[That_Insight_Hybrid]

Well, after I bought my Insight, I was getting used to it's hybrid power-train compared to my Prius I had traded in. It was a little jerky, and always hesitates when taking off, but I recently took it to the dealer after reading some posts on here that said there was an update for the CVT. I took it in and they checked and seen no updates, they said it has a computer to log if the car has any "jutters" or "jerks" that they checked and found none, but they said they cleared the computers, drove it and it operated as designed. (Which I know that's just how it is, I was just seeing if there was a way to get rid of that quirk.)

Anyhow, last night, my partner and I went to the park here where I live in Wheeling, West Virginia to look at the Christmas lights at Oglebay where traffic was moving between 0-13MPH. I think 8MPH is the threshold of AutoStop, regen, ect. But my lord, I would let off the accelerator pedal and the Insight would lurch and slow down, then it would hit 8MPH and then jerk because regen was cutting out and would initiate the "creep forward" mode, then I'd push slightly on the accelerator pedal to go again and it would hesitate and jerk forward. It was just really, really unpleasant and kind of made me aggravated and not enjoy the trip.

As we were leaving after seeing all the lights, I asked him if he felt how the car was lurching, hesitating, and jerking all over the place (because I didn't say anything while we were "oooo and aww"ing at the lights, and he said he didn't really notice too much but did since I had just mentioned it. I don't know, in some ways, I find it to be slightly a safety issue, because in heavy traffic, it just seems like the Insight cannot get out of it's own way with all the lurching and hesitation. Maybe it's because I always have ECON mode on and should turn it off or put it in Sport mode, and I love love love this car so much. But it scares me to drive in hectic traffic (Pittsburgh).

However, I haven't tried it with ECON off yet, or in Sport mode... I've driven on open roads with those features off, but never in traffic. This is also my first Honda, but not my first hybrid. I'm 19 years old and have never owned a gas-only car. I've owned only the first and second generation of the Prius since I got my permit when I was 15, so I'm not new to the hybrid game.

 

[egads]

Sport mode with ECON off is the main way I drive the Insight in traffic.
I first started as a way to keep the A/C on, but turning off the auto stop
also makes the experience less annoying.

I'm afraid the Honda IMA is just not as smooth as a Prius.
You also don't have many miles on it. It takes a long time to brake in a Honda.

 

[That_Insight_Hybrid]

Sport mode with ECON off is the main way I drive the Insight in traffic.
I first started as a way to keep the A/C on, but turning off the auto stop
also makes the experience less annoying.

I'm afraid the Honda IMA is just not as smooth as a Prius.
You also don't have many miles on it. It takes a long time to brake in a Honda.

Thanks for the reply!
And for the advise. Next time I'm in heavy traffic, I'll definitely try using Sport with ECON off. It'll be a little more buzzy I'm sure since Sport mode raises the RPM's a bit, but I'll just have to choose between efficiency or comfort ultimately.

Thank you!

P.S. I should update my signature. I have about 1,900 miles on her now.

 

[RedDevil]

It never was bad with mine, but it certainly got better after some time. I mainly had a transition issue when braking, it would not brake evenly when dropping out of regen speed. Adding brake pad return springs to the front disks helped even out that behaviour.
(the 2011 has a single brake pad return spring on the upper edge of the pads. I now have them on the lower edge too).

AFAIK there are no software updates yet for MY 2011 and later.

 

[Cobb]

Both Insights have a history of jerking around their owners. It can be any number of things from clogged egr, bad o2 sensor, clutch pack adjustment, auto stop/IMA/EV hand off and cvt itself.

One of the best ways to adjust the clutch pack is to accelerate to 35mph in a safe quiet place, then let the car coast down to like 10 mph in15-30 seconds.

Having come from a supercharges tacoma that would sit and melt tires I learned early on to release the brake and wait for the vehicle to start creeping, then apply light gas til the vehicle starts to pick up speed, then start to add throttle.

The only jerking I experience is when I come to a red light and am slowing down to like 20 mph and going to brake to a full stop. All of a sudden the light turns green and the way is clear. I gas it, the engine revs up and BUMP the car lurches forward and the rpms drop like I have a manual clutch and its slipping.

I only experience this when the car is cold or the cold engine light just went off. To by pass this in those situations I will tap the throttle then proceed to press it down to reaccelerate.

 

[Lee Moon]

I recently had my 2010 EX in for its 60,000 mile service. I'd asked my service writer to apply any/all software updates to the car. When it was done, he said they'd applied 3 updates to the car.
Don't know if it was the updates and/or the more involved service done (also had alignment and replaced 2 tires) on the car, but it doesn't have the jerkiness first thing in the morning when the car/engine is cold. It's a much smoother delivery of power.
Every once in a while, I get the lurch when the car has just gone into regen and then I need to accelerate (light turns green just as I start my glide to a stop and then press the accelerator.) My CR-Z will do the same thing from time to time.

 

[longdx]

My 2011 Insight had some jerky motions like yours. (I have approx 23k on it right now). I also notice it especially when cold (before the engine/trans seem to warm up). I did recently changed the CVT oil (3 qts) and that has helped quell some jerkiness.

To me, while the IMA system is not as refined as the Toyota Prius, the cost of the car more than makes up for it. I have always exceeded the EPA mileage posted on the Insight and it has smoothed out over time.

 

[Uriel]

The software updates vastly improved the jerking / lurching on mine.

It did get a little jerky again a month or two ago but it was due a CVT fluid change and that helped again.

Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App

 

[That_Insight_Hybrid]

Thank you for all the replies everyone! I've noticed with about 2,000 miles or less maybe, on her now, it seems to be getting better. I am taking Cobb's advise and trying premium fuel next fill up which will probably be a few weeks.

This is so exciting to me! It neat to have a different hybrid system to learn all the in's and out's.

So far sitting at 38 MPG which is the lowest it's ever been... explainable though because it was (a week and a half ago) 10-15 degrees F outside and I would let the Insight sit for about 3-5 minutes to warm up and get everything circulating before driving off, and my commute to my work place is about 2 miles away, and I park her in a nice warm, dry parking garage.