Ah, I see. So it'll autostop once, until you flip the switch off and on again. Makes sense. Just have to make sure you put the clutch in early that first time.
If the switch is always on, aka there is no switch and you've wired the clutch wires together. The car will start without the clutch pressed(possible safety issue), the car will have no auto-stop since it was 'pressed' when you started the car and never released. You will have no assist, and unless you have one of the final few years, your regen will also be disabled. I did this once when I broke my switch, I really didn't want to have the car doing regen when it was below 20f out all the time until the battery got warm so I just wrapped the wires together as it was too cold to try and solder in a new switch. When it is cold enough the battery will charge until it is absolutely full or until it is warm so you basically have no power, are cruising down the highway at 45mph getting 45mpg while the battery is the vampire causing it all until things warm up. Clutch switch saves you from that.
Folks, you can get the car to AutoStop automatically IF you wire in a relay in series with the clutch switch. Like this: In between the normal clutch switch mod, using the +12v from the brake light switch (when brake is ativated) to power the relay. Use the ground from the clutch switch mod to power the relay (the ground used after the switch so the relay does not activate if the clutch switch is off). Use the normally closed portion of the relay to complete the ground going to the ecm. So in other words: normal mod then right after the switch connection of the wire going back to the ecm, put a relay in place that breaks (opens) the connection when the brake is applied.
This way you get AutoStop every time without touching the switch and you get the added benefit of regen when the brake is applied until the battery is full.
This works great on my 2001 MT.
JoeCVT = Just your average CVT and MT owner
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2003 CVT Blue Insight
Modified version of MIMA_L (with foot pedal)
Automatic warm air intake (all season)
Low Speed Auto Stop (LSAS)
ABS - IMA regen enabler (allows regen during ABS)
Relocated outside temp sensor near mid engine
Cooling fans powered by 12V Solar Panel
2004 CVT Red Insight
Relocated outside temp sensor near mid engine
2001 MT Blue Insight
Relocated outside temp sensor near mid engine
Installed clutch switch with relay for AutoStop
(on the road with 290,000 miles)
Folks, you can get the car to AutoStop automatically IF you wire in a relay in series with the clutch switch. Like this: In between the normal clutch switch mod, using the +12v from the brake light switch (when brake is ativated) to power the relay. Use the ground from the clutch switch mod to power the relay (the ground used after the switch so the relay does not activate if the clutch switch is off). Use the normally closed portion of the relay to complete the ground going to the ecm. So in other words: normal mod then right after the switch connection of the wire going back to the ecm, put a relay in place that breaks (opens) the connection when the brake is applied.
This way you get AutoStop every time without touching the switch and you get the added benefit of regen when the brake is applied until the battery is full.
I was checking the brake and clutch switches on my car to see the best way to connect the switch wires to them.
In order to to check the clutch switch with an ohm meter I used a small ceramic capacitor (any value will do that has stiff leads that can withstand 12 volts) by jamming the leads into the two socket pins on the switch while the clutch switch was still connected to the system (key OFF of course). I then connected the ohm meter probes with clip leads.
When I do the permanent switch mod I plan on just soldering the wires from the new switch to the capacitor leads (place the switch wires close to the capacitor itself), then trimming the leads to length and jamming them into the clutch socket. Next I will tape the capacitor to the original wires and I'm all done. No dripping solder, no messing around stripping wires etc etc.
[edit]
I've come up with a neater way to make connections to either the brake or clutch switches on the car with no soldering at all. Desk top computers use 0.1" spaced connectors for the front panel wiring to the mother board. I use a scrap female connecter with 2 pins for the switch wiring and use 2 pins of a longer single in line strip of male pins that stick out of each side of the plastic header (similar to the in line strip used on the OBDII gage). You can cram the two male pins into the switch connector while it's still connected to the actual switch and then plug the 2 pin front panel connector onto the two pins.
Actually I unplugged the car's connecter from the switch and was able to cram the 2 male pins into the crimped brass part of the connector where it wasn't quite crimped against the insulation of the wires. I didn't even tape the wires against the original wires but you can use tape to hold everything in place.
No problem with the clutch switch on constantly.
(The only DANGER is that the car WILL START in gear with the clutch pedal not being pressed)
On my CRX I like to leave the car in gear at a rail road crossing etc if I turn the engine off with the key. Basically because the car will roll away on the slightest hill if I don't keep my foot on the brake.
My question is, with the Insight clutch switch in the not depressed mode, engine stopped and car in 1st gear, will the engine start in the HV start mode if I just press the clutch switch (and give the car a little gas pedal) and start moving smoothly? (Save using the normal clutch pedal to start moving.)
You will have once chance for idle stop after activating the switch, then no more auto stop until the switch is activated again. (confusing?)
Somewhat. Without changing gears or doing other stuff, what mod (maybe the FAS?) would allow me to restop the engine (with car still in 1st gear) after moving a short distance in stop & go traffic?
Thanks
Nothing that I know of. To get auto stop again, you would probably have to at least shift into second gear, then back to neutral.
In auto stop anytime you give it gas the engine will restart.
Willie
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01 MT "Little Red Rocket"
The first "TURBOCHARGED" Hybrid, Insight G1- (01/2003)
MaxIMA Battery (Serial #2), on 8/25/12 @ 301,520 miles
Use: 321,000 mi. @ 57.8 LMPG
Nothing that will let you autostop without touching the shifter. However, I've found that after driving a little in first, putting it back into neutral always autostops it again. Shift into first, drive a bit, then in neutral again. Repeat as much as desired.
I find a more effective tactic in traffic is to just cruise as slowly as you can in first with the clutch out (usually 4-5mph), and don't accelerate when the cars in front of you do. They're gonna stop again and you're gonna catch up anyway. It kinda evens out. I hardly have to touch the gas or shifter this way.
Of course, this won't work for all traffic.
ere is no ASST and lean burn is easy with the TPS modification.
Again, I dont understand. I have NEVER been on a hill so steep that normal REGEN would not keep the car from overspeeding. I would be scared out of my wits to just look over such a hill...#
Sounds like you've never been to California! I have a 12 mile long super steep hill in my daily commute, rolling in neutral w/out regen / braking my little insight hits 99 mph!
Nothing that will let you autostop without touching the shifter. However, I've found that after driving a little in first, putting it back into neutral always autostops it again. Shift into first, drive a bit, then in neutral again. Repeat as much as desired.
I find a more effective tactic in traffic is to just cruise as slowly as you can in first with the clutch out (usually 4-5mph), and don't accelerate when the cars in front of you do. They're gonna stop again and you're gonna catch up anyway. It kinda evens out. I hardly have to touch the gas or shifter this way.
Of course, this won't work for all traffic.
On my 2005 Insight I've found that my car will do multiple autostops (below 8 mph) if I wait 5 or so seconds between moving forward and putting the car into neutral again. To initiate autostop all I have to do is press & release the brake pedal enough to light the stop lights. Nothing else is required.
What year is your Insight? From what I've gathered in reading the forum, the 2000-2004 cars won't do multiple AS so Honda must have changed the firmware on the later cars.
Since the clutch switch won't stop assist on the 05-06 cars the only thing I can use the sw for is as a good ol' fashioned push-to-start button. It's no hazard for me since I've had cars for 62 years that didn't have a push-the-clutch to start "feature". Pushing the clutch is fine to come out of AS but it's a PITA when first starting the car and wanting to let the engine run a bit before moving out.
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I tried starting the car in 1st with the clutch out but the three cylinder engine dead zone between power pulses is quite noticeable when taking off in gear. While the car will drive away in gear it is very jerky for the first few cylinder firings. So that I scratched that idea.
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