Trip button doesn't work

[lfox]

I bought the car about a month ago and it's been almost flawless so far (especially for a car with 179000 miles). However, I believe I have a broken trip button. I read the manual a few times over to make sure I wasn't overlooking anything usage-wise. The button just doesn't work.

Is this something only a dealer could fix, or would it be possible for either me or the local auto shop to fix it? I have little mechanical (or electrical) expertise.

My nearest dealer is 100 miles away, so I'd like to avoid the trip if possible.

Thanks!

[flymuck]

What do you mean, you broke it? Did you physically break the plastic knob, or does it just not do what it's supposed to?

Did you press the FCD button, perchance?

Or did the entire display disappear?

[lfox]

Sorry, I should have been more clear. It just doesn't work. It hasn't since I got the car. Pushing it does nothing.

I can still view the "segment" trip and lifetime mileage by pressing the FCD button, but I can't do anything with the trip button. Everything works fine, I just can't view Trip A or B, only the lifetime mileage or the "segment" mpg+miles.

I'm basically wondering if this could be a problem with a fuse, etc. that I could fix (though a fuse would be unlikely as everything else works fine... right?).

[3-Wheeler]

Hi lfox,

I don't have my manual in front of me right now, but it seems that the FCD button is a toggle between two trip modes.

Push the FCD button once, and the total vehicle mileage shows up. Push it again and the trip A and B are displayed.

To reset either the trip A or B, simply hold the trip button down for about two seconds and that particular trip reading should be zeroed.

If that doesn't work, then the trip button probably really does not work. I have read reports here that others have had the same problem.

Jim.

[flymuck]

I'm confused, or I have a different car.

Mine works as such:

Given the current state of the full odometer displaying, pressing the trip button will cycle thru A, B, and full odometer.

Pressing the FCD button at any time, once, will give you the current FCD (miles since it was last reset, although I think it wraps around at some point).

Press the FCD button again to go back to the odo/Trip A/Trip B display, whichever it was on when you switched to FCD.

So, what you're saying is, when the full odometer reading is displayed, pressing the trip button does not switch you between A, B, and full? It doesn't do *anything*? As opposed to it makes the full odometer display go away, for example? It acts like you didn't press a button at all?

If that's the case, I doubt there's a fuse that would help you. There are some parts of the display you can turn off, sometimes by accident, which is why I'm trying to clarify what "does nothing" means.

Do you still see the instant mpg graph in *all* displayable modes?

-fly

[lfox]

Originally Posted by flymuck

So, what you're saying is, when the full odometer reading is displayed, pressing the trip button does not switch you between A, B, and full? It doesn't do *anything*?

Correct.

Originally Posted by flymuck

Do you still see the instant mpg graph in *all* displayable modes?

Yes. I can see it in the both modes available (lifetime odometer and FCD segment).

[flymuck]

Wow, that is truly, truly broken! Does it feel like you're pushing something when you push the trip button? Mine feels a little spongy, but it definitely moves (in both Insights). I don't think there's any way to disable the trip feature... but that might be another way to search for the issue.

All I can hope for is that if we keep up this dialog, and keep the post visible in the "new posts" search, maybe someone with more knowledge or experience with this kind of issue will jump in and help out. I'm afraid I've exhausted my rather small set of ideas (which mostly involved hoping you were describing the problem wrong ).

-fly

Edit: a quick google search found this link, which describes the same "problem" with the solution involving the FCD button:

http://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/f...snt-work-5654/

[Mike Dabrowski 2000]

The trip button is a simple momentary button with a conductive rubber pad that contacts bare copper lands on the display PC board, like on a tv remote control.
The PC board lands that act as contacts can corrode and make it unusable.
My "flood" salvaged silver Insight had what sounds like the same problem. I pressed the trip button about 500 times while pushing slightly sideways in all directions to get a bit of scrubbing action, and it now works. I have not opened the dash display, but the old pencil eraser cleaning technique of the circuit board contacts would also fix it.
good luck.

[Hybrid-Battery-Repair]

Here are some pictures:

[Mike Dabrowski 2000]

Looks like it is a tact switch, which is about $1 to replace, and is different than what I expected. Internally it works the same.