My battery died the other day in my 09 fit sport for no reason other than sitting for a day in the cold weather (20f)

took it to dealer and they tested it and it was fine (of course, because it had been driven and warm)

Then tonight....its about 15f out and it STRUGGLES so hard to turn over.



anyone else having similar problems?

 

Not me!

 

sounds like it's time for a new one.
mine died and the dealer replaced it under warranty.

 

been down into the negatives here and I've had no issues starting. It does struggle a little in the single digits and teens but in the 20(F) range there are no issues. Takes forever and a day to warm up though...

might want to check to make sure your battery cables are nice and tight as a slightly lose cable can cause problems.

In My 2000 Integra, I had a .5 Farad capacitor for the amplifier that drove the subs and all 4 channels and during cold cold mornings (sub zero), that car would start up with no issues (traded the car in 2007 with the original battery). Whether it had anything to do with the fact that the car had a capacitor providing that extra little boost, I have no Idea but I have to believe it didn't hurt...

~SB

 

man this concerns me your not the only one have battery problems. i hope i don't run into the same thing.

 

Drive to the dealer, sit in the parking lot, engine off, with your lights on and radio running until it will barely start (should take about 5 minutes if you really have a bad battery). Walk in, tell them you just had to jump start it and ask them to test the battery. When I have a customer that has legitimately had issues with starting but has a battery test "good" I can usually get a "replace battery" test result that way.

I'd rather get the warranty battery replaced now and not with a tow bill added on a week later. A customer will drive it in the first time or two; if it happens again most of them won't hesitate to get it towed. Partially so the dealer can test it the way it is, partly because they're ticked to have mess with it again.

b

 

I keep something like this in my car just in case.

The one I have, has more cold cranking amps than the stock battery

 

You're in North Carolina correct?

you will have NO problems. The Ridgeline Grunted this morning when we started it... it's -1(F) here right now. Supposed to be 25(F) today... T-Shirt Weather.

We have those where I work to lend out to Students & Staff... Right before break and after major cold blocks, they get signed out ALOT!

~SB

 

thanks for the advice

 

My Fit starts up fine in subzero temps. It sounds like something is wrong!

 

By the look of the battery, my Maglite in the door pocket may have more cold cranking amps...
Now mine is garaged most nights, but it has fired right up on some cold mornings out of doors.
The demand for electricity in modern cars is amazing; wonder how the batts will hold up.
Moon

 

You're nuts.

 

That doesn't sound good. Hard starts at 20F (-7c) is really only mildly cold weather. Where I live (up north) winter gets to average -18F (-28c). In the mornings at those temps my car will turn over no problem even without a block heater installed. Sure takes like 20mins for defroster to remove the icy frost from windsheild but all is well.

Try flick the highbeams on before you start engine and see if the light color is bright white which means its got a good charge, if low or yellow it means low battery charge It may be the charging system that is keeping the battery topped up.
Good Luck

 

minisushi's suggestion is a good one; try tooting the horn as well.
Just a thought for the OP; you do have the correct viscosity oil, yes?
Moon