Honda Civic Hybrid - Dreaded IMA Battery Light - DIY replace of 12v battery for first Journal Entry

Get the same ODB code reader I use from Amazon here:

We bought the car used in 2011. 12 months and 14k miles later the IMA light has turned on. Panic? Nope, just going to replace the 12v battery with a Costco Kirkland one to start with and go from there. I'll post some videos on our process and findings. Stay tuned...

Initial IMA light at 107k and so far car now has 120k with no reduction in MPG.

[jeffreyedwards]

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

[tsiat]

Wife's just came on for the first time ever on her 2005 HCH. 256K on original battery pack. So, I figure try this since her 12V is old but plan on replacing back unit if needed. Pretty incredible lil car.

[mudarubeid]

This car drive me crazy the only solution for Honda hybrid MIRACLE

[teppichkopf]

Good to hear you've been running just fine too with the IMA light on.

[alancrosby]

I bought a 2003 HCH with about 83k miles on it. The IMA light was on at the time. Driven about 8000 miles since then. My MPG is around 38 so I might have to change the battery out.

[bzkbfan]

Just a note to those plagued with the dreaded “IMA/Check Engine” light combo. I’ve been driving my mom’s 2004 (it’s 2021) Honda Civic hybrid now for a year. Most of the time that dreaded light combo has been on. When I started, the odo it was at 79k. Today, a year later, 110k. All that time getting 40-43 mpg. No drop in economy I can see. I hate to stop driving it - but that warning light combo - comes with a price in my state - it can’t pass inspection. No inspection…means my ride is coming to an end without some very expensive repairs. Interesting to note, the other day I had to go on a hundred mile trip…mid-way through the trip, and for about 30 miles, both IMA and Check Engine lights went off. My wish was that I was closer to home and could have my inspection station give it a 2nd try (my 1st ended in failure). No such luck. I have seen this happen before. Don’t know what the driving interval might be between lights on and lights off…but it might be well over a thousand miles. Once those warning lights go on, they stay on for a l-o-n-g time. Sequence I’ve seen…IMA light first goes out…miles later, the check engine also goes out….both then out…but only for a brief time.

There are many recommended cures for this on YouTube…most of them fairly expensive…if not …really expensive, and for an old car.. Too bad to have to say goodbye to a car that runs well and gets great mileage…but the end is near. Bet the new electric cars of 2021 won’t last this long😉

[kaitzi]

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.

[camilledonovan]

I saw donovanthegreat1 's comment, and wanted to add a similar note. Just as my 2006 Honda Accord Hybrid V6 rolled across the 143, 000 mile mark, my IMA and check engine light came on. It had only come on once last month when I had a dead 12V battery, but disappeared as soon as I replaced the 12 V

[tectorama]

I bought my second hand (three year old) 2010 Civic Hybrid CVT in May 2013, it had about 40, 000 miles on the clock. Not long after, the IMA light started coming on. I told the dealer I bought it from, and they said to see if it comes on again. (One of the advantages of buying from a Honda dealer)
Eventually it was coming on a lot. I took it back to the dealer and they put a new IMA battery in. Didn't cost me anything, as the IMA side has an 8 year warranty.
Other than that I've had no trouble at all with the car. I get around 52mpg on a long run, and about 47mpg around town (UK gallons). Road tax is £10 a year, compared to about £250 that I paid for my Accord. Which did 35mpg at best

[matthewhamlett]

Have an 05 civic hybrid 5 speed with 296, 000 never changed the batteries once and its been on for the past 120, 000 still get 43 mpg city

[DanieClarke]

hey thanks I probably have the same problem as this super cold temp POLAR DIP  just made my IMA battery light come on. I also know the 12 volt battery is almost 4 years old. I will change that and hopefully it will work the same for me. But as you say it will run a long time anyway. Mine is a 2003 Honda civic hybrid with 187k miles on it and I replaced the IMA battery back around 100k miles from Honda for like 2, 000.00 ..

[B-ml]

yep. bought my 2007 honda hybrid new. no probs cept replaced a couple 12 V batteries. at about 150K the IMA light came on but still ran great so no worries. these days, at 215K still runs great. they say the warranty expired at ~150K so, oh well ....

[catnipmouse]

the dreaded IMA light came on for me on Sunday. Tomorrow it will have a new IMA battery - cost $2700, installed.  2003 automatic transmission over 100, 000 miles on it

[teppichkopf]

I think the recall was for 06-08. But if your 12v is dead then it certainly could be not getting charged. But your auto is more complex than my 5 sp and has more software that controls things. I know Honda just sent me a postcard about all Gen 1 (5 sp at least) getting a new firmware update for free. I haven't taken my car in but probably call local Honda dealer to find more details. I think it addresses the IMA light issue I am seeing where it goes on and off about once a week. Worth checking.

[teppichkopf]

If it behaves like mine you'll be fine. My IMA light continues to go on and off every few days. I just reset the CEL once the IMA light goes off. But there has been zero difference in MPG and drive-ability. Auto-stop continues to work fine too. IMA seems to be more stable with cooler winter temps, though. As of today, I've driven over 8, 000 miles since getting the initial IMA light on. So I'm in no hurry to replace the battery pack.

[MisterSilverBug]

my light just came on today, 140, 000 miles. You get better gas mileage then myself. I have the CVT transmission.

[cessers]

My 03 Hybrid has 310, 000 miles and is finally starting to die... gonna miss this car.

[teppichkopf]

No, I still have the IMA light on. But car drives fine and no difference in MPG.

[cessers]

LOL - I do. Yes, found a nice dude in Las Vegas who did the install in about 20 minutes. BAM! Like new!

[donavanthegreat]

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.