IMA going out?

leedvm · 10-17-2011, 10:26 PM

I'm having multiple problems, showing on the monitor.

First, anyone have experience with mechanics in Colorado who have worked on Insights before? I'm not having much luck.

The check engine, ABS, and IMA icons are lit. The car has little power and the air conditioning doesn't work. The battery isn't charging now. Last time I had disparate issues affected, it was a fuse. Not so, this time.

Eli in Santa Fe: I'll be down your way in a couple weeks. Would you be willing to talk with me re: what this car needs?

Mine's a red 2000 Insight 5-speed with about 93K miles. I need to find someone I can trust to point me in the right direction.

Thanks, folks.

randerson0248 · 10-18-2011, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leedvm

I'm having multiple problems, showing on the monitor.

First, anyone have experience with mechanics in Colorado who have worked on Insights before? I'm not having much luck.

The check engine, ABS, and IMA icons are lit. The car has little power and the air conditioning doesn't work. The battery isn't charging now. Last time I had disparate issues affected, it was a fuse. Not so, this time.

Eli in Santa Fe: I'll be down your way in a couple weeks. Would you be willing to talk with me re: what this car needs?

Mine's a red 2000 Insight 5-speed with about 93K miles. I need to find someone I can trust to point me in the right direction.

Thanks, folks.

What codes?

Kevin Dougherty · 10-18-2011, 10:56 AM

Clean / replace the 3 ground straps.
There ya go, I beat everyone.

Eli · 10-18-2011, 12:29 PM

Yep, ground straps.

But yes, I would certainly be willing to talk shop, take her for a drive, whatever I can do to help.

fantasy67 · 10-18-2011, 02:20 PM

I put the reset switch stuck to the bottom of the dash, so you can turn the car off and put the switch open for about 10 sec, then back to normal. This resets the BCM. The IMA will return after you drive for a minute. The fuse is under the dash by your left knee. It’s a 15 A fuse bottom row and 5th from left to right. When you take it out you also loose the warning you opened the door and did not remove your key. I soldered a wire link so I could open the fuse with a small switch. If the IMA warning returns after a drive, you probably have a deteriorating battery. Now you need to check the code written to the main computer with a code reader. You will probably get the code of death (1449) The code has more than one reason. The blink code will spell the exact reason you are in trouble. You can search how to check blink codes.

jaystock · 10-22-2011, 11:23 AM

Where are the grounding straps?

I get this same error, except it's more severe. It always culminates with my engine stalling out. I'm desperate to find a way to drive the car *without*the IMA battery, since I have already received the code of death (1449). I tried to disconnect the three cables on the IMA computer and then leave the IMA Frankenstein switch OFF, but the problem persists. The 12-Volt battery under the hood is getting overwhelmed somehow...

Kevin Dougherty · 10-22-2011, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaystock

Where are the grounding straps?

I get this same error, except it's more severe. It always culminates with my engine stalling out. I'm desperate to find a way to drive the car *without*the IMA battery, since I have already received the code of death (1449). I tried to disconnect the three cables on the IMA computer and then leave the IMA Frankenstein switch OFF, but the problem persists. The 12-Volt battery under the hood is getting overwhelmed somehow...

Two grounds under the air filter box and one on the 12v. battery.
What and where is this IMA computer. You should be disconnecting the BCM computer connections, on the top left of the IMA compartment IIRC.

jaystock · 10-22-2011, 01:14 PM

Kevin, thank you for your post.

I would attach a photo if I could, but I'll try to describe the three wire bundles I disconnected. Inside the IMA compartment there appear to be two halves, with the battery pack on the right. I'm not sure where the BCM computer is... my Insight anatomy is still shaky. What I can say is that the three wire bundles are located toward the front of the compartment (toward the front of the car) and slightly to the left of the median. They all enter a black conduit that appears to connect to the battery pack. Are these the correct bundles to disconnect?

In the left half of the IMA compartment there appear to be two distinct silver boxes, but I'm not sure which is the BCM. (Battery Control Module?)

I also see four wire bundles to the rear of the compartment on the far left.

Thank you for any "insight" you can lend into my problem. It is crippling the por car...

Kevin Dougherty · 10-22-2011, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaystock

Kevin, thank you for your post.

I would attach a photo if I could, but I'll try to describe the three wire bundles I disconnected. Inside the IMA compartment there appear to be two halves, with the battery pack on the right. I'm not sure where the BCM computer is... my Insight anatomy is still shaky. What I can say is that the three wire bundles are located toward the front of the compartment (toward the front of the car) and slightly to the left of the median. They all enter a black conduit that appears to connect to the battery pack. Are these the correct bundles to disconnect?

In the left half of the IMA compartment there appear to be two distinct silver boxes, but I'm not sure which is the BCM. (Battery Control Module?)

I also see four wire bundles to the rear of the compartment on the far left.

Thank you for any "insight" you can lend into my problem. It is crippling the por car...

BCM is the silver box right of center, with the sticker on it.

leedvm · 10-22-2011, 10:40 PM

Update: Thanks for the tip about the grounding straps. Right off the bat saw one completely ruptured from the connector--eureka! After 3 trips to the auto store to find a replacement, finally got it replaced, but, alas, no change in displays on the monitor. Glad the thread mentioned where the third strap is; hadn't located it yet (on the battery itself, I see). Will look at that next.

Eli, I will be in Santa Fe on Friday October 28 through Sunday the 30th. Would it be possible to meet up Friday mid-day or Monday? If I don't get this sorted out, it will be a real drag driving over Raton Pass. How to contact you outside of the forum?
I will include the codes the computer fed me tomorrow.