2001 Honda Insight IMA Battery Questions

[Baltothewolf]

Here you go: https://hybridautomotive.com/collect...ioning-package

Just get that, install it, do 2 discharge/recharge cylces.

First one to 130v, then recharge for ~18 hours.

Second one discharge to 60v, recharge for ~28 hours.

If the previous owner didn't use a grid charger on the pack, I figure you have about a 90-95% chance the pack will come back to life.

[Ecky]

You'd need special hardware to test each cell. Something like a super brain 989:

super brain 989 | eBay

I expect you could get cells on eBay, but that's pretty sketchy and they would probably not survive the first time you pressed on the brakes. A better way would be to contact Eli over at InsightCentral - he's the guy behind BumbleBee Batteries. I'm sure he'd be happy to sell you a few good sticks.

Better to try grid charging first though, and see what you can get out of the pack. If you don't feel comfortable building a charger, get the one Balto linked. You'll want a charger for battery maintenance, even if you end up replacing the battery.

[cowmeat]

I can vouch for the grid charger & discharge harness.That's the same grid charger I use, and mine is also set up for discharge. I use a 2-light discharger and use 200 watt lights in both sockets, though.

I was a little more aggressive on the discharge (well, more like ALOT more aggressive) than what Balto suggests, and only discharged/grid charged once, but I did it before Thanksgiving and my IMA system has functioned perfectly since then.

[rmay635703]

I would recommend disabling the big battery if it doesn't come back after a grid charge and getting in on the situation below (next november)

Focus Group: Which Drop-In Lithium Cells to Use - Insight Central: Honda Insight Forum

Reading the above has sort of stopped me in my tracks of replacing the stock battery with a 25ahr NiMH battery.

Ah well, good luck.

[user removed]

Here is the problem, the replacement batteries were not new cells, eventually the age factor gets to them, but that's just my opinion.

Mine was replaced under warranty and I sold the car before it gave out again. The bumble bee may be the best option, but even better would be the knowledge, a source of replacement cells, and a charger to keep them balanced.

regards
mech

[He-man]

IMA battery was not actually bad after all. The kid sold the car to me less than 10 days ago for 1000 because he thought the IMA battery was bad since Honda said that the battery was bad. He showed me a print out and everything. I was looking around under the hood and noticed two short wires under the air intake box. One was extremely frayed, at least half was gone, and the other was completely severed. Bought two thick battery wires, thicker than the ones that were on the car, and new bolts and replaced them and took the car for a drive and the car started charging the IMA battery and now the IMA has a full charge and i have access to full assist.

I still ordered the grid charger though.

A note to anybody who is told by any mechanic, Honda certified or not, that they need a new IMA battery PERSONALLY look at the wires under the intake box to check the condition. If they are in bad condition or you can see any deterioration replace them and then check the car again. I almost dropped over 2 grand for something that didn't need to be replaced.

[He-man]

All in all it cost me under $15 to fix the car with parts from auto zone and 15 minutes of my time to install.

[Ecky]

Nice. These cars usually need a rear engine mount eventually, and when it goes, the movement of the engine in the bay can damage the ground straps, as you've found.

Glad you found a cheap fix!

[He-man]

Originally Posted by Ecky

Nice. These cars usually need a rear engine mount eventually, and when it goes, the movement of the engine in the bay can damage the ground straps, as you've found.

Glad you found a cheap fix!

So i should be checking the engine mounts then, sweet thanks for the info!

[He-man]

Also, I'm only getting about 60 mpg on the freeway on a good day, is that me or the car? I feel like a lot of people on here get more mpg. I have been needing to adjust to the low hp of this vehicle coming from a 400+hp vette it seems hard to keep the 60-70hp insight at a constant speed. I feel cruise control will help a lot on the freeway.