Oh, I just realized that you paid for the battery. Disregard what I said about the warranty and just note the core charge part.

Ouch. The P1449 error probably only means that one or two cells are bad. It would have been a cheap repair.

 

I'm back, now at 103k and the ima light is on. I just disconnected the front battery and the light is off. My questions, and I'm sure they've been answered before. How long can I do this? I don't want to be driving on the highway and lose control of my car because my hybrid battery has had enough. Can I just do this forever? I don't want to buy a new battery and lose all of my gas savings.

 

Hi,

We also had our IMA replaced, luckily under warranty at 65-K or so. Perhaps we need to hear from HCH owners who haven't had to replace their batteries--how many miles have you gotten on your battery?

Carol

 

I guess I would be in that group. My IMA battery seems to be working fine on my '04, but it's only got about 43,000 miles on it so far.

 

Did you get your HCH used or have you owned it for the full 43K. As you probably know, I'm in your club too with low mileage on a 2003. Crossing my fingers too.

 

I bought it used when it was 3 years old and it had 27,000 miles on it.
So far, so good. (my data logs are in the link below)

 

I have an 03 HCH. The IMA light came on back in dec 09, and I happened to change the plugs/oil and the light turned off. That was at around 114k, the IMA light returned at 116K. Took it to the dealer and they replaced it for free under the 150k warranty. I just got it back yesterday and the light has not returned.

 

My former HCH went to just about 144k before the IMA light turned on. I drove it for another 1000 miles like that with no noticeable difference in how the car functioned -- other than the decrease in fuel economy. It was getting about 38 MPG out of the last few tanks of gas, which pretty much told me that the HCH was working more like a conventional Civic and not much like a hybrid. The care did remain driveable, however.

 

I'm assuming you live in suburban Baltimore then? 38-40 mpg isn't bad at all if you live in the city like I do. Getting on the highways will increase my mileage by about 10 mpg.

 

I'm SO glad I found this forum! Glad to know I'm not the only one this happened to. So, here is my story, I have a 2004 automatic civic hybrid and the IMA and little engine light (something Malfunction...)just came on Saturday on my drive to my dads. I'm at about 150k miles. then when I started the card the next morning to drive home(San Francisco) the IMA light was off -just the malfunction light. Took it to the dealer and they did a diagnostic and told me it was the IMA battery and I needed new one at$3,500 (includes labor). UGH!! can't afford that!
heard about the NY guy who sells them for less but still to have it replaced by this other car shop here (only do hybrids) it will cost me $2,300. Still way out of my range. I took the car back and my boyfriend drove it to work, hour up north and he said the light came off and the charge bars are almost full now. What the.....?
so, am I good to go with no repair and Honda dealer here is BSing me to get $$$ ?