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Honda Insight Maintenance and Repair

90 messages,  Last post on Dec 27, 2004 at 8:31 PM

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What is this discussion about? Honda Insight, Hybrid Cars

Messages Page 4 of 10

#22 of 90 new batteries? head gasket trouble lousy dealers by carybrief

Dec 20, 2007 (12:56 pm)

anyone know about replacing the batteries for a 2001 insight? were having problems with the charge just dropping out. it starts charging again but I think it's soon time to replace the batteries - any help would be great
 
 we also had problems with an antifreeze smell. we brought the car to three Honda dealers, Essex Honda in New Jersey, Miller Honda in Van Nuys , and auto park Honda in Cary, NC. Essex said the smell was from spilled antifreeze, Miller admitted there was antifreeze on the crossbar but said it was no problem. finally auto park realized the head gasket was blown. they had to remachine the head , a valve job, thermostat all very pricey. the day after we got the car back . it didn't start, somehow the starter battery went bad! a few days later , I noticed the and the freeze smell again. noticed the overflow was empty and brought it back. turns out that a Honda dealer installed an aftermarket cruise control , which rubbed a hole in a metal hose , which no one was curious enough to find themselves. all very frustrating. auto park was pretty decent and at least they found the problem eventually

#23 of 90 Re: '02 Insight gasoline filter [thierry] by 2002insight

Dec 20, 2007 (9:46 pm)

Replying to: thierry (Dec 20, 2007 10:50 am)
Hi thierry,
I hope you find the reason for the check engine light. As for the replacement tires, I got a new set of Cooper "165/65 14 S" at 55,000 miles. The tire dealer in my area had to order them, since they only had two in stock, but it only took a couple of days to get them in. Just check that the installer put the rear skirts back on properly (I had to refit mine before I left the tire shop.) I think I made the mechanic grumpy when I asked for a screwdriver, and told him the reason I needed it.
Ho ho ho and Merry Christmas.

#24 of 90 Re: "ECM replacement" recall letter [2002insight] by thierry

Dec 31, 2007 (5:28 pm)

Replying to: 2002insight (Dec 20, 2007 9:46 pm)
2002insight,
 
My local Honda dealer replaced the Oxygen sensor, but CHECK ENGINE light is still on. When I asked if there had been any recalls on my '02 Insight that I may have missed; they said they would research the issue and get back to me.
However, on the Insight Central website, several other owners claim they've received Recall Letters on the ECM replacement stating:
."Your vehicles main computer control module (the ECM) can misinterpret readings from various sensors. If this happens, the check engine light on the instrument panel may stay on."
Have you received a Recall Letter from American Honda in Torrence or are you still waiting for one like myself?
 
Thanks for any info...HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

#25 of 90 Re: "ECM replacement" recall letter [thierry] by 2002insight

Jan 01, 2008 (9:44 am)

Replying to: thierry (Dec 31, 2007 5:28 pm)
Hi Thierry,
Sorry to hear that your dealer didn't correct the problem before giving the car back to you -- and I bet they just scratched their heads and replaced the Oxygen sensor; scratched their heads again, and sent you home. I'll ask my dealer in Ohio if there's a recall on mine (John Hinderer Honda.) They're pretty good at customer service, so I'll let you know what they say after I talk to them.

#26 of 90 Re: "ECM replacement" recall letter [thierry] by carybrief

Jan 02, 2008 (7:04 am)

Replying to: thierry (Dec 31, 2007 5:28 pm)
if you are having a problem contact Honda AMerica at 1-800-999-1009 have your VIN # ready and tel them the problem,. they helped me out a whole lot with the trouble we had. they dont want to get dealer complaints so they try to fix them!

#27 of 90 Insight leaks into passenger seat belt! driver mirror question by carybrief

Jan 02, 2008 (7:07 am)

my passenger seat belt is getting wet but I cannot see any water anywhere else or a physical leak, trail etc. Anyone know about this?
 
Also had to replace driver side mirror due to a tornado sandblasting the car. dealer told me how to pop off the old one but to replace it is trickier. got it to pop onto the center but how do you get it on the side pcs?

#28 of 90 Re: Insight leaks into passenger seat belt! driver mirror question [carybrief] by jbinsight

Jan 28, 2008 (10:22 am)

Replying to: carybrief (Jan 02, 2008 7:07 am)
Hi Carybrief:
 
In regards to your post:
"My passenger seat belt is getting wet but I cannot see any water anywhere else or a physical leak, trail etc. Anyone know about this?"
 
Here is what I Know:
The leak is most likely coming in from the side panels that are above the doors. Sorry I’m not very mechanically inclined so this description might not be the best, but I've had water leaking into both the passenger and drivers seat belt.
 
I thought it was because of a bad job Safelite Auto did replacing my windshield (they have to remove the side panels above the doors to replace the windshield, in the process they broke the side panel clips, so the side panels didn't go back on right). Water began leaking in (a lot--my seatbelts are dripping with water) and so I am now in the process of having Safelite fix this--however there may be another problem.
 
Safelite replaced the side panels, and it Still leaks--they have a test where they spray water into the crevices above the doors (starting at the front and working all the way back to the hatchback) and if you remove the interior plastic moldings around the seatbelts you can watch the water trickle in. I’m trying to find out why this is happening—maybe a crack or something in the body, or a bad seal, or needs some new puddy?
 
 I'll let you know what I find out—and if you or anyone else has more info on this PLEASE let me know because I’m sure this will be a big fight with Safelite Auto and my insurance company.
 
Thanks
JB

#29 of 90 Re: tires hard to find [plambo] by bjgw66

Feb 11, 2008 (6:26 pm)

Replying to: plambo (Dec 19, 2007 2:12 pm)
We sell a lot of insights were I work; I think the main reason tires are hard to find might be our fault. sorry...(lol) I think we typically have 4-6 in the parts department. We order though Honda parts catalog. they are a bridgestone RE92 and they retail for around 80$ I think you can get something the same size cheaper, but they are a little softer rubber (quieter but not as long lasting) from ????? Kumo??? check tirerack.com by size.
 
There have been a few posts in here about leaks... yeah I have seen the guys in the shop with the garden hose out spraying on insights to duplicate the leak... and I am fairly certain that they find most of them... I'll talk to my service MGR to see if there are just a few "more common spots" or if it is all just random seals going bad.

#30 of 90 new ima only allows 45 mpg now by ulyses

Feb 21, 2008 (5:49 pm)

my 2000 insight needed a new ima at 120000 miles. this is a $7000 fix but warranted by honda. so we did not pay any of that. the problem is we notice that our mileage has dropped from 65 mpg down to 45 mpg. Honda says that was their intention as the old ima contributed to battery heating. Since they designed it to correct the heating problem they will do nothing about our loss of gas mileage. Are we being snowed by an uninformed dealership or has honda really sabotaged their own car?

#31 of 90 Re: new ima only allows 45 mpg now [ulyses] by 2002insight

Feb 21, 2008 (9:57 pm)

Replying to: ulyses (Feb 21, 2008 5:49 pm)
I just had the IMA battery components replaced a couple of months ago, but the mpg has only dropped to the level it usually does in the winter on my 2002 Insight CVT (mpg is lower 60's in summer; mid 50's in winter.) You might want to give American Honda a call, if you're not happy with the Dealer's response. BTW, my lifetime average mpg is 59.5 right now, but it usually goes back up to 60-61 by mid-summer.

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