[pghpensfan88]

OK with administriva behind us, a couple of points to make right up front:


1) any abnormal parasitic drain issues were solved on select suffering VINs in gen5 CRVs multiple years ago. So to answer your burning question... will it persist with Gen6 CRVs... the answer is NO.. unless there is a future software glitch on Hondas part in which case they will patch it with a free software update.

1a) ALL modern vehicles have some level of normal parasitic drain now days, generally around 50ma continuous on a modern vehicle.

2) which leaves you with... does your CRV have an abnormal parasitic drain event? OR are you just suffering classic persistent slow discharge due to not driving long enough and often enough in conjunction with the very normal 50ma parasitic drain of modern vehicles and fully top up your battery?

But first and foremost... none of us here have any idea of the state of quality of your battery, and apparently neither do you. So step one is have your battery properly load tested, your charging system verified to be working correctly, and your starter has no abnormal ripple voltage (which would point to a leaking bad diode). Most auto parts stores will do these tests for you at no charge, though be mindful you get what you get with free (errors sometimes) so maybe get a second opinion at another parts store. If they match then you have valid data.

Here are the facts: Your CRV comes factory equipped with a 51R battery, and unless you deliberately upsized your battery when the original was replaced... you will still have a 51R battery. Honestly, for a gen5 CRV, the 51R a bit on the small side if you are an infrequent or short trip driver. For the 1.5Ts they went to a much bigger and more robust battery (an H4/Group 47) beginning model year 2020. A full spec new fully charged 51R will self deplete sitting with the vehicle parked after about 4 weeks. An older battery will deplete sooner. A battery in a cumulative low state of charge can deplete in just a few days.

I suspect that your current battery sees persistent inadequate charging when you drive, unless you drive at least a total of 2 hours per week (say in 4 30 minute total drive trips). Reason: normal parasitic drain on modern Hondas is about 50ma. That IS normal, and required to keep all the various electronic systems and sensors in a power on standby mode so you have no delay when you start your vehicle before driving. That alone depletes about 3-4% of the capacity of a good solid 51R (at full charge) per day. It is what it is and this level of parasitic drain is common all across the industry in newer vehicle designs... so you cannot shop your way around it.

You could have a larger battery installed to give you more days of reserve VS normal parasitic drain, AND/OR you could put a smart charger/maintainer on your battery once every week on a day when you will not be driving to give it a chance to fully saturate the charge on your battery and also help obtain maximum life from your battery. The bigger battery does not prevent eventual normal discharge, but it does give you about 30% more reserve power over a 51R.

I honestly don’t know which size battery I have, as I’m on my third in just under seven years. Just got a new battery at the end of 2023, as well as a new starter (garage assumed that was the issue).