Constant Battery failure on Honda Fits
New Member
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 1
From: California
I have a 2015 LX, and my battery only lasted 2 yrs since replacing it with a cheap walmart 151 battery. I want to do the 51r mod, but I'm afraid that new battery may die too, especially if it's something like the starter or something else that may be causing the drain. I feel like 2 years is abnormal for replacing a battery so soon.
Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 25
From: Portland, OR
So, our 1st gen Fit had a similar issue. When we lived in the PNW (a temperate part of the region) no issue, but we moved to the desert SW for 6 years, and went through 4-5 batteries in that time! Since we moved back in 2014, we haven't (yet) needed to replace the battery again, though it is surely overdue.
At one point, the dealer told me that the batteries for 1st Gen are only made by Interstate - and I had always heard they were not the best. Due to their design they are rather thin, and prone to suffering heat damage. I had tried to get a Die Hard (back when Sears was a thing) but couldn't get one as they don't manufacture batteries in that size.
Other cars we've owned in the past have had starters go bad, and the problems that a failing starter can cause can be intermittent, and seem totally unrelated to a starter. Any electrical mystery issue leads me to think of that first! Sometimes, jiggling the key when the issue arises can make the problem temporarily stop if this happens.
Good luck!
At one point, the dealer told me that the batteries for 1st Gen are only made by Interstate - and I had always heard they were not the best. Due to their design they are rather thin, and prone to suffering heat damage. I had tried to get a Die Hard (back when Sears was a thing) but couldn't get one as they don't manufacture batteries in that size.
Other cars we've owned in the past have had starters go bad, and the problems that a failing starter can cause can be intermittent, and seem totally unrelated to a starter. Any electrical mystery issue leads me to think of that first! Sometimes, jiggling the key when the issue arises can make the problem temporarily stop if this happens.
Good luck!
Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 23
From: Calgary,Canada
yup, that plug is literally just to have the car do its "smart" charging stuff so if it sees the battery is above 70%, it will not charge it, or if a number of other conditions, like if the car just started it wont charge until it warms up or wahtever other "smart" thing .
when you unplug it, it will just behave like old day cars where the alternator will always send 13v or whatever to the battery and always keep it full.
when you unplug it, it will just behave like old day cars where the alternator will always send 13v or whatever to the battery and always keep it full.
Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 254
From: Massachusetts
Oem honda 51r !!!
I have a 2015 LX manual purchased new in 2014 (hecho en Mexico), still on original battery, no issues whatsoever. That Battery is 8.5 years old!! Since I live in the Northeast US it can get pretty cold (not this year) so I decided to be proactive and upgrade to a new 51R. I ended up getting the 51R from a local Honda dealer for $130 with 100 MONTH WARRANTY! They (dealer) told me to keep the receipt in the glove box if I had any issues ... 100 MONTH WARRANTY ??!!!!! I couldn't believe it!
I priced the NAPA Legend Gold 51R at about $200 with a 36 month warranty. OEM Honda seems to be a no-brainer. Time will tell.
Feels like stealing from a big, bloated baby with bologna stapled to its' face
I priced the NAPA Legend Gold 51R at about $200 with a 36 month warranty. OEM Honda seems to be a no-brainer. Time will tell.
Feels like stealing from a big, bloated baby with bologna stapled to its' face
Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 417
From: huntington station
I have a 2015 LX manual purchased new in 2014 (hecho en Mexico), still on original battery, no issues whatsoever. That Battery is 8.5 years old!! Since I live in the Northeast US it can get pretty cold (not this year) so I decided to be proactive and upgrade to a new 51R. I ended up getting the 51R from a local Honda dealer for $130 with 100 MONTH WARRANTY! They (dealer) told me to keep the receipt in the glove box if I had any issues ... 100 MONTH WARRANTY ??!!!!! I couldn't believe it!
I priced the NAPA Legend Gold 51R at about $200 with a 36 month warranty. OEM Honda seems to be a no-brainer. Time will tell.
Feels like stealing from a big, bloated baby with bologna stapled to its' face
I priced the NAPA Legend Gold 51R at about $200 with a 36 month warranty. OEM Honda seems to be a no-brainer. Time will tell.
Feels like stealing from a big, bloated baby with bologna stapled to its' face
New Member
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 7
From: USA
yup, that plug is literally just to have the car do its "smart" charging stuff so if it sees the battery is above 70%, it will not charge it, or if a number of other conditions, like if the car just started it wont charge until it warms up or wahtever other "smart" thing .
when you unplug it, it will just behave like old day cars where the alternator will always send 13v or whatever to the battery and always keep it full.
when you unplug it, it will just behave like old day cars where the alternator will always send 13v or whatever to the battery and always keep it full.
New Member
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 6
From: manchester, Ct
2017 electrical issues
Is anyone having repeated battery failures on the 3rd generation Honda Fits, I just came back from the dealer who replaced the battery for the 4th time on my 2016 Fit and I am ready to go to American Honda and need help. So here's the background: My wife has a 2015 Fit which averages 12,000 miles a year local driving. The battery went dead the around 20,000 miles and my wife replaced it without telling me and they told her they could charge it or she could buy one, so they did not replaced under the 3yr/36,000 mile "bumper to bumper" warranty. It lasted for around 16 months just past 36,000 miles then went dead, no click just lights and that's when I found out she had already replaced it, so had it replaced under battery warranty, Then it lasted 14,000 miles and went dead with lights and click so had it replaced under warranty. It went dead soon after that with a odd starting sound so took it in and they replaced it under warranty, but it would not crank and so they replaced the starter.
So maybe that was the issue, but wait. I have the 2016 Fit, and battery went dead at 32,000 miles so replaced under the 3yr/36,000 mile "bumper to bumper" warranty. This battery went dead a few months later still under the 3yr/36,000 mile "bumper to bumper" warranty but they refused to honor it and I had to buy a new battery at around 34,000 miles. This one lasted till yesterday around 40,000 miles then it went dead, with lights, warning to charge. Got AAA flat bed and after quick charge it turned over and got to dealer last night, then went to put it into service this morning but dead, but had clicks. They replaced the battery and I talked to the service manager and he suggested a full test of both so they are going to do a full examination of both cars to see if they can find anything. Any ideas?
So maybe that was the issue, but wait. I have the 2016 Fit, and battery went dead at 32,000 miles so replaced under the 3yr/36,000 mile "bumper to bumper" warranty. This battery went dead a few months later still under the 3yr/36,000 mile "bumper to bumper" warranty but they refused to honor it and I had to buy a new battery at around 34,000 miles. This one lasted till yesterday around 40,000 miles then it went dead, with lights, warning to charge. Got AAA flat bed and after quick charge it turned over and got to dealer last night, then went to put it into service this morning but dead, but had clicks. They replaced the battery and I talked to the service manager and he suggested a full test of both so they are going to do a full examination of both cars to see if they can find anything. Any ideas?
My 2017 had reoccurring dead battery issues where you would push the start button and nothing would happen but if you jump started it it would fire right up. Finally found out in the middle of the night the electrical system was somehow turning on and draining the battery. Turned out it was a faulty sensor (one that has something to do with alerting you about the hood being closed or tampered with) disconnected that and haven’t had any problems.
New Member
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 2
From: Monroe, LA
Definitely a battery draining issue
Is anyone having repeated battery failures on the 3rd generation Honda Fits, I just came back from the dealer who replaced the battery for the 4th time on my 2016 Fit and I am ready to go to American Honda and need help. So here's the background: My wife has a 2015 Fit which averages 12,000 miles a year local driving. The battery went dead the around 20,000 miles and my wife replaced it without telling me and they told her they could charge it or she could buy one, so they did not replaced under the 3yr/36,000 mile "bumper to bumper" warranty. It lasted for around 16 months just past 36,000 miles then went dead, no click just lights and that's when I found out she had already replaced it, so had it replaced under battery warranty, Then it lasted 14,000 miles and went dead with lights and click so had it replaced under warranty. It went dead soon after that with a odd starting sound so took it in and they replaced it under warranty, but it would not crank and so they replaced the starter.
So maybe that was the issue, but wait. I have the 2016 Fit, and battery went dead at 32,000 miles so replaced under the 3yr/36,000 mile "bumper to bumper" warranty. This battery went dead a few months later still under the 3yr/36,000 mile "bumper to bumper" warranty but they refused to honor it and I had to buy a new battery at around 34,000 miles. This one lasted till yesterday around 40,000 miles then it went dead, with lights, warning to charge. Got AAA flat bed and after quick charge it turned over and got to dealer last night, then went to put it into service this morning but dead, but had clicks. They replaced the battery and I talked to the service manager and he suggested a full test of both so they are going to do a full examination of both cars to see if they can find anything. Any ideas?
So maybe that was the issue, but wait. I have the 2016 Fit, and battery went dead at 32,000 miles so replaced under the 3yr/36,000 mile "bumper to bumper" warranty. This battery went dead a few months later still under the 3yr/36,000 mile "bumper to bumper" warranty but they refused to honor it and I had to buy a new battery at around 34,000 miles. This one lasted till yesterday around 40,000 miles then it went dead, with lights, warning to charge. Got AAA flat bed and after quick charge it turned over and got to dealer last night, then went to put it into service this morning but dead, but had clicks. They replaced the battery and I talked to the service manager and he suggested a full test of both so they are going to do a full examination of both cars to see if they can find anything. Any ideas?
I have a 2015 LX, and my battery only lasted 2 yrs since replacing it with a cheap walmart 151 battery. I want to do the 51r mod, but I'm afraid that new battery may die too, especially if it's something like the starter or something else that may be causing the drain. I feel like 2 years is abnormal for replacing a battery so soon.
Did this end up working for you long term? And do you also get the "check charge system" warning once unplugged? I'm currently dealing with this same crap on a used 2015 fit. Autozone claimed the alternator was bad but when I double checked voltages and drove around stop and go doing errands I recorded my voltages while driving with and without load and did not notice a substantial or lingering drop in voltage to indicate a bad alternator..and they said the battery was fine. Thanks ahead of time.
My 2017 had reoccurring dead battery issues where you would push the start button and nothing would happen but if you jump started it it would fire right up. Finally found out in the middle of the night the electrical system was somehow turning on and draining the battery. Turned out it was a faulty sensor (one that has something to do with alerting you about the hood being closed or tampered with) disconnected that and haven’t had any problems.
Last edited by Reddogs; Sep 2, 2024 at 07:29 AM.
Bought one at Costco, didnt even turn the starter once the battery died, so trying to find my receipt...
New Member
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 10
From: PA, USA
As far as the Fit killing batteries, I went with the 51r upgrade and haven't had a problem yet. I had to modify the tray, but a coping saw is the ticket. I think that 51r is only like $67 at WalMart, and it always seems to be in stock.
I've had a few of those little jump packs die on me too, but they're so darn handy to have around. Most are also a USB battery bank, flashlight, 12VDC bench power supply, some even include air pumps, the list goes on...
As far as the Fit killing batteries, I went with the 51r upgrade and haven't had a problem yet. I had to modify the tray, but a coping saw is the ticket. I think that 51r is only like $67 at WalMart, and it always seems to be in stock.
As far as the Fit killing batteries, I went with the 51r upgrade and haven't had a problem yet. I had to modify the tray, but a coping saw is the ticket. I think that 51r is only like $67 at WalMart, and it always seems to be in stock.
All the above applies to our 2016 LX. MN weather, short trips, sporadic usage. However, we are still on the original battery and have had no problems -- so far. However, I am wondering if we should be looking at a battery change since it is 6 years old. Maybe we have a Honda wonder battery but the past 30 years of car battery experience tell me that 2 days after the battery warranty expires (maybe 5 years) so does the battery. Are we living on borrowed time?
New Member
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 6
From: manchester, Ct
Any answers for constant battery drain?
My 2017 Fit has had the issue of the battery being drained for no apparent reason for over a year. The battery has been checked and is good but something will intermittently drain it dead. It will take a charge immediately and will last for weeks and then happen again.
One night I witnessed the car spontaneously start up the accessories (radio, lights, dashboard)but not actually start. No one was in the driver seat but I was in the car with the fob.
The did extensive testing and traced it to a sensor that lets you know the hood is ajar so we removed the sensor thinking that would fix the issue but 2months later it’s back to finding the battery dead when you try too start it.
My question is has anyone had this issue and solved the problem?
One night I witnessed the car spontaneously start up the accessories (radio, lights, dashboard)but not actually start. No one was in the driver seat but I was in the car with the fob.
The did extensive testing and traced it to a sensor that lets you know the hood is ajar so we removed the sensor thinking that would fix the issue but 2months later it’s back to finding the battery dead when you try too start it.
My question is has anyone had this issue and solved the problem?