Battery keeps depleting

[GoHuskies]

I've been down in FL for about 2 weeks now. About the whole time I keep having the same problem repeat itself. Goes something like this:

Get in the car after its sat for awhile. At least a couple hours or so - start - head out - then a mile or two later the battery drops down to zero bars. Car then has to regen the battery to about the 7/8 charge mark. Assist doesn't work while accelerating - Like I press the pedal to the floor and no assist. Needless to say the car is a f*cking slow brick during this. Car takes a couple miles to regen - I've normally arrived by then.

- Occurs daily, or multiple times a day.
- Only seems to happen by day (Heat related?)
- Battery depletes redardless of current charge level when I start out.
- I have the SG but the car gives off no codes.

I don't know where any dealers are down here. Not even sure what they'll check or tell me since I know I have no problem codes. This is getting annoying... I have to make several left lane turns and accelerating like the car is dragging 6000 lbs of steel isn't good.

Any ideas?

[stevenvillatoro]

Try this active thread at greenhybrid.com. It sounds similar.

[GoHuskies]

Hmm ... So if I'm reading right I just have live with this... Try and keep the car cooler when parked.. Use AC right away...

F*ck.

And F*ck this stupid humid state. Seriously Orlando is worse than driving in NYC. At least up north you don't have to spend 5 minutes at every light, and you don't get tickets in the mail because omg! You stopped to close to the line on a red light.. Gag...

[quickfit]

bad battery maybe? might just not be able to hold a charge anymore.

[GoHuskies]

Update: For any who care.

Nothing wrong with the car. Dealer confirmed this. of course wether they have the know on how to judge a low volume sales car is questionable....

Otherwise depletion is more certainly heat related. Happened today and yesterday - both sunny, 100+ days. I think I'm gonna do a quick cheap investment in a folding window shade for the rear in addition to the front.

[tdsoup]

Originally Posted by GoHuskies

I've been down in FL for about 2 weeks now. About the whole time I keep having the same problem repeat itself. Goes something like this:

Get in the car after its sat for awhile. At least a couple hours or so - start - head out - then a mile or two later the battery drops down to zero bars. Car then has to regen the battery to about the 7/8 charge mark. Assist doesn't work while accelerating - Like I press the pedal to the floor and no assist. Needless to say the car is a f*cking slow brick during this. Car takes a couple miles to regen - I've normally arrived by then.

- Occurs daily, or multiple times a day.
- Only seems to happen by day (Heat related?)
- Battery depletes redardless of current charge level when I start out.
- I have the SG but the car gives off no codes.

I don't know where any dealers are down here. Not even sure what they'll check or tell me since I know I have no problem codes. This is getting annoying... I have to make several left lane turns and accelerating like the car is dragging 6000 lbs of steel isn't good.

Any ideas?

I had similar issues recently. My axillary battery went dead and would not charge and I think this might have something to do with it. I has 3 years and 2 weeks on mine. Honda parts indicated these have just about a 3 year life, just in time for the warranty to end.

[packratko]

Originally Posted by GoHuskies

Update: For any who care.

Nothing wrong with the car. Dealer confirmed this. of course wether they have the know on how to judge a low volume sales car is questionable....

Otherwise depletion is more certainly heat related. Happened today and yesterday - both sunny, 100+ days. I think I'm gonna do a quick cheap investment in a folding window shade for the rear in addition to the front.

Yea this is a common problem with the hybrid. Over 100F temps kill the battery plus humidity plays a big factor. Not to mention in cold weather it does the same effect.
It makes me hate this car more and more sometimes because its like your running on 3 cylinders once that battery goes to zero and the e.motor is not moving.

unfortunately your best bet is to have the car updated for the battery service, since I believe there are 2 recalls to update the IMA battery software. Also if you even try to sell your car your screwed too since the market is bad, therefore gas is cheap, therefore resale for a hybrid dropped as fast as a prom dress,.... in other words just maintain your car.

If you are in traffic stop and go switch between 2nd and D to get around without killing battery power as much, side effect you burn more gas, but its worth it in the long run.

[DanLexani]

mine does that after it sits a few days.....it bothered me in the beginning but got over it. never got worse.....
i did do some reading about it. one thing i remember finding was something about maybe on cell out of a battery dying. which would initially show bars on the dash but then when the computer would realize it, it would send the system into auto-reg after dropping the bars on the dash......
again to me it is something i got used to, but if it gets any worse then i'll take it in....

[DanLexani]

also what i tend to do is drive it in Second gear the first few streets under cruise control to force it to get a good charge. again my car sits for a few days at a time a lot of times.

[bevhoward]

fwiw, there was a service bulletin (2008) several months ago requesting returning the car for a software update to change the computer's battery charging routine.

Reading the details on why it was required, I declined since, in my estimation, it would probably significantly reduce gas mileage.

I've noticed that it takes around a mile of driving before the system begins any battery charging, so, it would seem that short trips may benefit from the software upgrade.

Beverly Howard

[hairy]

hi guys/gals.

i own a 2006 HCH with 50k on it and i have had the same problems reguarding the IMA when its really hot. it is soooo frustrating. power just drops right off when its hot. not happy. its unsafe.

i also have a new problem with the IMA, battery and engine check light all ON. there is also a flashing D (for drive). the IMA has completly died!

the car is with honda atm.

its really not turning out to be the car i hoped it would be.

al. (australia)

ps. love the site!

[MadGooseXP]

Hate to bump a thread from the second page, but I had this problem as well when it was hot out. I took it in for the TSB fix bevhoward posted, and believe it or not, I didn't see much of a mileage hit after the fix was applied.

I did, however, notice that the battery still behaves like it's completely depleted when there are 4 charge bars left and the A/C is on. I have to completely floor the accelerator to get my car to even keep up with traffic. Extremely annoying when this happens.