Hi,

A seemingly simple question for everyone.

I'm looking to buy a used 2004 HCH I with only 19,450k miles clocked on it.

My question to everyone is this, Do the batteries die because of how many years the car has been used for? Or because of how many miles its driven? Or both?

I don't want to buy this car, if the battery is going to die within a year, doesn't make much sense to do so.

I'm just looking for advice, because this would be my first hybrid car that I'd be purchasing, and I don't want to have to put more money into it a year down the road.

It seems like a great deal, but I'm seeing a red flag with how old the car is, and knowing that the batteries in hybrids only last for so long.

Thanks,

John

 

Wow. I'm wondering how much the asking price is. That's some low mileage.
Did it belong to an elderly person who didn't drive much? Are you able to take it out for a test drive? If so, you should be able to get a better idea of how the car is behaving.
If it's an CVT (automatic), look to see if it accelerates smoothly, especially going up an incline from a dead stop. Smooth and quiet acceleration in that situation is good; a rumble is bad. If it's a 5-speed you don't have to worry about that situation.
Does it go into auto-stop when you come to a stoplight?
Watch the meter over to the right of the dash to see if the battery charges up (green bars) while coasting downhill or while braking, and if it gives assist (blue bars) during acceleration. See if you can toggle the trip meter to get an idea of what the car's lifetime mpg might be (if they did very short in-town trips, the lifetime mpg might be kind of low, but that's to be expected from that sort of driving).
Did the car come from a place where the climate was very hot all the time? That can be tough on the battery.
It would be helpful if you could get an idea of the car's maintenance history so you'd know if it had all the required maintenance done, like oil changes, cabin air filters and such. If it has the original 12V battery, that might be getting a bit old. The tires might be getting old too.
Is it a dealer car or a private seller? If a Honda dealer did all the maintenance, they should have access to the records in their database.

When I bought mine it was 3 years old with about 27,000 miles on it. The 12V battery has since been replaced, but the IMA hybrid battery has been doing fine.

I think as long as the car was used regularly and well-maintained it could be a good deal. From what the car manual says the car should not sit unused for a long time. It should be driven for at least something like 30 minutes every month at a minimum to make sure the IMA battery stays charged and in good condition. The manual lists a procedure that must be followed if the vehicle had to be put in storage for longer than a month.

 

In my personal 03 HCH the IMA battery lasted until 120,000 miles. It is pretty much driven daily, has tinted windows and is kept in the garage.

I also drive a government issued 03 HCH which is kept at the City's maintenance yard, no tinted windows and is never covered. The IMA battery expired on this one at about 15,000 miles. I'm pretty sure it is because of heat.

Fortunately here in CA the IMA battery is warranted to 150,000 miles.

 

Does that mean the second battery is warranted for another 15/150K?

 

Boy, don't I wish. From what I understand, here in CA, Honda warranties the IMA components for 10 years or 150,000 which ever comes first. Period

 

Right, but if the battery is replaced, there's a parts/labor warranty on that replacement...just wonder if it's 10yr/150K or the standard 12m/12K.

 

I went back and looked over my reciept. Wow! I didn't realize the battery had been replaced over years ago. The warranty was for 12m/12,000mi. I'm long past that, so I guess from here on out I'm on my own.

 

IMA batteries on 2004 Civic Hybrids are 8 years/84,000 miles regardless of the number of times the battery has been replaced. You should still be under warranty.

 

I'm in California. ( IMA batteries 10 years/ 150,000 miles) The battery on my personal HCH was replaced at 120,000 miles. I'm now at 175,000 miles. I'm pretty much on my own with that one.

My work HCH is now at 25,000 miles. If that battery goes out again Honda better replace it! The amount of miles that I drive it, I will probably hit 10 years before 150,000 miles.