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1. It May Be Time for New Battery

2. Life with your hybrid Honda had been going
well for several years now.

3. You had been enjoying the expected savings
at the pump and maintenance costs have
been routine and budget-friendly.

4. Then it happened: the IMA light on your
vehicle’s control panel suddenly lit up, like a
bad beacon cutting through your bliss.

5. How Long Does Your Battery Last

6. Don’t panic. That IMA light (integrated
motor assist) is merely reminding you of the
hard fact that your hybrid’s battery does not
last for the lifetime of your vehicle.

7. Honda Insight hybrids, for example, have
been on the road for over a decade now, so
it’s not surprising that to keep your aging
hybrid rolling down the highway; you can
expect to invest in a new battery pack.

8. If your IMA light has indeed turned on, the
first thing you probably want to do is check
for any available warranties that might apply
to your vehicle.

9. Honda, like most hybrid automakers, has
become much more lenient in recent years
as far as covering battery replacement as
long as the IMA light indicates there is a
problem.

10. Several automakers have started to come
out with greatly extended battery warranties
in the past year, with some even providing
lifetime warranties.

11. Is Your Battery Old

12. But if you have racked up quite a number of
miles on your Honda already, or you have an
older model, you are less likely to find help
shouldering the cost.

13. The important thing to watch for when it
comes time to replace your Honda Civic or
Insight battery, is quality of your
replacement.

14. You will be hard-pressed to find a quality
battery replacement for less than about
$2,000.

15. The challenging part is, you can also get
stuck with a battery of dubious quality.

16. Many services offering battery replacement
for your Honda hybrid will actually install
used, refurbished, rebuilt or re-balanced
batteries.

17. Its All About The Battery

18. When it comes time to replace your hybrid’s
battery, either because your IMA light has come
on or you have seen performance deteriorate,
look for battery replacement that guarantees new
cells throughout, not just refurbished parts.

19. Also, look for a service that offers a
warranty for your new battery.

20. Beware of battery replacement services that
won’t guarantee new parts and offer no
warranty.

21. Invest wisely in your hybrid’s continued
years of performance.