ECU version can have BIG impact on MPGs!

[Willie Williford]

It's not the ECU you have to worry about it, It was changed for emissions and a false CEL reading. The combination of the BCM and MCM is what gives better mpg, or performance, or charging the battery.

My opinion.

Myself, I like the BCM A01 and the MCM 070.

HTH
Willie

[eq1]

Originally Posted by Willie Williford

Myself, I like the BCM A01 and the MCM 070.

How are these different from the BCM 010, MCM 030 combo?

[InsightLight]

Originally Posted by Willie Williford

It's not the ECU you have to worry about it, It was changed for emissions and a false CEL reading. The combination of the BCM and MCM is what gives better mpg, or performance, or charging the battery.

My opinion.

Myself, I like the BCM A01 and the MCM 070.

HTH
Willie

Which combination, out of what is being stated in these pages, would give the best MPG? What about your combo? what kind of performance/mpg returns have you gotten?

[Willie Williford]

I've only had one other combination of BCM and MCM installed and I can't even tell you what the old numbers were. Mine were changed back in 2004 when the first battery was changed under warranty. Then in 2007 the ECM was changed, (Recall) under warranty. I have no idea what a 10 and 30 will do.
I'm satisfied with the performance, even without going into boost, as long as the IMA battery is functioning properly.
I am not a hypermiler and "go with the flow of traffic".
I can get good mpg's 70+ but there are so many variables it is hard to do all the time, and that ain't my driving style.
I think Jeff652 would have to answer your question directly as he has played with a few of the different combinations.

HTH
Willie

[retepsnikrep]

Originally Posted by eq1

How are these different from the BCM 010, MCM 030 combo?

Nobody knows exactly. We have a few theories and even fewer facts.
But the subtle differences in programming between the various computer versions are completely unknown to us.

Some changes have been made by Honda to address specific issues, like the P0420 cat fault or changes to improve IMA battery life so we know what they do.

Until someone gets a whole pile of computers on the bench with known versions of the software installed and devises a testing rig to find out the differences between them, or someone is able to source and decompile / reverse engineer the running code and the actual hardware schematic for the devices we will not know how exactly they work or differ.

[eq1]

I guess since Willie was saying he liked the A01 and 070, I inferred that he had an idea as to why, which might include comparisons of one sort or another... Maybe like, "My older combo, whatever it was, used to background charge all the time; this new combo doesn't"; "My older combo was too eager to assist"; "My new combo offers more assist when I ascend slight inclines on highways at highway speeds"...

As much as I like that the Insight is a unique car, I sometimes wish there were about 100,000 more of them - along with a robust aftermarket including a fully programmable, tune-able IMA experience at <$300...

[Willie Williford]

eg1:
Maybe this will help. It's an old thread/post.

Turbocharged Insight

Willie

[eq1]

This is great. Thanks...

[Eli]

I'm working on slowly collecting all the computers in existence.. lol.

I honestly don't know if or how we'll ever truly determine their programming differences. They're very dynamic devices and I think each would need to be watched for at least a full 6mo-1 year. Only then could you begin to see the patterns.

[jime]

Originally Posted by eq1

How are these different from the BCM 010, MCM 030 combo?

This is the combo in my 2001. I can't imagine a much better combo. It is tons (maybe six to eight) MPG better than the combo in my 2006 which is some sort of A series for both. My 010/030 seems to like mid-level gas.