I just recently purchased a '01 Insight with a growling trans, and yes I got it cheap, haha. I dropped the pan on it over the weekend and found 5 large metal pieces in it (see attached pic). I went ahead cleaned the pan & magnets, flushed the fluid, but nothing else. I did notice this weekend that the trans slipped real bad when it gets warm & I tried to climb a hill. I went ahead and had it towed home.
Before I got the car, I've checked with the local dealership and trans shops, but none of them seem to rebuild the CVT's. They either replace them with a remanufactured one ($4-5K+) or installed another used one and hope for the best. I'd like to know if anyone actually rebuilds these trans? If so, who & where? And is there someone relieable in southern California area? I like the car and I'd hate to see this car parted out & scrapped, so any help would be much appreciated.
Factory rebuild only i.e. not rebuilt in your local trans shop, but shipped out to the main factory (around 3200), vs. dealer new (around 3600)
Best to get a good used one. I found one for $900 *shipped* across the US
__________________
FS: Simple Grid Chargers - 00-06 Insight & 03-05 Civic Hybrid HybridAutomotive.com (Now Includes the Insight/Civic IMA Battery Instructions)
Citrus 2000 MT MIMA, Silver 2000 MT Beater
Best Tank: 90.2MPG over 918.7 miles 010MCM/030BCM, No MIMA. Details: My Commute MPGs
Current score: Bought/Selling/Sold/Dismantled six silvers, one blue, and a Citrus to keep for myself.
I was amazed at how many 2009-2011 CVT transmissions are available but basically no G1 CVTs. Maybe Jeff can send you the link for the $900 dollar one?
That one is in Japan. I think the CVT was there in 2000. I'd be a little leery of ordering from overseas. Getting them to honor the warranty might be tricky. I found mine from a Florida dismantler on eBay as well, but it is in my Blue 2003 CVT which is/was sold already.
Sad really, I barely got to drive it for a couple days before it sold.
__________________
FS: Simple Grid Chargers - 00-06 Insight & 03-05 Civic Hybrid HybridAutomotive.com (Now Includes the Insight/Civic IMA Battery Instructions)
Citrus 2000 MT MIMA, Silver 2000 MT Beater
Best Tank: 90.2MPG over 918.7 miles 010MCM/030BCM, No MIMA. Details: My Commute MPGs
Current score: Bought/Selling/Sold/Dismantled six silvers, one blue, and a Citrus to keep for myself.
Seriously though, my opinion is pending because the current IMA battery is toast. I'm going to put a good one in a drive it for a few days before I deliver the car to the buyer. I like it. It's surprisingly peppy, not the normal auto trans penalty. I wonder if the fuel maps are changed slightly to make the car more responsive (and thus the MPG penalty). I have nothing to back this up, other then it felt just as quick as my MT Insight.
__________________
FS: Simple Grid Chargers - 00-06 Insight & 03-05 Civic Hybrid HybridAutomotive.com (Now Includes the Insight/Civic IMA Battery Instructions)
Citrus 2000 MT MIMA, Silver 2000 MT Beater
Best Tank: 90.2MPG over 918.7 miles 010MCM/030BCM, No MIMA. Details: My Commute MPGs
Current score: Bought/Selling/Sold/Dismantled six silvers, one blue, and a Citrus to keep for myself.
It was my first time driving a CVT. I really didn't drive it long enough to determine anything. I spent half the time trying to figure out if it was supposed to act like that or not, I didn't remember that it had a bad IMA battery.
I want one though, mostly to learn about behavior and such. Its behavior during the positive and negative recals was quite interesting. Some of it I've observed before when running BCM and MCMs from a CVT in a MT car.
I did not like the start clutch feeling. It slipped way too much during a jackrabbit start, and just felt wholly inadequate. I don't think it would last long in my hands.
Ratio changes were a little slow IMO. Snore... I could likely downshift into 2nd and pass you before the CVT reacted. Hmm... Isn't there a Sport mode though? See, I didn't even try that.
Man, I sound like a total n00b. I think I'll pick one up at some point. It would be fun to see how fast I could destroy it, at least. Maybe learn some IMA behavior in the mean time.
__________________
Bumblebee Batteries, LLC - Helping your hybrid get from point A to point Bee!
But one more question, if you don't mind. If I've got an '01, what years will fit my Insight? Since, your comment about the CVT not available in '00 (or at least here in the state).
__________________
01 MT "Little Red Rocket"
The first "TURBOCHARGED" Hybrid, Insight G1- (01/2003)
MaxIMA Battery (Serial #2), on 8/25/12 @ 301,520 miles
Use: 320,000 mi. @ 57.8 LMPG
Its behavior during the positive and negative recals was quite interesting. Some of it I've observed before when running BCM and MCMs from a CVT in a MT car.
Could you briefly elaborate on the cvt bcm and mcm in a manual? I've never seen negative recal at all in a cvt.
Thanks for the ebay link guys! If there is a used Japanese cvt for sale, then there has to be an ECM for it somewhere!
The AutoGuide.com network consists of the largest network of enthusiast-owned enthusiast-operated automotive communities.
AutoGuide.com provides the latest car reviews, auto show coverage, new car prices, and automotive news. The AutoGuide network operates more than 100 automotive forums where our users consult peers for shopping information and advice, and share opinions as a community.
Does anyone rebuild the CVT"s (automatic trans)?
Hmm... Isn't there a Sport mode though? See, I didn't even try that.
I think I'll pick one up at some point. It would be fun to see how fast I could destroy it, at least. Maybe learn some IMA behavior in the mean time. 
