I bought a 2000 Insight #846 with a salvage title and 82,000 miles in October 2005. The damage appears pretty minor: wrinkled bumper plastic, front body panels don’t fit quite right and have odd fasteners on them. The A/C condenser in front of the radiator is slightly bent but doesn’t leak. I don’t have any problems with the front end.
The problem is with the IMA battery.
For background info, I was getting about 58 mpg with my commute and job traveling. I was keeping my tires at 40 psi, they were almost bald. MT 5 speed, A/C. Lifetime mpg for this car was 55 before I bought it.
I had a flat (of course) and bought new tires all around, Toyo Eclipse P175/65, inflated to 44 psi cold.
Then my mpg went down to about 52. Because of the new tires, maybe. Bald tires have less rolling resistance.
Then a week later my IMA light came on, and the CEL also. I had 5 recals that week. They weren’t ordinary recals, the SOC would go from about 80% down to two bars, then in the next 5 minutes up to about 50%, then up to full charge in less than a minute. Mileage went down to 44 mpg. The odometer is at 93,000 now.
I read the DTCs using the “blinking lights” method. The IMA showed code 77 (P1447 - Battery Module Deterioration). The CEL showed code 41 (A/F sensor) and 69 (IMA System Malfunction)
I figured I didn’t have anything to lose by taking it to my local Honda Dealer to get a quote, especially after the warranty extension in CA. They said I need a new battery module, and both control modules. They will cover the control modules under the extended warranty, but not the battery! Battery will cost $3212 + $183 labor + $232 tax.
I searched around. I can get a salvaged battery for $850 (not rebuilt) with 6-month warranty. I called another local Honda Dealer in a nearby town, they want $3946 for a new battery, parts only! Then I called Honda Auto Customer Service at 1-800-999-1009 and they told me there is NO warranty coverage on a salvaged vehicle.
I’m thinking I should jump at the chance to get a new battery and two control modules for $3628. What do you think?
The problem is with the IMA battery.
For background info, I was getting about 58 mpg with my commute and job traveling. I was keeping my tires at 40 psi, they were almost bald. MT 5 speed, A/C. Lifetime mpg for this car was 55 before I bought it.
I had a flat (of course) and bought new tires all around, Toyo Eclipse P175/65, inflated to 44 psi cold.
Then my mpg went down to about 52. Because of the new tires, maybe. Bald tires have less rolling resistance.
Then a week later my IMA light came on, and the CEL also. I had 5 recals that week. They weren’t ordinary recals, the SOC would go from about 80% down to two bars, then in the next 5 minutes up to about 50%, then up to full charge in less than a minute. Mileage went down to 44 mpg. The odometer is at 93,000 now.
I read the DTCs using the “blinking lights” method. The IMA showed code 77 (P1447 - Battery Module Deterioration). The CEL showed code 41 (A/F sensor) and 69 (IMA System Malfunction)
I figured I didn’t have anything to lose by taking it to my local Honda Dealer to get a quote, especially after the warranty extension in CA. They said I need a new battery module, and both control modules. They will cover the control modules under the extended warranty, but not the battery! Battery will cost $3212 + $183 labor + $232 tax.
I searched around. I can get a salvaged battery for $850 (not rebuilt) with 6-month warranty. I called another local Honda Dealer in a nearby town, they want $3946 for a new battery, parts only! Then I called Honda Auto Customer Service at 1-800-999-1009 and they told me there is NO warranty coverage on a salvaged vehicle.
I’m thinking I should jump at the chance to get a new battery and two control modules for $3628. What do you think?
