re: Auto Store Battery Testers

Check alternator by using a volt ohm meter across the battery’s negative and positive terminals. It should read 14.65v or so steadily while running.

Well, the next time it happens notice whether the headlights or other electronics work.

Do you turn off your AC, heated seats, etc. before you shut down your car after driving? In other words, when you go to crank up the car in the morning, is the AC, radio, etc. already on? These all have drains on the battery that shorten the life. Cars have a lot of electronics that all drain on the battery. I don't think batteries last as long. I have had Hondas/ Acuras that none of them had long lasting battery life.

Since 99% of the time the battery starts the engine fine, a test will not show a bad battery unless you text at the exact moment it was "bad".

Batteries typically do not randomly stop working. Chemical reaction slowly weakens and occasionally you get a dead cell from an internal broken electrical connection. Again, never is intermittent generally.

Check for loose connections not just on the battery but also where the negative side attaches to the frame and the hot side at the starter.

A bit more observations could help troubleshoot down the road. When turning the key, do the interior lights dim? Dim a little or a lot? No sound/clicking sound? Engine spinning at normal speed/slow/not at all?


When it is not starting, then on all the headlights, blower fan on high and turn on all the other high demand items like heated seats or power seats. Does all that still function on or does everything go dim?

When trouble shooting erratic problems, the more observations you can make the better.

Those are basic testers. How old is your battery? If it's 4 years or so just buy a new one. It's going bad. Probably the first good freeze it'll leave you hanging.

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Just chiming in to add that I have a 2016 Pilot also and had to change my battery a few months back. Noticed it was cranking really slow for a few days then went on start it on a Sunday morning and it just clicked. Took it out and brought it to Napa and they tested it and it was bad. I thought it was odd for a two year old battery to go bad so soon also.

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Same thing happened to me. My battery was about 2 1/2 years old and I took it to O'Reilly's to have it tested and they lady told me the battery was good and my alternator was probably bad. Waited until the place I get my oil changed to open and took it there to have it tested again. Guy there said the battery was bad and needed to be changed. It's been about a year and I haven't had any problems since.

alternator, battery cables, short, other electrical problems.

The fact that it's not happening every time you try to start the car says it probably isn't the battery.

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Check you negative terminal for corrosion could be the problem.

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If that is the case, just make a solution of baking soda and water, maybe a tbsp per 1/4 or half a cup, and then use an old toothbrush and use the solution to clean the terminals. shite works better than what you can buy. Had a guy replace batter (free install) and he sprayed some junk on there but it did not work and car would not start because of gunky connection. This solution cleared it up right away.

I'm in Monroe, I'm going to check the connections this weekend but everything at the battery is good. The lights dim when I tried to start and the car did attempt but just wasn't strong enough.