Honda Accord Electrical Issues: Dead Battery or Bad Module?

Hey there! I've got some experience working on cars and had a very similar issue with my 2003 Honda Civic Diesel (my previous car before switching to a CR-V). The symptoms you're describing sound exactly like what I went through. It turned out the cable connection to the door handle electronics was damaged, causing all sorts of electrical weirdness, from weak lights to central locking issues. Took it to my regular workshop and they identified the faulty wiring pretty quickly. The whole repair, including parts and labor, set me back about 170 Euro, but it fixed all those annoying problems completely. Before I can give you more specific advice though, Have you noticed any other electrical issues? Does it happen with all doors or just one specific door? Did these problems start suddenly or gradually? Looking forward to helping you sort this out!

Thanks for the detailed response! I've had my Accord since 2001 and just hit 84075 KM. The issues actually started gradually over the past few weeks. It's affecting all doors, and lately, I've also noticed the radio occasionally cuts out when I use the power windows. Last service was about 2 months ago but they didn't spot anything wrong with the electrical system. Going to get it checked out soon, but really appreciate your insight about the door handle electronics, that definitely sounds like it could be the culprit in my case too!

Hey again! Oh those symptoms you're describing, especially the radio cutting out when using the windows, that's bringing back memories! My Civic had almost identical issues around the 90,000 KM mark. Given what you're saying about the radio and power windows acting up together, I'm actually changing my initial guess. While I first thought it was just the door handle wiring, this sounds more like a failing alternator or battery issue. My Civic's alternator was slowly dying, which caused all sorts of weird electrical gremlins, exactly like what you're experiencing. Quick tip: next time you're driving, check if your dashboard lights get dimmer when you rev the engine. That's what tipped me off with my car. The alternator ended up being the root cause, and after replacing it (cost me about 300 Euro), all those annoying electrical issues disappeared completely. The good news is that it's totally fixable! I'd suggest getting your alternator and battery tested ASAP though, driving with a failing charging system isn't great for all your car's electrical components. Let me know what you find out! I'm really curious if it turns out to be the same issue I had.

Thanks so much for sharing your experience! You know what, I just tried that dashboard light test you mentioned while revving the engine, and they definitely got dimmer! That's such a helpful diagnostic tip. I've got an appointment with my mechanic tomorrow morning, and I'll make sure to have them check both the alternator and battery. Really glad I posted here, you've probably saved me a lot of time and headache by pointing me in the right direction. The alternator explanation makes total sense with all the symptoms. I'll definitely update once I get it sorted out. Thanks again for taking the time to help me troubleshoot this!