Rescuing a High Mileage Honda Insight Hybrid - the NSX of Hypermiling
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- Опубликовано: 16 июл 2024
- Buying back and rescuing my highest mileage Honda Insight hybrid project car. This episode sees Jonny being reacquainted with an old automotive friend - a 2001 Honda Insight gen 1 hybrid that he previously owned 12 years ago.
Having not been on the road in 7 years, this video covers the car's fascinating history and sees Jonny try to repair and revive it ready for regular use again.
Thanks for stopping by The Late Brake Show.
The Insight was regarded as the world's first MASS produced hybrid car when it arrived in September 1999. Despite Toyota launching their first Prius two years previous, Toyota's effort was never as engaging to drive, so aerodynamic, so light or so aesthetically space-age.
The Insight married a brushless thin electric motor between a (gorgeous) manual gearbox, 995cc Vtec 3-cylinder engine and 20kg bank of nickel metal hydride batteries to give sub 80g/km emissions and 80+mpg. The whole car weighed less than 850kg.
To read more about Jonny's week of hybrid repair, why not unlock extra blogs and early access to videos via Patron? / thelatebrakeshow
Thanks to Honda UK for approved use of archive Honda footage.
Fifth Gear TV footage has been used after careful research into the legalities surrounding 'Fair Use', knowing that we have used the clip(s) in a factual, reportage way to validate the discussion point(s) made in our videos, by the person(s) involved in the original footage.
We have used as short a clip as possible to validate said point(s). We have also used the clip(s) in the confidence that it will act in a positive transformative way to the original clips; with that in mind, please check out / fifthgear
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Filmed by Jonny and Michael 'Dougie' Douglass.
Edited by Michael 'Dougie' Douglass.
Thumbnail by: Matt Tarrant www.matttarantdesign.com
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Jonny Smith
Creative content maker, car presenter & car pervert for hire since '98
Website: www.carpervert.com
Instagram: / jonnycarpervert
Twitter: / carpervert
CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
14:28 Hybrid battery cover removal
16:10 Seeing the battery
17:24 DIY battery revival kit
18:48 Connecting the 144v battery
19:30 Jonny scared of electrocution
20:08 Successful connection
21:38 Discharging using a bulb
22:28 Deep cycle process
22:58 Battery revival success?
24:18 How does it drive?
#highestmileage #hondainsight #hybridcar #hypermiling #hondahybrid #thelatebrakeshow 
Авто/Мото
I'm excited for the future of the insight, I honestly believe giving cars TLC makes them want to work and whether subconscious or not, they feel happy machines for it
So true. Look after a car and it will look after you. Love the idea of well maintaining high mileage vehicles so they live for years. That's greener motoring, right?
@@TheLateBrakeShow 100% agree with that am sure maintaining and running a high mileage car is more eco friendly then buying a new electric car with how damaging the manufacturing of electric cars currently is
@@TheLateBrakeShow Plug Life TV did a CO2 comparison between an old petrol Car, Insight and a new Leaf. Like all these things all the variables and personal usage all make a big difference, but worth a view, ruclips.net/video/rdqtFXyDLIo/видео.html
Still a great car and project and worth doing and I'm looking forward to the series.
absolutely agree, I have a Hyundai Sante 2007 from new with 370k up and its a super vehicle but I always serviced it on the button.
Also agree Hondas we’re super cars
@@Richie-C hell's bells that makes my Volvo look barely run in at 183k aha
As someone who is qualified to safely shut down ev's and hybrids when cars are in for accident repair those builders gloves won't protect you from anything... We have to wear 1000v rated gauntlets plus other protective equipment. Scary stuff
I Thought the same thing.
And as someone who is qualified at hurting his back - Jonny don't lift the wrench on the wheel nuts. You are unknowingly rounding-out your back. Once it goes you can't undo it.
Try positioning the wrench so you can push down (or stand on it.)
Take care.
The regs say you have to wear 1000V gauntlets but 400V wouldn't jump even a pair of latex gloves, and an Insight is at 270V. Don't believe me? Run a test. Try to short a 10A fuse across the battery with a latex glove in the way.
I'm not suggesting what you have to do is wrong, just overblown (scuse the pun)
@@FirstDan2000 😂 you are such a pufter
depends on the voltage I'd say.
@@mgutkowski this also 144v. I think mechanics gloves would be ok
Proper Honda engineering, pushing the limits. Wish Honda had kept the faith. Absolutely love it.
Since this I think they wasted a lot of time and money on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, very much arguably not the future for passenger cars. The Honda e looks great but it's too little, too late, and they've got a lot of catching up to do.
@@AaronSmart.online too little no.. too late.. yes..
@@XFDADX if you look at what Honda are offering versus the likes of Hyundai, Kia or VW it's definitely too little
@@AaronSmart.online hahah 🤣 I was refiring to the car... Of course Honda has a lot catch up to... Partnering with GM in the US and a Chinese brand in China to try and keep up.
Love the cat cameo. Very protective of the Insight! Great video too.
Best automotive channel on RUclips hands down! Keep it up Jonny!
Amazing it's actually possible to make a RUclips that isn't just clickbait
Many thanks Daniel 🤘🏽
@@TheLateBrakeShow you are very welcome. Take care.
100% agree also best car pod cast smith n snif
I was on my way to Birmingham airport on the 19th and one of these was alongside in the same colour and it was such a rare sight my friend and I discussed it at length and then lo and behold your episode was out an hour later telling us all about it; thank you, good timing!
I have a 2014 CR-Z (Lithium, Manual)... This has been the best video I've seen so far on the roots of what's become my favourite car that I've owned, that's in how it drives and handles as well as its reliability.
Thank you, Johnny.
I don't know anyone who dislikes Johnny. He's the kinda guy that everyone likes. Also great car knowledge. I doff my cap dear Sir.
Dale, you are lovely. I know a few people who don't like me...
Well done Jonny for having the balls to buy her back off Honda, especially as they had obviously not given her the love she deserved. Looking forward to see how this play list unfolds. With regards the battery pack, if you have managed to revive it then for now leave it standard, buy a new lithium battery only as and when you have to and not before. Keep up the great work, by the way how’s the House build coming along, perhaps that’s one for future video??? 😎👍
I'd also like to know about the house rebuild as he has alluded to having to sell/move on the podcast. So its unclear whether it's still on or a victim of covid and supply/cost issues. Plus I'm just nosey 😜
Shame on Honda for letting this Gen 1 languish - definitely needed rescuing. Well done for mentioning Peter Perkins, there would be a good deal fewer Gen 1s still on the road if it wasn't for him! You haven't yet mentioned the crazy gearing - up to 69 mph in 2nd. I would often go directly from 2nd to 5th. Also worth mentioning what a fantastic international user group there is - and a friendly bunch of UK enthusiasts. A lot of knowledge has built up over the years on how these batteries behave. I was the guy who exhibited the citrus Insight at Fully Charged Live at Silverstone in 2019. I eventually sold it in a Bonhams auction at Bicester. Didn't fetch very much and, in fact, I lost money on it (money had been spent on replacing the whole cat following the failure of an O2 sensor) but that is not the point - passing on a rare vehicle to someone who will cherish it and keep it on the road is what matters.
It's a small world - I bought a 2001 citrus yellow (green - Johnny's right!) at Bonhams last year. It's a wonderful car, everything Johnny says here rings true. If it was yours sir I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you sincerely for the superb care you gave it and the very helpful instructions and hints you left with it. It's in daily use and diligently cared for.
@@TechnicNick Yes, that sounds as though it is mine that you bought (there was quite a lot of paperwork with it!). It makes me very happy to know that it is in good hands and that you are enjoying it. Sorry that it is such an early example that you have to pay road tax (daft regulations!). Destined to be a classic (some of us think that it already is).
@@charleshussey118 Just checked the paperwork (there's lots) it is yours. Too bad about the tax but it's got a working cassette player! Win some lose some
I can't believe the price of these cars now... When I bought my Aygo 8 years ago these cars was going for £1,500-£2,500. They're now selling for £5,000-£8,500. I absolutely love these cars though. Maybe it's because I love efficient cars and like hypermiling. I pretty much always get 70mpg from my Aygo, best every tank was 80mpg. Not bad for a petrol and occasionally get the trip Mpg over 100mpg but in the real world it's extremely difficult to maintain that.
Where is the UK User group; is it on FB? I looked on Insight Central but it seems to be pretty much all-US content.
Lovely video, Jonny. Esp love the cats appearance and the v1.0 Jonny at 6:03 appearance! Great that you have this history all documented too!
I've always wanted a gen 1 insight, it my favourite generation of NSX.
Do a proper geeky hyper mile trip. Take the peak range and make a round trip out of it 20 odd years and 300,000 odd miles later to show the little insight still has it!
I am an owner of Honda Clarity PHEV 2019 and can't stop enjoying driving the car.
Is that the hydrogen?
@@TheLateBrakeShow No, mine is PHEV, but all EV, PHEV, Hydrogen are built on the same platform.
Lovely to see you back in it. You can tell by your voice you’re more than happy to have it back. You asked for things to do: in typical RUclips style, why don’t you wrap it, put huge wheels in it, supercharge it, re wrap it as your views have gone down, then finally release a shock video on how much it’s cost you…. Oh sorry, you’re not a RUclips twat…
What a joy to watch. Thank you Jonny! worked at a Honda dealer here in the states when the insight, EM1 Civic SI, S2000 all came out. I remember the insight was so light I could push it with 1 finger.
From US here; love my 2000 Insight, 240k miles and still going strong! Even though the newest Insight or Elantra hybrid may replace it as my DD someday, I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of mine either, I just love it
I'm seriously impressed by how light they made this car - 835 kg! That's almost back-to-the-70's!
This car intrigues me. Only ever seen a few around my part of the country. I did cheat and look at the results of the MOT 😁 I won't spoil it for others but I did expect an advisory for the missing HV battery cover 🤭 Excited for the next part!
Where you at. We've got one running too.
I bought a silver 2001 Insight in 2010 with 272k. My commute was 52 miles a day. I drove it for 5 years and sold it with 338,000. Probably one of the best cars I've owned.
We REALLY need to get on our Insight - it's got an EV1 motor in it and we're meant to be getting a new battery pack for it :) (But we also need a new carpet!)
I need a new carpet for mine too, any suggestions? should i just buy automotive carpet or is there a pre molded solution?
How’d you get your hands on an EV1 motor? No one was ever allowed to own one, lease only. And when the leases were up, they literally buried them all. The few in existence were gutted of their components. I think only a small handful exist intact, at automotive and science museums, and I think Francis Ford Coppola owns one. They can never be driven on the road though.
@@UmmYeahOk Magic
Jonny I really enjoyed that, your passion to keep the car on the road is fantastic. Robert Llewellyn was on the Steve wright show on Radio 2 this week telling us we should all buy £60,000 electric cars and dump our fossil fuel ones. Made me really angry to be honest.
Agree totally so much ev BS about... they have there place but not the total answer...
The main trouble is the price for the big battery packs that make the bulk of the price on full EVs.
My view on Hybrids is even more parts that need servicing and can fail,
power efficiency is questionable, fuel efficiency up to the electric range and then it gets worse then a full combustion variant because of added weight.
Hybrid is a Jack of all trades master of none.
EVs are an investment that will pay themselves off eventually because of low cost maintenance and power\fuel.
I see it like Solar Panel might be a big cost up front but will net positive in the long run.
what boils my beer is when people pretend that the only way to get into EVs is to get the biggest newest one, then cite the price as an example of unaffordability without mentioning the 2nd hand market, the price of petrol, TCO or anything else.
@@frankmoras63 I'd love to see hybrid conversion kits that offer 2-5 miles range in stop/start traffic... You could probably get away with using a 1kwh battery costing around £500 and weighing in at around 10-20kgs.
Mixture of metals oxidising is called galvanic corrosion
I did not know that Paul - thank you.
Thank you! A wonderful reconnection with the original Insight!
I owned one for many years, eventually I put in a GM EV-1 Motor and now that project is in the stable of our friends at Transport Evolved.
I also know that nervous feeling around high voltage so well. When I'm working with high voltage, I feel more comfortable with safety glasses and keeping my left hand deliberately behind my back just in case I mess up.
Electrician at work told me the same thing about putting one arm behind your back when working with HV
What's the one arm behind your back routine going to help when dealing with HV and it going wrong I wonder?!
@@martinclark9636 Keeping your left hand behind your back reduces the chance of an electrical shock traveling through your heart.
@@CafeElectric well I'm glad you said left arm and not one arm like others or I'd be fried⚡😂
Working on my citrus yellow right now.found it parked in a field for 3 years..started first time.only 139k so a long way to go.I was going to sell it but perhaps not now..zero tax and still gets 84mpg.
With Mr Khan and His Ulez/Pay per mile nonsense i think you should keep it, who knows how much these nutters are going to force older cars off roads but these are still one of the most Environmentally friendly cars around
Remember this car when it first appeared in the Uk. Honda engineering at bits peak. 320k miles and still a reliable runner. Regular servicing is the key with any car, you respect car and it will respect you! Great content Jonny, looking forward tôt his journey 👍
That Betamax VHS comparison hit real hard. Respect.
I love the insight too, had one for a week when my Honda company car was off for a service- sliding on the narrow tires and trying to the empty the battery with full throttle all the time : ) Best part was when my 'then girlfriends' daughter (10 years old) said that it sounds like my Porsche Carrera- she's right: 3 cylinders is half a Porsche ; )
Loving the project. Loving the fact you love the Honda as I'm a Honda hot boy. The reason why VHS beat betamax was because they did a longer tape.
Cool video, I've had mine for about 8 years and I'm at 194k miles, got a new Greentec battery in January!
Another fascinating project. You never let us down Jonny, always interesting and different. The Insight has always been a very cool car so it's gonna be amazing to follow you with this series. Thanks yet again for your work.
I was looking forward to this video, I was tempted buy one of these cars in around 2008.
Fantastic vid! I can't wait to see more insight adventures!
Wow Johnny, such an interesting project. I've always loved these quirky, efficient, cars. Good luck on the build.
Nice video. Thanks for the mentions.
I have enjoyed this episode of the late brake show. Very much. Keep up the good work
I have Honda Insight 2011, Man, I really love driving the car. Same with you, I really appreciate the IMA technology, every time it charge and discharge the battery, I really happy for it. I believe this car can go crazy mileage due to IMA system eventually slow down wear & tear to the engine and also to the breaking system. thank you so much for this video, really love it.
Thank you for this, it's spurred me on to actually get a CRZ after much deliberation.
Do it. Love the CRZs a lot. Such good fun.
Another awesome video Jonny! Keep up the great work, having lived my whole life in Taunton, only half a mile from the Honda garage for most of it, I regularly saw this insight out and about for 10+ years 👍👍
Looking forward to follow his and what a treat to buy it back.
Absolutely great little car! Not seen one on the road for a long long time! It’s awesome you bought it back good look with the restoration
That was really interesting Johnny…thank you. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an Insight in the flesh so to speak…I really hope you get it back on the road successfully 👍🤞thank you.
Fantastic episode as usual Jonny. Looking forward to see what happens next!
so excited for this, and the whole story how its come back to you. cant wait for follow along!
I love these!
A small, very light car focused on efficiency. Wish I could get one someday.
Great video , looking forward to next episodes 🙏🙏
Love the late brake show and this episode especially . I have owned a CRZ for the last 7 years where the Insight tech and most of the mechanicals were taken from . Have looked to change a few times but as yet seen nothing like it
A great trip down memory lane! I look forward to seeing you bring her back to health and happiness, and making a few upgrades. I had one of the first ones in Canada back in early 2000 when I lived in Kingston Ontario - wanted the awesome yellow/green like yours but had to settle for silver. I had a 30km each way commute on mostly rural roads for which the Insight was perfect - great fun to drive while listening to the upgraded stereo, sub-woofer in the rear storage bin ;-) and I regularly got 100+ mpg. Stuck snow tires on it for the winter, the only issue was snow build-up behind the rear wheel spats! I drove it across Canada when we moved to BC then sadly it became surplus to requirements as I was able to commute to work via bike. Sold it to a chap from California. It was by far the most unique, advanced and well-engineered car I've ever had. Thanks Jonny.
Have always had a soft spot for these, ahead of it's time and still looks futuristic. By coincidence, a couple of days after you posted you were buying yours back, I followed one in the same colour through Ilminster. Looking forward to the next progress update.
Been waiting to watch this for a while! Glad you got the insight back and can't wait to see more updates!
Awesome little car and fantastic videos. Cheers mate!
I had a 2003 Insight. One of my favorite cars. I was always impressed with honda engineering an innovation. Thanks from Seattle
Love this car, looking forward to more. I'd be kind of tempted not to change the battery pack unless the current one has problems, just in the EV spirit of not unnecessarily chucking out things that are still perfectly serviceable.
Is that not what he’s trying to do?
@@johnnunn8688right lol he literally is reviving the original batteries. That guy probably only watched 2 minutes of the video and thought he should comment that
Yes, looking forward to more Insight content. What a great little car.
Thanks for the insight.
What an awesome little car and video. Need to keep clocking up the mega miles in the beast
Really admire your love for this car.
And it's really cool to see all the love for the CRX, CRZ, and of course the Insight here. I still remember the first time seeing a CRX, always wanted one. Now I drive a CRZ, which is pretty great.
Great insight on your Insight. Never gave them a thought when they were around. Think I have seen one or two.
Really interesting project, looking forward to more on this.
Brings so much of the crx to mind the vetech engine was pretty whick cheers for the insight 👍 👌 😀
Been waiting for this with great anticipation!
I’m so happy this video popped up. I’ve been binge watching gen1 insight videos for 2 weeks now. My dream is to either k20 or electric swap one. They are such cool little machines.
Great to see you back with this thing. I used to work at Thatcham Research and remember seeing it parked outside the crash lab when you visited doing something with Fifth Gear. Cool car, good luck resurrecting it.
Great video Jonny, been looking forward to an update since hearing you'd bought it. I've had mine, a Citrus JDM CVT, for just over a year and absolutely love it. Good luck with getting everything on yours back as it should be. BTW the cat is cool too.
Have seen this thing few times while on my commute, was wondering who’s the mad person owning one😂 nice to see you Jonny and glad you have it back!
Great vid Johnny - looking forward to this series. The Insight truly was insightful and a truer representation of greener transport with its potential longevity and light weight. Better than the 2 ton behemoths laden with costly tech and rare materials... IMHO. 👍
I love the wheel too, beautiful period Honda design. And the logo on the wheel is so cool.
I can't believe it came back with your flux capacitor sticker on it 🤣
Thank you jonny what a buzz a great story to be told I not sure that going for a ride in this wonderful wee car needs to to on my bucket list but you are slowly emptying out your bucket
and that makes us happy about our lives.
Thank you for such a brilliant and honest video, your fondness for the little insight is very admirable. I’m looking forward to the rest of this series greatly. Now that you’ve gone to the effort of reviving the battery pack, and in the spirit of ‘make-do-and-mend’, please don’t upgrade to a lithium ion battery. I’m sure the current battery will do everything you need it to.
Great video really interesting to see more about the insight having recently picked up a CRZ.
Looking forward to seeing more of this
Great episode. Seen a couple of these in the North East last few years, one in Teesside same colour as yours and I used to see one semi regularly on the A69 (Newcastle to Hexham) on the morning commute. Great to see you re-owning this one and giving it some love.
Thanks for the series, well done. Agree with all you say. The first car I ever bought new (2000) and still my daily driver. Best car Honda ever made. Aftermarket charging kit has kept the battery (second one) going for 15 years, still fine. Original exhaust (outside cat converter update), original plugs, original coils, original struts, new rear shocks, and of course brakes, belts and tires. I have a good parts car, so it will last as long as I do. The only thing I can see replacing it is an Aptera.
The cat is indifferent. Lot of work to do Johhny to impress the pets.
That's what I was about to say: "Yeah, but your cat's not interested."
I recently bought one. I'm very excited for this series!
Love this passion you have for cars, I'm the same. I have a 2018 Honda Clarity PHEV and it consistently returns over 50MPG highway and runs all electric on my local trips. The Insight was an amazing piece of engineering at the time and paved the way for future models like the Clarity. Both of our cars share the skirts over the rear wheels, just love that bit.
Great video Jonny, your genuine love and appreciation of this car shines through from start to end.
Thanks so much 👍🏽
Someone who lives (or lived) near me owned (or owns) 1 of these in exactly that colour. I used to see it driving around the place and parked on the road. It's a seriously cool car. I had no idea just how rare it is.
Cracking stuff Johnny, great to see and hear your love for this car, and awesome to see you bringing her back to life, look forward to watching how you improve her !! Cheers
Much appreciate the comment. Cheers for watching 🙏🏼
My first car was a first-generation 1985 Honda Jazz/City, so I really appreciate this. Never knew a lot about Insight, very interesting. This is one of the most honest and interesting car shows on the internet, great work, keep it up.
Really like the way this car looks but i never seen one here (Portugal).
Lets bring it back to life!
That was very interesting. Well done and thanks.
Loving this project. Totally here for it. So many cars have life left in them and I'm glad you decided to give "The Green Spaceship" some love! Best from the States!
Great car and project!
I’ve seen the odd one of these about but had no idea they were that cool!
I do like Honda for this sort of thing.
Another fascinating video, don't change what you're doing. Was half expecting to see your skeleton light up when you were connecting the charger...
What a great video - such a journey
You are right, this is Honda tech at its peak. I would love to buy one of these, The Styling is good and modern, the lightweight is extremely appealing.
I just bought a CVT Insight for a friend on the cheap! I used the same alligator clip, light bulb, 350ma DIY grid charger.
IMA light be-gone! Flooring it getting 17mpg I didn't even get it under 1/2 a charge, it's performing like new!
The system works, right? Great to hear another IMA pack has been revived.
@@TheLateBrakeShow Yup! Getting 50mpg with the AC blasting. Unfortunately here in the US we didn't get lean burn with our CVTs, only the MT
What I really love about Johnny is the passion, I see a car that isn’t my cup of tea, but the enthusiasm he has and the passion for the details is enough to convince me I want one. You don’t always have to love the car, it’s an appreciation of the detail, and that what I love about this channel.
I had a 2000 Insight, serial number 0000000000979, one of the first Insights in the States. I too nursed the hybrid battery along for years with that method.
I remember your ev drag car (two words) "ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS ". Seeing the insight now makes me think it's more relative now than 20+ years ago, bring it back to life "RESTOMOD".
When released in Australia, my freinds dad was a honda dealer, he had one as his daily and i was lucky to get to drive it on a few occasions. This car blew my mind.. Beautiful car to drive and a real head turner. Pulled up at a set of traffic lights one time and absolutely thrashed a 3.8 V6 commodore by a country mile. A car i will never forget. So glad to see them survive.
I do a bit of rallying, and the number of times I've seen cars fail scrutineering because of seized Bowden cables for the electrical cut off and fire extinguishers led me to pull the cables out of their sleeves on my car and coat the entire length of the cables with copper grease. I've never had a cable seize, and they're over 12 years old.
Top tip.
Great video - looking forward to the next part.
I remember seeing this car's identical twin in Woking on my commute for a few years in 1999-2001 when I was in my CRX.
Talking of parts, Amayama seem to have access to parts that Honda UK dealers say are no longer available...
I think these are ace little cars, can't wait to see what you do with it. :)
you legend... I would love to find some of my old cars and get that back to a former glory. absolutely 💯 leave the battery and engine as intended. Great video.
What a great project. I’d forgotten about the Insight. Drove a friend’s insight in 2001 and remember how impressed I was with the mpg and how quiet and light it was to drive. I’m tempted.
Nobody builds cars like the Japanese, 320,000 on a little 1 litre 3 cylinder engine, absolutely fantastic, and the interior is in brilliant condition. Johnny has a thing for Hondas as do I , driving a Lexus hybrid now, but still miss me S2000 and my EP3 and fn2, but times move on and needs and wants change, but never enough to change from a Japanese car though.
Give this a full mechanical refresh. Full exterior and interior detail and this will be sensational. What a great great project Johnny. Honda UK should be helping you. Great PR for them. Well done man.