Joined
·
6 Posts
My IMA main battery failed and was replaced as noted elsewhere in this forum.
I immediately noticed a reduction in available Main Battery charge capacity. True, the battery could be fully recharged by racing the engine above 4K RPM. However, this wastes gas. Previously, normal driving kept the IMA battery fully charged.
I verified that the car no longer has regenerative braking down to the original specification 19 MPH. Now, the computer switches off the charging system when the braking speed drops below 29 MPH. This 10 MPH difference accounts for the lack of charging to 80% capacity.
I contacted my dealership and he verified that Honda has decided to make ALL replacement IMA batteries with a required "charging" module changeout. It is true that Honda changed the minimum regenerative braking speed.
This is not a safety issue for regenerative braking. Indeed, my electric motorcycle has regenerative braking down to 0 MPH.
Honda corporate said the 19 MPH minimum regenerative braking speed reduced MPG in mountainous areas of the country. The local dealer complained that my driving range had no mountains. They requested a wavier for my car. Honda said "no." They made the change for ALL cars with replaced IMA batteries in America.
The good news is that the replacement IMA battery is NOT under warranty. The replacement battery costs $ 3500 US, but Honda replaced it for free when it castrophically failed. The local dealership said that I would not void any battery warranty if I wanted to "open her up."
I am an Extra Class amateur radio operator and am comfortable with working in the IMA compartment. What I need is an original IMA charging module or schematic. Any wrecked Insights out there? Honda required the original IMA charging module be returned in order to qualify for the free battery replacement.
I tried to keep the two IMA modules that were changed out. Honda gave me the new IMA battery (without warranty) in exchange for the two original modules and IMA battery.
Does anyone out there have additional information or schematic for the "improved" IMA battery charging module?
Thanks,
Ali Fant, WB5WAF
I immediately noticed a reduction in available Main Battery charge capacity. True, the battery could be fully recharged by racing the engine above 4K RPM. However, this wastes gas. Previously, normal driving kept the IMA battery fully charged.
I verified that the car no longer has regenerative braking down to the original specification 19 MPH. Now, the computer switches off the charging system when the braking speed drops below 29 MPH. This 10 MPH difference accounts for the lack of charging to 80% capacity.
I contacted my dealership and he verified that Honda has decided to make ALL replacement IMA batteries with a required "charging" module changeout. It is true that Honda changed the minimum regenerative braking speed.
This is not a safety issue for regenerative braking. Indeed, my electric motorcycle has regenerative braking down to 0 MPH.
Honda corporate said the 19 MPH minimum regenerative braking speed reduced MPG in mountainous areas of the country. The local dealer complained that my driving range had no mountains. They requested a wavier for my car. Honda said "no." They made the change for ALL cars with replaced IMA batteries in America.
The good news is that the replacement IMA battery is NOT under warranty. The replacement battery costs $ 3500 US, but Honda replaced it for free when it castrophically failed. The local dealership said that I would not void any battery warranty if I wanted to "open her up."
I am an Extra Class amateur radio operator and am comfortable with working in the IMA compartment. What I need is an original IMA charging module or schematic. Any wrecked Insights out there? Honda required the original IMA charging module be returned in order to qualify for the free battery replacement.
I tried to keep the two IMA modules that were changed out. Honda gave me the new IMA battery (without warranty) in exchange for the two original modules and IMA battery.
Does anyone out there have additional information or schematic for the "improved" IMA battery charging module?
Thanks,
Ali Fant, WB5WAF