Ecky considering another Insight

[Ecky]

Taking the long way home. A few (unedited) teaser photos.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

So, did you buy the Insight? I knew you wouldn't resist. Do you still own the Miata too?

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

So, did you buy the Insight? I knew you wouldn't resist. Do you still own the Miata too?

I did, and I do. Decided to do a few days' tour while getting the car. It needs a lot of little stuff, but nothing major.

Lots of interesting differences between the USDM and JDM models. I'd say the USDM was slightly more pure in its pursuit of fuel economy, whereas the JDM is more livable in some ways.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

What makes the JDM more livable? Do you think stricter safety regulations applying to the US-spec model influenced it?

[Ecky]

Right, so, got the car home.

Here is a non-exhaustive list of differences I've found:

-Different gearbox. More linear spacing, and a slightly shorter final drive (3.2 vs 3.4). It's subtle, but it makes a huge difference, when the North American gearbox basically tops out around 75mph in 5th on flat, level ground with no head wind and A/C off. I don't find I end up in any situations where there's a "hole" in the ratios where I can't find what I'm looking for.

-The ECU absolutely loves dropping into lean burn. I suspect in the North American models, Honda set them up to game the emissions regulations. The JDM only has a "LEV" sticker, whereas the USDM one is "ULEV" or (in the case of the automatic with no lean burn) "SULEV". Whereas the North American ones could be coaxed into lean burn, in the JDM it's impossible to cruise at a speed where you could be in lean burn, without the ECU kicking over to lean operation. Couple that with fractionally shorter gearing and it's a lot less "tricky" to drive economically. Also, the JDM will apply assist from the hybrid system to keep the car in lean burn, whereas the USDM will drop out of lean operation before dipping into assist.

-The cluster is in km/L, rather than mpg + L/100km. I feel L/100km is an objectively better metric, but km/L is more fun, because the fuel economy goes off the charts on a slight downhill, rather than dropping basically to zero. It makes small changes in fuel use (in absolute terms) appear more significant.

-No central underbody panels. I haven't yet confirmed if all the rivnuts are in place to attach them, but at least some of them are.

-Double DIN radio, with a storage cubby underneath the single DIN factory unit. Probably tall North American beverages wouldn't fit with a double DIN unit.

-The rear crash beam is absent. Weight savings?

-The spare wheel is steel, rather than the featherweight alloy spare USDM Insights got. (boo)

-All the plumbing under the hood is different, due to swapping the locations of the pedals and A/C.

-Side marker lights are present.

-Apparently no backup linkage between the trunk key hole and the latch? In USDMs it's electronic with a backup linkage if you turn the key farther. JDM, it's electronic only.

-No lock on the glovebox.

-No immobilizer on the key, means inexpensive key copies and easy ECU swaps.

-Different floor mats. The JDM are more fun.

-More paint color options.

-The fuel filler tube is different. Perhaps Japan doesn't have the same pump nozzles as in North America. One could conceivably put a diesel nozzle in, and it would fit. Not so with the NA one.

-I suspect the fuel tank evap system is different. I'll have to check of the hose runs up front to the same spot.

-Here's the big one - there is no upstream catalytic converter. The car has a LEV certification without a catalytic converter. It has a downstream NOx trap and runs the occasional purge cycle to burn off NOx, but it's unmonitored, whereas North American G1s (post 2000) have three O2 sensors, to monitor both the upstream and downstream cats. G1s commonly get a low catalyst efficiency code, and this is one fewer (common) point of failure. I have yet to smell anything from the exhaust, either.

~


On my to-do list, the front suspension creaks over bumps. The dampers are good. I need to chase down just what is making noise.

The rearview mirror is delaminating.

There is a bit of oxidation on the car. More than I would have expected from a car that has seen no salty roads.

The hatch struts hold the hatch open, but only just. They're tired.

It feels like one of the three nuts that holds the driver door handle on, from the backside, has loosened, as there is a hair of flex when I pull on the handle.

I'll want to check the EGR passages. The car drives as though they're clear, but it's good preventative maintenance.

~

Beyond that, the hybrid battery is startlingly healthy, considering it's an original Honda battery, and those were no longer available after ~2010 or so.

It has just had an oil change, a brake fluid flush, new (correct) indexed spark plugs, a new cabin air filter, new wiper blades, and a few other normal maintenance items.

Attached is a picture of it parked outside my accommodation two nights ago.

[Gasoline Fumes]

Now I want a JDM ECU! But only if it'll cure my herky-jerky!

You could just leave the heavy spare at home on shorter drives? I have extra spares if you're ever back in the US with an empty suitcase!

No lock on my glovebox either! The handle is from a Civic. Wrong color, but contrast is nice!

Rear view mirrors from some other Hondas will fit. I have a 1st gen Odyssey mirror in mine. You can probably find something.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Ecky

Here's the big one - there is no upstream catalytic converter. The car has a LEV certification without a catalytic converter. It has a downstream NOx trap and runs the occasional purge cycle to burn off NOx, but it's unmonitored, whereas North American G1s (post 2000) have three O2 sensors, to monitor both the upstream and downstream cats. G1s commonly get a low catalyst efficiency code, and this is one fewer (common) point of failure. I have yet to smell anything from the exhaust, either.

That's quite surprising to me. Does it have only the downstream cat, and only one O² sensor?

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

That's quite surprising to me. Does it have only the downstream cat, and only one O² sensor?

Correct. I was shocked, when I peeked behind the engine.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

AFAIK most cars in my country still have only a three-way cat, yet nowadays they tend to have 2 O² sensors.

[Ecky]

Since owning the car, I have:

(eco)
-Current hack installed in the battery control module (+44% hybrid system power)
-Lightweight wheels (3.6kg/7.9lbs), with C&C cut carbon fiber aero covers
-Lazy ~100% lower grille block
-Rear wiper removal
-Began installing LEDs

(non-eco)
-Added lightweight sound dampening to the car
-Remounted the door speakers to the door frame, and sealed the door cavities
-Mazda 3 (03-13) rear springs, cut to keep the car at stock ride height
-New double DIN radio
-Backup camera
-Custom subwoofer

(maintenance)
-Replaced the hatch struts
-New tie rod ends (the boots were starting to crack)
-New sway bar links (turns out they were fine, but I'm chasing down a squeak)
-New blower motor (original one had some minor squeaking)
-New rearview motor from a junkyard Mazda
-Repaired rear "spoiler" mounting tabs, repainted spoiler

Pics to follow.