Hi all,
I have tried searching for information about this but all I found was a mention about the battery pack overheating, which will cause regen to cut off. I don't think this is the problem for me.
I have recently acquired my second (!) Insight, a 2000 5-sp with 75K miles on it. The only serious work done to the car before I bought it was the IMA recall (just replacement of the controller, I believe), and nothing else related to IMA as far as I know.
The problem I'm seeing is that sometimes on long, steep downhill grades, I only get full regen (gently braking) for the first half-mile, then no additional regen from braking. A couple things to keep in mind:
- I'm not continuously braking (I'm gently braking some, then releasing the brake to pick up momentum again and to give the brakes and battery a rest);
- I'm in gear (usually 4th, but it happens in 3rd as well) and going fast enough to get full regen (40+ in 4th, 30+ in 3rd);
- I have a long downhill grade (~5 miles long) on my way in to work, and some days I get full regen down the whole length of it, and other days, just full regen for the first half mile, thereafter just partial regen (while still applying the brake).
- Temperature outside during these tests is anywhere from 70-90 degrees; inside the car, I do not have the A/C on, so temperature is about 75-80 degrees. The problem occurs within about 10 minutes from home, so I don't think it's an overheating issue.
I tried an experiment the other day when this happened. First, I pulled over and sat in auto-stop for about 30 seconds, then continued on my way downhill (I even made sure to use some assist when getting back on the road, to see if I could get the system to "get over it" and give me back my full regen!).
Next, since that didn't work, I pulled over again after about a mile and turned off the car for a full minute. Started her back up, got back on the road, and same thing as before -- only partial regen when braking. About 1/2 mile later, the car "got over it" and gave me full regen, right before I reached the bottom of the hill. :evil:
I'm having a hard time keeping these old batteries charged up and ready to rock (that 5 mile super-sweet downhill coast-fest is a battery-drainer when going the other way!) especially when the system doesn't seem to be functioning correctly. Anyone have any advice, thoughts, commiseration, etc?
I will take the car in to the dealer for my buddy Edgar to look at (a dealership mechanic who owns an Insight -- what an excellent idea!), but I'd like to go in well-informed, as this is not my only issue with the car.
Thanks in advance,
-flymuck
I have tried searching for information about this but all I found was a mention about the battery pack overheating, which will cause regen to cut off. I don't think this is the problem for me.
I have recently acquired my second (!) Insight, a 2000 5-sp with 75K miles on it. The only serious work done to the car before I bought it was the IMA recall (just replacement of the controller, I believe), and nothing else related to IMA as far as I know.
The problem I'm seeing is that sometimes on long, steep downhill grades, I only get full regen (gently braking) for the first half-mile, then no additional regen from braking. A couple things to keep in mind:
- I'm not continuously braking (I'm gently braking some, then releasing the brake to pick up momentum again and to give the brakes and battery a rest);
- I'm in gear (usually 4th, but it happens in 3rd as well) and going fast enough to get full regen (40+ in 4th, 30+ in 3rd);
- I have a long downhill grade (~5 miles long) on my way in to work, and some days I get full regen down the whole length of it, and other days, just full regen for the first half mile, thereafter just partial regen (while still applying the brake).
- Temperature outside during these tests is anywhere from 70-90 degrees; inside the car, I do not have the A/C on, so temperature is about 75-80 degrees. The problem occurs within about 10 minutes from home, so I don't think it's an overheating issue.
I tried an experiment the other day when this happened. First, I pulled over and sat in auto-stop for about 30 seconds, then continued on my way downhill (I even made sure to use some assist when getting back on the road, to see if I could get the system to "get over it" and give me back my full regen!).
Next, since that didn't work, I pulled over again after about a mile and turned off the car for a full minute. Started her back up, got back on the road, and same thing as before -- only partial regen when braking. About 1/2 mile later, the car "got over it" and gave me full regen, right before I reached the bottom of the hill. :evil:
I'm having a hard time keeping these old batteries charged up and ready to rock (that 5 mile super-sweet downhill coast-fest is a battery-drainer when going the other way!) especially when the system doesn't seem to be functioning correctly. Anyone have any advice, thoughts, commiseration, etc?
I will take the car in to the dealer for my buddy Edgar to look at (a dealership mechanic who owns an Insight -- what an excellent idea!), but I'd like to go in well-informed, as this is not my only issue with the car.
Thanks in advance,
-flymuck