[The Potato Enthusiast]

So I'm looking to buy this insight (not posting the ad in hopes someone won't snatch it up before i can purchase next week). The owner says it runs and drives normal until the lights are turned on then it goes ~20 mins before it shuts off and looses all power. He put a new battery in and same thing happened. If this is an alternator issue wouldnt other 12v draws kill the battery too? Supposedly it was being driven around for about a week before he used the headlights and did not show signs of any issue. My other thought is that it could be some kind of grounding issue since that's not a rare issue on G1s. Anyone ever had an issue like this?

 

[Shane M]

Does the IMA system work? If the ima battery is non functioning the DC-DC converter will not charge the 12v unless you unplug the BCM.

 

[The Potato Enthusiast]

Does the IMA system work? If the ima battery is non functioning the DC-DC converter will not charge the 12v unless you unplug the BCM.

He said that there's no lights or issues with the ima system

 

[Stimie]

I think that the owner is not giving you the truth. It almost assuredly has a weak IMA battery and the DC-DC converter is not charging the 12v battery. You can confirm this by starting the car and checking what the voltage is on the 12v battery while it is running. If it's close to 12 volts and very slowly descending, then it's obviously not charging. Headlights will drain the 12 volt battery much quicker than anything else in the car.

 

[joeaax1j]

I bought an Insight where the CEL was burned out. I wonder if there is a specific fuse you could pull to force the IMA light on? That might help you rule out a burned out light.

 

[BruceinLA]

I would get a cigarette lighter volt meter and plug it in while driving the car with the lights on, if it goes below 12.5 volts there is a problem.

There is no alternator in an Insight, the IMA system charges the underhood 12 volt battery.

avoid problem cars, life is too short.

 

[Gasoline Fumes]

avoid problem cars, life is too short.

Somebody needs to rescue the problem cars!

 

[Shane M]

I would get a cigarette lighter volt meter and plug it in while driving the car with the lights on, if it goes below 12.5 volts there is a problem.

There is no alternator in an Insight, the IMA system charges the underhood 12 volt battery.

avoid problem cars, life is too short.

If we stayed away from problem cars there would be no insights left. I pulled mine out of a field in a guys yard, sat for 5 years, covered in moss and greenery, flat IMA, but it did fire up and run. Put a new IMA battery in it and it has been the best daily driver I've ever had.

 

[trickle]

i agree, but at the same time, bruce is also right. it takes the right owner to bring it back. it can be expensive and take many hard to find parts if the car has been an organ donor for someone else's car.

 

[The Potato Enthusiast]

-update-
Bought the car! It had a dead ima as suspected but I have a spare fortunately. $2000 blue 2001 manual 111k miles really good condition Inside and out just a hole in the carpet under the pedals it also needs a new throw out bearing but nothing I haven't dealt with before

 

[Brattybrat]

So I'm looking to buy this insight (not posting the ad in hopes someone won't snatch it up before i can purchase next week). The owner says it runs and drives normal until the lights are turned on then it goes ~20 mins before it shuts off and looses all power. He put a new battery in and same thing happened. If this is an alternator issue wouldnt other 12v draws kill the battery too? Supposedly it was being driven around for about a week before he used the headlights and did not show signs of any issue. My other thought is that it could be some kind of grounding issue since that's not a rare issue on G1s. Anyone ever had an issue like this?

I had the same issue but I replaced my 12 volt battery There is no alternator. The ima battery is what charges the 12 I believe

 

[AndrewHorse]

Saw one locally today and the guy also said needs alternator. 65,000 miles 2002. So if there is no alternator and probably needs am entire battery pack, what would you pay for it?
Always wanted one, wanted a 5 speed but...

 

[Joule]

AndrewHorse, don’t turn you nose up at a CVT. You won’t achieve spectacular MPG but they are nice cars to drive and still return very respectable MPG. If the IMA can’t be reclaimed by grid charge/cycling, then you’ll spend $2-2.5 K on a new pack. If you live where vehicle inspection is not a thing, you can pull under hood fuse #18 and run internal combustion engine only. You will get brake and battery lights above 4k rpms and the 12 V will stop charging, but that goes away about a half minute after you drop below 4k. You can drive forever like that. Bring a charged 12 V, 10 mm wrench, and stack of cash and drive it away.