Well after more than 8 years and 230,000 miles my 2003 Civic Hybrid finally failed me. It could have been worse; at least it happened in my driveway.

I drove the car over 200 miles Monday night with no problems and parked the car with about 75% SOC and 1/4 tank of gas. It didn't get especially cold Monday night, maybe around 25 degrees F.

Tuesday morning the doors unlocked with fob, dome light was on, nothing seemed unusual but when I turned the key nothing happened. I put the battery charger on at the 55 amp cranking setting but still got nothing. No clicking and no turning over with either the IMA motor or 12V starter. I didn't have time to check further so I pushed the car out of the way and used my Insight yesterday.

I got home yesterday late afternoon and still the same so even though I didn't suspect the 12V battery (the battery is fairly new, 2-3 months) I put the charger on overnight anyway.

I went out this morning after the battery charged all night and sure enough the car turned over with the 12V starter. But it still wouldn't fire or start.

I pulled the air filter out and sprayed starting fluid into the intake and it fired. It looks like I have a fuel system problem and I'm hoping somebody has encountered a similar problem and can shed some insight.

1) I checked the fuel pump fuse under the dash (#17, 15A) and it's ok.

2) I pulled the fuel pump relay out, or at least I'm pretty sure it's the right one, and ohmed the coil and it was open.


I assume the two prongs on the left are the coil, this is where I measured an open circuit. I would expect some kind of finite resistance in the coil, 20-25 ohms maybe. I don't know for sure, but I wouldn't expect infinite resistance. The socket in the relay box itself (in front of the larger fuse box under the hood) has slots to accept two prongs on the contact side, the two end ones, the middle area is just plastic, and the two outer contact prongs gave me a closed circuit so I assume the relay is connected NC.

Has anybody encountered this or other fuel system problems? Has anybody ohmed this relay out. Do I even have the correct relay?

I have ordered the relay, it's only $25 bucks so I figured what the heck. Hopefully that will fix it, the fuel pump is over 300 bucks from the dealer and I'm not even sure where it is, but from what I can find searching online it looks like it's in the tank.

Any insights from HCH drivers that have had fuel system problems would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

Hey mark ,what up,
Just happen tp follow the link in my mail box,allaways willing to help out a fellow who been helping daily.
Seems like your got two different causes,
But here what I came up with,
1. fuel filter ?#http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,ca...A1%255D%2BSOHC
2.water in your gas tank and line ?1/4 full common in canada
#http://www.amazon.com/28201-Gas-Line.../dp/B0016GXNC4
3.This. Hybrids are notorious for idling rough and the fact is most of them run fuel more in an idle stage than a regular car. Friend of mine has this problem and it turned out a ton of gunk was built up inside the fuel injector and caused it to sputter on take-off and idle. I believe the solution was a fuel injector cleaner dumped in to your fuel tank next time you fill up and worked out
New fuel pump ?
#http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/search/?Ntt=fuel+pump
#,Should be on the back left side of the car looking into it from the engine bay. Find a picture of it first and then look around back left for what you're being shown.

Usually you loosen two bolts (one top, one bottom) with two separate wrenches. One holds the filter, one loosens the bolt. The best way is to put them on like a V and squeeze the wrenches together. Turn them the right way because one will be confusing and you'll have to turn it the opposite way, also wear gloves - otherwise you'll lose some bark.

Before you start, either pull the fuel pump fuse or disconnect it and then crank the car for a few seconds until it either dies or doesn't start. Continue cranking it for about ten seconds to get rid of the fuel pressure or you'll get covered in gas when you loosen the first bolt.
# about your battery not starting problems? Would have to happen again to verified if related.if not could be a computer management related to your finally dieing ima system, did you ever think about Turning it off?
I read that someone that click that switch behind the seat under the cover
Said that car had more power (not charging a battery that not wanting to charge) and alway has 4bars of charging.
I might go that route as I have much power my mods the electric power isn't
needed. Anyway just info your move.keep us updated your right don't spend too much on it,but every car need yearly maintenance .