Software problems of the 2009 Honda Civic

1. ) taken care car well since purchasing new 2. ) Honda not start in morning 1a. ) no response from car when turn key 3. ) aaa personnel arrived to jump battery 4. ) battery jumped- on spot e-diagnostic check performed 3a. ) diagnostic revealed battery ?drain? 5. ) while being checked with technician engine ?hissed? & car turned off 4a. ) attempted to start car- hard start, hiss and shutdown 6. ) took car to independent mechanic 6a. ) mechanic performed thorough diagnostic check 6b. ) diagnostic check reveal problems could be one/more of following: fuse, wire, battery, computer or computer software. 6c. ) mechanic felt he narrowed to battery, computer and/or computer software 6d. ) battery was changed and car tested. Car performed as should (1/2 day) 6e. ) mechanic advised to listen to car after turning off engine as car still may be running. If engine still running mechanic advised problem deeper than battery 6f. ) mechanic also found problems with engine running too hot/long, freon & coolant being used at high rate. Mechanic refilled freon. 7. ) 2 days after battery change, took key out of ignition, car engine/fans still running 2-3 minutes after 8. ) took car to Honda dealer (where purchased). Dealer mechanic performed diagnostic check. 8a. ) Honda mechanic stated diagnostic check revealed defect with ?whole car? computer software 8b. ) Honda mechanic stated defect caused the engine to have difficulty self-regulating (e. G. Too much/little coolant and freon run higher/hotter in addition to running after key taken out of ignition (as stated earlier)) 8c. ) to patch, Honda mechanic downloaded ?new software? to car computer 8d. ) new software was supposed regulate engine 9. ) following week engine had hard start 10. ) this week (21-25 may 2012) engine not stop after removing key from ignition for several minutes (6e- above).

The integrated motor assist (ima) system in my 2009 Honda Civic hybrid erratically charges and discharges hybrid battery pack, causing serious drivability issues. The problem first developed at about 8000 miles when the original hybrid battery pack failed. Replacement of the hybrid battery pack and numerous attempts to re-program the ima control software have not corrected the problem. It has continued and worsened through the present mileage of about18000. Acceleration continues to be hesitant, jerky, and extremely weak without the hybrid system operating correctly. The car is dangerous to drive on the interstate because the ima system may be charging a low hybrid battery even when acceleration is needed. In those circumstances there is no power available to accelerate the car. This is opposite of the way the ima should work. In addition, gas mileage has dropped from an average of 43 mpg when the car was new to an average of 34 mpg. The vehicle has been into a Honda dealership 7 times over 20 months for work on this problem. The Honda service technicians have described the car as “scary to drive� and stated “i’ve never seen one do that before�. American Honda claims the car is operating as designed and will authorize no further work. With its poor service history, Honda dealers are not interested in taking the car in on trade, leading to a substantial loss of value.