IMA Motor and Engine Vibration

**thedhgroup** · 05-23-2010, 10:22 PM

I cannot remember what post I read this on but it was mentioned that the IMA motor pulses to help smooth out the 3 cylinder engine vibration. So if this is true, what happens if you don't have a working hybrid battery or what happens if the battery is removed all together? Would the engine vibration be bad? I don't recall anybody ever complaining. Is this even an issue? The reason I ask is that at the moment I would only be able to afford an Insight with a known bad battery and I may drive it for a while without fixing it but I don't want to deal with a bad vibration.

**Hybrid-Battery-Repair** · 05-23-2010, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thedhgroup

I cannot remember what post I read this on but it was mentioned that the IMA motor pulses to help smooth out the 3 cylinder engine vibration. So if this is true, what happens if you don't have a working hybrid battery or what happens if the battery is removed all together? Would the engine vibration be bad? I don't recall anybody ever complaining. Is this even an issue? The reason I ask is that at the moment I would only be able to afford an Insight with a known bad battery and I may drive it for a while without fixing it but I don't want to deal with a bad vibration.

It's not that bad. The IMA helps make it velvety smooth at idle.

02insight · 05-24-2010, 12:54 PM

i am skeptical as to if it really does any dampening. On my car, the vibration with the IMA or with the IMA switch off are about the same...

Or maybe my IMA anti-vibration system is bad, even though there are no codes or anything...

JimIsbell · 05-24-2010, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 02insight

i am skeptical as to if it really does any dampening. On my car, the vibration with the IMA or with the IMA switch off are about the same...

Or maybe my IMA anti-vibration system is bad, even though there are no codes or anything...

I agree with this. I see no difference between the pack being on or off. In fact with the pack off, if I keep the revs up, the car is a very good car if a bit underpowered compared to my Jag.

**Hybrid-Battery-Repair** · 05-24-2010, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 02insight

i am skeptical as to if it really does any dampening. On my car, the vibration with the IMA or with the IMA switch off are about the same...

Or maybe my IMA anti-vibration system is bad, even though there are no codes or anything...

If you have a MIMA, you can see it pulsing at idle. The gauges, as usual, lie to you and hide it.