CIVIC HYBRID MAINTENANCE SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES BY DAN MARINUCCI The Civic Hybrid’s external appearance isn’t that much different from a conventional Civic—it’s a ‘stealth’ hybrid. Familiarity with the conventional model will stand you in good stead when it comes time to service a hybrid version.

hat comes to mind run through the details you should when I say “Honda know about performing routine mainte- hybrid”? If you im- nance on these Civics. mediately think of First, pull the Civic Hybrid into your the Insight, you’re bay, set up the lift and write down the not alone. The in- odometer reading. Once you’ve taken novative Insight, a two-seat hatchback care of these little preparatory details, introducedW in 1999, was the first regu- remove the key from the ignition switch lar-production hybrid offered in Ameri- and put it in a safe place. This way, the ca. But the Civic Hybrid, which fol- can’t restart while you’re per- lowed in 2003, has become the highest- forming maintenance on the car. The volume hybrid in the company stable. If engine in a 2003-05 Civic Hybrid can a Honda hybrid rolls into your shop, restart automatically in order to odds are it’s going to be a 2003-05 Civic recharge the high-voltage battery.

Hybrid. With that in mind, let’s take a Second, the engine in this hybrid does- Images Wieck Media & Jupiter photos: Harold A. Perry; Photoillustration:

44 November 2008 November 2008 45 CIVIC HYBRID MAINTENANCE SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES Photos: Dan Marinucci Photos: This OEM battery looks strange because it’s considerably The biggest nuisance you may encounter when doing rou- smaller than its hold-down assembly. This is a traditional tine maintenance on 2003-05 Civic Hybrids is this panel lead-acid design and technically, it’s an auxiliary battery. below the engine. You have to remove it to change the oil It operates the car’s 12.00-volt system and is a backup and filter as well as service the CVT . Re- power source for a conventional starter motor. portedly, the panel helps smooth airflow under the car. n’t run as often as one in a conventional 0W-20 motor oil. The more common nology has been the only way to create Civic. When the conditions are right, Honda internal combustion of that particular viscosity. Presently, for instance, this engine may shut off at recent years use 5W-20 viscosity oil. You Exxon/Mobil is the only company I know an intersection to save fuel. Therefore, may find that the 5W-20 oil is much easi- that offers this viscosity; it’s available in you’ll find that throttle housing cleanup er to source than the 0W-20. Some spe- the Mobil1 synthetic line. is still important—not to mention peri- cialists said they just purchase the 0W-20 I recently cited examples of problems odically decarbonizing the engine. by the case from Honda dealers so they caused by people using the wrong viscosi- Third, the internal combustion engine always have it handy. For what it’s worth, ty oil in Toyota’s Prius (see “Prius Hybrid in this first-generation Civic Hybrid takes this 0W-20 is synthetic because this tech- Maintenance Service Opportunities” in

These are the often-cursed retaining “buttons,” or in- The easiest way to remove a splash panel insert is to pull serts, that hold that big plastic splash panel in place un- out its center pin first, then the body of the insert. Any der the engine. The center of the insert is a nail-shaped kind of pliers with narrow, pointed and curved tips plastic pin. Pushing the pin into the center of the insert should give you a good grip on the head of the center pin. spreads the insert’s segments, locking it in place. These happen to be K-D Tools’ Part No. 3728.

46 November 2008 CIVIC HYBRID MAINTENANCE SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

The easiest reinstallation approach may be to hold the For many years, Honda has been recommending 5W-20 splash panel in place, then push the body of the insert oil for the majority of its engines. However, 0W-20 oil is through it and into the hole in the frame. Once you feel specified for all Civic Hybrids. Some shops keep a modest that the insert is seated inside this hole in the frame, lock supply of this uncommon oil handy so they don’t have to it in place by pushing the center pin back through it again. start hunting for it when the need arises. the September 2008 issue). I can’t attest ple buy these cars. Also, experience shows nance with the proper products. So why to any difficulties with switching a Civic that many owners of nonhybrid invite complaints by taking shortcuts? Hybrid over to the more popular 5W-20 already are the kind of motorists who Before I leave the topic of engine oil, oil. However, the engine is really designed monitor fuel consumption very closely; it play it safe by priming the oil filter on for 0W-20. Heavier-viscosity oil can im- would stand to reason that they’d be even that Civic Hybrid. This means filling or pact both cranking speed—particularly in fussier about the Hybrid. So if you want to nearly filling the new filter with fresh oil colder weather—and overall fuel con- risk making a negative impact on this before you install it. This helps the en- sumption. Remember that superior fuel Civic, be my guest. Besides, Civic Hybrid gine reach normal oil pressure quicker economy is one of the main reasons peo- owners will likely pay for proper mainte- after an oil change. Of course, many

Interesting? Honda casts the words ENGINE OIL into the Thankfully, the CVT transmission drain plug looks very dif- pan along with an arrow pointing to the crankcase drain ferent from the crankcase drain plug, so there’s less 3 plug. Meanwhile, always replace that aluminum drain chance of confusing the two. Because it contains a ⁄8-in. 3 plug gasket during every oil change! Overtightening a square hole, a ⁄8-drive ratchet or short breaker bar used gasket is a common cause of damaged oil pans. makes a perfect R&R tool for a transmission fluid service.

48 November 2008 The safest approach to CVT service is using the latest OEM The CVT trans fill plug isn’t difficult to find, but you have fluid (Part No. 08200-9006), which is also suitable for previ- to climb over the engine’s air filter housing and look ous Honda CVT transmissions. Using the wrong fluid can down into the gap to see it. The fill plug, which has the cause transmission roughness and shuddering. A drain & letters ATF cast into its top, has a 17mm hex. refill actually is a diagnostic step for these symptoms. techs habitually prime the oil filter dur- clear the code before you return the car beat the clock on a maintenance job. ing every oil change. According to Hon- to the customer. To prevent a recur- But believe it: No Civic Hybrid owner da, a 2003 Civic Hybrid may set DTC rence of P1021 on another oil change, will find added value in a cracked, loose P1021 (Valve Pause System Stuck On) just remember to prime the oil filter. or flapping splash panel following your on the first restart after an oil change. The fourth detail to mention is to be oil change. That’s because the ECM is detecting patient with the aerodynamic splash Fifth, the continuously variable trans- low oil pressure in the valve train. As- panel located under the engine (see the mission (CVT) requires a specific fluid or suming there were no previous me- photo on page 46, top right). It’s easy to an equivalent lubricant that’s truly equiv- chanical issues with this engine, just butcher this panel if you’re racing to alent. These transmissions aren’t cheap;

Honda hasn’t published a replacement interval for this Carefully sliding a long funnel between the air filter housing trans filter located on the front crossmember. Specialists and firewall simplifies refilling the CVT. A typical drain & refill who maintain lots of these cars said that frequent fluid 1 service takes 3 to 3 ⁄2 quarts. The standard fluid change in- changes with the proper fluid is the single most impor- terval is 30,000 mi. (15,000 mi. for severe-duty service). tant step to take in preserving these expensive trannies.

November 2008 49 CIVIC HYBRID MAINTENANCE SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES it’s another case where proper mainte- nance is the least expensive thing the customer can do for the car. Back in the 1990s, there was one version of CVT- specific trans fluid. Later, Honda autho- rized use of its reformulated fluid (com- monly called ATF Z1) in the CVT. Now there’s a new version of CVT-specific flu- id that’s required for the current CVT trannies and recommended for the earli- er ones as well. Honda’s part number for the current CVT fluid is 08200-9006. Specialists who service lots of Civic Hybrids said they’ve encountered rough- ness, noise and/or shuddering on some CVTs that have been serviced elsewhere. The first thing to suspect, they caution, is incorrect fluid. If you encounter such Resetting the maintenance reminder light on the Civic Hybrid requires no symptoms, try draining the existing fluid special tools. Shut off the ignition switch, then press in the SELECT RESET and refilling the trans with the current knob and hold it. Next, turn the ignition on/engine off. Continue holding the CVT fluid. Then run the vehicle in gear knob in until the MAINT REQ’D light goes out (usually in about 10 seconds). on the lift for a few minutes and follow up with a road test. If the symptoms are The CVT trans has a serviceable filter terval for it; on the other hand, it seems gone, you’re home free. If the symptoms located near the electric fan, on top of sensible to replace the filter periodically. persist, draining and refilling the trans a the crossmember. On the one hand, Certainly, you should replace the filter second time usually fixes the car. Honda hasn’t specified a replacement in- whenever you replace the transmission

Circle #27

50 November 2008 (see the photo on page 46, top left) happens to go dead or you have to dis- connect it for some reason. When you replace or reconnect this battery, the state-of-charge indicator on the instru- ment panel may not work. This indica- tor is a blue segmented bar gauge on the far right side of the instrument panel (see the photo on page 50). If it isn’t responding, start the engine and hold it at 4000 rpm until the state-of- charge indicator works again. Yes, I said 4000 rpm. Finally, I included the simple proce- dure for turning off the Civic Hybrid’s maintenance reminder light, which reads MAINT REQ’D. Furthermore, this “turn-off” technique also applies to This engine is distinctly different from the powerplant in the comparable many other Honda models—Accords, nonhybrid Civic. Among the most noticeable differences is its use of twin Accord hybrids, Civics, CR-Vs, Ele- spark plugs per cylinder—hence eight coil-on-plug assemblies up top. ments, Odysseys and Pilots—you’re now servicing. itself. Regardless, Honda specialists em- Sixth, remember that a dead or dis- phasize that servicing the CVT often connected 12.00-volt battery may This article can be found online at with the proper trans fluid is still your cause a strange symptom on the Civic www.motormagazine.com. top priority for maintaining it correctly. Hybrid. Suppose the auxiliary battery

Circle #28 November 2008 51