A full charge dissipating in only 30 minutes suggests self discharge. In the old days of NiCd, these were caused by internal shorts between the layers. Is it the same for NiMH? In any case, a defective battery pack IMO-- the battery is a bucket with holes in it. So the car is constantly trying to charge the battery, which is futile. This results of crappy gas mileage, as many have reported.

The original firmware recognized a problem. Honda's fix? Don't replace the battery, just silence the light! Install a pollyanna version of the firmware that never seems to acknowledge *anything* as a problem.


We're all stuck between a rock and a hard place. Now that Honda

- successfully overturned the small claims lawsuit
- settled the class action suit (you guessed it- chicken feed for the victims, steak for the lawyers)

they're probably even more emboldened. It's not looking good, folks

 

The Honda manufactures still uses the IMA program, but it went through a few improvements that are discovered in the latest model. It has an Integrated Motor Assist system wherein the fuel engine prevents and power supply works in place of it.

 

so i guess after reading this thread a hch II for 7k CAD (120k miles) is a bad deal? i guess a 5 minute test drive can't tell me the state of the battery can it?

 

2006 HCH 79k miles. From reading posts I knew (gratefully before the warranty was up) that the IMA was on its last legs when it starting going up and down frequently. Within a week the IMA light went on, dealer exchanged battery, that was it. Last Honda for me. My dealer said warranty was 3 yrs 36k on the new battery. That sound right? I figure I have about 2 yrs 11 months or 35k miles to trade it in.

 

If it weren't for the lawyers there would be no class action suits, and with no class action, you're powerless against a company that can outspend you on legal fees, and the poor are stuck. The class action does not prevent you from taking your own case to court (assuming you didn't collect).

Also, the class action extended the warranties 12,000 miles for car models 2006 to 2008, which includes my car and I was 2,000 past the warranty otherwise. I'm not sure what was "overturned". I just got my battery replaced for free, which Honda was quoting at $4500. I'd call that steak for me.

Thank you trial lawyers.

 

When you got your new battery, what was the stated warranty?

 

They didn't say, and I didn't think to ask.

 

It has some bearing on how long I keep this car. $3 k replacement with a 1 yr/12k miles warranty means my car is worth either $5 k trade in (if the battery is working) vs no value (IMA bad, off warranty)....

 

I just posted this elsewhere in the forum, but wanted to spread the word that in states with CA emissions, the IMA warranty is now 11y/170,100 miles. I hadn't been able to come up with that information anywhere, but was informed by Honda Corporate tonight. Hopefully everything with my IMA replacement goes smoothly, but for now I'm quite relieved.

 

So, what every became of the settlement, how does an 06-08 owner take advantage of the warranty extension? Is it automatic, like all honda dealers follow such now?