Project: Zombie Insight (2000 Honda)

[RobertSmalls]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Any news on your cold blooded Insight?

Yep! See post #58. With a new thermostat, the car gets up to operating temperature much quicker, and I have heat in the cabin if I want it. I got 63/65mpg on the commute today.

If I keep modding enough to hold my FE at 60mpg as winter progresses, I should be able to achieve high 70's in the summer and meet my project goal of 70mpg overall.

[ericbecky]

What I find to be the important factor in the winter is fan speed.
I keep the fan speed low, if not off, but I keep the temperature dial at the highest setting.
The poor little aluminum Insight block has the heat stripped from it too quickly if I have the fan on too high.
Having the grill blocked and the "warm air intake mod" also help keep the mpg up in the cold weather.

[Wonderboy]

I'm anxiously waiting the completion of the "open source" charger project here. This may be able to take care of your 144v smart charging needs...there are people in that thread who at least make a very convincing case that they know what they are talking about.

[Formula413]

Originally Posted by RobertSmalls

Lost my belly pan at an estimated airspeed of 100mph.

So what you're saying is you were going 120 mph with a 20 mph tailwind?

Glad to hear that thermostat solved the problem. I'm going to start experimenting with grill blocks soon. My commute is pretty short and slow so it won't have much of an impact there, but it will be essential for highway trips.

I'm fortunate in that my car came stock with a belly pan. Granted it only covers the engine bay, but it's a nice tight fit, so I don't have to think about it.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by RobertSmalls

Yep! See post #58. With a new thermostat, the car gets up to operating temperature much quicker, and I have heat in the cabin if I want it. I got 63/65mpg on the commute today.

That's great news. (I guess I had opened the thread before you posted your reply up there at #58.)

Originally Posted by ericbecky

The poor little aluminum Insight block has the heat stripped from it too quickly if I have the fan on too high.

You've seen the "winter coat" Insight engine insulation project, I'm sure.

[ericbecky]

Yeah, I love that winter coat. So envious.
If I had the pattern, I'd make one.

[RobertSmalls]

I've wanted manual control of the IMA system since I bought the car. There are four functions I need. Three down, one to go:

*disable regen and assist when I don't want them (the clutch switch mod does this)
*idle stop at any vehicle speed (engine kill switch + clutch switch)
*regenerative braking on demand (pressing the brake pedal just enough to turn on the brakelight works fine)
*assist on demand (I need MIMA_L)

MIMA_L is a DIY, manual IMA control system. It's a lie-box that sits between the ECU and IMA ECU. You'd use a hand throttle or other analog controller to dial in as much assist as you want. That would be very helpful when you're trying to hold lean burn up a hill or during slight acceleration. I have no doubt it would improve my fuel economy noticeably. Eventually, I'd like to combine Mima_L with grid charging, for an even greater reduction in gasoline consumption.

Here's the schematic. It's complicated. Two op amps, three IC's, two SPDT relays. It will have to be breadboarded, and I haven't breadboarded before.

I'd like to simplify the circuit slightly, and I think Jim wants to do the same. I'm comfortable eliminating the 12p header, which also means you don't have to mess with the wires that were connected to pins 9-12. Logic GND can share with power GND. The "on/off" indicator LEDs are a nice touch, but I won't include them unless they're built in to toggle switch SW2. Okay, so that would be a little simpler, but still pretty complex. Does this schematic have any other expendable components?

I will add Mima_L to my Insight, but first I have bigger fish to fry. More on that fish once it's fried.

[RobertSmalls]

and bumpers are highly directional. While negotiating traffic near the mall, I was hit by a Cobalt at 5-10mph. I came to a stop before the impact, with a few inches of my nose in her lane, and she hit the side of my bumper with the front of hers. Her bumper cover has some scuffs, but she nearly tore my bumper off.



Mounting tabs on both my headlights broke, the radiator is twisted, and it needed a new front bulkhead.



Fortunately, I knew where to find one. $50 at the U-pull. There are words you can use to make a part sound inexpensive, like "radiator support bracket", and words that make it sound expensive, like "front sub-frame assy".

Unfortunately, I'd just sold the radiator and the center section of that bracket to a forum member. In fact, the collision happened *while I was leaving the UPS store*.



All told, this collision cost me $85, plus a mound of aggravation. This is not how I had planned to spend my weekend. But at least the Harlequin Insight is back in service.

Drive carefully out there.

[user removed]

Yuk!

Her fault of yours or no one?

regards
Mech

[Funny]

He stopped, she hit him. There must be some other details of this story. I am going to guess it was an exchange like this:

Rob:"You okay?"
Girl:"Yeah, Oh my God I am so sorry!"
Rob:"As long as you're okay, I'm okay. You should really watch where you're driving. I don't have all that much damage, neither do you. I don't think either of us wants this on our insurance."
Girl:"You're right, my car is okay, but I really damaged yours! Sorry!"
Rob:"I can fix it, I would rather not get the insurance company involved, unless you do."
Girl:"I'm alright, thanks, let's avoid the insurance."
Rob:"okay"
Both drivers drive off, Rob is pissed , girl is psyched .

At least that is what I read from the details given. Please tell me I'm close .