engine HONDA INSIGHT 2000 1.G Owner's Manual

Engin
e Oi l
Changin g th e Oi l an d Filte r
Alway s chang e th e oi l an d filte r
accordin g to th e tim e an d distanc e
(miles/kilometers ) recommenda -
tion s i n th e maintenanc e schedule .
Th e oi l an d filte r collec t contami -
nant s tha t ca n damag e you r engin e if
the y ar e no t remove d regularly .
Changin g th e oi l an d filte r require s
specia l tool s an d acces s fro m
underneat h th e car . Th e ca r shoul d
b e raise d o n a servic e station-typ e
hydrauli c lif t fo r thi s service . Unles s
yo u hav e th e knowledg e an d prope r
equipment , yo u shoul d hav e thi s
maintenanc e don e b y a skille d
mechanic . 1
. Ope n th e hoo d an d remov e th e
engin e oi l fil l cap . Remov e th e
blac k cove r unde r th e engine . WASHE
R OIL DRAI N BOL T
2 . Remov e th e oi l drai n bol t an d
washe r fro m th e botto m o f th e
engine . Drai n th e oi l int o a n
appropriat e container .
D o no t loose n th e smalle r bol t
locate d abov e th e drai n bolt .

CONTINUED

Maintenanc e

Engin
e Oi l
3 . Remov e th e oi l filte r an d le t th e
remainin g oi l drain . A specia l
wrenc h (availabl e fro m you r
Hond a dealer ) i s require d to
remov e th e filter .
4 . Instal l a ne w oi l filte r accordin g to
instruction s tha t com e wit h it .
5
. Pu t a ne w washe r o n th e drai n bolt ,
the n reinstal l th e drai n bolt .
Tighte n it to :
29lbf.f t (39N.m,4.0kgf.m )
6 . Refil l th e engin e wit h th e recom -

mende d oil .

Engin e oi l chang e capacit y
(includin g filter) : 2.
6 U S q t (2. 5 , 2.2 Im p qt )
7 . Replac e th e engin e oi l fil l cap .
Star t th e engine . Th e oi l pressur e
indicato r ligh t shoul d g o ou t withi n
fiv e seconds . I f i t doe s not , tur n of f
th e engin e an d reinspec t you r
work .
8
. Le t th e engin e ru n fo r severa l
minute s an d chec k th e drai n bol t
an d oi l filte r fo r leaks .
9 . Tur n of f th e engine , le t i t si t fo r
severa l minutes , the n chec k th e oi l
level . I f necessary , ad d oi l t o brin g
th e leve l t o th e uppe r mar k o n th e
dipstick .
10.Instal l th e blac k cove r unde r th e

engine .

Improper disposal of engine oil can be
harmful to the environment. If you
change your own oil, please dispose of
the used oil properly. Put it in a sealed
container and take it to a recycling
center. Do not discard it in a trash bin
or dump it on the ground.

Maintenanc e
OI
L FILTE R

NOTICE

Coolin
g Syste m

Addin g Engin e Coolan t

I f th e coolan t leve l i n th e reserv e
tan k is a t o r belo w th e MI N line , ad d
coolan t t o brin g it u p t o th e MA X line .
Inspec t th e coolin g syste m fo r leaks .
Thi s coolan t shoul d alway s b e a
mixtur e o f 5 0 percen t antifreez e an d
5 0 percen t water . Neve r ad d straigh t
antifreez e o r plai n water . Alway
s us e Genuin e Hond a
Antifreeze/Coolant . I f i t i s no t
available , yo u ma y us e anothe r
major-bran d non-silicat e coolan t a s a
temporar y replacement . Mak e sur e it
i s a high-qualit y coolan t
recommende d fo r aluminu m engines .
However , continue d us e o f an y non -
Hond a coolan t ca n resul t i n
corrosion , causin g th e coolin g
syste m to malfunctio n o r fail . Hav e
th e coolin g syste m flushe d an d
refille d wit h Hond a antifreeze /
coolan t a s soo n a s possible . I
f th e reserv e tan k is completel y
empty , yo u shoul d als o chec k th e
coolan t leve l i n th e radiator .

CONTINUED

Maintenanc e

RESERV
E TAN K

Removing th e radiato r ca p
whil e th e engin e i s ho t ca n
caus e th e coolan t t o spra y out ,
seriousl y scaldin g you .
Alway s le t th e engin e an d
radiato r coo l dow n befor e
removin g th e radiato r cap .

Coolin
g Syste m

6 . Whe n th e coolan t stop s draining ,
tighte n th e drai n plu g a t th e
botto m o f th e radiator .
Appl y non-hardenin g sealan t t o th e
drai n bol t threads , pu t a ne w
washe r o n th e drai n bolt , an d
reinstal l th e bol t i n th e engin e
block . Tighte n it securely .
Tightenin g torque :
6 1 Ibf .
f t (8 3 N .
m , 8. 5 kgf .
m )
7 . Mi x th e recommende d antifreez e
wit h a n equa l amoun t o f purifie d
o r distille d wate r i n a clea n
container . Th e coolin g syste m
capacit y is :
0.61 US gal (2.3 , 0.51 Imp gal)

8. Remov e th e engin e cover .
9. Loose n th e bleede r bol t on top of
th e engine . Pou r coolan t int o th e
radiato r u p t o th e bas e o f th e fille r
neck . Tighte n th e bleede r bol t
whe n coolan t come s ou t i n a
stead y strea m wit h n o bubbles .
Instal l th e radiato r cap .
10.Remov e th e ca p fro m th e wate r
outlet , an d instal l a pip e an d funnel .11.Pou
r coolan t int o th e funne l unti l
th e coolan t stop s flowin g int o th e
engine .
12.Star t th e engin e an d le t i t ru n fo r
abou t 3 0 seconds . The n tur n of f
th e engine .
13.Pou r coolan t int o th e wate r outle t
u p t o it s edge . Instal l th e cap .
14.Instal l th e engin e cover .

CONTINUED

Maintenanc e

CA
P
BLEEDE R BOL T

Coolin
g Syste m

15.Star t th e engin e an d le t i t ru n fo r
abou t 3 0 seconds . The n tur n of f
th e engine .
16.Pou r coolan t int o th e radiato r u p
t o th e bas e o f th e fille r neck . 17.Fil
l th e reserv e tan k t o th e MA X
mark . Instal l th e reserv e tan k cap .
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

Transmissio
n Flui d

Chec k th e flui d leve l wit h th e
transmissio n a t norma l operatin g
temperatur e an d th e ca r sittin g o n
th e leve l ground .
Remov e th e blac k cove r unde r th e

engine .
Remov
e th e transmissio n fille r bol t
an d carefull y fee l insid e th e bol t hol e
wit h you r finger . Th e flui d leve l
shoul d b e u p to th e edg e o f th e bol t
hole . I f i t i s not , ad d Genuin e Hond a
Manua l Transmissio n Flui d (MTF )
unti l i t start s t o ru n ou t o f th e hole .
Reinstal l th e fille r bol t an d tighte n i t

securely .
I
f Hond a MT F is no t available , yo u
ma y us e a n AP I servic e SG , S H o r S J
grad e moto r oi l wit h a viscosit y o f
SA E 10W-3 0 o r 10W-4 0 a s a
temporar y replacement . A n S G
grad e is preferred , bu t a n S H o r S J
grad e ma y b e use d if S G is no t
available . However , moto r oi l doe s
no t contai n th e prope r additive s an d
continue d us e ca n caus e stiffe r
shifting . Replac e a s soo n a s it i s
convenient .
Th e transmissio n shoul d b e draine d
an d refille d wit h ne w flui d accordin g
t o th e tim e an d distanc e recommen -
dation s i n th e maintenanc e schedule .
Maintenanc e

Ai
r Conditionin g Syste m (Optional )

You r car' s ai r conditionin g is a seale d
system . An y majo r maintenance ,
suc h a s recharging , shoul d b e don e
b y a qualifie d mechanic . Yo u ca n d o
a coupl e o f thing s t o mak e sur e th e
ai r conditionin g work s efficiently .
AI R CONDITIONIN G CONDENSE RPeriodicall
y chec k th e engine' s
radiato r an d ai r conditionin g
condense r fo r leaves , insects , an d
dir t stuc k t o th e fron t surface . Thes e
bloc k th e ai r flo w an d reduc e coolin g
efficiency . Us e a ligh t spra y fro m a
hos e o r a sof t brus h to remov e them .
The condenser and radiator fins bend
easily. Only use a low-pressure spray
or soft-bristle brush to clean them.
Ru n th e ai r conditionin g a t leas t onc e
a wee k durin g th e col d weathe r
months . Ru n it fo r a t leas t te n
minute s whil e yo u ar e drivin g a t a
stead y spee d wit h th e engin e a t
norma l operatin g temperature . Thi s
circulate s th e lubricatin g oi l con -
taine d in th e refrigerant . I
f th e ai r conditionin g doe s no t ge t a s
col d a s before , hav e you r deale r
chec k th e system . Recharg e th e
syste m wit h Refrigerant HFC-134a
(R-134a) . (Se e Specification s o n pag e
235 .)

Whenever you have the air conditioning

system serviced, make sure the service

facility uses a refrigerant recycling

system. This system captures the

refrigerant for reuse. Releasing

refrigerant into the atmosphere can

damage the environment.

Maintenanc e
NOTIC
E NOTIC
E

Light
s

4 . Uncli p th e en d o f th e hold-dow n
wir e fro m its slot . Pivo t i t ou t o f
th e wa y an d remov e th e bulb .
5 . Inser t th e ne w bul b int o th e hole ,
makin g sur e th e tab s ar e in thei r
slots . Pivo t th e hold-dow n wir e
bac k in plac e an d cli p th e en d int o
th e slot .
6 . Instal l th e rubbe r sea l ove r th e
bac k o f th e headligh t assembly .
Mak e sur e it i s righ t sid e up ; i t i s

marke d "TOP. "

7 . Pus h th e electrica l connecto r ont o
th e tab s o f th e ne w bulb . Mak e
sur e i t lock s i n place .
Tur n o n th e headlight s t o tes t th e
ne w bulb .
8 . Reinstal l th e radiato r reserv e tank .Replacin
g th e Fron t Parkin g
Light s
1 . Remov e th e socke t fro m th e
headligh t assembl y b y turnin g it

one-quarte r tur n counterclockwise .

2 . Pul l th e bul b straigh t ou t o f it s

socket .

3 . Instal l th e ne w bul b int o th e

socket .
4
. Inser t th e socke t bac k int o th e
headligh t assembly . Tur n it
clockwis e t o loc k i t i n place .
5 . Tes t th e light s t o mak e sur e th e
ne w bul b is working .
Replacin g th e Fron t Sid e Marker /
Tur n Signa l an d Parkin g Ligh t
Bul b
1 . I f yo u ar e changin g th e bul b o n
th e driver' s side , star t th e engine ,
tur n th e steerin g whee l al l th e wa y
t o th e right , an d tur n of f th e
engine . I f yo u ar e changin g th e
bul b o n th e passenger' s side , tur n
th e steerin g whee l t o th e left .
CONTINUED
Maintenanc e

I
f You r Engin e Won' t Star t

Diagnosin g wh y you r engin e won' t
star t fall s int o tw o areas , dependin g
o n wha t yo u hea r whe n yo u tur n th e
ke y t o STAR T (III) :
Yo u hea r nothing , o r almos t
nothing . Th e engine' s starte r
moto r doe s no t operat e a t all , o r
operate s ver y slowly .
Yo u ca n hea r th e starte r moto r
operatin g normally , o r th e starte r
moto r sound s lik e i t i s spinnin g
faste r tha n normal , bu t th e engin e
doe s no t star t u p an d run . Nothin
g Happen s o r th e Starte r
Moto r Operate s Ver y Slowl y
Whe n yo u tur n th e ignitio n switc h t o
STAR T (III) , yo u d o no t hea r th e
norma l nois e o f th e engin e tryin g to
start . Yo u ma y hea r a clickin g soun d
o r serie s o f clicks , o r nothin g a t all .
Chec k thes e things :
You r ca r ha s th e Immobilize r
System . Yo u shoul d us e a
properly-code d maste r o r vale t ke y
t o star t th e engin e (se e pag e 66 ).
A ke y tha t i s no t properl y code d
wil l caus e th e immobilize r syste m
indicato r i n th e das h pane l t o blin k
rapidly .
Tur n th e ignitio n switc h t o O N (II) .
Tur n o n th e headlight s an d chec k
thei r brightness . I f th e headlight s
ar e ver y di m o r don' t ligh t a t all ,
th e batter y is discharged . Se e

Jum p Startin g o n pag e 21 4 .
Tur
n th e ignitio n switc h t o STAR T
(III) . I f th e headlight s d o no t dim ,
chec k th e conditio n o f th e fuses . I f
th e fuse s ar e OK , ther e is proba -
bl y somethin g wron g wit h th e
electrica l circui t fo r th e ignitio n
switc h o r starte r motor . Yo u wil l
nee d a qualifie d technicia n to
determin e th e problem . (Se e

Emergenc y Towin g o n pag e 22 8 .)

I f th e headlight s di m noticeabl y o r
g o ou t whe n yo u tr y t o star t th e
engine , eithe r th e batter y is dis -
charge d o r th e connection s ar e
corroded . Chec k th e conditio n o f
th e batter y an d termina l connec -
tion s (se e pag e 17 5 ) . Yo u ca n
the n tr y jum p startin g th e ca r fro m
a booste r batter y (se e pag e 21 4 ) .
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d