2000 Insight - TLC and ecomodding build

[j12piprius]

I got a 12v 3 amp model 1206 constant current charger from Ebay a few years ago, use it all the time and it's great. I think it was $45 at the time. Check "1206 charger 12v battery" on Ebay.

This link has a good explanation of how it works.

[Ecky]

I lowered the headlights a bit to help with the lack of projectors:




I acknowledge that auto-leveling projectors are the right way to do HIDs, but they're a bit out of my budget right now.

EDIT: Strongly considering a pair of cheap eBay projectors. Will update if I find something I like.

[Ecky]

Decided on these projectors to protect other drivers from my new headlights, for $50 on eBay:

Texenon Mini H1 Retrofit Bi Xenon HID Projectors with Mini Gatling Shrouds | eBay



Since the bulbs I bought have metal shrouds to simulate low/high beams, I may need to cut those off, but I'll play with it when they get here.

Also, a small 48 SMD LED arrived, $3 on Amazon. A 5 pack is ~$6, but I only had use for one.




Old light:




Housing, with the clear cover taken off:




LEDs installed:




Vastly increased brightness at lower wattage:




I was afraid they'd end up being white like so many other cheap LEDs, but these are a very rough approximation of the same color as the stock bulbs, perhaps very slightly whiter - definitely not harsh. Highly recommended.

Also, block heater came in:

[cowmeat]

Ecky, stop with all the LEDs! You're killing me man, I must have some of my own now!

So my car didn't appreciate sitting for a week un-used while I was on vacation, and it repaid me by doing a recal and a forced regen most of the way to work this morning, so there is no way for me to tell if the throttle smoothing circuit is a yes or a no yet. Hopefully it has enough juice at this point (from me stabbing the regen button at every slow-down) that I can test it out tonight.

[Ecky]

Block heater installed. Got under the car and looked, and realized I could get to it from above. It's right next to the catalytic converter on the back of the engine, and is removed with a 1/2" drive.




With one hand I unscrewed the drain plug, and with the other I pushed the block heater into place. All said and done, I lost less than half a cup of coolant. Torque for the block heater is 44 ft/lbs, and it takes a 24mm socket.




Now I have two plugs hanging out of the front grille, and they'll be attached to a light switch by my front door. Will probably flip it on ~2 hours before my wife heads to work.


EDIT: Updated first post with a picture glossary

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by cowmeat

Ecky, stop with all the LEDs! You're killing me man, I must have some of my own now!

So my car didn't appreciate sitting for a week un-used while I was on vacation, and it repaid me by doing a recal and a forced regen most of the way to work this morning, so there is no way for me to tell if the throttle smoothing circuit is a yes or a no yet. Hopefully it has enough juice at this point (from me stabbing the regen button at every slow-down) that I can test it out tonight.

Do you have a grid charger for it yet?

[Xist]

Originally Posted by Ecky

Do you have a grid charger for it yet?

Oh, Ecomodder peer pressure! Next up: Ecobullying!

[Baltothewolf]

Originally Posted by Ecky

Block heater installed. Got under the car and looked, and realized I could get to it from above. It's right next to the catalytic converter on the back of the engine, and is removed with a 1/2" drive.




With one hand I unscrewed the drain plug, and with the other I pushed the block heater into place. All said and done, I lost less than half a cup of coolant. Torque for the block heater is 44 ft/lbs, and it takes a 24mm socket.




Now I have two plugs hanging out of the front grille, and they'll be attached to a light switch by my front door. Will probably flip it on ~2 hours before my wife heads to work.


EDIT: Updated first post with a picture glossary

Awesome! Thanks, I am wondering though, why only 2 hours before your wife leaves for work? Why not just leave it plugged in 24/7?

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by Baltothewolf

Awesome! Thanks, I am wondering though, why only 2 hours before your wife leaves for work? Why not just leave it plugged in 24/7?

From what I've read, the block heater can only heat it so much before it levels out and the block loses heat as fast as it's added. 2 hours is into diminishing returns, and it's 400 watts, which is something like $500 per year to run 24/7.

[Baltothewolf]

Originally Posted by Ecky

From what I've read, the block heater can only heat it so much before it levels out and the block loses heat as fast as it's added. 2 hours is into diminishing returns, and it's 400 watts, which is something like $500 per year to run 24/7.

Holy crap... Yea Nvm haha.