I have a 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid. It has 183,000 miles on it. Automatic transmission. I got into a car accident in my other car before I could sell my Honda. It was started occasionally but apparently not enough because now I have to jump start it everytime I wanna drive it. Any thoughts on what it might be? Is it one of the batteries or something else?
Test the batter for voltage with the car off. It should be a little over 12 volts. Test the battery with the car idling, it should be about 14 volts.
If the car sat and was hardly, both batteries are probably drained and/or compromised.
The IMA hybrid system is unique. IIRC, there is also a traditional starter, alongside the hybrid motor.
In theory, you should be able to use the car in non-hybrid mode. So the traditional starter should be able to start the car. I doubt the starter itself is compromised (though it is a distant possibility.)
I would first try working on the 12V battery. Do all the testing as stated by others. If the battery is more than 7 years old, change it out. Don’t even bother trying to salvage it.
If it is relatively new battery, there may be some life left in it. If this is the case, I would try to trickle charge it, if you have a trickle charger on hand. Granted if yiu need to buy a trickle charger, might as well buy a new battery. Lol.
