Dead battery

[dsikorski]

My 2004 TSX will not start after 3-5 days left in the garage. I replaced the battery last month with a new Optima from the dealer. Nothing left on to drain the battery from what I can see.

Anyone have the same problem and/or solution?

More information.....my wife would take the care and leave at the airport for week long business trips. She never had a problem starting when returning home, and we never left the car sit in the garage for a week until the last few months. Would leaving the key in the ignition for that length of time have an impact?

[redlight_005]

If you are sure you didnt leave anything on in the car to drain the battery, maybe your battery is defective from the factory. Only other thing would be your alternator not charging the battery properly.

[n0s_speed]

question? do you maintain your battery? if not, it could be running very low on fluid. which makes the battery die...........i'm already on my 3rd battery now. autozone battery with warranty so free when needed to replace again. so i don't care if it dies on me.

also, do you have any sound systems? video? etc? that might be draining your bat.

[redlight_005]

I think the factory batteries are maintenance free, but you can get one that was not properly mixed with the acids and all.

[RPhilMan1]

Originally Posted by dsikorski

Would leaving the key in the ignition for that length of time have an impact?

I can't help but think that leaving the key in the ignition may cause your battery to drain.

On a side note, I worked line service at an FBO here in Daytona last fall and spring (if you don't know what that is, think the guy who tugs and refuels airplanes, but only corporate and general aviation aircraft). Especially during the Daytona 500 race, we had a handful of courtesy vehicles that we would use to transport customers around the airport to the race track. Also, our corporate hangar customers would drive up to the ramp, park their car in the hangar, and depart on their aircraft. We were in charge of maintaining the safety of their vehicles while they were away.

On several occasions, either customers' vehicles or our courtesy cars would have dead batteries when we attempted to start the vehicle. Now, at least one employee always left the keys in the ignition. I always took the liberty to either place the keys in the cup holder or somewhere in that general area. But the funny thing is that every vehicle that we ended up jumping had the keys left in the ignition over a period of time. I can't help but wonder if that was the reason why the batteries drained and died, or if that was just a coincidence.

Food for thought, I guess.

[dsikorski]

I purchased this new battery from the dealer last month, so I would think no maintenace would be necessary this soon. There are no electronic add ons or modifications to the factory installed equipment, and I am sure there are no switches left in the on position.

I've thought about a problematic alternator and will get that checked out.

[redlight_005]

Let us know how you make out!

[OEM Bob]

Now I am not 100% certain, but if you leave your key in the ignition the car it really isnt off. When you pull the key out the interior lights come on and the anti-theft LEDs come on for the radio an arm the car as well. So its waiting for you to do something.

Also from a security stand point its just a bad, bad idea to leave the keys in the car. If I break into your home I can now drive away in nice TSX.

See ya
OEM Bob

[nbtx]

Yep, take the key out of the ignition switch. AND, if that doesn't solve the problem, you have something that isn't shutting down - like a fuel pump or an accessory. If so, use a digital VOM to check the battery's current flow when everything is off. If you see any more than 50 milliamperes or so, start pulling fuses one at a time until you find the problem. For example, a stuck "on" fuel pump will pull 5 amperes or so, and kills a battery just like that.