I have a 2003 Accord, 161k miles, 4 door, manual xmission. I have recently encountered hard starting. It takes some amount of persistence to get the engine started. By way of background, I had installed a new Honda 100 month warranty battery 5 years ago. Last year the battery gave up. It lasted only 4 years (48 months versus the advertise 100 months) and I replaced it under warranty after paying a prorated amount. Could this batter have gone bad in just 1 year? How can I tell whether it is the battery or something else?

 

For a quick battery test, measure the voltage across the battery terminals with nothing turned on. Then have an assistant try cranking the car while you measure the battery voltage.

Most part stores can do a load test on the battery to give you an idea if the battery, alternator, or starter is drawing too much current as well.

When you turn the key to start the car, does the starter spin the engine at the same rate as a normal startup?

 

PAhonda, thanks for your suggestions. I tried the battery test you mentioned. It measured over 12 volts with engine not running. I had my son crank the engine and it started right away, much to my surprise. I was watching the voltmeter. It blanked out momentarily during the cranking process and then went up to 14.7 volts and stayed there. I have been using the car all day and I'm not encountering any hard starting. The hard starting occurred for the previous 3 days or so. I don't know what to make of it.

 

The hard starting has not surfaced again. I hope it stays that way ... at least for a few years.