Reviving a 2000 Honda Insight "beater"

[Red]

I use the term "beater" to merely describe the condition of it. The Insight is a very technologically advanced piece of hardware. So far I'm not too far into the hole as it were. I had initially budgeted $4000 to be spent towards some kind of gas saver. So far I have spent around $2600 on it, including the purchase price. Besides the battery pack, the only big thing I think I might have to end up replacing is the clutch. Since I discovered today that something in the clutch hydraulics has sprung a leak, the clutch might be fine. I'm hoping that I'll get a chance to pull the slave this weekend and check it out.

In my head here is what I have left to do
Install the new LAF once I get it
Figure out what is making the gurgling sound when I start it up (system needs to be burped I think)
See if the brake pads need to be replaced
Find out what is leaking in the clutch hydraulics
Replace the serpentine belt

So I think the end could be near....

[Red]

Got the new LAF sensor installed today. Runs much much better and it can almost idle with the AC on! Progress.......

[MetroMPG]

Re: burping the coolant system... My '89 Accord gurgled from day 1. I think I had it for 5 years. Never was able to completely get rid of it.

Maybe it's a Honda thing.

[MetroMPG]

So, stupid question time...

Why exactly was this car in the junkyard? Previous owner scared off by too many "little" things gone bad and perhaps a giant repair estimate from a dealership?

I know a guy who picked up a '94 (I think) Miata in running condition for $500 from a junkyard last year. It was junked because it wouldn't pass emissions testing. The new owner ran it home on the highway at high speed (3 hrs), planning to repair/rebuild the engine himself. He had it e-tested again when he got home and to his utter surprise, it passed. (Lending credence to the "blowing the carbon out" theory?)

[roflwaffle]

The PO probably tested the Miata cold. Ripping through the gears does a good job of lighting off the cat, but since most of the smog places I've been to won't make sure it's warm before they test it, people who try to test colder/older cars can fail, although I have seen a couple exceptions to this.

[Red]

No clue. According to the guy who was working the yard, most of the Hondas they get come from police recoveries. Considering the busted window, and the body damage it has, its possible someone tried to take it for a joy ride and it was recovered. Then the PO probably did get a repair bill from Honda as to what id get being, a new LAF, battery pack replacement, clutch, body work etc and it was worth getting the car back. So it was sold to the yard.

[smsimpson83]

So This was one of my favorite threads and it has fallen of lately... any new news?? hows the insight treating you???

[dremd]

Burping cooling system:
Depends on car, but the worst ever is the MR2. Front Rad, Rear engine.

On My Accord (long gone) (and on supras) I put the front end up as high as I can get it (ramps + jacks on my slightly sloped driveway) then I use my special Cooling system burping tool, which is a radiator cap with the pressure portion cut out/ removed. Fill it up, Start it/ warm it up, keep the overflow full, turn it off, keep overflow full, replace cap . end of story (excluding BHG's).

[Red]

Its fine, I've just been busy. Haven't had a chance to do anything else to it. I did burp bit. Sat it on some ramps and opened up its little burp bolt. The only thing I have done is bought stuff for it. I have new spark plugs and I've ordered a new clutch slave/master since the current one has gone to hell.

The last couple of weekends have been spent either studying or trying to fix my dad's Camry. He somehow managed to blow up a spark plug and then trashed the rod bearings. So these past two weekends have been spent pulling that engine out.

[Whoops]

Well, your progress and photos on the Insight were interesting. Sorry to hear about the engine on the Camry, but it's sure great you can do the work of pulling it.