Low or Dead Battery

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2013 Acura MDX, 2012 Acura MDX, 2011 Acura MDX, and 2010 Acura MDX. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

NOTE: A battery might be discharged under these conditions:

Driving a vehicle 6 miles (10 km) or less per day.
Leaving a vehicle parked without removing the ignition key from the ignition switch.
Leaving the vehicle idling high electrical loads such as headlight, seat heaters, wipers, rear window defogger, etc.
Parking the vehicle with the hood unlatched prevents the security system from arming, which causes excessive parasitic draw.

Check the battery . Recharge or replace the battery if necessary.
Start the engine, and check the charging system indicator.
Does the charging system indicator go off with the engine running?

YES -Go to step 4.

NO -Go to step 3.
Check for PGM-FI DTCs.
Are DTCs P0562, P1549, P16BB, and/or P16BC indicated?

YES -Go to the indicated DTCs troubleshooting.

NO -Do the drive belt inspection (see DRIVE BELT INSPECTION ), drive belt auto-tensioner inspection (see DRIVE BELT REPLACEMENT ), and alternator and regulator circuit troubleshooting (see ALTERNATOR AND REGULATOR CIRCUIT TROUBLESHOOTING ).
Check the following items:
- The hazard warning switch is off.
- The front individual map light and interior light switches are off.
- All of the doors, hood, and tailgate are closed.
- The brake pedal is not pressed.
Are all of the check items OK?

YES -Go to step 5.

NO -Turn off the applicable switch, and check the parasitic draw
Lock the doors with the transmitter LOCK button. Make sure the security alarm system arms by confirming that the security indicator is flashing slowly, about once every 3 seconds.
Is the security alarm system armed?

YES -Go to step 6.

NO -Go to the symptom troubleshooting for the security alarm system (see DOORS AUTOMATICALLY RELOCK 30, 60, OR 90 SECONDS AFTER BEING UNLOCKED WITH THE TRANSMITTER EVEN THOUGH A DOOR HAS BEEN OPENED ).
Check the following items with the ignition key removed from the ignition switch:
- The brake lights are off when the brake pedal is not pressed.
- The courtesy lights are off with all doors closed.
- The cargo area light is off with the tailgate closed.
- The radiator and condenser fans are not running.
- The audio unit (including navigation) is off.
- There is no operating sound from the VSA modulator-control unit.
- The rear window defogger and the power mirror defoggers are off.
Are all of the check items OK?

YES -Check the parasitic draw

NO -Troubleshoot and repair the affected circuits.