Can't pass emission inspection due to P1600 and P1449 codes
 

I have the same problem -- 2003 civic hybrid, and getting codes P1600 and P1449. I've been driving the car with the IMA and CEL light on for over a year with absolutely no problems in terms of operating the vehicle. But now I have failed my emissions test, so have to do something. I am looking for the LEAST expensive option. Any suggestions?

Re: Can't pass emission inspection due to P1600 and P1449 codes
 

Sell to someone like me in another city of state, who doesn't have to pass a dumbass emission code to run the car, then buy something else.:)

Re: Can't pass emission inspection due to P1600 and P1449 codes
 

My CEL and IMA light have been on for about 4 months, 224,000 miles, I'm still getting around 51 mpg, car runs great and even though I live in California, my 03 HCH is exempt from state smog checks!!!! When I trade it in I guess I'll just reset the codes.

:)

Re: Can't pass emission inspection due to P1600 and P1449 codes
 

I mean seriously let's get a grip on reality hweldon hit the nail on the head. I mean hey 51 is awesome. OMG forgive us if we're throwing a little... and I MEAN LITTLE more carbon stuff out the exhaust. My god, compared to an SUV... please.
Even if you gut the cat, you're still polluting less than anything produced 20 year ago.
Save the earth... I have cancer, I can't even save myself, and I'm gonna save the earth? Really?! Let it go man. Sell it to someone who doesn't have testing in their area and be done with it.

Re: Can't pass emission inspection due to P1600 and P1449 codes
 

Hi I know this thread is very old but I couldn't find a way to message you directly so I hope you see this. I have the exact car you have (or had) an 03 HCH. The CEL is on with codes 1449 and 1600. Wondering HOW is your car exempt from the CA stare smog inspection? I checked and the 03 HCH doesn't meet any exemption categories. Am I missing something? Thanks

Re: Can't pass emission inspection due to P1600 and P1449 codes
 

Re: Can't pass emission inspection due to P1600 and P1449 codes
 

At the time of the post, they were.

It appears to be inconsistently applied. Some have received renewal notifications that don't indicate a smog test requirement.

Re: Can't pass emission inspection due to P1600 and P1449 codes
 

Steve is right. I have had my 03 HCH I since day one. Never have gotten a notice to have it smog checked. I just renewed the registration last month and I'm good until April of 2017. I suspect that next year I will be tagged. Car is still running great with no lights on and she's at 256,000 miles right now. I think her days are numbered, but for right now I'm pretty happy.

Re: Can't pass emission inspection due to P1600 and P1449 codes
 

256K? Is that the original pack? If so, you are likely the luckiest person alive... :)

If you haven't yet, I recommend you start grid charging. A Prius driver with 315K recently testing his pack (can be done effectively in-car) and found it to be significantly deteriorated (about 35%). He did the Hybrid Automotive charge/discharge triple cycle, and the follow-up test put him at near 90%.

Re: Can't pass emission inspection due to P1600 and P1449 codes
 

OH NO!!! Not the original pack. I am on my third. Original replaced under warranty at 120,000. Second one replaced last year at my expense with Bumble Bee.

I believe the CVT is the weak link on this car. I just change the fluid often and don't push it.

Re: Can't pass emission inspection due to P1600 and P1449 codes
 

Whew... you restored my faith in the lack of faith I have in IMA batteries... :)

Glad you got a Bumblebee. IMHO, they are better than Honda due to their incoming quality control.

CVT is definitely an issue. We had an HCH2 we recently sold with 223K on it. Seemed fine. I've taken to changing fluid every other oil change on our remaining HCH2 and 2X insights.

Re: Can't pass emission inspection due to P1600 and P1449 codes
 

Our 2003 HCH had its mandatory smog check on Friday. The IMA battery had been replaced 800 miles before and I was a little worried that they would require more miles than that since the last CEL. No problems though. It wasn't much of a smog check, they just checked the gas cap, peeked under the hood, somehow verified that the IAC was working, and that there were no codes. No sensor up the tail pipe. Too bad actually, I would have liked to have known what the emissions actually were.

Re: Can't pass emission inspection due to P1600 and P1449 codes
 

Hondas are great about their drive cycles. I've never had one need more than 50 miles of driving. Have gotten it done in less than 30 miles with directed effort.

Re: Can't pass emission inspection due to P1600 and P1449 codes
 

I am thrilled to see that this forum is still active! I have a 2005 HCH with 256000 and original everything! I replaced the front bearings and control arms recently, but the rest of the car just needs fluids changed. Last week the P1600 and P1449 codes appeared. The IMA light has gone off, but the CEL is still on. Will it go out on it's own? I need to get thru inspection. Any ideas?

Re: Can't pass emission inspection due to P1600 and P1449 codes
 

Highly unlikely. First make sure your 12v is good with a load test at the parts store.

Second, multiple (3-4) 12v resets and force charges might get you some margin that will get you through emissions. You'll need to drive the cycle described in your owners manual before you can take it to emissions.

If that doesn't work, grid charging might work, but you've already gotten way more out of your battery than most. You would probably be best served with a replacement from bumblebee.

Re: Can't pass emission inspection due to P1600 and P1449 codes
 

Thanks for the reply. After a bit of reading and figuring, I decided that you are probably right and I ordered a new battery from Bumblebee. I figure that the money I have saved on gas and other repairs over the past 11 years has paid for it almost 2x! I'm looking forward to the upgrade!

Re: Can't pass emission inspection due to P1600 and P1449 codes
 

Great attitude. It's the original owner that keeps the car that gets the most benefit, and you got your goody out of that one. Break even is about 110,000k considering the extra acquisition cost and 1st replacement. You're definitely still ahead.

Re: Can't pass emission inspection due to P1600 and P1449 codes
 

Hi! I figured out a way to get an HCH1 through inspection with no codes even though it has a P1600 and a P1449 code. I can replicate it too. I see this is a huge issue. My problem is that I’m financially in a rough spot at the moment. I know what I’m implying flies in the face of the spirit of these forums but then again it would seem that mentioning established sellers like bumblebee and greentec does also. Contact me if interested.

Re: Can't pass emission inspection due to P1600 and P1449 codes
 

Sorry to hear you're in a rough spot.

This is curious. Note that direct action to spoof or otherwise "trick" testing is illegal. If you can "game it" such that you can drive it in such a way or otherwise avoid the conditions that set the code and make it through emissions by "getting lucky" because the codes don't set, that's fine.

If this involves resetting the codes and sneaking it through emissions, that's not possible either. Most emissions testing requires all but 1 or 2 checks be "ready" If you disconnect the 12V, all systems report NOT READY. If you can find someone who can "ignore" not ready codes, you can get through emissions; however, that's illegal too. Facilities are required to reject vehicles not meeting the "NOT READY" criteria. Failure to do so is illegal.

If you've been able to repeat this on your own vehicle, you have no certainty that it will apply to other vehicles in various states of degradation, so assuming it's a legitimate method, the chances of it being successful or a money-making opportunity are likely very limited.

Not sure what you mean by the Greentec/Bumblebee reference. They are sources for cheaper packs than the dealerships to permit proper function. Not sure how that flies in the face of the spirit of these forums.

Good luck.

Re: Can't pass emission inspection due to P1600 and P1449 codes
 

Hi Steve, so good to hear from you again. You have been so helpful to me in the past. My reference to Greentec and Bumblebee above was nothing negative toward them. I was just using them as an example of entities that receive financial gain due to their mention on these forums. The technique that I am using makes the vehicle be in the “ready” state before the inspection. I imagine that there are some packs that are too far gone to be able to help. There is an easy way to know. If a person clears the codes on their vehicle and then drives about 10-15 miles and the check engine light already comes on then I don’t think what I do will work. Hard driving up hills or with a fast acceleration will make the CEL come on also. However if you’re not going to do that before your inspection it is not a valid comparison. Yes, I understand that a vehicle must be in a “ready” state to pass inspection. I would love to have some people from New York State (I’m in western NY) come by who are unable to pass inspection due to a P1600 and P1449 code combination only. This would give me a chance to demonstrate that what I do works. Thanks for your input, Steve.

Re: Can't pass emission inspection due to P1600 and P1449 codes
 

It sounds to me like you're just clearing codes and maybe doing something additional like forced charging by revving to 3500 rpm. If that's the case, there's no legal issue, but In my experience MOST P1449 return in less than the time required to clear enough emissions "NOT READY" to pass.

Good luck.

Re: Can't pass emission inspection due to P1600 and P1449 codes
 

Hi Steve, I’m NOT doing what you think I am. I do wish I had as much knowledge as you do however. On my vehicle after I do what I do to make it “ready” for inspection it can keep from throwing a P1449 code for up to 100 miles. It might have an IMA light come on with no CEL about 30-40 miles after I’ve made it “ready.” However, I had it inspected with only 12 miles over the second/last part of my intervention. I think it would work for more of the IMA battery codes too. I do wish I had someone with another car that met the P1600/P1449 that needed to be inspected that I could try this out on. They’d get an inspection out of it if it works. It won’t change anything if it doesn’t.

Re: Can't pass emission inspection due to P1600 and P1449 codes
 

Then you should add that. The 3500 rpm forced charge method is well known and can frequently push a IMA light/CEL further down the road. The distance driven is only relevant in so much as you have to complete the needed drive cycles to clear "NOT READY". In some cases, with Honda in particular, all but 1-2 of the "NOT READY" can be cleared VERY quickly. The last two to clear are almost always Cat and Evap. Evap almost always takes a couple of cold starts over 24+ hours.

PER https://dmv.ny.gov/brochure/what-do-...cars-not-ready, you can have up to 1 "NOT READY".

If you don't already have one, you should get a cheap OBDII code reader (<$15) that can list the "NOT READY" monitor status.

Lastly, you can be certain a HONDA is ready for emissions if you turn the key to the ON position without starting the engine. Wait for the CEL to start flashing. If it stops flashing and goes out, all "NOT READY" are cleared. If it stops flashing and goes steady on, at least one "NOT READY" remains.

Re: Can't pass emission inspection due to P1600 and P1449 codes
 

Hi. Thanks for your information as always. I read up on the “Drive Cycle” a little bit. So I tried this on my HCH1. It had gone back to the CEL and the IMA light being on. Codes were P1449 & P1600. I cleared the codes, did the first part of what I do and drove forty miles. Although the CEL and the IMA lights were still cleared the emissions state was “NOT READY” as evidenced by the beeps when the ignition was turned to the On2 position. I then did the second half of my thing and drove ten miles. By this time I had no CEL light, IMA light, codes, or beeps. I then drove it another nine miles to an AutoZone and they read all of the emissions sensors and such and said that everything is in the READY state. I think that it’s pretty cool to replicate it reliably without any specific driving style or requirements. Granted this is a HCH1 which is no where near as complex as the later models. I really wish I had a few other cars to try it on.

Re: Can't pass emission inspection due to P1600 and P1449 codes
 

You have only established that your P1449 is at the initial stages of failure. It depends completely on the condition of the battery itself, not the code. There are batteries that ALWAYS throw an immediate P1449 no matter what you do. There are some that can go a day or two... or for 15 minutes... or an hour... or a week...

MOST can't last long enough to clear all but one "NOT READY" before they throw a code - regardless of any sorcery you may possess.

Try a craigslist ad.

Re: Can't pass emission inspection due to P1600 and P1449 codes
 

Yup. I’m agreeing w you, Steve. As an addition to what I wrote so far I continued driving to see how things would progress as I returned to the baseline. I was at 73 miles when the IMA light came back on. There was no CEL light or beeps upon restarting. I checked and there had appeared a EVAP not ready reading. I headed home and now have 138 miles without the CEL reappearing. It will sooner or later though. Still no beeps when I turn the key. I got 50.7 mpg total for the trip. I’m calling it quits for today. Another thing that minimizes my results is that it only got up to 70 degrees outdoors today. If anyone wants to volunteer their otherwise uninspectible vehicle to try this really simple task I’d do it for you.

Re: Can't pass emission inspection due to P1600 and P1449 codes
 

Ok I have the same two codes on a 2003 Honda hybrid civic,,what do I need to do to get it though emissions. Keith nice seen you over on this site too,I agree why the big secret,,let Peaple know that we do over our site for insights,,everybody shares there tricks and knowledge,,

Re: Can't pass emission inspection due to P1600 and P1449 codes
 

Hi hybrid442, I actually can’t stand keeping the secret even if I am **** broke and wish I could make a penny on two on something. Let me know if this works for you.

1) clear all the codes. This step is probably unnecessary but is good for validation of step 3

2) turn off the battery switch behind the seat.

3) start the engine with the code reader plugged in. Rescan. You should now get a CEL, P1600 and P1575.

4) without turning the engine off erase your data. The IMA and CEL should go off.

5) without turning your engine off drive 50 miles.

6) turn your engine off hopefully about 10 unstressful miles from an inspection station.

7) turn the battery switch back on.

8) drive 10 miles to an inspection station. Try to go easy on hills and acceleration.

9) get inspection. woo hoo.

The mile amounts can probably be tinkered with a bit but that system works every time for me. I bet it subverts many hybrid systems. Let me know, ok please.

Re: Can't pass emission inspection due to P1600 and P1449 codes
 

Just thinking that I’d like to add that the idea of driving the 50 miles is to get very close to the “drive cycle” without the P1600 and P1575 being triggered again. P1575 is an alternator code which undoubtably is from the battery being shut off. I don’t know how many miles you can drive before this code is triggered again. It is triggered if you turn the vehicle off and then restart it without turning the battery back on first. I think that getting very close to your drive cycle or even barely over it would make it so you could turn the battery back on and drive a very short distance to the inspection station. Please let me know if and how this works. Thanks.

Jen