Can anyone identify the two items coming off the negative battery terminal, as shown in the picture? The lower one has two normal wires coming out of it, so it may just be a temperature sensor. The upper one has two large cables coming out of it that go to the frame, but I don't know what the part itself does.

 

What year and engine is this Accord?

 

It's actually a 2012 Civic LX 1.8-liter 4 cylinder.

 

Humm, I'm not that good with those.....should be about the same as an Accord.

What issue are you having or is this "just wondering"?

 

It all involves the Honda dual-mode charging system, which isn't keeping my battery charged very well. So I was looking at modifying things to make the alternator put out a higher voltage. This is all discussed in a six-year-old thread by Keep_Hope_Alive on the "ELD Bypass" which I recently posted a reply to.


Anyway, I took my car to the dealer last week for an oil change, and was told the battery was ok, but was only 57% charged (about 12.25V instead of at least 12.6V if fully charged). And further research indicates this is by deliberate Honda design even though my understanding is that a lead-acid battery kept charged at that level is prone to early failure because of sulfation. And in fact I've already replaced the battery once, and am looking for a way to make this one last a bit longer.


So I just wanted to make sure I understand how the charging system works before I go making changes. And I can't find any information on what those mystery things do.

 

It's a battery sensor; similar to what is on 2013 to present Accords.

You could read about the battery management system here: Frequently Asked Questions - Official Honda Web Site