[First Time Buyer]

Hello - Recently I had to replace my 2016 HRV battery AGAIN. I'm being told by the folks at Honda that it is because I don't drive my car enough! I had my last car for 20 years and NEVER had to replace the battery as often as I have on this 2016 HRV.

Has anyone else had problems with their battery's? I'm being told by friends and family it sounds as if these people are giving me a run around. The dealer did suggest I get a Trickle Charger but I don't think I should have to buy anything extra.

Anyone have suggestions OR have the same problem with their HRV?

 

[Glen e]

Most of the new cars these days have a small minor parasitic drain and really don't like to sit more than about six weeks. Some much less. if you're going to let the car sit over a winter or for months on end, you can just disconnect the negative battery cable and the battery will be fine if it's fully charged. Or you get a battery trickle charger. No need to go overboard, a simple $30 battery tender from Amazon will do nicely.

 

[First Time Buyer]

Thank You Glen E.....that's what's so frustrating about this car. I DON'T let it sit any length of time! If I knew this was going to be a problem I never would have bought this car. I had my old car for 20 years and NEVER had to change the battery like I have this one. This is, I believe, my 3rd battery and it's a 2016 HRV!

 

[Glen e]

The HRV does not have An inherant all cars defect. Your car however has a parasitic drain. You should not be going through three batteries in three years in any car. This site is not showing a massive amount of battery problems such as you are having. Find a competent electric honda automotive Electrician and get it taken care of.. My guess is you have run into a series of technicians that did not try to address the root cause of the problem, and just danced around it with battery replacements. Good diagnosis is a pain in the ass to do, and there are techs out the other would love to just swap out a battery that rooting around , and spending too much time in diagnosis.

 

[fishycomics]

a lot of questions can be asked. Are there anything added to the car. an alarm etc....

1 battery can simply run car off for 90 minutes today noted on the battery so make sure you got the right size battery for the car?

2. Check the battery at Advance Auto land Auto Zone. put a Load on Her makes sure they do that.

3 I turn everytihng on to see if a drop happens.

4 I start looking around to see if anything out of the ordinary has changed, because if a dome light is left on that will drain, we all know that? So what can be happening is a short in a switch, who knows and that is a start of Trouble shooting finding the short.

5 while the battery and car off watch the battery see if any voltage drop that will tell there is something happening...

The car is under warranty and so is the battery. get to your Honda Dealer and if they do not help out you are at the wrong Dealer go to another that will take their time to help out One last thing is there can be an update in sfotware, and that we are not used to on newer cars why software is needed to run cars today they do fine years ago, today there are way to much electronics running.... Good Luck time for caffeen here

FISH

 

[Willis]

Hello - Recently I had to replace my 2016 HRV battery AGAIN. I'm being told by the folks at Honda that it is because I don't drive my car enough! I had my last car for 20 years and NEVER had to replace the battery as often as I have on this 2016 HRV.

Has anyone else had problems with their battery's? I'm being told by friends and family it sounds as if these people are giving me a run around. The dealer did suggest I get a Trickle Charger but I don't think I should have to buy anything extra.

Anyone have suggestions OR have the same problem with their HRV?

The positive battery connection, not the main one but the one that goes through what looks like fuses, is loose and causes my wife's car to not start, just like a dead battery. I think it's just poor design and you cant tighten the connection, both bolt and nut both spin. I've been shoving a drumstick in to wedge the "washer" tight enough to get a connection. Jumping the car works, I think, because the clamp is direct or the clamp crams the connection tight enough.

 

[PaulB]

Hello - Recently I had to replace my 2016 HRV battery AGAIN. I'm being told by the folks at Honda that it is because I don't drive my car enough! I had my last car for 20 years and NEVER had to replace the battery as often as I have on this 2016 HRV.

Has anyone else had problems with their battery's? I'm being told by friends and family it sounds as if these people are giving me a run around. The dealer did suggest I get a Trickle Charger but I don't think I should have to buy anything extra.

Anyone have suggestions OR have the same problem with their HRV?

Hi First Time Buyer,
Yes, I have the same problem with our HRV Sport. If it sits for any length of time, a couple of weeks in 50 degF weather, it goes dead. And I'd respectfully disagree with the sentiment that there aren't systemic issues here. The battery is tiny. It's gone dead 3 times now, even though we were driving it. I don't trust it and am hesitant to use it. The dealership has run diagnostics, says its fine, all systems go. My other car, a Nissan Altima, has gone dead once in 7 years, in the winter sitting at the airport for weeks. My opinion is that Honda cut too many corners with this model.

 

[Kdavi332]

My 2017 Ex dies over night every few days. Honda had it all week last week. They said it didn't die for them, and that it tested fine. This morning I got in to go to work, dead battery. Jump box read 8 volts. This weekend, I will figure out what it is. I really enjoy the little guy other than that darn battery.

 

[bseriesfrankie]

I believe I have solved the issue. The problem is the alternator voltage regulator, the battery is not charging at idle but charges when you turn on the light or drive the car. I noticed the car start to rev up and down but the rpm gauge is steady at 900 and only be heard. I checked with a muti meterandit was at 9 volts running.i will get it rebuilt and report asap.

 

[TwoWheelsDown]

I DON'T let it sit any length of time!

Old post, but how much do you drive the car? If you drive three miles a time, it's likely not enough to charge the battery back up.

When I need to move the car around my house, I try to time it so I go on a positioning drive if I otherwise don't have anywhere else I need to go. I drive a 20-mile lap on the freeway that has a 1/4 mile uphill on ramp at about 8% grade as the turn-around point. Good way to be sure all 141HP are awake!

If it sits for any length of time, a couple of weeks in 50 degF weather, it goes dead. And I'd respectfully disagree with the sentiment that there aren't systemic issues here. The battery is tiny.

Same here. After four weeks she'll slowly crank over and start. Much longer and she won't. Now when I know I won't be driving the car for a while, I just disconnect the negative terminal.

I believe I have solved the issue. The problem is the alternator voltage regulator, the battery is not charging at idle but charges when you turn on the light or drive the car. I noticed the car start to rev up and down but the rpm gauge is steady at 900 and only be heard. I checked with a muti meterandit was at 9 volts running.i will get it rebuilt and report asap.

I haven't looked into this particular car, but newer cars have variable-output voltage regulators. I'm sure the HR-V does as well, because I noticed the same. The voltage at idle with no accessories on is like 12.8v, but if you turn on the blower or the headlights, it bumps the voltage to 13.6v or so.

On some vehicles, it's as simple as cutting a single signal wire to the alternator. Without the signal wire, the alternator's voltage regulator constantly outputs what most would consider normal charging voltage.

 

[spacewrangler]

I have a ScanGuage. I watch the system voltage. When the electrical load is low the system will show about 12.3 volts even at cruising RPMs. When the electrical load goes up, the voltage will immediately go to about 14.3 volts. I'm sure this is to help meet CAFE requirements.

 

[CalgaryHRV]

I have a ScanGuage. I watch the system voltage. When the electrical load is low the system will show about 12.3 volts even at cruising RPMs. When the electrical load goes up, the voltage will immediately go to about 14.3 volts. I'm sure this is to help meet CAFE requirements.

^^This is interesting.. We have had our HRV for about a year and a Scangauge installed for nearly all that that time.

I have never seen our HRV show less than 14.2-14.4 volts with the engine running. Until yesterday.

I replaced the 1.5 year old Honda 500CCA 51R battery and installed a much larger capacity battery (only temporarily installed at the moment).

The Scangauge showed 14.4V or so for about a minute and then went down to 12.4V and stayed there.
I had checked the voltage (12.6V)and water level of the larger battery before installing it.
I thought it was a problem. I checked all the connections. Alternator connections, etc, etc. No charging warning lite in the dash.
If I turn off the HRV and then restart it, the charging voltage goes to 14+V and then goes back to 12.4V or so in less than 30 seconds.
Couldn't figure it out, couldn't tell it was normal or not.
Like Spacewrangler mentioned, if you turn on the seat heaters and headlights, etc, the charging voltage goes up.


In the service manual, it talks about the HRV ECM varying charging voltage and this is all normal, as Spacewrangler stated above.
Our 2006 Acura TSX also has a Scangauge and it charges 14+V at ALL times with the engine running.

I think our piddly 51R battery has been weak all this time... Cost me some time but part of the learning process.
The Scangauge is worth every penny. I'm still working on the battery upgrade!

 

[Ein]

I wondered long ago as to the cause.

Operating voltage

I discovered something interesting. At first I thought the alternator might not be working. The voltage is 12.4 volts when operating without the lights on. When the lights are on it's 14.4. My past Hondas' voltage is always 14V+ when operating with or without the lights on. Or maybe there is...

www.hrvforum.com

 

[John35g]

Honda did (and maybe still does??) have diodes on the alternator that at idle will cut output and reduce load on engine (for fuel savings), IF the computer senses the battery currently has enough charge.

 

[CalgaryHRV]

I wondered long ago as to the cause.

Operating voltage

I discovered something interesting. At first I thought the alternator might not be working. The voltage is 12.4 volts when operating without the lights on. When the lights are on it's 14.4. My past Hondas' voltage is always 14V+ when operating with or without the lights on. Or maybe there is...

www.hrvforum.com

Thanks Einz. It makes sense that you guys discovered this many years ago!

IMO, the varying charging voltage also compounds all the battery issues reported on the HRV.
The 51R battery is too small and the variable charging voltage is low at times.

So if anyone else notices that their HRV is charging at 14+V at all times, it likely means the battery is getting weak.

I had pretty much decided on a 56R battery to replace the 51R battery in our HRV but, due to the variable charging voltage, I am now re-thinking that and may go to a even bigger battery.

 

[Ein]

Or get an AGM battery. Costcos in canada sell them. Someone here got one.

https://www.costco.ca/Energizer-51R-AGM-Battery-.product.1824696.html

 

[CalgaryHRV]

Or get an AGM battery. Costcos in canada sell them. Someone here got one.

https://www.costco.ca/Energizer-51R-AGM-Battery-.product.1824696.html

I don't think that battery is a good option.

The Costco Kirkland 51R flooded lead acid battery is 500CCA, Cad$109, 4 year replacement warranty.
That Costco Energizer AGM 51R battery is 435CCA, Cad$199, 5 year replacement warranty.

500CCA is already inadequate capacity. That little 435CCA will also make you late for work one morning!

I'm still trying to decide what is the best option to install a larger battery in our HRV.

 

[Glen e]

I had the same problem with a 4 cyl Honda accord LX in 2009. The battery was extremely small, possibly the same battery as this one, and I wanted to replace it with a 600 CCA AGM battery I already owned. I took out the battery tray, and then strapped the new battery in with big 4 foot 100# zip ties… Not an elegant solution,But still was fine six years later when I sold it.

 

[CalgaryHRV]

Lol, no one would ever refer to me as elegant!

Unfortunately there is no way to toss in a large battery in the HRV and secure it with zip ties.
The metal shelf/bracket under the battery is not flat. It has 2 guides that are only 6 inches apart.

More info on upgrading to a larger battery in the HRV in this thread:

51R Battery Upgrade?

The 51R battery in my HRV has died and needed a jump start a few times in the last 3+ years of owning it. Just recently, the dash lights went bonkers and flashed on and off and clicked violently and wouldn't let me turn the car on or off for several seconds. I've read about this happening to...

www.hrvforum.com

 

[Jean N.]

The HRV does not have An inherant all cars defect. Your car however has a parasitic drain. You should not be going through three batteries in three years in any car. This site is not showing a massive amount of battery problems such as you are having. Find a competent electric honda automotive Electrician and get it taken care of.. My guess is you have run into a series of technicians that did not try to address the root cause of the problem, and just danced around it with battery replacements. Good diagnosis is a pain in the ass to do, and there are techs out the other would love to just swap out a battery that rooting around , and spending too much time in diagnosis.

I too have a 2018 Honda H-RV. Last winter after continuous driving my battery seemed to go low so I took it into the dealership and they charged the battery for three hours and told me I had to drive at least 10 mile to get the battery charged each day. For one year I drove out of my way to get those 10 miles on the car to charge the battery. Monday morning I went out to go to work and the battery was once again dead. Hooked the battery charger on it and got it to start the next morning. I drove immediately to the dealership and they tested the battery. I was told two cells wouldn't hold a charge and they replaced the battery under warranty. Now I am wondering if this is an ongoing problem with this model. They said again I need to drive the H-RV 10 mile per day, but this time added of 45 miles per hour to charge the battery. Will think twice about getting another Honda vehicle after owning a Honda for over 20 years.