Get the same ODB code reader I use from Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EVYGQY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeAS…
Honda Civic Hybrid – Dreaded IMA Battery Light – DIY replace of 12v battery for first Journal Entry
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Good to hear you’ve been running just fine too with the IMA light on.
I have put 40K miles on mine since ima light came on haven’t noticed any difference yet.
It has always done this on my HCH even before the IMA light.
I noticed in my 03 hybrid when the IMA light came, the fan that would come on after I stop the engine didn’t turn on anymore..did that happened to you also?
Well yeah the lights wont show up because you just reset the computer memory
awesome. thanks again for your help.
Suprisingly amazon.com has good prices on car parts. If you aren’t in California or need their CARB standard you can get a Magna catalytic for the Civic Hybrid for $100. Here’s the link to it: amazon.com/gp/product/B001HMJS3A/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001HMJS3A&linkCode=as2&tag=workingformon-20
Thanks. Do you know of any places where I can get the Cat for cheap? All the usual places have it listed around 700-800.
No, if you have a bad catalytic I don’t know of any way around replacing it. Cheaper if you DIY versus taking it to a shop but you still need to buy a new catalytic converter.
Thank you for your reply. I believe the issue with mine is the catalytic converter. The estimated cost to replace this is around $800, which I can’t afford. Is there any way around this that you know of?
Not sure. IMA system is separate from emissions. In some states hybrid cars are exempt from emission testing too. But if you are getting codes for o2 sensor or catalytic then you needs to fix those to reset those codes.
will this be enough to pass an emissions test? I really can’t afford to shell out $3000 to fix the catalytic converter and IMA battery.
Are you sure you are out of warranty? My HCH has a 8year/80k mile warranty on it (I live in Canada). In some American states the warranty is even longer.
Honda Canada is pretty good in replacing the battery once the IMA light comes on.
Let us know how it goes, if you don’t mind!
Cool. If you have any issues with the Auto and IMA light post them here. So far the IMA light and 5 speed haven’t made any difference for me.
auto… first non-manual honda I’ve had….
Thanks for the info. Is yours auto or 5 spd?
not the person you asked, but if you’re looking for averages, I got my 2003 Civic Hybrid in 2006 with 80,000 miles on it. Earlier this year at around 160,000 miles, my IMA light came on.
LOL – I do. Yes, found a nice dude in Las Vegas who did the install in about 20 minutes. BAM! Like new!
Assuming it is the battery then I think for your Gen 2 HCH it is at least $2,000. But your IMA system is different then my Gen 1 version and I don’t know if there could be other issues with an IMA light. Is the CEL light also on? If so, any codes?
Say I have an 07 civic hybrid with the IMA light on. Do you know how much it would cost to get it fixed…. thanks.
Wow, you must have some commute. Did you get the rebuilt IMA battery online? I have looked a little but since our car is driving fine in spite of the IMA light I haven’t really considered the need yet.
23k when I bought it, IMA replaced by Honda at 80k. Everything else (tranny, gas engine, clutch) original.
How many miles did it have when you got it? No IMA issue until now?
5 speed. Found a good price on rebuilt battery pack. I’m going for 400k 🙂
Nice, that’s awesome! Auto or 5 speed?
My 03 Hybrid has 310,000 miles and is finally starting to die… gonna miss this car.
I didn’t see any increase with MPG either with fresh plugs. I think the computer is so smart it just adjusts everything as needed and keeps MPG constant aside from outside temp.
Sure, I’ll let you know after a few tanks. I don’t expect a great increase as I am getting about 46mpg now and we are not even into the real warm weather yet. I have noticed a little better throttle response though.
Wow, lol. I know when I bought my plugs at local store the parts guy thought the 8 plugs was a system type-o in his computer. He just grabbed me 4 and I told him it was indeed 8. Let me know if your MPGs dramatically change with the fresh plugs.
Well, changed what I thought would be the original plugs today…LOL. Took out the back 4 and they were not the stock NGK’s, instead they were DENSO’s…WTF! They looked real bad. They must have been put in somewhere around 70,000. I now have 146,000 on the car. so then I pull the front 4 and they are the stock NGK’s! Which I am quite sure were the originals. Whoever the genius was that put in the DENSO’s did not know there were 4 others to change! Funny thing is the NGK’s looked better!!!
I always liked the VX. Good luck with the plug change. Let me know how the old ones look.
Good luck if you go to your Honda dealer. I don’t trust mine, they just try to sell you services you don’t need. I am going to bet that the plugs won’t look too bad. As I had a 92 civic vx before this and changed out the originals at 200,000 only because of a slight miss at a certain rpm range. Those plugs were really worn down, hardly any of the electrode left. I only use NGK oem’s. It’s my opinion that NGK makes the best plug around. Good luck and keep in touch.
Yeah, that makes sense about the computer. I know mine acts like it does this sometimes too. I need to take it to the Honda dealer and have them check the firmware. I think maybe the latest version will reset the IMA light, but won’t know until they do it. Wow, 150k with original plugs. Wonder how they’ll look.. I just did mine at about 115k and i think they were original and weren’t that worn.
Update on my hybrid…I was driving it yesterday and the auto stop started working again. It wasn’t due to the temperature either as we have had a few warm days here recently. I think maybe the computer just needed some time to reset itself as I had done nothing to the car or batteries other than driving on a long roadtrip a couple days ago. Just thought you might be interested…I also plan to change it’s original plugs sometime around 150,000.
Did not get around to checking the codes before the light went off. According to the IMA Batt. meter it charges fully and works properly.
Did you use a scanner to read the CEL codes? Could be different IMA codes then what my car shows. Otherwise, my autostop still works as expected if temp is above 40, and ECON mode is on, or fan is off. The IMA battery also needs enough charge to restart the motor.
I have the 5 spd.
Do you have auto or 5 speed?
good video man! I am in the same boat. I bought mine used also with 78,000 miles on it. It has run flawlessly til now with 143,000 miles on it the IMA light came on. After 1 week of driving with the IMA light on the IMA light has gone out. The battery pack seems to be charging and discharging normally however I have noticed the auto stop is not functioning. The car won’t shut down at stops. any ideas?
HI i using a tranlator to explain my problem , i have a honda civic hibrid 2006, and the repairman told my battery (ima) was destabilized and generates code battery wear, so then told me I could work Battery Voltage Stabilizer Regulator, but I do not know what to do. What could recommend me?
Wow that’s crazy, glad the video helped!
I had the IMA and check engine light on. The Honda dealer in Newark, Delaware gave me a written estimate for $3128.00 to replace the rear battery under the back seat after paying $95.00 for them to diagnose the malfunction. After watching this video, I checked the battery under the hood and found my positive terminal was loose. I tightened the battery terminal and the lights went out and everything is perfect. Thank you so much for this video post!! It saved me thousands of dollars!!!!!!!
i have a question. my Ima and check engine light came on three days ago. was going to.try this fix, until the car completely died. it died as I was driving it, and then when people came to jump me it wouldnt stay on at all, as if not being able to hold a charge. does this seem more serious? defly an IMA issue and not the 12v?
The CEL light comes on every few weeks for the IMA light issue. But the car drives perfectly normal and has been driven 9,000 miles since I made the above video.
did your check engine light ever com back on with the codes ?
or is it still drivable as is ?
You’re welcome. Good luck in you car search.