New 1st Gen Owner - Battery/IMA help

530 Views 6 Replies 6 Participants Last post by troytempest, 11 d ago

Surfsage

Discussion Starter · 16 d ago

I bought a 2004 last year with a good working.battery and IMA system. Last fall I left on a trip and the person I left the keys with had to move the car. They left the key in the accessory position and I came back to a completely drained 12V and IMA battery. I jump started the car and drove it and it seemed to recharge, but never regained normal function. Now the IMA light is on and it doesn't indicate charging. I'm in Mexico so there's no access to a qualified mechanic here.

My first question is can I plug in a trickle charger/maintainer into the 12v socket to at least try to get the 12v battery up to a good charge?

Second question is what would be the right steps to try to diagnose and revive the IMA system if I have no access to a grid charger/discharger?

Thanks in advance for the help!

Photo is of dash with car in and idling.

Speedometer Trip computer Odometer Motor vehicle Vehicle

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NewOwner

· #2 · 16 d ago (Edited)

Second question is what would be the right steps to try to diagnose and revive the IMA system if I have no access to a grid charger/discharger?

Build one yourself. the hook up to the car is just 4 wires and a inline safety fuse. Peter has a how to video on youtube to build one.

My first question is can I plug in a trickle charger/maintainer into the 12v socket to at least try to get the 12v battery up to a good charge?

Just put your car into gas only mode, and then jump start the car, see if the 12 volt holds a charge. I'm assuming your 12 volt currently dies on you and kills the engine. The IMA system acts as the cars alternator, when it detects that the hybrid battery is having an issue, it disables itself, so your 12 volt will slowly die.

Youtube will show you multiple videos of how to put it into gas only mode.

If you can't find a decent autoparts store to sell you a car battery, I've been told a few members here use a golf cart 12 volt battery because the insights reliance on the 12 volt is so little, not sure if/how that will interact with the IMA battery not being functional so I'm not going to suggest it, but in a pinch if you're in a rural part with little access to parts it might be worth a try.

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Willie Williford

· #3 · 15 d ago

It isn't a golf cart battery, it is a ride on mower battery. Been using that type for years.

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NewOwner

· #4 · 15 d ago

Willie Williford said:
It isn't a golf cart battery, it is a ride on mower battery. Been using that type for years.

That's what it was, my apologies, I'm looking forward to also making the switch if my 12 volt ever dies.

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GKEJ

· #5 · 15 d ago

Surfsage said:
I bought a 2004 last year with a good working.battery and IMA system. Last fall I left on a trip and the person I left the keys with had to move the car. They left the key in the accessory position and I came back to a completely drained 12V and IMA battery. I jump started the car and drove it and it seemed to recharge, but never regained normal function. Now the IMA light is on and it doesn't indicate charging. I'm in Mexico so there's no access to a qualified mechanic here.

My first question is can I plug in a trickle charger/maintainer into the 12v socket to at least try to get the 12v battery up to a good charge?

Second question is what would be the right steps to try to diagnose and revive the IMA system if I have no access to a grid charger/discharger?

Thanks in advance for the help!

Photo is of dash with car in and idling.

View attachment 103195

Hi, you could try to reset the IMA battery by disconnecting the battery terminals on your 12v battery (front engine bay) or just remove a fuse. The IMA light should go off and you will be on one bar for a while until it recharges. However, first you need to make sure your 12v battery is fully charged. If this does not work, then you will have to use a grid charger to bring it back to life.

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geocougar

· #6 · 15 d ago (Edited)

Surfsage said:
My first question is can I plug in a trickle charger/maintainer into the 12v socket to at least try to get the 12v battery up to a good charge?

Yes. But I would connect your trickle charger/maintainer directly to the 12v battery terminals. If you use the 12v (cigarette lighter) socket, you would need to leave your key in the ignition switch and turn it to the first (accessories) position -- otherwise there is no connection between the 12v battery and the 12v (cigarette lighter) socket and your 12v battery will not charge.

Surfsage said:
Second question is what would be the right steps to try to diagnose and revive the IMA system if I have no access to a grid charger/discharger?

You have an IMA light as well as a CEL (Check Engine Light) in your picture. You need to find the "blink" codes to figure out what to do next.

[How-To] Pull IMA codes, Honda Insight 00-06' (G1)

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troytempest

· #7 · 11 d ago

There is plenty of great advice on this forum about the IMA battery, including how to build your own grid charger cheaply.

I purchased my first gen1 Insight about a month ago and followed this advice, and so far it appears to have given some life back to the original 2000 IMA battery.

Grid charge for 30 hours, take note of the voltage.
Discharge using a conventional household light bulb rated at 60w (I used 40w) until the lamp stops glowing (about 60 hours for me) and measure voltage again.
Perform this action 3 times.
Perform a final (4th) grid charge, at the end of which, reset the IMA by disconnecting the 12v battery for 30 seconds.
Start the car and allow the system (BCM I think) learn and re-calibrate to the refreshed IMA battery.

In my case, this appears to have reactivated the IMA, but I have to be realistic that this is a 23 year old battery pack and all I am doing is getting as much life out of it as possible.

Good Luck
Bob

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