1998 Honda Accord - Doubling up on the Doubling Up On The Battery post

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Tue 9 Feb 2021 17:17
1998 Honda Accord - Doubling up on the Doubling Up On The Battery post - edlithgow

The first post disappeared

Battery it came with won’t charge above 9V. I don’t want to buy a new one (at least not yet) because it isn’t my car and it has other potential issues that need test driving to evaluate.

I have 2 smaller (re) tired ex-Skywing batteries which won’t both fit in the (passenger side) battery box. The alternator is on the other side of the engine compartment. Removing an L-shaped brace probably weakened the wing a bit but gave me a big enough flat inner-wing surface to take the second battery, wired + to the alternator B post right next to it, and – to a 10mm bolt on an engine mounting which itself already had an earth wire running to the wing. This battery is tied down with rope, using a chopstick as a Spanish Windlass handle.

Dash lights up with either battery used alone. Havn’t tried to start it yet.

Potential issues include:

SS Jubilee clips with a coil of wire inside them as battery clamps, since the posts are smaller. These may not make a good enough connection.

Don’t like that earth much and may try and arrange something heftier.

Weak batteries (though I could jump start with the Skywing live battery)

Second battery is a bit uncomfortably close to the aircon belt but I could take that off.

Have I missed any obvious gotchas?

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Tue 9 Feb 2021 17:29
1998 Honda Accord - Doubling up on the Doubling Up On The Battery post - elekie&a/c doctor
Sounds like a new film in the Wallace and Grommet series. “The wrong batteries “ .
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Tue 9 Feb 2021 23:07
1998 Honda Accord - Doubling up on the Doubling Up On The Battery post - edlithgow

Encouraging then.

If I just used one it would be like "The Wrong Trouser"

Which wouldn't work.

www.driveaccord.net/threads/doubling-up-on-the-bat...0

www.driveaccord.net/attachments/img_3753-jpg.52776...f

Edited by edlithgow on 10/02/2021 at 04:34

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Wed 10 Feb 2021 05:07
1998 Honda Accord - Doubling up on the Doubling Up On The Battery post - edlithgow

This didn't either.

Rapid chattering buzz on startup attempt, possibly from starter solenoid.

First guesses either insufficient juice, mis-connection, or its developed other problems while sitting idle

Fiddling with connections got it going though there an odd noise from the aircon pump or pulley.

So 2's company in the wrong trouser department. One wonders for how long though.l

Edited by edlithgow on 10/02/2021 at 07:12

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Wed 10 Feb 2021 10:26
1998 Honda Accord - Doubling up on the Doubling Up On The Battery post - jc2

A number of commercials,down to and including vans,use multiple batteries in parallel.

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Thu 11 Feb 2021 05:18
1998 Honda Accord - Doubling up on the Doubling Up On The Battery post - edlithgow

Got it started on second attempt using jump leads off the Skywing battery and jumpering bat+ direct to starter solenoid (so ignition switch resistance MIGHT be a factor). It wouldn’t quite restart on the key without the jump leads, even after warming up for 10 mins or so.

Since disconnecting jump leads while the engine is running might b***** up the alternator, I’ll need to improve contacts a bit, and might have to install the “live” Skywing battery in place of the weaker retired one. Swapping batteries between two vehicles is inconvenient but its only for a bit of testing, and I can't drive them both at the same time anyway.

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Thu 11 Feb 2021 12:33
1998 Honda Accord - Doubling up on the Doubling Up On The Battery post - edlithgow

A number of commercials,down to and including vans,use multiple batteries in parallel.

Thanks. I thought that was often in series to get 24V (I guess it doesn't make economic sense to make dedicated 24V batteries). IIRC we had FFR (Fitted For Radio) Land Rovers in the TA done like that, but I suppose in parallel it would also be a way of getting more cranking capacity,for largish diesels.

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Thu 11 Feb 2021 14:09
1998 Honda Accord - Doubling up on the Doubling Up On The Battery post - jc2
Used in a lot of motor caravans/ mobile shops to save fitting much larger battery that won't fit rhe battery tray.

Edited by jc2 on 11/02/2021 at 14:11

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Fri 12 Feb 2021 08:55
1998 Honda Accord - Doubling up on the Doubling Up On The Battery post - jc2
I do remember sorting out the elecrics on a 24v. FFR Champ for someone- armoured wiring everywhere- a right nasry job!
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Fri 19 Mar 2021 09:43
1998 Honda Accord - Doubling up on the Doubling Up On The Battery post - edlithgow

For those readers whom the suspense has not already killed, The Final Installment.

Owner got tired of me messing around with it and took it back, probably to his "mechanic friend" to get a new battery installed. (All Taiwanese seem to have "mechanic friends" who they well-meaningly but irritatingly try and hook you up with as soon as you lift a bonnet)

Fair enough, since I'm not going to buy the car, though losing my two old batteries and the extra cabling (which came from a mysteriously engineless Toyota Camry abandoned on campus) was mildly annoying..

My understanding is its been untaxed for too long and can't now be re-registered anyway, but that might be incorrect. Its very hard to get straight consistent answers from the Taiwan DMV on such questions, especially if you don't speak Mandarin.

His problem is he owes more back tax on it than its disposal value, so I dunno what he's planning to do with it.

Perhaps the most comfortable car I've driven, but not really my kind of thing, I wasn't going to scrap the Skywing, girlfriend didn't want it, and it had a few faults, though nothing major AFAIK

Check engine light with an Insufficient EGR flow flashing light code. This didn't respond to a BIG cleaning of the EGR path, which was completely clogged

Generally not much rust but it has two matching corrosion holes in the sills near the rear jacking points. I applied a bit of rust treatment but the sills should probably have been sprayed internally.

Brake fluid was liquid rust. Replaced and flushed, though the fluid reservoir has A LOT of pockets and was hard to clean completely.

Rear drivers side brake hose seemed to be collapsed (wouldn't flush) and should be replaced. Havn't had a chance to test drive it since but I'd expect the brake either won't work or will bind.

Rusty brake disks cleaned. Rims and hubs rust treated.

Sun damaged paintwork

Two tyres with slow leaks

Not much IOW. Would be a shame to scrap it.

I'll give the owner the list when I see him but he won't be interested. I also still have the wing-reinforcing bracket I removed, probably ditto.

So here endeth my Honda Accord Experience. Mildly interesting, but overall a bit of a waste of time.


Edited by edlithgow on 19/03/2021 at 09:50

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