I think it's a waste of your time and money to have your Honda dealer diagnose your IMA problem. He will read the diagnostic trouble code(s) (DTC) which will almost certainly point to an IMA battery pack whose performance is below spec. He will then tell you that the fix is to replace your battery pack with a (rebuilt) Honda battery pack. He might also tell you that you need new battery and motor controllers because yours are not the latest versions. He will tell you that the repair cost will be between $3,000 and $4,000 depending on how much profit he wants to make.

A better course of action would be for you to take your car to an auto parts store that would read the DTC(s) at no cost. You could then report this DTC(s) to this forum. Depending on which DTC is causing your IMA trouble light to illuminate, you might have the option of building or buying an IMA battery balance charger (a.k.a., grid charger) which could rejuvenate your battery pack by fully charging all 120 battery cells thus balancing the charge levels of all cells.

But if the DTC(s) indicate that balance charging might not help, you could buy an IMA battery pack whose cells are new and have a higher capacity compared with those used in the Honda battery pack which are recycled from bad battery packs. Several members of this forum sell these better battery packs for ~$2,000. You would need to install it yourself (not particularly difficult) or pay any decent mechanic to install it for you.

You would not need to buy new battery and motor controllers.

 

Sorry to hear about the car issues, let us know what the codes are! Also go to the link in this thread and add your car to the list, you'll be the lowest mileage Insight on the list!
http://www.insightcentral.net/forum...ums/honda-insight-forum-1st-gen-discussion/30034-high-mileage-best-mpg-doc.html

 

I'm located in Covina and if you need help I can assist you in your needs.

If you would like the codes read, grid charge, or up grade to a new 8 amp hour battery please call me.

If you need the vehicle towed I also have a tow truck.

Scott
909-605-3810.

 

They told us one month ago that the IMA battery was showing as fine with no problems.

Well there is perfect indication that the pack can be 'good' one day and 'bad' the next day.

 

Thanks very much. Let's see what the dealer's (free) diagnosis is.

 

Free diagnosis from a dealer?
That is rare.
A customer of mine went to the dealer yesterday and the dealer charged them $350 to get a diagnosis.

 

Another question: On our way down to the dealer yesterday, except for some slowness doing a turn from a stop, the car was pretty peppy.

So I'm wondering what the drawbacks are to possibly driving these cars without the assistance of the IMA batteries?

 

If you just drive it on gas it will drive some what like what you described.

Scott

 

Drawbacks are
- less pick up.
- Car does not like it when you rev it over 4,000 rpm.
- Check engine and IMA lights are on.
- Somewhat lower mpg.

A bit more about the acceleration. It's not completely dangerous or anything, but sometimes a little unnerving if you are not prepared for it. It's a bit easier to compensate for with a 5-speed than it is a CVT. Definitely less torque at takeoff and when when passing.

You can drive it this way indefinitely, but in most cases people eventually get a replacement pack so that they can regain the performance they were used to.

 

Get the codes read. Autozone and the such WILL read them for free.

Once the codes are known, there are many here on IC who can provide valuable advice. Ericbecky (EVpowers) for one, and Jeff652 (hybridautomotive, near your area) for another.

my 2 cents.

..Bob

 

2001 Insight CVT / IMA Codes

Thanks --- the codes they got were:

P1449, and P1600 .

 

The IMA battery is toast! Best options are to get an 8 amp hr battery from Eli at Bumble Bee.
Honda Hybrid Battery Replacement - Bumblebee Batteries

Or Matt at Hybrid Revolt.
HybridReVolt: Hybrid Battery Repair

 

IMA Battery

It bothers me that the dealer told us a month ago that the battery was fine and that we shouldn't experience any problems with it for a good while.

In any case, these new batteries look very good.

Do you recommend a competent mechanic or shop in the Los Angeles area which can remove the old IMA and re-install a new one? Thanks

 

Talk to Scott, his info is posted in the first post of this thread.
http://www.insightcentral.net/forum...ybrid-socials-events/25829-proposed-west-coast-gen1-meet-greet-aug-24-25-a.html

 

Good News re IMA Battery

Last week we dropped the car off at JUE Motors in Covina, with Scott.

The very good news is that he installed a grid charger cable and grid-charged the original IMA battery for a day or so -- and now the car runs better than ever, the battery indicator is up near 90 pct or so, and we have no IMA nor other error lights on. Hopefully this 'balancing' charge / rejuvenation will allow the IMA battery to last another year or longer.

He also replaced the two front speakers with new OEM ones, and installed the OEM rear speaker kit, and now the radio sound is really good.

He also polished out and sealed the front headlight lenses --- they look better than new.

Overall a VERY good experience with Scott --- thanks for referring us to him.

 

Scott and his boss at JUE Motors are awesome! They were great to the Insight crowd during our gathering a few months ago!