2006 Honda Insight MT Build Thread

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Reverse lights are 921, like the ones I'm ordering. If the ones I get turn out to be junk I'll return them and go with ones from superbrightleds.com

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Getting a wheel bearing to replace one that's going bad up front.

Oh, and this happened today with temperatures right around freezing:

[19bonestock88]

Nice mileage! In theory fixing the bad bearing will help even more...

[mpg_numbers_guy]

I'm hoping so!

Had a 143.6 mile trip up north for Christmas - got 76.6 MPG, but my front passenger bearing is really acting up now so I'm parking the car until I get it replaced. Hopefully I can get it done by the 26th or the 27th. I don't have access to a hydraulic press to remove the old bearing and insert the new one, so the Insight will have to brave the mechanic shop again.

Really pleased with how the Insight drove otherwise. Can tell the bearing was making it harder to drive efficiently for the last 20 miles of the trip when it started acting up; would've probably gotten around 78 MPG for the trip otherwise, as the fuel economy was still slowly rising until then, when it began plateauing, definitely due to the bearing. Car began returning stellar fuel economy (factoring in sub-freezing temperatures) 16 miles into the trip, presumably when the engine fully warmed up, although the coolant typically warms up much sooner. Downshifted three times into 4th for hills. Highway speed varied between 48 MPH (uphill w/ no traffic) to 73 MPH (downhill). Off-highway speed 61 MPH max (downhill), mostly 38-48 MPH. Temperature was 29F-30F. No heater or radio use.

Got my 90 day average above 70 from that trip; we'll see if I can maintain it with this weather and all....

[mpg_numbers_guy]

So.....took a look at the passenger wheel, and it was completely loose. Tightened it up and all issues went away -- no bearing issues at all. So I guess I've been driving 40 miles with a wheel about to fall off. Man I feel stupid lol. Glad it won't require a replacement though. Lugs are slightly worn though, so if it comes loose again I'll have to replace the lugs.

Now to find a blue, manual Insight without any downshift grind, for a decent price, near home. I just might've gotten my dad interested in one.

[Ecky]

Glad it was a cheap fix! It's easy to let dumb stuff go when it's cold outside.

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Insight did even better coming home! 138.9 miles @ 78.0 MPG; outside temperature hovering around 34 F:



CEL is that sporadic P0420 catalytic converter code. Keeps appearing and disappearing on me. No bearing issues, and the wheel stayed on fine! I'm learning to be content with below 80 MPG in the winter, knowing it'll go up in the summer, plus I still have low hanging fruit with the belly pan and 3-button setup. I'm even considering a boattail next summer, but we'll see.

90 day average got a boost again. If it isn't already obvious, what I do is record all my trip FEs and compare them to the FCD tank fuel economy displayed and input that into the gas log. When filling up I adjust the numbers accordingly. FCD was <1 MPG high on my first tank.

Some goodies came yesterday, picked them up today when I got back home! Panoramic rearview mirror and Ecky's FAS setup that he graciously gave me.





Now for that shift knob to arrive (and Scott's belly pan!) so the Insight can be transformed!

EDIT: Seller on Ebay is selling Nokian winter tires in size 165/65R14 for $84.90 each....but they're called "SUV" tires and it says 16lbs each?? I thought the Nokians were 13 or 14 lbs...are they still the same tire or does the "SUV" completely change things?

[Ecky]

I'm unaware of any SUV with a 165 width, those are probably the right ones. Nokians are definitely heavier than RE92s which are ~13lbs each. Nordmans?

[Vman455]

Originally Posted by mpg_numbers_guy

Stock lights everywhere else. Might replace headlights with projectors when they die; don't want to deal with heat issues from resisters for turn signals, and I've read that LEDs for brake lights mess up regen. Interior lights are a consideration though.

You shouldn't need any resistors to make LED turn signals work, just replace the thermal flasher relay with an electronic one. They're cheap and readily available. On my 2005 Civic, the fuse panel with the relay was the one beneath the steering column and to the right; might be in a similar place on the Insight.

Originally Posted by Ecky

I'd really like to replace all of the little incandescent bulbs in the dash some day. I know Natalya has replaced many of them.

I did this on the Viper, which made me decide not to do it on another car (and I never will again--the Prius is the first car I've owned that has complete LED dash lighting, and I think everything does these days). Be aware that some warning light circuits read the bulb resistance and will probably throw a code if they think the bulbs are out.

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Originally Posted by Ecky

I'm unaware of any SUV with a 165 width, those are probably the right ones. Nokians are definitely heavier than RE92s which are ~13lbs each. Nordmans?

Nordman 7s. Link:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-New-Nokia...4/263395936092. Seller says they are non-studded - photo is a stock photo. There hasn't been any snow here, just cold weather, and I'll be returning to Virginia in about 2 1/2 to 3 weeks; I'm kinda thinking on passing on the winter tires and just keep running the RE92s..

Originally Posted by Vman455

You shouldn't need any resistors to make LED turn signals work, just replace the thermal flasher relay with an electronic one. They're cheap and readily available. On my 2005 Civic, the fuse panel with the relay was the one beneath the steering column and to the right; might be in a similar place on the Insight.

Is it worth it though? I've heard that's fairly hard to access on the Insight. Especially since turn signals aren't on much so the electrical savings would be minimal compared to the cost of the LEDs.