I've posted before about the situation where during the morning, the instant MPG gauge reads low... even coasting downhill. Others have experienced this, and most feel it's just a recalibration. No big deal.

This morning I experienced something unusual. The MPG gauge was just fine, but I was unable to get regen... either coasting down my hill or even braking. Temps were cool (low 70's) and the battery SOC was six bars... perfectly normal and ripe for regen. I could get white bars if I accelerated, but never green. As an experiment, I shifted the CVT to "S" and regen DID work there.

After about five minutes, regen began to work normally again. Any idea why this happened? Perhaps some other type of recalibration process?

 

I've noticed this with my 05 HCH but it only seems to happen when the weather is very cold, mid winter etc. an battery at or near full charge. Haven't seen it in warm weather. Probably a normal process.

 

remember honda does not want you to replace that battery. Even if it means not chargining the battery excessivelyy! At least they gave you an option to override it when one does see they need it.

Just drive it

 

I spoke too soon. While driving yesterday along some very hilly terrain, I was coasting down a hill in D and there was no regen happening. My thoughts are that because it was very hot, 95F++ and humid, no regen/recharge was allowed to take place because of the battery temp and or ambient air temp. It's definitely not a good idea to try and recharge a hot battery.

 

I noticed this same thing begin to happen on my car just 3 weeks after I bought it. For the first 3 weeks, everything was fine, then one day -- no regen. I've taken my car to 2 different Honda dealers (3 separate times) to have it looked at, all to no avail. The official word handed down from Honda Tech Line -- they had no record of any similar issue, and if there are no trouble codes and the IMA light isn't illuminated, then my car is functioning normally. Well, if my car hadn't behaved differently those first 3 weeks, I'd probably believe them. I encourage you to take your car to your dealer and, more specifically, push them to call Honda Tech Line about this. The more this issue gets formally registered with Honda, the better chance that they'll begin to investigate it as a potential problem. Good luck to you!

 

I'd like to help, but I generally only go to the dealer when I have absolutely no other alternative. My prior experience has been that they fix one thing and break two others in the process. In this case, the issue is extremely minor... and I'm getting 52 - 54 mpg, so I have no real complaint. Should things change (situation gets worse... no regen on a more regular basis...) THEN I'll make the ultimate sacrifice and do the dealer thing!