HCH II IMA Light Came On

bottomsup · #1 01-25-2010, 02:32 AM

I have a 06 with about 60,000 miles on it. I have been noticing the forced regen issues and general diminished battery performance. Then the IMA light came on several days ago.

So I took it to the dealer and they said an error code P0A7F came up. They said the car needed several updates first. After that they needed to rerun the diagnostics test and if the error still shows up they can order a replacement battery.

First off, I'm concerned about the effect of the software updates. I have heard these updates will protect the battery at the cost of FE. Also, how do I know that these updates will not "mask" the real issue and not return the original error after. If it is a physical issue with the battery, how does a software update fix it?

What should I do?

msirach · #2 01-25-2010, 04:38 AM

It seems that is a battery pack module deterioration code. I'm sure that your car needs the updates, but I doubt that they will cure the pack issue.. You would have the mileage documented by the Honda dealer when the issue first came up. The updates may change the drive characteristics so you may have to relearn the curves.

The warranty is 8 years/80,000 miles so it should come back in before then.

Yes, I would go to the Honda dealer and follow the procedures.

bottomsup · #3 02-01-2010, 02:05 PM

So does the error code P0A7F require a new battery or is it something else and the updates will fix it?

msantos · #4 02-01-2010, 04:04 PM

Hi bottomsup;

The software updates will not provide the ultimate fix but then again as per Honda's own admission the P0A7F does not always indicate a situation where a complete pack replacement is required. Honda has been looking into these issues for the better part of the last two years and have found that the pack replacements that were carried out were premature and not really necessary.

Also, the updated software will do what the original routines should have accomplished which is a more aggressive monitoring of the pack's SoC particularly as it dabbles into the 50% mark.

So, yes, give the software update a shot and that will help condition the modules/cells that are causing the imbalance to be detected. Either way you look at it, you need to software update anyway.

Cheers;

MSantos

bottomsup · #5 02-04-2010, 11:45 PM

Thanks everyone.

It looks like I have to give it a go. I'll be taking in the car this weekend.

rhwinger · #6 02-18-2010, 10:10 AM

Just got the IMA light early this week with 70,000 mi on odo. So I took it to dealer and they told me the battery will need to be replaced and it is on order.

I have noticed that in the last year or so, I could drive 30 miles to work w/o problems. And drive home at the end of the day w/o problems. But, if I started the car at say, lunch and drove a mile or two, returning to parking lot and then left at the end of the day, I would see a big drop in IMA batt SoC when first starting out on the return trip home.

Work will be covered under warranty, so no big for now.

For now.

Thanks,

Bob

Right Lane Cruiser · #7 02-18-2010, 01:03 PM

I hope it is a quick and painless procedure for you, Bob!!

It is fairly unusual to have a failed battery in an HCH-II, isn't it?

Whatever happened to Bottomsup and his issue?

Chuck · #8 02-18-2010, 04:16 PM

Could this be one of the codes that you pull the fuse related to the BCM and disconnect the 12v battery for 30 minutes? It works on the Insight I on some degraded battery pack conditions.

bottomsup · #9 02-18-2010, 04:58 PM

Hi everyone, I'm back with some update.

So the dealer applied four updates - I don't exactly know what they were. They said they re-ran diagnostics and no errors came up after the updates. Lights are off and no more error codes...hmmm. So far I haven't had too much time driving the car since my wife drives it primarily. I don't notice too much of a difference in terms of FE or the way the car drives. I have not noticed the forced regens yet, but again I haven't had too much time with it.

To rhwinger - How did you get them to just replace the battery? Do you know what error code they came up with? I was told that I had to get the updates first and if the error doesn't clear then they can order a battery under warranty.

rhwinger · #10 02-19-2010, 05:42 AM

Bottomsup, I didn't "get them to replace the battery". I just presented the car and the symptoms and let the the service team do what they do best - diagnose & fix the problem. I want to treat them with respect and not come off as a know-it-all and try to unduly influence their actions. In return, they have, as always, treated me very well. (Actually, I was hoping that a firmware flash would clear the problem and that I might get another 10-15K on the original pack). Bottomsup, I don't mean to say you are a know-it-all, but other folks, particularly on other sites, seem to think they know more than the service folks who do their work for a living. And I think this reflects poorly on our community.

I haven't had a deep discussion with the service reps yet - they were short handed and busy. They mentioned that they tried what I understood to be reset or software/firmware update procedures that, in their words, "didn't take". By the time I got the car to the dealer, the IMA light was not lit, but the "Check Engine" light was still on. The check engine light was still on after they performed their diagnosis. Yesterday (Thursday) the check engine light no longer came on. Auto Stop and regen braking now seem to be a bit flaky, especially right after startup. FE seems to be hanging in there, but the SoC seems to take more frequent excursions to the bottom of the display range.

Thanks everyone. So far this has been a painless, but maybe anxious, process.

Bob