2003 Civic Hybrid check engine light and IMA light are on
Created March 10, 2007, at 8:07 pm by JAvignone
I wanted to see if anyone else is having the same problem i am having. The other day my check engine light and IMA lights both came on. I took the car to the dealer and they told me I needed an update for my computer. I had the work done and when i left the dealer both lights were off. A couple hours later both lights came back on. Has anyone else seen this problem? Do the lights just need some time to reset?
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I would suggest that you call the dealer and arrange for a second visit. The engine and IMA lights are not supposed to come back on unless something else remains to be addressed.
Is your vehicle equipped with a CVT or manual transmission?
How many miles/kms does the car have now?
Cheers;
MSantos
Buy a code reader and see whats stored.
This way the dealer can`t lie to you and charge you over and over for the same problem. This would be a good starting point to learn and educate yourself for future issue`s.:cool:
50% of the time the dealers are best guessing with your money anyway.
You could do that and save the labor costs...:eek:
This is not rocket science and you could save yourself some money in the long run....:D
Think of it in terms of MPG....;)
MSantos, my hybrid is a CVT and I just hit 70,000 miles. I am going to arrange a second visit to the dealer. They closed right after they gave me my car today so there was nothing to be done about it at that point.
Based on your answer: Yes, a software update was in order for your vehicle. Would you know if they applied the software update to the MCM module?
However, there's definitely something else that the dealership forgot (or neglected) to look into... many dealership mechanics under-estimate the importance and depth of the service checklists issued by Honda and many times they do not follow the service bulletin updates for the Hybrid vehicles the are supposed to service. In their defense, very few of these mechanics ever service a hybrid and when they need to, their skills and experience are obviously lacking. So it is important to be patient with them.
Also:
-When was the last time you've done a CVT transmission fluid replacement? And more to the point: how many times has the recommended regular service of the CVT been performed?
-Just for giggles, would you know by any chance if your EGR valve has ever been changed as well? We've had reports of associative effects of a faltering EGR.
Cheers;
MSantos
Well, you probably have figured out what went wrong by now, but since I was in a similar situation I thought I would chime in. A few months ago both the Malfunctin indicator light (looks like a genie lamp) and the IMA light came on in my car. The Honda dealer ended up replacing the battery and battery controller as a result. I had just under 70,000 miles on my car at that point.
I am now having a simlar problem but it occured after changing a bad battery. I'm going to go back and check the battery controller next, or will have the dealer check it since it is still under warrenty.
got about 69k miles on this Honda.
COULD THIS BE ALL RELATED?
Hi all-
May 10, took HCH 03 in for standard 50,000 service.
Last week, lost acceleration on the highway. Had car towed to dealer, needed new clutch (which seems pretty early to me). Parts and labor (mostly labor) was over $1700, transmission had to be removed to replace clutch. Was told that not all of old clutch could be removed- there is a piece stuck in the electric motor (?).
Had car back for less than 6 hours, drove less than 10 miles and IMA, CEL and battery light came on. Drove it back to dealership where it got to sit over long holiday weekend.
Battery light comes on only when foot brake is used, turns off after acceleration.
Was told by my service tech that the computer spewed out 20 pages of error messages and that they have to have national reps be involved and this specific team has never seen a hybrid with these issues (though I see from the boards, this isn't uncommon). Was told that 3 sensors may need to be replaced- one is available, 2 are on national backorder.
I'm wondering if any of the work done in the past three weeks could have set this off? Between needing new brakes and the clutch, I've put in over $2400.
Anyone know if the sensors fall under the emissions warranty or are part of the battery warranty?
The other interesting issue is that my interior charger/adapter has been shorting out (5 times in last 4 months). Finally figured out it is from cell phone charger- Honda is aware- and its mostly Verizon chargers, but hasn't done anything about it.
Any help/guidance is appreciated.
Basically, I'm trying to arm myself with all the ammo I can...
I have the check engine light and IMA light on and I'm not quite sure why? I took it to my mechanic and he said that it is the IMA and that I should take it to the dealer. I have set up an appointment for next week.
But I have noticed that the car tends to lose power on inclines and is slow to respond. Could it be the spark plugs that need replacement?
I bought the car in January (used), the previous owner had the transmission changed and batteries. Might it be something else?
Is your vehicle equipped with a CVT or manual transmission?
How many miles/kms does the car have now? What year is it?
"I'm wondering if any of the work done in the past three weeks could have set this off? Between needing new brakes and the clutch, I've put in over $2400."
B-
It is quite possible that the work they did has indeed caused the problems. I'm not a mechanic or a hybrid technician. But I own a 2003 HCH and just had my clutch replaced at 80k. The day I drove it home it had the same symptoms you describe- of having no battery charge unless you are breaking, etc. My first guess was that something they did or didn't do made it do that because I gave it to them with a perfect battery that I've never had a problem with ever.
I am really glad I found your post. I am hoping that they don't ask me for money to fix something that they did wrong. If they do I'm going to do my best not to give it to them. It sounds like this has been done before by a different dealership, so it's obviously not my fault or driving style or whatever they will try to blame the problems on this time.
The IMA light came on, I also notice the gas meter was not reading correctly, the care judders, and my radio would at least turn on. I took it to the dealership and they replaced the battery and fuse. The IMA light is gone, but the gas meter is not reading correctly, it still judders, and the radio wont turn on. What did the dealership do? Please advice...I don't want them jurking/juddering me around. :-)
Hi Mari:
Without watching over their shoulder while they do their job, it is pretty hard for many of us to be sure what they have done and how.
One thing is certain, you have no reason to be happy about the outcome and the issues you are reporting are signs that perhaps you should consider visiting another dealer. Honda provides service checklists to avoid exactly these types of "quality" issues. It is obvious that in the absence of technical know how, the checklists were not followed.
I would still give this service department the opportunity to correct the discrepancies to your satisfaction and if they still fail to deliver on the results please write a letter to your Corporate Honda office and report the incidents as factually as possible... then visit another dealer.
The issues you speak of should be very easy to troubleshoot & resolve particularly if they follow the service checklists (sc) for your vehicle (as they instructed to do).
Cheers;
MSantos
Thanks,
I will request they follow the service checklist and provide any paperwork (EMC codes or on any test).
Dumb question: Well I don't want to sound dumb by not having the correct info.
I went to this website: Paragraph 3 Leaves me with ??s http://corporate.honda.com/press/article.aspx?id=2003112038200
Does the IMA refer to the electric motor (battery), gas engine or both?
What I'm trying to get at is - When they checked for the IMA, shouldn't they have also checked to make sure the gas meter was reading correctly?
I just want to be informed. Thanks.
As usual, there are no dumb questions - just dumb answers. ;)
The IMA system comprises all the first tier components critical to the operation of the hybrid system. The gas engine (legacy powertrain) is usually not included in the IMA topology, although it can be argued that it should since it is unique enough and different from all other power plants produced by Honda.
Nevertheless, the Hybrid IMA system consists of all the modules that are enclosed by the IPU (sitting behind the rear seat back), the hybrid specific cabling and harnesses, Motor/stator and other minor components and systems that bridge the hybrid to the legacy system. The CVT transmission, MICU, emissions package and PCM are not usually considered part of the IMA system (although exceptions have been made in the past).
It is very unusual for the gas meter to malfunction. In itself, it just reads and displays the numbers provided by the vehicle's ECU. If anything, it would be a system, sensor or the ECU itself that is malfunctioning and proving the erroneous readings. When that happens it is typical for the faulty systems to breach thresholds and generate codes which the technicians can notice and act on.
Cheers;
MSantos
I have a 2003 HCH with 160K miles. Just took it in with the check engine light on... again. They tell me that I need to replace the catalytic converter again. This will be my third replacement. Now they are telling me that there are two cat converters and they should have been replaced in pairs. The car has been a great car, but I'm wondering if it is worth keeping, given this propensity for burning through catalytic converters. Any comments?
Were the cat converters recalled on the 2003 civic hybrid? Is the cat converters part of the engine? I have extended warranty and I'm wondering if its covered.
I have an 03 Civic Hybrid and my IMA light has been on for awhile now. I took it back in October to get it checked out and they said it needed updates, and as some of you have, my IMA light came back on not too long after. I have 117k miles on the car I bought it used with 94k miles on it. I have no warranty on the thing, and according to the Main Honda line the October update was never preformed. In october, also, when I picked the car up they had it under a accord so I am wondering if whatever they did to it they did as an accord. Anyways, my point being, if people can't fix hybrids than they aren't worth it to me. I can't afford to take it to the shop every other month, because of their mistake.
Hi Jaclyn;
I suggest you try another dealer and write to Corporate Honda. Many times Honda will extend warranty coverage and support courtesy for anyone willing to make their case... so I suggest you do so at your earliest convenience and in a way that will get their good-will with the least amount of effort of your part.
Cheers;
MSantos
I have an 03 civic which has left me stranded multiple times. Every time it left me stranded i had just filled up my gas from E to F at the same gas station and about 5-20 miles later my car stalls WHILE IM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY! very scary!...the first time i called AAA and by the time they got out to my car they started it and it didn't have a problem i continued to drive it and fill it up when needed. They said it could have been bad gas. About a month later (2 days ago) i filled my tank up from E to F at the Same gas station and it stalled on me again, this time it had a harder time starting back up and i did end up toeing it to my mechanic (not a honda dealer-i don't trust them). They said that they are driving the car about 15-20 miles and it didni't give them any problems. By this point when i took it to the shop my check engine light was on as well as my maintenance required light. They did a diagnostic test and found something wrong with CODE 30340.
HELP ME PLEASE!
miles on car 74,000
and it is stick shift
Hi Meggan;
I am sorry to hear you don't trust your dealer. Sometimes dealers can really fuddle things up for a customer. With that said, only a "good" dealer can service your car properly, primarily with the help of the HDS station.
However, this is one case where any amount of extra trust you have for your own mechanic may not to give you the answer you seek. And even if your mechanic was a qualified and certified hybrid technician (which I doubt he is) he would still not have access to the information/tools and knowledge base that is often needed to service a Honda hybrid vehicle properly. Sorry, this whole hybrid thing is just out of their league regardless of how good they are as "mechanics".
However, I would check the usual things for that type of car. The EGR valve is typically something worth looking into at this point... and in the absence of a genuine Honda trouble code sequence.
Cheers & Good luck
MSantos
I bought new Honda IMA civic manual in London in Sept 2003 and it has 50K on the clock now. The clutch was was completely worn out to the rivets and therefore replaced at 20K at my expense despite my protests that I drive ever so carefully and do not ride the clutch. The engine fault light came on at 45K and once again they replaced my O2 sensor at my expense. Now the IMA light has come on and the battery apparently is not recharging. They insist on opening the gearbox at my expense and refuse to cover it under warranty notwithstanding that it is a IMA problem which I understand is covered under warranty for 7 years. I am very confused and agitated. I would love some advice on what I should do next.
I need advice! We own an 03 HCH with 150K miles (manual trans) that has been through many of the issues reported: 3 catalytic converters, no A/C, and most recently the IMA battery and A/C compressor need replacing. I have worked well with Honda in terms of getting this last cat. conv. paid for by them (even though it was out of warranty) but have given up on any support from them in terms of the IMA battery after 3 phone calls. I have 2 real problems at this point:
1- How to get the most value for the old car? There's clearly no trade in value for this car but it has a brand-new cat. conv and many other great, valuable components. Two dealers laughed at me when I inquired about even a $500 trade-in value.
2- We also own an 08 HCH that has only 22K miles on it. However, knowing now what we do about the life span on these batteries, I feel there is nothing environmental or sustainable about a car's life expectancy only lasting 150K miles. Of course, we'd be losing some money to trade this in for a used vehicle that has a better reputation for 150-200K+ mileage (we're looking for durability as well as good gas mileage). Do the newer batteries have any better longevity than the originals in the 03 models? My father's 03 IMA battery died within 3 weeks of mine, and my local dealer told me he saw 3 other 03 models come in that same week with the same problem.
thanks for any advice and sorry for the long posting!
Hi Sandi;
The newer batteries are indeed better and are usually installed with a new battery control module which guarantees a much longer and more reliable life. I would definitely consider replacing the battery pack on a 2003 because it would still not cost much more than a transmission overhaul.
If you get a new battery, I suggest you invest some time in learning how to extend its life- it all has to do with driving technique. There's no reason why a new battery won't last the life of the car if you learn to drive it well. With this said, manual transmission models are usually more vulnerable in the battery department because of lugging and heavy use of electric assist. That is why Honda will no longer make hybrids with a manual transmission.
Look, if the car is in good condition (for a 6 year old car) and nothing else needs major repair then it is just a matter of attending to the major items which is still less expensive than purchasing a new car.
But if you consider selling it then check their prices on ebay and other nation wide sellers, local markets are usually very poor unless you live in a major urban center. Ebay alone should give you a pretty good idea how much yours is worth even with a failing battery pack.
Speaking of eBay, you may also locate a used battery pack and install that instead. Many are sold for $900 or less.
Lastly, keep pressing Honda. Do so with persistence but be cordial... and visit alternate dealers for second opinions. Many times the amount of progress depends more on the dealer than anything else.
Cheers;
MSantos
Hi,
I own a 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid equipped with a CVT. It has approximately 141k miles on it. (I live in CA).
Recently the IMA light came on and I took it to the dealer to get it checked out. The dealer indicated that there were 2 problems - IMA System Malfunction (Code 1601) and Battery module deterioration (Code 1447). He quoted a charge of ~$3k to get the problem fixed and install a new battery. He said that since my car was a "ULEV" and not an "SULEV" , it is not covered under the 10yr/150k IMA warranty.
I checked at the Honda web-site and indeed noted that the SULEV is covered for 10yrs/150k miles while the ULEV is only covered for 8yrs/80k miles.
My question is if anyone has had success with getting the warranty coverage for the IMA system for a ULEV '03 HCH? From what I recall, back in 2002 when I bought this '03 Hybrid, they were only one type of HCH that Honda was selling, so I am not sure why they have not extended the warranty to all hybrids...
Btw, the mileage on the HCH has dropped to ~41mpg in the last few weeks (it used to give 44-45mpg before), and the pickup is sluggish. But is pretty much drive-able. And the IMA light has mysteriously disappeared in the last few days..
Any suggestions on next steps?
Thanks,
Rama.
Hi,
I own a 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid equipped with a CVT. It has approximately 95k miles. Until Last week everything was fine. I was out of station and my Vehicle was untouched for a Week. Today i was back and when I started, I saw IMA Battery showed full Charge and got discharged within few seconds and Check Engine and IMA Light is ON. When i stop during drive, Battery symbol light gets ON and when I accelerate it goes off.
I am thinking due to a Week time of non driving, IMA battery got discharged and now not getting Charged back.
I haven't checked with Dealer yet, because it was late today to check with them.
Any Suggestions before going to dealer?
Would driving with this indications cause further any issues?
Is there any Chance IMA battery will start recharging back?
Thanks
Hi all:
My '03 HCH has just experienced the exact problem described above - 91K, no problems to date, but this morning, after 5 days parked, the CEL, IMA & battery indicators are on. Took the car directly to the dealer this morning and was told the IMA battery has failed, requires replacement.
I'll have to consider whether replacing is worth the cost (and thanks for all the informative posts in this regard). I'm also curious - what are the potential risks / harm to vehicle & driver from operating the car without a functioning IMA?
Thanks.
Now, I'm feeling fortunate to have had no unusual maintenance issues, since I, too, have a 2003 Honda Civic hybrid. With almost 120,000 miles, I have the same question as the previous commenter. Since the car can run on gas, is it absolutely necessary to replace the IMA? It's obvious from my most recent experience, that the car continued for miles, with the engine light on, after it had just had a computer up-date, and I was told that it might need a new Knox cell (?). Please explain the function of the Knox cell and if the car can run safely without the IMA. Thank you.
My 2003 HCH has 175k on it. The IMA light came on today. The battery pack appears to be charging just fine, acceleration is normal, and the mileage is fine (I live in the mountains and it's actually better now than it was this time last year). I brought the car to the shop to swap my summer tires for winter tires two days ago. The shop did a "courtesy" inspection of the car, where they checked fluid levels and the battery charge. Could they have blown something in the electronics with their charge testing? Could the fact that they didn't put the dipstick for the transmission fluid back in all the way (so air and dirt could easily get in) have caused an issue? I'm really not happy about this...
My 2004 HCH has approx. 91K on it. Last night, about halfway into my 3 hour drive home from San Diego, the check engine light and IMA light came on. They both stayed on all the rest of the way home. When I turned on my car this morning to go to work, only the check engine light was on and the IMA light was not. Any idea on what would cause this problem? I am worried about having to deal with the dealer who will mostly likely charge me way more money than needed for this issue. ANy suggestions?
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