[sputnik]

My insight has been in the hybrid hospital for the past week. It began stalling almost constantly when stopped in AIS. Since it has done the same for the mechanics they have been sending computer info to three Honda engineers and told me today that it needs a new ECM-BCM kit and also a new IMA battery. Poor thing, guess it was'nt feeling well at all!

I have a few questions leftover from an earlier post.
http://www.insightcentral.net/forum/vie ... php?t=2378
Also some new ones.

Is the ECM the same as the PCM? Where is the ECM located (under the hood or with the IMA battery)? What actually manages Autostop?
If you have the IMA and ECM changed out, are there any differences in how the car performs afterward? (besides, finally running again!) Do you think the dealership would let me see the IMA?...it's so mysterious back there, all covered up with warning lables and carpeting.

I've only had the car 2 months and it worked just great initially. The past few weeks have been kind of rough, sometimes discouraging. I sure hope they can get the car back in good shape. We look out at the driveway and it's not there and I miss driving it.

Wednesday February 2nd (Happy Ground Hog's Day everyone):
A quick update...service rep said yesterday that Honda will cover the repairs *yeah* and that it is the BCM-MCM kit they plan to replace along w/ the IMA, not the ECM. Service rep isn't the mechanic. I've only spoken with the mechanic one time. The mechanic has a British accent...don't know how he ended up in Alabama. Anyway, I think I know where the BCM-MCM are at from viewing the insightcentral Encylopedia photo. Since I'm a newbie w/ much to learn, I would still like to know where the ECM is physically located, what regulates the AIS, and if there is anything to be aware of when an IMA is replaced? With gratitude in advance for any response.

 

[Skimmer]

Sounds like you and I are in the same boat, though our symptoms are a bit different:

http://www.insightcentral.net/forum/vie ... 4893#24893

Mine went in the shop just today for new IMA battery and BCM-MCM. My symptoms were weekly recals and a really bad "bucking" feeling when the electric motor kicked in and out (like the feeling you get when riding with someone who doesn't know how to drive a manual transmission).

Can't answer your questions, just wanted to sympathize! :roll:

 

[jsanford]

Interesting...

So we have the same service on an '00 Insight with 66k, and an '01 Insight with 22k. Have other BCM-MCMs & IMAs required replacement after four years of service? Or perhaps this is more related to climate (Alabama in the South, hot Sacramento...)

 

[Kevin Dougherty]

ECM is located under a metal plate under the passengers feet.
AIS = auto idle stop... is regulated by several parameters...mostly temperature or vacuum related.
Here's a link :

http://www.insightcentral.net/KB/faq-co ... html#NoAIS

 

[sputnik]

Just wanted to say thanks for the responses. All were helpful and I really appreciate the input.

My insight came home yesterday after 10 days, with a new IMA battery and new BCM-MCM computers. It's very nice having it home! I've only taken 4 trips so far. No stalling and 62MPG on an in-town route w/ a number of stop lights, so I'm hopeful.

Honda covered all of the repair costs and split the cost of diagnostic time with me and that seems more than fair. I asked them to take their time and be safe... didn't want anybody rushing things w/ 144 volts. Yikes!
The British mechanic (turns out he is head of quality control at the dealership) told me they never isolated a definitive trouble code on the IMA but he felt sure the IMA battery was deteriorating based on the way it would give up its tasks to the 12V during his test drives. He said that he timed the duration of AIS before the car stalled and it had a pattern. There appear to have been some anomalies in the BCM-MCM. The computers might have contributed to the IMA battery going haywire.
(like HAL in 2001 Odyssey, dangerously misdirecting spacecraft operations... well yes, I threw that in, not the mechanic :shock: )

I have been reading various posts about protecting the IMA batteries from excessive heat. We purchased our insight from a dealer 700 miles north of Alabama; first owner from the Chicago area, and my husband drove it home over two days. The car had 57 lmpg and regular service records, etc. so it appeared well tended. Hard to say if Chicago heat and humidity affected the batteries. I do know that Alabama heat will melt your socks off, so it will be important to keep the little thing as cool as possible during our sweltering summers.

With regards and thanks.

 

[Kevin Dougherty]

With regards to the 'bama heat...tint your windows heavily & install vent visors so you can always have the windows cracked to keep your heat load low.

This will slightly inprove your mpg also...less AC 8)

 

[figgy]

I and I believe at least a few others have put in solar powered fans to keep the car cool when parked.

You can see the mods I did at my web site. Search for 'solar' and 'fan' and you can come up with variations on the theme.

It works well for me.