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On the 5th gen CR-V the battery lives on the passenger side of the engine bay under a snap-on plastic cover, and the whole job runs on one socket size: 10 mm. The terminals are easy; the part that trips people up is the hold-down fastener tucked low beside the battery, which you really want a 6-10 inch extension (ideally a wobble) to reach instead of fighting it with a stubby ratchet.
The battery is Group 51R on the 1.5 turbo, the 2.4 K24 and the Hybrid — the "R" matters, because a standard 51 puts the posts on the wrong ends and the cables will not reach. The other thing people get wrong is walking away afterward: Honda does not need battery registration, but the power windows lose their auto-up/down function until you do the hold-the-switch relearn on each door, and the clock and radio presets are gone unless you used a memory saver.
| Item | Type | Product search |
|---|---|---|
| Socket wrench (ratchet) 3/8 in drive Drives the 10 mm socket for terminals and hold-down. | Required | search retailer |
| Socket 10 mm 6-point, 3/8 in drive Fits both battery terminal nuts and the hold-down bracket bolt. | Required | search retailer |
| Extension bar 6 in and 10 in, 3/8 in drive Reaches the hold-down bracket bolt/J-hook nut down the side of the battery. | Required | search retailer |
| Wobble or swivel extension 3/8 in drive wobble extension Helps line up on the deep hold-down bolt without removing the intake duct. | Recommended | search retailer |
| Combination wrench 10 mm Backup for terminal nuts if the socket cannot clear the clamp. | Recommended | search retailer |
| Battery terminal brush Post and clamp type Cleans corrosion off the cable clamps so the new battery makes good contact. | Required | search retailer |
| Battery terminal puller Small two-jaw clamp puller Frees a clamp that is stuck to the post without prying on the battery case. | Recommended | search retailer |
| Memory saver OBD-II or 12V socket type Keeps radio presets, clock and ECU learned values alive during the swap. | Recommended | search retailer |
| Battery carry strap Universal lifting strap The Group 51R battery sits low with tight clearance; a strap makes lifting easier. | Recommended | search retailer |
| Trim tool set Plastic pry tools Pops the plastic battery/intake cover clips without breaking them. | Recommended | search retailer |
| Shop rags and battery terminal cleaner Aerosol acid neutralizer Neutralizes and cleans any acid residue in the battery tray. | Consumables | search retailer |
| Terminal protector spray or dielectric grease Red battery terminal protectant Applied after tightening to prevent future corrosion. | Consumables | search retailer |
| Replacement battery Group 51R; AGM 51R on Hybrid and recommended for 1.5T The correct size and terminal layout for the 5th gen CR-V tray and cables. | Parts | search retailer |
| Safety glasses Protects against acid and corrosion debris. | Safety | search retailer |
| Nitrile gloves Keeps acid residue off your hands. | Safety | search retailer |
| Torque wrench 1/4 or 3/8 in drive, low range (in-lb) Terminal and hold-down fasteners are low torque and easy to strip or crack. | Recommended | search retailer |
Tool sizes are identical across the 1.5T, 2.4L and Hybrid — 10 mm for both terminals and the hold-down. The only practical difference is that the 2020-2022 Hybrid (and any CR-V with idle stop) should get an AGM Group 51R rather than a flooded battery, and on the Hybrid you must confirm the READY light is off before disconnecting anything.
| Battery terminal clamp nuts (10 mm) | Snug only, roughly 4-6 ft-lb (5-8 Nm) — verify in the service manual |
| Battery hold-down bracket bolt / J-hook nut (10 mm) | verify in the service manual (snug so the battery cannot move; do not distort the case) |
Group 51R, typically around 410-500 CCA. The reverse-terminal 51R layout is required so the factory cables reach; a plain Group 51 will not work. Hybrid and idle-stop models should use an AGM 51R.
A 10 mm socket handles both battery terminal nuts and the hold-down bracket bolt. Add a 6-10 inch 3/8 in extension, preferably with a wobble, to reach the hold-down down beside the battery.
No electronic registration is needed. You will need to reset the clock and radio presets and relearn each power window's auto-up/down by holding the switch fully down then fully up for an extra second each way.
Yes — the 12V battery is a normal Group 51R in the engine bay and is replaced the same way. Just confirm the READY light is off before you start and never touch the orange high-voltage cabling or the under-floor traction battery.