I have an '03 hybrid with 110k miles on it. Until earlier in June it has been a great car. I bought in in Jan '06 with 49k on it, absolutely clean as a whistle. I live in a mountainous region, so there are lots of ups and downs on the roads around here. That means lots of charge and discharge cycles on the IMA battery. In early June while on the highway (in a flat area, no less) my IMA warning light came on. According to the gauges, the battery was still holding, accepting, and discharging just fine, and providing boost when needed (contrary to what Honda service reps think). After a few days the light went off. Meantime, my 'check engine' warning light had come on. I took it to the local Honda dealer, where I was told the two were unrelated. The check engine was due to a needed software upgrade, which they did. He said the IMA light was on because the battery needed to be replaced. They quoted me almost $2500 for a battery and labor to install it (YIKES! - there went every penny I'd saved on it being a hybrid - whoosh).

That was the first week of June. Since then it's been fine - no lights. Then a couple of days ago both lights came on again. The check engine light stayed on this time, but the IMA light went out again. Today the service tech says the check engine light is due to the deteriorating IMA battery, and the IMA light specifically says the battery is deteriorating and overheating (two separate codes).

So... the service tech told me the first time I was in that I should call Honda and see if they would at least meet me part of the way on the cost of the replacement. Not only were they not willing to even talk to me about it ("Armen" the customer "service" supervisor at American Honda), he said basically because I don't get my oil changed and my tires rotated at the dealership, they're not interested in talking to me, since they have no idea how I treat my vehicle. I fail to see (nor could Armen explain to me) what tire rotation and oil changes have to do with a maintenance-free IMA battery. Nothing else, not a single thing, has ever gone wrong with the car that would require me to take it in for service. Nothing. So why would I pay them twice as much as everyone else charges for oil and tires? Sorry, I don't have money to flush down the toilet like that. I do my own oil changes, and Sears rotates my tires for free, since I bought them there.

My sister is an adjuster for Geico, so she suggested going through LKQ, a major nation-wide parts dealer. I can get a used battery from them for about $479, plus about $275 for installation at the Honda dealer. As I said, for a Honda remanufactured battery plus installation, we're looking at nearly $2500. The Honda comes with a 3/36 warranty, while the used one doesn't (I think it's 30 days).

Can anyone give me any advice? Frankly, I'm so PO'd at Honda right now for the way Armen treated me (I've been a Honda owner for 25 years, which seemed not the least bit interesting to him), I'm considering just selling the thing and buying a Toyota.

An thoughts appreciated.

Thanks!

Butch

 

Your battery has lasted almost as long as they're expected to. Batteries don't last forever. You should ask Honda for a goodwill replacement with a new one. Don't mess with the used battery, you'll likely be right back where you are now in a few months. I think Toyota has a 7 year warranty on their hybrid batteries. Check up on that and if it's true, point that out to the Honda company.

 

mk is right. most batteries last approx 3 - 5 yrs at most. so you're right at the replacement time. you're right though in that the actual cost savings by going hybrid is offset by the replacement of the batteries.

i also recommend going with new batteries not used ones.

I'd give a call to American Honda and talk to a different supervisor. My experience with them has been positive so far.

 

How hard is the battery to replace on one of those? Labor is expensive.

 

Apparently you need a special tool only available from Honda in order to do the switch-out. Also, there are all kinds of warnings everywhere about not touching any part of it for fear of being electrocuted.

B

 

follow the link, if you have not already, and download the fsm for your year. it might give a more detailed picture of what needs to be done.

 

thats why I dont understand the hype of hybrids. They say that new Smart car made by mercedes needs to have the battery replaced every 10 years and cost approx 10,000 to replace it. thats more then half the cost of the car!!! whats the point?

 

Even figuring gas at $5 or $6 per gallon, the overall life-cycle cost of a hybrid is more than a conventional car. That doesn't mean you shouldn't own one. Many alternative-energy devices make no sense if all you're going to do is compare the dollar cost with old conventional technology.

The voltage in the battery is enough to kill you easily, and there's no way to switch it off. So you'd need to know exactly what you're doing to replace it yourself. I would get the "new" battery and have the dealer install it so its 3/36 warranty will be in force. Honda corporate may be willing to help you out on the price.