Toyota's hybrid system has always tried to maintain the SOC at around 70% unlike the Insight's IMA system which will happily charge the IMA battery to 100% or allow it to discharge completely.
I just picked up a new Insight yesterday. The manual in the 2006 says the IMA system will keep the battery between 20 and 80%. Presumably, it won't allow any charge if the battery is at 80% and above or any assist if the battery is at 20% or below. At least that is what the book says. Real life may be different.
Perhaps the replacement modules do this as well.
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'06 Red MT - 5K Miles | 71 LMPG
Thats true as far as the SoC (State of Charge) internal to the IMA batteries go for all Insights (and maybe even further narrowed with the updated control modules).
However, most Insighters discuss IMA SoC in regard to whats showing on the IMA SoC gauge. Which will show 0-100% of _displayed_ SoC. The _true_ range of usage being within the window that you describe.
After having this Service Campaign performed I regret having it done. This forum and others have written about better milage etc. but I find it much more difficult to keep good mpg with the cars desire to go to Assist with just the slight push of the pedal.
Hi Ben,
I posted similar comments a while back when I had my battery and computers replaced. I noticed that the assist was much more willing to kick in, and the charging while braking stopped at a higher speed. I wasn't real happy about the changes, but I was quite happy to have all the new stuff for free, since I'd just bought the car used about 6 months prior and was rapidly approching the 80k mile mark.
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Iggy: 2000 Insight, 5-Speed, A/C, 112k miles -- Holmgren footrest, Armrest King armrest,
IMA battery, BCM & MCM @ 70k, O2 sensor @ 76k, Trans rebuild and clutch @ 94k
Turning on the headlights I know sounds too simple. And the newest MCM / BCM's reportedly (so far) don't appear to respond to this "trick", but that all there is to it
I noticed that the assist was much more willing to kick in, and the charging while braking stopped at a higher speed.
The computer modules intentionally engaging IMA assist and 'delaying' recharging could be part of Honda's strategy to avoid the life of the battery pack being shortened by staying either too fully charged (or too little charged) for long periods. It seems the 'new' behaviors reported by many owners after the module-swap effectively impose some demand on battery assist and gradually restore it - whether optimal for given conditions or not!! Granted, this may be beneficial for the battery in the long term - but it's at the cost of reduced MPG!
After almost the first 1000 miles on my new Insight, I'm starting to discover (at least on routes I travel the most) that there's a 'sweet spot' in either accelerating or coasting where neither the recharge nor the assist gauge is active, and this seems to be a point at which I get my best MPG for a given stretch (usually >75). I've even found this sweet spot achievable climbing out of one nearby canyon (no assist on 35% grade, although not from beginning to end).
I should also note that I drive an MT (not that these comments aren't applicable to the CVT) which might enable me to avoid battery assist a little better.
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Henry Beecher
'06 Sliverstone 5sp
(last MT in CA!)
Honda announced today that this warranty extension now applies to the remainder of states YAY
S.B. 06-057 10/150K on the IMA batteries and updated controllers (if not already equipped)
00-04 Insights - no VIN breaks. VIN look-up eligibility required to verify warranty is still in force (e.g. flood damage cancellation, accident damage "totaled", etc.)
So now just like Canada there is no exclusion "zones"
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Re: Problems After the Recall
I know sounds too simple. And the newest MCM / BCM's reportedly (so far) don't appear to respond to this "trick", but that all there is to it 
