Drive without the IMA/Battery?

crxgator · 07-14-2010, 10:10 PM

Can the insight be driven without the IMA battery working? If so, for how far?

**MN Driver** · 07-14-2010, 10:58 PM

Without any changes, as long as the 12 volt battery is still good, the car will start off of the 12volt starter and drive until the 12v battery is exhausted, as far as I understand. I think this is the same for the 2nd gen, as long as they have an auxilary starter.

For the 1st Gen you can flip the high voltage pack switch off, pull the BCM connections, and I don't remember if there is anything else that needs to be done and there are a few people who have driven without their pack for quite some time. One other person here got his and it never came with a pack, he was the person who told us what we need to do to get it to work without the pack in the car.

You lose auto stop, regen, the silent high voltage start, dc-dc over 4000 or so RPM, and electric assist with the 1st gen Insight.

For any other Honda hybrid, you can't pull the BCM connections because they are integrated with the MCM instead of being separate which provides power to the DC-DC, so for the Civic Hybrid, Insight 2, and probably the Accord as well, you would lose your DC-DC and would make it until the 12v battery cannot support the cars electronics. I suppose with those cars, either a large supplementary 12v pack that gets grid charged would be a big band-aid to keep the car rolling.

I'm sure someone will chime in on what exactly needs to happen to make it work. I considered buying a car at an amazing price without an IMA light knowing that I could bring it home if I knew what to do but the car was sold when I called the guy or I'd have that car, it was a killer deal due to the circumstance and a good odometer reading too.

crxgator · 07-14-2010, 11:07 PM

that's the reason why i ask. there is a killer deal on one with a bad IMA about 120 miles away, and im trying to pick it up tomorrow.

**MN Driver** · 07-15-2010, 12:42 AM

Put Ron's number in your phone, make sure your tool kit includes a T30 screwdriver because you will need it to get into the battery compartment. My plan was to fly out to the car that I wanted, swing by Wally World(since it is probably the only place that I can reliably find) and grab a tool kit that had sockets and included screw driver bits containg a Torx size T30.

crxgator · 07-15-2010, 09:07 AM

ive decided to rent a trailer, and a friend is going to tow it home. probably the easiest and safest thing to do.

**Hybrid-Battery-Repair** · 07-28-2010, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crxgator

ive decided to rent a trailer, and a friend is going to tow it home. probably the easiest and safest thing to do.

This is probably too late, but after disconnecting the BCM, your range is infinite. It will run as long as you keep putting in gas.

Let me know if you want to fix the battery.

crxgator · 07-30-2010, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hybrid-Battery-Repair

This is probably too late, but after disconnecting the BCM, your range is infinite. It will run as long as you keep putting in gas.

Let me know if you want to fix the battery.

thanks for the info and offer. the battery is getting replaced under warranty on wed.

soulrebel · 08-12-2010, 06:12 PM

I took my IMA battery out, disconnected the BCM, and attempted to drive my insight... it lasted from morning until evening when I turned my headlights on..... then it died.

You think I can trick the DC-DC converter to charge the 12V battery if I put back the battery pack without all the sub-packs in there?

edit: after reading other threads...I think the answer is yes....
going to try it tonight

**Hybrid-Battery-Repair** · 08-17-2010, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soulrebel

I took my IMA battery out, disconnected the BCM, and attempted to drive my insight... it lasted from morning until evening when I turned my headlights on..... then it died.

You think I can trick the DC-DC converter to charge the 12V battery if I put back the battery pack without all the sub-packs in there?

edit: after reading other threads...I think the answer is yes....
going to try it tonight

You have to have the junction board from the battery in the car. It has to connect to the three plugs, the two main power connectors and the orange DC-DC jack (and the ground).

02insight · 08-17-2010, 08:22 PM

i dont know if driving without an IMA battery installed or driving with a bad IMA battery is the same as driving with the IMA switch off.

I have been driving since the last 2 tanks with the IMA switch off, and its been running fine. Very sluggish with A/C on, but fine with A/C off. Starting on the 12v starter every time. Getting about 55mpg city, and 65mpg hwy (a/c on). Occasionally after starting the battery/oil lights are still on indicating no 12v charging, but after driving a bit, they go back off again and drives fine the rest of the way