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Honda Civic Hybrid IMA Problems

1484 messages,  Last post on Apr 02, 2013 at 6:27 PM

You are in the Honda Civic Hybrid Forum.

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

Messages Page 149 of 149

#1475 of 1484 Re: 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid IMA light [mabecane] by sm04chybrid

Mar 14, 2013 (1:46 pm)

Replying to: mabecane (Mar 13, 2013 4:23 am)
if your ima battery is no good then you are forced to use your conventional starter that is activated from the computer and powered by the 12v battery

#1476 of 1484 Battery constantly discharges and sputters by irishgirl76

Mar 20, 2013 (2:11 pm)

I took my 2006 HCH into the dealer today. After the software "upgrade" they did on the car two years ago, I've lost 10 mpg on my vehicle, the battery continually drains from full to two bars in a matter of blocks and sputters from a stopped position. I have 78k miles on my car and wanted to see about getting the battery replaced before the 80k on the warranty hits. I was told today by my local Honda dealer that the IMA is perfectly fine and that the issue lies with my engine. They're telling me my engine is not functioning properly and it's really my IMA that is driving the car and that's why it's draining so quickly. They said it would cost me $150 to continue diagnosing, so at that point I told them to stop. All my car symptoms are identical that I keep reading on the 2006 HCH. Anybody been told that their IMA is fine, but that the actual engine was a problem??

#1477 of 1484 Re: Battery constantly discharges and sputters [irishgirl76] by slider162

Mar 20, 2013 (2:25 pm)

Replying to: irishgirl76 (Mar 20, 2013 2:11 pm)
They are full of crap. You need to video what is going on like I did.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1ny0sWVvVM
 
Until they see what is happening and then Honda, not the dealer, will watch the video and decide to replace the IMA battery. There will be no diagnostic fee because it will be covered under warranty.

#1478 of 1484 Re: Battery constantly discharges and sputters [irishgirl76] by inmyhumbleop

Mar 20, 2013 (2:40 pm)

Replying to: irishgirl76 (Mar 20, 2013 2:11 pm)
I had the exact same problem. It's the battery. Video the constant regens and send a copy certified mail to Honda. Good luck.

#1479 of 1484 Re: Battery constantly discharges and sputters [irishgirl76] by bossless

Mar 20, 2013 (7:51 pm)

Replying to: irishgirl76 (Mar 20, 2013 2:11 pm)
This is a battery problem. The software upgrade makes it more difficult for the IMA light to come on because it causes a more aggressive charge when the battery gets below 4 bars usually keeping it above two bars.

#1480 of 1484 Re: Battery constantly discharges and sputters [irishgirl76] by mdsheker

Mar 21, 2013 (10:32 am)

Replying to: irishgirl76 (Mar 20, 2013 2:11 pm)
This is the exact same thing that happend to me for the past 2-3 years.
Every morning, I had one or two bars, and I drive to charge up the battery,
and when I go to the grocery store, e.g., for less-than half-hour, and when I get back into the car, the full charge drops down to two bars. And when I start to slowly accelerate at a stop sign/light, sometimes the full charge drops down to two bars, and I have no power to go. The IMA battery indicator light never came on, and Honda keeps telling me the battery was good.
 
I took my car to another Honda (6 months ago), and they too told me there was something wrong with the engine. I think they were going to charge me about $100-$200, to check the engine. When they did some tests onto the engine and battery, and they found the engine was good, and the battery was indeed bad, and they replaced the battery under warranty. (I have 2006 HCH, with 65K miles). [fyi: Honda is waiting for your warranty to expire, then they're going to tell you that the battery is bad.]
 
So, to answer your question, NO. Honda told me my IMA was good, and the engine was bad. But, it turned out the engine was good, and the battery was bad.

#1481 of 1484 Re: Battery constantly discharges and sputters [irishgirl76] by irishgirl76

Mar 22, 2013 (11:49 pm)

Replying to: irishgirl76 (Mar 20, 2013 2:11 pm)
After telling Honda to stop and give me back my car (and a few choice words that came out of my mouth to Honda), they called me back and asked me to bring the car back in for further diagnostics at no charge. The had the car for a whole day, reset a bunch of software, ran the car some more, tested it again, etc, etc. After telling me that it was my engine, that it was likely my fuel, or my fuel injectors, blah blah blah.... they finally said that it could be my IMA. They told me to drive it for a week and bring it back after 7 days and they'd rehook it up to diagnostics and see what the computer tells them. While I did notice the car didn't do it's normal immediate discharge of the battery within three blocks of my house, the battery is still fluctuating. Guess we'll see what happens in a week time. I'm not holding my breath and I still want the IMA replaced before my warranty expires.

#1482 of 1484 Re: Battery constantly discharges and sputters [slider162] by xlntmpg

Mar 23, 2013 (6:00 am)

Replying to: slider162 (Mar 20, 2013 2:25 pm)
That was a good video showing how a recal happens.
Makes sense how a tech may not see it unless they really pay attention and drive the car for a full 10 minutes or more.
 
--
Eric Powers

#1483 of 1484 Re: Battery constantly discharges and sputters [irishgirl76] by irishgirl76

Apr 02, 2013 (5:50 pm)

Replying to: irishgirl76 (Mar 20, 2013 2:11 pm)
After a week of driving, I brought my car back to Honda and guess what?... my IMA is bad! Hmm... I think I told them that at the very beginning. Now I'm taking my car in on Monday to have a new IMA installed. (and still under warranty - yay!)

#1484 of 1484 Replacing hybrid battery out of warranty by xlntmpg

Apr 02, 2013 (6:27 pm)

Irishgirl76,
Glad you were able to get your work done while it was still under the factory warranty.
 
Once you are out of warranty, specialized independent shops can rebuild the battery pack for less money than the dealer, but it is still a couple thousand dollars.
 
--
Eric Powers

Messages Page 149 of 149

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