[Honda2019]

Does anyone know if this portable jump starter would work on the 2019 Insight? I know the Insight has a small battery inside the car, but not sure about its specifics. This jump starter only works with 12v lead acid batteries.

Noco boost+ GB40 Jump Starter

Thanks.

 

[highmiler]

the owners manual suggests a jumper that provides 12-volt battery jumping power can indeed work

 

[Honda2019]

Thanks Highmiler!

 

[hasarad]

You can jump start an Insight, but you should not use it to jump-start another car. Electronic damage can occur.

 

[PacketPaul]

If we leave our lights on overnight is it still possible to start the car?

 

[mgldan]

As long as you bring your fob with you it'll be hard to leave the lights on overnight. They turn themselves off if the car is off, the door is closed, and there's no fob inside the car. See manual page attached.

I have a Weego jump starter in case something else happens. https://smile.amazon.com/44-Perform...?ie=UTF8&qid=1550351386&sr=8-2&keywords=weego

 

[odysseus]

This raises the question of which battery-based jump start boxes can start the Insight (or any other keyless-ignition-based car). I was thinking about purchasing a Weego 22 (recommended by Wirecutter) when I came across this comment:

You can't use this on a car with a keyless ignition. This is the most disturbing since a large percentage of cars sold over the past 10 years have keyless ignition. The Weego looks for a system draw before allowing power to flow. On an old car, you turn the key on and a power draw is then sent to the battery/Weego from the ignition, which turns the Weego's adapter on (adapter light green). You can then start the car. For a keyless ignition, the system needs a few seconds of power to start the electronics/ignition/fuel pump before allowing the car to start. If there is low power, it doesn't go through this mode and consequently never sends a power draw to the Weego long enough for it to turn on and allow power to flow.

Has anyone found a good jump start box which will work with the Insight?

 

[insightfully]

Not sure of a specific brand/product recommendation yet, but the manual advises an "AGM-compatible charger" should be acceptable for use (p592):

"AGM labeled batteries like those installed in your vehicle require a compatible charger to be properly charged. Damage to the battery can result if the battery is charged improperly or with the wrong equipment. For more information on how to charge your vehicle’s AGM battery, consult a dealer."

@mgldan previously mentioned a lithium ion jump starter as part of an emergency kit, and perhaps can share in this thread related product info

 

[odysseus]

Has anyone found a good jump start box which will work with the Insight?

I've been corresponding with a Weego product manager, and he states that while they haven't tested the 2019 Insight, "We have sold all of our products in the last 5 years, thousands of them since 2014, and have had less than a dozen people tell us it did not work on their keyless cars."

Any ideas whether the special AGM battery is a consideration?

Furthermore, the manual (p.628) states "Use a 12-volt booster battery only" -- but they're not insisting on using a regular car battery instead of a jump start box, are they?

 

[mgldan]

@mgldan previously mentioned a lithium ion jump starter as part of an emergency kit, and perhaps can share in this thread related product info

I have a Weego 44. Haven’t yet had need to jump start my Insight, but I might find time this weekend to hook it up and at least see if the green light turns on. I’d rather not actually attempt a jump since my car is working fine. :wink:

 

[Wifey'sInsight]

Just to attempt to attack this issue.

AGM batteries should never be "quick charged". 2 amps maximum current for most situations. Standard lead acid battery chargers are often 5-15 amps current.

Most likely the positive terminal under the hood is isolated, or at the very least switched. This terminal most likely allows the starter generator to see power, but isolates the AGM battery from seeing any current.

The most expected reasoning is that the relays for ignition, and bcm/pcm/ipu etc... all run on 12v supply. The 12v battery most likely does not actually do any "starting", as the Generator/Starter unit is High Voltage, and powered by the cars HV Battery Pack.

Using an AGM battery to jump start a car will most likely damage the AGM battery, unless it's specifically designed for the current output of a traditional car starter (400+ cca). While most AGM batteries in this size category can be rated for 450 CCA, the fact that our cars don't have a traditional alternator may be the Achilles heel. It's probable that the 12v charging system isn't designed for any significant load.

Or the fact that we have a remote positive, that I speculate is switched/isolated from the AGM, it could damage that terminal to jump start another car and push that kind of amperage.

 

[andrew28]

Has anyone found a good jump start box which will work with the Insight?

Amazon product description says this will work with AGM batteries. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BLLRM8R/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

 

[Wifey'sInsight]

Sorry I just realized that I never finished my post. Most jump packs should work with our set-up, the only issue I foresee is the "voltage sensing smart chargers". I don't know enough about them to say that they will all work, I will say that most likely most of them will work.

There is a huge difference between jumping a car, and charging a battery. I would suggest that no-one tries to charge the battery without a charger designed for AGM batteries, and if it were me, I'd charge the battery at the battery, not the under-hood posts.

 

[dvom]

A small pocket jump starter will not be able to jump the car from under the hood, it will need to be directly attached to the 12v battery posts. If the car has sat dead for multiple days it will also not work. If you want a jump pack that will work in both of those scenarios you will need a full size jump pack. I would recommend the JNC 660 around $120, but even the $60 harbor freight full size jump pack works ok.

 

[hasarad]

I have one of these always available. I haven't needed to use it on a car yet, but it brought my dead lawnmower back to life after my son left the key on.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/GOOLOO-8...nd-USB-for-Up-to-4-5-Liter-Gasoline/801082784