fuel HONDA INSIGHT 2000 1.G User Guide

Owne
r Maintenanc e Check s

Yo u shoul d chec k th e followin g
item s a t th e specifie d intervals . I f
yo u ar e unsur e o f ho w to perfor m
an y check , tur n to th e pag e given . Engin
e oi l leve l — Chec k ever y
tim e yo u fil l th e fue l tank . Se e
pag e 122 .
Engin e coolan t leve l — Chec k th e
radiato r reserv e tan k ever y tim e
yo u fil l th e fue l tank . Se e pag e 12 3 .
Windshiel d washe r flui d — Chec k
th e leve l i n th e reservoi r monthly .
I f weathe r condition s caus e yo u t o
us e th e washer s frequently , chec k
th e reservoi r eac h tim e yo u sto p
fo r fuel . Se e pag e 16 9 .
Brake s — Chec k th e flui d leve l
monthly . Se e pag e 171 . Tire
s — Chec k th e tir e pressur e
monthly . Examin e th e trea d fo r
wea r an d foreig n objects . Se e pag e
183 .
Light s — Chec k th e operatio n o f
th e headlights , parkin g lights ,
taillights , high-moun t brak e light ,
tur n signals , brak e lights , an d
licens e plat e light s monthly . Se e
pag e 188 .
Maintenanc e

Engin
e Oi l

Addin g Oi l
ENGIN E OI L FIL L CA P
T o ad d oil , unscre w an d remov e th e
engin e oi l fil l ca p o n to p o f th e valv e
cover . Pou r i n th e oil , an d instal l th e
engin e oi l fil l cap . Tighte n it securely .
Wai t a fe w minute s an d rechec k th e
oi l level . D o no t fil l abov e th e uppe r
mark ; yo u coul d damag e th e engine .Recommende
d Oi l
Oi l i s a majo r contributo r t o you r
engine' s performanc e an d longevity .
Alway s us e a premium-grad e deter -
gen t oil . I t i s highl y recommende d
tha t yo u us e Genuin e Hond a Moto r
Oi l i n you r vehicl e fo r a s lon g a s yo u
ow n it .
Yo u ca n determin e an oil' s SA E
viscosit y an d Servic e Classificatio n
fro m th e AP I Servic e labe l o n th e oi l
container .
A ver y low-viscosity , fuel-efficien t
OW-2 0 oi l i s preferre d engin e
lubrican t fo r you r Insight . Thi s i s
show n o n th e AP I Servic e labe l b y
th e word s "Energ y Conserving. "
Thi s specia l oi l i s formulate d t o hel p
you r engin e us e les s fuel . I t i s
availabl e a t you r Hond a dealer .
Th
e AP I Servic e labe l als o tell s yo u

th e servic e classificatio n o f th e oil .
Alway s us e a n oi l tha t i s labele d "AP I

Servic e SJ. "

AP I SERVIC E LABE L

CONTINUED

Maintenanc e

Windshiel
d Washer s

Chec k th e leve l i n th e windshiel d
washe r reservoi r a t leas t monthl y
durin g norma l usage . I n ba d weather ,
whe n yo u us e th e washer s often ,
chec k th e leve l ever y tim e yo u sto p
fo r fuel . Thi s reservoi r supplie s th e
windshiel d an d rea r windo w washers .
LEVE
L GAUG E

Th e windshiel d washe r reservoi r i s
locate d behin d th e passenger' s sid e
headlight . Chec k th e reservoir' s flui d
leve l b y removin g th e ca p an d
lookin g a t th e leve l gaug e attache d

t o th e
cap . Fil
l th e reservoi r wit h a good-qualit y
windshiel d washe r fluid . Thi s
increase s th e cleanin g capabilit y an d
prevent s freezin g in col d weather .
Whe n yo u refil l th e reservoir , clea n
th e edge s o f th e windshiel d wipe r
blade s wit h windshiel d washe r flui d
o n a clea n cloth . Thi s wil l hel p to
conditio n th e blad e edges .

Do not use engine antifreeze or a
vinegar/water solution in the

windshield washer reservoir.

Antifreeze can damage your car's paint,
while a vinegar/water solution can

damage the windshield washer pump.

Use only commercially-available
windshield washer fluid.

Maintenanc e

NOTIC
E

Changin
g a Fla t Tir e

11.Tighte n th e whee l nut s securel y in

th e sam e crisscros s pattern . Hav e

th e whee l nu t torqu e checke d a t
th e neares t automotiv e servic e

facility .

Tighte n th e whee l nut s to :

8 0 lbf.f t (108N.m , 1 1 kgf.m )

D o no t catc h you r clothe s o r
hand s o n th e hook s o n th e rea r
fende r whe n yo u replac e th e

wheel .
12.T
o instal l th e rea r whee l skirt ,
plac e th e skir t agains t th e body .
Lin e u p th e slot s o n th e skir t wit h
th e tab s i n th e body , the n pus h th e
skir t upward .
Mak e sur e th e whee l skir t i s
installe d correctly . 13.Tighte
n th e tw o stu d fasteners . Alig
n th e mark s o n th e stu d fastene
r wit h th e mark s o n th e
whee l skirt .

It is not recommended to drive your car-
without the wheel skirts.
It will affect the fuel consumption.

CONTINUED

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

TA
B

SLO T

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 .

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.

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
NOTIC
E

Technica
l Informatio n

Th e diagram s i n thi s sectio n giv e
yo u th e dimension s an d capacitie s o f
you r Honda , an d th e location s o f th e
identificatio n numbers . Th e expla -
nation s o f severa l electroni c an d
mechanica l system s o n you r Hond a
ar e fo r th e mor e technically-oriente d
owner . Identificatio
n Numbers................ . 23 2
Specifications................................ . 23 4
DO T Tir e Qualit y Gradin g
(U.S . Vehicles)...................... . 23 6
Unifor m Tir e Qualit y
Grading.................................. . 23 6
Treadwear................................. . 23 6
Traction...................................... . 23 6
Temperatur e ............................ . 23 7 Oxygenate
d Fuels......................... . 23 8
Drivin g in Foreig n Countries...... . 23 9
Emission s Controls....................... . 24 0
Th e Clea n Ai r Act..................... . 24 0
Crankcas e Emission s Contro l
System.................................... . 24 0
Evaporativ e Emission s Contro l
System.................................... . 24 0
Onboar d Refuelin g Vapo r
Recovery................................ . 24 0
Exhaus t Emission s Controls... . 24 1
PGM-F I System.................... . 24 1
Ignitio n Timin g Contro l
System................................ . 24 1
Thre e Wa y Catalyti c
Converter........................... . 24 1
Replacemen t Parts.................... . 24 1
Thre e Wa y Catalyti c Converter.. . 24 2

Technica l Informatio n

Oxygenate
d Fuel s

Som e conventiona l gasoline s ar e
bein g blende d wit h alcoho l o r a n

ethe r compound . Thes e gasoline s

ar e collectivel y referre d to a s

oxygenate d fuels . T o mee t clea n ai r

standards , som e area s o f th e Unite d

State s an d Canad a us e oxygenate d

fuel s t o hel p reduc e emissions .

I f yo u us e a n oxygenate d fuel , b e

sur e it i s unleade d an d meet s th e

minimu m octan e ratin g requirement .

Befor e usin g a n oxygenate d fuel , tr y

t o confir m th e fuel' s contents . Som e

states/province s requir e thi s
informatio n t o b e poste d o n th e

pump .
Th
e followin g ar e th e U.S . EP A an d
Canadia n CGS B approve d
percentage s o f oxygenates :
ETHANO L (ethy l o r grai n alcohol )
Yo u ma y us e gasolin e containin g u p
t o 1 0 percen t ethano l b y volume .
Gasolin e containin g ethano l ma y b e
markete d unde r th e nam e "Gasohol. "
MTB E (Methy l Tertiar y Buty l
Ether )
Yo u ma y us e gasolin e containin g u p
t o 1 5 percen t MTB E b y volume .
METHANO L (methy l o r woo d

alcohol )

You r vehicl e wa s no t designe d to us e
fue l tha t contain s methanol .
Methano l ca n corrod e meta l part s in
th e fue l system , an d als o damag e
plasti c an d rubbe r components . Thi s
damag e woul d no t b e covere d b y
you r warranties . I
f yo u notic e an y undesirabl e
operatin g symptoms , tr y anothe r
servic e statio n o r switc h to anothe r
bran d o f gasoline .
Fue l syste m damag e o r performanc e
problem s resultin g fro m th e us e o f
a n oxygenate d fue l containin g mor e
tha n th e percentage s o f oxygenate s
give n abov e ar e no t covere d unde r
warranty .
Technica l Informatio n

Emission
s Control s

Th e burnin g o f gasolin e in you r car' s
engin e produce s severa l byproducts .
Som e o f thes e ar e carbo n monoxid e
(CO) , oxide s o f nitroge n (NOx ) an d
hydrocarbon s (HC) . Gasolin e
evaporatin g fro m th e tan k als o
produce s hydrocarbons . Controllin g
th e productio n o f NOx , CO , an d H C
i s importan t t o th e environment .
Unde r certai n condition s o f sunligh t
an d climate , NO x an d H C reac t t o
for m photochemica l "smog. " Carbo n
monoxid e doe s no t contribut e t o
smo g creation , bu t i t i s a poisonou s

gas .
Th
e Clea n Ai r Ac t
Th e Unite d State s Clea n Ai r Act *
set s standard s fo r automobil e
emissions . I t als o require s tha t
automobil e manufacturer s explai n t o
owner s ho w thei r emission s control s
wor k an d wha t t o d o t o maintai n
them . Thi s sectio n summarize s ho w
th e emission s control s work .
Schedule d maintenanc e is o n pag e
15 0 .
* I n Canada , Hond a vehicle s compl y
wit h th e Canadia n Moto r Vehicl e
Safet y Standard s (CMVSS ) fo r
Emission s vali d a t th e tim e the y ar e
manufactured .
Crankcas e Emission s Contro l

Syste m

You r ca r ha s a Positiv e Crankcas e
Ventilatio n System . Thi s keep s
gasse s tha t buil d u p in th e engine' s
crankcas e fro m goin g int o th e
atmosphere . Th e Positiv e Crankcas e
Ventilatio n valv e route s the m fro m th
e crankcas e bac k t o th e intak e
manifold . The y ar e the n draw n int o
th e engin e an d burned .
Evaporativ e Emission s Contro l
Syste m
A s gasolin e evaporate s i n th e fue l
tank , a n evaporativ e emission s
contro l caniste r fille d wit h charcoa l
adsorb s th e vapor . I t i s store d in thi s
caniste r whil e th e engin e i s off . Afte r
th e engin e is starte d an d warme d up ,
th e vapo r i s draw n int o th e engin e
an d burne d durin g driving .
Onboar d Refuelin g Vapo r
Recover y
Th e Onboar d Refuelin g Vapo r
Recover y (ORVR ) syste m capture s
th e fue l vapor s durin g refueling . Th e
vapor s ar e adsorbe d in a caniste r
fille d wit h activate d carbon . Whil e
driving , th e fue l vapor s ar e draw n
int o th e engin e an d burne d off .
Technica l Informatio n

Inde
x

Dipstic k

Engin e Oil.................................. . 12
2

Directiona l Signals.......................... .
6
1
Disabled , Towin g You r Ca r If..... . 22 8
Dis c Brak e Wea r Indicators........ . 13 9
Disposa l o f Use d Oil..................... . 16 2
Displa y Chang e Button.................. . 4 9
Door s
Lockin g an d Unlocking.............. . 6 9
DO T Tir e Qualit y Grading.......... . 23 6
Downshifting , 5-spee d Manua l
Transmission............................. . 13 6
Driv e Belts..................................... . 18 1
Drive r an d Passenge r Safety........... . 5
Driving........................................... . 13 1
Economy.................................... . 12 4
I n Ba d Weather......................... . 14 2
I n Foreig n Countries................ . 23 9

Economy , Fuel.............................. . 12 4

Emergencie s o n th e Road............ . 20 5
Battery , Jum p Starting............. . 21 4
Brak e Syste m Indicator........... . 22 1
Changin g a Fla t Tire................ . 20

7

Chargin g Syste m
Indicator.....
. 21 9
Checkin g th e Fuses.................. . 22 3
Lo w Oi l Pressur e Indicator..... . 21 8
Malfunctio n Indicato r Lamp... . 22 0
Overheate d Engine.................. . 21 7
Emergenc y Brake........................... . 7 7
Emergenc y Flashers...................... . 6 3
Emergenc y Towing...................... . 22 8
Emission s Controls....................... . 24 0
Engin e
Belts............................................ . 18 1
Coolan t Temperatur e Gaug e .... . 5 6
Malfunctio n Indicato r
Lamp................................ . 47 , 22 0
Oil , Wha t Kin d to Use.............. . 15 9
Overheating............................... . 21 7
Specifications............................ . 23 4
Engin e Spee d Limiter................... . 13 7
Ethanoli n Gasoline...................... . 23 8
Evaporativ e Emission s Controls. . 24 0
Exhaus t Fumes............................... . 4 0
Expectan t Mothers , Us e o f Sea t
Belt s by........................................ . 1 7
Exterior , Cleanin g the.................. . 19 8 Fabric
, Cleaning............................ . 20 1

Fan , Interior..................................... . 8 2

Features , Comfor t an d
Convenience................................ . 8 1

Fillin g th e Fuel Tank.................... . 11 9

Filte r

Ai r Conditioning....................... . 18 1
Oil............................................... . 16 1

5-spee d Manua l Transmissio n

Checkin g Flui d Level............... . 17 0
Shiftin g the................................ . 13 6
Flashers , Hazar d Warning............. . 6 3
Fla t Tire , Changin g a................... . 18 5

Fluid s

Brake.......................................... . 17 1
Clutch......................................... . 17 1
Manua l Transmission.............. . 17 0

Windshiel d Washer.................. . 16 9

F M Stere o Radi o

Reception................................... . 11 0
Foreig n Countries , Drivin g in..... . 23 9
Four-wa y Flashers.......................... . 6 3
CONTINUED