off, note the voltage (probably around 9 volts with a dead battery that won't start the engine). Then have the car jumped from another car or battery charger and the volt meter will read about 13 volts. Start your car and removed the battery cable from the charger or other car and check your voltage again. If it is back down to 12, 11, or lower then you know your charging system is not working properly. If it is 14 volts or so, then it is normal and I would look at battery cables, the connectors themselves being loose or not clean.
In this case your failure is tied to your charging system not recharging the battery. That is why your battery died in the first place and why the new one is dying. Your alternator is not doing its job, either because it has failed or because the drive belt is slipping and needs to be tightened. On such a new car, neither option seems likely, but I would start with the drivebelt. I think your failure is a matter of happenstance and bad timing, not the dealership's mechanics.
I share your distrust of mechanics and do all my own mechanical work, have for many years now. I also drive very old cars, so they are sure to need repairs after a while, but with yours only being 5 years old I would not expect to have a failure in the charging system like you have, unless there are a lot of miles on the vehicle.
If you have a battery guage in your car instead of an idiot light, you should be able to tell if the alternator is charging. With the engine off, note the voltage (probably around 9 volts with a dead battery that won't start the engine). Then have the car jumped from another car or battery charger and the volt meter will read about 13 volts. Start your car and removed the battery cable from the charger or other car and check your voltage again. If it is back down to 12, 11, or lower then you know your charging system is not working properly. If it is 14 volts or so, then it is normal and I would look at battery cables, the connectors themselves being loose or not clean.
I share your distrust of mechanics and do all my own mechanical work, have for many years now. I also drive very old cars, so they are sure to need repairs after a while, but with yours only being 5 years old I would not expect to have a failure in the charging system like you have, unless there are a lot of miles on the vehicle.
If you have a battery guage in your car instead of an idiot light, you should be able to tell if the alternator is charging. With the engine off, note the voltage (probably around 9 volts with a dead battery that won't start the engine). Then have the car jumped from another car or battery charger and the volt meter will read about 13 volts. Start your car and removed the battery cable from the charger or other car and check your voltage again. If it is back down to 12, 11, or lower then you know your charging system is not working properly. If it is 14 volts or so, then it is normal and I would look at battery cables, the connectors themselves being loose or not clean.