🔧 Wrench Finder · tools for any car, any job

Tools you need for battery on a 2018-2022 Honda Accord

Easy · 20-40 minutes · Updated 2026-09-14
Must-have tools
  1. 10 mm socket, 3/8 in drive
  2. 3/8 in ratchet
  3. 6 in and 10 in extensions, 3/8 in drive
  4. Memory saver, OBD-II or cigarette plug
  5. Battery terminal cleaning brush

On the 1.5T and 2.0T 10th-gen Accord this is one of the easiest jobs on the car. Everything you touch is 10 mm: both terminal nuts and the single hold-down bracket bolt. The only real trick is that the hold-down bolt sits low at the base of the battery box, so you need a 10 inch extension (ideally with a wobble adapter) rather than trying to get a ratchet in there. The battery is a Group 51R — reverse terminals — and if your trim has auto idle stop, buy AGM, not flooded.

What people get wrong is skipping the memory saver and then assuming something broke. After a disconnect the power windows lose auto-up, the moonroof loses its auto function, the clock and presets are gone, and the idle can hunt for a few minutes. All of that is normal and is fixed by the relearn procedure, not by a trip to the dealer. Also: negative off first, positive on last, and keep the key fob out of range while you work.

Which store near you has these? Wrench Finder checks the shelves at your nearest auto parts and hardware stores.Find them near me

Complete tool and parts list

ItemType
Memory saver
OBD-II or 12V accessory-socket type with 9V/AA supply
Keeps the clock, radio presets and window/moonroof learned positions alive while the battery is out.
Recommendedshop
Socket, 10 mm
10 mm 6-point, 3/8 in drive
Fits both battery terminal nuts and the hold-down bracket bolt.
Requiredshop
Ratchet
3/8 in drive, 72-tooth or finer
Drives the terminal and hold-down fasteners.
Requiredshop
Extensions
3/8 in drive, 6 in and 10 in
The hold-down bracket bolt is at the base of the battery box and cannot be reached with a bare ratchet.
Requiredshop
Wobble/swivel adapter
3/8 in drive wobble extension adapter
Helps line the socket up with the recessed hold-down bolt at an angle.
Recommendedshop
Combination wrench, 10 mm
10 mm open/box end
Backup for the terminal nuts if the socket will not clear the fuse box or hood hinge area.
Recommendedshop
Battery terminal puller
Small two-jaw clamp puller
Frees a corroded terminal clamp from the post without prying on the lead post.
Recommendedshop
Battery terminal brush
Post and clamp wire brush
Cleans oxide off the posts and inside the clamps for a solid connection.
Requiredshop
Battery strap or carrier
Adjustable lift strap
A Group 51R battery is awkward to lift out of the deep tray by hand.
Recommendedshop
Trim tool set
Nylon pry tools
Needed on the Hybrid to pop the trunk side trim/cover over the auxiliary battery without breaking clips.
Recommendedshop
Digital multimeter
DC volts, 20V range
Checks resting voltage of the old and new battery and confirms charging voltage after the swap.
Recommendedshop
Torque wrench
1/4 or 3/8 in drive, 3-25 Nm range
Terminal nuts and the hold-down bolt are low-torque fasteners into thin metal and plastic; overtightening cracks the battery.
Recommendedshop
Replacement battery
Group 51R, ~410-500 CCA (flooded or AGM); hybrid uses the smaller AGM auxiliary battery
The correct case size and reversed post layout for the Accord tray.
Partsshop
Battery terminal protector
Spray or felt washers
Slows corrosion on the posts and clamps.
Consumablesshop
Baking soda and water / terminal cleaner
Aerosol battery cleaner
Neutralizes and washes acid residue out of the tray.
Consumablesshop
Nitrile gloves and safety glasses
Acid-resistant
Protects against acid residue and accidental sparks at the terminals.
Safetyshop

Differences within the 2018-2022 generation

1.5T and 2.0T are identical for this job: Group 51R battery in the driver's-side front of the engine bay, 10 mm terminals, one 10 mm hold-down bolt reached with a long extension. The Hybrid uses a smaller AGM 12V auxiliary battery with a different hold-down and, on many builds, a different location behind trunk side trim, so you may need nylon trim tools in addition to the 10 mm socket. Trims with auto idle stop (including the Hybrid) must use AGM.

Torque specs

Battery terminal clamp nuts (10 mm)about 4-6 Nm (35-50 in-lb) — snug only; verify in the service manual
Battery hold-down bracket bolt (10 mm)verify in the service manual (snug, roughly 8-10 Nm)
Hybrid auxiliary battery hold-down / trunk trim fastenersverify in the service manual

How the job goes

  1. Park on level ground, engine off, key/fob well away from the car (at least a couple of metres) so the smart entry system does not wake up.
  2. Optional but recommended: plug a memory saver into the OBD-II port under the driver's dash or the 12V accessory socket, and confirm it is live before disconnecting anything.
  3. Open the hood. On 1.5T and 2.0T the battery is at the driver's-side front corner of the engine bay. On the Hybrid, locate the auxiliary 12V battery first — it is a smaller AGM unit and on many Hybrid builds it lives in the trunk area behind a side trim panel rather than in the engine bay; remove the trim with nylon pry tools to reach it.
  4. Remove the plastic cover from the positive terminal.
  5. Loosen the negative (black, -) terminal nut with the 10 mm socket first, lift the clamp off, and tuck it aside so it cannot spring back onto the post.
  6. Loosen and remove the positive (red, +) terminal clamp the same way.
  7. Using the 10 mm socket on a 10 in extension (wobble adapter helps), remove the hold-down bracket bolt at the base of the battery, then lift the bracket and hook rod out. Keep the bolt and hook together — the hook likes to drop into the subframe area.
  8. Lift the battery straight out with a strap. Keep it upright.
  9. Clean the tray of any white acid powder with battery cleaner or baking soda solution, rinse lightly and dry. Wire-brush the inside of both terminal clamps.
  10. Set the new battery in the tray with the posts in the same orientation as the old one (51R is reverse-terminal — positive on the passenger side of the case as installed).
  11. Refit the hold-down hook and bracket and tighten the bolt until the battery is firmly seated with no rocking. Do not crush the case.
  12. Connect the positive terminal first, then the negative. Tighten both nuts snug only — the lead posts deform easily. Refit the positive terminal cover.
  13. Spray the terminals with protector. Remove the memory saver.
  14. Start the engine (or press POWER on the Hybrid) and let it idle 5-10 minutes. Check charging voltage at the posts: roughly 13.5-14.7 V with the engine running.
  15. Relearn the lost settings: reset the clock and radio presets; for each power window, hold the switch down until fully open, hold 1 more second, then hold up until fully closed and hold 1 more second to restore auto-up/pinch protection; cycle the moonroof fully open and closed to relearn it. Drive the car so the idle and transmission adaptives resettle — a slightly rough idle or firm first shifts for the first few kilometres is normal.

Watch out

The 10 mm terminal and hold-down fasteners, the long-extension requirement and the Group 51R size for the 1.5T/2.0T are solid for this generation; double-check the exact auxiliary battery location and size on Hybrid models and confirm whether your trim has auto idle stop (AGM required) before buying the battery.

Frequently asked

What size battery does a 2018-2022 Honda Accord take?

The 1.5T and 2.0T use a Group 51R, typically around 410-500 CCA, with reverse terminal layout. If your trim has auto idle stop, use an AGM of the same group size; the Hybrid uses a smaller AGM auxiliary battery — match the part that came out.

Do I need to register or code a new battery on a 10th-gen Accord?

No. Honda does not require battery registration or scan-tool coding on this generation. You only need to reset the clock and radio, and relearn the power windows and moonroof.

What tools do I need to change the Accord battery?

A 10 mm 6-point socket, a 3/8 in ratchet, and a 10 in extension for the recessed hold-down bolt. A memory saver, terminal brush and a battery carry strap make it much easier.

Why won't my windows auto-close after replacing the battery?

The window motors lost their learned limits. For each window, hold the switch fully down until the glass is all the way open and keep holding one more second, then hold it up until fully closed and hold one more second. Auto-up and pinch protection return immediately.

Other jobs on the 2018-2022 Honda Accord

Oil ChangeFront Brake Pads and RotorsRear Brake Pads and RotorsSpark Plug ReplacementAlternator ReplacementStarter ReplacementCoolant FlushSerpentine Belt ReplacementTire RotationHeadlight Bulb ReplacementWiper Blade ReplacementThermostat ReplacementFront Strut ReplacementCabin Air Filter ReplacementEngine Air Filter ReplacementTransmission Fluid ChangeFront Wheel Bearing ReplacementOxygen Sensor ReplacementWater Pump Replacement

Battery Replacement on other vehicles

2021-2024 Ford F-1502019-2024 Chevrolet Silverado 15002019-2024 Ram 15002018-2024 Toyota Camry2020-2024 Toyota Corolla2019-2024 Toyota RAV42016-2023 Toyota Tacoma2022-2024 Honda Civic2017-2022 Honda CR-V