Ask the Car People.SM


Honda Civic Hybrid IMA Problems

1509 messages,  Last post on Jun 14, 2013 at 4:00 PM

You are in the Honda Civic Hybrid Forum.

What is this discussion about? Honda Civic, Hybrid Cars, Coupe, Sedan

Messages Page 114 of 152

#1126 of 1509 Re: IMA Light With Latest Software Update [viaw] by gremlin1

Aug 19, 2011 (4:59 pm)

Replying to: viaw (Aug 16, 2011 4:04 pm)
Craigs List solved my Insight IMA battery problem. I bought a 2000 Insight and went through 5 battery replacements by the dealer. The battery went again outside warranty. The new battery would have cost $2400 and be warrantied for 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever came first. Not a very good warranty. The car sat in our garage and we drove out 1985 Civic (a very dependable car). A friend of ours saw an ad on Craigs List under "wanted - hybrid cars with bad batteries - cash paid and will tow". I answered the ad and luckily this guy was located 10 miles away. He is in the racing car business and had fixed a Honda Hybrid for his best friend. He was busily at work on fixing another. We drove over powered by our gas engine and without the IMA assist. We got to go into his shop and see the "BATTERY" taken part. We had a lesson on the battery sticks, etc. This man took a look at our car and said "Oh, it's perfeect - all it needs is vacuuming - and I'll keep this one for myself". He bought our car - paid cash - and he was happy and I was relieved. I sold my car to a mechanic who knew all about it. He is thinking of starting up a another business repairing batteries. If we wanted, he would have fixed ours for half the price Honda wanted. We are so happy to be rid of that car - 10 years of IMA lights and all the rest of it. I'll never buy another hybrid. If anyone wants to contact him (he's located in Central California on the coast), email us and we'll give you his contact information. Two happy days in my life - one when I bought the car and two when I got rid of it.

#1127 of 1509 Re: IMA Light With Latest Software Update [gremlin1] by Ogre_GEV

Aug 19, 2011 (7:39 pm)

Replying to: gremlin1 (Aug 19, 2011 4:59 pm)
I'd like his contact info. You haven't posted a way to email you, but you can email me if you like. I'm interested to hear how much you got for it also.

#1128 of 1509 Software Update Makes It Worse by slider162

Aug 19, 2011 (11:16 pm)

I received my "software update" today. It didn't help. Surprise, surprise. I posted my experience today on YouTube.
 
2007 Honda Civic Hybrid IMA Battery Problems After Software Update
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1ny0sWVvVM
 
I'm pretty sure this is the same recall that everyone is talking about. I'm tired of it.

#1129 of 1509 Re: Software Update Makes It Worse [slider162] by bossless

Aug 20, 2011 (6:24 am)

Replying to: slider162 (Aug 19, 2011 11:16 pm)
Obviously, you have a battery with bad cell(s). The problem is getting Honda to replace it without the IMA light coming on and generating a battery failure code. That is also why you get the recalibration (recals, not recalls).

#1130 of 1509 Re: Software Update Makes It Worse [slider162] by Ogre_GEV

Aug 20, 2011 (2:53 pm)

Replying to: slider162 (Aug 19, 2011 11:16 pm)
If the software update is going to help at all, it's going to take a few weeks to recondition the battery. The update exercises the battery in ways different than the original software, but it takes time.

#1131 of 1509 Re: Software Update Makes It Worse [Ogre_GEV] by bossless

Aug 20, 2011 (4:40 pm)

Replying to: Ogre_GEV (Aug 20, 2011 2:53 pm)
It did not recondition mine. After the battery was replaced it performed fine.

#1132 of 1509 Re: Software Update Makes It Worse [bossless] by Ogre_GEV

Aug 20, 2011 (4:49 pm)

Replying to: bossless (Aug 20, 2011 4:40 pm)
I'm well aware that it will only help some batteries, but it does take time to work. Same-day results are not possible.

#1133 of 1509 Re: Software Update Makes It Worse [Ogre_GEV] by bossless

Aug 20, 2011 (6:09 pm)

Replying to: Ogre_GEV (Aug 20, 2011 4:49 pm)
I gave it about a month.

#1134 of 1509 Re: Software Update Makes It Worse [bossless] by Ogre_GEV

Aug 20, 2011 (8:38 pm)

Replying to: bossless (Aug 20, 2011 6:09 pm)
Yes, but slider162 didn't even give it a day.

#1135 of 1509 2003 civic hybrid - any ideas about battery light? by utcarol

Aug 21, 2011 (11:02 am)

I have a 2003 hybrid. I usually get around 45 mpg. The car battery has been failing for two years (IMA light on steady for a year, but I've been assured it will run okay but with less power once the battery fails). I'm not against getting it fixed, but I don't have that kind of money right now. The car usually runs fine and with 130,000 miles I have been out of warranty for a long time. The car always passes emissions. Auto-stop didn't work most of the winter when I ran the heat on high, but most of the summer it has run okay on econ with the air on. This car has lived in California, Phoenix, and Utah.
 
Last night the battery light came on, the IMA was down to two dits, and it neither charged nor assisted. I had the regular battery checked today and it is fine. I just replaced the radiator a couple of days ago - I suppose some wire may have been knocked loose. Today it runs fine, charges, assists, etc. I will watch this for a couple of days and I will probably get the electrical system checked.
 
Has anyone had a similar experience? Any ideas about what is going on? Suggestions?
 
Thanks in advance!

Messages Page 114 of 152

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement