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Honda Civic Hybrid

1804 messages,  Last post on Jan 17, 2013 at 4:12 PM

You are in the Honda Civic Hybrid Forum.

What is this discussion about? Honda Civic, Hybrid Cars

Messages Page 180 of 181

#1784 of 1804 Re: A message to all American HCH owners [davhan] by jcooke

May 27, 2006 (10:52 pm)

Replying to: davhan (May 07, 2006 5:26 pm)
I enjoyed your message. We have a new HCH and it is the smallest car we have ever owned. In the past we have usually driven Chevy Impala's. We love the milage with this car. We now have over 11,000 miles and have averaged 48 miles per gallon. It is a fun car to drive and we love the navigation system. We also decided to get the XM radio since we have one in our truck and had had one on the last two Impala's. Very steep price for this option ($770.00) and it doesn't work well at all. The antenna is placed on the inside of the windshield and I think this is the problem. It will loose its signal about 15 times form our house to the Interstate (8 miles). We have complained to Honda but nothing changed yet. My truck has a small magnetic antenna thats about 1/5 the size of the Honda antenna and it works perfectely. We would purchase a car like this again. We had already planned to purchase a large (Buick Lucerne) after my wife retires in a couple of years, however, we have already decided to keep the Honda for at least the 150,000 miles that the batterys are under warranty.

#1785 of 1804 Re: A message to all American HCH owners [jcooke] by gagrice

May 28, 2006 (6:51 am)

Replying to: jcooke (May 27, 2006 10:52 pm)
If you lose XM signal there is a problem. The only time I have lost XM signal with the radio in my GMC PU is in a tunnel. It was factory installed. Was yours factory or dealer installed? I would dog them. That is about twice what they should have charged in the first place. I would never get another vehicle without XM.

#1786 of 1804 Re: A message to all American HCH owners [davhan] by irisheyes785

Jun 13, 2008 (2:06 pm)

Replying to: davhan (May 07, 2006 5:26 pm)
Unfortunately, a lot of the Civic Hybrids have really crappy transmissions. Many people have had to have them replaced or otherwise repaired after less than 100,000 or even less than 50,000 miles. Mine (2003) was bad at 60,000 and I've had a terrible time trying to get Honda to fix my vehicle, even with a warranty. It's actually at the dealership right now getting a rebuilt transmission, it only has 80,000 miles on it. I used to get like 200,000 on my old Hondas, they aren't making them like they used to.
 
I too bought my Hybrid to save money and be green. However, if you add the costs of repairs compared to another regular car, it really isn't saving much money. Batteries are $5,000 and last for about 8 years, after that they go to landfills and how is that good for the environment?
 
In all, I think the fact that the Hybrids are so disposable counteracts the "Green-ness" of the vehicle and repairs counteract the saving money on gas. It's fun to see yourself getting 55 mpg, but now that I've had the car for awhile I'm realizing why there are so many bad reports. Once the novelty wears off you have to get real with yourself.
 

#1787 of 1804 Re: A message to all American HCH owners [davhan] by grunn320

Aug 11, 2010 (10:11 am)

Replying to: davhan (May 07, 2006 5:26 pm)
Fair warning mate, if you get a recall letter from Honda to update your IMA battery software, think twice before you have it done. See http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f145abe for more info

#1788 of 1804 Re: A message to all American HCH owners [davhan] by rd5418

Jan 01, 2011 (7:35 am)

Replying to: davhan (May 07, 2006 5:26 pm)
That is a bunch of garbage ! You should work for Honda since you already have the talking points down.
 
I admit it, I drive really fast and expect to get less MPGs than other people, but I was getting 60 mpg when I first purchased the car and it dropped to 27 MPGs after the upgrade.
 
It has nothing to do with my driving as I always drove the same. I am happy for you that you have not experienced these problems. Maybe it has somethng to do with pollution laws here and your country does not need this software upgrade.
 
Here, the evidence is clear. We have been taken for a ride and not the 60 MPG one either.

#1789 of 1804 Re: A message to all American HCH owners [rd5418] by Kirstie@Edmunds HOST

Jan 01, 2011 (9:42 am)

Replying to: rd5418 (Jan 01, 2011 7:35 am)
Keep in mind that the message you're responding to was written 4-1/2 years ago, before HCH owners began experiencing problems.

#1790 of 1804 got kids? by Stever@Edmunds HOST

Nov 10, 2011 (12:33 pm)

A reporter is interested in talking with parents who own a 2012 Volkswagen Passat, Mazda 3, Chevy Cruze Eco, Honda Civic Hybrid, Chevy Sonic, Honda CR-V, Toyota Camry and Toyota Prius V. If you are interested in commenting on your experience, please reply to predmunds.com no later than Friday, November 30, 2011 and include your city and state of residence, the model year of your vehicle and the age of your child/ren.

#1791 of 1804 Advantage - battery is that it is smaller by trendao

Dec 10, 2012 (8:02 am)

One advantage of the new hybrid battery is that it is smaller, for a given capacity, compared to last years battery. This helps keep a relatively large truck area, but doesn't allow for a fold down rear seat.

#1792 of 1804 Re: Advantage - battery is that it is smaller [trendao] by aladdinsane

Dec 10, 2012 (1:57 pm)

Replying to: trendao (Dec 10, 2012 8:02 am)
I wonder if the suits at Honda will finally give the Civic Hybrid a sunroof option. I'm aware of the slight weight issue a sunroof may ensue, but a power sunroof would be such a pleasant thing to have, especially installed from factory and with the Hybrid model, IMHO.
Peace!<-AladdinSane-<- -

#1793 of 1804 hybrid repairs by ahapshie

Dec 26, 2012 (5:42 am)

the wife has a 2004 HCH with 130 k on the odo. recently it started giving us fits because the battery pack is deteriating. we replaced the engine battery. car ran normal for about a month before it crapped out again. the hybrid battery ( when it starts to fail)will pull energy from the 12 volt engine battery killing the electrical system. i have discovered that if you shut off the battery pack at the battery, behind the rear seat, the electric motor will continue to keep the engine battery charged so the car can be driven. for those with auto tranny, you will notice a drop in performance. we have a five speed. one of the few that were made. your performance and fuel economy will be compromised, but at least the car can still be driven daily. it will start like a normal car instead of the hydrid system. at this time i do not know if we will replace the battry pack. and yes there are a couple of companies that make remanufactured batter packs. anywhere from around 1500 to 2000 dollars american. installing a new battery pack is a straight forward install. fairly simple. just make sure to disconnect the 12 volt battery before beginning.
if you want to turn the ima light off on the dash, go into the fuse box under the hood and remove the fuse for the ima system. it is a 20 amp fuse. also one under the dash.
i hope this info will help those that are having battery pack failure.

Messages Page 180 of 181

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