tow HONDA INSIGHT 2000 1.G User Guide

Takin
g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

Thi s sectio n cover s th e more -
commo n problem s tha t motorist s
experienc e wit h thei r vehicles . I t
give s yo u informatio n abou t ho w to
safel y evaluat e th e proble m an d wha t
t o d o to correc t it . I f th e proble m ha s
strande d yo u o n th e sid e o f th e road ,
yo u ma y b e abl e to ge t goin g again .
I f not , yo u wil l als o fin d instruction s
o n gettin g you r ca r towed . Compac
t Spar e Tire...................... . 20
6

Changin g a
Fla
t Tir e .................... . 20

7

I f You r
Engin
e Won' t Start.......... . 21

3

Nothin g Happen s
o
r th e
Starte r Moto r Operate s
Ver y Slowly............................ . 21

3

Th e Starte r
Operate
s
Normally................................ . 21 4
Jum p Starting................................ . 21 4
I f You r Engin e Overheats............ . 21 7
Lo w Oi l Pressur e Indicator......... . 21 8
Chargin g Syste m Indicator.......... . 21 9
Malfunctio n Indicato r Lam p ....... . 22 0
Brak e Syste m Indicator............... . 22 1
Fuses.............................................. . 22 2
Checkin g an d Replacing.......... . 22 3
Emergenc y Towing...................... . 22 8

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

I
f You r Engin e Won' t Star t

Diagnosin g wh y you r engin e won' t
star t fall s int o tw o areas , dependin g
o n wha t yo u hea r whe n yo u tur n th e
ke y t o STAR T (III) :
Yo u hea r nothing , o r almos t
nothing . Th e engine' s starte r
moto r doe s no t operat e a t all , o r
operate s ver y slowly .
Yo u ca n hea r th e starte r moto r
operatin g normally , o r th e starte r
moto r sound s lik e i t i s spinnin g
faste r tha n normal , bu t th e engin e
doe s no t star t u p an d run . Nothin
g Happen s o r th e Starte r
Moto r Operate s Ver y Slowl y
Whe n yo u tur n th e ignitio n switc h t o
STAR T (III) , yo u d o no t hea r th e
norma l nois e o f th e engin e tryin g to
start . Yo u ma y hea r a clickin g soun d
o r serie s o f clicks , o r nothin g a t all .
Chec k thes e things :
You r ca r ha s th e Immobilize r
System . Yo u shoul d us e a
properly-code d maste r o r vale t ke y
t o star t th e engin e (se e pag e 66 ).
A ke y tha t i s no t properl y code d
wil l caus e th e immobilize r syste m
indicato r i n th e das h pane l t o blin k
rapidly .
Tur n th e ignitio n switc h t o O N (II) .
Tur n o n th e headlight s an d chec k
thei r brightness . I f th e headlight s
ar e ver y di m o r don' t ligh t a t all ,
th e batter y is discharged . Se e

Jum p Startin g o n pag e 21 4 .
Tur
n th e ignitio n switc h t o STAR T
(III) . I f th e headlight s d o no t dim ,
chec k th e conditio n o f th e fuses . I f
th e fuse s ar e OK , ther e is proba -
bl y somethin g wron g wit h th e
electrica l circui t fo r th e ignitio n
switc h o r starte r motor . Yo u wil l
nee d a qualifie d technicia n to
determin e th e problem . (Se e

Emergenc y Towin g o n pag e 22 8 .)

I f th e headlight s di m noticeabl y o r
g o ou t whe n yo u tr y t o star t th e
engine , eithe r th e batter y is dis -
charge d o r th e connection s ar e
corroded . Chec k th e conditio n o f
th e batter y an d termina l connec -
tion s (se e pag e 17 5 ) . Yo u ca n
the n tr y jum p startin g th e ca r fro m
a booste r batter y (se e pag e 21 4 ) .
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

I
f You r Engin e Won' t Start , Jum p Startin g

Th e Starte r Operate s Normall y
I n thi s case , th e starte r motor' s
spee d sound s normal , o r eve n faste r
tha n normal , whe n yo u tur n th e
ignitio n switc h to STAR T (III) , bu t
th e engin e doe s no t run .
Ar e yo u usin g th e prope r startin g
procedure ? Refe r t o Startin g th e
Engin e o n pag e 13 3 .
D o yo u hav e fuel ? Tur n th e
ignitio n switc h to O N (II ) fo r a
minut e an d watc h th e fue l gauge .
Th e lo w fue l leve l warnin g ligh t
ma y no t b e working , s o yo u wer e
no t reminde d t o fil l th e tank .
Ther e ma y b e a n electrica l
problem , suc h a s n o powe r t o th e
fue l pump . Chec k al l th e fuse s
(se e pag e 222 ).
I f yo u fin d nothin g wrong , yo u wil l
nee d a qualifie d technicia n to fin d
th e problem . Se e Emergenc y
Towin g o n pag e 22 8 . Jum
p Startin g
I f you r car' s batter y ha s ru n down ,
yo u ma y b e abl e to star t th e engin e
b y usin g a booste r battery . Althoug h
thi s seem s lik e a simpl e procedure ,
yo u shoul d tak e severa l precautions .T
o jum p star t you r car , follo w thes e
direction s closely :
1 . Ope n th e hoo d an d chec k th e
physica l conditio n o f th e batter y
(se e pag e 17 5 ) . I n ver y col d
weather , chec k th e conditio n o f
th e electrolyte . I f i t seem s slush y
o r lik e ice , d o no t tr y jum p startin g
unti l i t thaws .

If a battery sits in extreme cold, the

electrolyte inside can freeze.

Attempting to jump start with a frozen

battery can cause it to rupture.

2 . Tur n of f al l th e electrica l acces -
sories : heater , A/C , stere o system ,
lights , etc .
Pu t th e transmissio n i n Neutra l
an d se t th e parkin g brake .
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
NOTIC
E

A
batter y ca n explod e i f yo u d o
no t follo w th e correc t procedure ,
seriousl y injurin g anyon e

nearby .

Kee p al l sparks , ope n flames ,
an d smokin g material s awa y
fro m th e battery .

I
f You r Engin e Overheat s
4 . I f th e temperatur e gaug e stay s a t
th e re d mark , tur n of f th e engine .
5 . Wai t unti l yo u se e n o mor e sign s
o f stea m o r spray , the n ope n th e

hood .

6 . Loo k fo r an y obviou s coolan t leaks ,
suc h a s a spli t radiato r hose .
Everythin g is stil l extremel y hot ,
s o us e caution . I f yo u fin d a leak , i t
mus t b e repaire d befor e yo u
continu e drivin g (se e Emergenc y
Towin g o n pag e 22 8 ) .
7 . I f yo u don' t fin d a n obviou s leak ,
chec k th e coolan t leve l i n th e
radiato r reserv e tan k (se e pag e
10 5 ) . I f th e leve l i s belo w th e
MI N mark , ad d coolan t t o halfwa y
betwee n th e MI N an d MA X marks .
8 . I f ther e wa s n o coolan t i n th e
reserv e tank , yo u ma y als o hav e to
ad d coolan t t o th e radiator . Le t th e
engin e coo l dow n unti l th e pointe r reache
s th e middl e o f th e tempera -
tur e gauge , o r lower , befor e check -
in g th e radiator .
9 . Usin g glove s o r a larg e heav y
cloth , tur n th e radiato r ca p
counterclockwise , withou t pushin g
down , t o th e firs t stop . Thi s
release s an y remainin g pressur e i n
th e coolin g system . Afte r th e
pressur e releases , pus h dow n o n
th e ca p an d tur n i t unti l i t come s
off . 10.Star
t th e engin e an d se t th e
temperatur e contro l dia l t o
maximum . Ad d coolan t t o th e
radiato r u p t o th e bas e o f th e fille r
neck . I f yo u d o no t hav e th e
prope r coolan t mixtur e available ,
yo u ca n ad d plai n water .
Remembe r t o hav e th e coolin g
syste m draine d an d refille d wit h
th e prope r mixtur e a s soo n a s yo u

can .

11.Pu t th e radiato r ca p bac k o n
tightly . Ru n th e engin e an d watc h
th e temperatur e gauge . I f i t goe s
bac k t o th e re d mark , th e engin e
need s repair . (Se e Emergenc y
Towin g o n pag e 22 8 .)
12.I f th e temperatur e stay s normal ,
chec k th e coolan t leve l i n th e
radiato r reserv e tank . I f i t ha s
gon e down , ad d coolan t t o th e
MA X mark . Pu t th e ca p bac k o n

tightly .

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

Removin
g th e radiato r ca p

whil e th e engin e i s ho t ca n

caus e th e coolan t t o spra y out ,
seriousl y scaldin g you .

Alway s le t th e engin e an d
radiato r coo l dow n befor e

removin g th e radiato r cap .

Lo
w Oi l Pressur e Indicato r
LO W OI L PRESSUR E INDICATO R

Thi s indicato r shoul d ligh t whe n th e
ignitio n switc h is O N (II) , an d g o ou t
afte r th e engin e starts . I t shoul d
neve r com e o n whe n th e engin e is
running . I f i t start s flashing , i t
indicate s tha t th e oi l pressur e
droppe d ver y lo w fo r a moment , the n
recovered . I f th e indicato r stay s o n
wit h th e engin e running , i t show s
tha t th e engin e ha s los t oi l pressur e
an d seriou s engin e damag e is
possible . I n eithe r case , yo u shoul d
tak e immediat e action . Running
the engine with low oil
pressure can cause serious mechanical
damage almost immediately. Turn off
the engine as soon as you can safely get
the car stopped.
1 . Safel y pul l of f th e roa d an d shu t
of f th e engine . Tur n o n th e hazar d
warnin g indicators .
2 . Le t th e ca r si t fo r a minute . Ope n
th e hoo d an d chec k th e oi l leve l
(se e pag e 12 2 ) . Althoug h oi l leve l
an d oi l pressur e ar e no t directl y
connected , a n engin e tha t i s ver y
lo w o n oi l ca n los e pressur e durin g
cornerin g an d othe r drivin g

maneuvers .

3 . I f necessary , ad d oi l t o brin g th e
leve l bac k t o th e ful l mar k o n th e
dipstic k (se e pag e 15 9 ) . 4
. Star t th e engin e an d watc h th e oi l
pressur e indicator . I f th e ligh t
doe s no t g o ou t withi n te n seconds ,
tur n of f th e engine . Ther e is a
mechanica l proble m tha t need s t o
b e repaire d befor e yo u ca n
continu e driving . (Se e Emergenc y
Towin g o n pag e 22 8 . )
Th e engin e runnin g generate s th e
oi l pressure .
Whe n th e aut o idl e sto p is
activated , th e engin e is stopped .
Bu t th e lo w oi l pressur e indicato r
doe s no t light .
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
NOTIC
E

Brak
e Syste m Indicato r

BRAK E SYSTE M INDICATOR *
Th e Brak e Syste m Indicato r come s
o n whe n yo u tur n th e ignitio n O N
(II) . I f th e parkin g brak e is no t set , i t
goe s of f afte r yo u star t th e engine . I f
th e parkin g brak e is set , i t goe s of f
whe n yo u full y releas e th e parkin g
brak e wit h th e engin e running . I
f i t come s o n a t an y othe r time , i t
indicate s a proble m wit h th e car' s
brak e system . I n mos t cases , th e
proble m is a lo w flui d leve l i n th e
brak e flui d reservoir . Pres s lightl y o n
th e brak e peda l t o se e i f i t feel s
normal . I f i t does , chec k th e brak e
flui d leve l th e nex t tim e yo u sto p a t a
servic e statio n (se e pag e 171 ). I f th e
flui d leve l i s low , tak e th e ca r t o you r
deale r an d hav e th e brak e syste m
inspecte d fo r leak s o r wor n brak e

pads .

However , i f th e brak e peda l doe s no t
fee l normal , yo u shoul d tak e
immediat e action . Becaus e o f th e
brak e system' s dual-circui t design , a
proble m in on e par t o f th e syste m
wil l stil l giv e yo u brakin g a t tw o
wheels . Yo u wil l fee l th e brak e peda l
g o dow n muc h farthe r befor e th e ca r
begin s t o slo w down , an d yo u wil l
hav e t o pres s harde r o n th e pedal .
Th e distanc e neede d t o sto p wil l b e
muc h longer . Slo
w dow n b y shiftin g to a lowe r
gear , an d pul l t o th e sid e o f th e roa d
whe n it i s safe . Becaus e o f th e
longe r distanc e neede d to stop , i t i s
hazardou s t o driv e th e car . Yo u
shoul d hav e it towed , an d repaire d a s
soo n a s possible . (Se e Emergenc y
Towin g o n pag e 22 8 .)
I f yo u mus t driv e th e ca r a shor t
distanc e in thi s condition , driv e
slowl y an d cautiously .

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

*
U.S . indicato r show n

I
f You r Ca r Get s Stuc k
I f you r ca r get s stuc k in sand , mud ,
o r snow , cal l a towin g servic e to pul l
i t ou t (se e pag e 228 ).
For ver y shor t distances , suc h as
freein g th e car , yo u ca n us e th e
detachabl e towin g hoo k tha t mount s
o n th e ancho r i n th e fron t bumper .
T o us e th e towin g hook :
1 . Remov e th e cove r fro m th e
bumper . 2
. Remov e th e towin g hoo k an d
whee l wrenc h fro m th e too l box .
3 . Scre w th e towin g hoo k int o th e
hol e an d tighte n it securel y b y

hand .

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

Emergenc
y Towin g

I f you r ca r need s t o b e towed , cal l a
professiona l towin g servic e or , i f yo u
belon g to one , a n organizatio n tha t
provide s roadsid e assistance . Neve r
to w you r ca r behin d anothe r vehicl e
wit h jus t a rop e o r chain . I t i s ver y

dangerous .

Ther e ar e thre e popula r type s o f
professiona l towin g equipment .
Flat-bed Equipment — Th e operato r
load s you r ca r o n th e bac k o f a truck .
Thi s i s th e best way t o transpor t
you r Honda .
Wheel-Lift Equipment — Th e to w
truc k use s tw o pivotin g arm s tha t g o
unde r th e tire s (fron t o r rear ) an d lif t
the m of f th e ground . Th e othe r tw o
tire s remai n o n th e ground . Thi s i s

a n acceptabl e wa y to to w you r

Honda .

Sling-type Equipment — Th e to w

truc k use s meta l cable s wit h hook s o
n th e ends . Thes e hook s g o aroun d
part s o f th e fram e o r suspensio n an d
th e cable s lif t tha t en d o f th e ca r of f
th e ground . You r car' s suspensio n
an d bod y ca n b e seriousl y damaged .
Thi s metho d o f towin g is
unacceptable .
I f you r Hond a canno t b e transporte d
b y flat-bed , i t shoul d b e towe d b y
wheel-lif t equipmen t wit h th e fron t
wheel s of f th e ground . I f du e t o
damage , you r ca r mus t b e towe d
wit h th e fron t wheel s o n th e ground ,
d o th e following :
Releas e th e parkin g brake .
Shif t th e transmissio n t o Neutral .
Improper
towing preparation will

damage the transmission. Follow the

above procedure exactly. If you cannot

shift the transmission, your car must be

transported with the front wheels off

the ground.

Wit h th e fron t wheel s o n th e ground ,
i t i s bes t t o to w th e ca r n o farthe r
tha n 5 0 mile s (8 0 km) , an d kee p th e
spee d belo w 3 5 mp h (5 5 km/h) .
I f you r ca r i s equippe d wit h a fron t
spoiler , remov e i t befor e towin g s o i t
i s no t damaged .
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
NOTIC
E

Emergenc
y Towin g

I f yo u decid e t o to w you r ca r wit h al l
fou r wheel s o n th e ground , mak e
sur e yo u us e a properly-designe d an d
attache d to w bar . Prepar e th e ca r fo r
towin g a s describe d above , an d leav e
th e ignitio n switc h in Accessor y (I )
s o th e steerin g whee l doe s no t lock .
Mak e sur e th e radi o an d an y item s
plugge d int o th e accessor y powe r
socke t ar e turne d of f s o the y d o no t
ru n dow n th e battery .
The steering system can be damaged if
the steering wheel is locked. Leave the
ignition switch in Accessory (I), and
make sure the steering wheel turns
freely before you begin towing.
Trying
to lift or tow your car by the

bumpers will cause serious damage.

The bumpers are not designed to

support the car's weight.

Taking Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

NOTIC
E NOTIC
E

U.S
. Zon e Offic e Ma p

Th e addresse s an d telephon e number s ar e subjec t t o change . I f yo u canno t

reac h you r Zon e office , as k you r Hond a deale r fo r th e curren t information . Wester
n Zon e
P.O . Bo x 226 0
70 0 Va n Nes s Avenu e
Torrance , Californi a

90509-226 0

(310 ) 781-456 5
Northwester n Zon e

P.O . Bo x 2018 6

1243 9 N.E . Airpor t Wa y
Portland , Orego n 9723 0

(503 ) 256-094 3

(als o include s Alask a an d
Hawaii )
Sout h Centra l Zon e
452 9 Roya l Lan e
Irving , Texa s 7506 3

(972 ) 929-548 1

Centra l Zon e
10 1 Sout h Stanfiel d Roa d
Troy , Ohi o 4537 3

(937 ) 332-625 0

Northeaster n Zon e

P.O . Bo x 33 7

Eastgat e Industria l Par k
11 5 Gaithe r Driv e
Moorestown , Ne w Jerse y 0805 7

(609 ) 235-553 3

Includes : NY C Metr o are a an d
Fairfiel d County , C T are a
Mid-Atlanti
c Zon e

90 2 Win d Rive r Ln. , Suit e 20 0
Gaithersburg , Marylan d 2087 8
(301 ) 990-202 0
Southeaster n Zon e
150 0 Morriso n Parkwa y
Alpharetta , Georgi a 3000 4

(770 ) 442-204 5

Nort h Centra l Zon e
60 1 Campu s Drive , Suit e A- 9
Arlingto n Heights , Illinoi s 6000 4

(847 ) 870-560 0

Ne w Englan d Zon e
55 5 Ol d Count y Roa d
Windso r Locks , Connecticu t 0609 6
(860 ) 623-331 0
Se e Zon e 5 for :
NY C Metr o are a an d
Fairfiel d County , C T are a
Wes t Centra l Zon e
160 0 Sout h Abilen e Street , Suit e D
Aurora , Colorad o 8001 2

(303 ) 696-393 5

Puert o Ric o an d U.S . V.I .
Bell a Internationa l
P.O . Bo x 19081 6
Sa n Juan , P R 00919-081 6

(787 ) 250-431 8

Warrant y an d Custome r Relation s