Honda Fit 2016 LX - sharing for the sake of sharing and for my concern. If anyone has similar experience, suggestion, and or insight.

Timeline:

-9/1, car was at Les Schwab for tires balance n rotation, brake checked, and battery (151r) checked. Informed battery n brake were good.

-9/6, starter replaced by local auto repair shop, aftermarket parts. Been having starting issue 3 weeks prior with occurrences happening 3-4 on the third week.

-9/7 night, my car headlight flashes and unlocked my car. Any buttons, touches, or motions from key fog causes car to unlock. Manual locking with key fog w/battery triggered unlock. Key fog had red light lit constantly. Battery was removed from key fog to stop atomically unlocking car. No other signs of failure or battery issue anywhere.

-9/15, drove 30 minutes out of town and back just fine. Car was used for daily drive around town.

9/21, drove 30 minutes out of town. Out of town - first engine turn on was to move car, car started fine. Second engine turn on was to come back to town, car did not start after full key turn. Dash lights were all on full volume/ fan running/music playing. At first it was a click sound with flashing dash lights, after a few tries as long as the key was inserted, turned, and held, the engine would purr like rum, rum, rum, trying to turn on. Car towed to auto repair shop.

9/22, Auto repair said it was a battery issue and I think they said the alternator was fine. Said my 151r battery was super bad. My ex-battery was 2 years old. My ex-ex battery had similar issue. It went bad in one year but Les Schwab caught it during a tire service and I had it replaced under warranty at Walmart. Auto repair replaced it with a 51R and somehow this also fixed my locking issue. Car lock and set alarm just fine now. I plan to wait 2 week to a month and recheck the battery. Do you think having the starter fail, could have over drain my ex-battery? or replacing the starter somehow drain the ex-battery? It is just very odd that one store said my battery was good before the replacement and then after the replacement my battery went out if the lock issue is sign of battery over draining. I did ask my auto repair shop this question and they told me they had more advanced tool to read the battery than Les Schwab hand held small device. I guess I'll never know or my ex-battery was already bad.

My plan:
Have my battery check again 1-2 months from now.
Get a jump start electronic device

 

A lot of us here have installed the 51R when the original 151R dies. We need all the CCA we can get in the cold climes.

You didn't mention how many miles on the vehicle. If it was getting up there, the starter was probably on its way out. Could it have caused the headlight and locking issues, or was it the key electronics? Who knows.

If the car is starting fine now on the aftermarket starter and 51R combo, I wouldn't worry too much. The 51R has something like 30% more CCA so can't hurt. The 151R is really underpowered for this vehicle, don't know why Honda spec'd it for this market.

 

Starter failed at 71k mileage. My headlight and locking issue happened a day after the ex-starter was replaced with aftermarket. Exactly two weeks after the locking issue began, my ex-battery went dead.

I think mine did come with the 51R but then it went ku-ku so I went to Walmart and the guy said they didn't have the exact same one as mine but they had a smaller one that would fit and work. Been several years, I remember what he said but I can't confirm because I don't know what battery came with the car. I could be wrong too and maybe the guy was talking about something else.

 

i replaced ok 8 yo 151 with 51R and 2 months later no crank, 1-2-3 tries over 3week period ...assume starter......battery clamps a bit loose...tightened....SEEMS ok now but will report back...early days....ordered starter from rockauto...arrives Friday

 

i think its the starter..maybe..although at the same time i plan to file the "slot" larger on the + clamp because i hear it doesnt fit on the 51R....i must admit its clamped shut, no gap suggesting a good connection, will aim for small gap. hopefully the bolts break loose on the starter it sound like a witch of a job...fingers crossed

 

No issue with the clamp for me on the 51R battery. As for the starter, do it from the bottom.

 

replaced starter..from bottom...3 hrs ,bolts TIGHT, filed + battery clamp so there is still a "slot" when clamped tight,it looks gold,but when you file it its pure copper. seems ok now...fingers crossed. Ill never be sure if it was the starter or loose battery connection unfortunately. Plan on taking old starter apart at some point

 

All good now? One push and it starts up? That is all that matters at the end of the day if you have replaced both the battery and starter.

 

true...its key start and it seems OK