2006 honda accord starting very sluggish after jumpstarting from dead battery

The car in question is a 2006 Honda Accord EX-L.

I bought it about 6 months ago and when I bought it, it had a dead battery. The dealership put in a new battery and everything was fine.

I get underway for about 2 months at a time where I don't touch the car. During this time, my wife usually will take the car out every other week and drive it around for a week.

This last time I got underway, she let it sit for 2 weeks straight. When she went to start it, she would turn the key, lights would flicker on and off, and then it wouldn't start. She said the first time she tried, the engine was trying to crank over. After that, just the lights would flicker. So I was guessing the starter maybe?

Anyways, just got home today and went to get in and no lights come on, the seat doesn't adjust, the door chime doesn't even come on to let me know I left my keys in the ignition when I open the door, so dead battery obviously. I hook up some cables to me and my wife's car and it starts up right away. I let it idle for a few minutes, then disconnected the jumper cables, and let it idle a bit more before taking it for a 5 minute ride around the block.

I let it sit for about 30 minutes, go to start it up, and it is sluggish starting up, the lights on the dash are flickering a bit, but it starts up. I waited another 30, same thing happened. Now it's been about 2 hours, and it was sluggish...it was cranking over (probably cranked about 7-8 times) before it finally started up.

So what could be wrong? Is the battery just a dud that they replaced it with? Is there some short in the electrical system that is leaking juice out of the battery consistently (if that's the case, why did the battery last for 6 months and I've never experienced this problem when leaving the car sitting for a week)? Maybe the alternator not charging up the battery right?

So what could be wrong? Is the battery just a dud that they replaced it with? Is there some short in the electrical system that is leaking juice out of the battery consistently (if that's the case, why did the battery last for 6 months and I've never experienced this problem when leaving the car sitting for a week)? Maybe the alternator not charging up the battery right?



G'day, it does sound like a bad battery.

Batteries do not like being run flat, and I have never known a car dealer that put in a brand new battery when selling a car.

If it is a non-sealed battery you can get the battery acid tested, otherwise a good auto electrician will be able to load test the battery with a load tester.


I would replace the battery though, and look at some kind of trickle charger to keep it topped up and conditioned when your not driving the car.

Check the alternator also to make sure it is charging the battery. With the engine running the battery voltage should be in the 14-14.2 volt range if the alternator is working. If that is good and the battery is still going dead after a good charge you could have a parasitic drain on the battery that can be hard to find. You should also have the battery charged with a trickle charger or take the car for a very long drive to make sure the battery gets completly charged.
Jeff

Have a local Auto parts store charge and load test both your battery + Alternator.
After a jump start, there's stiill not a good charge on your battery.

1) Turn all the bells + whistles off on both cars, and including the air cond.
2) Jump car and let both cars charge your battery for a few min, you might even
want to raise the RPM's on both cars.

Batteries don't tolerate sitting around for long periods without use like that. It's either sulfated internally and/or low on water, either will cause it to act like it is. Check the cells for correct level, fill with distilled water, then have it load tested.

If you detect any kind of rotten egg smell when the fill caps are removed, the battery is toast, don't mess around any further. That's hydrogen sulfide, explosive and indicates the battery is likely terminally sulfated inside.

I've only seen two batteries explode in 30 years of working on cars, both were in Hondas...be careful when jump starting, that's when they like to blow if low on water....