Just got back from a 18 day holiday to find the S with a completely flat battery... Car was garaged and alarmed, with no lights accidentally left on, boot open etc...

Has anyone else had this problem? I don't want to call the AA man out every time I come back from a bit of sun and sand!!

 

Had exactly the same problem after working abroad for 2 months - the alarm will drain the battery.

Tried using a trickle charger when I next went away overseas and it seemed to work, but the battery wouldn't hold a full charge after that and died after a week and had to get a new one.

One way would be to completely disconnect the battery I guess. Would the immobilser work then? Not sure I would like to try that, though my S is always locked in the garage when I'm not using it.

 

Yes, I had that happen on my Elise and once the battery gets discharged like that, it really needs replacing to stop it from happening again. Car batteries do lose their edge after a few years, but Elise batteries are pretty notorious for only being good for 14 days with the alarm fully set!

Something that a lot of Elise owners do when parking their car in their garage is disable the internal microwave sensor, because it's that that really drains the battery. I don't know for certain that the Honda alarm has the same problem but it seems reasonable to suspect it.

On the S, to disable the internal sensor, press the lock button again once you've locked up and set the alarm. The indicators will flash to confirm.

 

Yep, but not with the S but have heard similar problems, It's mainly due to the Thatcham 1 Alarm etc I know a friend who has a TVR used to have the same problem, He got over it by buying a solar powered battery trickle charger. I had to leave the keys with someone else (that I trust) as I work overseas for about 2 months at a time, so if they haven't started it up I will have the same problem as you. I will try to find the trickle charger if you like.

 

Will try disabling the immobliser next time - fingers crossed the battery seems OK since it lost the charge... Trickle charger great in theory, except I have no mains power in the garage....! AA man did recommend disconnecting the battery next time, but then it's a pain to reset radio codes etc....

 

Disconnect the battery. You lose the alarm (which is what is draining the battery) but when the would be thief connects it, the immobiliser will still to be activated so you should be safe on that score. Also might be worth checking that nothing else is draining the battery. Best bet though is use a trickle charger I guess. At the end of the day, this is not a honda specific issue, this will happen will all cars, the only difference being how long it takes to drain the battery (which depends on battery age, alarm, other draining sources, power/size of battery etc.). 18 days (almost 3 weeks) doesn't seem to bad really. Mind you, you don't know what day it ran out of course! could have been after 2 days in which case there's a more serious problem!!

Not sure about getting someone to start it up unless they leave it running for a bit (or take it out for a ride) as it'll use more charge just starting it then turning off after a short while than if you jut left it alone.

 

The trickle charger my friend uses with his TVR is a solar powered one. Have a look at this URL, I think I will be buying one. http://www.selectsolar.co.uk/gadget.html

 

No sun in the garage to solar power it either...?? Unless it is even more clever than I give it credit for... Good price if it can store up enough to trickle charge in a dark, powerless garage!

 

Oh, just spotted the 8ft wire - guess this could probably live outside then!!

 

Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't our cigarette lighter work only if the ignition is switched on ??

If so, then is it not also true that the unit won't be able to trickle charge !!

Bharat