How do I identify if a BCM has been updated?
Recently I incurred a P1447 on my used rebuilt title 2004 CVT Insight. I know I know, salvage cars are not covered under warrenty, but the truth is that it is simply a matter of time before MOST Gen 1 Insights won't be covered under warrenty, so I didn't think this is a big deal (though I did not KNOW the battery would not be covered because of the rebuilt title).
Anyway, now that the battery is probably on its last legs, I am struggling with the decision to rebuild my own, have it rebuilt, or buy a battery from Honda. While the Honda battery packs may be "Rebuilt", from what I gather, they simply take used packs (maybe from warrenty returns) as the basis, and then put in BRAND NEW cells. Based on all I have read about how much trouble it is to rebuild a pack using USED batteries, my bet is that with the cost of the labor, Honda simply can do it much cheaper using new cells.
So, if NEW cells can be expected to last 8 year or so (which is what Honda warrenties new cars for), I have to say that I am leaning more and more to just biteing the bullet and buying a NEW battery.
Here is the question though. From what I have read, 2002 through 2006 cars can have the MCM reprogrammed, but that the BCM may need to be replaced with an updated version.
First question.. How can I TELL if the BCM in my car is the latest version? Perhaps somewhere along the line this change has taken place. And if not, perhaps if I know what I am looking for, I can find a USED one that has already been updated and install it myself before going to Honda.
Second, anyone know how much the updated BCM costs? New and/or used prices?
Next, does anyone know exactly what changes they made? If the thing is expensive and Honda won't replace the battery unless I update it, or if they will replace the battery but NOT warrenty it because of the old BCM, that may mean that whatever improvement was substantial and COULD result in the new battery lasting far longer than the original battery would have otherwise lasted. Of course if the unit is horribly expensive and the benefit was not really all that great, I would be tempted to take a risk and just try to get the new battery without the BCM and hope that it would last as long as many first gen Insight batteries lasted even with the original BCM.
So, I know it is a lot of questions, but I sure appreciate anyone's input.
Regards.
|
