2006 Honda Civic Hybrid IMA battery Problem; Rapid Discharging and Charging

[joeshmoe66]

I will sometimes get in my 2008 Civic Hybrid (63000 miles) and it shows 2 bars of charge. Within 2 miles of driving on a 45mph avenue with stop lights, it completely charges. My mileage has dropped from about 42 to 38 or so. I used to get in the upper and mid 40s on long highway trips. Now I get in the lower 40s.

[ryanmajor2]

Was considering a used Civic Hybrid but saw all these complaints and a lady on the news... hell no.. Sucks you guys, your car values have dropped a ton. Hope Honda gives you each at least $5k This is wrong. Consumers are ALWAYS getting screwed.

[wwjeepdaddy]

Did you ever get the problem resolved?

[wwjeepdaddy]

@thilinasq No way this is normal DUDE!

[wwjeepdaddy]

Same problem here but I want to comment on the video.

O thisUTube video that as his RPM rises, so does his mileage meter. That's different from my HCH. As my RPM rises, the mileage meter goes down to the left or toward 0 mile per gallon. As my RPM drops and the closer I get to cruising, the MPG meter rises or goes to the right (more MPG) His video does exactly the opposite.

[samiu2001]

I am in Canada, so I am using metric unit display. (Litre/100km)

Try switching the unit to km, and you will experience the same thing as shown in the video.

[wwjeepdaddy]

@samiu2001 I see. I tried changing it to metric and you are correct. I'm not confused about this any more. I'm still confused as to why Honda wont replace our batteries without an error code when the battery is clearly bad when it recals so often.

[thilinasq]

this is not a problem dude. when you are using the motor assistance it is suppose to drop the battery charge. when you are driving at the top speed, normally your car become free and its getting start to charge it again, since this is a electronic system it take some time to calculate battery status.

[mojo1644]

just went through the same scenario. My IMA and Check Engine Indicator came on. After about a day the IMA went of but the Check Engine stayed lit. I then did experience problems with my 12v battery. Car had to be jumped to start. Replaced the 12v battery and was hopeful. But this morning both IMA and Engine Check came back. My car had rapid drop in bars, but gas mileage has been unaffected, and engine stop still works. I am wondering if it is not some kind of glitch with the monitoring

[mindthoughts1974]

Honda originally plan to use UltraCapacitors rather than NiMH(Nickel Metal Hydride) batteries, in their Hybrid's. Would be great if an upgrade was possibly to UC's. Lower capacity but last millions of miles. For now- every Hybrid that uses NiMH cells, should be grid charging- see insight central(forum).

[bhogge51]

I háček a 2006 huh II with 72000 miles. My 12v battery is one year old. About a year ago I began having problems with the remote key when locking and unlocking the car. This problem comes and goes and appears now to be here for good. My ima battery experiences rapid charge and discharge daily. I can have the ima batter sitting at 7 or 8 bars and quickly accelerate at freeway speeds - testing responsiveness. The charge will drop to 2 bars in about 4 or 5 seconds. Each time start my car I am not

[reedog117]

By the way, I'm a 2006 HCH owner too, and I just replaced my battery, and the sudden discharge problem completely disappeared.

[samiu2001]

Good to know that this problem can be fixed by changing the 12V battery...But why Honda couldn't figure it out what is happening. They just keep saying everything is "NORMAL". I really lost interest in getting any Honda Hybrid again.

The design of IMA is pretty stupid I think, the motor only assists the engine. Unlike Prius, the vehicle can run in electric mode only. I should have got a Prius instead of Civic hybrid.

[reedog117]

Dude... the fix is a new 12V battery... I've seen coupons from Honda for $120 for a battery change all inclusive... or... get a big "Group 51R battery" from any auto parts reseller and have them install it for potentially less than that.

Basically what's happening is the hybrid IMA battery is trying to charge your 12V battery since it's on the fritz instead of moving your car.

[hellonabil]

hye, my father own a honda civic hybrid. he bought it in 2009. Then the car have problem when the millage is near 100,000 km.. the IMA light turn on. So, he made the final check with honda before the warranty is over.. Honda said it is not a major problem.. they did something with the car, then it came back to normal.. just few days later, the same problem occur again.. so, my father decided to send the car back to honda, they did the same thing again and they even charged him..

[hellonabil]

then, the car gets worst.. The fuel consumption is like shit.. not like before, the power gone.. sometimes, the car starts like a normal car.. not like a hybrid car which is silent.. then, when he send the car back to honda, they say that the car needed a battery replacement.. It cost a fortune. not cheap.. the car is only 2 years old.. they claimed that the battery will last up to 15 years.. that is stupid.

[hellonabil]

@hellonabil obviously they wanted my father to pay for the battery because the car has already not in warranty. so, that is just unfair for us because the advert says that the battery will last up to 15 years.. Honda is giving false advert to customers.. Surely this will be the last time my family will buy a honda..

[acresinorillia]

I'm leaving my first message on YouTube because the EXACT SAME THING happened to me with my 2006 civic hybrid. When the bars suddenly dipped I'd have no torque or hard acceleration anymore. This was dangerous when waiting in a set of lights to turn left and all of a sudden not being able to go anywhere, even with the pedal to the floor. All I can say is I hope people that who keep their 2006 models complain loud and hard to Honda corporate to get an acknowledgement of the issue and a formal fix.

[Chris4400]

Honda says nothing's wrong, and refuses to really help, so.. I will not likely buy a Honda again. How's that for the ol' pocketbook Honda?

[Chris4400]

Mine does that rapid charge all the way to the top WHILE AUTO STOPPED all the time now, too. It did NOT do that before this so called "software update." I distinctly remember it charging gradually while braking beforehand.. now, it just magically shows fully charged.. even though I know it's not, because it discharges faster now than it used to. The battery obviously isnt holding as much power.

[Chris4400]

My 2006 does this too ever since that "software update" we got a letter about.. which is basically bullshit to cover that the IMA battery isnt performing like it should have... so the update uses the battery less at the expensive of your "great gas mileage" This is "normal" operation in this video, according to them. The battery charge dumps a LOT now.

[htowngoonies]

dont say ull never buy a honda...u jus gotta buy a real honda lol

[samiu2001]

Just received a call from the service manager, he said the technical support from Honda has analyzed all the computer data from my car, and they determined the car is normal!! How can it be normal when it is happening every 10-15km of driving...

I will never buy a Honda every again!

[brykit1972]

Also they said on the second visit the IMA battery was showing sign of deterioration. Hence the replacement now. They are also telling me the battery meter is behaving "normally" but I know that's crap.

[brykit1972]

I have the same problem. Took car in for recall "update" and then the IMA light came on. Took it in and got another update which make the IMA light stay off, but. Then the battery charge started going crazy like in the video here. The second time I took it in Honda Service told me if I had any more problems they would replace the IMA battery. I am taking it in this Tuesday. But! I am getting a "remanufactured" battery. (continued)

[drabood87]

I have HCH 2006 and the same thing is happened to me, but when I disconnect the 12 V battery and reconnect this recal stopped for few days and come again & again as well it's increase in times more & more !

Anyone has more information about this annoying issue ?

[samiu2001]

Not only the display have problem, when this happens, there is no/limited assist from the motor. Also, the Auto-Stop function doesn't turn on....

It is definitely not the car was originally designed for. I am very disappointed that Honda is unable to fix this problem. If they can't fix it, they are obligated to change the battery for me! My car is still under warranty.

[alesg60]

I think that the control panel has the problem,the batteries can´t charge so fast,it´s impossible.