Hello, this is a new issue that just occurred today on my 2010 acura RDX (2053xxkm).
it’s -30°c out here but the car started fine this morning with the block heater plugged in.
after driving to a store and being parked for just under an hour, the doors wouldn’t unlock with the fob and the car wouldn’t start. The lights on the dash were freaking out and there is some relay rapidly clicking under the dash.
the lights were turning on and off on their own even though the lights switch was set to OFF.
A fellow in a Civic helped me jump the car with zero issues. And we drove (30 minutes) just fine on residential and highway roads to a friends place. Although the stereo volume was fluctuating up and down on its own. No other concerns.
after parking outside for 45 minutes and trying to go again, the same thing, no response to the fob and the car wouldn’t even crank. There was a rapid clicking under the dash again and the lights were going crazy even though they are switched to OFF.
I get another boost from a booster box and with some struggle it gets going. The drive home went as normal until I parked at home and got out. With the lights still switched to OFF, the lights turned themselves on as I walked away and the fob didn’t lock the doors. with the rapid clicking under the dash again..
I’ve unhooked the battery for the time being and im hoping to get this figured out when things warm up. I’m not the first owner but I did replace the battery last year, not sure on the age of the alternator.
any advice would be greatly appreciated please and thank you.
Load test your battery and alternator.
Ill attempt to get to a auto parts store to test the battery and alternator when it warms up.
Also thought to mention, ever since I bought the car in august 2021, the idle always went up ~50-150rpm whenever the lights or climate control were turned on, as well as a momentary but noticeable change when a window was rolled up. There’s also always been a subtle whine from the accessory belt that goes with rpm, but I’ve never been left stranded until today. Could the alternator have been going out slowly over the last two years? The cold today was the final straw for it to suddenly go kaput?
It's certainly possible the alternator is bad but you won't know until it's tested.
Replaced the battery with OEM from Honda and that has remedied all my issues!
you’d expect it to put up to conditions in Canada
No lead acid battery can withstand freezing conditions in a discharged state. This is just the way they are. It’s probably printed on the sticker too.
- fellow Canadian
I pulled the battery out today and brought it to my nearest auto parts store where they tested it and was on the beginning of the weak threshold, and he mentioned that that was without any load. He also noticed the battery is bulging which would cause problems.
It is supposed to be covered under a 4 year warranty, so I brought it into Canadian Tire and they verified it is indeed frozen but that they do not cover damage due to freezing. The battery is just over a year old and you’d expect it to put up to conditions in Canada but apparently not…
going to go to Honda to get a OEM battery very soon.