Had a few rough starts recently, so I thought I would check the battery. The Indicator window read "Distilled Water." Okay, fine. But as I went add the water, I noticed that the screws above each cell were almost sealed on in plastic. Okay, also fine. I got out a knife and started to hack away at the plastic when it occurred to me that I could unscrew the Indicator window and add water through there. So, that's what I did.

Did I do this correctly?

Thanks.


Note: Original OEM battery on a '13 Fit with 48k-ish mi.

 

I have more experience with lead-acid motorcycle batteries and always filled the individual cells as close as I could to equal. The fill line was always lower than the partition / baffle between the cells (6). So, your method would add distilled water at one point and then you would have to distribute it between the rest. Did you have the battery out of the car so you could rock it back and forth? Hey, everything is probably as good as it is going to get. I'm no expert. Car still starts, right? My intuition says that if the levels are too high, there might be more "cooking over" that occurs when in the charging phase and that means acid getting on stuff, but I have no way of knowing if that actually happens. Report back. Thanks

 

Today, I put about 15 mi. on it. About four stops-and-starts. It runs, but now the Indicator is dead. It doesn't have a red dot at the center, nor a blue circle or a red circle around. Will check it again tomorrow.

Who's got the link for the battery retail store in L.A.? What's the going rate on a new battery from the dealer?

 

Not sure what a dealer would charge but mine was +/- $90 after turning in the old battery. I still don't confident starts in the winter (PA) with the 151R battery but it never left me sit ('11 Sport AT ~70K miles).

 

I'll have to find the thread that discussed battery replacement and the 51R. I don't feel like fussing with a larger size battery, but the thread mentioned a battery retail store (on Sepulveda Blvd in the SFV?) that might have an OEM.

 

Gonna see if I can get me one of these bad boys. The store is open today.

https://www.batteriesplus.com/batter...finder-box-top

 

get an AGM battery. forget lead acid.

 

LOL - do you care to enlighten us what type of battery is an AGM, if not lead acid as well?

 

google is your friend

Lead-based Batteries Information ? Battery University

 

My last one was an OEM...with removable caps the dealer said was sealed.

 

LOL - Google is indeed my friend, one of the smarter & more reliable ones.

I was just being a lil' prick taking a jab at your mistake when you said: "get an AGM battery. forget lead acid."

http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/a..._glass_mat_agm

 

When I replaced my fit battery last year I had a difficult time finding one that would fit properly as well as have the correct terminals located on the right side. In the end, I went to the dealership and used a Costco coupon after tax was around $85.