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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 139 of 151

#1380 of 1509 Re: Bad IMA battery or controller? [tinkerick] by calgary5

Mar 28, 2012 (9:06 am)

Replying to: tinkerick (Feb 26, 2012 3:39 pm)
The dealer has installed the latest computer code for my 2003 Civic Hybrid. Honda Japan only took 2 1/2 months to come up with a fix. The car is now driveable again. I probably won’t be able to test the cold weather symptoms until fall. Its too warm here now. I hope they got it. Ask your dealer if this is available. They may have fixed other issues too.

#1381 of 1509 IMA MCM failing by segmad

May 21, 2012 (1:12 pm)

I was driving home from work and the Charging System Indicator, Malfunction Indicator, and the IMA system indicator came on. I drove it straight to the Honda dealership and they called me back and told me is was the MCM failing. They quoted me at $1,500 for a replacement, diagnostics, etc. Can I get this part from a junkyard for a cheaper price? A local mechanic told me he couldn't do it, because the part has to be specific to my vehicle. Is this true? I don't trust the dealership in all honesty.

#1382 of 1509 Re: IMA MCM failing [segmad] by gchybrid

May 21, 2012 (2:03 pm)

Replying to: segmad (May 21, 2012 1:12 pm)
Sharing another dirty little secret of the dealership battery repairs:
 
I have 2003 Civic Hybrid. IMA light came on about six months ago. I thought that it would cost me a lot of money to get it replaced. But I was fortunate because in California the battery warranty is for 10yrs. or 150000 miles. Dealer replaced IMA battery for free. I was very happy. But then last month, IMA light came back on. Took my car back to the dealer. They said that it's the battery again but we will replace for free since it's not 10 yrs. yet.
 
Then I asked, why did the battery blew up in 6 months? It's supposed to last for years. He said that the replacement batteries are REFURBISHED not new.
 
Please make sure to ask dealers whether they are putting new IMA batteries or refurbished.

#1383 of 1509 Re: Bad IMA battery or controller? [calgary5] by cellwhisperer

May 21, 2012 (2:06 pm)

Replying to: calgary5 (Mar 28, 2012 9:06 am)
Hi, missed what your 2003 HCH symptoms were before the computer upgrade. My 2003 has been great (~100K) but for the last year, it mostly doesn't start unless I hook up a battery charger. When I add the black clip I hear a click near the hood latch. I hear that every time. And the car starts immediately. One day I was weeding near the car(not driven for 2 days) and I heard multiple clicks under the hood. Talk about bizarre. When I took it in for inspection in January, they offered me a Honda battery with a 100-month warranty for $90 installed so I bought it. The car still has the same problem. Can it be an ignition issue? Appreciate any ideas.

#1384 of 1509 Re: IMA MCM failing [gchybrid] by gremlin1

May 21, 2012 (5:55 pm)

Replying to: gchybrid (May 21, 2012 2:03 pm)
My 2000 Insight did not need a battery replacement for 6 years. Then it needed one every year - actually 5 battery replacements were made under warranty. The 10 year warranty arrived and the battery went out the next month. A quote was given to replace the battery of $2,400. and the warranty on the battery was 12 months or 12,000 miles whichever came first. We probably got rebuilt batteries on the 5 batteries we got. The dealer tried to blame it on our driver habits. However, our driving habits for the first 6 years were the same as the last 4 years. We have had it with hybrids and Honda. Still driving my old 1985 Honda Civic thought and still getting the original milesage. The mileage in the Insight was 72 mpg when we got it, but after a recall for replacing the engine control module - our mileage dropped by 20 mpg.

#1385 of 1509 Get another car? by tenorguy

May 29, 2012 (6:22 am)

I have a 2003 Civic Hybrid, which I bought used (30,000 mi.) in 2005. The IMA battery is no longer working, and the car is hard to handle sometimes. I drove it around a corner Saturday and the car totally stopped. I was able to restart it immediately, though. A private mechanic told me that it may not be worth getting a new IMA battery ($3500+) since the car has 150,000 miles on it.
 
What are your thoughts on this, helpers?

#1386 of 1509 Re: Get another car? [tenorguy] by bossless

May 29, 2012 (6:44 am)

Replying to: tenorguy (May 29, 2012 6:22 am)
I wouldn't do it unless the car is in really good shape and I could get it repaired for $2000 or less with an expectation of at least another 60000 miles.

#1387 of 1509 Re: Get another car? [bossless] by tenorguy

May 29, 2012 (7:07 pm)

Replying to: bossless (May 29, 2012 6:44 am)
Thanks for your input. A new IMA battery would cost much more than $2000. I might get the AC fixed and keep driving the car while saving some money for a down payment on a new one.

#1388 of 1509 If you were to purchase an '06 HCH... by titanjeff

Jun 05, 2012 (6:48 pm)

I've been looking for a Civic for my daughter to take to college for weeks. Today, I see a HCH available and quickly come to Edmund's to get an idea of it's value. The one in the ad is around $1,400 less.
 
I contact the private owner who tells me it's all good. No IMA issues or other concerns.
 
But after reading this and other thread about $3,000 IMA replacements and/or a major drop in MPG, I'm somewhat spooked.
 
I guess I'm looking to avoid getting a . Any advice if you were looking to purchase an '06 HCH? Should I make sure it's checked out by a Honda dealer who can plug it in and check how much battery life remains or are there other ways to tell.
 
This has 114,000. Thanks.

#1389 of 1509 Re: If you were to purchase an '06 HCH... [titanjeff] by inmyhumbleop

Jun 06, 2012 (6:36 am)

Replying to: titanjeff (Jun 05, 2012 6:48 pm)
There is no such thing as an 06 to 08 HCH with no IMA issues. The battery does not hold a charge, and is upgraded with software to minimize the use of the battery, so the car runs on gas only over half the time. Plus it's actually dangerous due to unreliable acceleration. Google Civic Hybrid safety, etc., and I'm sure you'll come up with more info.
I would go with a regular CIVIC even if it costs more or you need to buy and older model. I know of several people who SOLD their HCH's because their teenager was going to start driving and they weren't comfortable with them driving their car.

Messages Page 139 of 151

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