Honda Civic Hybrid 2008 Au - Automatic Hybrid Gearbox problem

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Tue 2 Oct 2018 22:09
Honda Civic Hybrid 2008 Au - Automatic Hybrid Gearbox problem - Babar Akbar

Hi,

This is my first post in this forum and I have little knowledge about cars.

Recently I bought used 2008 Honda civic hybrid automatic transmission. At the time of purchase trader convinced me that it has a drive shaft fault and that's why there is a loud grinding noise from the engine. and this could be fixed for £200 or so with some time investment.
Once I brought the car home, I got it checked from a mechanic who suspected that it is the Gearbox. Requested AA to check the car and they conformed the dreaded news that the noise is for Gearbox and not for the drive shaft. But still no one can say for definite unless they rip open the gearbox.
I only put aside £300 for car repair and now I have been quoted £3000 for the gearbox which I definitely can't afford. Few scrap yards have offered a bit cheaper price of £1500 but I have no idea if I should now trust anyone further.
Can you kindly please advise? Any recommendations/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I am extremely worried and not entirely sure what to do. The car dealer has simply refused to take the car back.

Also, does the Hybrid system fails at the same time. One of the workshop said that the noise can be from the Hybrid system and that is not affordable to repair?
Is it worth going to cheaper scrap yard alternatives which provide 6 month warranty but would still cost £1500, none of them sound very convincing as to if they know what they are doing?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Many thanks
Babar

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Tue 2 Oct 2018 22:50
Honda Civic Hybrid 2008 Au - Automatic Hybrid Gearbox problem - SLO76
When buying a cheap car always remember these three words... keep it simple. Forget turbos, dodge diesels, avoid hybrids and stick instead with good old fashioned simple petrol models, mostly of Japanese design if you want cost effective motoring for less than £5k.

As for buying a complex hybrid from a dealer who told you a loud grinding noise is a simple fix well that was a silly mistake. If it was a cheap fix he’d’ve done it himself. Always remember if there’s a fault they’ve drawn your attention to that they claim is an easy fix they’re lying to you. It’s too costly to put right and the car is effectively a write-off.

You do have some legal protection here as the car must be of merchantable quality and safe to use. However the law will take into account the value and age of the car so if we’re talking about a sub £1,500 banger here then really you’ve lost your money and would be best served by sending it to your nearest auction house to get whatever you can for it. The battle you’d face trying to get your money back is simply not worth the effort and any fly guy dealer pedalling rubbish like this will be wise to all the loopholes anyway.

Don’t waste time battling the dealer, don’t spend a fortune fixing it either. The battery pack will be approaching the end of its life at a decade old anyway and it’s crippilingly expensive to replace. Punt it to auction where someone will buy it without realising what’s wrong with it. After all the dealer you bought it from did. Then go buy a conventional petrol hatch like a Civic, Auris or Mazda 3.

Edited by SLO76 on 02/10/2018 at 22:52

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Tue 2 Oct 2018 23:03
Honda Civic Hybrid 2008 Au - Automatic Hybrid Gearbox problem - gordonbennet

I agree completely with SLO, you could pour endless money at this car and it might never be right, if it has problems in the drive system i believe we had a poster here a while ago who was quoted some £5k to put it right by Honda, though i understand they did eventually fix it under goodwill being only just out of warranty.

Put this one down to experience, and yes that cock and bull story about the cheap fix was just another version of 'aircon needs regas', no it doesn't it needs ££££ throwing at it to fix that's why it's being sold.

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Wed 3 Oct 2018 11:06
Honda Civic Hybrid 2008 Au - Automatic Hybrid Gearbox problem - badbusdriver

Hindsight is a great thing and all, but what you should have been asking yourself is, if the repair is only £200 plus labour, why isn't the garage doing it before selling?

Sadly, i think you are just going to have to write off the value of the car (or at least minus what you will get selling it for parts) and learn from your mistakes. You don't say how much you paid for this, but if on a low budget, as SLO says, don't buy anything complicated.

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Wed 3 Oct 2018 12:34
Honda Civic Hybrid 2008 Au - Automatic Hybrid Gearbox problem - Babar Akbar

Thanks to everyone for your reply.

I paid £2500 for the car. It's an absolute terrible mistake I made. but unfortunately my circumstances don't allow to simply walk away from it.

Can anyone please advise

1. Is it worth trusting a scrap yard side mechanic to fit the used gearbox (which may have the same problem) for £1500 with 6 month warranty?

2. Do the Hybrid systems fail or start failing at the same time?

3. If hybrid battery is an issue, can this still be used as a normal petrol car?

4. Any possible suggestion/recommendation for a mechanic please. There are not many people available who would work on the gearbox of these hybrid cars

5. The trader sold me a 3 month warranty on this car but Warranty Assist policy document say that they would not cover any faults within 30 days which are not sudden and surely this can't be classed as sudden fault.

Apology for the long list of questions and thanks ever so much for your help.

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Wed 3 Oct 2018 14:07
Honda Civic Hybrid 2008 Au - Automatic Hybrid Gearbox problem - jc2

Take it back to the dealer for repair or money back-if no success,SUE!

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Wed 3 Oct 2018 14:31
Honda Civic Hybrid 2008 Au - Automatic Hybrid Gearbox problem - SLO76
“1. Is it worth trusting a scrap yard side mechanic to fit the used gearbox (which may have the same problem) for £1500 with 6 month warranty?”

No. You’ve no idea if it’ll work and whether the fitter has the first clue about how to do the job right. It may work but equally it could be knackered from day one. The used engine and gearbox trade is full of rogues and cheats and any warranty on the box will likely only apply to the part and not the cost of fitting, removing and refitting. It’s not worth the risk.


“2. Do the Hybrid systems fail or start failing at the same time?”


The hybrid running gear is generally very robust. Honda’s CVT gearbox from this era however isn’t and that’s the problem.


“3. If hybrid battery is an issue, can this still be used as a normal petrol car?”

Completely different thing. A hybrid battery pack costs many thousands to replace, a car battery is about fifty quid.


“4. Any possible suggestion/recommendation for a mechanic please. There are not many people available who would work on the gearbox of these hybrid cars”

There are hybrid and gearbox specialists but either will cost a fortune if you do need a gearbox rebuild or replacement, more than the car is worth most likely

“5. The trader sold me a 3 month warranty on this car but Warranty Assist policy document say that they would not cover any faults within 30 days which are not sudden and surely this can't be classed as sudden fault.”

If this is the case then it’s not a spares or repair sale and is a retail car. The dealer is legally obliged to refund you or repair the car but as I said anyone selling junk like this will be prepared to dodge his legal responsibility. You can try a lawyers letter or get the trading standards to take up the case but I wouldn’t want to spend too much chasing it as they’ll likely be running as a marginal limited company and will bankrupt it before paying you a penny.

“Apology for the long list of questions and thanks ever so much for your help.”

We’re all on here because we enjoy helping people with motoring issues or questions. My advice to you is to put it in to your nearest car auction and take whatever you get for it then go buy a conventional petrol hatchback preferably a Toyota, Honda or Mazda.





Edited by SLO76 on 03/10/2018 at 14:45

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Wed 3 Oct 2018 16:36
Honda Civic Hybrid 2008 Au - Automatic Hybrid Gearbox problem - SLO76
“3. If hybrid battery is an issue, can this still be used as a normal petrol car?”

Apologies I misread this. Yes it can but it’s hauling a heavy hybrid drivetrain and battery pack around so it’ll perform badly and be less economical than a conventional car.
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Wed 3 Oct 2018 17:40
Honda Civic Hybrid 2008 Au - Automatic Hybrid Gearbox problem - badbusdriver

Thanks to everyone for your reply.

I paid £2500 for the car. It's an absolute terrible mistake I made. but unfortunately my circumstances don't allow to simply walk away from it.

Can anyone please advise

1. Is it worth trusting a scrap yard side mechanic to fit the used gearbox (which may have the same problem) for £1500 with 6 month warranty?

2. Do the Hybrid systems fail or start failing at the same time?

3. If hybrid battery is an issue, can this still be used as a normal petrol car?

4. Any possible suggestion/recommendation for a mechanic please. There are not many people available who would work on the gearbox of these hybrid cars

5. The trader sold me a 3 month warranty on this car but Warranty Assist policy document say that they would not cover any faults within 30 days which are not sudden and surely this can't be classed as sudden fault.

Apology for the long list of questions and thanks ever so much for your help.

The thing is, if you pay a scrap yard mechanic (which to me sounds like the mother and Father of all bad ideas) £1500 for this and it fails after 6 months, you will be out of pocket by £4k. If however, you spend that £1500 on something like a 1.6 Ford Focus (circa 2007), you will be £2.5k out of pocket, but driving a car which is reliable, cheap to run, and cheap for parts if it needs anything doing, do the maths.

I understand how you feel, but what you are now thinking about doing is akin to digging yourself in deeper, get out while you still can. And finally, what else might be wrong with this car?.

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Thu 4 Oct 2018 00:28
Honda Civic Hybrid 2008 Au - Automatic Hybrid Gearbox problem - Big John

Take it back, the law is on your side (nothing to do with the warranty!) - Where dealer doesn;t respond threaten / take them to small claims court www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money .

Form the AA website:-

Faults, repairs and refunds

Under the new act (,The Consumer Rights Act 2015) if a fault renders the product not of satisfactory quality, not fit for purpose or not as described, then the buyer is entitled to reject it within the first 30 days.

Between 30 days and 6 months

If a fault comes to light after 30 days but before 6 months you’re entitled to a repair, replacement or refund.

It’s assumed in law that the fault was present at the time of purchase unless the seller can prove otherwise.

Unless you’ve agreed otherwise, the seller (dealer) has only one opportunity to repair (or replace) the faulty vehicle after which, if they fail to repair it, you’re entitled to a refund.

In the event of a refund following a failed attempt at repair during the first six months the seller may make a 'reasonable' adjustment to the amount refunded to take account of the use that you’ve had of the vehicle.

After 6 months

The burden is on you to prove that the product was faulty at the time of delivery if you want to pursue a claim for repair or replacement.

Edited by Big John on 04/10/2018 at 00:38

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Thu 4 Oct 2018 07:19
Honda Civic Hybrid 2008 Au - Automatic Hybrid Gearbox problem - SLO76
“Take it back, the law is on your side (nothing to do with the warranty)”
As said, do try this first. They may act and refund you but if they’re selling cars like this to the public it’s more likely they’re used to doing so and getting away with it. I know the type of trader who does this and I’ll wager he’s running as a limited firm with no assets in the pot to claim against. But yes it is your first call. Just don’t waste a fortune on fighting him.

Edited by SLO76 on 04/10/2018 at 07:20

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