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Honda Civic Hybrid

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Comments

  • bbb99bbb99 Member Posts: 58
    Is the 0w-20 oil from honda not the best oil to use? I got it from my dealership for under $3. About this cover you have to take off, what if your car doesn't have this? You can see my drain bolt and filter perfectly under the car. Should I be worried?
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    quote bbb99-"Should I be worried?"-end quote

    If you own a non-hybrid Civic, this cover will not be there - only for Hybrids.

    So if you own a Civic Hybrid, the cover SHOULD be on the car. Did you buy it new or used? Either way, you need to get one from the dealer. The cover helps to make the underside of the car more aerodynamic and assists in achieving high MPG.
  • paul12paul12 Member Posts: 5
    The 0w-20 is fine. It's the OEM. I've just read a lot about people using Mobil 1 synthetic so I thought next time I'd try it but there's no Pep Boys here in Hawaii so I'll be using the dealership 0w-20. I paid 4.59 a quart and that's almost the price of the synthetics here. If Mobil stops making Mobil 1 like someone mentioned that may be my only alternative. I wonder if the 5-30 synthetics wouldn't be OK to use if I had to. Like larsb said the cover is only on the civic hybrid.
  • cablackcablack Member Posts: 45
    Okay, this question involves the 'look' of my HCH, so if this is not of interest to you, please skip to the next post.

    First let me say that I love the HCH and my great winter lifetime mileage of 45.4 and highway mileage over 50 and my 36-38 PSI LRR Bridgestone 381 tires. And I want to save the planet and reduce emissions and all that other good stuff.

    But, for me, the way the stock tires/rims sit on my HCH just isn't exactly how I would like. I would really like the outer edge of the tire to be nearer to flush with the edge of the fenderwell, if you know what I mean. Nothing drastic or showy, just a couple of inches out from where they sit now. I have this aversion to tires that seem to be too far in towards the middle of the car.

    As I see it, my choices are:

    - abandon the LRR tires and rims, and get some wider tires and rims.
    - find a LRR tire that comes in a wider width (perhaps the Michelin Energy?), and get a compatible rim.
    - keep the tires, and get rims that have a zero or positive offset, to make the tires sit a little bit further towards the sides of the car than where they sit today. I don't think rims like that exist for these tires.

    I don't want to make any change that will have a significant impact on my mileage. But, I would like the tires to look a little more palatable to my tastes.

    Any great ideas? Thanks!
  • mistermemisterme Member Posts: 407
    This is what I acutally posted:
    "I keep them inflated to max sidewall cold pressure"

    Max sidewall cold pressure. You shouldn't exceed this pressure on a cold tire.
    The tire is expected to heat up & increase pressure as you drive, that's why you take the reading when it's cold.
  • stevedebistevedebi Member Posts: 4,098
    "This is what I acutally posted:
    "I keep them inflated to max sidewall cold pressure"

    Max sidewall cold pressure. You shouldn't exceed this pressure on a cold tire.
    The tire is expected to heat up & increase pressure as you drive, that's why you take the reading when it's cold."

    nisterme:
    We were referring to post #1171, I think I missed your post.

    #1171 said that the sidewall listed the "absolute maximum" tire pressure, which would be reached when the tire got hot. (I'm paraphrasing, of course).
  • mistermemisterme Member Posts: 407
    Thanks stevedebi.
    None of the posts mentioned the "cold" aspect of checking the tire so I thought I'd toss that in again.

    My Dunlops are rated at 51PSI when cold and my dealer even sets them up for me at that pressure. Once and a while I've dropped them below 40PSI but it just seems like I'm dogging in wet sand. It shows on the FCD as well.
  • jrct9454jrct9454 Member Posts: 2,363
    Any significant change you make here is going to affect your fuel consumption negatively. Period. Slightly wider? One size, maybe? Fine....but wider wheels and more offset are going to show up in the fuel log. Whatever you want...
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    The CEO of Honda has said that the newly redesigned Civic Hybrid for 2006 will have an "even more fuel-efficient IMA system".

    Any guesses or has anyone seen info indicating what actual numbers the "extra efficieny" might turn into? Are we going to be looking at 50+ on EPA ratings for City and Highway, does anyone think?
  • yerth10yerth10 Member Posts: 431
    The 2006 Civic will be lot more exciting as it comes in 4 door versions (2,3,4 & 5 door) and 4 engine versions (gasoline, diesel, cng, hybrid).

    If they offer 5 door hybrid version, then it may challenge Prius because of its extra space. But Honda will never show their product until the launch. So we should wait until Oct-2005 (tentatively).

    Similarly a 5 door cng version will offer more cargo space and make it a practical household vehicle.
  • rfruthrfruth Member Posts: 630
    I'd venture to guess (& sincerely hope) the `06 Civic Hybrid will get at least 60 MPG combined and run very clean thus raising the bar on the Prius and if it comes as a 5 door my lucky day may be here !
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    quote rfruth-"I'd venture to guess (& sincerely hope) the `06 Civic Hybrid will get at least 60 MPG combined and run very clean thus raising the bar on the Prius and if it comes as a 5 door my lucky day may be here!"-end quote

    If that is true, OH MY how they will FLY off the Honda lots !! :)

    I'll certainly be in line to trade in my 2004 manual tranny HCH for a 5-dr hatch Civic Hybrid that EPAs up to 60, you betcha !!

    My fear is that the MPG increase will be smaller than that, and that the hatch will not arrive in the Hybrid form. I would be VERYVERY surprised if they have a hatch Hybrid that gets 60 MPG (60 MPG would be a 25% increase - hard to do !!).
  • xcelxcel Member Posts: 1,025
    Hi All:

    The only Civic’s that AHM has promised for NA to date is a 2-door coupe and 4-door sedan. I can’t say for certain that AHM will not supply the 5-door but from all appearances, we will receive as stated and the Europeans will get the 5-door and the new, all in-house designed 1.5 - 2.0 L iCDTi.

    I don’t know how long these Civic 5-door pics will be available as they have been pulled from some Euro Honda sites but they are out there. I tried to link them directly but the site has some kind of img link block running? I cannot say that I blame them for this scoop.

    http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=333599

    Yes, that is the 5-door.

    In terms of FE, even if Honda gave us the DI - 65:1 lean burn SI-ICE, I don’t see 60 mpg coming from the 06 Civic HCH. The Europeans will get one in the smaller iCDTi but I don’t think we will get to those numbers with the hybrid drivetrain. I see the i-VTEC and electronic throttle control possibly for the LX/EX with maybe 41 - 44 mpg highway but the 06 HCH will remain to be seen what they will offer? More power? Guaranteed. More FE? A touch but I am not holding my breath for a 20% increase over the 05 Manual equipped HCH just yet.

    Good Luck

    Wayne R. Gerdes
  • yerth10yerth10 Member Posts: 431
    60 MPG is too high by any standard.

    From 51/48, it may rise to 55/52 and that is still good. After all current model has CVT and shuts 3 out of 4 cylinders when slowing and there is not much room for improvement unless they make it a Full Hybrid.

    As for the Euro design, its beyond Beautiful and will sell in USA.
  • stevedebistevedebi Member Posts: 4,098
    " The only Civic’s that AHM has promised for NA to date is a 2-door coupe and 4-door sedan. I can’t say for certain that AHM will not supply the 5-door but from all appearances, we will receive as stated and the Europeans will get the 5-door and the new, all in-house designed 1.5 - 2.0 L iCDTi."

    The problem with the Hybrid 5 door is they would have to move the batteries, which are behind the HCH seats, standing vertically.

    If they could have easily moved those batteries they would have already done so, to provide a larger trunk and rear seat pass-through capability.

    Or... maybe they will add these desired features.
  • mistermemisterme Member Posts: 407
    I've heard somewhere that the batteries are located between the rear wheels for improved protection in case of collision.
  • yerth10yerth10 Member Posts: 431
    Dodge Neon - 2006 will have only a 5 Door Hatchback and NO MORE 4 Door Sedan.

    When Dodge can do that, Honda can also introduce 5 Door HB model in USA. Now a days, people want more space. We should see which one wins.
  • midnightcowboymidnightcowboy Member Posts: 1,978
    You have to remember that the Civc is much much more reliable than the Neon. We already know who the winner is. Look at Consumer Reports on user satisfaction the Neon gets a big black dot( very bad), while the Civic gets a red dot ( very good). I think Hatchbacks are coming back and besides the Si (hatchback) Honda will offer other hatchback models. Heck Honda's new smaller line Jazz/Fit will have hatchback models and it is about the size that the Civic used to be 15 years ago before it was supersized!

    Honda is the best!

    MidCow - a new recent Honda owner :)
  • rfruthrfruth Member Posts: 630
    MidCow broke down and bought - don't know what model but I would venture to guess a Si or did he spring for a hybrid, both have the required manual tranny.
  • starlightmicastarlightmica Member Posts: 58
    I'm looking at the upcoming '06 HCH as a possible purchase. Anybody know if Honda will equip their cars, specifically the HCH, with VSA?
  • midnightcowboymidnightcowboy Member Posts: 1,978
    rfruth - No bought a black Accord Coupe 6-speed w/NAV. Put on Borla cat-back exhaust, K & N high flow air filter, sylvania silver-star lights and zainoed it to a deep shiny wet look.

    But you are right the Si and HCH had manual transmissions which was one of my primary requirements.

    I think and still think the HCH is a very fine car.

    YMMV - getting 24.6 first two tanks, mainly highway commuting at 75 mph.

    MidCow
  • Kirstie_HKirstie_H Administrator Posts: 11,242
    A reporter with a major national magazine is looking for a few car shoppers who are in the process of searching for a car and are deliberating between a hybrid and conventional vehicle. He would be interested to talk to people considering the upcoming hybrid Toyota Highlander and/or RX400h.

    We are also looking members who went through similar deliberations but have already made a purchase, including the Ford Escape, Honda Civic, Honda Accord or the Toyota Prius. Please send a brief description of your experience along with your contact information to Kirsten Holguin at kholguin@edmunds.com by Thursday, March 10th.

    MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
    Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
    2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
    Review your vehicle

  • cablackcablack Member Posts: 45
    Anybody here ever add a sunroof to your HCH? I'm curious who you had do the job (dealer or outside vendor), and if you were and are satisfied, and what the effect was on the MPG of the car. Thanks!
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    Earnhardt Honda in Phoenix AZ has an ad in today's paper (March 11 2005) for a 2005 Honda Civic Hybrid manual tranny, sale priced at

    $18,398

    That's a heck of a deal !! If you have been waiting for or wanting a 2005 manual tranny HCH, you would be hard pressed to find a new one priced lower than this.

    PS
    I am not employed by nor affiliated with this dealer. I just like to promote good deals when I see them !!
  • blueiedgodblueiedgod Member Posts: 2,798
    Anybody here ever add a sunroof to your HCH? I'm curious who you had do the job (dealer or outside vendor), and if you were and are satisfied, and what the effect was on the MPG of the car. Thanks!

    Since the sunroof is not an option on Hybrid, even if you get it from the dealer, they will contract it out to someone outside. I have heard good things about Webasto sunroofs. People who had first generation CR-V had them added.
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
    A quick search using the Search Forums feature in the left sidebar will lead you to this topic:

    Moonroofs & Sunroofs: Which are better, factory or aftermarket?
  • mistermemisterme Member Posts: 407
    Your're right, neutral & gravity is great, even better to reboot unless your soc is low.

    But if you do need to acellerate quickly you'll save more fuel doing it down hill or on a level road vs fighting uphill.
  • ssmiles1ssmiles1 Member Posts: 1
    How long is the warranty on the electric/hybrid portion of the Civic? Any idea what the cost of a replacement hybrid battery. I understand from the salesperson that it is under warranty for 8 years (pro-rated?) mileage limitation? Thanks
  • mistermemisterme Member Posts: 407
    Shifting from D to N and N to D causes no damage.

    I belive the Honda Hybrid standard warranty on the engine, drive train, suspension, etc, hybrid parts munus battery is 36K miles or 3 years which ever occurs first, for the battery it is 70K miles or 7 years, which ever occurs first.

    I bought the extended warranty for 70K/7yr drivetrain and 150K/10 year battery.

    I keep try to keep my cars for 10 years, at that time I'll have about 320K miles on my HCH.
    If the battery goes bad I have options.
    1. Buy the OEM battery for around $2K.
    2. Possibly buy a used, guaranteed pack from an alternate supplier
    3. Buy a used, guaranteed pack from a junkyard
    4. Test individual cells and replace as neccessary
    5. Drive the car with slightly less performance.

    If it goes bad sometime after 250K miles I'd likely go with option #5.
  • blueiedgodblueiedgod Member Posts: 2,798
    Shifting from D to N and N to D causes no damage.

    Au contraire, it does no damage when you do it at 0 mph, with the foot on the brake. Doing it at 60 mph will wear out the CVT belts and cones as the rotational velocity differential is the greatest. You may be able to minimise the damage by rev matching. But how many automatic tranny drivers understand a concept of rev matching? Probably only the ones who drove manual and recently switched to auto.

    The damage to the tranny will be similar to redlining the engine in N and then dumping it into D. The rotational velocity differential between the "engine side" and "wheels side" is the greatest.
  • bhill2bhill2 Member Posts: 2,603
    But this illustrates a point. I was able to get 44 MPG overall out of my diesel Rabbit 25 years ago. It wasn't as civilized as a Civic hybrid, but I understand that the new ones are, and may easily be even more economical by now. Not to mention that they are so much simpler, and the technology is so much better tested, that I have to believe that you face fewer potential problems. Time may prove me wrong, but from the perspective of today, and with considerable experience with computers, owning a hybrid vehicle would scare me a little.

    2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])

  • scott31scott31 Member Posts: 292
    With gas prices going up (with no end in sight) I'm considering a Hybrid. I'd really like a manual trans, hence why I'm leaning toward the Civic.

    Few questions for you guys:

    Why did you buy a Civic vs. a Prius?

    If I'm in bumper to bumper traffic, inching along, will the Civic's engine constantly be starting and stopping? The Prius will travel a bit under electric power without restarting the engine.

    Anyone lease a Civic Hybrid? What were the $$ on your deal (if I may ask)

    If I run the AC, the engine will be on all the time on the Civic, right?

    Seems that people on this discussion board are getting mid 40's for MPG. Is that "normal" or outside the norm?

    Thanks!
  • electrictroyelectrictroy Member Posts: 564
    Why is going down a hill at 60 mph...
    - okay in gear
    - but dangerous in neutral?

    I don't see the difference. You still have your brake if you need to suddenly stop.

    troy
  • electrictroyelectrictroy Member Posts: 564
    Toyota keeps the battery between 40-80% full, in order to avoid the damage caused by under-or-overcharging.

    Honda batteries have a top limit of 80%. Good. No overcharging.

    But Honda allows the battery to dip to 20%...typically defined as "empty" in most EVs, cellphones, etcetera. So every time you discharge your Insight or Civic or Accord to 0 bars, you're damaging the battery.

    .

    No wonder Honda has been forced to replace several insight batteries at 90-100,000 miles. Honda made the mistake of allowing the battery to discharge to 20%...thereby damaging it, and prematurely requiring replacement.

    IMHO.

    troy
    Electrical Engineer
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    Honda is a "engineer driven" company. I think they probably know well enough whether or not the Insight/HCH batteries inherent discharge to 20% was or was not damaging.

    IMHO, I disagree that Honda would put that battery on the road, knowing that the discharge would kill the battery......:)

    We must be missing something......I found one thing here that says the full discharge is allowed and "engineered in":

    "The Rechargeable Hybrid Car Battery
    A hybrid car uses a conventional lead acid battery for all the same reasons that a conventional car uses one. But a hybrid car also has a rechargeable battery, which is constructed quite differently. It is what is called a deep cycle battery. The internal construction of the battery allows it to be fully discharged and recharged over and over again."

    From this page:

    http://www.hybridcars.com/battery-comparison.html#hybrid_battery
  • electrictroyelectrictroy Member Posts: 564
    "Honda is a 'engineer driven' company. I think they probably know well enough whether or not the Insight/HCH batteries inherent discharge to 20% was or was not damaging."

    .
    Engineers are human.
    They sometimes make mistakes.
    I've been known to make 1 or 2 myself. ;-)

    Especially when you consider Honda designed the IMA in just 2 years...they didn't take time to do a thorough analysis as Toyota did with their 1997 Prius-Japan (and later 2000 Prius-America).

    No big deal.
    People make mistakes.
    This was just Honda's turn.

    troy

    NOTE: Honda has since fixed the mistake, circa 2004 models and up. They don't discharge below 2 bars (~35%).
  • mistermemisterme Member Posts: 407
    "So every time you discharge your Insight or Civic or Accord to 0 bars, you're damaging the battery"

    A couple of comments about this:
    Do you have a service bulletin to back up this statement?

    a.For nearly all Honda Hybrid drivers, they will never see zero bars of charge.
    b.Even if one manages zero bars, it will not remain there for long. The IMA will not allow it.
    c.The battery indicator is not a volt meter.
    According to my Honda technician, the IMA system routinely runs the battery pack through a series of tests (Voltage, current, operating temp etc) and then displays capacity.
    Larry's post had touched on this.
    c.Two bars lit is not 20% charge. 20 Bars to full would be more like 8%.
    d.Do you have a source to back up Honda's IMA R&D was only 2 years? If I recall the Insight appeard in 2000. If the service bulletin is dated 2004 then battery research would be 4 years + the original R&D time.
    3.Wouldn't the correction be reprogramming a memory chip update and not replacing thousands of vehicle batteries?

    This is the first time I've heard of this.
    Steve,
    Electrical Engineer
  • mistermemisterme Member Posts: 407
    Darn! My editing timer ran out.
    Please let me rephrase #3 (Which should have been "E."):

    3.Wouldn't the correction be reprogramming a memory chip update, subjecting 2003 & earlier cars to a recall?
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    As for the future of the Honda Civic Hybrid, it is getting "long in the tooth" as of today, but is redesigned for new version this fall. The new version is purported to be "more powerful and more fuel efficient" than the current model.

    As for the current model, this past Friday I drove my 2004 manual tranny Civic Hybrid from Phoenix AZ to Tucson AZ, speed limit mostly 75 MPH on the way there, and I drove anywhere from 60-75 mph, mostly around 68 mph. Then once at Tucson, I drove in and around the city for a few more miles over a two day span.

    When I got ready to drive back to Phoenix, I filled up at Sam's Club for the $2.019 price, 3.482 gallons for 195 miles. That comes to 56.00 miles per gallon for that 195 miles.

    So even "long in the tooth" Civic Hybrids are capable of amazing numbers !!!!
  • scott31scott31 Member Posts: 292
    With gas prices going up (with no end in sight) I'm considering a Hybrid. I'd really like a manual trans, hence why I'm leaning toward the Civic.
     
    Few questions for you guys:
     
    Why did you buy a Civic vs. a Prius?
     
    If I'm in bumper to bumper traffic, inching along, will the Civic's engine constantly be starting and stopping? The Prius will travel a bit under electric power without restarting the engine.
     
    Anyone lease a Civic Hybrid? What were the $$ on your deal (if I may ask)
     
    If I run the AC, the engine will be on all the time on the Civic, right?
     
    Seems that people on this discussion board are getting mid 40's for MPG. Is that "normal" or outside the norm?
     
    Thanks!
  • mistermemisterme Member Posts: 407
    "Why did you buy a Civic vs. a Prius?"

    If the hybrid battery goes flat I still drive the car. This was important as my HCH will have about 320,000 miles when I'm done with her.

    "If I run the AC, the engine will be on all the time on the Civic, right? "
    Not neccessarily.
    You can run it on:
    1.Full manual AC mode, AC & engine runs all the time as AutoStop is disabled.
    2.Full Climate control with ECON activated, Engine, blower, everything quits with AutoStop.
    A truly strange experience.
    2.Manual A/C mode with ECON activated enables AutoStop.

    "Seems that people on this discussion board are getting mid 40's for MPG. Is that "normal" or outside the norm? "

    There is no truer statement of "Mileage will vary" than with a hybrid.
    For whatever reason or another some dip into the 30's, some in the upper 50's to mid 60's MPG.
    It all averages out to about 46-47MPG between many owners.
    My average is pushing 59MPG, but is not normal.
  • scott31scott31 Member Posts: 292
    Excellent, thanks. Any others with opinions?
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
    Back to the HCH!

    PF Flyer
    Host
    News & Views, Wagons, & Hybrid Vehicles
  • mrwonderful1mrwonderful1 Member Posts: 2
    Yea, I had an aftermarket moonroof put in my 2004 HCH. It was about $1100 dollars from a reputible aftermarket company here in Las Vegas. It was the only option that I wanted and wasn't available to get. I have been pretty happy with it. I got the extended warranty with the car 8 years/100k miles so i figure I will have the thing for a while and may as well enjoy the sunroof with it. As gas hovers around $2.50, I only fill the car every 3 weeks for about $30.00. I figure my future costs on the car should be small compared to anything else out there.
  • atx_hybridatx_hybrid Member Posts: 9
    Hi all!.
    I got my new 2005 Honda civic Hybrid some 4 or 5 days back.
    I like it very much so far. It is great. I am still learning the
    skills to drive Hybrid car. I have a question to you folks:

    On new HCHybrid, when you PARK the car, turn it off and ready walk away
    from the car, I get some sort of "mild engine roar" beneath
    the hood. I thought it would go away for the past 4 days.
    (The mild sound can be compared to the engine noise when one
    puts the car in "neutral" while the engine is running and presses on the Gas but
    in a mild way!). This noise goes away after few minutes. I have not seen
    it in my other cars I owned or my previous Civic (non-hybrid) which
    I still own. It comes only when I park the car and turn the engine off.

    Any comments? :D
  • mistermemisterme Member Posts: 407
    atx_hybrid,
    The noise you hear for a few minutes is the electric radiator fan, which continues to run for a few minutes after the key is switched to off.
    This is normal.
  • jrct9454jrct9454 Member Posts: 2,363
    ...they are interference engines.

    No, I wouldn't spend 3 minutes worrying about it, at 5k miles or 100k miles. Honda's recommendations [read the manual carefully] are all you need to follow for peace of mind on this topic.

    Sure, chains are generally less hassle, but they too eventually need to be replaced [typical German car experience - somewhere around 120-150k miles], at a generally higher expense.
  • mistermemisterme Member Posts: 407
    HCH does not have a belt. It uses a chain.
    At least according to my dealer's lead mechanic, who is one of the hybrid technicians.
  • crv16crv16 Member Posts: 205
    The Dept. of Energy has been conducting some long term tests of all the various hybrid models. Some fascinating data here:

    http://ev.inel.gov/hev.shtml

    They are testing 4 Civic hybrids, all with CVT transmissions. Two of the four have accumulated under 30k miles. The third has 161k miles, and had a transmission failure at 96k ($2,500 to replace) The fourth has 161k miles as well, and had a transmission failure at 99k miles, and again at 157k miles.

    They are testing 6 Insights, all with CVT transmissions

    Insight 1: Battery pack and controller replaced at 71k, under warranty
    Insight 2: Transmission replacement at 77k miles
    Insight 3: Transmission replacement at 90k miles

    The other three Insights have accumulated under 20k miles, with no problems.

    Bottom line: 5 of the 10 hybrids have accumulated under 30k miles, with no problems. The other 5 however, had substantial and expensive repairs.

    :lemon: :lemon: :lemon: :lemon:
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    No scientifically significant data can be pulled from this study. Thousands upon thousands of these cars on the road in Japan and the USA and Europe.

    5 tranny problems in 420,000 miles - big frickin whoop.

    Buy an extended warranty and fuggedaboutit.
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