isolating battery pack

bikerron · 05-05-2009, 06:04 PM

Hi, I just bought a 00 manual insight and I need to get it home. The battery pack recently quit charging however the previous owner was able to continue using the car. He reports the mileage with no battery asist is about 45 mpg. I suspect the battery pack has some bad cells and the IMA is doing a continuous background charge that is hurting the gas mileage. I have quite a long drive home and am hoping I can eliminate any background charge and drive home on just motor. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks, Ron

**IamIan** · 05-05-2009, 06:15 PM

have you tried ?

with car off... disconnect 12V battery for 1 Minute... reconnect 12V battery... start car... let car idle until SoC display has not moved in ~30 seconds or so.

If error code returns go to an Auto Zone to get the OBD-II error code pulled for free... post here what error code you got.

**Hybrid-Battery-Repair** · 05-05-2009, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IamIan

If error code returns go to an Auto Zone to get the OBD-II error code pulled for free... post here what error code you got.

Actually, since you'll be picking it up there, be aware that a P1447 or a P1449 error are indications of bad batteries.

If you are getting a P1449 after resetting the IMA system, then the car will not be background charging the battery.

If you are only getting a P1447, then yes it will be charging the battery, but you will get the use of the battery (you'll just lose about 5-10MPG to charging) If you can drive with a feather light touch, then you should be able to get the battery charged up above the forced-charge threshold and it should stop charging it (it depends how bad the battery is).

BTW, 45 on a MT car either means the owner can't drive gently, or the catalytic converter is clogged as well (check for a P0420 code).

bikerron · 05-06-2009, 01:19 AM

I haven't yet laid hands on the car. It will be annother week and a half before I get it. I'm just trying to figure out what I should take along for equipment when I go to pick it up.

Thanks, Ron

3-Wheeler · 05-06-2009, 01:47 PM

On a side note, even if the battery is constantly background charging, you should be able to get at least 60 mpg while traveling 45 mph or so, on a flat road with no head wind. With the weather getting warmer this time of year, maintaining 80 mpg at a steady speed is not uncommon if driving with a light foot.

I agree with ogregev about the low 45 mpg figure, as it does seem very low. When I picked up my 2000 MT Insight, the lifetime mpg was 56 mpg, and the previous owner lived in Detroit, where things tend to happen at a faster clip than the rural setting I live in.

Jim.

JimIsbell · 05-06-2009, 05:23 PM

A month ago I made a 450 mile trip with the IMA disabled. I was able to get 65mpg for the trip with no assist and no regen and using AC. Yes, the driveability suffered, but the mileage improved.......45 mpg is either someone not trying or something wrong, probably in the exhaust system and Cats.

The first day I got my car, with no driving technique at all I got over 60 mpg.