(I posted this in the Acura TSX room but am posting it here also in hope that more people might see it. I'm guessing my tsx is similar enough to a civic for the advice to be the same.)

Hi, I've owned my 2012 TSX since late 2019. Bought from a dealer and it needed a new battery by May 2020 and I just assumed the battery that came in it wasn't too good. At first the new battery performed OK, but once cold weather hit again I began noticing a slower crank, so began purposefully driving the car much more often just to keep it charged. About 2 weeks ago it needed a hard jump to start. I drove it 100 miles then had the battery checked out. Checked out OK. Two days later, drove it 20 miles. Two days after that, took a short trip (prob 3 miles.) 5 days later, slow crank again. Frustrated, I take it into AutoZone and they check the battery out. They tell me it is within spec for its age (not peak, but tested as good) and that Honda just has an issue with their batteries where the cars really need to be driven every day to keep them charged.

I asked about a trickle charger and was told one could not be installed on a Honda battery. I'm at my wits' end with frustration. I do not want to have to drive the car every day when I don't need to go anywhere and not knowing whether the car is going to crank the next time I DO need to go somewhere is causing me a ton of anxiety.

If anyone has any advice I will be very grateful. Here are a few things I am wondering about:
1. Is a battery tender different from a trickle charger and could I hook one of those up to it? It has a charging dock that I never use.
2. The guy at Autozone told me NOT to replace the battery because the new one would eventually end up like the current one, testing at "normal wear and tear" spec. I'm thinking $150/year (how long this one took before it flaked out on me) would be worth it for peace of mind.
3. Jump pack? 2 weeks ago when I needed a jump, they guy tried to use one and it didn't work. He had to cable it to his truck and then gun the engine to get me going, so I'm not sure I'd have any better luck.
4. Is there a superior battery I don't know about that I can buy where the charge would not drain so quickly when the car is off? The one in it is a Napa Legend, 3 year warranty. I'll happily spend the money on something like an Optima if that would fix the problem.
5. It's hard for me to believe this is a thing with all Hondas/Acuras, since my last car was a 1998 Acura RL and I frequently let it sit for 2 weeks or more and never once needed a jump in the ten years I owned it (well once, when it really needed a new battery.
6. Could I hook up a switch to the battery to disconnect it somehow when the car is parked? Would that help? Keying in the radio code is easy enough.

I will be grateful for any advice anyone can give me. I just don't want to have to keep starting/driving this car every day. I am not very technically inclined. Thanks!

 

Something must be draining the battery. I have a rear-view mirror backup camera (green light is always lit), dashcam....mine drains just 3 days of sitting. Get a battery tender/trickle charger if you know it won't be driven. I've had good experience with portable battery packs that can jump start my car (2006 Civic LX). Maybe the guy's battery pack was low and/or used incorrectly. I have to press and hold a button on my battery pack for it to power up my car.

I personally use this one, it's been 2 years: http://amzn.com/B07DPCHQMQ, can't buy it anymore though. I bought this one for another car: http://amzn.com/B086QYCPJ7, used it only a few times.

Battery Tenders
http://amzn.com/B07W8KJH44
http://amzn.com/B07XMJDJX7

If you do decide on a new battery, I'd go with Costco if you're a member. Their policy can't be beat.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions! Someone at Autozone told me a trickle charger could not be connected to the battery I have/any Honda battery. ??? No costco in my part of the world. I am going to investigate your jump packs and battery tenders. Thank you very much. Have you ever put a trickle on a honda?

 

I just googled what the difference is;; "A trickle charger provides a constant current all the time. It does not know whether the battery is charged or discharged. A battery tender is smart. It will charge the battery only when it needs charged."

To me, doesn't seem like you should get a trickle charger. The battery tenders I've linked should work better.