Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > Hybrids
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 02-04-2010, 05:16 PM   #1 (permalink)
for(cD i=.25;i>.16;i--)
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Hanover, NH
Posts: 51

UltraHatchy - '00 Honda Insight 5spd
90 day: 63.55 mpg (US)
Thanks: 3
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Sulfur smell from 2000 Insight

There are a couple of posts in the 2010 insight section in InsightCentral, but very little about the sulfur smell in their gen 1 that wasn't speculation about an overheating CVT.

Mine is a 2000 MT with 111k miles. I was driving up a long hill at night. A friend was following. He told me later that my car smelled like sulfur. We didn't encounter any other cars on the road on that hill, so I hesitate to doubt him. He was also alone in his car and therefore had nothing to hide by pinning the sulfur smell on my car.

I have an 80% lower grill block, a IMA bypass switch which works off of the clutch circuit, and the ScanGauge was reading between 197 and 202f. Nothing out of the ordinary for hill climbing.

I've never smelled the smell myself.

Any thoughts? I do have a P0420 code which is an 02 sensor issue. I think it's the upper 02, but it might be the one in the cat.

Thanks
Patrick

  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 02-04-2010, 05:19 PM   #2 (permalink)
Left Lane Ecodriver
 
RobertSmalls's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Buffalo, NY, USA
Posts: 2,257

Prius C - '12 Toyota Prius C
Thanks: 79
Thanked 286 Times in 199 Posts
P0420 is "Catalyst Performance Below Threshold", and bad cats often smell like sulfur.
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2010, 09:23 PM   #3 (permalink)
Hi-Tech Redneck
 
Johnny Mullet's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Ashtabula, Ohio
Posts: 1,436
Thanks: 6
Thanked 49 Times in 42 Posts
Send a message via AIM to Johnny Mullet Send a message via MSN to Johnny Mullet
I agree with Robert. P0420 usually means the cat is not doing it's job anymore.
__________________

GeoMetroforum.com - got mpg?
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2010, 09:23 PM   #4 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,927
Thanks: 877
Thanked 2,024 Times in 1,304 Posts
I think Robert pegged it.

regards
Mech
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2010, 10:50 PM   #5 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Earth
Posts: 5,209
Thanks: 225
Thanked 811 Times in 594 Posts
Mine has always had a bit of a sulfur smell on long climbs, where I'm doing nearly full throttle on a 6-7% grade. (This is e.g. crossing the Sierra, where the climb is from sea level to 8000 ft.) Haven't had any real problem with codes. I did get the P0420 (IIRC) for a while, but it was fixed by an ECU upgrade from Honda (under warranty).
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2010, 11:29 AM   #6 (permalink)
for(cD i=.25;i>.16;i--)
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Hanover, NH
Posts: 51

UltraHatchy - '00 Honda Insight 5spd
90 day: 63.55 mpg (US)
Thanks: 3
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Update: I replaced the upper o2 sensor this morning and both codes (0420 and 1164) did not come back in the 4 mile commute. The old o2 sensor was black with soot. It was replaced with a used but confirmed-good Insight sensor from a salve (thanks Brent Springer). Not only did this chase the codes away (for the morning's commute), but my engine idle is now 200 rmp's lower, hovering now around 950 where before, 1150. Can't speak for the sulfur smell, but I believe progress has been made.

Question: could the blackened o2 sensor be an indicator of worn spark plugs? I do notice uneven acceleration/power that could almost be described as hesitation at low rpms. I've not checked the plugs, but they say 105k (or 7 years) is the time to replace them. I'm 3 years and 5k miles due.
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2010, 01:16 PM   #7 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,927
Thanks: 877
Thanked 2,024 Times in 1,304 Posts
The bad O2 sensor was probably the cause of the black plugs since the mixture control feedback depends on the sensor.

Plugs certainly would not hurt so close to the recommended interval, but I think you had a bad sensor.

I have seen plugs go 90k on a 30 k recommended replacement interval without any check engine light. Not recommending that you do not replace them.

regards
Mech
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2010, 07:29 PM   #8 (permalink)
epic stock master
 
luvit's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: US
Posts: 377

86 Accord LX (carb) - '86 Honda Accord LX
90 day: 35.57 mpg (US)
Thanks: 19
Thanked 17 Times in 15 Posts
i owned a 2004 civic hybrid. sulfer smell would happen bout once every 300 miles.
if i kept the car recycling it's own air i wouldn't notice, but if i didn;t remember to do that, it was embarrassing.

ya see, if you have another passenger in the vehicle they think you passed gas. and i didn;t want that to happen.. even if the passenger said nothing, because if i explain it, then i sound guilty...

__________________
.
single person car thread
.
  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Thread Tools


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Reviving a 2000 Honda Insight "beater" Red Hybrids 215 08-10-2017 07:35 PM
Ecomodded 5MT 2000 Honda Insight for sale in Buffalo. RobertSmalls For Sale 9 10-23-2011 09:38 AM
2000 Honda Insight Questions wyatt Hybrids 8 12-14-2009 12:34 PM
2000 red 5-speed Honda Insight parts car $2,500/offers NTI V10 For Sale 1 12-07-2009 04:43 AM
Honda Insight Concept to Debut at Paris Int. Auto Show SVOboy EcoModder Blog Discussion 32 04-17-2009 10:45 AM



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com