[jonnoshore]

Hello all,

Had my Insight now for a few weeks now and had a few recals and a couple of wet seat belts... Ho-Hum...

Last few days I have had intermittant Stop-starts i.e. it continues to run even when warm etc so IS annoying as the 1.5EO vibration at idle is more annoying than a recal and or an occasional wet seat belt (summer now)...

Any help with the stop start issue would be greatly appreaciated...

Must be a bad connection somewhere...

It has had the second earth strap fixed.

John

 

[The Citrus Smoothie]

Hi John

Sorry to hear your enjoyment is being spoilt. There are a number of conditions that will prevent auto-stop - low engine temp, low IMA battery charge, very low external temp and having A/C on automatic are four that I can remember off the top of my head. Others might be able to tell you more. One possible loose connection is at the external temp sensor located in the front bumper.

Surprised you are getting recalibrations on a 19K mile example. Has it had the 12V battery replaced? The original battery is a Fukuwara (or spelt something close to that). The Insight is quite sensitive to having the right and/or fresh 12V battery on board.

 

[jonnoshore]

thanks...

ref recals: No new battery I assume... Not yet got round to it...

It was particularly hot days it happened after the car was parked rear facing sun windows closed...

Always on way home from work... Not had one for about a week.

My 1.5 year old Ford Focus TDci which sold on ebay went today so no going back now ;-)

1. 12v battery to replace
2. wet seat belts to sort
3. Intemittant Stop start to diagnose
4. Stereo/speakers to improve...

 

[Ed]

John

With reference to your stop-starts – at the risk of sounding patronising just check that you’ve got the clutch right down on the floor and/or the matt on the floor hasn’t slipped under the clutch pedal. In any case the green auto stop light should be steady rather than blinking.

My 2001 MT has had recalls from day 1 and they haven’t got any worse over four years of ownership. In my (total lack of professional) opinion they’re more down to dippy software than battery problems, as what it tends to do is get fully charged up on a long trip then completely underestimate the amount of battery charge it’s using until low charge forces a recall.

Pioneer stereo speakers work well, and if you’ve got the door panels off to hack away at the plastic I’d recommend sticking in a lining of Dynamat/ Brown Bread or similar to beef up the flimsy door panels.

Cheers

Ed

 

[jonnoshore]

Ed...

Ed,

I am sat in stationary traffic, in neutral, with my foot on the brake and my foot on the clutch once the car is in neutral it should auto stop as long as the car is slower.

I am an automotive engineer so I will check the mat but it is fixed under the seat so this is unlikely. Maybe the switch only activates if it is fully depressed, I will check.

I saw the head unit I'd like... It is a McIntosh MX406... expensive though...

The wet seat belt will get more annoying as winter gets wetter...

 

[The Citrus Smoothie]

Bear in mind that in stop-start traffic, the Insight auto-stop controller will allow around three auto-stops in a short period of time before it sulks and gives up auto-stopping for a while (probably something to do with saving batteries, engine damage / oil pressure, keeping engine temperature up - take your pick... ). I also used to find that the car would auto-stop easier when coasting up in gear, rather than switching to neutral.

In theory the wet seat belt is a relatively easy fix of the 'runner' on the roof. However I never quite got round to it with any of mine

HTH!

 

[jonnoshore]

definitely intermittant...

definitely intermittant...

It is very apparent it is sometime working sometimes not...

It is not due to the mat... clipped back
it is not due to 3 stop starts... happens after driving
it sometime does it, some times not...

What wires are used to allow the stop start to work... I'm thinking of it being a bad contact and unplug-replugging these to help impove contact...

Any other pointers... Anyone have the manual electronically on CD-rom?

 

[dice]

The other things that will keep auto stop to not stop are, if you have the defrost button on, then auto stop won't work, because the ac cycles when defrost is engaged, also if the climate control is on auto, then preference is given to the drivers comfort and not fuel economy. As stated, I have found auto stop engages easiest if in a higher gear, foot on brake, then depressing clutch when there is no more regen. Seems to go easily into auto stop no mater what speed you are traveling.

 

[Insightful Trekker]

Seems to go easily into auto stop no mater what speed you are traveling.

HUH :!: :?

See:

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

AND

http://www.insightcentral.net/encyclope ... estop.html

HTH!

 

[jonnoshore]

could be defrost...

Due to the roof leak I sometime have the defrost on... very effective but it could be this as it does not say A/C on when this works but it is abviously...

 

[jonnoshore]

...I think it was the defrost...

Tried a number stops on the way home... think I have found the 'problem'...

Defrost on... No auto stop

Defrost off... AUTO-STOP! Hooray!

Thanks...

Defrost does not say A/C is on however so is an easy thing to miss (my excuse).

 

[dice]

glad you figured it out. There is a learning curve on driving the Insight, and the info on this site is very helpful. Just bought my '01 a month ago and am still learning.

 

[jonnoshore]

now all I need is to fx the roof leak / wet seatbelt...

now all I need is to fx the roof leak / wet seatbelt...

Then I would not need the defrost on... ;-)

I must say though the defrost is excellent, once warm as good as a Ford heated screen without the wire lines...