HONDA INSIGHT 2002 1.G Owners Manual

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Your car has several convenient
storage areas so you can stow cargo
saf ely.
The glove box, rear center pocket
and seat-back pocket are designed
f or small, lightweight items. The
cargo area is intended f or larger,
heavier items.
However, carrying too much cargo,
or improperly storing it, can af f ect
your car’s handling, stability, and
operation and make it unsafe. Before
carrying any type of cargo, be sure to
read the f ollowing pages.Do not store large objects in the
rear center pocket. The objects in
the pocket will be broken when
you adjust the seats backwards.
Carrying Cargo
Bef ore Driving128
C CAA R
RGGO O A
AR
REEA
A G
GL
LOOV VE
E B
BOOX X
S
ST
TO
OR RAA G
GE E B
BOOX X
S
SEEA
A T
T-
-B
BA A C
CKK P
PO
OC CKKEET
T
R
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EA
A R
R C
CEEN
NT TE
ER
R
P
P O
OC CKKEET
T

This f igure includes the total weight
of all occupants, cargo, and
accessories.
To f igure out how much cargo you
can carry:Add up the weight of all occupants.
The f inal number is the total weight
of cargo you can carry. Store or secure all items that could
be thrown around and hurt
someone during a crash.
Be sure items placed on the f loor
behind the f ront seats cannot roll
under the seats and interf ere with
the driver’s ability to operate the
pedals, or with the proper
operation of the seats.Keep the glove box closed while
driving. If the lid is open, a
passenger could injure their knees
during a crash or sudden stop.
Do not stack objects higher than
the tops of the seat-backs. They
could block your view and be
thrown about the vehicle during a
crash or sudden stop. Distribute cargo evenly on the
f loor of the cargo area, placing the
heaviest items on the bottom and
as far forward as possible.
Tie down items that could be
thrown about the car during a
crash or sudden stop.
The maximum load f or your vehicle
is 400 lbs (185 kg).
Subtract the total f rom 400 lbs
(185 kg).
CONT INUED
Load Limit
Carrying Items in the Passenger
CompartmentCarrying Cargo in the Cargo A rea
Carrying Cargo
Bef ore Driving129
Overloading or improper
loading can affect handling and
stability and cause a crash in
which you can be hurt or killed.
Follow all load limits and other
loading guidelines in this
manual.

The air intake f or the battery is
located behind the passenger’s seat.
Do not block this air intake with any
cargo.
If you carry large items that
prevent you f rom closing the
hatch, exhaust gas can enter the
passenger area. To avoid the
possibility of carbon monoxide
poisoning, f ollow the instructions
on page .
To secure the cargo, you can use the
f our cargo hooks on the cargo area.
The illustration shows the location of
each cargo hook. The cargo net can be used to help
hold down light items in the cargo
area. The cargo net may not prevent
heavy items f rom being thrown
forwardinacrashorasuddenstop.
Cargo secured with this net should
not exceed 22 lbs (10 kg). Heavy
items should be secured to the cargo
area floor with tie-downs or cinch
straps attached to the cargo hooks.
The f loor of the storage box is
made of a sof t plastic material. It is
not strong enough to stand heavy
goods on it.
40
Carrying Cargo
Bef ore Driving
Air Intake
Cargo Hooks Cargo Net
130
A AI
IRR I
INNT TA
A K
KEE
C
Ca arrgg o
o H
Ho
oo
ok
kss a
ann d
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Caarrgg o
o N
Neett

This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
manual transmission. It also includes
important inf ormation on parking
your car, and the braking system.........................
Preparing to Drive .132
.......................
Starting the Engine .133
Starting in Cold Weather ....................
at High Altitude .133
....
5-speed Manual Transmission . 134
............................
Auto Idle Stop .135
Shif t Up/Shif t Down ...............................
Indicators .137
..............
Engine Speed Limiter . 137
..............
Automatic Transmission . 138
Continuously Variable ............
Transmission (CVT) . 138
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 138
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 138
.............
Engine Speed Limitter . 141
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 142
............................
Auto Idle Stop .143
...........................................
Parking .145
..............................
Parking Tips .145
.....................
The Braking System .146
.............
Brake Wear Indicators . 146
...............
Brake System Design . 147
.......................
Anti-lock Brakes .147
...............
Driving in Bad Weather . 149
...........................
Towing a Trailer .150
Driving
Driving131

Make sure all windows, mirrors,
and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove f rost, snow,
or ice.Check the adjustment of the seat
(see page ).
Check the adjustment of the
inside and outside mirrors (see
page ).
Turn the ignition switch ON (II).
Check the indicator lights in the
instrument panel.
Start the engine (see page ).
Check the gauges and indicator
lights in the instrument panel (see
page ).
Check that any items you may be
carrying with you inside are stored
properly or f astened down
securely. Visually check the tires. If a tire
looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure. Check that the hood and hatch are
f ully closed.
Youshoulddothefollowingchecks
and adjustments every day bef ore
you drive your car.
Make sure the doors are securely
closed and locked.
Fasten your seat belt. Check that
your passenger has f astened his or
her seat belt (see page ).
1.
2.
3.
4. 5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10. 11. 45
76
78
15 133
Preparing to Drive
Driving132

Apply the parking brake.
In cold weather, turn of f all
electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery.
Push the clutch pedal down all the
way. START (III) does not
f unction unless the clutch pedal is
depressed.
Without touching the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition key to the
START (III) position. If the engine
does not start right away, do not
hold the key in START (III) f or
more than 15 seconds at a time.
Pause f or at least 10 seconds
bef ore trying again.
If the engine does not start within
15 seconds, or starts but stallsright away, repeat step 4 with the
accelerator pedal pressed half-way
down. If the engine starts, release
pressure on the accelerator pedal
so the engine does not race.
If the engine still does not start,
press the accelerator pedal all the
way down and hold it there while
starting in order to clear f looding.
As bef ore, keep the ignition key in
the START (III) position f or no
more than 15 seconds. Return to
step 5 if the engine does not start.
If it starts, lif t your f oot of f the
accelerator pedal so the engine
does not race.
An engine is harder to start in cold
weather. The thinner air f ound at
high altitude above 8,000 f eet (2,400
meters) adds to the problem.
Use the f ollowing procedure: Turn of f all electrical accessories
to reduce the drain on the battery.
Push the accelerator pedal half-
way to the f loor and hold it there
while starting the engine. Do not
hold the ignition key in START
(III) f or more than 15 seconds.
When the engine starts, release
the accelerator pedal gradually as
the engine speeds up and smooths
out.
If the engine fails to start in step 2,
push the accelerator pedal to the
f loor and hold it there while you
try to start the engine for no more
than 15 seconds. If the engine
does not start, return to step 2.
Make sure the shif t lever is in
Park. Press on the brake pedal.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5. 6.
1.
2.
3.
Manual Transmission:
Automatic Transmission:
Starting the Engine
Driving
Starting in Cold Weather at High
A ltitude (A bove 8,000 f eet/
2,400 meters)
133

The manual transmission is syn-
chronizedinallforwardgearsfor
smooth operation. It has a lockout so
you cannot shift directly from Fifth
to Reverse. When shif ting up or
down,makesureyoupushtheclutch
pedal down all the way, shift to the
next gear, and let the pedal up
gradually. When you are not shif ting,
do not rest your f oot on the clutch
pedal. This can cause your clutch to
wear out faster.Come to a full stop before you shift
into Reverse. You can damage the
transmission by trying to shift into
Reverse with the car moving. Push
down the clutch pedal, and pause f or
a f ew seconds bef ore shif ting into
Reverse, or shif t into one of the
f orward gears f or a moment. This
stops the gears so they won’t ‘‘grind.’’
When slowing down, you can get
extra braking f rom the engine by
shifting to a lower gear. This extra
braking can help you maintain a safe
speed and prevent your brakes f rom
overheating while going down a
steep hill. Bef ore downshif ting,
make sure the vehicle speed is low
enough that you will not activate the
engine speed limiter in the lower
gear. Make sure the engine speed
will not go into the tachometer’s red
zone in the lower gear bef ore
downshif ting.
5-speed Manual T ransmission
Driving134
Rapid slowing or speeding-up
can cause loss of control on
slippery surfaces. If you crash,
you can be injured.
Use extra care when driving on
slippery surfaces.

To maximize f uel economy, your
Insight has an Auto Idle Stop
f unction. Under certain conditions,
the engine will shut of f when you
come to a stop. Those conditions are:The engine coolant is nearly up to
normal operating temperature.
The vehicle’s speed is below 19
mph (30 km/h) and you are
pressing on the brake pedal to
come to a stop.
You depress the clutch pedal.
You are not pressing on the
accelerator pedal.
The IMA battery is sufficiently
charged (at least 1/3 on the
Battery Level Gauge). During Auto Idle Stop, the IMA
charge and power brake vacuum
reserve is monitored by the system.
If either drops below a desired level,
and the shif t lever is in Neutral, the
engine will restart so it can recharge
the IMA battery or replenish the
vacuum supply.
The A/C is of f , or in ECON mode,
and the outside temperature is above 41°F (5°C) (See pages ,
).
There is adequate vacuum reserve
f or the power brakes.
When these conditions are met, the
engine will shut of f as you come to a
stop. It will start again automatically
when you depress the clutch pedal
and move the shif t lever to f irst gear.
There is no need to start the engine
with the ignition switch.
It is recommended that you move
the shift lever to Neutral and remove
your f oot f rom the clutch pedal while
you are stopped. Sitting with the
clutch pedal depressed and the shif t
lever in gear will cause the engine to
continue running, def eating the f uel
economy benef its of the Auto Idle
Stop f unction. 84
93
CONT INUED
5-speed Manual T ransmission
Driving
Auto Idle Stop
135

This indicator comes on as a
reminder that the engine has
stopped because of the Auto Idle
Stop f unction. When the indicator is
of f , it means that Auto Idle Stop is
not active. When the indicator is on,
but the engine is not running, it
means the clutch pedal is depressed,
but the transmission is not in gear.
When the indicator is blinking, it
means the clutch pedal is not
depressed. You cannot restart theengine with the ignition switch when
this light is blinking.
This indicator will blink, and you will
hear a chime, if you open the door
when Auto Stop is active.
Always turn the ignition switch to
LOCK (0) and remove the key if you
are getting out of the vehicle.
5-speed Manual T ransmission
Driving
A uto Idle Stop Indicator
136
A A
U
UT TO
O I
IDD L
LEE S
STTO
OP P I
INND DI
ICCA A T
TO
OR R

If you exceed the maximum speed
f or the gear you are in, the engine
speed will enter into the tachometer’s
red zone. If this occurs, you may f eel
the engine cut in and out. This is
caused by a limiter in the engine’s
computer controls. The engine will
run normally when you reduce the
RPM below the red zone.
Bef ore downshif ting, make sure the
engine will not go into the
tachometer’s red zone.
Either the Shift Up or Shift Down
indicator will light to show the best
time to shift to a higher or lower
gear. You can achieve the best f uel
economy by accelerating and
decelerating slowly, and shif ting
when prompted by the Shif t Up
indicator.
The Shift Down indicator prompts
you to shif t to a lower gear when you
are climbing a hill f aster than 12 mph, losing speed, and pressing on the
accelerator pedal.
Road and traffic conditions may
require you to shif t at times other
than those indicated.
5-speed Manual T ransmission
Driving
Shif t Up/Shif t Down Indicators
Engine Speed L imiter
137
S SHH I
IFFT T U
UPP I
INND DI
ICCA A T
TO
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S
SH H I
IFFT T D
DO
OW WN N I
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ICCA A T
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