I bought a cheap 2000 Insight from a really shady guy who had no idea what he was selling. He had it for about 3 weeks and was flipping for a profit. He bought it from original owner. Current battery pack has approx. 50,000 miles on it and seems to be on its' way out...
Trip Reset / mph-kmph / dash brightness buttons - none of them work, the FCD button does what it's supposed to, the speedometer and all LCD displays work correctly, but the buttons on the dash do nothing. Any suggestions? I feel it was tampered with in an effort to try and disable OBD / IMA lights.
Auto Stop - the car doesn't recognize 1st gear as a way to come out of auto stop, all other gears bring the engine back on fine, also, auto stop seems to kick in sooner (at higher speeds) than my previous insight
Dying IMA - I had to replace (under warranty) my entire battery pack and battery control module on my 05 HCH. Before I spend the time and money on a new pack, can anyone direct me to a link / thread for troubleshooting the BCM? I don't want to buy a new pack and then find out my current one could be reconditioned and the underlying problem is actually the BCM.
Other than that, the car is fine for $3000. It has 220,000 and runs great, clean title. It appeared initially to have a substantial oil leak. But, after getting it home and putting in some actual 0w-20, it seems as if the drain plug bolt was simply over-torqued and has caused some of the threading from inside the engine to come out. Anyone have a suggestion? Re-tap for a larger bolt? Or silicone seal / weld in a quick drain system, ie Fumotato..? I know I spelled it wrong...
It feels great to be back in an Insight! My first one was wrecked two years ago, it was a 2000 insight vs. a 1986 Dodge flatbed lumber truck. I'm lucky to be alive, I was hit head on, run off the Rim of the World Highway, airborne for a couple seconds....my car was instantly totaled as I landed on boulders and the bottom half of the engine exploded....But, I finally got another Insight, after a disappointing experience with a MT 2005 Civic Hybrid and a 2005 Prius. Those two cars, and the 'forums' that supposedly support them are so so lame. Insight Central is da bomb. Full of people just dedicated to the cause of keeping these amazing cars running forever. I appreciate everyone's help!
No big deal. I too bought my last one from what turned out to be a "curbstoner", but I knew what the car problems were, and it was priced accordingly at $2600. Mine had a bad battery, bad input shaft bearing, water leaks, bad trip buttons, and so on. However, the body is in nice condition, it had a clean title, new Michelin Energy Savers and a new 12V battery.
If the IMA light is on, you won't get AutoStop or lean burn. The trip buttons are a common failure item as well. You can find fixes for all this on this forum plus a whole lot more.
Enjoy!
Last edited by TopFuelTim; 02-25-2013 at 01:08 PM.
Reason: can't spell
Your accident sounds like it's straight out of a movie! Good to know the Insight is not only fuel efficient, but also safe in a collision. Good thing you weren't at some "other" parts of Rim of the World Highway.
Your accident sounds like it's straight out of a movie! Good to know the Insight is not only fuel efficient, but also safe in a collision. Good thing you weren't at some "other" parts of Rim of the World Highway.
I was in a small town called "rimforest". The lumber truck was cited for failure to yield, there is a left hand turn there. On any other part, if I was run off the road I would plummet 5,000 ft to my death...but, there would not be an option of turning left for oncoming traffic...
If the IMA light is on, you won't get AutoStop or lean burn. The trip buttons are a common failure item as well. You can find fixes for all this on this forum plus a whole lot more.
The IMA light was on and auto stop still worked, but I couldn't get the engine going in 1st....all other gears plus R disengage auto stop. So, I disconnected negative battery terminal and cleared IMA light. Battery will display full charge, but obviously not charge fully. I drive it 12 miles downhill, all engine braking, literally bever pressing gas. I then drive around flat areas, 100+ miles with no IMA light. Literally every time I climb the final mile of the 12 uphill miles back home, the IMA light comes on. Always at literally the exact same place. Think a MIMA would help?
Just get a new IMA battery and be done!
Or get a grid charger and limp for a while.
Willie
__________________
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
Just get a new IMA battery and be done!
Or get a grid charger and limp for a while.
Willie
yeah, I can't afford a new pack at this time, but it's on the horizon. Gonna try and build a grid charger....again I'm broke, but have a $100 gift card to Harbor Freight. I reconciled to limp around for a while when I bought this one. Like I said, it's now my third manual trans Honda hybrid. The other two I meticulously maintained, but this one is kind of a 'beater'. It will have paid itself off in 25 trips down to LA for work...so, I wanna get in the green and then put money into it. But, in the meantime I wanna stretch the current battery to it's max, and possibly revive it. Previous owner was in the desert, so being in the cold mountains, 25f at night, might help it out. Also, I look at my 12 mile descent as a poor man's grid charger...not too many of the insight drivers have such an option. But, I wish I could disengage the IMA on my way back up!!!
grid charger helps a lot, I am"limping" on one for a second year already...
a stick of $5 Quick steel putty from walmart keeps my Fumoto valve in an entirely stripped drain hole. I thought it is going to fall out or something, but it keeps it there safe for 3 years already. I have done half a dozen or more oil changes since.
I still keep the drain plug bolt and a spare stick of "quick steel" in the glove compartment. just in case.
so, I just made it up my steep 12 mile incline home with no IMA light, I will definitely look into the clutch switch...pretty easy to install?
I just ordered Kumho tires...I know, but the Potenzas are expensive and after 20,000 miles they're complete garbage. The mountains where I live destroy tires.
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questions...bought my 2nd insight for cheap
