2000 Insight 5 speed repair & build thread

[Daox]

The day has finally come and I now own a Honda Insight! I've been looking for one of these cars to find its way home with me for a few years now and I finally nabbed one last night. It is a 2000 5 speed with 135k miles on it. Overall condition of the car is pretty good considering its 16 years old. I'll be going through it thoroughly to find and fix things that need fixing. Thankfully, I think the list is on the shorter side than some of the others I've seen.

The biggest issue I currently have is there is a pretty bad shudder when the engine is under a good load. Its not completely smooth under lean burn either, but a lot smoother. I assume this is an EGR issue and the valve and/or plate or passages need cleaning. This made for an interesting 75 mile trip home on the interstate, but I still managed a very respectable 63 mpg on the way home with most of the trip at 65-70 mph! Very impressive. My wife drove our Prius home behind me and averaged low 50s.

The IMA pack seems weak, but there is no IMA light. There wasn't an engine light either until a cop stopped me on the way home for not having plates on it. After an explanation that I just bought it, showing him the title and bill of sale, I was on my way again. However, upon my briskly accelerating back up to freeway speeds, I got a CEL to pop on it and my pack charge indicator went down to only a few bars. I'm hoping a good charge and discharge cycle or two will get me back in shape. So, I'll be looking to build one of those.

Other than that, its got RE92s on all corners. Two look newer than the other two. I'm not sure if I'm missing any aero panels under the car. Both rear skirts are there, but the passenger one has a chunk out of the rear corner. Ah yes, and it came with a spare starter, and a full service manual with mechanical and electrical books.

I can't wait to get it on the road and start playing with it!

==========================

For a list of modifications and links to them, see my Garage entry for the Insight.

[MetroMPG]

Congrats! Another checkmark on the eco car "must own" list. The nerd's Ferrari.

Good things come to those who wait!

PS ... I bet whatever caused the owner to suspect a 12v starter problem is in fact ground related. Check the engine/trans ground straps.

[Daox]

Thanks, I'll definitely look into that. I didn't check to see when the 12V had been replaced. I assume it has due to the age of the car.

Another issue is I'm missing this door thing on mine. I assume its just a small cubby/storage deal.

[The donkey CRX]

Congrats Daox, I hope you have as much fun as we have with our 02 Insight. Can't wait to follow your mods!

[cowmeat]

Awesome, congrats!

Shudder could be one or more loose spark plugs, that's what was wrong on my first Insight when I bought it. The coils are screwed on so they keep the plugs in the holes, but you lose power and get a shudder. Or a loose ground strap, etc . . . . a lot of things
New Accord V6 EGR valve is like 50 bucks with a gasket. EGR plate gasket is re-usable, I used my old one with no issues

Looking forward to your build

You need to get yourself one of those badass 3D printed shift knobs some guy on here makes!

[Ecky]

Yeah, I agree with cowmeat, it's probably either a spark plug that has backed out, a broken ground strap, or the EGR valve or passages. Ground strap could cause IMA oddities too.

[Natalya]

Yeah that's the change drawer. Find a junkyard Insight and grab one off it. Do you know what those buttons do? I bet one is no-assist and the other is full-regen or forced auto stop.

[Daschicken]

Originally Posted by Natalya

Yeah that's the change drawer. Find a junkyard Insight and grab one off it. Do you know what those buttons do? I bet one is no-assist and the other is full-regen or forced auto stop.

I think that picture is not his car, especially since he said it was missing that door.

[Daox]

Thanks for the comments guys. If there is anything else I should be looking for I'm all ears.

It is supposed to rain tomorrow, so I'll be looking for the wet seat belt problem.

Originally Posted by Natalya

Yeah that's the change drawer. Find a junkyard Insight and grab one off it. Do you know what those buttons do? I bet one is no-assist and the other is full-regen or forced auto stop.

Daschicken is right, that is not my car.

I did get a few more pics this morning before work of some of the cosmetic areas that could use attention. When I'll get to them is anyone's guess though.

It has the typical Honda peeling under the windows. Not sure weather most people respray this, or just chip it off and leave the chrome. I'm not too picky either way.





Here is the busted rear passenger skirt. No idea how to fix this or where it attaches even yet. I'll take a look at it another time. Its holding on so far.





This is the worst of the body stuff. I'm thinking I'll just dab in some paint to make it look a little nicer and call it good enough. Going beyond that is fairly major work.





Here is the missing change holder along with the driver's side carpet... I have absolutely no idea how you can wear down the pedals and carpet THAT much in 135k. Maybe the previous owner liked to 'dance' to his music while driving?





Thankfully, the driver's seat seems to be in pretty good shape. I've seen numerous ones with tears in them.





Last, but not least, I assume there was a speaker in this hole at one point. The other side is the same. It does have an aftermarket cd player. I have no idea what kind is it yet.

[sheepdog 44]

Look under your hood at the fuel lines as they touch the rear of the engine bay at the little plastic bracket. They are known to rust there and will leak fuel, you can tell if they're damp with gas after a long ride.