HONDA INSIGHT 2000 1.G Owners Manual

Carryin
g Carg o

STORAG E BO X
REA R CENTE R
POCKET *
CARG O ARE A SEAT-BAC
K POCKE TGLOVE BO X You
r ca r ha s severa l convenien t
storag e area s s o yo u ca n sto w carg o
safely .
Th e glov e box , rea r cente r pocke t
an d seat-bac k ar e designe d fo r small ,
lightweigh t items . Th e carg o are a is
intende d fo r larger , heavie r items .
However , carryin g to o muc h cargo ,
o r improperl y storin g it , ca n affec t
you r car' s handling , stabilit y an d
operatio n an d mak e it unsafe . Befor e
carryin g an y typ e o f cargo , b e sur e t o
rea d th e followin g pages .
* D
o no t stor e larg e object s i n th e
rea r cente r pocket . I t wil l b e
broke n whe n yo u adjus t th e seat s
backwards .

Befor e Drivin g

Carryin
g Carg o

Loa d Limi t

Th e maximu m loa d fo r you r vehicl e

i s
36 5 Ib s (17 0 kg) .
Thi s figur e include s th e tota l weigh t
o f al l occupants , cargo , an d

accessories .

T o figur e ou t ho w muc h carg o yo u
ca n carry :
Ad d u p th e weigh t o f al l occupants .
Subtrac t th e tota l fro m 36 5 Ib (17 0
kg) .

Th e fina l numbe r i s th e tota l weigh t
o f carg o yo u ca n carry .
Carryin
g Item s i n th e Passenge r
Compartmen t
Stor e o r secur e al l item s tha t coul d
b e throw n aroun d an d hur t
someon e durin g a crash .
B e sur e item s place d o n th e floo r
behin d th e fron t seat s canno t rol l
unde r th e seat s an d interfer e wit h
th e driver' s abilit y t o operat e th e
pedals , o r wit h th e prope r
operatio n o f th e seats .
Kee p th e glov e bo x close d whil e
driving . I f th e li d is open , a
passenge r coul d injur e thei r knee s
durin g a cras h o r sudde n stop .

Befor e Drivin g

Overloadin
g o r imprope r
loadin g ca n affec t handlin g an d
stabilit y 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 loa d limit s an d othe r
loadin g guideline s in thi s

manual .

Carryin
g Carg o

Carryin g Carg o i n th e Carg o Are a
Distribut e carg o evenl y o n th e
floo r o f th e carg o area , placin g th e
heaviest items o n th e botto m an d
a s fa r forwar d a s possible .
Ti e dow n item s tha t coul d b e
throw n abou t th e ca r durin g a
cras h o r sudde n stop .
D o no t stac k object s highe r tha n
th e top s o f th e seat-backs . The y
coul d bloc k you r vie w an d b e
throw n abou t th e vehicl e durin g a
cras h o r sudde n stop .
I f yo u carr y larg e item s tha t
preven t yo u fro m closin g th e
hatch , exhaus t ga s ca n ente r th e
passenge r area . T o avoi d th e
possibilit y o f carbo n monoxid e
poisoning , follo w th e instruction s

o n pag e 4 0 .
Th
e floo r o n th e storag e bo x i s
mad e o f a sof t ligh t plasti c
material . I t i s no t stron g enoug h t o
stan d heav y good s o n it .
T o secur e th e luggage , yo u ca n us e
th e fou r carg o hook s o n th e carg o
area . Th e illustratio n show s th e
locatio n o f eac h carg o hook .
Ai
r Intak e

Th e air intak e fo r th e batter y i s
locate d behin d th e passenger' s seat .
D o no t bloc k thi s ai r intak e wit h an y
cargo .
Befor e Drivin g AI
R INTAK E
Carg o Hook s

Drivin
g

Thi s sectio n give s yo u tip s o n
startin g th e engin e unde r variou s
conditions , an d ho w to operat e th e
manua l transmission . I t als o include s
importan t informatio n o n parkin g
you r car , an d th e brakin g system . Preparin
g to Drive........................ . 13 2
Startin g th e Engine....................... . 13 3
Startin g in Col d Weathe r
a t Hig h Altitude.................... . 13 3
Aut o Idl e Stop................................ . 13 4
5-spee d Manua l Transmission.... . 13 6
Shif t Up/Shif t Dow n
Indicators............................... . 13 7
Engin e Spee d Limiter.............. . 13 7
Parking........................................... . 13 8
Parkin g Tips.............................. . 13 8
Th e Brakin g System..................... . 13 9
Brak e Wea r Indicators............. . 13 9
Brak e Syste m Design............... . 14 0
Anti-loc k Brakes....................... . 14 0
Drivin g in Ba d Weather............... . 14 2
Towin g a Trailer........................... . 14 3

Drivin g

Preparin
g to Driv e

Yo u shoul d d o th e followin g check s
an d adjustment s ever y da y befor e
yo u driv e you r car .
1 . Mak e sur e al l windows , mirrors ,
an d outsid e light s ar e clea n an d
unobstructed . Remov e frost , snow ,
o r ice .
2 . Chec k tha t th e hoo d an d hatc h ar e
full y closed .
3 . Visuall y chec k th e tires . I f a tir e
look s low , us e a gaug e to chec k it s
pressure .
4 . Chec k tha t an y item s yo u ma y b e
carryin g wit h yo u insid e ar e store d
properl y o r fastene d dow n
securely . 5
. Chec k th e adjustmen t o f th e sea t
(se e pag e 7 4 ) .
6 . Chec k th e adjustmen t o f th e
insid e an d outsid e mirror s (se e
pag e 7 6 ) .
7 . Mak e sur e th e door s ar e securel y

close d an d locked .

8 . Faste n you r sea t belt . Chec k tha t
you r passenge r ha s fastene d hi s
sea t bel t (se e pag e 15 ). 9
. Tur n th e ignitio n switc h O N (II) .
Chec k th e indicato r light s i n th e
instrumen t panel .
10 . Star t th e engin e (se e pag e 13 3 ) .
11 . Chec k th e gauge s an d indicato r
light s i n th e instrumen t pane l (se e
pag e 45 ).

Drivin g

Startin
g th e Engin e

1 . Appl y th e parkin g brake .
2 . I n col d weather , tur n of f al l
electrica l accessorie s t o reduc e
th e drai n o n th e battery .
3 . Pus h th e clutc h peda l dow n al l th e
way . STAR T (III ) doe s no t
functio n unles s th e clutc h peda l i s

depressed .

4 . Withou t touchin g th e accelerato r
pedal , tur n th e ignitio n ke y t o th e
STAR T (III ) position . I f th e engin e
doe s no t star t righ t away , d o no t
hol d th e ke y i n STAR T (III ) fo r
mor e tha n 1 5 second s a t a time .
Paus e fo r a t leas t 1 0 second s
befor e tryin g again .
5 . I f th e engin e doe s no t star t withi n
1 5 seconds , o r start s bu t stall s
righ t away , repea t ste p 4 wit h th e
accelerato r peda l presse d half-wa y
down . I f th e engin e starts , releas e
pressur e o n th e accelerato r peda l s
o th e engin e doe s no t race .
6 . I f th e engin e stil l doe s no t start ,
pres s th e accelerato r peda l al l th e
wa y dow n an d hol d i t ther e whil e
startin g in orde r t o clea r flooding .
A s before , kee p th e ignitio n ke y i n
th e STAR T (III ) positio n fo r n o
mor e tha n 1 5 seconds . Retur n to
ste p 5 if th e engin e doe s no t start .
I f i t starts , lif t you r foo t of f th e
accelerato r peda l s o th e engin e
doe s no t race .

Startin g in Col d Weathe r a t Hig h
Altitud e (Abov e 8,00 0 feet /
2,40 0 meters )

A n engin e is harde r t o star t i n col d
weather . Th e thinne r ai r foun d a t
hig h altitud e abov e 8,00 0 fee t (2,40 0
meters ) add s t o th e problem .
Us e th e followin g procedure :
1 . Tur n of f al l electrica l accessorie s
t o reduc e th e drai n o n th e battery .2
. Pus h th e accelerato r peda l half -
wa y t o th e floo r an d hol d it ther e
whil e startin g th e engine . D o no t
hol d th e ignitio n ke y i n STAR T
(III ) fo r mor e tha n 1 5 seconds .
Whe n th e engin e starts , releas e
th e accelerato r peda l graduall y a s
th e engin e speed s u p an d smooth s
out .
3 . I f th e engin e fail s t o star t i n ste p 2 ,
pus h th e accelerato r peda l t o th e
floo r an d hol d i t ther e whil e yo u
tr y t o star t th e engin e fo r n o mor e
tha n 1 5 seconds . I f th e engin e
doe s no t start , retur n to ste p 2 .

Drivin g

Aut
o Idl e Sto p

T o maximiz e fue l economy , yo u
Insigh t ha s a n Aut o Idl e Sto p
function . Unde r certai n conditions ,
th e engin e wil l shu t of f whe n yo u
com e to a stop . Thos e condition s are :
Th e engin e coolan t i s nearl y u p to
norma l operatin g temperature .
Th e vehicle' s spee d is belo w 1 9
mp h (3 0 km/h ) an d yo u ar e
pressin g o n th e brak e peda l t o
com e to a stop .
Yo u depres s th e clutc h pedal .
Yo u ar e no t pressin g o n th e
accelerato r pedal .
Th e IM A batter y i s sufficientl y
charge d (a t leas t 1/ 3 o n th e
Batter y Leve l Gauge) .
Th e A/ C is off , o r i n ECO N mod e
(Se e pag e 82 , 91 ). Ther
e is adequat e vacuu m reserv e
fo r th e powe r brakes .
Whe n thes e condition s ar e met , th e
engin e wil l shu t of f a s yo u com e to a
stop . I t wil l star t agai n automaticall y
whe n yo u depres s th e clutc h peda l
an d mov e thi s shif t leve r t o firs t gear .
Ther e is n o nee d to star t th e engin e
wit h th e ignitio n switch .
I t i s recommende d tha t yo u mov e
th e shif t leve r t o Neutra l an d remov e
you r foo t fro m th e clutc h peda l whil e
yo u ar e stopped . Sittin g wit h th e
clutc h peda l depresse d an d th e shif t
leve r i n gea r wil l caus e th e engin e to
continu e running , defeatin g th e fue l
econom y benefit s o f th e Aut o Idl e

Sto p function .
Durin
g Aut o Stop , th e IM A charg e
an d powe r brak e vacuu m reserv e is
monitore d b y th e system . I f eithe r
drop s belo w a desire d level , an d th e
shif t leve r i s in Neutral , th e engin e
wil l restar t s o it ca n recharg e th e
IM A batter y o r replenis h th e vacuu m

supply .

Drivin g

Aut
o Idl e Sto p

Aut o Idl e Sto p Indicato r
Thi s indicato r come s o n a s a
reminde r tha t th e engin e ha s
stoppe d becaus e o f th e Aut o Sto p
function . Yo u canno t restar t th e
engin e wit h th e ignitio n switc h whe n
thi s ligh t i s blinking .
Thi s indicato r wil l blink , an d yo u wil l
hea r a chime , i f yo u ope n th e doo r
whe n Aut o Sto p is active .
Alway
s tur n th e ignitio n switc h t o

LOC K an d remov e th e ke y if yo u ar e

gettin g ou t o f th e vehicle .

Driving

AUT
O IDL E STO P INDICATO R

5-spee
d Manua l Transmissio n

Th e manua l transmissio n is syn -
chronize d in al l forwar d gear s fo r
smoot h operation . I t ha s a lockou t s o
yo u canno t shif t directl y fro m Fift h
t o Reverse . Whe n shiftin g u p o r
down , mak e sur e yo u pus h th e clutc h
peda l dow n al l th e way , shif t t o th e
nex t gear , an d le t th e peda l u p
gradually . Whe n yo u ar e no t shifting ,
d o no t res t you r foo t o n th e clutc h
pedal . Thi s ca n caus e you r clutc h to
wea r ou t faster . Com
e t o a ful l sto p befor e yo u shif t
int o Reverse . Yo u ca n damag e th e
transmissio n b y tryin g t o shif t int o
Revers e wit h th e ca r moving . Pus h
dow n th e clutc h pedal , an d paus e fo r
a fe w second s befor e shiftin g int o
Reverse , o r shif t int o on e o f th e
forwar d gear s fo r a moment . Thi s
stop s th e gear s s o the y won' t "grind. "
Whe n slowin g down , yo u ca n ge t
extr a brakin g fro m th e engin e b y
shiftin g to a lowe r gear . Thi s extr a
brakin g ca n hel p yo u maintai n a saf e
spee d an d preven t you r brake s fro m
overheatin g whil e goin g dow n a
stee p hill . Befor e downshifting ,
mak e sur e th e vehicl e spee d is lo w
enoug h tha t yo u wil l no t activat e th e
engin e spee d limite r i n th e lowe r
gear . Mak e sur e th e engin e spee d
wil l no t g o int o th e tachometer' s re d
zon e i n th e lowe r gea r befor e
downshifting .
Drivin g
Rapi
d slowin g o r speeding-u p
ca n caus e los s o f contro l o n
slipper y surfaces . I f yo u crash ,
yo u ca n b e injured .
Us e extr a car e whe n drivin g o n

slipper y surfaces .

5-spee
d Manua l Transmissio n

Shif t Up/Shif t Dow n Indicator s
Eithe r th e Shif t U p o r Shif t Dow n
indicato r wil l ligh t t o sho w th e bes t
tim e t o shif t t o a highe r o r lowe r
gear . Yo u ca n achiev e th e bes t fue l
econom y b y acceleratin g an d
deceleratin g slowly , an d shiftin g
whe n prompte d b y th e Shif t U p
indicator .
Th e Shif t Dow n indicato r prompt s t o
shif t t o a lowe r gea r t o kee p spee d i n
a hill y road . Roa
d an d traffi c condition s ma y
requir e yo u t o shif t a t time s othe r
tha n thos e indicated . Engin
e Spee d Limite r
I f yo u excee d th e maximu m spee d
fo r th e gea r yo u ar e in , th e engin e
spee d wil l ente r int o th e tachometer' s
re d zone . I f thi s occurs , yo u ma y fee l
th e engin e cu t i n an d out . Thi s i s
cause d b y a limite r i n th e engine' s
compute r controls . Th e engin e wil l
ru n normall y whe n yo u reduc e th e
RP M belo w th e re d zone .
Befor e downshifting , mak e sur e th e
engin e wil l no t g o int o th e
tachometer' s re d zone .

Drivin g

SHIF
T U P INDICATO R
SHIF T DOW N INDICATO R