How to disable Assist/Regen

30177 Views 81 Replies 32 Participants Last post by charlieinjax, Dec 24, 2012

Calpod

Discussion Starter · Nov 22, 2005

Here is how to disable Assist/Regen when you don't need it, such as when you are trying so keep from depleting the battery charge on long hills, or when you don't want background charging, or when you are going downhill and don't want to regen.

Take the 2 wires from the clutch pedal, run them thru a toggle switch and you're done, now anytime you don't want to use assist or regen, just flip the switch and IMA is disabled. :idea:

61 - 80 of 82 Posts

Mobiloman

· #61 · Jun 22, 2012

@spets

Ahh.. what you are saying is that when the switch is flipped on it will short out the circuit going to the clutch sensor? I did do it wrong then, I simply disconnected the cable leading to the clutch sensor, someone said long ago on this thread that was a way to see if you wanted to do the mod or not.

spets said:
Mobiloman,

I have a feeling you wired it up wrong. you said the disconnected clutch switch would prevent engine start but would not prevent assist/regen. that is the expected behavior if the switch is disconnected. The engine will only crank over when the clutch switch is "on", as it is when you push the clutch pedal down.

You need to wire the switch in parallel, not in series. If you wire in in parallel (just insert the wires into the existing connector), you'll be able to start the car without pressing on the clutch (MAKE SURE IT IS OUT OF GEAR!), and assist and regen will be disabled. Assist and regen is disabled when the computer thinks the clutch is pushed in.

spets

· #62 · Jun 23, 2012

Yes, leave the connector plugged in, take some wire (heck if you want, take a paper clip and bend it into a "U" if you want a temporary check) and insert them into the connector along with the existing two wires, and it should work.

kitkit201

· #63 · Jul 10, 2012

After the Nor Cal meetup yesterday, Vince and I wanted to do this project. What does it take? it seems like a simple setup. Connect two wires to a switch and thats it?

Willie Williford

· #64 · Jul 10, 2012

kitkit:
Correct, wire the switch as in a parallel circuit, not in series.
Can't remember if the clutch switch is normally open or closed.
It won't make a difference though, all the switch is doing is simulating the clutch switch action.
Be careful though, after installing the switch you will be able to start the car in gear if the switch is in the right position. Always start with the clutch pushed down, unless you are in neutral.

HTH
Willie

kitkit201

· #65 · Jul 14, 2012

Willie Williford said:
kitkit:
Correct, wire the switch as in a parallel circuit, not in series.
Can't remember if the clutch switch is normally open or closed.
It won't make a difference though, all the switch is doing is simulating the clutch switch action.
Be careful though, after installing the switch you will be able to start the car in gear if the switch is in the right position. Always start with the clutch pushed down, unless you are in neutral.

HTH
Willie

Hi Willie,

Thanks! I did this yesterday and it worked great! I had a little trouble as a had a relay so I had to be sure the wires were in the right place, but it worked great. Didn't use much battery at all up the hill and the mod will pay divendends in the future battery longevity. Calpod you are the man! Thanks!

~Wilson

Willie Williford

· #66 · Jul 14, 2012

Why did you use a relay? All you are doing is duplicating what the clutch switch would normally do.

Just curious
Willie

Willie Williford

· #67 · Jul 14, 2012 (Edited)

Deleted because of ICN double whammy.

kitkit201

· #68 · Jul 14, 2012

Hi Willie,

Reason for the relay was because of my remote start. I guess I can take the relay out now since I have a switch.

Willie Williford

· #69 · Jul 14, 2012

Please do. no reason to over engineer the mod.
You can now play with the system with the CARD switch and you will be bewildered with what happens.
See if your mileage increases.

Enjoy
Willie

retepsnikrep

· #70 · Jul 15, 2012 (Edited)

Improving the assist/regen mod.

Perhaps it is time to improve this mod to address a few scenarios when it doesn't work,
and give it some additional functions?

We have the controllable Mini BCM Interceptor board which can

1) Disable assist/regen at will. Even on later cars and CVT's when the clutch switch won't.
2) Command background regen at will. (Only MIMA/IMAC&C could previously do this)
3) Probably control/do other things I haven't thought of.

It sits in the ipu compartment on top of the MCM and reqs six connections.

It can have a simple switch on the dash, the software is open source etc so sky is the limit.

The pcb is $25 from me and parts probably another $10

http://www.insightcentral.net/forums/modifications-technical-issues/22888-mini-bcm-interceptor.html

Just a thought. And I'm not advocating it would be right for all. I still have the clutch/brake switch mod on my project car as well as an Interceptor. Just an idea for discussion perhaps in it's own thread

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TopFuelTim

· #71 · Jul 16, 2012 (Edited)

This is interesting. Peter, your controllable Mini BCM Interceptor board is something to consider for my daughter's G1 CVT.

Tim

Insight for life

· #72 · Oct 2, 2012

I am in the process of installing my calpod / card switch and I have a couple questions. Which wire connected to the clutch is the positive and which is the negative? Also do I need to disconnect the 12v to do this mod? I fear that I could fry the ecm. (Wouldn't be the first time I have fried one) thanks for the info. I know that some of this info may be available on this thread already but I am on my phone and reading takes for ever.

Willie Williford

· #73 · Oct 2, 2012

Polarity doesn't matter because you are wireing the switch parallel to the clutch switch.
As long as the ignition switch is off, there is no power to the clutch switch.

HTH
Willie

Insight for life

· #74 · Oct 3, 2012

Thanks Willie! I got it installed today and so far so good!

theaveng

· #75 · Oct 3, 2012

I'm tempted to make this mod to turn-off the battery, but then I changed my mind. I figure if my almost-dead battery keeps getting charged/emptied/charged/emptied it will deteriorate and make it easier to convince the dealer to give me a new one at 150,000 miles. (Then I will make the mod to turn it off.)

ManOfKnight

· #76 · Nov 11, 2012

Looking at performing this modification on day 2 of owning my car (next Sunday). My question is...will this switch work? The shaft measures .75 inches (20mm). I love how clean it will look when installed.

12v DPST switch

Thanks in advance.

jime

· #77 · Nov 11, 2012

ManOfKnight said:
Looking at performing this modification on day 2 of owning my car (next Sunday). My question is...will this switch work? The shaft measures .75 inches (20mm). I love how clean it will look when installed.

12v DPST switch

Thanks in advance.

It will work electrically, but I think it might be too big.

It kinda depends on how much effort you want to put into installing the switch. Most folks opt for using one of the three little blank pop-outs on the left lower dash. Those are pretty small. You would be best to get the car in your hands before you select a switch.

An indicator light is not very important. You will soon learn to recognize "on/off" by the position of the lever arm. You can install a small LED adjacent to a small switch if you want a light. Just thinking out loud. Everyone seems to have different tastes. I use a simple miniature single pole single throw switch from my local Radio Shack, installed in one of the pop-outs.

Mario

· #78 · Nov 11, 2012

There's also this thread that combines this mod with a full regen mod:
http://www.insightcentral.net/forum...s/10931-brake-clutch-switch-mod-walkthru.html

Push the switch forward to turn off IMA regen and charge. Pull it towards you to momentarily enable full regen.

A word of advice, though - I think the brake switch passes all the current for the brake lights through it, and a tiny switch definitely will not handle that. The last poster on that topic said the switch eventually started smoking when he enabled full regen, so I think I may be correct. I'd add a relay if you're going to do that.

The clutch switch should pass almost no current, though.
Also, in regards to an LED indicator, the best thing to do would be to use a DPST switch, and hook the LED up on its own separate circuit, straight to 12v (with a resistor, of course). That would mean no current drawn from the ECM, and you still get your indicator.

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5631

· #79 · Nov 12, 2012

Mario said:
A word of advice, though - I think the brake switch passes all the current for the brake lights through it, and a tiny switch definitely will not handle that. The last poster on that topic said the switch eventually started smoking when he enabled full regen, so I think I may be correct. I'd add a relay if you're going to do that.

The Insight Electrical Troubleshooting Manual doesn't show a relay in the brake light circuit, so full brake light current would pass through this new switch as you indicated. The brake light fuse is 10 amps, so either add a relay to the circuit or use a switch capable of passing 10 amps at 12 volts.

charlieinjax

· #80 · Dec 22, 2012

Calpod said:
Here is how to disable Assist/Regen when you don't need it, such as when you are trying so keep from depleting the battery charge on long hills, or when you don't want background charging, or when you are going downhill and don't want to regen.

Take the 2 wires from the clutch pedal, run them thru a toggle switch and you're done, now anytime you don't want to use assist or regen, just flip the switch and IMA is disabled. :idea:

All of us CVT owners are now jealous. But it does make us wonder if the BCM has the ability to receive a similar input on our models. Anyone have an informed opinion on that?

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