2000 Insight 5 speed repair & build thread

[BabyDiesel]

I'll post them here first, because I'm nice

Here is the worse one I pulled off this morning. I first noticed a small bubble in the outer edge of this tire's tread Sunday evening, and have driven no more than 20 miles since then.



Close up. Notice how the tire is ripping. It is following the cracking along the outer tread block.



Another close up



The other 2 are my other front tire and driver side rear. The front tire has a small knot like the one above first exhibited. The rear tire is swelling along the inside, where (no surprise) the cracking is. It stretches along maybe 25% of the tire's circumference.

[MetroMPG]

OH, THAT'S JUST COSMETIC!

Put 'em back on and keep driving.

[LittleBlackDuck]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

OH, THAT'S JUST COSMETIC!

Put 'em back on and keep driving.

Straight to a grave...

[BabyDiesel]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

OH, THAT'S JUST COSMETIC!

Put 'em back on and keep driving.

It ain't nothing but a lil duct tape and hot glue can't fix

Originally Posted by LittleBlackDuck

Straight to a grave...

LittleBlackDuck bringing the darkness of reality

I forgot to mention that the tire I pulled off was made in the 41st week of 2010. I'm pretty sure the age had something to do with the failure.

[Daox]

Well, the time has finally come. Soonish, the Insight will be taken off the road, and my 04 Civic will be my daily driver. I'll be pulling the transmission out of it (possibly the engine too depending on how easy it is to pull one/both), and fixing my growly input shaft bearing and grinding down the tabs on the 2nd gear synchro to get rid of my 2nd gear grind. I'll be inspecting a ton of stuff when I do this. I'll look over the suspension and brakes. The clutch doesn't engage real smooth, so I may resurface the flywheel, or replace the whole thing. I'll probably run new fuel lines because my temporary fix is still in place from when it rusted through in late fall. I also hope to find some sort of smoking gun that'll help fix the hesitation I get driving the car.




I really want this thing to run well. Not being able to fix it has been a real killer on the 'fun-ness' of this car.

I'm posting this now because I'm guessing you guys will want me to look into a few things when tearing it apart. I'll start taking requests now so that when the time comes I can just do it. I'm also looking for suggestions on anything else to look for while I do this. I'd like to cover all my bases whiles its off the road. Once its back on the road the Civic will be sold and I won't have this opportunity again.

[Daox]

So, I have another idea of what might be causing my pulsing / hesitation. The theory is I have a vacuum leak. The leak is in the line going to the fuel pressure regulator. The steel nipple on the intake manifold is VERY rusted. I wouldn't be surprised at all if it was leaking, though I haven't tested it yet. This could make sense why I get a surging effect while accelerating. The leak causes more fuel pressure, which the ECU sees via the O2 sensor and compensates, which effects vacuum, which causes less fuel pressure, which the ECU sees, and compensates, rinse & repeat. This is normal, but with the leak, the ECU can't compensate correctly?

The question is, how to fix it? Ideas welcome!

[Ecky]

Pretty sure that just goes through the manifold to another tube on the other side. You could just get a longer rubber tube and route it around instead?

[Daox]

Interesting. I'll have to check that out this weekend. That would be ideal if I could just go around it. That is of course assuming the other side isn't rusted just as bad.

[Daox]

I sprayed some carb cleaner on that rusted tube last night. It didn't make any difference in the idle. I also checked the idle speed when I got to work, it was a pretty solid 900 rpm with the car parked. I'm not sure if this is high for the Insight or not?

I think next up I may remove the CAT and see what kind of shape its in.

I also had some relatives come to stay the night. They just had twins and are up to a total of 8 kids. Last time they came they had a suburban. That was no longer big enough...

[Daox]

Have any of you buys replaced your rear shocks or done the Monroe strut mod? I went over a bump the other day with my wife in the car and WOW it hit hard. I'm pretty sure they're toast. The car's rear end also likes to jump sideways when hitting a bump going around a corner. Its a bit unnerving at times. I'm assuming this is because of the worn shocks. I haven't really had many vehicles that have had independent rear suspension.