New poster here, hoping this is the right forum. Thanks for reading.

Our 2008 Honda Civic LX completely shutdown in a snowstorm last week.

The car started fine (outside temp about 26f). Idled it for 15 minutes with the heater on. Turned the car off and went out to put on the chains. Probably took about 20 minutes. Got back in the car to start it and nothing. No turnover, just a click, with the green key light flashing on the dash. Complete shutdown.

Went inside, came back out 45 minutes later hoping it was an anti-theft malfunction and it would reset itself, but same thing happened. This time the dash lights all flashed.

The dealer is saying that the battery died. That could be, but it just does not make sense to me. The battery is a year old and the car started and ran fine. Then just nothing.

Anyone here experience this or have any ideas what this could be about?

Thanks

 

I had the same problem last month i bought mt car in nov. Of 07 its an 08 model si but, last month when it started to get really cold here in nyc i had that same prob. I thought it was because of my alarm and amps for my system, but i took it to sears (they do free diagnostics..lol) and it was the battery .. I bought a die hard gold and never happened again.. Plus wheni had the stock battery and i would put my music loud my bass would shut off , the amps were turning off battery doesnt have enough juice, now with the new battery dont have any of those problems...

 

its the battery. i quite a few people have had this happen. some got it covered under warranty for a new battery.

 

When my EM2 was quite cold, the subwoofer would not work, and often the car would not start. Have not experienced this in the FG, however.

 

I personaly wouldnt want the dealer to cover me with a battery from them, theyre all wack, they dont have enough juice, thats why i decided to just buy a good one from sears it was only 89.99 for the die hard gold with 3 year warranty.. Ur better off...

 

why wouldnt you want a new battery for free ?

 

I had same prob at the drive in with some chick, so pissed since I knew I didnt leave anything on. Anyway, luckily someone gave me a jump and it never happened again. Get a new one from dealer than go buy one and you can have one on standby

 

Thanks for the responses - sounds like I'm not alone.

The thing that gets me is it idled for 15 minutes then 20 minutes later it is so dead it won't even make the slightest indication of attempting to start. I mean just nothing at all. Click.

On a 1 yr old car.

That is one lame battery. Guess we are headed to Sears.

Thanks again for helping me out -

 

yep. happened to my wife's '07 several months ago. she drove it to the gas station, shut it down to get gas, tried to start it, and nothing happened.

she actually was able to get it started eventually, and i folllowed her to the dealership about 40 minutes away. once she got it there, it would not start again. they replaced the battery and it's been fine ever since.

it happens.

 

i've heard the same from my honda rep here -- it's a battery issue.

on another note -- if you think a "snow storm" is bad when the temp is 24F -- i woke up this morning and the temp was -32. The civic started without a hassle.

 

I used to work for Honda and they are notorious for using the cheapest **** batteries to cut costs

 

I don't know about the not starting, but idling a car for 15 minutes, then turning it off for 20, and then driving it makes zero sense.

 

Why is that?

 

go to the dealer the replacement batteries they sell are from interstate. and besides its free. on any honda 06 and newer they have 3 year unlimited mileage warranty on the battery. i work at hond and replace alot of them.