What would you pay

asmallsol · 01-18-2012, 10:36 AM

Knowing that there are many people that would be willing to buy a second or third insight, what would you pay for a 2000 Honda Insight, with 117,000 miles, very good condition outside, leather seats inside, with heated seats. Manual transmisssion, original DEAD battery?

I'm on the fence of weather or not to sell it as is, or try and fix it. What I'm debating is weather putting a new battery in for nearly $3,000 would increase the resale value of the car by that amount. With a normal car, if the trans was blown, even if everything else was perfect, that $1000 repair nets maybe $3-5000 to the resale value as no one would even look at something with a blown trans. Is it the same way with insights. If the IMA system is dead, would anyone even look at it?

racer26 · 01-18-2012, 10:51 AM

You are aware that leather/heated seats are NOT a factory option on insights, and thus, whatever is there (while it may be done well) is some form of a kludge.

samwichse · 01-18-2012, 10:53 AM

If I were in the market, I certainly would... since the car is driveable without it, and I'm a do-it-yourselfer.

I would say a new IMA battery will add you about 2k to the value of the car (approximate lowest market cost for a NEW battery being a BetterBattery). Likewise, I would value a car with a BetterBattery more than one of the OEM Honda replacements, which seem to be lasting 1/2 as long as the originals did.

Sam

kennysmith · 01-18-2012, 11:16 AM

I would just look at "completed auctions" at ebay to see what similar cars are selling for (go to advanced search options and click "completed"). I'm sure you would have plenty of us around here that would pay $2000 as is depending on trans, etc. Leather sounds interesting. I've seen a few advertised with leather, but not heated. Your location might make a difference too. My guess is waiting for better battery & hassle probably leaves you better off to sell as is.

**Waynetc** · 01-18-2012, 01:08 PM

You may want to pull the code. A grid charge may be a big help. Where are you at?

asmallsol · 01-18-2012, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waynetc

You may want to pull the code. A grid charge may be a big help. Where are you at?

I'm in the Ann Arbor, Mi Area..

Question to all the gurus for the time being. What is the purpose of the switch under the access panel of the battery. I was going to unplug the three BCM leads to get it to run on ICE only. One I disconnect those wires, should the switch on the battery pack be on or off?

**AClewell** · 01-18-2012, 05:42 PM

I am interested in the car if you decide to sell. What color is it?

I think the switch should be on after you are done disconnecting the BCM.

That should allow the 12v to charge again.

**ddhollon** · 01-19-2012, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asmallsol

What is the purpose of the switch under the access panel of the battery. I was going to unplug the three BCM leads to get it to run on ICE only. One I disconnect those wires, should the switch on the battery pack be on or off?

I have been and currently driving with the three BCM leads disconnected and the switch OFF in mine and it has been charging the 12V battery fine. This is what I was told to do by Ron @ Hybrid-Battery.com however I've seen people do it both ways so it may not matter. However I am not expert and this is just what I am currently running.

d_linehan · 01-22-2012, 11:25 AM

I am in the proces of buying an Insight with a potentially bad IMA and hit is been wrecked, it needs a new hood and and paint work on the doors. The title is a salvage title. It only has 83K. They are asking $2300. So I think that you are in the correct range on that price. I fiture by the time that I get everything fixed, painted and a grid charger I would be at about $6000 not including my wrenching time.

My Question: The seller says that the 12V battery will not hold a charge causing it to "die after a bit". He says that it is probally the althernator but the insight does not have an alternator. Since it has been in storage I am assuming the worst, can a bad IMA cause the 12V system to not charge?

My first challenge is getting the car the 180 miles to my home where I can really work on it. I do not want to pay to have it towed. If the IMA is preventing the 12V battery from charging can I disconnet so as to allow me to drive it home? Is that as easy as turning off the switch in the trunk mentioned earlier?

If that should fix it but it does not then I am going to say that the DC to DC converter is bad. Can anyone tell me how hard those are to change. I would like to change it out at the storage unit where the seller has it or the side of the road where it die on me. A couple bolts?? Or is it hard to access?

Of course I would also check the fuses. I may also just bring some extra charged 12V batteries and see if I can swap them every time it dies. How long do you guys think it would run on a fully charged 12V.

Any help will be apprecated,
Devin

**ddhollon** · 01-22-2012, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d_linehan

I am in the proces of buying an Insight with a potentially bad IMA and hit is been wrecked, it needs a new hood and and paint work on the doors. The title is a salvage title. It only has 83K. They are asking $2300. So I think that you are in the correct range on that price. I fiture by the time that I get everything fixed, painted and a grid charger I would be at about $6000 not including my wrenching time.

IMO this seems a bit high for a salvage title that is wrecked and has a bad IMA battery but maybe not. What year is it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by d_linehan

My Question: The seller says that the 12V battery will not hold a charge causing it to "die after a bit". He says that it is probally the althernator but the insight does not have an alternator. Since it has been in storage I am assuming the worst, can a bad IMA cause the 12V system to not charge?

If the IMA battery is bad then it will not charge unless you unhook the 3 harnesses from the BCM and turn off the main switch. It should then charge the 12V battery fine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by d_linehan

My first challenge is getting the car the 180 miles to my home where I can really work on it. I do not want to pay to have it towed. If the IMA is preventing the 12V battery from charging can I disconnet so as to allow me to drive it home? Is that as easy as turning off the switch in the trunk mentioned earlier?

It is fairly simple to access it there are just a lot of bolts to remove. Just make sure you take a ratchet/socket setup and maybe if you have a cordless drill and socket setup it would make it easier.

Quote:

Originally Posted by d_linehan

Of course I would also check the fuses. I may also just bring some extra charged 12V batteries and see if I can swap them every time it dies. How long do you guys think it would run on a fully charged 12V.

Any help will be apprecated,
Devin

I would bring an extra 12V battery just in case so that if it does die you can swap it and go further for an emergency. But once you disconnected the harness from the BCM and turn off the switch the 12V red charging light should go out and you should be good.