A dead battery can cause unexpected issues in modern vehicles, such as illuminating the entire Honda Hrv Dash. This article details a personal experience with a 2019 Honda HRV Sport and the solution to resolve the dashboard warning light frenzy after a dead battery incident.
Accidentally leaving the push-start button in accessory mode for an extended period resulted in a completely discharged battery. After charging the battery overnight and reinstalling it, the HRV started without issue. However, the dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree with various warning lights, including power steering, ABS, collision mitigation, electronic parking brake, and vehicle stability system faults. Notably, the check engine light remained off.
Several online solutions were attempted without success:
- Accessory Mode Cycling: Turning the car to accessory mode on and off five times, then starting on the sixth attempt, did not reset the system.
- Battery Cable Reset: Disconnecting and touching the battery cables together for 30 seconds also failed to clear the codes.
- Driving the Car: This solution was impossible because a fault prevented the electronic parking brake from releasing.
- Idling/Accessory Mode Waiting: Letting the car idle or sit in accessory mode for 15-30 minutes did not resolve the issue.
- New Battery Installation: Replacing the battery with a brand new one did not alleviate the problem; the same warning lights persisted.
The final solution, before resorting to a tow truck, involved using a Bluetooth OBD-II code scanner (BlueDriver). The scanner revealed five codes related to incorrect voltage readings. Clearing these codes and restarting the car successfully extinguished all the dashboard warning lights. Driving and testing confirmed all systems functioned normally.
It’s likely that the prolonged battery discharge triggered the car’s computer to log persistent voltage error codes. Clearing these codes effectively reset the system, allowing it to recognize the recharged or new battery’s working condition. Had the parking brake not been engaged due to the fault, driving the car for a few minutes might have allowed the system to self-correct.
If you encounter a similar situation with your Honda HRV dash illuminating after a dead battery, using an OBD-II scanner to clear the error codes may be a simple and cost-effective solution. This approach can potentially save you time and money compared to towing the vehicle to a dealership.
