The car had been idling low...real low. Like at 400rpms or lower. but it never died once, and always drove fine, got OK gas mileage and never gave a problem except the low idle. I changed the plugs, cleaned the IACV, used Lucas' fuel system cleaner, and nothing changed.

Well, I decided to start driving my Formula more often, and bought a Jeep for my wife, so the Accord sat for a while. It started up fine after a month or so of sitting, only issue was the idle mentioned above. But then about a week or two later, I go to drive it to the store, and the battery is dead Well, I jump it and let it run, and everything seems good. But then after letting it run for a while to get the battery charged, it started idling REAL low, like at 100-150 rpms - barely running. I shut it down and went inside. Few days later I go to start it, and the battery was dead again. So i pulled it out, cleaned the cables and terminals and while it as out, I hooked the jumper cables to it and hooked it up to my Formula to jump it again. It was reading 14.5v when connected to my Formula, and about 12.5v when I took it off. (forgot to mention it was at 10.5v when it was 'dead' and wouldn't start the car).


And that's where Im at now. I know when I come home from work today the battery is probably going to be dead again...but why? Its maybe 2.5 years old. And whats with the low idle, and the reaaaaallly low idle?

 

Sounds like you've got a sulfated/dead battery. A sulfated battery will cause your charging system to do all sorts of things. Most importantly, it won't allow the alternator to charge properly. Thus, doesn't give your car enough power to work with. Which could, small chance, cause your low idle.

Worst case scenario.. Your alternator caused your battery to go dead and you'll need both..

 

im figuring on the battery being toast...

but the low idle started a while ago, even after the battery was new...

 

Have the battery fully charged first. Or even tested at a parts store (they'll have to charge it first). Then reconnect it and measure the voltage across the terminals. If the terminals are clean, tight and in good condition and you're not seeing over 13 volts with the car running, then your alternator isn't charging properly. If you're seeing the proper voltage and the battery still looses it's charge, then you either have a power drain somewhere or a bad battery.

 

im going to try and work on it tomorrow and after i get it started, ill measure the voltage across the battery to see if the Alt is good. Im pretty sure it is though. I dont know what could be causing a drain on the battery though...it just started randomly. the car was parked for more than a month, then it started fine, i drove it around the block and parked it, and the next time i got in it, it was dead.


the idle thing is what im mainly worried about though. any ideas on that?

 

load test the car to see where the problem is. it could be your alt is not charging the battery