engine HONDA INSIGHT 2004 1.G Owner's Manual

The air conditioning puts an extra
load on the engine which makes it
usemorefuel.Usethefresh-air
ventilation when possible.
If air conditioning is needed, you
can save some f uel by using the
A/C in ‘‘ECON’’ mode. When the
outside temperature is above 41°F
(5°C), this mode allows the Auto
Idle Stop f unction to shut of f the
engine when the vehicle is stopped,
resulting in f uel savings.
You may notice that using the A/C
causes a greater drop in f uel
economy. Although the extra f uel
used by the A/C load on the
engine is no greater than other
vehicles, it is more noticeable
because of your Insight’s excellent
f uel mileage.
Fuel Economy
Bef ore Driving98

This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
manual and automatic transmissions.
It also includes important
information on parking your vehicle,
and the braking system.........................
Preparing to Drive .106
.......................
Starting the Engine .107
....
5-speed Manual Transmission . 108
............................
Auto Idle Stop .109
..............
Automatic Transmission . 111
Continuously Variable ............
Transmission (CVT) . 111
............................
Auto Idle Stop .116
..................................
Parking Tips .118
.............................
Braking System .119
...............
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) . 120
...........................
Towing a Trailer .121
Driving
Driving105

Youshoulddothefollowingchecks
and adjustments bef ore you drive
your vehicle.Make sure all windows, mirrors,
and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove f rost, snow,
or ice.
Check that the hood is f ully closed. Check the seat adjustment (see
page ).
Check the adjustment of the
inside and outside mirrors (see
page ).
Make sure the doors and the
hatch are securely closed and
locked.
When you start the engine, check
the gauges and indicators in the
instrument panel (see page ). Fasten your seat belt. Check that
your passenger has f astened his or
her seat belt (see page ).
Visually check the tires. If a tire
looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure.
Check that any items you may be
carrying are stored properly or
f astened down securely.
1.
2.
3.
4. 5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
66
64
1341
Preparing to Drive
Driving106

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
pressed.
Make sure the shif t lever is in
Park. Press on the brake pedal.
Without touching the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition key to the
START (III) position. Do not hold
the key in START for more than
15 seconds at a time. If the engine
does not start right away, pause
f or at least 10 seconds bef ore
trying again.If the engine does not start within
15 seconds, or starts but stalls
right away, repeat step 4 with the
accelerator pedal pressed halfway
down. If the engine starts, release
pressure on the accelerator pedal
so the engine does not race.
If the engine fails to start, press
the accelerator pedal all the way
downandholdittherewhile
starting to clear flooding. If the
engine still does not start, return
to step 5.
1.
2.
3.
4. 5.
6.
Manual Transmission:
Automatic Transmission (CVT):
Starting the Engine
Driving107
NOTICE: The engine is harder to start
in cold weather. Also, the thinner air
f ound at altitudes above 8,000 f eet
(2,400 meters) adds to this problem.

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 shif t into
Reverse with the vehicle 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
Driving108
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.

CONT INUED
The Shif t Up or Shif t Down indicator
will come on at the best time to shif t
toahigherorlowergearforthebest
f uel economy. You can achieve the
best f uel economy by accelerating
and decelerating slowly, and shif ting
up when prompted.
The Shift Down indicator prompts
you to shif t to a lower gear when you
are climbing a hill f aster than 12 mph
(19km/h),losingspeed,andpressing on the accelerator pedal.
Road and traffic conditions may
require you to shif t at times other
than those indicated.
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.
To maximize f uel economy, under
certain conditions, the engine will
shut of f when you come to a stop.
Those conditions are:
The A/C is of f , or in ECON mode,
and the outside temperature is
above 41°F (5°C) (see page ). 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 suf f iciently
charged (at least 1/3 on the
battery level gauge). 73
5-speed Manual T ransmission
Driving
Shif t Up/Shif t Down Indicators
Engine Speed L imiterAuto Idle Stop
109
SHIFT UP INDICATOR
SHIFT DOWN INDICATOR

There is adequate vacuum reserve
f or the power brakes.
The engine will start again
automatically when you shift to first
gear. There is no need to start the
engine with the ignition switch.
It is recommended that you shif t to
Neutral and release the clutch pedal
while 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.
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. Auto Idle Stop is not active.
Auto Idle Stop is active.
The clutch pedal is depressed.
The transmission is not in gear.Auto Idle Stop is active.
The clutch is not depressed.
You cannot restart the engine.
You will hear a chime if the door is
open.
When the indicator is of f :
When the indicator is on: When the indicator is blinking:
5-speed Manual T ransmission
Driving
A uto Idle Stop Indicator
110
AUTO IDEL STOP INDICATOR

µµ
µ
To shif t f rom any position, press
f irmly on the brake pedal and press
the release button on the side of the
shiftlever.Youcannotshiftoutof
Park when the ignition switch is in
LOCK (0) or ACCESSORY (I). This position mechani-
cally locks the transmission. Use
Park whenever you are turning of f or
starting the engine. To shif t out of
Park, you must press on the brake
pedal and have your f oot of f the
accelerator pedal. Press the release
button on the side of the shift lever
to move it.
If you have done all of the above and
still cannot move the lever out of
Park, see on
page . You must also press the release
button to shift into Park. To avoid
transmission damage, come to a
complete stop before shifting into
Park. The shif t lever must be in Park
bef ore you can remove the key f rom
the ignition switch.
Press the brake
pedal and press the release button
on the side of the shif t lever to shif t
f rom Park to Reverse. To shif t f rom
Reverse to Neutral, come to a
completestopandthenshift.Press
the release button bef ore shif ting
into Reverse f rom Neutral.
Use Neutral if you
need to restart a stalled engine or if
it is necessary to stop brief ly with
the engine idling. Always shif t to the
Park position if you need to leave the
vehicle for any reason. Press on the
brake pedal when you are moving
the shift lever from Neutral to
another position.
115
To shift from:
PtoR
RtoP
NtoR DtoL
NtoD
DtoN LtoD
RtoN Do this:
Press the brake pedal and
press the release button on
the lever.
Press the release button on
the lever.
Move the lever.
Automatic Transmission (CVT)
Driving
Shif ting
Park (P)Shif t L ock Release Reverse (R)
Neutral (N)
112
RELEASE
BUTTON

µµ
µ
CONT INUED
Use this position f or
normal driving. The drive position
has two modes, Drive (D) and
Second (S). You can select the
desired mode with the two select
buttons on the steering wheel. The
‘‘D’’ indicator remains lit in either
mode. Usethismodefor
everyday driving. The transmission
automatically adjusts to keep the
engine at the best speed f or driving
conditions. To help the engine warm
up f aster, the transmission will select
ratios that allow the engine to run at
higher speeds when it is cold.
In this mode, the
transmission selects a wider range of
ratios to give better acceleration.
Usethismodefordrivingupor
downhill. Along with the ‘‘D’’
indicator, the ‘‘S’’ indicator comes on
as a reminder.
Automatic Transmission (CVT)
Driving
Drive (D)
Drive Mode
Second (S) Mode
113
DRIVE MODE BUTTON
SECOND MODE BUTTON
‘‘D’’ INDICATOR
‘‘S’’ INDICATOR

µ
You can switch into and out of
Second mode with the ignition
switch ON (II) and the shif t lever in
D position. If you turn the ignition
switch to ACCESSORY (I) in Second
mode, the mode is switched to Drive.
The ‘‘S’’ indicator also comes on f or a
f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to ON(II). To shif t to Low, press
the release button on the side of the
shif t lever. Use Low to get more
power when climbing, and f or
maximum engine braking when
going down steep hills.
ForfasteraccelerationwheninDor
L, the transmission will automatically
‘‘kick down’’ to a lower range of
ratios when you push the accelerator
pedal to the f loor. 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.
Automatic Transmission (CVT)
Driving
Low (L)
Engine Speed Limiter
114