Honda Accord? DIY upgrade that undersized battery! 

4:29 You could sand the paint off the frame where the ground strap attaches for increased conductivity. Apply some dielectric grease over the connection, and over the tops of the battery terminals with the cables connected for better corrosion resistance. I clean up all the ground points I can reach in my car.

Original battery is inadequate not because of its ability to deliver amps, but cranking time. The reason for using a larger capacity battery is for more minutes of cranking reserve as the temperature drops and the battery ages. The original ground cables are more than adequate for the vehicle load. Unless you are a purist, neither the base/tray nor the cover need be replaced. The cover's only function is to guide water around the battery and base. The battery and the base being plastic, they are wareproof. Drilling a 1/4" hole in the middle of each bottom seam of the battery tray provides adequate drainage away from the metal supports below. So the cover isn't really necessary. The base cavity can be raised with a piece of 1/4 thick non-conductive material cut shorter and narrower than the cavity to permeit drainage. (The combination of the tray lip and the holddown is sufficient to retain the battery in a rollover.) I used a plastic cutting board. A group 56 or 24 can then be used. A universal plastic holddown clamp with long J-hooks costs $5. I did this adaption on a 2004 Element that shared the same 51R battery, and had absolutely no issues for the 7+ years that the group 56 was in use.

My 2010 accord battery was just dead after I had not drive for a week. Went to Costco for a normal Kirkland battery without knowing prevous ower had already upgrade to a bigger battery. Thank you for this video. Now I know which model should go into my car.

Second-generation Honda CRVs (2001-2006), Honda Elements, and I believe some other Hondas from this timeframe all have the same problem. I'll be doing the same thing on my CRV. Thank you for the tutorial!

Excellent video, I found it satisfactory, I also upgraded the AcDelco brand battery to my 2011 Honda Fit Sport, because the one it comes with is too small, I think Honda uses small batteries to save costs. Greetings from El Salvador

Thanks for making this excellent video.I made the switch today,and it was a piece of cake,following your instructions.I think my new battery wasn't as tall as the one you used,because I had to put a little notch on both sides of the battery cover , so that the cables sat flush with the top of the battery,not a big deal,I used my aviation snips to make the notch. Now I'll be able to use my remote starter again.With the undersized battery,and the extreme cold,the battery didn't have enough power to crank my engine,while using my remote start. P.S Honda sucks for putting such an undersized battery in the four cylinder accord !

Did this yesterday, Thanks for the help. Just bought the Accord and wanted to be proactive cuz that little 51R battery looked so tiny and helpless.

real talk I lived in new jersey for over 10 years and I have a 2009 Honda accord ex 2.4 and when I purchased the car certified used at the dealership they had a v6 Acura battery in it. Well when it kicked the bucket I purchased a Walmart battery just like that 51-R well exactly 1 year and two weeks after the warranty it died the new jersey weather killed it now i have the 35-N in the car from Walmart same specs as the one in this video I never had a problem over 250k on my car and it still runs new like a dream!! this was a great video sir it confirmed what i was just telling someone about batteries i googled it and your video came up. 2022 october 16

Thanks for sharing this video, my Honda Accord battery was/is no match to Minnesota weather ✌

Did the V6 battery upgrade a few years ago on a 2004 Accord. Starter was still slow and eventually died recently. Replaced starter and it starts better than ever. Also, ran a 2 gage wire from negative battery terminal directly to engine block in addition to the body ground. It starts very well now. Also, I have have used EverStart Maxx batteries that last at least 5 years with no problems, so I still buy them.

Great video, rebuilt my Briggs and Stratton carb & now my lawnmower starts right up

I was thinking the same thing...Why put a tiny battery on a newer Honda when all newer cars demand more electrical power. Doesn’t make sense?? Five years ago on my folks 09 Accord, I installed 24F size battery. Removed the battery cover and left the bottom tray in place along with original cables and j-hooks, worked perfectly. Thanks for the video...I’ve asked my folks if they wanted the OEM battery conversion, they were happy what I did for them and no need to upgrade. Been running fine over 5 years vs the tiny anemic battery that died less than 3 years.

Great video. Rubber gloves are a must as we are dealing with acid. Done this upgrade for several of my Honda mobiles over the years- CRV 2008, Honda Accord -8 and 9th generation. All it needs is the top plate from the respective V6 model- OEM pt no - 31512-T2G-A00 , which is what I used. Honda dealers can special order this part which costs about $8. There are universal versions in AZone - PBoys etc, however, the OEM version works best as there is a slight off set between the two j bolts/ braces. The front j post is longer that the back one - do not need to get new ones unless rust or corrosion is a problem. Also, skip the cover - serves no purpose. Modified the existing tray by cutting of the side extensions. The plastic trays do serve a purpose of catching corrosive acid if there are spills as the battery ages or overheats, saves the metal platform underneath. The upgraded size group 35- cos-co 'K-land' lasted 8 years in the CRV in UTAH winters. Unfortunately - these mods cannot be done on Civic Si or the HRV due to space; unless, major welding of brackets can be accomplished. At least, I have not been able to figure this out without considering major mods in Civics and HRV. Hope this helps someone. The proposed version in the video can be expensive-if you buy all parts all over again from Honda.

So I just did this to my '05 accord. There is no need to buy ANYTHING other than the larger battery. I got a 24F-DLG from autozone. They may be pricey but they have a 5 yr warranty,3 of which is replacement,then it's based on time for the other 2. Anyway,if it's just a point a to point b car like mine and you don't care about OEM look,you can just ditch the bottom and side plastic. You can and probably should insert a universal plastic bottom.Sold about anywhere too. I'll probably add one latter. But the battery cable doesn't need upsizing because the draw wont be increased so that wont gain you anything there either. The vehicle only needs to draw so many amps. The hold down bracket setup works just fine as well and holds the battery very securely as it did with the small battery. The only thing you need to do to that is smack that little piece sticking down flat with a hammer so it can't puncture the larger battery. To someone who doesn't know what it looked like before,they would never know it's not factory. Looks completely normal. Actually it looks much more normal with a regular size exposed battery than it did with a tiny pathetic enclosed golf cart battery hahaha. So what I'm saying is,before you go and spend all that unnecessary money for plastic,just try this first and see your ok with it. Odds are you will be. Then if you don't like it,you can always order the v6 plastic parts or hit a salvage yard for them. To me,it looks better than it did with a full size battery and it's pretty much just a direct swap minus 20 seconds smacking the tap flat on the hold down bracket and 10 seconds tossing out the plastic foolishness. For that matter you guys,you can just get universal plastic boxes too if you want it enclosed much cheaper. Who cares about it being enclosed though? I don't. Close the hood and no one sees it lol. It's not like these are show cars guys. For the only mod required; Just take the hold down bar over to something like a large rock. Set it so the tab sticking down in on the rock or flat iron,whatever you have,smack the bracket and that tab will flatten right out. Super,super easy little modification.The side L hooks fit the taller battery just fine and all that. The battery isn't going anywhere and it's extremely secure. The car could be in a roll over and still not move. She starts SO much easier now! I bet my headlights wont keep dimming/flickering either! If that issue isn't resolved,I'll perhaps try a universal larger neg bat cable but I bet it's fine now.I'll run her out tonight and see.

I have the same issue, in the last 6 years I've changed the battery 2 times - I live in the North. I need a higher cranking capacity battery and I can't seem to find them in the size 51R. Good thing I saw this before replacing my dead battery tomorrow. Thanks!

Went to Walmart to change my battery. Had Previous 51R and they asked ME which one i want 35 or 51 ... and they couldn’t give me any advice - so I found your video within 15 sec on a spot. and you helped me so much to make a decision! Lol. I dont know anything about cars lol ,how would i know which one is ok ... lol:) so helpful:) thank u:)

Upgrade worked great on my 2007 Accord 4cyl. All parts recommended fit perfectly. Can’t wait for an early morning start up in Mammoth Lakes. Thanks

I have used Duralast Gold (AutoZone) in all of my cars. Surprisingly, my 8th gen Accord is on its third 51R battery in 5 years. This has NEVER happened in all of my other cars! I will be doing this upgrade!

Will be doing this upgrade on my parents 2009 Accord. It'll save them money in the long run. Thanks for posting...

Wow, make me feel bad lol. I just took a hammer to my battery top tie down and removed the box and it worked fine for the 24f lol.

Thanks for another really clear and informative video; a failed battery on my 2005 Accord set the alarm off which then required recoding of the alarm! I don't know if my local small independent garage fitted a bigger battery, but they did fit a Bosch one. In my experience of other cars and this one, they are well worth the extra expense. Even leaving the car undriven for three weeks in January, it starts first time. But then we don't have much freezing weather in the UK, but we do drive around with headlights on, heated seats, rear screen demist, GPS plugged in, etc. Michael

I just found your channel when searching for a video on parking brake adjustment. I ended up watching several of your videos and subscribed. i like your presentation format!

I just did this with a red top. Your video is gold 😁

Loved this video, by the way 9th gen Accords have major starter issues. My starter died at 40,000 miles. Honda wanted $800 to replace the starter. I found an eBay starter for $150 and it works better than the OEM Honda one. I feel the starter and battery were not designed well on these cars. Everything else is great!

Did this on my 2007 Honda Accord. big difference. Great idea! Thanks!

Did it today with Die Hard Gold size 35. Thanks!

Thanks! Also, the 51r are now $120+. I can get a Group 26r with 540cca for $50. And it'll go in with the same hardware. Remove the plastic and hammer flat the tab on the strap. Doesn't get that cold in Texas. My Maxx 51r lasted exactly the warranty period of 5 years.

Good job on video and clear concise dialogue. I would never purchase Walmart Max Everstart battery again. I have several Honda's and did it for the the 1st time on an older Accord 4 cyl which traditionally sits idle for a good part of time. I found it would not hold its charge for an extended period of time when sitting unused. I had to keep giving it a charge. My favorite is the Costco battery but they stopped making for this year Honda. Even the Honda battery last better than Max Ever start; should be Never start. Will try and find Interstate.

Yup. Definitely, going to have to do this with my crosstour.

Dude🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻I love how there’s a video for everything on RU-vid thank you so much for making this my battery’s dead and I’m trying to find a cheap one but I know nothing about this and I’m not sure what I need to get and this is exactly what I needed thank you so very much. I do stuff like this (not Cars but just fixing shit) all the time and never think “let me do THAT again and make a video!”.... but I’m very happy there are people like you who do, do it!😘👍🏻

napa auto parts where i work we use deka batterys and ours are amazing. had one in my van i bought new in 2012..here it is 2018 and its still going strong

You don't really need to spend all of that money for the extra parts as long as you don't need the OEM look. I just replaced the battery in my 2007 LX with a group 24 battery (even larger than the 35) as it is a very common size and good CCA. I just removed the battery box and the entire tray, and then straightened out the tab on the hold down bracket. That battery and any smaller will fit in there with the existing j bolts and bracket. So, if you are willing to remove the battery tray, you can just put in a new battery and use the existing hold down hardware and upgrade to a larger battery for just the cost of the battery. All very simple just like in the video.

But why does so many people even replace a bigger battery tray for? When i upgrade the OE 51R battery to group 35 battery i did not replace a bigger battery tray but instead still use the original battery tray. Still fits but just a bit tight..

your video is so clear .... I have this problem w/my Honda Accord 03 which u was close by to change mine ....that's a big heads up for me as a female. ..thanks

Great video. I am going to do this now that my battery is starting to wear out.

The battery on my 2017 Accord is already on the verge of failure after a little over 3 years. I bought the car new in Nov. 2016. I would estimate that the battery is as old or a bit older than the car itself. A car's battery is simply a piece of parts inventory like the other components used to build the car and can vary in age. Dates on batteries matter even if they've not been put into use. Also car makers tend to skimp on battery quality when assembling new cars. The best battery I ever had was an Electro that I used in my '89 Toyota pickup. Got almost 7 years out of that one.

I just put a Maxx Ever Start 34N in my 2009 Honda Civic Coupe LX . My original Honda battery lasted for 9 years. 51R-500 CCA ! 34N 800 CCA should be learn to be good or bad . Thanks for my part list. I had to sew Cover, Battery as a tailor !!! 34N is a bit long. Also a 12" hole to hole Negative Black #1AWG.

Thanks for the vid. I plan on taking similar principles and applying it to a 7th gen civic. Those 51R profile batteries are no bueno for aftermarket car audio systems.

No auto parts store wants to sell me a different group battery other than the 51r for my 2.4l v4 Honda, so I called Honda and explained why I want more cca because my Honda sits outside in the winter in continual below zero weather. They told me they do not suggest I increase the cca because it can cause problems with the electronics because of surging. I don't think I've ever heard of anyone having that problem.😢

Grp 35 is the same battery in the 1998 - 2002 L4 Accords.

Your demeanor is similar to engineers when I went to college.

Honda battery size is really shit. Two expensive Deta 45 Ah batteries dead in a 3 years, and no possibilities to use radio longer as 10 minutes without working engine to avoid unable to start engine. After second Deta battery dead, I took out all these stupid plastic parts and take on a 10mm self cut rubber mat VARTA Silver Dynamic 61Ah D21 600A battery. Size is little to big, but, even this, it is possible to install in an old place, using same old metal arms. Now, using over 1 year, there is no longer any problems with battery, engine start and I can use car radio when I want! I live in Riga city, Latvia.

For years I've been using Mobile One Synthetic Oil to avoid hard start specially in winter. But now I'm gonna switch the battery and go back to Walmart cheap oil.

They also charge the same price as bigger batteries when bought new.

PART NUMBERS ARE INCORRECT for I believe 2008 onward. They are definitely incorrect for 2013. Based on the video, I bought a Group 35 battery and ordered the parts... the specified tray does not fit. Since I had already purchased and temporarily installed the battery, I forged ahead. I had to trim off large chunks of the left vertical part of the battery tray, and remove the two bumps on the bottom that are supposed to drop into the metal frame below it. I put some rubber tape between the tray and the bracket to give it some friction. I was able to install the cover, and the bracket, though my longest J-bolt still barely reached on the front side of the battery, and does not line up with a hole for positive engagement. I slipped it over the edge of the metal battery tray bracket. End result was ok, but the whole point in spending close to $100 in parts was to get "perfect". Subsequent investigation I found that for the 2013 model, the V6 uses a Group 24F battery, not a Group 35. It is possible that the parts for the 2013 V6 would have worked but I have not tried. TLDR; Check part numbers for the V6 model in your specific year before attempting.

not necessary you need a bigger battery box. My group 35 battery fits in the original battery box OEM group 51R battery box tray *a bit tight fit but still does it job. All I changed was the bracket holder. Buying a new battery tray is fine but no point wasting money buying the battery cover lol. Doesn’t do a damn thing

Or....you could go with a Odyssey pc680 (agm) motorcycle/atv battery. Theres room for 2 but i only use 1. Can be used with up to 8.0L engines. Used to save weight for racing and or space with custom installs. ** if ya can prevent an agm or regular lead acid battery from sulphating, you can greatly prolong its life. Wire a trickle charger up to your vehicle battery and plug in every night if possible. Hardwire with ring terminals or simply secure aligator clips works fine. Just make sure nothing will short them.out.

That old 51R is still under warranty. My wife's car battery was already out of warranty so I upgraded. Her car is a 2013 accord.

this is the exact video i needed, thanks for the details!!!!

Awesome video. But i would always go for an AGM batter.

Damn! That older battery looks the same size as my 1.3 Yaris!

Someone tell me if I am wrong. The device on the car with the highest current draw is th starter. You are not changing the starter. You are not adding any other devices that draw current. So the amperage that the battery will need to supply, either to start the engine or to do anything else, will not be increased. Therefore a larger diameter ground wire will not be needed. Nor would a larger diameter positive wire. The current used to charge the battery is smaller than the current used to start the car. The alternator will not charge the battery any faster. It will take a little longer to get the new battery to full charge, since the battery has a higher capacity than the old battery. But the amount of current used to charge it will not go up. Did I make a mistake somewhere? Recommendation: before connecting the cables to the battery, coat the battery posts and the cable connectors with a very thin layer of grease. Coat the cable connectors completely, inside, topside, and bottom side. After the cables are connected, smoosh in plenty of grease around the clamping screw threads, and add some more grease over the top of the battery posts and connectors. Once the cables are tightened as they normally are tightened, the grease will not interfere with conduction of electricity. It will prevent corrosion. Do the same thing where the negative cable attaches to the car body.

Got a 2015 Accord that came with a 410 CCA Battery. Even less than this one.

Nice swap and keeping the OEM look.

Good video... but you should have mentioned to make sure you have your radio code ready, just in case.

I owned 3 Honda cars never had any issues with battery size. Most batteries last around 5 years. Maybe its weather??

So strange why those older accords can't handle that battery. I have that same one from Walmart in my 2012 Accord and it lasted me all 5 years without an issue. Just replaced now again with the same one.

I just did an upgrade on my 2016 accord but I went with a 24F instead of 35. It's even bigger and all I had to do was buy V6 hardware.

The battery on my 2016 Honda Accord LX died today. Total mileage was 29,000 miles. Fortunately it was covered by the car warranty.

Our Accord 2007 EX-L with Navigation is having trouble with the battery keep dying when it gets cold (Montreal, Quebec)... thought a parasite drain but we didn't notice that we had this dying battery issue when its warmer. Might try this bigger battery trick.

I have a 9th(2015 ex sedan 2.4)gen and I had to take it to Honda, most of the dash light came on and TPMS light started flashing. Took it in for service and they replaced the battery (no charge) and it was working for a couple of weeks. I took it back and same thing with the dash lights and the service adviser said that they have to replace the battery sensor. I'm not sure but i feel more like this video makes more sense than what they're telling me. when I was looking to replace the battery myself the only size i was able to find was 51r and that was 500 CCA but your's is 51n and 640 CCA (which I would rather have since everything is electric) ?!

Excellent video and idea. My TSX has suffered with starting issues for too long even though I've replaced the starter. So I'm thinking of trying this in my '04 TSX since the 4-cyl engines are similar. But I don't know if the battery box (tray) will have the same clearance as the USDM Accords. Anyone ever try this mod on a TSX?

Great video thanx going to be doing this upgrade soon

There is too much extra space that you can put almost any batteries. 124 is great...73 is despite highest power is still lowest in price( it is long but fits in).Even RED on left or right does not matter as cables are floating and in the center .Thanks for the video.

Can i do that on a 2008 Honda civic coupe lx ? It has the 51r too and i would like to put that one on it

Super cool video thx!

is there a possibility to shove the new big battery in the smaller older battery slot with out buying all these parts? like is there a loop to this

Excellent job

Thanks

Hi I don’t have a Honda Civic, I have a 1995 Suzuki Every van with a battery that is much smaller than this one but it sits in a bay that could fit a bigger battery. My husband bought a new battery for his Evo 4 that he ended up not needing so I wanted to use it for my van but I also have a concern with the alternator since it’s the size of a baseball or softball. Would I also need a larger alternator to charge the battery, and if so what would I need to install a new one? How would I make it fit? I know it’s a not so common JDM car but it’s got a battery and alternator just like the rest so it can’t be too hard right?

Thank you. This was very helpful

Bigger battery won't burn out the alternator?

Hello can any one help me .. my accord battery is dead so and its 440cca 45ah and is it possible i use 550cca 60ah? I have no idea

Great Video, very detailed and thorough explanation, I am only confused about one thing: the J pegs (J pins) I installed them facing out , meaning the " J" the hook part of the J is facing away from the battery is that okay ? is that how it is suppose to be ?

Great information and how to Video.

I wonder if this will work for a 2015 CRV since it also calls for that 51R series battery.

I thought the 8th gens already have the group 35 battery.

Would this process work similar to a 01 CRV? If so, do you know off of what car I would need a battery box and hardware.

these parts are so expensive!! but thanks for the great vid...

I live in the NorthEast, I have an Everstart 51R in my 2009 Honda CRV. Its 7 years old and still going. All those parts you bought must have cost just as much as a new battery. Pointless. Especially in San Diego.

Any thoughts on the other ground cable that goes from the body to the engine? Is the V6 model's cable larger there too? If it is, not replacing it also kind of defeats the replacement of the battery to body cable.

can never understand why folks go thru this work and do not put dielectric grease on the posts and terminal ends or at least vaseline.

Thanks for your video. Is there any data to be lost with disconnecting the battery. I have 2015 Accord with 4 cylinder. During a rare freeze here in south Louisiana this winter, I noticed that the car was slow to crank. Only 1 episode and freeze is rare here. I will consider upgrade with replacement. What was your hardware replacement cost? excluding the battery?

You can do this same upgrade to 04-08 tsx. I did it to mine also to my 05 civic but the civic has reverse terminals so a longer negitive cable is needed but it works. To hell with those power wheels battery why honda likes them idk but i have gone through too many of them to count so one day got fed up and did the mod.

Hey all... Quick question... I have a 2013 Honda Accord LX. We have had it for 6 years and have had to change out the battery I think 3 times? Maybe 4? Is this just kinda normal because of the smaller battery that Honda put in these? Or is there some other kinda problem with my car perhaps? What yall think? Thanks!

Is there a link to a ground cable upgrade for 2011 Honda Element?

I dont think you need to buy all that to replace it, there is another video where you just need to flatten the belt in the middle but of course it was a 2016 Accord

I have a 1996 Honda Accord, and I’ve been wondering what’s the best kind of battery to go inside of my car ??

Excellent good job

Any battery has more than 1 year warranty,even EVER START from Walmart! instead spending all those money for battery upgrade,you could buy a better quality battery the same size group 51R has 500 CCA and group 35 of same brand is only 525 CCA bigger battery has more reserve capacity than a lot more CCA

I have a 2009 Honda CRV with that same small 51R battery. I have had to replace the battery about every 3 years since I have bought that car new. I wonder if there is a similar upgrade for a CRV?

I took my four cylinder Accord to get serviced at Honda. The tech saw my group 35 optima in there and was surprised at how it came out. I told him I did it to make the car easier to deal with. Readings: 12.94v with motor off on battery tester. 1052 cold cranking amps. Makes short work of Hondas. 😁

Great video. I just bought my son a 2012 Accord. It recently died on him & I thought it was the battery. I looked closely & found the neg wasn’t tight. I noticed the terminals were too big for the battery posts & the previous owner stuck some wire as shims so the terminals could tighten up over the posts. Have you noticed the terminals being too big for battery posts on the Accord? I see that auto parts stores make shims, so I might try this. Another option is to buy another battery & hope the posts are thick enough. Thanks.

What's the grouping size battery for a 2000 Saturn Car and a 2002 Volks Wagon Jetta and a 2002 Chevy Impala ? I'm asking cause i seen these batteries at Wal Mart but wonder would these Ever Start batteries would work with no problems for the cars i listed ? Cause some 1 told me it's the grouping size is what matters ?????

smart video

I have a Honda 2010 Accord and I read an article that said to change batteries on cars after 2009 or 2010 that some device has to be attached to the computer or electrical system so the car doesn't lose or affect it's memory or something like that, that would cost possibly $ 100.00 to have reset at the dealer. Is this accurate or did I not understand what I was reading ? If so, then what do I need to do in order to change my battery myself without messing up the vehicle's memory ? Charles Enscoe

For 31513-SP0-010 J-Bolt, Battery Setting (2 required), If I order 1 part do they send the pair of them or do I need to add 2 part#'s to the checkout screen?

I went to auto part I asked him for up grade a battery because I have an R51 which is small one but they told me don’t do it Because they were messed up the sensor and fuse?

I have a civic can i do this upgrade ??

I just finished installing a 55AH battery, rather than the smaller standard 45AH. The battery is shorter, but wider. Had to completely remove the plastic cover and base and also straighten a bit the metal tabs at the bottom of the metal tray. It's a tight fit but it does fit with no issue and it's not going anywhere. Used the original clamp and hooks which also fit fine. I'm wondering if I should buy the thicker cable from Honda. Is that really necessary???