Hybrid News

In the morning if it’s cold out the car (03 HCH) will creak over every bump and imperfection in the road, and on tight turns. Kind of like those days when I wake up stiff and take some time to warm up myself.

The sound comes from the front of the car. After a while it goes away — i′d say at least 10 minutes of driving is required. Usually if I drive in the morning it’s only for 5 minutes. Some mornings I’ve let the car warm up but that doesn’t help. On warm days it doesn’t do this at all.

It never did this before this year. Car has 100K miles on it.

Googling turns up bushings and various other suspension things as the culprits. other sites just say it’s fine.

I’m trying to remove the antenna from my 03 Hybrid. I have dropped the headliner, but can’t see any way to remove the antenna. I’ve also looked at it from the top, but I don’t see any screws there either. Any suggestions?

How are foglights installed on a 2003? The dealer said they couldn′t be installed yet I′ve seen mentioned of foglights for a 2003 in various places including kits. Our mechanic took a look and said there wasn′t anything to mount the lights to. Getting foglights would mean not having to drive the other car so much. Thanks!

Hi
I took my 2004 CVT in for its regular maintenance schedule at 130,000 miles.

I also had them check a peculiar, and slowly worsening issue.

Beginning from a complete stop, if any "reasonable" acceleration is applied, a strong "Shutter" or "Judder" and associated vibration and kind of "Groaning" noise.

I could make it go away, but only with extremely light acceleration.

After diagnosing it, they said it is a bad start clutch, which the CVT must be completely dissassembled to replace.

$1300 for the repair including labor.

They submitted a "Good will" suggestion to Honda, which they agreed to pay about half which I think is very reasonable. Apparently this repair would have been covered under a Honda service bulletin, but expired 20,000 miles ago.

Just thought I’d mention this repair in case your HCH-1 should develop similar trouble. I’ve had no other trouble with the car since I bought it new in 2004.

This is a 2003 5-speed with 92K miles. Just had a new clutch and transmission bearings put in two weeks ago by a reputable local shop specializing in Hondas.

Any ideas what it could be? I had the software update for the catalytic converter done in 2004. The IMA and engine both seem to work fine, and fuel economy has not been impacted at all.

This is a 2003 5-speed with 92K miles. Just had a new clutch and transmission bearings put in two weeks ago by a reputable local shop specializing in Hondas.

Any ideas what it could be? I had the software update for the catalytic converter done in 2004. The IMA and engine both seem to work fine, and fuel economy has not been impacted at all.

I wanted to share my experience with my recent installation of a Thule T2 Bike rack on a class 1 hitch. When in the collapsed mode, the drag is hardly noticable with maybe a loss of 1-2 mpg. The rack weighs in about 50 lbs. When loaded up is a different story. haven′t gone too far where I could gauge any measurements yet. But if you were thinking about going this route and worried about ground clearance like I was, rest assured this has plenty of ground clearance and you don′t have to lift the bikes up on the roof rack.
No wind noise or vibration. i live on the worse part of 80 and the shaking is not to bad when traveling over that road.

Hitch View

Loaded with Bikes

Collapsed view

Top view Collapsed to give you an idea of the distance from the trunk.

I bought my 2005 hybrid brand new back in 2005. I’ve never topped 38 mpgs (even on roadtrips). Whenever anyone asked me about a hybrid, I’d always say that the increased gas mileage was eh but the carpool access was definitely worth it.

I stumbled on this forum and discovered that everyone seems to get a lot higher mpgs. Do I have a defective car? Have I had one for the past 3 years and not known it? :omg:

Any advice would be greatly appreciated on how I might be able to get to the bottom of this or even improve my mpgs.:embarass:

Hi, everyone. I have been reading the posts in this and other forums for several weeks and appreciate the contributions of all. However, I have one question that I have yet to find answered. (It was actually previously posted by someone and still unanswered.) Decided to go ahead and register and start posting.

I have a 2003 HCH MT with about 120,000 miles on it that I just recently purchased. As far as I know, it is still on its original IMA battery; I bought the car assuming that I would be soon replacing the IMA battery at a cost of $2,500, but so far it seems to be performing okay.

What am I wondering is this: When I do replace the IMA battery, will its replacement by Honda be some kind of upgrade (i.e. a Gen2 battery, or one used in the HCH II, etc.) that might last longer than those originally put into the vehicle?

Got the NGKs - oem from dealership, they are 18 bucks x 8 - 145 + tax, with no install!! (diy myself)

But I found the densos (which are also oem) for 8 bucks each, which is huge discount.

http://www.partsgeek.com/gbparts/200…ek+Google+Base

just a fyi, so you dont get ripped of like me!!

Was curious to know if anyone has done any custom type modifications to their HCH I?

Whether it be paint, interior, exhuast, suspension, etc it would be nice to see some.

I have not had anything performance parts or upgrades (aside from the software update) of any sort.

Personally I am thinking of getting my interior changed to leather.

Occasional starting problem past 2 months. When turn the key to start it stalls after a split second. Have to give it a little gas to start. It will then hold idle no problem. Took it to dealer today and they checked it over for 2 hours and came up with no solution. Said I need to leave it for at least a day and they will try again. Not sure when I can leave car as my kid is taking it off to college tomorrow.

It is finally time for new brakes on my HCH manual transmission car. 85K miles, regenerative braking really reduces pad wear!

I know with antilock brakes one does not just compress the piston in the calipers for fear of pushing old, dirty fluid back up into the sensitive antilock valving. So bleeding is required.

Is this any different with the Honda ABS system? On other antilock cars I have just opened the bleeder valve and the ABS pump would kick in, pushing out fresh fluid. How do the Civics behave? Any special procedures?

Don′t tell me to go to the dealer, either. I always do brakes and oil changes myself. Cheap and easy.

http://www.hondanews.com/categories/955/releases/4684

Leather, Vehicle Stability Control. Exactly what the doctor ordered.

Has anybody here had a manual transmission problem yet? I just started getting a whining noise in first gear, and it is still there a bit in second gear. I am somewhat familiar with cars in general, and I swear it sounds like a tooth is broken off the input gear or the countershaft gear, making a noise each time the broken tooth goes around.

The car has 80K miles on it, and I changed the transmission oil at 35K, so it has had maintenance. It is a 2003.