[Jd21476]

My ‘03 Insight had the IMA battery die about 2 years ago and I was running it without having it connected. Well, CA finally sent me my new registration paperwork and it requires a smog. The car wont pass CA smog without a new battery. Anyone have a recommendation for a place for a new battery, preferably in San Diego?

 

[Joule]

Check with Scott Kulbeck at Jue Motors in Covina, Ca. Maybe he has a good used pack. KLR3CYL on this forum.

Otherwise, Bumblebee Batteries in Portland, Oregon has a variety of options (discount for IC members [or at least there once was]). They ship on a core exchange basis.

Self install is tedious, but entirely doable. I am not a big guy so when I want to extract an IMA pack, I remove the spare tire and stand in the spare tire well so I can get right over the pack and am not trying to lift it with my arms fully extended away from my body. I value my back too much to move the pack any other way.

 

[retepsnikrep]

It has been disconnected for two years then some proper cycling might revive it enough to pass smog.

 

[Joule]

Peter has a good point if you have or make a grid charger.

 

[BruceinLA]

Greentec, I have been happy with mine for over 2 years now:

2000-2006 Honda Insight Hybrid Battery Replacement with NEW 8AMP Hour Cells | Greentec Auto

Hybrid Battery Repair Shop in Los Angeles, CA | Greentec Auto

They do mobile installation as well, give them a call.

 

[Willie Williford]

Greentec....................... right around the corner from KLR3CYL. WOW

 

[Jd21476]

Peter has a good point if you have or make a grid charger.

I have a grid charger on the battery and that only helped for so long.

 

[retepsnikrep]

You need to do full deep cycling.

It may be too late now if you have just done charging in the past.

 

[Jd21476]

Ill try that. How do I do it?

 

[retepsnikrep]

40w incandescent light bulb and plenty of time.

 

[Jd21476]

I have a light bulb discharger and a charger from RB batteries and its already connected. I used it in the past when the battery was connected but I never did a full deep discharge.

The battery is still in the vehicle but disconnected. If I charge it then deep discharge it, will it damage anything if its disconnected?

 

[retepsnikrep]

no

 

[Jd21476]

So like the battery cooling fan doesnt need to be running or nanything

 

[rodnhower]

Greentec, I have been happy with mine for over 2 years now:

2000-2006 Honda Insight Hybrid Battery Replacement with NEW 8AMP Hour Cells | Greentec Auto

Hybrid Battery Repair Shop in Los Angeles, CA | Greentec Auto

They do mobile installation as well, give them a call.

I also had my battery replaced by Greentec Auto (I live in NE Ohio and they had a shop 40 miles away) on my 2000 Citrus. I got the 8Ahr new battery with a 3 year warranty. 10k miles later it still works great!.

 

[olrowdy01]

So like the battery cooling fan doesnt need to be running or nanything

It depends upon the ambient temperature inside the [closed] car while your are doing the charge etc. It's best to have the IMA cooling fan running because the battery compartment doesn't have any real convection cooling for the battery without the fan running.

As you approach full charge the pack voltage change is ~0.2 volts/HOUR and the already fully charged cells will be putting out a lot of heat.

I have a long article on my website about what, why and how to build and use your own charger-discharger etc that should answer your questions. Click on the "CRX" icon below to go to my website.

 

[Jd21476]

I did a deep discharge and full recharge 3x and now she seems to run great. How often should I do a deep discharge?

 

[sasmyth]

Once you get past inspection, I'd say "anytime the IMA starts to act a little weak!". My experience with working with NiMH out of the vehicles is that bottom balance is a good thing with these batteries, and except for the time involved, you probably cant do it too often.

 

[Craigjoplin1959]

Great news. Good job. 👍