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My 2003 HCH quit on me while driving. The engine seems to run normally but drive is like neutral. WHen i change to parking, Drive blinks but the car will not move. First dealer told me it might transmission ot fly wheel drive. Second dealer says the car has no fly wheel drive and is still diagnosing it.
Does anyone know if it has a flywheel drive and/ or what the problem might be...
Thanks.
i've made many posts on this forum about the declining quality of my 2003 HCH. Since i bought it it's been slowly breaking down. first i needed a burnish at 60k, a few weeks after i purchased the car. then again about 10 k later. and again 10k after that as well as new starter clutch, rebuild transmission. 5k later- now at 86,000- only 6k past the Honda extended warranty and my Drive light also started flashing. The manual says to take it in right away if this happens. I did and they told me they need to replace the transmission control module. this may be the only problem, maybe more, not sure yet. the only dealer that will help me is where i bought it- i guess i'm lucky since it's outside of warranty they don't HAVE to help me, but come ON- they just fixed the damn thing 5k miles ago!!! that is embarrassing to them AND honda i would think!!
as before, i will post an update once repairs have been made- hopefully the P.O.S. will be able to drive all the way to the original dealer before it breaks.
anyways, good luck to all who made the mistake of purchasing this seemingly good investment.
Szamzam- Please post an update as well. of the MANY MANY problems i've had w/the vehicle, i've never had the D light flash, so i am very concerned now, interested to see what is wrong with yours and if it relates- or maybe the light can flash for a few different types of trans problems. but the manual definitely says something about the D light flashing meaning the trans is going...
Page 166 in the 2003 HCH manual explains about the Flashing "D" indicator.
:lemon: :lemon:
they did do the software update- strangely, that was when the battery stopped charging to 100% they tried to blame it on the new software- i am just at my wits end. i have no clue who is just ignorant and who is really lying to me for their own gain. very frustrating!!
when you refilled/replaced the fluid, did you buy the liquid gold "Honda" fluid? If not what did you use instead?
we have the same vehicle... have you read my posts? there may be a lot more you can do before total replacement. what is your millage? read my posts, there are a bunch in this thread about my car and the various things i've tried. it's been 3 years since the problems really started, though i think i'm finally down to kinda thin ice. but maybe there's still a way to get a few more years out of your vehicle.
question for anyone:
are you guys repairing them and then selling them off to unsuspecting people? or trading them in- if so, at Honda or another dealer? Or Are you going to drive your hybrids till the wheels fall off?
i'm thinking i might have to be shady and sell it to someone else once i patch up the trans it makes me sad, but i can't afford to trade it in to a honda dealership for a better car since i'm not done paying for it yet...
my exhaust started making this rumbling noise, not rumble, but like a tinker, as if you put a few pebbles in a tin can and rolled it around. i think the lady on the phone said something about the muffler, but that it wasn't bad enough to worry about yet... of course idk if i should believe that or not.
anyone else with the same noise?? know what it is or how much it costs to fix?? i drive with my radio loud enough so i don't have to hear it (or the vibrating dash board that has plagued the car since i bought it!!!).
good luck everyone- i'm always thinking positive thoughts for all of us who are stuck with these cars.
The manual says the fluid should be drained and refilled, then the car should be driven for a short distance. This process should be repeated 3 times, then drain and refill a final time.
I checked with the Honda Dealer Technician and was told, no they just drain and refill.
Which procedure are you using?
i would trust anyone EXCEPT my honda dealership at this point in time. if that's what the manual says, do it. try to keep your trans good as long as possible, don't let honda f*ck it up and then rip you off to replace the whole trans or worse.
good luck with your car, hopefully the newer ones are made better.
:lemon:
(if you are going to flush it 3 times though, i'd use less expensive fluid for the first 2 times and then put the liquid gold honda fluid in for the final fill up. no point wasting more money on honda stuff than is really necessary!!!)
last advice- find a mechanic who has worked on hybrids. someone you can trust. look good and hard for someone reliable and honest and then say "F YOU HONDA" and never bring it back. just my opinoin- honda lies and does things to ensure that you need more work and will continue coming back with problems. my car has left there with more problems that when i dropped it off before.
i am considering a US Fidelity type of extended warranty- has anyone done this? i feel like it will easily pay for itself. now in addition to needing a new trans i will also need a new exhaust system. i will soon be looking to unload this on an unsuspecting buyer, i am ashamed, but what else is there to do??? i am glad people have united here for support.
please post any info you guys may have on extended warranties (not from honda).
thanks and good luck, as always
what year is your car? bought new or used? have you had the trans repaired ever? was it at honda? have you taken the service bulletins in with you?
my conclusion is that my car is [non-permissible content removed] and there's nothing else that can be done by honda- this is b/c of the year and mileage on my vehicle- 2003/87,000
however, until 85k when the warranty ran out i was up honda's [non-permissible content removed] all the time. going once is not enough. you need to print out pages from this website or others, print out the service bulletins you find online, any other proof you have of honda knowing about and fixing this problem for other customers. let them know that you know that they know about it!!! they will reluctantly help you. they have to. if you haven't, read the other posts about the service bulletins posted by honda.
you car will eventually break down completely, no matter what honda does for you- they are made like [non-permissible content removed] and replacing the parts only patches up the problem, BUT you can make it last a lot longer if you pester honda constantly. unfortunately some of the hybrids are just lemons and if you bought it used there's nothing you can do about it. but that's no reason to let them deny you service- at least you can keep patching up the trans until you find someone to buy it or can afford to trade in or buy a new car.
:lemon:
good luck!
the '03 Civic Hybrid is a piece of garbage. I am a maintenance nut...! even though my vehicles are high miles, I have people who buy my used vehicle. I told them not to bother with the HCH. Honda dealers play games with the vehicle to make sure they get your $$$ and keep you coming back for more. Honda America has lost its way. They used to make fine, dependable vehicles. they don't anymore. I will not be purchasing anymore Hondas. One day I'll let you know about my '02 Odyssey. The worst vehicle they ever made. Yes, worse than the '03 HCH. And, I own both of them. I am such a lucky guy. I will be getting rid of my '03 HCH as soon as I can. Not worth it, and the dealers have a field day with them. good luck :lemon: :lemon: :lemon:
My maintenance schedule was maintained.
The vehicle experience:
Warranty service was provided for transmission Judder and Slippage.
2008 Hybrid Battery replaced.
2009 Transmission replaced.
Conclusion: No more Hondas.
Thanks!
Ron
Honda's protocol is to do a burnishing procedure three times, at which point, they will replace the clutch on the transmission (for free) under the recall. But take note: the car has to be under 105K mi and still have the slippage issue after having the three burnishings, or they will not replace it for you.
My car is currently at 98K and is finally eligible for the new clutch. The burnishing procedure worked every time they did it, but the problem kept reoccuring about 3 months later.
This will be a brand new clutch I'm getting (not an old/refurbished one) so it should absolutely clear up the problem.
You've missed the point. The point is Honda has demonstrated {to me} through their handling of the 2003 HCH in America that they do not care enough (about repeat customers) to warrant their business or continued patronage. As a side note, a little research indicates that Honda was forced by the government in Japan to recall and replace transmissions in these vehicles in Japan. It appears they chose not to do that in this country. { nor were they required to do so - too bad for us }
So its not a matter of not having other quality vehicles, I agree with you on that point. But as for me, based on my 2003 HCH experience with Honda, I choose to take my business down the road to either Toyota or Ford going forward.
Signed: A former loyal Honda owner since 1984. +++++ No longer. ++++++++
Honda (both corporate and their dealerships) have been absolutely horrible in their treatment to me for both my '02 odyssey (defective tranny, which they ignore) and my '03 HCH tranny. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER HONDA PRODUCT EVER AGAIN. I WILL ENCOURAGE EVERYONE I KNOW NOT TO BUY ANOTHER HONDA PRODUCT. They have forgotten who made them..!!
They told me that the warranty had been extended to 7 years or 105,000 miles to cover "transmission slippage", but my Mom bought it a few days too late (expired August 9, 2009). They say they will "open a case" and discuss it with her dealership when it is diagnosed (she has to pay for diagnosis). They will get in touch with her in 2 business days to let her know if they will cover any repairs/replacement.
I will keep this forum posted on how they treat her. She always got all maintenance done at the dealer, Sacucci of RI, and trusts them implicitly.
I hope I can report something positive.
I'll keep you posted. Should know by next Friday, August 21, what the diagnosis and decision are.
They did the recall item, burnishing (whatever the hell that is), and had no luck fixing the delay or the grinding. They have ordered the new "star" clutch and will install it soon, a two-day job.
I really hope this works.
I'll keep you all posted.
if you don't have one, you should be posting in a different forum, your problems are not related to these vehicles, you have a totally different car....
the slippage and I guess I need to do this.
I will never buy a Honda again with all the trouble I have had with this car.
So does anyone know how to upgrade the TCM software after burnishment?