# Honda insight / adding an alternator or bypassing mcm shutting down dc-dc converter charging **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** insight, honda\ **Created:** [March 12, 2020, 3:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-insight-adding-an-alternator-or-bypassing-mcm-shutting-down-dc-dc-converter-charging/160887 "2020-03-12T15:06:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Frank\_Barajas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Frank\_Barajas](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Frank_Barajas)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 3:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-insight-adding-an-alternator-or-bypassing-mcm-shutting-down-dc-dc-converter-charging/160887/1 "2020-03-12T15:06:13Z")
so i have the service manual here for this model insight, witch no one seemed to have. I was wondering if anyone can help me do a bypass or add an alternator to this vehicle. ive seen all of the other posts, spent countless hours trying to figure the bypasses out but they are for a different model. So im hoping with the service manual someone would be able to help me make this car work without IMA battery, i dont care if the engne lights are on etc i can take care of that later, i juts want it to run with no IMA while charging the 12v battery in the hood. thank you in advance, even willing to donate some cash to anyone who comes up with a working solution. link for service manual > **[easyupload.io](https://easyupload.io/eimtir)** > > easyupload.io ---
**Author:** ![Frank\_Barajas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Frank\_Barajas](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Frank_Barajas)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 3:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-insight-adding-an-alternator-or-bypassing-mcm-shutting-down-dc-dc-converter-charging/160887/2 "2020-03-12T15:08:12Z")
The file is PDF just ctrl+f dc converter and you can see how different it is from the previous models that have posts about bypass etc. its 2011/2012 model ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 3:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-insight-adding-an-alternator-or-bypassing-mcm-shutting-down-dc-dc-converter-charging/160887/3 "2020-03-12T15:08:48Z")
You need to find a Honda Insight forum, lots better odds of finding someone familiar with what you’re trying to do. ---
**Author:** ![Frank\_Barajas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Frank\_Barajas](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Frank_Barajas)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 3:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-insight-adding-an-alternator-or-bypassing-mcm-shutting-down-dc-dc-converter-charging/160887/4 "2020-03-12T15:10:35Z")
Ive looked everywhere, and no one has been able to help me. i Just know for my other vehicles this form has always been the best! ---
**Author:** ![thegreendrag0n](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/thegreendrag0n/32/9265_2.png) [@thegreendrag0n](https://community.cartalk.com/u/thegreendrag0n)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 3:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-insight-adding-an-alternator-or-bypassing-mcm-shutting-down-dc-dc-converter-charging/160887/5 "2020-03-12T15:15:28Z")
you might have more success fixing your inverter/battery issues than modding your car ---
**Author:** ![Frank\_Barajas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Frank\_Barajas](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Frank_Barajas)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 3:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-insight-adding-an-alternator-or-bypassing-mcm-shutting-down-dc-dc-converter-charging/160887/6 "2020-03-12T15:17:01Z")
batteries are 1,000$ plus they go bad too quick. i rather just mod. the car is used for short distances. i have to charge the battery every night and it only takes me so far before turing off lol. ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 3:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-insight-adding-an-alternator-or-bypassing-mcm-shutting-down-dc-dc-converter-charging/160887/7 "2020-03-12T15:23:26Z")
Have you looked into one of those services where they just replace the bad cells in your hybrid battery? It can save you money and properly fix what is wrong with your car. Rather than do this mod, you might consider trading it in for a non-hybrid. ---
**Author:** ![Frank\_Barajas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Frank\_Barajas](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Frank_Barajas)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 3:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-insight-adding-an-alternator-or-bypassing-mcm-shutting-down-dc-dc-converter-charging/160887/8 "2020-03-12T15:25:02Z")
ill look into the bad cell replacement, but im sure it has to be around 500$ atleast ty ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 3:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-insight-adding-an-alternator-or-bypassing-mcm-shutting-down-dc-dc-converter-charging/160887/9 "2020-03-12T15:27:40Z")
More importantly, I don’t think you can do this mod on this version of the Insight and make it work. On the original Insight, the electric motor was only used for extra power, but the second generation Insight was more like a Prius, relying primarily on the electric motor, and using the engine mainly to charge the hybrid battery. Your Insight is probably too complicated to do such a basic modification and expect it to work. ---
**Author:** ![eddo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/eddo/32/2594_2.png) [@eddo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/eddo)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 3:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-insight-adding-an-alternator-or-bypassing-mcm-shutting-down-dc-dc-converter-charging/160887/10 "2020-03-12T15:37:12Z")
> [@Frank\_Barajas](#): > > ill look into the bad cell replacement, but im sure it has to be around 500$ atleast > ty and how much are you expecting to pay for a mod to: purchase an alternator manufacture a bracket, engineer some sort of drive system for the alternator safely run & Install wiring perhaps there is some sort of aftermarket kit out there to do this, but otherwise, I’d think you are look at way more than $500 for this ---
**Author:** ![Frank\_Barajas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Frank\_Barajas](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Frank_Barajas)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 3:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-insight-adding-an-alternator-or-bypassing-mcm-shutting-down-dc-dc-converter-charging/160887/11 "2020-03-12T15:38:00Z")
the mod i dont mind paying for, its the constant upkeep with batteries that i dont want to deal with ---
**Author:** ![thegreendrag0n](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/thegreendrag0n/32/9265_2.png) [@thegreendrag0n](https://community.cartalk.com/u/thegreendrag0n)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 4:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-insight-adding-an-alternator-or-bypassing-mcm-shutting-down-dc-dc-converter-charging/160887/12 "2020-03-12T16:05:12Z")
I will agree that prior generation of Honda hybrids was way lower reliability than Toyota’s stellar take on it. Still, “too quick” is too blurry definition. I assume your trouble is a traction battery. I’ve seen people repairing it with replacing individual cells for far less than dealers price for the new unit. ---
**Author:** ![old\_mopar\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6bbea6/32.png) [@old\_mopar\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/old_mopar_guy)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 4:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-insight-adding-an-alternator-or-bypassing-mcm-shutting-down-dc-dc-converter-charging/160887/13 "2020-03-12T16:52:14Z")
Then admit to yourself “it can’t be done” and buy a different car. ---
**Author:** ![Frank\_Barajas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Frank\_Barajas](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Frank_Barajas)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 5:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-insight-adding-an-alternator-or-bypassing-mcm-shutting-down-dc-dc-converter-charging/160887/14 "2020-03-12T17:08:46Z")
i never like giving up on things! If Nasa did the same they would have never ended up on the moon. lol ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 5:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-insight-adding-an-alternator-or-bypassing-mcm-shutting-down-dc-dc-converter-charging/160887/15 "2020-03-12T17:54:15Z")
NASA’s moon landing budget was $25.4 billion (about $153 billion in 2018 dollars). It had a staff of roughly 17,000 employees and 187,500 contractors. > **[Budget of NASA | Cost of Apollo program](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budget_of_NASA#Cost_of_Apollo_program)** > > NASA's budget peaked in 1964–66 when it consumed roughly 4% of all federal spending. The agency was building up to the first Moon landing and the Apollo program was a top national priority, consuming more than half of NASA's budget and driving NASA's workforce to more than 34,000 employees and 375,000 contractors from industry and academia. > In 1973, NASA submitted congressional testimony reporting the total cost of Project Apollo as $25.4 billion (about $153 billion in 2018 dollars). ---
**Author:** ![old\_mopar\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6bbea6/32.png) [@old\_mopar\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/old_mopar_guy)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 6:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-insight-adding-an-alternator-or-bypassing-mcm-shutting-down-dc-dc-converter-charging/160887/16 "2020-03-12T18:00:25Z")
That was also a colassal waste of time and money. ---
**Author:** ![ledhed75](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f6c823/32.png) [@ledhed75](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ledhed75)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 7:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-insight-adding-an-alternator-or-bypassing-mcm-shutting-down-dc-dc-converter-charging/160887/17 "2020-03-12T19:05:03Z")
Either fix the car right, or trade it off for something else. That’s my 2 cents.