HAH 3 cylinder mode a scam?

My soon-to-be-lemoned 2005 Accord Hybrid had the engine light flashing
again while merging onto the freeway. This time the engine light stayed
on and the 3 cylinder mode was disabled. I reset the trip meter to
check the new milage. It's better. Mixed milage increased from 25 MPG
to 28 MPG with the check engine light on and the ECO mode locked out.
Mileage at a steady 70 MPH remained unchanged at 32 MPG.

Of course this car has serious engine problems. Since its first day it
has stumbled and chugged while idling cold and flashed the engine light
at full throttle. Recently it hasn't been coming out of AUTO STOP
gracefully. The car inches forwards as the engine buzzes along at 250
RPM, then finally starts a second or two later. Getting worse milage in
3-cylinder mode could be unique to this lemon.

Has anyone else gotten better milage with the check engine light on? Is
the 3 cylinder mode more marketing than science?

 

The 3 cylinder mode is used on other cars besides the hybrid including my
2006 Odyssey van. At least under EPA tests it gets a few extra miles per
gallon if the engine has that feature versus the cheaper Odyssey's without
it. My wife has a 2005 HAH and it runs well though she averages only 26
miles per gallon on the parking lot drive to work. More stopped then go.
Consumer Reports says they got 25 mpg in mixed highway/city. Maybe with the
added info of results with the engine light on they might be able to fix
your car.

 

There's no way I'm taking my car in to be fixed again. I'm sure it's
something simple but Honda dealerships don't know how to fix the HAH.
They speak to Honda's tech support through the whole thing. They've
re-calibrated the crankshaft position sensor, applied numerous software
updates, cleaned the throttle body, re-adjusted the intake valves, and
told me over and over that the car is fine. The blinking MIL and
stumbling cold idle never gets fixed, and soon the MIL is on again.
It's time for a buy-back. There's no excuse for a $30K car running so
poorly from day-one. The car has suffered from numerous other problems
too. It's a serious hassle now and it's going to cost me a fortune once
the warranty runs out. I can't even sell it with a MIL that keeps
coming on.

Anyways - Mileage is still 2MPG better in 6 cylinder mode after more
driving. It runs a bit smother than it did before, though still very
poorly compared to other cars.

 

two words: "lemon law". get your money back.