Thanks, Jess.

Nevertheless, 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#post212669). 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.

HCHLuv, is your car back to normal?

Cheers,
-ag

 

Wonderful! I bet you feel relieved.

Enjoy!

Jess

 

Good Morning All,
I really need to vent in how disappointed I am with Honda Motor Company and my 06 Civic Hybrid. I have been in the automotive industry and employed by a domestic manufacturer in the technical end of things for over thirty years and I have never been so frustrated with the lack of lack of customer service and product reliability by the once almighty and powerful Honda Corporation.

The only reason we purchased this automobile is so my wife that I love dearly could drive in the rideshare lane by herself to and from work on the busy Southern California freeways. Of course the mileage helps with gas at the price it is at but that is secondary. About 1 1/2 years into our ownership my wife had concerns about a lack of power, low battery state, and forced regens. This was going on during the hot socal summer and I started working with my dealer on this concern but I was advised all is normal.

To make a long story short and after many dealer visits we are at the 3 1/2 year ownership point. I have bought my wife a Escape Hybrid to drive because I do not feel safe or confident with her in the Civic trying to drive on the freeway and losing the battery, you might as well be driving in deep sand, very unsafe! I have had all the updates, patches, reflashes done and the car is still miserable to drive. I did meet with the Honda Parts and Service Director for our area to voice my concerns and he listened to my concerns and said all we need is a IMA light to come on and we could replace the IMA battery, sweet!

We left for a trip to Arizona last week and the Honda sat all week as we took our Escape on the trip. When we arrived home I jumped in the Honda to go to the grocery store and as usual instead of using the IMA motor to start the engine the standard starter cranked her over and the engine started but to my great surprise the IMA light came on! I was never so happy to see a light come on. I plugged in my scan tool and pulled a P0A7F "IMA Battery Deterioration" and went to the dealer right away praying the light would stay on which it did. The dealer took it in and to my surprise I recieved a call later in the day that Honda would not replace my battery but install another patch and give that a try.......This is a newer update from 09-058......

I picked up the vehicle the next day and lost all battery power within 1 mile of the dealer and the vehicle performed a regen. It also still uses the standard starter motor to start the engine. I let the dealer know and they said nothing can be done unless the IMA light comes back on.

Sorry again for the long letter but it has been a long 3 1/2 years and 33 thousand miles of ownership of a vehicle that was produced by a once great manufacturer. I have owned many previous Honda's over the years and stil have 3 Honda motorcycle's. It appears there are many other folks in the same boat as I am.
Have a Merry Christmas, Jack

 

I feel your pain Jack, we have roughly the same situation. As you say, not having IMA assist really makes the car difficult to drive in fast-paced urban traffic. My wife drives our 2006 as her daily driver and I know exactly your concerns.

Aren't the fault codes stored? I would think your dealer could find the code, but perhaps they expect you to play the "software update game" first, before they will do ahead and replace the battery. Have you opened a case with American Honda Motors? That may help, we have had one open with them since June.

We actually went to a different Honda dealer, who told us they confirmed a bad IMA battery and ordered a warranty replacement. That was 11/27, the day after Thanksgiving. Since then we've had two different promised ship dates, and today I had a voice mail from AHM saying the battery is backordered.

Incredibly bad customer relations in every respect.

 

Good Morning,
Thanks for the response. I have contacted American Honda and opened a case and did meet with their Parts and Service Director. We all agreed that the only thing we needed to replace the IMA battery was a IMA light to come on. We also installed a flight recorder to catch any concern including the car using the standard starter motor to start the car in the morning.

The next morning I not only recorded the starting concern but I also had a IMA light come on. I hooked up my scan tool and pulled the battery deterioration code.

My dealer is behind me and was very dissapointed they could not replace the battery, their hands are tied by Honda. I know how that works as I work for a domestic car company. The newer reflashes are done and the car is even worse but no IMA light on. Once I get back to work I am going to research the newer reflashes to see what their purpose is.
Regards, Jack

 

Why Honda would not approve replacement IMA Battery? I believe once you have IMA Light and battery deterioration code, you get new battery under warranty. Cheers

 

There is a newer TSB out now that supercedes 09-058. I will find out more about it next week when I get back to work. My IMA light has disappered but I still have the quick loss of my battery.

 

On a side note.....I went to the NTSB website which is www.safecar.gov and pulled up concerns that have been filed with the Civic hybrid. I couldn't believe how many complaints have been filed for the IMA system. I will be sending mine in tomorrow morning. Take a minute to read through them and you will see the common theme....loss of battery.

There are also concerns with the power steering and rear control arms.

 

A lot, wow, no really? I counted 6 for driveline/engine (not counting rear suspension). Am I looking in the wrong place? how many Civics do you suppose have been sold...sorry, I don't sound sympathic but 6, come on.
There are lots of us who have had no problems, guess we don't complain enough about getting good service and good mileage.

 

I read that Honda sold almost 230,000 HCH2's and the first generation HCH's (less reliable) are sometimes included in the complaints. 6 complaints is a micro drop in the bucket.

just my 2 cents


ks