Any good 1st Gen Insight mechanics in the Los Angeles area?

highways · 12-22-2011, 12:56 PM

Hi- I'm looking for any suggestions on a good mechanic in the Los Angeles area. I think my mechanic is not up to speed on hybrids, especially the 1st generation Insight.

Eli · 12-22-2011, 01:15 PM

It's doubtful there are any.

Patrickmilburn · 12-22-2011, 01:22 PM

What kind of problems are you having with your Insight? We have some good mechanics here on this website! Maybe we can help with your difficulties.

highways · 12-22-2011, 01:34 PM

Well my 2004 1st gen problems are a little tricky. Am hoping to find a mechanic who can do a good general service. I've heard that Hero is good in Costa Mesa, but he's a bit far away.

The maintenance required light has started flashing when I start the car. I need a computer to see what it's trying to say.

And the bigger problem is some type of rattle from the front drivers side. The car is salvage and was hit in the front. I think that something is mechanically loose from maybe the CV joint, axle, IMA motor mount area? Because the rattle is most pronounced when you back off on the throttle (reducing load) then it begins to rattle due to any tiny bumps in the road. Under load (giving it gas) the rattle temporarily stops except on bigger road bumps. It makes a squeaking rattling metal sound. I've owned the car for 9 months, and the previous owner drove it for over a year with this rattle. It doesn't seem to bother anything except your piece of mind. But also I only get 47mpg... and it makes me wonder if one of the IMA motors has trouble, cracked mounting, or something that is reducing it's smooth operation, causing it to kick in and out frequently as it senses load/no load on the wheel improperly. Would like to get it solved... so far no other mechanics could diagnose it.

Eli · 12-22-2011, 01:38 PM

There is only one IMA motor, and it is bolted between the engine and the transmission. It does not work how you're imagining it. The IMA system assists based on engine load.

Is this a CVT or MT Insight?

The rattle may be the catalytic converter heat shield. It could also be the gasket between the catalytic converter and downpipe.

We are your mechanic. Once we advise you what the potential problems are, you can advise your service technician of choice on how to fix the problem so that they do not charge you unnecessarily for services that you don't need, or worse.

highways · 12-22-2011, 01:48 PM

This is a Manual Transmission.

I will check out the catalitic converter possibilities. Though I really think that the noise is either suspension related like a loose strut (although I can't feel anything loose) are something loose in the drive train. Coasting down the road is when it makes the most racket, squeaks and knocks.

Eli · 12-22-2011, 01:51 PM

47MPG is low for a MT then.

What are the overall driving conditions like? City with lots of stop and go? What tires are on the car? What are they inflated to? Any Check Engine Light codes?

It's unlikely that something is loose in the drivetrain if it's been driven in this condition for nearly 2 years. Certainly worth investigating all possibilities though.

aisbell · 12-22-2011, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by highways

The maintenance required light has started flashing when I start the car. I need a computer to see what it's trying to say.

I can eliminate this as a problem. The maintenance required light illuminates automatically when certain mileage points have been reached. It does not indicate any problem; it's just a reminder to performed a scheduled maintenance task. It can be turned off using a procedure outlined in your owner's manual.

Quote:

Originally Posted by highways

And the bigger problem is some type of rattle from the front drivers side. The car is salvage and was hit in the front. I think that something is mechanically loose from maybe the CV joint, axle, IMA motor mount area? Because the rattle is most pronounced when you back off on the throttle (reducing load) then it begins to rattle due to any tiny bumps in the road. Under load (giving it gas) the rattle temporarily stops except on bigger road bumps. It makes a squeaking rattling metal sound.

Rear motor mount failure is common on Insights, so take a look to see if its rubber suspension is cracked.

Quote:

Originally Posted by highways

But also I only get 47mpg... and it makes me wonder if one of the IMA motors has trouble, cracked mounting, or something that is reducing it's smooth operation, causing it to kick in and out frequently as it senses load/no load on the wheel improperly.

If your tires are anything other than 165/65R14 Bridgestone Potenza RE92, your fuel efficiency will be reduced by at least 10%. We'd need to know more about your driving style, typical driving scenarios (hills, stop-and-go, etc.) to make other suggestions.

Patrickmilburn · 12-22-2011, 02:20 PM

Did you purchase your Insight from a guy in Simi Valley within the past 6 months? Is it silver with the driver's fender having been replaced and blue paint underneath as the original color of the fender?

highways · 12-22-2011, 02:55 PM

My driving style... my route to work probably does have a lot to do with the 47mpg. Basically I go 12 miles round trip. A good portion stop and go LA traffic. And the rest is uphill over one of the passes. So the constant uphill and downhill route I think makes the mpg low.

The tires are the correct high pressure Insight tires. Forgeting the brand off the top of my head right now.

Patrickmilburn said- "Did you purchase your Insight from a guy in Simi Valley within the past 6 months? Is it silver with the driver's fender having been replaced and blue paint underneath as the original color of the fender?"

No I didn't... but I may have run into someone who bought this car. It was silver, some wear and tear, semi high mileage. The guy selling it was a marine I think. The guy buying it had it out on a private test drive around Brentwood and asked me to help him look at it. I drove it breifly and noticed the shifting from 5th to 2nd grinding problem indicating a worn syncro.