IMA Battery Finally Replaced
 

I'd like to share some of my experience with my IMA battery and how it finally got replaced.

Location: Australia
Model: 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid with almost 110k on it

I've been having the battery issues for years like most people here (recalibration from once a week to several times a day with aircondition off, or a few minutes after cold start) and had raised the issue every time while doing the service. Since the IMA light was not on, they always told me that they could do nothing, but resetting or adjusting the battery, updating the software etc.

However, during the last service, I got the chance to talk to the technician who was in charge of hybrid and he admitted it could be the battery problem after I described what it did. He suggested me leaving the car there so that he could test it out using computer onboard and send the data to Honda to try to convince them. I agreed to leave the car there for two weeks when I went away overseas and I was glad to know that Honda Australia finally agreed to replace the IMA battery when overseas. When I came back after 2 weeks, the battery also arrived and was replaced. Since then, the car works like when I bought it and no calibration occured so far even though I drive with glide, EV as much as I can.

The suggestions are:
1. Try to talk to someone who really knows about hybrid, not the front desk person.
2. Make sure the problem has become serious enough so that they can easily identify.
3. Let them know there is safety issues if the battery has problem.
4. It's a common/known problem with this battery and I was told they had replaced quite a few batteries. So it's still possible to replace it without IMA light on.

Good luck!

David

Re: IMA Battery Finally Replaced
 

congratulations on the new battery! with the new software, it may last much longer because they adjusted the charge/discharges to less impact the battery

Re: IMA Battery Finally Replaced
 

pompom:
I notice you drive without air. This is probably the reason for the demise of your pack. These power packs get very hot and require cooling for the heath of the pack. Try and run your climate control on Auto and set your temp at the highest most comfortable setting. I run mine at about 28 C when very hot outside. This still helps your pack stay heathy!
Cheers:
H

Re: IMA Battery Finally Replaced
 

Yes, but I think I will only keep the car for another 2 or 3 years because there will be a lot more options of plugin hybrids coming to Australia in the next few years.

Re: IMA Battery Finally Replaced
 

Sorry, I didnt' make it clear. It has been winter in Australia in the last few months. That's why I could drive without aircon on. I will turn on aircon when it gets warmer. That's why I wanted it to be fixed before the hot summer comes here in Australia.

Re: IMA Battery Finally Replaced
 

hello PomPom, at last i meet a fellow Australian with a civic hybrid, i always though these battery recal issues were only in america because noone in Australia ever posted about such as issue here, until now, so it sounds like there are issues with the civic hybrid in Australia as well.

Next year i plan to upgrade to a used 2010 - 2008 civic hybrid with low kms (as new civic hybrids are way overpriced $38,000 when i can get a 2008 for $20k) and hopefully i dont want to experience these recals.

thanks

Re: IMA Battery Finally Replaced
 

I think you need to be aware the 2008 civic hybrid battery will be 4 years old next year and will soon have this problem. So I would go for 2010 model or 2006 model with new battery at a much lower price. I am not sure if they did any improvement to the battery replaced on my car. But it's still the same type of battery except for the 2012 model.

Re: IMA Battery Finally Replaced
 

hi Pompom, good point, however 2006 models will have high kms and risk of battery failure higher, i know honda will not replace the battery unless the ima light comes on, or shall i just go for a 2010 with low kms and a higher initial cost but i may still have battery problems a couple of years down the track.

Re: IMA Battery Finally Replaced
 

My experience tole me the IMA light doesn't have to come on before they can replace the battery. But you have to convince them the problem is serious, in my case recal at least once almost every time I drive. I would suggest wait for one or two more years for plugin hybrids to come into Australia. At that time, the value of this hybrid must drop.

Re: IMA Battery Finally Replaced
 

out of curiosity what l/100 kms are you obtaining? maybe i should look at the toyota camry hybrids?

Re: IMA Battery Finally Replaced
 

I am getting 5.0-5.5 l/100km when the battery is normal, and it depends on the roads and traffic and the duration of my trips. It incrased to 5.5-5.9 l/km just before the battery was replaced because of frequent recals. I think the long term avarage for me is around 5.4-5.5 l/100km. I do use the techniques whenever I can. But I don't drive slowly to block the traffics. Toyta Camry Hybrids has higher fuel comsumption, but it's more powerful. I saw it's used by the police. So you won't save too much on fuels.

Re: IMA Battery Finally Replaced
 

yea i have researched alot of vehicles and i keep coming back to the Honda Civic.
Here is my summary
Toyota Camry Hybrid (way over my budget as cars are still new, too big car)
Toyota Prius (the latest model is a nice looking car, but uses only premium unleaded, DO NOT like the dash layout - in the centre and too expensive still)
Honda Insight (too smallish, cheapish interior, only a 45L tank, hatchback, still too expensive)
Honda Civic Hybrid, still good looks, good decent tank 50L, great value second hand near new, good tank 50L, runs on normal unleaded, nice interior, only downside is these recalls everyone keeps getting! :-(

Re: IMA Battery Finally Replaced
 

Agree with most of your comments. Recal means recalibration of the battery, not recalls. There were a few recalls, but that's not of concern. If recalibrations happen very often, it means the battery will need to be replaced soon. If you like the new look of 2012 model, you might want to wait for it to come. If not, you should buy 2010 model. At least it still has 6 years of battery warrenty left. Once the battery is sorted, it'll be a nice car to drive like my 2006 model. Personally, my next car will be plugin hybrid. So I need to drive this car for a few more years.

Re: IMA Battery Finally Replaced
 

yes i think i will get a 2010 civic hybrid, next year, the newer 2012 will be too expensive, how many kms have you clocked up on yours?

Re: IMA Battery Finally Replaced
 

Mine is just under 110k...

Re: IMA Battery Finally Replaced
 

ok have you had any other issues besides the battery?

look at this one, only 25k for $23,000, near new 2010 model

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/...9626&silo=1011

Re: IMA Battery Finally Replaced
 

There has been no other issues...

That one looks nice...I bought my 2006 for $27000 in 2008!

Re: IMA Battery Finally Replaced
 

yeah they definitely depreciate very quickly!

Re: IMA Battery Finally Replaced
 

5-5.5l/100km is very good economy for a car thats done 100k kms!

Re: IMA Battery Finally Replaced
 

5.2 L/100km, first tank after battery replacement, drove almost 900km.

Re: IMA Battery Finally Replaced
 

awesome! great car with no other problems and over 100k km on the clock! do you live in Brisbane ?

Re: IMA Battery Finally Replaced
 

Yes, will be hot in summer.

Re: IMA Battery Finally Replaced
 

hey thats great to meet a fellow Brisbanite! It would be great to meet you one day, once i get my hybrid i would love to do comparisons with you and get to know the car better with your advice.

Re: IMA Battery Finally Replaced
 

Sure, I am also curious about how the 2010 model is different to the 2006 model.

Re: IMA Battery Finally Replaced
 

do you know much about PTOQ auctions? Every fridays the public trustees of queensland auction government fleet vehicles just older than 3 years, i think you can get some bargains there, i have seen civic hybrids come up more often now there, 2008 models and above.

http://www.pt.qld.gov.au/auctions-sa...-auctions.aspx

Re: IMA Battery Finally Replaced
 

No, only heard about it. I don't go shopping for cars that often. And you can't test drive and have to pay by cash I think.

Re: IMA Battery Finally Replaced
 

yes those are the disadvantages.