Honda cars are known to be one of the most durable and reliable cars out there, and we won’t be surprised that you bought a Honda vehicle yourself for this very reason. However, as with every mechanical machine, parts are bound to break. Most commonly car batteries, how much would a Honda battery replacement cost?
Although often only a fraction of the car’s original cost, car batteries can render your Honda unusable, and often at the most inconvenient times, when left running with issues. As soon as you are able to, you should replace your Honda’s battery to avoid running into issues.
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Average Price of a Honda Battery
Honda batteries can cost around $75 to $250. The actual battery itself can cost around $160, while the repair service and labor go around $90. However, these prices will vary depending on various factors, primarily the type of battery being used.
If you buy a genuine OEM battery, the new battery will cost around $100 to $200, with a 100-month limited warranty. You’ll find these high-quality batteries from Honda dealerships that can also service your car and find the right battery for you.
Thankfully, these batteries come with Honda 100-month warranty coverage, whereas, for the first 36 months, you should be able to replace your defective battery for free. For the next 64 months, you will get a discount on the new battery.
When Should I Replace My Honda Battery?
There are many tell-tale signs in the unfortunate case that you need to replace your Honda battery. Here are some of them:
1. Car Struggling to Start or Doesn’t Start at All
Car batteries are designed to be the car’s starter with a specific cranking amps rating, which refers to the amount of power they supply to the car in order to start the engine. Over time, the actual amps that a car battery can deliver will naturally degrade lower than its original rating.
Upon reaching a certain threshold, an old battery will not be able to reach the required cold-cranking amps (CCA) the engine needs, making it hard for you to start the car. You may not be even able to start your car at all.
You’ll find that these issues are exacerbated when outside temperatures are either high or low. Your climate can drastically affect your battery life.
2. The “Check Battery” Light Comes On
Honda cars are equipped with internal systems that routinely check several components of your car for defects or issues. If the “Check Battery” light stays on while you are driving, then it means that the system has detected issues with your battery. You may want to do a battery load test to confirm these issues.
3. Battery Fails Load Test
A battery load test checks how well your battery performs under load. Normally, a car mechanic’s battery services include this test, but if you have a battery load tester, you can perform the test yourself. The test can determine if either the battery, charging system, or alternator has issues.
Basically, the test checks if the battery supplies a certain amount of voltage, usually around 11.8 to 12.9 volts when idling, or around 9.6 volts when cranking the engine. Because of the nature of the test, you want the battery to be at least 75% charged, so you usually do the test twice to make sure about the results.
Once the voltage of the battery when cranking the engine drops below 9.6 volts, you might want to get that checked with professionals, who can check if you truly need a battery replacement.
4. Physical Issues with the Battery
You can take a cursory look at your battery and check for physical problems. Common battery problems include a bloated or swelling battery case or fluids leaking out of the battery. If you see anything abnormal or uncommon with your battery, you should bring it to the nearest Honda battery service location so that they can take a closer look at it.
How Long Does a Battery Last?
Typically, a car battery can last around 4-7 years. However, certain factors, such as extreme temperature and driving habits, make most batteries due for a replacement within 3-4 years. You don’t have to worry as much about this since battery replacement is generally part of routine maintenance for most cars.
Tips to Make Your Battery Last Longer
If you do want to make your battery last longer, there are certain things you can do or habits that you can change to ensure your battery is in tip-top shape for as long as possible before it dies.
- Limit short trips, since they prevent your battery from getting fully charged. Batteries are drained when starting the car but recharged as you drive. Short trips prevent this, so if you do short trips often, try to do a long trip in between them to get the battery charged.
- Turn off all headlights and car accessories, such as your security system, radio, and anti-theft systems, that run off-engine when the engine is not running.
- Fasten your battery tightly. Check your battery if it’s securely fastened to your car to avoid it from shaking while you’re driving, which can cause mechanical failures to your battery.
- Remove corrosion buildup from your battery terminals. You can easily do this by dipping a toothbrush in a mixture of water and baking soda, then brushing both the positive terminal and the negative terminal off. Rinse it off by spraying cold water onto your terminals.
- Routinely get your car checked by a mechanic that you trust. They will be able to see problems ahead of time during your scheduled service and save you the inconvenience of having your car break down in the middle of the road.
Conclusion
If you haven’t gotten your battery replaced for around 3 or so years, you might want to get your Honda battery checked before it breaks down at the most inconvenient time. Prepare around $250 for Honda replacement batteries, and they should last you for 3 years, or even longer if you follow the tips we laid out above.
You might want to have a schedule with your Honda dealer’s service department so that they can frequently check the current state of your battery.