I have some updates on that post from last week:

a) It's not clear to me what updates my service center applied to the new PCM, and what version of firmware the new PCM comes with. The service center has refused to give me those details

b) My city mpg has been around 35-37, down from 46-52mpg.

c) Still no freakin' auto-stop. Have driven 250+ miles since the service. I guessed right that the service center's idea of "PCM needing to learn" is BS.

I am guessing they forgot to enable auto-stop OR they did not do the idle-learning correctly because when I come to 7 mph, the RPM goes down to 400 rpm for a split-second before going up to 1200, and then settling at the usual idling speed.

Has anyone else experienced any of this?

It might be time for me to take the care to another service center (50+ miles away is the closest ) ... and perhaps call Honda as well.

Cheers,
-ag

 

PS: I think i have figured out the regen problem. Honda appears to have changed their setting so regen kicks in only after the RPM goes above 1400 or so ... and when I coast, the car gently increases the RPM to around 1400 before regen kicks in. And if I don't give it enough time for it get to 1400 then it gives me no regen, and the car behaves like a normal car with ABS brakes Not a good scenario, gven I try to stay close to 1100 rpm most of the time when I drive.

 

Yesterday I took my 2007 HCH to Kuni Honda in Centennial to have them perform TSB 08-014. I took the TSB with me and told the service advisor I was experiencing the problems described in the TSB. I was pleased when he told me they would perform the work and it was covered by the Honda Care warranty I bought (the car has 37,300 miles) or considered a recall -- I'm not sure which.

It turns out that the tech had to install more than just the software identified in the TSB! In fact, the invoice shows the following:

BULLETIN 08-014 HARSH TRANSMISSION
ENGAGEMENT AFTER AUTO IDLE STOP
UPDATED PCM AND REQUIREDTO UPDATE A/T UNIT. IMA BATTERY,
AND IMA MOTOR
CVT - MX3050
PGM - MX3150
BATTERY - MXA210
MOTOR - MXA080
125517. .3
ADD B FOR 2 ADDITIONAL UPDATES. .6
ADD D FOR A/T UPDATE. .3

I'm glad I took the car in for the TSB and the advisor told me it was important as well. I was informed that there was an upgrade for the battery fan that could have rendered the fan inoperable.

Driving the car home I noticed that it drove smother but will need a few days to see if the mileage is improved.

Final question, does anybody know what the codes are that were listed on the invoice?

 

Hey folks,

My car is back to normal!

I took my car back in mid-last-week, and explained the exact behavior I was noticing (https://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/...tml#post212671). I recommended they try the various learning processes again, and they did.

Following a re-learn of the Auto-start release clutch learning process, the car seems to have gone back to its original behavior. The regen happens a few split seconds after I let go of the gas pedal, and the mpg is back to where it used to be.

Hope no one has to go through this much hassle but if you do, then you have a data point here as to what could be wrong.

Cheers,
-ag

 

Does someone know if similar TSB exist for HAH? My car occasionally behave like that.

 

I don't believe the HAH would experience this behavior in the fashion that the civics were: I believe it has a traditional torque converter between the motors and 5 speed automatic vs. an electronically controlled clutch pack and CVT on remainder of hondas hybrids that the ECU was inappropriately "dropping the clutch" to soon when the motor was restarting.

Wouldn't surprise me if you do feel a slight surge though when the motor does start because the torque converter will always transfer some power to the tranny. In theory, if its a looser converter with a higher stall, less power is transmitted...if the converter has tightened up though and has a lower stall, more power would be transmitted.

That said, the only REMOTE thing I can think of is to make sure your changing tranny fluid at appropriate intervals since it is the fluid that transfers to force from the input of the torque converter to the tranny. If its thickened up for whatever weird reason, it would "tighten" the converter up.