I recently got a great deal on an insight that needs some fixing up. When I purchased the vehicle, the owner informed me that the battery had been changed several times at the dealership. Me, not knowing about ima batteries and such, just figured that she was talking about the regular car battery. Now, after reading several posts about IMA battery life, I am a little worried about mine. I felt like when I drove it home (about 20 miles) that I could not get it completely charged. It seemed to go up and down quite a bit(around the top bars). What would be your next step with this vehicle? It is still under warranty. Kill the Ima & take it back to dealership? I know this is beating a dead dog with similar posts answered... Just thought with 15k miles there might be some other input. Thank you all!
I would also disconnect the 12 volt battery for 30 seconds or so. This will reset the computers, and the battery controller will attempt to figure out from scratch the state of charge, it will charge it some, etc. it will take probably 2 to 10 miles for it to settle down.
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2001 Red CVT
19,351 miles lmpg 19.0 as of Oct 7, 2011
Best tank 78.9 MPG, 738.9 miles
Email dave@groe.us
I would also disconnect the 12 volt battery for 30 seconds or so. This will reset the computers, and the battery controller will attempt to figure out from scratch the state of charge, it will charge it some, etc. it will take probably 2 to 10 miles for it to settle down.
When you say the "state of charge" are you referring to the battery bars display? After i reconnect and drive for 10 miles what should I look for pay attention to? I need to find some owners manuals because I am not sure how to read the display other than charge/assist/gas. ect.
I felt like when I drove it home (about 20 miles) that I could not get it completely charged. It seemed to go up and down quite a bit(around the top bars).
That's how it is supposed to act. The battery goes up-and-down as you use it. My 2002 insight never went to full either. It always kept the top battery bar unlit, in order to provide room for recharge braking.
A bad battery (like my 2006) will typically drain to empty in just 1-2 miles of city lights, because it is so old it barely holds a charge. It doesn't sound like your car has that problem. It sounds like the battery is still very close to new (in how it acts).
If you really truly want to see the battery full (correction: 1 bar shy of full) take it on the interstate and drive in 4th gear at 55-60. It will fill up.
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OWN: 61mpg Insight (greenercars.org score: 57)
both blue and silver,
and a 45mpg BeetleTDI (score: 47).
That's how it is supposed to act. The battery goes up-and-down as you use it. My 2002 insight never went to full either. It always kept the top battery bar unlit, in order to provide room for recharge braking.
A bad battery (like my 2006) will typically drain to empty in just 1-2 miles of city lights, because it is so old it barely holds a charge. It doesn't sound like your car has that problem. It sounds like the battery is still very close to new (in how it acts).
If you really truly want to see the battery full (correction: 1 bar shy of full) take it on the interstate and drive in 4th gear at 55-60. It will fill up.
Thank you, that was extremley helpful. I will try that this afternoon.
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Just bought an 05' with 15k original miles! Help!
But you can't beat free, I guess.
