[kytsurfer]

hey everyone! I am now an offical Insight owner- after 6 long months of waiting- and absolutly LOVE it! So far my only complaint is that the cup holders cant hold a Gaterade bottle (lol I'm a bit of a sport addict so its my fav drink).

I am kind of wondering though about the engin maybe..cutting out for a split second. When I'm on the highway the car sometimes jolts and the little fuel comsumption gauge drops- but not to 0 - and then picks back up. Almost like it just decided that it didnt want to run the engin.
Has anyone else had this problem???

I put the primum fuel in every time -except once cuz the gas was like $1.10 can. - which I know I dont have to but I figured being my first new car I'd be nice to it =)

Later
Amanda

 

[jtmco]

Amanda-

Are you running the dashboard in liters/km? If so, then when the instantaneous fuel consumption display goes towards zero, you are burning less fuel. Is it a 5 speed? You are probably simply going into lean burn mode. I assume that the tachometer is not also dropping almost to zero. Is it really a "jolt"? On a flat stretch of highway, at about 90 km/hr, gently ease off of the accelerator, trying to keep the speed almost the same, but letting the fuel consumption decrease. The engine will switch into lean burn mode and the FCD should go down (up in mpg) while almost maintaining speed. This will be easier if the a/c is off, no rain, not cold out.

On the fuel, the Insight was designed to run on regular fuel (about 87 octane) so you don't need to buy the premium - save your money. The "name" brands may have different additives so it might be worthwhile to buy Amoco or Exxon etc instead of the discount places, but many people just buy gas where it is least expensive and do fine. If you buy "cheap" gas and it doesn't run as well, try something else (600 miles later) .

Good luck.

Jim

 

[psuinsight]

I experience what feels like a hesitation of the engine periodically. I have tried to tie this to lean burn cutout or IMA functions, but so far the cause of the "hiccup" is hard to pin down. I just keep my fingers crossed that it does not get worse :?

 

[minako]

I experience a hiccup of sorts here and there, as well, but they are usually tied in with regen. It usually happens when it starts to charge but then I push on the gas pedal or something to take it out of regen. The car will hesitate but then go back to operating as normal. Is this what is happening with you?

 

[Webfooted Insight]

Hiccup Too

I took delivery of my 06 in late July. It's the MT with A/C. Down here in extreme South Louisiana it's a must. I have noticed the same exact thing with mine. It usually only happens once when I'm on my way to work about 5 - 10 miles from home. There seems to be no rhyme or reason so I never know when it's going to do it. The A/C is on too. I noticed the same things: under slight speed increase, when it does it the mpg drops and it's only for a split second but the motor just goes right on. Other than this little thing I love this car. It's like driving a sports car after being in F150 4X4 for years. With A/C on Econ I'm averaging 63 mpg.

 

[ethicalpaul]

I experience the hesitation at least once every couple days. It feels like a loss in power (my head moves forward slightly from inertia) and it lasts about 1/2 second. The FCD will dip as others have described, then come back up.

It happens most when cruising, near the beginning of a trip (first 5 minutes like the previous poster said).

I rarely use AC, it definitely has happened with ac off.

 

[Martini]

Hi Amanda,
Hey, I live nearby! and i am having a similar, but far worse problem (which I posted) with my '06 CVT. The "cutting out" is quite violent. Feels like the car shuts off, starts again, shuts off and starts again.

Cruising down my street, it's not so bad, but when I'm merging onto the highway at 90 kph, it's very violent. And I've got no warranty!

 

[minako]

ethicalpaul - When you feel the loss in power, is the FCD going down or up? Are you using mpg or liters?

I have noticed that when the car enters lean burn, you will feel as though are you accelerating. Your mph will usually go up and the FCD gauge will decrease (in mpg). After a few seconds, you will suddenly feel as though you have put slight pressure on the brakes and your body should feel as though it is moving forward slightly. At the same time, the FCD gauge (in mpg) will increase and go back to where it was before the "purge". Additionally, this will happen after you have been driving at a constant mph/FCD readout for a couple of minutes (i.e. no hard acceleration or sudden braking). This usually happens to me about three or four times during my commute (35 miles).

 

[minako]

Martini - Your is a 2006 and it has no warranty? Is it because it is imported?
[mod note: Yes Martini reports in another thread its a USA :arrow: CA "grey" market import]

At any rate, the problem you describe is most closely associated with a bad/dirty EGR valve... from what I have read on the boards. It usually involves either cleaning it or replacing it. Do a search on the boards (use "EGR" and "jerky" as your keywords, it should help).

The only thing that bothers me, though, is that yours is fairly new. Most people don't have that problem until they have clocked at least 40k miles of driving - if not more.

 

[ethicalpaul]

minako-

The loss of power occurs, immediately followed by a momentary drop in FCD (mpg).

Any feelings from going into lean burn, if I even feel them, are very slight. In fact, it's hard for me to know for sure when I'm in lean burn, I think because I must be in it all the time. I keep to 60-65 mph on my relatively flat commute and I average 84+ mpg.

You mention "purge" as if going into lean burn = purge, when I'm not sure my past reading leads me to that. I understand the car will purge the NOX collector by forcing itself out of lean burn, but I don't think that is what I am seeing.

From what I have read, the NOX purge results in an increase in power, where the thing I am experiencing is a distinct, brief, loss of power.

My loss of power event does not typically happen more than once per trip.

 

[egarten]

My 2005 jerks when accelarating from a stop. It feels like the engine isn't getting enough gas. The dealership has been no help with the problem, but using higher-octane gas from Chevron seems to help.