Disabling just assist?

[Tranquility]

Anyone know of a simple way to disable just assist? I saw the topic on the clutch switch, but it seems that it doesn't work for the 2006. Any other simple ways out there?

I'd like to try having no assist and maintain the charge as usual for the 12 volt system.

[Insightful Trekker]

IIRC there was only one member reply that the clutch switch didn't work for assist disable on the newer Insight models.

Read: Room for error. And easy enough to try

See:

How to disable Assist/Regen
http://www.insightcentral.net/forum/vie ... php?t=3951

HTH!

[Tranquility]

I'll take a look at it. It doesn't look too promising though. There were two people in the thread that reported it didn't work on their 2006, and no one reported that it did work on theirs.

But if it's simple to just remove the switch and leave it open its worth a quick try. I take it you haven't come across any mention of another way to do it? What about a nuetral indicator, if there is one on the Insight? I wonder if it wouldn't assist if it thought it was in nuetral. I wonder if it would adversely affect anything else?

[Insightful Trekker]

Originally Posted by Tranquility

I take it you haven't come across any mention of another way to do it?

Not within the bounds of your first posts qualifications.

AFAIK your only other "option" is much more comprehensive, complex and costly.

See:
http://www.insightcentral.net/forum/vie ... php?t=5237

and follow the links according to your choices.

HTH!

[Tranquility]

Thanks for the info.

I've seen it and while it looks to be a great product I'm a little hesitant to trash my warranty. I can't imagine Honda would be too sympathetic if an IMA problem developed, even if it had nothing to do with the product installation or use, nor could I really blame them.

I'm attempting to work toward IMA battery longevity. I seem to have come quite a ways without disabling assist. I can run around town without depleting more than two or three bars on the SoC. That's a big improvment for me. Before it would drop down halfway or more and slip into forced charge. But to do this I have to accellerate really slow, too slow really. Second gear seems to be the hardest gear to work with in the 2006. It seems near impossible to acheive any kind of acceleration in second gear, even on level roads, without assist engaging.

So I thought it would be kinda neat if there were a simple way to disable just the assist and leave everything else at statis-quo. But I guess it's all far to integrated for it to be a simple thing to do. Oh well.

I can still hope the clutch switch might work after all. Thank you again.

[IamIan]

the switch in the back of the car that disables the high voltage battery pack .

If you ridged a remote method to switch that switch on and off from the front of the car you could disable Assist any time you want.... when the High Voltage is switched off the car functions just off of the 12V starter and all accressories and such run from the 12V battery.

A few things to concider.... Turning off the High Voltage will also Disable Regenerative braking .... and it will more than likely disable the Idel Stop feature .... and For sure it will disable the cars alternator function as it goes through the High Voltage Battery as a DC-DC step down .... so without alternator function you won't want to stay in the mode of operation for long periods of time.

If you do this ... You will probably want to setup a simple voltage meter to run off the accessory outlet so you can keep an eye on the 12V batteries Voltage level... if it dips too low flip the high voltage switch back on so the cars alternator functions will kick back in...

If you did this I would recomend ONLY disableing the assist during accelerations and to turn the high voltage switch back on at cruising and for regenerative braking and such... and keep an eye on the 12V battery level or setup a dumy device on the switch to auto maticly switch the high voltage back on when the 12V Lead Acid gets below a safe level.

Also Once you have completely charged up the high voltage battery with regenerative braking it would make NO sence at all to waste future regenerative braking opertunities by not activating the assist and using some of the stored up / recycled braking energy....

If you are cleaver enough to rig up such a remote switch it shouldn't cost much as far as money goes... but will be tricky to rig it to work reliably and as outlined above there are concerns about staying in 12V mode for long periods of time. . . . but it should be able to be done for less money and without voiding any warrenties if done carefully and creatively...

my 2 bits...

[joecvt]

I've seen it and while it looks to be a great product I'm a little hesitant to
trash my warranty. I can't imagine Honda would be too sympathetic if an
IMA problem developed, even if it had nothing to do with the product
installation or use, nor could I really blame them.

I quess I don'tget it....Any modification to the IMA system has a chance
of voiding the IMA warranty. Yet it seems like only one mod is being
thought as having that reputation. It begns wit the letter M...Most people
will know the mod I'm talking about.

Has anyone tried flipping the main circuit breaker for the battery while
the car is running and computers are powered up?..Just the thought of
it sounds to me like the most dangerous thing you could attempt for the
IMA system.

If you take your car in for warranty and the problem is related to any
mod be it the famous radiator block for overheating reasons or IMA mods
described above, Honda as the right not to honor your warranty.

I know part of this is a bit off topic but I believe some of the suggestions
posted should also include warnings about what could possibly go wrong
(preferably by the same poster) An example of this would be an older
thread that would have you turning off the ignition (manually) to save
gas while going downhill. There are safety problems if you turn the key
too far and the steering may lock without you knowing it until its too late.

Now back on topic: If you are truly concerned about IMA warranty then
don't do any mods related (even slightly) to the IMA system.

Joe CVT - Just your average CVT owner

[Tranquility]

Originally Posted by joecvt

If you are truly concerned about IMA warranty then
don't do any mods related (even slightly) to the IMA system.

That seems like good advice to me. Given the cost of the IMA components it's a big concern of mine.

[b1shmu63]

Tranquility, the clutch switch is part of the existing IMA system. It should work on the 06 model. Have you tried it?

Ian, messing around with the IMA battery could be deadly. This sounds like a rather extreme method to acomplish a simple task, assuming the clutch switch works. I can not see how the clutch switch would not work as this appears to be its primary function. If the IMA regens when the car is idling in neutral it will stall the engine. If the IMA assists when the clutch is pushed in it will rev up the engine and waste fuel.

[Tranquility]

Well the clutch switch is a dud on the 2006, just as reported. I pulled the small harness apart behind the switch which uncouples the wires from the switch. I had to pop start the car, indicating it was working.

Drove out and it has both assist and regen just as before. No noticable change, accept it wont let the car start.