A weak or dying battery, with corroded terminals will cause all sorts of issues. The starter grind, A/C compressor at low rpm, idle quality all deteriorate with a weakening battery. The battery acts as a capacitor for the alternator, which sends messy, and lossy electrical energy since it's rectified, and the rectification frequency is proportional to engine RPM. At low RPM the battery can smooth out the rectification pulses into smoother DC power.

If your battery is over 4 or 5 years old, you'll likely have to buy a new one soon, get ready for sticker shock.

 

yeah they have all gotten crazy on prices. Last one I bought for our Tacoma was I think $180?

Also on the terminals, I have helped a number of people solve issues that were simply because they needed to clean the terminals on the battery. It is good to have a terminal cleaner (They are super cheap) on hand and just do it anytime you are disconnecting the battery or if it has been in place for a very long time.

For those not familiar, a link below. Any parts store should have them too. I gave one to a kid that was standing in the freezing cold, trying to start his truck one night because I recognized what was going on and showed him how to clean them and got him started again

 

Beware of battery acid tracking down to the body, under the battery.

The worst one I have seen, the battery tray rotted off the body, leaving a 6 inch rust hole.

Water spray will neutralize any acid tracking.

 

Check Costco - I bought a Type 51 in September for $99.00 with my core exchange. They did have to order it, but it only took a couple of days for the battery to come in...

 

Used this same one this past weekend when replacing the upper radiator hoses on my son's Rav4 with the battery out of the car. I need a new one, as my current brush head sees better days.

 

This - For some reason seems common on S2000s - I went through a DIY repair a few months ago. Getting lazy with the trickle charger worked out for the best!

 

I have seen a couple of battery explosions presumably from voltage regulator issues and a failing internal charger (standby generator) but never a leaking batter that had acid dripping all the way down. Will have to go out and check.

Batteries seem to be $30-$50 more in the past year to two years at Costco and almost $200 elsewhere.

 

How coincidental, my battery went out and just got a replacement yesterday from Honda as well. 140 after tax and a 100 month warranty . I used to only go to costco but their warranty changed to only 36 months and no prorate afterwards so not worth it any longer

 

Costco cannot be beat. I saved more than the annual membership fee on my last truck battery

 

‘05 S2000 - Replaced my 7 yr old battery last month with one from Costco(Wis), $130.
Noticed a bare wire in small wiring harness coming out of interior fender wall next to battery location.
Seems like there should have been a rubber grommet protecting the harness from the sharp edge of the sheet metal hole.
Wrapped it generously with electrical tape and added a new section of flex tubing.

Should there have been a rubber grommet in place here by the factory?