Honda Insight gearbox

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Honda Insight Gearboxes

The Honda Insight is one of the leading highlights in the hybrid car movement. It offers buyers the promise of low environmental impact motoring and cost effective motoring with the same practicality as a small hatch.

First generation Insight gearbox from 2000 to 2006

Only 3 different trims were obtainable: a manual gearbox without air conditioning, a manual gearbox with automatic climate control system, and a continuously variable gearbox with automatic climate control system.

The Insight weighed 1,847lb in manual gearbox form or 1,964lb with continuously variable gearbox and air conditioning. The combination of materials and design gave the Insight body structure 13 percent more bending strength and 38 percent more torsional rigidity than a comparably-sized steel body, despite weighing 40 percent less.

On the manual gearbox up and down arrows suggest when to shift gears. The Insight uses the first generation of Honda's Integrated Motor Assist hybrid technology.

The original Insight had a conventional manual gearbox. Starting with the 2001 model, a continuously variable gearbox variant of the Insight was available; the continuously variable gearbox is similar to that used in the Honda Civic Hybrid and the Honda Logo. A feature shared by the two hybrids (and now appearing in others) is the ability to automatically turn off the engine when the vehicle is at a stop (and restart it upon movement).

To maximize fuel efficiency, the Insight was very aerodynamic. The Insight had one of the lowest coefficients of drag of any marketed automobile, giving it a coefficient of 0.25. The Insight was available with a manual gearbox or a continuously variable gearbox. A traditional gearbox shifts between a fixed set of engine to wheel ratios; however, a continuously variable gearbox allows for an infinite set of ratios between its lowest gear and it’s highest. The continuously variable gearbox equipped Insight was classified as a super-low emissions vehicle.

Second generation Insight gearbox from 2010 to present

The Insight is made with two gearboxes :

• a conventional 5-speed manual gearbox, and
• a continuously variable automatic gearbox, also referred to as the " continuously variable gearbox " or "Honda Multimatic" gearbox

The CVT gearbox used in the Insight is very similar to the continuously variable gearbox that Honda has used in other vehicles.

The Insight was critized for its constant variable gearbox, engine noise, and build quality and the Insight is not a car for lengthy journeys.

Honda claims that their continuously variable gearbox is the world's first mass-produced, high-power, stepless gearbox. While such gearboxes existed previously, they claim the continuously variable gearbox is "far superior in quality, endurance, power output and cost". They have also specifically designed the continuously variable gearbox to respond in the way that drivers are accustomed to other automatic gearboxes responding.

Overview of the continuously variable gearbox :

Rather than having a fixed set of gear combinations, or "ratios", the continuously variable gearbox allows an almost limitless number of engine speeds to vehicle speed ratios. This provides significant benefits over a traditional automatic gearbox, including :

• The computer can intelligently choose to have the Insight's gasoline engine and electric motor rotating at the optimal speed, regardless of how fast the car is travelling. When cruising under low power demand conditions, the engine & motor will turn relatively slowly, while they will turn faster when accelerating or climbing a hill. This provides improved fuel efficiency as compared to a typical automatic gearbox.
• Because of the smooth transition in gear ratios provided by the continuously variable gearbox, the continuously variable gearbox Insight provides constant, stepless acceleration from a stop all the way up to cruising speed. This contrasts with the jerk of gear changes experienced with a typical automatic gearbox.
• The continuously variable gearbox provides less power loss than a typical automatic gearbox, resulting in better efficiency and acceleration.

Continuously variable gearbox Operation :

The continuously variable gearbox consists of an oil-pressure variable input (aka "driving") and output (aka "driven") pulley, and a metal belt that connects the two. With an oil system clutch on the "driven" side, the Multimatic acts as an automatic gearbox. The power output from the engine goes through: Front/Back Switch Mechanism -> Driving Pulley -> Metal Belt -> Driven Pulley -> Clutch.

The two pulley widths, adjusted by oil pressure, react to the position of throttle, speed, and other conditions. For instance, when the accelerator is depressed, the driving pulley width increases. At the same time, the driven pulley width decreases - the two combining for a "lower gear" effect.

By making such adjustments, we have full control over the entire gear range previously available to automatic gearboxes; from low to overdrive and everything in between. In addition, the metal belt is highly flexible, and easily accommodates the ever-changing width of the pulleys, and transfer power efficiently without any slippage.

This difficult task of adjusting oil pressure, and adjusting to variable driving conditions is handled completely by the ECU, and allows the gearbox to extract the maximum performance out of an engine - making this a revolutionary automotive gearbox.

CVT Mechanism :

The Unique Features of the Honda Multimatic The Honda Multimatic does not use a torque converter, but uses a newly designed multi-layered clutch. Additionally, to obtain smooth acceleration, various proprietary equipment were added in order to make a step-less gearbox with high reliability and durability.

Driven Shaft Placed Acceleration Clutch

The Honda Multimatic differs from previously existing step-fewer gearboxes is that the acceleration clutch is placed on the drive shaft. The primary reason we took this route was to control torque at the closest possible place to the axle, allowing for smooth acceleration. In addition, we were able to apply a modest creep* which most automatic gearbox users have grown accustomed to. This gives the standard advantages of an automatic when parking, as well as starting from a dead-stop on hills. (*creep - you know, how your car with AT will sneak/creep forward unless you apply the brakes).

Secondly, this allows for controlling the speed in all circumstances. In order to control speed, the pulley needs to be continually spinning. By placing the clutch on the driven pulley, the pulley can remain spinning even when the car is stopped. This means that in emergency situations or sudden deceleration, the gearbox can quickly step down to LOW gear.

Lastly, this set-up allows for the gearbox to be towed. When the engine is stopped, the input from the tires is locked out by the final gear and the driven pulley.

Once you've decided that you need a new gearbox for your vehicle, call our help line to talk to our representative to assist you with your car part today.

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All our automatic and manual gearboxes are available new, remanufactured or reconditioned to the highest standards. All our gearbox components meet or exceed all original manufactures specifications, and most of the time the Honda Insight gearbox components are sourced from our specialist breakers. You can buy with confidence from us, knowing that you have the best quality Honda Insight gearbox with the best warranty protection. We have an extensive network of industry contacts to ensure you find what you are looking for.