Hi everyone - Been a member/lurker for a while and I'm the original owner of a 2000 MT with 67k miles, and I wanted to tell the members here of a good outcome with Honda and my dealership.
I'd noticed the charging indicator making some big swings the last couple of months, so I knew the IMA pack was not long for the world. Earlier this week, the IMA light came on, then the CEL came on. Took the car into the dealer where the car has been serviced for the last 5.5 years - it needed some service anyway - and they diagnosed that the batter pack was DOA. I had the battery pack changed about 3 years ago (the original battery pack lasted more than seven years) at this same dealership. I had the service done (LOF, inspection, front brake pads, brake fluid flush, rotors turned, and transmission fluid changed) and while that was going on, the service director said he'd call Honda to see if they'd provide some help on the battery pack, since the last one didn't really last very long, and the car was now out of warranty.
Well, Honda came back today with an answer - they'll cover 50% of the replacement pack, shipping and labor. It's still expensive (about $1500) but I'm pretty happy with the outcome. What's also nice, is they're going to drive the car around for me to "reset the parameters" I think he called it - so I can get the car smogged next week because the registration is due. He sad they drive it around with a computer tablet that will tell them when things are ready.
I'm chalking-up the short battery life to living in Las Vegas, where it's very hot in the summer, and very cold in the winter - the original battery lasted seven years when I was living in the SF Bay Area where temperatures are not so extreme. After being in LV for not quite three years, the original was toast.
Anyway, thanks for listening - like I said, I check in here now and again, and I completely love my Insight. I also own and race Porsches, and as a pro racer and racing instructor and coach, I drive all manner of exotic stuff, but the Insight is still one of my very favorite cars after all this time. It's fun to arrive at a coaching gig in the Insight and see the looks on people's faces as I dig my equipment - firesuit, helmet, HANS, etc. - out of the back hatch of a 67 hp car.
If anyone has some advice about how to get the battery to last longer given the extreme temperature swings in LV, I'd love to hear it...
brad
__________________
Original owner,
2000 Insight #3046
Well, Honda came back today with an answer - they'll cover 50% of the replacement pack, shipping and labor. It's still expensive (about $1500) but I'm pretty happy with the outcome.
You could have bought a new replacement battery pack containing cells that perform better for $1800 plus shipping. However, you would have been responsible for the labor to change the battery pack (not a big chore, actually). The cells in this battery pack run cooler which could be an advantage in a hot climate. Honda's replacement battery packs are apparently quite old by now and may not have the same life expectancy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by beez
If anyone has some advice about how to get the battery to last longer given the extreme temperature swings in LV, I'd love to hear it...
Having driven only 67k miles in 11 years, your battery packs may have failed due to extreme cell imbalance that can occur when a car isn't driven much (my battery pack failed twice before I had driven 22k miles in 8 years). The IMA battery manager cannot fix this problem, but a custom IMA battery charger/balancer can if used before driving after an Insight has been parked for a few days. It's too soon to tell whether this would help with extreme heat, however.
I live in Phoenix and went through 2 rebuilt batteries this summer. I will be getting my grid charger from Mike D soon, hopping that this charger will keep this new pack healthy when the heat hits next summer. When this pack eventually goes (hopefully in a few years) I'll be getting the better battery from Ron at Hybrid Battery Repair.
You could have bought a new replacement battery pack containing cells that perform better for $1800 plus shipping. However, you would have been responsible for the labor to change the battery pack (not a big chore, actually). The cells in this battery pack run cooler which could be an advantage in a hot climate. Honda's replacement battery packs are apparently quite old by now and may not have the same life expectancy.
Good advice, but unfortunately, one can't easily plan their transportation needs around what looks to me to be a 5-6 week lead time... but I'll be looking into this more...
Quote:
Originally Posted by aisbell
Having driven only 67k miles in 11 years, your battery packs may have failed due to extreme cell imbalance that can occur when a car isn't driven much (my battery pack failed twice before I had driven 22k miles in 8 years). The IMA battery manager cannot fix this problem, but a custom IMA battery charger/balancer can if used before driving after an Insight has been parked for a few days. It's too soon to tell whether this would help with extreme heat, however.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gilbertguy
I live in Phoenix and went through 2 rebuilt batteries this summer. I will be getting my grid charger from Mike D soon, hopping that this charger will keep this new pack healthy when the heat hits next summer. When this pack eventually goes (hopefully in a few years) I'll be getting the better battery from Ron at Hybrid Battery Repair.
I'm also going to be looking into something lke the grid charger to better condition the battery pack.
Thanks for the suggestions,
brad
__________________
Original owner,
2000 Insight #3046
I also own and race Porsches, and as a pro racer and racing instructor and coach, I drive all manner of exotic stuff, but the Insight is still one of my very favorite cars after all this time. It's fun to arrive at a coaching gig in the Insight and see the looks on people's faces as I dig my equipment - firesuit, helmet, HANS, etc. - out of the back hatch of a 67 hp car.
brad
Brad, I'm imagining one of those Visa or Master Card Commercials.
Firesuit check
Helmet check
HANS (i really don't know what that is) check
Unloading form the Honda Insight, and seeing racing students expressions... PRICELESS!!! Haha
Brad, I'm imagining one of those Visa or Master Card Commercials.
Firesuit check
Helmet check
HANS (i really don't know what that is) check
Unloading form the Honda Insight, and seeing racing students expressions... PRICELESS!!! Haha
Hahahahahahaha - thanks... they do have some funny looks on their faces in these instances. I guess they don't expect a racer or racing instructor/coach to care about good gas mileage from their car....
BTW, a HANS device is a racing safety appliance. "HANS" stands for head and neck restraint, or head and neck support. All pro and many amateur race series require them.
Anyway, thanks for listening - like I said, I check in here now and again, and I completely love my Insight. I also own and race Porsches, and as a pro racer and racing instructor and coach, I drive all manner of exotic stuff, but the Insight is still one of my very favorite cars after all this time. It's fun to arrive at a coaching gig in the Insight and see the looks on people's faces as I dig my equipment - firesuit, helmet, HANS, etc. - out of the back hatch of a 67 hp car.
brad
I also race cars, but the Insight is one of my favorite cars. I guess it is the engineer in me coming out. There has never been a production car which was a better optimization of those design constrains affecting fuel economy.
Good advice, but unfortunately, one can't easily plan their transportation needs around what looks to me to be a 5-6 week lead time... but I'll be looking into this more...
You could continue driving your Insight with its bad battery pack as long as the IMA system continues to charge the 12 v. battery (i.e., as long as the 12 v. battery warning light isn't illuminated). But even if the IMA system quits charging the 12 v. battery, you could then unplug the BCM which would result in the IMA motor/generator charging the 12 v. battery. The 12 v. starter motor would then be used to start the engine, so you would need to ensure that the 12 v. battery is strong enough.
In other words, you could continue driving your (even more gutless) Insight until the Better Battery arrives.
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A good IMA battery outcome
Haha
