My 2nd Honda Insight

[Gasoline Fumes]

The dead IMA battery I received when I sold my good battery has been in the car as winter ballast. A charge/discharge/charge cycle didn't help. I decided to take a closer look at it and found one bad stick (there are 6 "D" cells in a stick) with probably just one bad cell in it. I looked through the pile of sticks from my other Insight and selected the one with the highest voltage (4v, the rest were 3.5v). After charging it, the voltage looked great at over 8v. I installed the stick in the pack and I have a hybrid again! I'll check the voltage taps after a while to see how balanced it is now. Except for the tap with the bad cell, the tap voltages were all about the same. The battery revival was easier than a complete IMA delete, and I don't have to climb hills at 3500 RPM in 2nd gear now! I need a clutch switch again. $300 Insight, sold battery for $700, fixed dead battery for free!

I also got rid of 90% of the bucking. Replacing the TPS did not help. The EGR valve from my other Insight seemed to eliminate most of the bucking. I'll order a couple of new valves. I don't understand why blocking off the EGR didn't stop the bucking. Maybe my block-off plate wasn't sealed well.

I installed a new radiator. The original one was losing its fins and I expected it to start leaking soon.

I tried installing a block heater. I thought all Hondas took the same heater, so I just bought the cheapest one. Now I know it's all Hondas except the Insight. Different thread pitch! I'll have to order one from Honda.

I made a grill block that covers the non-radiator side of the lower grill from the back. Nearly invisible.

The soft snow tires on heavy steel wheels are off. Now running proper RE92s up front and some other 175/65-14s in the rear. As I posted earlier, one of my mounted RE92s blew up. And another was developing a tumor as well! I have a set of good used RE92s that I'm going to put on Insight donut wheels. What color should I paint the yellow donut wheels?

[Ecky]

Congrats on the battery!

The block heater for a K series is the same as for the Insight's 1.0L. which one did you get?

My winter tires are on grey powder coated rims, and I like the grey more than the stock brushed aluminum look.

[RedDevil]

Originally Posted by Gasoline Fumes

What color should I paint the yellow donut wheels?

Just paint black sectors on them...

[Gasoline Fumes]

Originally Posted by Ecky

The block heater for a K series is the same as for the Insight's 1.0L. which one did you get?

Hotstart 28mm Threaded Engine Block Heater 3100006

[Ecky]

Here's a genuine Honda one for $41: https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Honda.../dp/B00P6SGL6I

It's supposed to fit all 1990-2006 4 cylinder engines, and is also the correct one for the Insight.

Certain you found the right plug for it?

[Gasoline Fumes]

Yeah, I found the right plug. The Insight drain plug has a 28 x 1.0 mm thread. The Hotstart heater has a 28 x 1.25 mm thread. I should pull the heater out of my Civic Wagon and see if that fits.

#3100006 should fit based on the catalog. Maybe I don't even have the heater that I think I have. Bought it on eBay as a 3100006 for $24.

My assumption that the Insight used a different heater was because the drain plug is oddly Insight-only.

[Ecky]

As is basically everything else in the car.

Honda certainly made a lot of one-off parts in the name of weight savings. Would you believe the ring gear in the transmission has empty bolt holes?

[Gasoline Fumes]

Originally Posted by Gasoline Fumes

I'll check the voltage taps after a while to see how balanced it is now.

I checked a couple of days ago and the 10 voltage taps were between 15.90 and 15.99. Good, I think?

[Piotrsko]

Maybe. At full charge and balanced, my individual cells are 4.12 to 4.14 each. You have a different chemistry so YMMV but my chemistry is very consistent.

[Gasoline Fumes]

The block heater from my Civic Wagon fit perfectly. And the drain plug from the Insight fit the Civic engine.
Correct heater on the left, incorrect heater on the right.