HONDA INSIGHT 2000 1.G Owners Manual

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 .
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NOTIC
E

Chargin
g Syste m Indicato r

CHARGIN G SYSTE M INDICATO R
Thi s indicato r shoul d com e o n 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 f i t
come s o n brightl y whe n th e engin e
i s running , i t indicate s tha t th e
chargin g syste m ha s stoppe d
chargin g th e battery . Immediatel
y tur n of f al l electrica l
accessories : A/C , rea r defogger , etc .
Tr y no t t o us e othe r electrically -
operate d control s suc h a s th e radio .
Kee p th e engin e runnin g an d tak e
extr a car e no t t o stal l it . Startin g th e
engin e wil l discharg e th e batter y
rapidly . B
y eliminatin g a s muc h o f th e
electrica l loa d a s possible , yo u ca n
driv e severa l mile s (kilometers )
befor e th e batter y i s to o discharge d
t o kee p th e engin e running . Driv e t o
a servic e statio n o r garag e wher e
yo u ca n ge t technica l assistance .

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Malfunctio
n Indicato r Lam p
MALFUNCTIO N INDICATO R LAM P

Thi s indicato r come s o n fo r a fe w
second s whe n yo u tur n th e ignitio n
switc h O N (II) . I f i t come s o n a t an y
othe r time , i t indicate s on e o f th e
engine' s emission s contro l system s
ma y hav e a problem . Eve n thoug h
yo u ma y fee l n o differenc e in you r
car' s performance , i t ca n reduc e
you r fue l econom y an d caus e you r
ca r t o pu t ou t excessiv e emissions .
Continue d operatio n ma y caus e
seriou s damage .
I
f yo u hav e recentl y refuele d you r
car , th e caus e o f thi s indicato r
comin g o n coul d b e a loos e o r
missin g fue l fil l cap . Chec k th e ca p
an d tighte n it unti l i t click s severa l
times . Replac e th e fue l fil l ca p if i t i s
missing . Tightenin g th e ca p wil l no t
mak e th e indicato r tur n of f
immediately ; i t take s thre e drivin g

trips .

I f th e indicato r remain s o n pas t thre e
drivin g trips , o r th e fue l ca p wa s no t
loos e o r missing , hav e th e ca r
checke d b y th e deale r a s soo n a s
possible . Driv e moderatel y unti l th e
deale r ha s inspecte d th e problem .
Avoi d full-throttl e acceleratio n an d
drivin g a t hig h speed .
Yo
u shoul d als o hav e th e deale r
inspec t you r ca r i f thi s indicato r
come s o n repeatedly , eve n thoug h it
ma y tur n of f a s yo u continu e driving .

If you keep driving with the
malfunction indicator lamp on, you can
damage your car's emissions controls
and engine. Those repairs may not be
covered by your car's warranties.

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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 .

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*
U.S . indicato r show n

Fuse
s

Al l th e electrica l circuit s i n you r ca r
hav e fuse s t o protec t the m fro m a
shor t circui t o r overload . Thes e
fuse s ar e locate d in tw o fus e boxes .
INTERIO
R

Th e interio r fus e i s underneat h th e
dashboar d o n th e driver' s side .
Remov e th e storag e pocke t b y
swingin g th e li d down , pushin g up ,
an d pullin g it straigh t ou t o f it s
hinges .
TA
B
UNDER-HOO
D

Th e under-hoo d fus e bo x i s locate d
i n th e engin e compartment . T o ope n
it , pus h th e ta b a s shown .

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Fuse
s
Checkin g an d Replacin g Fuse s

I f somethin g electrica l i n you r ca r
stop s working , th e firs t thin g yo u
shoul d chec k fo r i s a blow n fuse .
Determin e fro m th e char t o n page s
22 5 an d 226 , o r th e diagra m on th e
fus e bo x lid , whic h fus e o r fuse s
contro l tha t component . Chec k thos e
fuse s first , bu t chec k al l th e fuse s
befor e decidin g tha t a blow n fus e is
no t th e cause . Replac e an y blow n
fuse s an d chec k th e component' s

operation .

1 . Tur n th e ignitio n switc h to LOC K
(0) . Mak e sur e th e headlight s an d
al l othe r accessorie s ar e off .
2 . Remov e th e cove r fro m th e fus e
box . FUS
E
3 . Chec k eac h o f th e larg e fuse s i n
th e under-hoo d fus e bo x b y
lookin g throug h th e to p a t th e wir e
inside . Removin g thes e fuse s
require s a Phillips-hea d screw -
driver . 4
. Chec k th e smalle r fuse s in th e
under-hoo d fus e bo x an d al l th e
fuse s i n th e interio r fus e boxe s b y
pullin g ou t eac h fus e wit h th e fus e
pulle r provide d in th e under-hoo d
fus e box .

CONTINUED

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BLOW
N FUS
E PULLE R

Fuse
s

5 . Loo k fo r a burne d wir e insid e th e
fuse . I f i t i s burned , replac e i t wit h
on e o f th e spar e fuse s o f th e sam e
ratin g o r lower . I
f yo u canno t driv e th e ca r withou t
fixin g th e problem , an d yo u d o no t
hav e a spar e fuse , tak e a fus e o f th e
sam e ratin g o r a lowe r ratin g fro m
on e o f th e othe r circuits . Mak e sur e
yo u ca n d o withou t tha t circui t
temporaril y (suc h a s th e accessor y
powe r socke t o r radio) .
I f yo u replac e th e blow n fus e wit h a
spar e fus e tha t ha s a lowe r rating , i t
migh t blo w ou t again . Thi s doe s no t
indicat e anythin g wrong . Replac e th e
fus e wit h on e o f th e correc t ratin g a s
soo n a s yo u can .
Replacing
a fuse with one that has a
higher rating greatly increases the

chances of damaging the electrical

system. If you do not have a replace-

ment fuse with the proper rating for the

circuit, install one with a lower rating.

6 . I f th e replacemen t fus e o f th e
sam e ratin g blow s i n a shor t time ,
ther e is probabl y a seriou s
electrica l proble m in you r car .
Leav e th e blow n fus e in tha t
circui t an d hav e you r ca r checke d
b y a qualifie d mechanic .
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BLOW
N NOTIC
E

Fuse
s

INTERIO R FUS E BO X
* : Canadia n mode l onl y

CONTINUED

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Fuse
s
UNDER-HOO D FUS E BO X

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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 .

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