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Honda Civic Hybrid IMA Problems

185 messages,  Last post on Dec 03, 2009 at 2:36 PM

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#7 of 185 IMA doesn't work over 100 by amyable Sep 02, 2007 (1:03 pm)
After going round and round with both Honda American and my Honda dealer, they both concede that the battery DOES NOT WORK when the temperature in the car is over 100. This causes a serious drain on the car--when trying to accelerate from a green light, there are times that the car hesitates and the rpms hit 4 as the car struggles to move forward. I have contacted both a laywer, the Better Business Beureau, and the Attorney General's office regarding this issue--they WERE aware that the problem existed for my region, and they are still continuing to sell the vehicle in the southwest region. Honda says that "it's not enough of an issue to resolve at this time." If you are having this issue, please also contact your state's Attorney General's office and document the problem. This is fraud, pure and simple. Low gas mileage is the least of the issue...the fact that the car runs on the tiny gas engine alone is downright scary when you live in a large urban area where you can get killed if you are not able to accelerate away from green light or around the corner. I've never been more disgusted with a company in my entire life--they know this is happening and when the service departments call to get information, they say that it's "normal" for the car to lose power in hot temperatures. The car is not safe to drive in this weather, and yet Honda is doing nothing to solve the problem. Replies to this message: gagrice (Sep 02, 2007 7:19 pm)
#8 of 185 Re: IMA doesn't work over 100 [amyable] by gagrice Sep 02, 2007 (7:19 pm)
Replying to: amyable (Sep 02, 2007 1:03 pm) What happens if you take it and leave it until it is fixed? If it is a safety issue they have a certain length of time to repair or the "Lemon Laws" go into affect. Have you reported the problem on the NHTSA Office of defects? Honda is dragging their feet until cooler weather when they can say look it works fine. File your report on this site...   http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/complain/
#9 of 185 Re: Too hot for IMA to work [larsb] by gagrice Sep 02, 2007 (7:27 pm)
Replying to: larsb (Jul 16, 2007 6:01 am) You cannot compare the 2004 Civic Hybrid with a stick shift to the 2007 Civic Hybrid. The newer one is bigger heavier with the same puny engine. It is also a different IMA design. I look for Honda to get out of the hybrid business when they get their diesel cars on the roads here.
#10 of 185 2006 IMA Failure on Hills by bandv Sep 04, 2007 (3:26 pm)
After 85000 miles and nearly a year of happy driving up and down hills, we have suffered repeated IMA failures under our usual driving conditions. The IMA battery indicator is dropping much more rapidly than before and shuts off after very little use, which is problematic on hills.   Checks at dealer show "no problem". They suggested putting car in neutral/park and revving to 3000 RPM. This indeed charges battery and allows IMA to operate again.   I work with NiMH batteries and it seems like a partial failure within the large battery pack- that would reduce the battery's capacity-- but would not register as a "failure" on the car's computer that measures voltage.   One tech and one dealer say they never heard of this happening before. But apparently, others, including a lady from Marin on KGO-TV "7 on your side" (July 2, 2007), have had exactly the same problem. http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=7on_your_side&id=5443147   PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO YOU. It would be helpful to know the year, make, model and at what mileage this began to occur and what you have done about it.   Thanks! B and V Replies to this message: stevedebi (Sep 04, 2007 3:54 pm) gagrice (Sep 04, 2007 4:28 pm) mlilley (May 22, 2008 1:24 pm) mickeyrom (May 22, 2008 1:47 pm) wistlo (May 22, 2008 1:55 pm) gshiber (Jun 27, 2008 3:39 pm) david384 (Aug 10, 2008 5:06 pm) fabregas (Jun 03, 2008 10:24 am)
#11 of 185 Re: 2006 IMA Failure on Hills [bandv] by stevedebi Sep 04, 2007 (3:54 pm)
Replying to: bandv (Sep 04, 2007 3:26 pm) I think that the HCH uses a bunch of small batteries linked together, so some of them could be failing. However, if the Honda techs say the pack is still within spec, I'm not sure how you prove them wrong. Are you sure that you aren't using the A/C more, or that the traffic patterns haven't changed (causing you to stop more and use the batteries)?   The news article you quoted sounds more like "normal" battery depletion - the lady does too much uphill and not enough downhill to recharge the batteries. Though of course it could be bad batteries in her case as well.
#12 of 185 Re: 2006 IMA Failure on Hills [bandv] by gagrice Sep 04, 2007 (4:28 pm)
Replying to: bandv (Sep 04, 2007 3:26 pm) The Insights have has several cases of battery deterioration. I would want to see the voltage readings and specs from Honda. It should still be covered by the 100k mile battery warranty. I have asked before here and gotten a lot of spin. How bad do the batteries have to get before they are contributing more pollution than is allowed under the AT-PZEV regulations? You are kind of at the mercy of the automakers with hybrids more so than ICE only cars. At least until a few independents start working on them.
#13 of 185 Re: Too hot for IMA to work [amyable] by 2mnycats Sep 05, 2007 (1:38 pm)
Replying to: amyable (Jul 13, 2007 10:29 pm) I just got my 2007 HCH on Saturday. I live in NC and it has been close to 100 here. 93 today. I have been having issues with the IMA not working when I first get in and for the first couple of minutes after that, then it will kick in. It doesn't seem to cause any issue with the battery as the bars for the charge amount remain the same. Anybody else having this problem?? I knew if it was over 100 it could stop working (I read almost the entire owner's manual when I got it home) but it was low 90's here today and it did the same thing. Replies to this message: 2mnycats (Oct 03, 2007 5:16 pm)
#14 of 185 Re: Too hot for IMA to work [2mnycats] by 2mnycats Oct 03, 2007 (5:16 pm)
Replying to: 2mnycats (Sep 05, 2007 1:38 pm) Replying to own message because I need to make a clarification/correction. The IMA did not fail, the AutoStop did, not exactly the same thing. The owner's manual does say that the AutoStop will not work until the engine is up to temp, so that's why it doesn't work in the first couple of blocks after getting in. However, it will also fail about 5% of the time at stoplights during a trip. Not sure why -- but it doesn't seem to really affect my mpg, which I'm pretty happy with. Would be interested in knowing, tho, if anyone else has this happen to them.
#15 of 185 Re: 2006 IMA Failure on Hills [bandv] by mlilley May 22, 2008 (1:24 pm)
Replying to: bandv (Sep 04, 2007 3:26 pm) Have exactly the same problem. Was getting consistent 43-45 MPG n daily commute, always watched the charge / discharge cycle, always the same pattern, monitored RPM vs IMA assist on hills, etc.   Then at 48,000 miles this week, BOOM. Mileage drops to 33 MPG, battery holds a charge about 25 to 30% previous capacity, engine revving way up on hills since no assist from IMA< where before in same locations, had assist, etc etc. Dealer says everything checks out OK. My guess is, charging system, Electric motor/generator, and voltage regulation is all OK, and that battery shows proper voltage,,,,BUT, current storage capacity is shot due to losing a batch of cells in the battery. Anyone else weigh in? Thanks. Replies to this message: mickeyrom (May 22, 2008 1:47 pm) wistlo (May 22, 2008 1:55 pm) gshiber (Jun 27, 2008 3:39 pm) david384 (Aug 10, 2008 5:06 pm)
#16 of 185 Re: 2006 IMA Failure on Hills [mlilley] by mickeyrom May 22, 2008 (1:47 pm)
Replying to: mlilley (May 22, 2008 1:24 pm) What is IMA? Replies to this message: wistlo (May 22, 2008 1:55 pm)

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