Who still has their original IMA battery?

[moemobile]

Despite the fact that I am probably jinxing myself, I have to ask how many of you out there still have a functioning original IMA battery? So many sad battery stories, any happy ones?

Both my 2000 5sp Insight (120K miles) and my 2003 5sp Civic Hybrid (80K miles) are one previous owner cars with what seems like fully functioning batteries. And yes, I confirmed that the batteries are original.

Both cars are from the dry Colorado Front Range. Meaning that it can be very cold and hot, but dry. I, of course, don't know the previous driving habits of the original owners.

For any who still have their original batts, I'd like to know driving habits, climate, mileage, and anything else you can think of that promotes IMA battery longevity. Now that I moved to the wet east coast, I hope I haven't doomed my batts.

Shannon

[Hitech]

I do, 2006 with 290,000 miles, driven on flat ground in South Florida 216 miles a day (108 miles each way) I drive at 60 mph and there is zero traffic I recently added a Grid charger as I was getting Neg Re-cal's. It now operates like it did when it was new.

[theaveng]

My 2002 did. I barely used the battery, because I did nothing but interstate driving with few stops. People say the battery will lose capacity with age but I never noticed any drop.

[Willie Williford]

Shanon;
How about updating your location? Now on the west coast, might be time for a gathering, the crowds are geting bigger.

theaveng:
Still waiting for a reply to : "what kind of engineer are you"

I'll be meeting Sam, from NM in about two hours as he is on his way to San Diego.
He has a good tail wind from Yuma. 30+ mph
I will meet him at the bottom of the "Mountain Springs Grade" on CA I-8 West.
Any good mileage will be gone by the time we get to the Golden Acorn Casino (sea level to 4200 ft.)

Willie

[theaveng]

What is this? The Inquisition??? Everywhere I go people are harassing me to know what kind of engineer I am.

Fine. Since you're buillying me, I'll tell you. Electrical Engineer, dual degreed, with experience designing naval launchers, tank weapons, and audits/certification testings of airplane actuators, engine speed controls.

[Willie Williford]

That's all we asked....Now that wasn't hard was it?

Meet Sam as scheduled, will write up a post on the "Turbocharged Insight" tread later tonight.

Willie

[joecvt]

I have three Insights of which two of them (bought used) had the battery replaced by the previous owner either by warranty or out of pocket. The first Insight I purchased was used (technically) but had less than five thousand miles on the odometer (4,800 to be precise). That car now has 115K on the odometer and is a 2003 CVT (blue). It has never had a recal to this date (knocking on wood) and the battery appears to still be strong. The other two I bought with much higher mileage on them (originally intended to be used as spare parts in the future). They run great so they are all registered and driven at least twice a week now. Each of those two cars had recals and eventually the IMA code of death recently even after many MCM resets. These batteries as are assumed to be "newerf" than the 2003 model CVT but went out earlier. One car is a nice red 2004 CVT with 195K and then other is a blue 2001 MT with 290K !

Anyway, I attempted a grid charge to save the batteries but before doing so. I just discharged the entire pack using a 40 or 60 watt 120V common hosehold lightbulb while watching the volt meter drop. It took about six hours and I let the voltage drop down to about 75 volts while user load of the light bulb. I wired up a connection in the same way you would do for a grid charger with a small amperage inline fuse. Let the car charge it back up on its own power while resetting the MCM a couple of times, drove it around for an hour or so (no recal or IMA light) then did the process of discharge over again and presto, No more recals or IMA lights yet after two three weeks of driving. Prior to that, a 50 mile drive would make the IMA light go on about 10 times on the red car (resetting each time). I did this to both cars and both seem to be doing great. I needed to get this working because in New Hampshire an IMA light turning on the check engine light is cause for rejection for inspection which is this month of January for all three cars (inspection is in your birthday month).

It seems that a SLOW deep discharge can be a good thing too for the IMA battery pack. I think there is really something to the earlier messages about how a slow controlled discharge ever so often is good for the battery.

JoeCVT ( with an MT model as well )

[theaveng]

Originally Posted by joecvt

I attempted a grid charge to save the batteries but before doing so. I just discharged the entire pack using a 40 or 60 watt 120V common hosehold lightbulb while watching the volt meter drop.

That can be dangerous. It can lead to some of the weaker cells being pushed into reverse voltage.

You say you took the pack downto 75 volts, which is 0.9 V per cell. That is too low even for healthy packs (minimum is 1.0 V for NiMH). In a bad pack, the stronger cells might have read 1.2 while weaker cells read 0.6.

And yes it sucks that a state will fail a car just because the IMA light is on. As long as the exhaust is clean, that's all that should matter. Fortunately my state has an escape clause..... if the fix exceeds $500, and you still fail emissions, then you will be exempted and given a sticker.

[Eli]

Originally Posted by theaveng

That can be dangerous. It can lead to some of the weaker cells being pushed into reverse voltage.

You say you took the pack downto 75 volts, which is 0.9 V per cell. That is too low even for healthy packs (minimum is 1.0 V for NiMH). In a bad pack, the stronger cells might have read 1.2 while weaker cells read 0.6.

And yes it sucks that a state will fail a car just because the IMA light is on. As long as the exhaust is clean, that's all that should matter. Fortunately my state has an escape clause..... if the fix exceeds $500, and you still fail emissions, then you will be exempted and given a sticker.

0.9 * 120 is 108V, not 75V.

0.9V is the minimum NiMH voltage, not 1.0V. 1.0V is the car's minimum voltage.

That said, for once I agree with your sentiment. Discharging an IMA battery to 75V is way, way too low. There were certainly cells reversed, quite possibly for a long time. When I bench discharged my 1 year old at the time Honda rebuilt stock pack, I was horrified when a voltage tap completely reversed(that means 12 cells) while the battery was still well over 108V.

However, the current was low, so it is likely no major permanent damage was done. The generation of hydrogen gasses during the overdischarge recombination cycle will eventually damage the positive electrode if allowed to continue though.

[Willie Williford]

theaveng
I believe you are mistaken about that claim of 500.00 repairs as being exempt now.
If I remember right that was years ago. Now it is if the vehicle is pre 1978 you are exempt.

Could you give a reference to your claim.
I can't find it in any on line CA. Gov. documents.

Willie