Hi - New owner

nickatnite · 05-20-2008, 09:24 PM

Greetings,
Just wanted to introduce myself. I live in Kennewick Wa, and am getting a 2000 Insight (5 speed, Silver of course) this Friday. I am about as wound up as a little kid on Christmas Eve. Just ask my wife, she can't wait till it gets here so I will quit talking about it. I suspect that won't change after I start driving it. I will need a lot of pointers to get me going in the right direction to get good mpg, and have been looking the site over trying to read as much as I can. If you know of threads that have particularlly good techniques, please steer me in that direction.
I look forward to getting to know everyone.

Nick

budomove · 05-20-2008, 09:42 PM

welcome nick, lean burn is the most important thing to learn and master, so search "lean burn" and "sustain lean burn" and "engage lean burn" and you will be well on your way. test drive it for any sort of funky problems like low rpm bucking (egr clogged/broken), and fast battery SOC discharge rates that would point to a potentially bad battery. search "clogged egr", "bucking", "sputtering", "clean egr", "soc" or "state of charge" as well as "recal". acronyms aren't searchable thru the engine, so egr or soc may not come up, but "clogged" or "clean" might. front end squeaks may be cracked rubber lower control arm mounts or deteriorated engine or tranny mount rubber. maybe type in "what to look for".

frank

bagwell · 05-21-2008, 10:12 AM

I'll get you started with some easy MPG tips.

1. coast up to stop signs and red lights (try to use your brakes as little as possible) just get out of the way of SUV's racing up to them.

2. keep speeds at a reasonable level...any car gets a lot better MPG at <55mph rather than 65+.

3. accelerate at moderate levels.

4. look way ahead and anticipate having to stop for traffic or other reasons.

5. check tire pressures weekly and increase to 50psi.

...and congrats on a finding a great car!!

budomove · 05-21-2008, 10:30 AM

high tire pressure makes for uncomfortable driving on bad roads, and makes already crappy suspension worse, so try different pressures out out and see what works for you and your roads. Squeaks became much more prominent on my car after jacking up the tire pressure on the roads between queens and connecticut, but they are some of the worst in the developed world, so you may very well be fine. Also look up "pulse and glide", I find that I can instantaneously get 1-3mpg extra on each glide during my 35 mile commute. like bagwell said, coasting to a stop while in gear shuts off the fuel injectors, and once you get down to 20mph, the engine will cut off completely if you decelarate down in neutral from 20mph to a stop. Just put it back in gear to take it out of auto idle stop, and you'll be on your way again.

bagwell · 05-21-2008, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by budomove

like bagwell said, coasting to a stop while in gear shuts off the fuel injectors, and once you get down to 20mph, the engine will cut off completely if you decelarate down in neutral from 20mph to a stop. Just put it back in gear to take it out of auto idle stop, and you'll be on your way again.

I think autostop mostly occurs at or below 19mph in neutral doesn't it? [along with several other factors....with a/c in ECON mode, engine warmed up, etc]

Mine is finicky about autostop and the speed varies, sometimes 19 sometimes 15 sometimes 10...you get the idea...its not an exact thing - I don't want a new owner to think his car is messed up.

budomove · 05-21-2008, 03:34 PM

yeah, sometimes it doesn't do it at the same speed, and if either the heat or a/c is on it won't auto idle stop (ais), unless you have the climate control set on economy mode.

**Roger Crier** · 05-21-2008, 04:15 PM

Hi Nick,

Welcome aboard! As an Insight owner you are destined to have fun, probably drive a lot slower, and bore people rigid, (look for their eyes glazing over, or if this is the second or third time you have collared them with your latest exploits, they usually just walk away mid sentence). I've had mine a few months and have done 5,000 miles. My suggestions are :-

Before pumping your tyres to whatever you decide to run, check their build date as they could be as old as the car and a bit iffy..... New Bridgestone ones won't break the bank, and they are going to last you about 50,000 miles. I run mine inflated to 55 psi, which seems to have given me a 10% increase in mileage over the 50 psi figures. only fit the original Bridgestone's...
Learn how to remove and re fit the rear wheel skirts. Get someone to show you if need be and NEVER trust a dealer to fit them for you..and try to always double check they are fitted well if they have been disturbed. If they fall off they cost a LOT.
Think about fitting the radiator air blanking mod as it costs nothing and takes only a few minutes. Try using "plastic cardboard" that signs get made from and take care not to scrape the radiator gills when you fit it...
Then think of getting a Scangauge Mk2 so you can monitor your new water temperature with much more accuracy! (plus its tons of other uses..it fits in the radio space cubby in minutes PM me for instructions) then learn how to program it to readout your Lean burn state. This is mainly for posing as lean burn is fairly easy to get if you drive with care.
Read up on Mikes MIMA mod and if you think it will add to your pleasure, not to mention economy figs, order one as soon as you can cos if you dither you may be too late....mine is going to be MIMA number 32 and will get made in a month or two...

Sell your television as you will be on here for the rest of your life!

Have fun with it, and good luck

Rog

red1dr · 05-21-2008, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roger Crier

mine is going to be MIMA number 32 and will get made in a month or two...
Rog

Wait a minute Roger, I have MIMA #32 and NO you cannot have my Insight!!!

**Roger Crier** · 05-21-2008, 06:24 PM

Oops..mine will be MIMA 79. We will never know where I got 32 from

nickatnite · 05-21-2008, 09:00 PM

Awesome group here - I already feel at home. I have sent in my forms for the MIMA to Mike, and people are already glazing over when I show them the pictures of my new car (it arrives Saturday) - I am sure after I actually get it they will run when thye see me coming. I am going to get one of the Dodge decals that says " Yah - It's got a hemi" and put it in my back window. LOL Life is good!

Nick