Archives

I've had my 2008 HCH-II for 15 days now.

I'm quoting a post from jmelson becuase that sound almost EXACLY like what my car is doing. I say almost, because I can get it up to 7 bars of SoC even with the A/C, though it's not so hot outside anymore and A/C set to about 76, so it's not working all that hard, I think.

I'm getting right at 45mph combined. It got it's first Recal last friday, dropped from 7 bars to 1 bar. Then again on sunday dropped from 6 bars to 1 bar. Today, it dropped from 6 to 3, so not sure it was a real recal. The A/C was running during all these incidents. Which is no different from the first 10 days I drove it, but didn't get recals until day 11.

Prior to this first recal, I have seen it down to 2 bars and it did a force recharge, but I wasn't sure if that was a recal or not. Now as I write this, I'm thinking maybe it was, becuase I remember being at 7 bars just prior to this.

A couple of questions:
1) Since during a recal, it drops to 1 bar, would that confirm that I don't have the latest update? I understand it's not supposed to go below 2 bars with the latest update. Should I go get the update?

2) How often should normal recal occur? I average about 30 miles a day. Not much driving.. Just to work, to school pickup and back home.

Having 2 for sure recals 2 days apart kind of has me worried.

Thanks,
EB

Yes, this may have a LOT to do with it. I got a software update last November that didn't seem to have much effect until I started using the air conditioning. When the A/C is used, it has a horrible effect on state of charge and economy. Last year, I saw no such effect, just a slight reduction in economy, which seemed normal.

This summer, however, the SOC just stayed at 4 bars, so it was impossible to
use SAHM or many other high-mileage techniques, I got almost daily recalibrations, and the mileage dropped to about 42. As soon as it got cool enough to turn off the A/C, the SOC popped back to 6-7, the recals stopped, SAHM was again possible, and I have been getting 56-62 MPG on the same commute. I could probably hold it right about 60 if other family members didn't use the car.

I have to think something they did in this software update last year really fouled up battery management when the A/C is used. You might have the same going on on yours.

I will likely be getting the latest update in a couple weeks at the next service.

Jon

I should also mention that I drive on egshells. Light pressure on the throtle, fake shifting to keep iFCD up as much as possible, pulse and glide opportunities present themselves. 45 is the best I can manage over a week's period (approx 300 miles).

The first day I had the car, i drove more like a normal human being (before reading hypermiling techniques here) and got about 38mpg. I havn't reset Trip A since I got the car and it's now up to about 41.5mpg (Trip B shows 45mpg).

I'm going to gas up today and find out my real milage for this tank, then next tank just drive like a human again and see how bad the milage is and how it does with the recals.

After work yesterday, I went straight to the gas station and filled up. Got 44.65mpgs on this last tank combined city highway. That's with using every hypermiling technique I could.

I reset Trip B, then headed home. Ambient temperature was about 85deg. For the first two miles, the SoC steadily dropped 1 bar at a time until it was at 1 bar. (No sudden drops). I will say that it was mostly uphill, but I didn't just 'gun it' up the hill. It hit 1 bar at the top of the hill. Over the next 6 miles (hwy) it got back up to 5 bars and stated there for another 2 miles. Then it dropped back to 4 bars during some city driving. I was at 4 bars when I parked at home. I averaged 32.8mpg.

This morning, when I started it, it was back up to 7 bars and never went below 5 bars on the way to work (a little more downhillish overall this direction). About 6 miles of hwy and 4 miles of city and averaged 40.1mpg. Ambient temperature was about 74deg.

Now that I think about it, all of the recals occurred in the afternoon when it's warmer (highs of 84 to 88 right now in Dallas). So it seems it could be the pack overheating and causing it to crash? If that's the case, it should get better toward winter, but may have many problems next summer.

Is the IMA battery covered by the 5yr/60000 drivetrain warranty? I bought it as a Certified Used Honda with the extended 7yr/100000 drivetrain warranty. Does anyone know if it's also covered under that? It currently has 33k miles on it, so if it is going bad, I'm hoping it will do it before the mfg warranty is out.

I know we generally don't recommend AC use, but it may be a good idea for your HCH (set fairly high so the load isn't too bad but the interior is kept at a reasonable level like 78F or so) to keep the battery temperature in check (if that is the problem). Give that a try this afternoon and see if it helps at all.

Thanks RLC. I don't use the a/c in the mornings when it's cool (below 75deg. I just crack the windows instead), but when it's over 80 outside, I do use the a/c set to 76deg. i'll post how it goes this afternoon. It's supposed to be 82 outside this afternoon.

Have you contacted msantos?

He is a great HCHII resource.

Is the IMA battery covered by the 5yr/60000 drivetrain warranty? I bought it as a Certified Used Honda with the extended 7yr/100000 drivetrain warranty. Does anyone know if it's also covered under that? It currently has 33k miles on it, so if it is going bad, I'm hoping it will do it before the mfg warranty is out.

At least here in Canada our warranty booklet says 8 years for the IMA system, I forget the mileage.

EB,

Having nothing to do with the recals...

I'm so happy to hear about your mileage. I've had mine since April, and am averaging 47. I have gotten as much as 50.
I've tried everything. At points I see my mileage rise, then, doing exactly the same thing, it drops.
I hear about 60mpg and higher and can't see how that can be done with other cars being around and no one wanting to kill me.

I wish I could do better, but I'm glad to hear that someone else is in my range.

Sorry that this is off topic.

Dana