HONDA INSIGHT 2000 1.G Owners Manual

Break-i
n Period , Gasolin e

Break-i n Perio d

Hel p assur e you r car' s futur e
reliabilit y an d performanc e b y payin g
extr a attentio n t o ho w yo u driv e
durin g th e firs t 60 0 mile s (1,00 0 km) .
Durin g thi s period :
Avoi d full-throttl e start s an d rapi d

acceleration .

Avoi d har d braking . Ne w brake s
nee d t o b e broken-i n b y moderat e
us e fo r th e firs t 20 0 mile s (30 0
km) .
Yo u shoul d follo w thes e sam e re -
commendation s wit h a n overhaule d
o r exchange d engine , o r whe n th e
brake s ar e relined .
Gasolin
e

You r Hond a is designe d t o operat e
o n unleade d gasolin e wit h a pum p
octan e numbe r o f 8 7 o r higher . Us e
o f a lowe r octan e gasolin e ca n caus e
a persistent , heav y metalli c rappin g
nois e in th e engin e tha t ca n lea d t o
mechanica l damage .
W e recommen d gasoline s containin g
detergen t additive s tha t hel p preven t
fue l syste m an d engin e deposits .
Usin g gasolin e containin g lea d wil l
damag e you r car' s emission s
controls . Thi s contribute s t o ai r
pollution . I
n Canada , som e gasoline s contai n
a n octane-enhancin g additiv e called
MMT . I f yo u us e suc h gasolines ,
you r emissio n contro l syste m
performanc e ma y deteriorat e an d
th e Malfunctio n Indicato r Lam p o n
you r instrumen t pane l ma y tur n on .
I f thi s happens , contac t you r
authorize d Hond a deale r fo r service .

Befor e Drivin g

Servic
e Statio n Procedure s

Fillin g th e Fue l Tan k
1 . Becaus e th e fue l fil l ca p is o n th e
passenger' s sid e o f th e car , par k
wit h tha t sid e closes t t o th e
servic e statio n pumps .
2 . Ope n th e fue l fil l doo r b y pullin g
o n th e handl e t o th e lef t o f th e
driver' s seat .
FUEL FIL L CA P 3
. Remov e th e fue l fil l ca p slowly .
Yo u ma y hea r a hissin g soun d a s
pressur e insid e th e tan k escapes .
4 . Sto p fillin g th e tan k afte r th e fue l
nozzl e automaticall y click s off . D o
no t tr y t o "to p off " th e tank , leav e
som e roo m fo r th e fue l t o expan d
wit h temperatur e changes .
You r ca r ha s a n on-boar d refuelin g
vapo r recover y syste m to hel p
kee p fue l vapor s fro m goin g int o
th e atmosphere . I f th e fue l pum p
keep s clickin g of f eve n thoug h th e
tan k is no t full , ther e ma y b e a
proble m wit h thi s system . Consul t
you r dealer .
CONTINUED
Befor e Drivin g

PUL
L
Gasolin
e is highl y flammabl e
an d explosive . Yo u ca n b e
burne d o r seriousl y injure d
whe n handlin g fuel .

Sto p th e engin e an d kee p

heat , sparks , an d flam e away .
Handl e fue l onl y outdoors .
Wip e u p spill s immediately .

Servic
e Statio n Procedure s

5 . Scre w th e fue l fil l ca p bac k on ,
tighte n i t unti l i t click s severa l
times . I f yo u d o no t properl y
tighte n th e cap , th e Malfunctio n
Indicato r Lam p ma y com e o n (se e
pag e 220 ).
6 . Pus h th e fue l fil l doo r close d unti l
i t latches . Openin
g th e Hoo d
Shif t t o Par k o r Neutra l an d se t
th e parkin g brake . Pul l th e hoo d
releas e handl e locate d unde r th e
lowe r lef t corne r o f th e dashboard .
Th e hoo d wil l po p u p slightly . Standin
g in fron t o f th e car , pu t
you r finger s unde r th e fron t edg e
o f th e hoo d t o th e righ t o f center .
Slid e you r han d t o th e lef t unti l
yo u fee l th e hoo d latc h handle .
Pus h thi s handl e u p unti l i t
release s th e hood . Lif t th e hood .

Befor e Drivin g
LATC
H
HOO
D

RELEAS E

HANDL E

Servic
e Statio n Procedure s

I f yo u ca n ope n th e hoo d withou t
liftin g th e hoo d latc h handle , o r th e
hoo d latc h handl e move s stiffl y o r
doe s no t sprin g bac k a s before , th e
mechanis m shoul d b e cleane d an d
lubricate d (se e pag e 174 ).
3. Pul l th e suppor t ro d ou t o f it s cli p
an d inser t th e en d int o th e hol e o n
th e lef t sid e o f th e hood .
T o clos e th e hood , lif t i t u p slightl y t o
remov e th e suppor t ro d fro m th e
hole . Pu t th e suppor t ro d bac k int o
it s holdin g clip . Lowe r th e hoo d t o
abou t a foo t (3 0 cm ) abov e th e
fender , the n le t i t drop . Afte
r closin g th e hood , mak e sur e it
i s securel y latched .
CONTINUED
Befor e Drivin g
SUPPOR
T RO D

CLI P

Servic
e Statio n Procedure s

Oil Check
Chec k th e engin e oi l leve l ever y tim e
yo u fil l th e ca r wit h fuel . Wai t a fe w
minute s afte r turnin g th e engin e of f
befor e yo u chec k th e oil .
1 . Remov e th e dipstic k (orang e

handle) .
2
. Wip e th e dipstic k wit h a clea n
clot h o r pape r towel . 3
. Inser t i t al l th e wa y bac k in it s tube .

Befor e Drivin g

DIPSTIC
K

Servic
e Statio n Procedure s

4 . Remov e th e dipstic k agai n an d
chec k th e level . I t shoul d b e
betwee n th e uppe r an d lowe r
marks .
I f i t i s nea r o r belo w th e lowe r mark ,
se e Addin g Oi l o n pag e 15 9 . Engine
Coolant Check
Loo k a t th e coolan t leve l i n th e
radiato r reserv e tank . Mak e sur e i t i s
betwee n th e MA X an d MI N lines . I f
i t i s belo w th e MI N line , se e Addin g
Engin e Coolan t o n pag e 16 3 fo r
informatio n o n addin g th e prope r

coolant .
Refe
r t o Owne r Maintenanc e
Check s o n pag e 15 7 fo r informatio n
o n checkin g othe r item s i n you r

Honda .

Before Drivin g

RESERV
E

TAN K

MA X
MI N
UPPE R MAR K
LOWE R MAR K

Fue
l Econom y

Th e conditio n o f you r ca r an d you r
drivin g habit s ar e th e tw o mos t
importan t thing s tha t affec t th e fue l
mileag e yo u get .
Vehicl e Conditio n
Alway s maintai n you r ca r accordin g
t o th e maintenanc e schedule . Thi s
wil l kee p it i n to p operatin g condition .
A n importan t par t o f tha t mainte -
nanc e is th e Owne r Maintenanc e
Check s (se e pag e 15 7 ) . Fo r
example , a n underinflate d tir e
cause s mor e "rollin g resistance, "
whic h use s fuel . I t als o wear s ou t
faster , s o chec k th e tir e pressur e a t
leas t monthly . Engin
e oi l als o affect s fue l economy .
Th e fue l efficient , low-viscosit y
OW-2 0 oi l recommende d fo r you r
Insigh t i s formulate d t o hel p th e
engin e us e les s fuel . Thi s oi l i s
availabl e a t you r Hond a dealer .
I n winter , th e build-u p o f sno w o n
you r car' s undersid e add s weigh t an d
rollin g resistance . Frequen t cleanin g
help s you r fue l mileag e an d reduce s
th e chanc e o f corrosion .
Drivin g Habit s
Yo u ca n improv e fue l econom y b y
drivin g moderately . Rapi d acceler -
ation , abrup t cornering , an d har d
brakin g us e mor e fuel .
T o ge t th e bes t fue l mileage , driv e in
th e highes t gea r tha t i s practica l fo r
th e spee d yo u ar e driving , an d
alway s accelerat e slowly . Yo
u ma y fin d tha t you r Insight' s
uniqu e combinatio n o f a n engin e an d
a n electri c moto r ha s drivin g
characteristic s tha t ar e somewha t
differen t fro m wha t yo u ar e use d to .
Shif t U p an d Shif t Dow n indicator s
o n th e instrumen t pane l sho w whe n
t o shif t t o a highe r o r lowe r gear . B y
shiftin g a s soo n a s th e indicato r
come s on , yo u wil l kee p th e engin e
operatin g in it s mos t economica l

range .

Dependin g o n traffi c conditions , tr y
t o maintai n a constan t speed . Ever y
tim e yo u slo w dow n an d spee d up ,
you r ca r use s extr a fuel .
Win d resistanc e cause s vehicle s t o
us e mor e fue l a t highe r speeds .
Drivin g a t moderat e speed s o n th e
highwa y reduce s win d resistanc e
an d conserve s fuel .

Befor e Drivin g

Fue
l Econom y

A col d engin e use s mor e fue l tha n a
war m engine . I t i s no t necessar y t o
"warm-up " a col d engin e b y lettin g it
idl e fo r a lon g time . Yo u ca n driv e
awa y in abou t a minute , n o matte r
ho w col d it i s outside . Th e engin e
wil l war m up faster , an d yo u ge t
bette r fue l economy . T o cu t dow n o n
th e numbe r o f "col d starts, " tr y t o
combin e severa l shor t trip s int o one .
Th e ai r conditionin g put s a n extr a
loa d o n th e engin e whic h make s i t
us e mor e fuel . Tur n of f th e A/ C to
cu t dow n o n ai r conditionin g use .
Us e th e flow-throug h ventilatio n
whe n th e outsid e ai r temperatur e is

moderate .
I
f ai r conditionin g is needed , yo u ca n
sav e som e fue l b y usin g th e A/ C in
"Econ " mode . Thi s mod e allow s th e
Aut o Idl e Sto p functio n to shu t of f
th e engin e whe n th e vehicl e is
stopped , resultin g in fue l savings .
Yo u ma y notic e tha t usin g th e A/ C
cause s a greate r dro p in fue l
econom y tha n yo u ar e use d to in
othe r vehicles . Althoug h th e amoun t
o f extr a fue l use d b y th e A/ C loa d o n
th e engin e is n o greate r tha n othe r
vehicles , i t i s mor e noticeabl e
becaus e o f you r Insight' s excellen t
fue l mileage . Usin g th e A/ C is ho t
weathe r ma y resul t i n fue l econom y
tha t i s lowe r tha n expected .
Before Drivin g

Accessorie
s an d Modification s

Modifyin g you r car , o r installin g
som e non-Hond a accessories , ca n
mak e you r ca r unsafe . Befor e yo u
mak e an y modification s o r ad d an y
accessories , b e sur e t o rea d th e
followin g information .

Accessorie s

You r deale r ha s Genuin e Hond a
accessorie s tha t allo w yo u t o
personaliz e you r car . Thes e
accessorie s hav e bee n designe d an d
approve d fo r you r car , an d ar e
covere d b y warranty .
Non-Hond a accessorie s ar e usuall y
designe d fo r universa l applications .
Althoug h aftermarke t accessorie s
ma y fi t o n you r car , the y ma y no t
mee t factor y specifications , an d
coul d adversel y affec t you r car' s
handlin g an d stability . (Se e
"Modifications " o n th e pag e 12 7 fo r
additiona l information. ) Whe
n properl y installed , cellula r
phones , alarms , two-wa y radios , an d
low-powere d audi o system s shoul d
no t interfer e wit h you r car' s
computer-controlle d systems , suc h

a s th e SRS .
However
, i f electroni c accessorie s
ar e improperl y installed , o r excee d
you r car' s electrica l syste m capacity ,
the y ca n interfer e wit h th e operatio n
o f you r car , o r eve n caus e th e
airbag s t o deploy .
Befor e installin g an y accessory :
Mak e sur e th e accessor y doe s no t
obscur e an y lights , o r interfer e
wit h prope r ca r operatio n o r
performance .
B e sur e electroni c accessorie s d o
no t overloa d electrica l circuit s
(se e pag e 222 ).
Hav e th e installe r contac t you r
Hond a deale r fo r assistanc e befor e
installin g an y electroni c accessory .
I f possible , hav e you r deale r inspec t
th e fina l installation .

Befor e Drivin g
Imprope
r accessorie s o r
modification s ca n affec t you r
car' s handling , stabilit y an d
performance , an d caus e a
cras h in whic h yo u ca n b e hur t
o r killed .
Follo w al l instruction s i n thi s
owner' s manua l regardin g
accessorie s an d modifications .

Accessorie
s an d Modification s

Modification s
D o no t remov e an y origina l
equipmen t o r modif y you r ca r i n an y
wa y tha t woul d alte r it s desig n o r
operation . Thi s coul d mak e you r ca r
unsaf e an d illega l t o drive .
Fo r example , d o no t mak e an y
modification s tha t woul d chang e th e
rid e heigh t o f you r car , o r instal l
wheel s an d tire s wit h a differen t
overal l diameter .
Suc h modification s ca n adversel y
affec t handling , an d interfer e wit h
th e operatio n o f th e car's other

systems .
I
n addition , an y modification s tha t
decreas e groun d clearanc e increas e
th e chanc e o f undercarriag e part s
strikin g a curb , spee d bump , o r othe r
raise d object , whic h coul d caus e
you r airbag s t o deploy .
D o no t modif y you r steerin g whee l
o r an y othe r par t o f you r
Supplementa l Restrain t System .
Modification s coul d mak e th e
syste m ineffective . Additiona
l Safet y Precautio n

Do not attach or place objects on the

airbag covers. Any objec t attache d to

o r place d o n th e cover s marke d "SR S
AIRBAG, " i n th e cente r o f th e
steerin g whee l an d o n to p o f th e
dashboard , coul d interfer e wit h th e
prope r operatio n o f th e airbags . Or ,
i f th e airbag s inflate , th e object s
coul d b e propelle d insid e th e ca r an d
hur t someone .

Befor e Drivin g