air condition HONDA INSIGHT 2000 1.G Owners Manual

Importan
t Safet y Precaution s

You'l l fin d man y safet y
recommendation s throughou t thi s
section, and throughou t thi s manual .
Th e recommendation s o n thi s pag e
ar e th e one s w e conside r t o b e th e
mos t important .
Alway s Wea r You r Sea t Bel t
A sea t bel t i s you r bes t protectio n in
al l type s o f collisions . Airbag s
supplemen t sea t belts , bu t airbag s
ar e designe d to inflat e onl y in a
moderat e to sever e fronta l collision .
S o eve n thoug h you r ca r i s equippe d
wit h airbags , mak e sur e yo u and
you r passenge r alway s wea r you r
sea t belts , an d wea r the m properly .
(Se e pag e 15 ).
You r Ca r i s No t Recommende d
fo r Chil d Passenger s
Sinc e al l childre n ar e safes t i n th e
bac k sea t o f a car , an d you r ca r doe s
no t hav e a bac k seat , w e recommen d
tha t yo u d o no t carr y a chil d

passenger . Due to the passenger's
airbag
hazard, you should never

carry an infant in a rear-facing child

seat in this car. If a smal l chil d wh o
mus t b e restraine d in a forward -
facin g chil d seat , o r a large r child ,
mus t rid e in thi s car , b e sur e to
follo w al l instruction s an d safet y
warning s in thi s manual . (Se e page s
2 6 an d 29 .)
B e Awar e o f Airba g Hazard s
Whil e airbag s ca n sav e lives , the y
ca n caus e seriou s o r fata l injurie s t o
occupant s wh o sit too clos e t o them ,
o r ar e no t properl y restrained .
Infants , youn g children , an d shor t
adult s ar e a t th e greates t risk . B e
sur e t o follo w al l instruction s an d
warning s in thi s manual . (Se e pag e
7 . )

Don' t Drin k an d Driv e

Alcoho l an d drivin g don' t mix . Eve n
on e drin k ca n reduc e you r abilit y t o
respon d to changin g conditions , an d
you r reactio n tim e get s wors e wit h ever
y additiona l drink . S o don' t drin k
an d drive , an d don' t le t you r friend s
drin k an d drive , either .
Contro l You r Spee d
Excessiv e spee d is a majo r facto r i n
cras h injurie s an d deaths . Generally ,
th e highe r th e spee d th e greate r th e
risk , bu t seriou s accident s ca n als o
occu r a t lowe r speeds . Neve r driv e
faste r tha n is saf e fo r curren t
conditions , regardles s o f th e
maximu m spee d posted .
Kee p You r Ca r i n Saf e Conditio n
Havin g a tir e blowou t o r a
mechanica l failur e ca n b e extremel y
hazardous . T o reduc e th e possibilit y
o f suc h problems , chec k you r tir e
pressure s an d conditio n frequently ,
an d perfor m al l regularl y schedule d
maintenance . (Se e pag e 14 8 .)
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Heatin
g

Ho w to Us e th e Syste m
Thi s sectio n cover s ho w to se t u p th e
syste m control s fo r ventilation ,
heating , an d defrosting .
Th e engin e mus t b e runnin g fo r th e
heate r t o generat e ho t air . Th e
heate r use s engin e coolan t t o war m
th e air . I f th e engin e is cold , i t wil l b e
severa l minute s befor e yo u fee l
war m ai r comin g fro m th e system .
Th e ai r conditionin g doe s no t rel y o n
engin e temperature .
I t i s bes t t o leav e th e syste m in Fres h
Ai r mod e unde r almos t al l conditions .
Keepin g th e syste m in Recirculatio n
mod e ca n caus e th e window s t o fo g
up . Switc h to Recirculatio n mod e
whe n yo u ar e drivin g throug h smok y
o r dust y conditions , the n switc h bac k
t o Fres h Ai r mod e whe n th e
conditio n clears . MOD
E BUTTO N
TEMPERATURE

CONTRO L DIA L

RECIRCULATIO N BUTTO N

Th e outsid e ai r intake s fo r th e
heatin g syste m ar e a t th e bas e o f th e
windshield . Kee p thes e clea r o f
leave s an d othe r debris . FA
N CONTRO L BUTTON S
Ventilation
Th e flow-throug h ventilatio n syste m
draw s i n outsid e air , circulate s i t
throug h th e interior , the n exhaust s i t
throug h vent s nea r th e rea r window .
1 . Tur n th e temperatur e contro l dia l
al l th e wa y t o th e left . 2
. Selec t an d Fres h Ai r mode .
3 . Se t th e fa n to th e desire d speed .

CONTINUED

Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s

Climat
e Contro l Syste m
Only on cars with automatic air
conditioning system

Th e automati c climat e contro l
syste m in you r Hond a pick s th e
prope r combinatio n o f ai r condi -
tioning , heating , an d ventilatio n to
maintai n th e interio r temperatur e
yo u select . Th e syste m als o adjust s
th e fa n spee d an d ai r flo w levels .
Th e directio n o f ai r flo w fro m th e
vent s in th e cente r an d eac h sid e o f
th e dashboar d is adjustable .
T o adjus t th e ai r flo w fro m th e
cente r vent , mov e th e ta b up-and -
dow n an d side-to-side .
O n th e driver's-sid e vent , mov e th e
ven t up-and-dow n an d mov e th e ta b
side-to-side . O n th e passenger's-sid e
vent , mov e th e ta b up-and-dow n an d
mov e th e ven t side-to-side .
Th e sid e vent s ca n b e opene d an d
close d wit h th e dial s underneat h

them .
CENTE
R VENT S

Th e climat e contro l syste m draw s ai r
throug h th e exterio r vent s a t th e
botto m of th e windshield . Kee p
thes e vent s clea r o f leave s an d othe r

debris .
DRIVER'S-SID
E VEN T

Fo r th e climat e contro l syste m to

provid e heatin g an d cooling , th e

engin e mus t b e running .
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s

Climat
e Contro l Syste m

Fully-automati c Operatio n

Auto Button

T o pu t th e Automati c Climat e
Contro l i n fully-automati c mode ,
pres s th e AUT O butto n an d se t th e
desire d temperatur e b y turnin g th e
temperatur e contro l dial . Yo u wil l
se e AUT O in th e system' s display .Th
e ligh t abov e th e butto n
als o show s yo u whic h mode ,
Recirculatio n o r Fres h Air , i s

selected .

Whe n th e syste m is i n full y
automati c mode , th e aut o idl e sto p
functio n wil l no t b e activated .
Th e syste m automaticall y select s th e
prope r mi x o f conditione d and/o r
heate d ai r tha t will , a s quickl y a s
possible , rais e o r lowe r th e interio r
temperatur e fro m its curren t leve l t o
th e se t temperature . FA
N SPEE D BUTTO N
TEMPERATUR
E
CONTRO L DIA L

MOD E BUTTO N
OFF BUTTO N
Whe n yo u se t th e temperatur e t o it s
lowe r limi t (60°F/18°C ) o r it s uppe r
limi t (90°F/32°C) , th e syste m run s
a t ful l coolin g o r heatin g only . I t doe s
no t regulat e th e interio r temperature .
Whe n th e temperatur e is se t
betwee n th e lowe r an d uppe r limits ,
th e syste m regulate s th e interio r
temperatur e t o th e se t value . I
n col d weather , th e fa n wil l no t
com e o n automaticall y unti l th e ca r
ha s bee n drive n fo r a shor t tim e an d
th e heate r start s t o develo p war m air .
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s AUT
O BUTTO N
ECO
N BUTTO N

Audi
o Syste m

Radi o Frequencie s
You r Honda' s radi o ca n receiv e th e

complet e A M an d F M bands .

Thos e band s cove r thes e frequen -

cies :

A M band :

53 0 to 1,71 0 kilohert z

F M band :
87. 7 t o 107. 9 megahert z
Radi o station s o n th e A M ban d ar e
assigne d frequencie s a t leas t te n
kilohert z apar t (530 , 540 , 550) .
Station s o n th e F M ban d ar e
assigne d frequencie s a t leas t 0. 2
megahert z apar t (87.9 , 88.1 , 88.3) .
Station s mus t us e thes e exac t
frequencies . I t i s fairl y commo n fo r
station s t o round-of f th e frequenc y i n
thei r advertising , s o you r radi o coul d
displa y a frequenc y o f 100. 9 eve n
thoug h th e announce r ma y identif y
th e statio n a s "FM101. " Radi
o Receptio n
Ho w wel l you r Honda' s radi o
receive s station s i s dependen t o n
man y factors , suc h a s th e distanc e
fro m th e station' s transmitter ,
nearb y larg e objects , an d atmos -
pheri c conditions .
A radi o station' s signa l get s weake r
a s yo u ge t farthe r awa y fro m it s
transmitter . I f yo u ar e listenin g t o a n
A M station , yo u wil l notic e th e soun d
volum e becomin g weaker , an d th e
statio n driftin g in an d out . I f yo u ar e
listenin g t o a n F M station , yo u wil l
se e th e stere o indicato r flickerin g of f
an d o n a s th e signal weakens .
Eventually , th e stere o indicato r wil l
g o of f an d th e soun d wil l fad e
completel y a s yo u ge t ou t o f rang e o f
th e station' s signal . Drivin
g ver y nea r th e transmitte r o f
a statio n tha t i s broadcastin g o n a
frequenc y clos e t o th e frequenc y o f
th e statio n yo u ar e listenin g t o ca n
als o affec t you r radio' s reception .
Yo u ma y temporaril y hea r bot h
stations , o r hea r onl y th e statio n yo u
ar e clos e to .
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s

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

Tire
s

Inspectio n

Ever y tim e yo u chec k inflation , yo u
shoul d als o examin e th e tire s fo r
damage , foreig n objects , an d wear .
Yo u shoul d loo k for :
Bump s o r bulge s in th e trea d o r
sid e o f th e tire . Replac e th e tir e if
yo u fin d eithe r o f thes e conditions .
Cuts , splits , o r crack s in th e sid e
o f th e tire . Replac e th e tir e if yo u
ca n se e fabri c o r cord .
Excessiv e trea d wear .
INDICATO
R LOCATIO N MARK S

TREA D WEA R INDICATOR S

You r car' s tire s hav e wea r indicator s
molde d int o th e tread . Whe n th e
trea d wear s dow n to tha t point , yo u
wil l se e a 1/ 2 inc h (12. 7 mm ) wid e
ban d runnin g acros s th e tread . Thi s
show s ther e is les s tha n 1/1 6 inc h
(1. 6 mm ) o f trea d lef t o n th e tire . A
tir e tha t i s thi s wor n give s ver y littl e
tractio n o n we t roads . Yo u shoul d
replac e th e tir e if yo u ca n se e th e
trea d wea r indicato r i n thre e o r mor e
place s aroun d th e tire .
Maintenanc
e

I n additio n t o prope r inflation ,
correc t whee l alignmen t help s t o
decreas e tir e wear . I f yo u fin d a tir e
i s wor n unevenly , hav e you r deale r
chec k th e whee l alignment .
Th e tire s wer e properl y balance d b y
th e factory . The y ma y nee d to b e
rebalance d a t som e tim e befor e the y
ar e wor n out . Hav e you r deale r
chec k th e tire s i f yo u fee l a consis -
ten t vibratio n whil e driving . A tir e
shoul d alway s b e rebalance d if i t i s
remove d fro m th e whee l fo r repair .
Mak e sur e th e installe r balance s th e
wheel s whe n yo u hav e ne w tire s
installed . Thi s increase s ridin g
comfor t an d tir e life . You r car' s
origina l tire s wer e dynami c o r "spin "
balance d a t th e factory . Fo r bes t
results , hav e th e installe r perfor m a
dynami c balance .
Maintenanc e

Tire
s

I t i s bes t t o replac e al l fou r tire s a t
th e sam e time . I f tha t i s no t possibl e
o r necessary , the n replac e th e tw o
fron t tire s o r th e tw o rea r tire s a s a
pair . Replacin g jus t on e tir e ca n
seriousl y affec t you r car's handling .
I f yo u eve r nee d to replac e a wheel ,
mak e sur e th e wheel' s specification s
matc h thos e o f th e origina l whee l
tha t cam e o n you r car . Replacemen t
wheel s ar e availabl e a t you r Hond a

dealer .
Wheel
s an d Tire s

Wheels :

14x51/ 2 J J
Tires :

P165/65R1478 S

Se e pag e 23 6 fo r informatio n abou t
DO T Tir e Qualit y Grading .
Winte
r Drivin g

Tire s tha t ar e marke d "M+S " o r
"Al l Season " o n th e sidewal l hav e a n
all-weathe r trea d design . The y
shoul d b e suitabl e fo r mos t winte r
drivin g conditions . Tire s withou t
thes e marking s ar e designe d fo r
optimu m tractio n i n dr y conditions .
The y ma y no t provid e adequat e
performanc e i n winte r driving .
Fo r th e bes t performanc e i n snow y
o r ic y conditions , yo u shoul d instal l
sno w tire s o r tir e chains . The y ma y
b e require d b y loca l law s unde r
certai n conditions .

Maintenanc e

Installin
g imprope r tire s o n you r
ca r ca n affec t handlin g an d
stability . Thi s ca n caus e a cras h
i n whic h yo u ca n b e seriousl y
hur t o r killed .
Alway s us e th e siz e an d typ e o f
tire s recommende d in thi s
owner' s manual .

Exterio
r Car e

Although almost all exterior panels on
your Honda are made of hardened
aluminum, they may dent more easily
than steel under some conditions.
Exercise care when leaning on or over
any part of the body.

Washin g

Frequen t washin g help s preserv e
you r car' s beauty . Dir t an d gri t ca n
scratc h th e paint , whil e tre e sa p an d
bir d dropping s ca n permanentl y rui n
th e finish .
Was h you r ca r i n a shad y area , no t i n
direc t sunlight . I f th e ca r i s parke d in
th e sun , mov e it int o th e shad e an d
le t th e exterio r coo l dow n befor e yo u
start .
Onl y us e th e solvent s an d cleaner s
recommende d in thi s Owner' s

Manual .
Chemical
solvents and strong cleaners

can damage the paint, metal, and

plastic on your car.

Rins e th e ca r thoroughl y wit h coo l
wate r t o remov e loos e dirt .
Fil l a bucke t wit h coo l water . Mi x
i n a mil d detergent , suc h a s
dishwashin g liqui d o r a produc t
mad e especiall y fo r ca r washing .
Was h th e ca r usin g th e wate r an d
detergen t solutio n an d a soft -
bristl e brush , sponge , o r sof t cloth .
Star t a t th e to p an d wor k you r wa y
down . Rins e frequently . Chec
k th e bod y fo r roa d tar , tre e
sap , etc . Remov e thes e stain s wit h
ta r remove r o r turpentine . Rins e it
of f immediatel y s o it doe s no t
har m th e finish . Remembe r t o re -
wa x thes e areas , eve n if th e res t o f
th e ca r doe s no t nee d waxing .
Whe n yo u hav e washe d an d rinse d
th e whol e exterior , dr y it wit h a
chamoi s o r sof t towel . Lettin g it
air-dr y wil l caus e dullin g an d wate r

spots .

A s yo u dr y th e car , inspec t i t fo r
chip s an d scratche s tha t coul d allo w
corrosio n to start . Repai r the m wit h
touch-u p pain t (se e pag e 200 ).
Appearanc e Car e

NOTIC
E
NOTICE

Brak
e Syste m Indicato r

BRAK E SYSTE M INDICATOR *
Th e Brak e Syste m Indicato r come s
o n whe n yo u tur n th e ignitio n O N
(II) . I f th e parkin g brak e is no t set , i t
goe s of f afte r yo u star t th e engine . I f
th e parkin g brak e is set , i t goe s of f
whe n yo u full y releas e th e parkin g
brak e wit h th e engin e running . I
f i t come s o n a t an y othe r time , i t
indicate s a proble m wit h th e car' s
brak e system . I n mos t cases , th e
proble m is a lo w flui d leve l i n th e
brak e flui d reservoir . Pres s lightl y o n
th e brak e peda l t o se e i f i t feel s
normal . I f i t does , chec k th e brak e
flui d leve l th e nex t tim e yo u sto p a t a
servic e statio n (se e pag e 171 ). I f th e
flui d leve l i s low , tak e th e ca r t o you r
deale r an d hav e th e brak e syste m
inspecte d fo r leak s o r wor n brak e

pads .

However , i f th e brak e peda l doe s no t
fee l normal , yo u shoul d tak e
immediat e action . Becaus e o f th e
brak e system' s dual-circui t design , a
proble m in on e par t o f th e syste m
wil l stil l giv e yo u brakin g a t tw o
wheels . Yo u wil l fee l th e brak e peda l
g o dow n muc h farthe r befor e th e ca r
begin s t o slo w down , an d yo u wil l
hav e t o pres s harde r o n th e pedal .
Th e distanc e neede d t o sto p wil l b e
muc h longer . Slo
w dow n b y shiftin g to a lowe r
gear , an d pul l t o th e sid e o f th e roa d
whe n it i s safe . Becaus e o f th e
longe r distanc e neede d to stop , i t i s
hazardou s t o driv e th e car . Yo u
shoul d hav e it towed , an d repaire d a s
soo n a s possible . (Se e Emergenc y
Towin g o n pag e 22 8 .)
I f yo u mus t driv e th e ca r a shor t
distanc e in thi s condition , driv e
slowl y an d cautiously .

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

*
U.S . indicato r show n