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I’m considering buying a 2005 Civic Hybrid, manual, with 175,000 miles
The good thing is that these older hybrids don’t cost any more than a non-hybrid.
And they get better gas mileage.

Does anyone have any general comments on how good the Civic Hybrid is?

I’ve read that you should have a mechanic check out the hybrids.
What should i ask a mechanic (that knows hybrids) to check?
Can they check the “life remaining” of the battery pack?
Can they check that the “Assist Motor” is working correctly?


I’m not concerned with having a mechanic check standard wear parts, such as the battery, brakes, tires, power steering, I can do that, and can replace them when they go out. I’m more concerned with engine, transmission and battery pack.

How long does the battery pack normally last in these Civics?

Thank you,
Kevin

 
Rep Power: 518

I'd buy one, as long as it's got the manual trans.
I wouldn't want to have the CVT crap out on me in another city and have to pay for it.

I figure I could DIY rebuild a battery pack if it shot craps too.

"What's broken?"

We can't predict the future.
Got obvious issues? Warning lights on?

Yes and no. We aren't supposed to replace packs until there is a failure code specifically for it.

There isn't a lot of info to understand the data that indicates just how close that point might be or exactly how the computers judge the battery condition, and after more than 10 years of this I still don't try to outguess the computers.

I've been in enough of the cars with weak and failed (coded) battery packs to guess when they are shot, but that's it.



It either works or it doesn't. You should be able to tell just by driving it.
A working assist makes the car accelerate like a stock 1.7 engine. If it doesn't work or the IMA battery is weak (low charge which can be OK under some conditions) it will feel like a 1.3 liter engine, slow.



The more they are driven and used, the longer they seem to last. I have seen some of the cars that don't get driven much need IMA batteries at very low mileages.


It's nearing 10 years old. It's anyones guess. Does the current owner know if it's been replaced already?

HTH