Comments on: Replacement Hybrid Battery Costs Plummet

By: Benjamin Jones

Benjamin Jones — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:51:56 +0000

Bobg,

In the IMA system, the battery shouldn’t turn on an engine code. So if there is a persistent engine code it is likely due to a problem other than the battery that needs fixing. You can talk to Ron Hanson at hybrid-battery-repair.com as he also does civic hybrid batteries. Good luck!

By: Bobg

Bobg — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 12:17:48 +0000

I too have a 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid. My IMA light and engine light came on at 125K miles. I took it to the dealer and they wanted $4,000 to replace the battery and 2,000 to replace the catalytic converter. I said no way and if Honda expects to continue to sell this vehicle they need to get the replacement cost down to $1,000 for the battery.

However the fact that I live in Massachusetts present another problem. The IMA light turns on the engine light. With the engine light on you can’t pass inspection so you can’t legally drive the car. A real catch 22. I did have the engine light turned out (device to reset codes) and is remained out for the requisite time (drive time) required to go to another shop and get the car inspected.

They said the car passed with flying colors, low emmisions, etc.

So I am hopeful this “turn off the light” strategy will work again in 2010.

Any suggestion would be appreciated.

By: Donald M. Flippin

Donald M. Flippin — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 13:18:44 +0000

Mr. Jones,
I checked out that website you suggested. I’d like to shake your hand. I do appreciate the input. I’ll call those folks and have a talk with them come Monday. As Irish luck would have it, I can get up to NY next week, and get paid for my troubles. Thanks again.

By: Benjamin Jones

Benjamin Jones — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 04:54:23 +0000

If you drive that much, it is probably worth having the pack repaired for the fuel savings. Check out: http://hybrid-battery-repair.com/

By: Donald M. Flippin

Donald M. Flippin — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 04:37:04 +0000

I read some/most of the comments about hybrid battery replacements on this website, and I
thought I would input my own experience/information. I purchased a new Honda Civic Hybrid in September of ‘05 from the Honda dealer in Abilene, Texas. I bought the car for use in the work I do. I never had a problem with the power pack until this very week, not until 11 August, ‘09. Then, bingo!, my IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) light came on. I took the car in to the Honda dealer today (Honda of Abilene). The power pack had deteriorated. No more assistance from the electric motor. Fuel milage dropped by 10 mpg. Car has slightly less than 323,000 miles on it. Don’t know if I will replace the power pack or not(???)

By: Fred

Fred — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 22:52:41 +0000

Thanks Benjamin, great tip! My next trip to NYC may be dual purpose.

By: Benjamin Jones

Benjamin Jones — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:36:54 +0000

You can DIY it, but you can also check out Ron Hanson at hybrid-battery-repair.com, who will fix up your pack for cheaper than a factory replacement

By: Fred

Fred — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:28:46 +0000

Like Bob, Richard and PixelPusher220 above, I too have a 2003 Civic Hybrid with over 100k on it (138k to be more precise). I’ve been driving with the IMA light on for going on a year now with only a modest decrease in mileage similar to what Mr. Tapper described. About 2 months ago I took my car in for an oil change at my local dealer quoted $3,600 for a new battery (including installation). I told them I would think about it. After reading these posts, I say, “No thanks!” The car still runs fine. Only a couple of times, if it was cold outside and the car had been parked for a long time (2-3 days), I noticed the battery appeared completely drained and was missing it’s usual zip. I was clearly running with only the 1.3 liter gas motor (no electric motor). After about an hour driving home on the highway, however, the battery was fully charged. This has not happened since the winter. The other place this is noticeable was driving over the Appalachians a few times. Those long uphill stretches would predictably drain the battery. Thankfully, I’ve got a manual transmission, so I could compensate for the reduced performance in both instances.

Here’s what I want to know: Has anyone out there replaced their battery (IMA)? Anyone replaced it without using the dealership’s mechanics (DIY)? Once it was replaced, did the MPG return to normal?

I’ll probably just drive it until the wheels fall off.

P.S. Benjamin, I miss my ‘89 CRX which I sold for $800 with 250k on the odometer back in 2000.

By: Benjamin Jones

Benjamin Jones — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:18:45 +0000

That sounds a little fishy. From what I know the pack just slowly dies and you don:t get the benefit anymore. I have never heard otherwise, though if you ask on the EcoModder forums I am sure you will get a better response from an owner since several have rebuilt Honda hybrids and will know about the pack issues.

By: PixelPusher220

PixelPusher220 — Sun, 31 May 2009 20:33:36 +0000

My 2003 Civic Hybrid has 106k on it and the IMA light just came on. Took it to my local mechanic and he gave me the code for the battery back being replaced.

Something else he said is far more worrisome. That when the battery back gets to a certain level, the transmission will stop working. Meaning that the car won’t even drive??? so much for the sales guy saying “You’ll just have an underpowered gas engine when the battery goes”.

Anybody else heard this?

By: Richard Tapper

Richard Tapper — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 13:33:17 +0000

well, my own battery pack just started to go — 113,000 miles and 8 years after i bought my civic hybrid. the IMA light went on — simultaneous with the check engine lights — about a month ago. i had it serviced at the dealer, who updated some software (and out went the engine light, supposedly indicating a catalytic converter problem originally), and out went the IMA light. i was told that the battery was underperforming according to specs, and would need to be replaced. the dealer quoted me around $4,500 to fix it. i balked, shocked not only that the battery pack costs about $3,000 more than was presumed by the dealer (and honda, in general, it seems) when i bought the vehicle in 2003, but that the cost of fixing my car was roughly half its bluebook value. i called american honda — and they generated what they called a ‘good will’ offer: the deal is that the dealer will replace the battery for $1,500 (what i was told originally when buying the car). now, a month later, i’m still getting around 44mph (down from about 48) and would like to wait/experiment and find out just how long these batteries last (and NOT shell out $1,500 before i need). sounds like a plan? well, more surprise: american honda tells me that this ‘good will’ offer has a deadline of 30 days from when it was generated. and there is little chance that they will generate another for me. customer service, which i thought was a strong suit for honda, should take some lessons from L.L. Bean. american honda (and ron, my ‘customer service’ guy) act like they’re doing me a favor — and whitney parker, the regional manager for honda here in north carolina, seems over her head in trying to balance customer relations and misleading assumptions about a new technology. i’m getting a bad taste in my mouth from honda — and i’ve been with them for about 20 years now. i’ll be checking out a prius next time, i think…

By: Benjamin Jones

Benjamin Jones — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 07:19:46 +0000

Is there a diagnostics manual you can pick up to try to check it out yourself? It might be worth trying to bring it into a shop and see if a real person will help you out. If not, try a different dealership, they’re not all stuffy!

By: Bob

Bob — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 01:26:21 +0000

I too have a Civic Hybrid (2003) and with 108,000 miles, the IMA light came on. Took it to the dealer and they said the battery needs replacement. The irony is that the car had no performance issues or MPG loss whatsoever. That was in Nov 08. Its now Feb 09 and I am still driving it with the IMA and engine lights on (over 3000 miles since it came on). The dealer did offer to replace the battery at half price. But, my dilemma is that I still don’t think the battery is actually bad. My MPG are the same as they’ve always been (~45) and the battery still charges fully. My gut tells me its not the battery, but maybe a sensor or some other issue related to the battery. So, now I’m stuck deciding whether to replace it, hoping the half price – quoted at $1600 – offer is still good or just keep driving it with the IMA lights on. I’ve called Honda Customer Service to see if they could help but they wouldn’t offer any other assistance with it. It sucks that the savings from getting high mileage are going to be lost replacing the battery!

By: Richard Tapper

Richard Tapper — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:46:54 +0000

Well, I have a Civic Hybrid — and my battery just failed after 5 years. Whatever statistics were given here (e.g. only 200 have failed out of 100, 000) are either hogwash or more prove that I’m a special guy. And the batteries are expensive. Don’t believe the 8 year b.s. — it’s starting to look like the battery life if more like 5 years.

By: David Jenkins

David Jenkins — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:35:08 +0000

Funny thing is no one told the dealership that batteries are cheaper. They want $6100 to put a new battery in my 2000 Honda Insight. $2700.00 is the battery cost, but that is just part of the story. Honda says you have to change out two control modules at the same time you replace your battery. They aren’t cheap. $1,700 and $850 respectively.

By: hybrid gordon

hybrid gordon — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:26:10 +0000

I was worried that hybrids would create a toxic situation of too many batteries in foreign landfills. There are already piles of “regular” car batteries in asia adding more seems worse.

By: Gene Beley

Gene Beley — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 01:31:54 +0000

My 2003 Honda Civic hybrid just got its 100,000 mile checkup (at about 98,000 miles). It still runs like new and on the same original electric, big battery in the back. Getting rid of two Jaguars and buying the Civic hybrid in 2003 was a great financial move, especially going into retirement. Back then, even though the Insight was out for several years, it was not accepted yet in the mainstream technology thinking, so there was an element of gambling on the Civic hybrid versus a regular civic.

And I was told by a Honda salesman back then that the batteries would cost $1,000. But the truth today is the Stockton, CA Honda dealer quoted me $3,000, but added they are starting to recycle batteries and the cost is expected to go down. They did say they have replaced some, but did not say how many. At first, I was livid about the $3,000 cost, and thought I’d sell the Civic hybrid. Then I realized we can’t buy a new car for less than that, PLUS I got the Diamond Lane stickers that allow me to go in the commuter lane with only one person. The state of California is not giving those out any more, so that enhances the value of the car, and adds an incentive for sticking with the same serial numbered car!

By: Dee Mullen

Dee Mullen — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 20:02:20 +0000

Man… and I thought regular car batteries were freaking expensive!! It’s good the hear that despite the price, these batteries are still living up to the promises and expectations of manufacturers.

By: Eric

Eric — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 01:10:54 +0000

To all the math geniuses here: 200 out of 100k is 0.2 percent. (notice the “cent” root word there, which refers to “number out of 100″)

0.003 percent of 100000 would be 3.

By: Replacement Hybrid Battery Costs Plummet | Just About Autos

Replacement Hybrid Battery Costs Plummet | Just About Autos — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:02:07 +0000

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