engine overheat HONDA INSIGHT 2001 1.G Owners Manual

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 shift into
Reverse with the car 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
Driving
136 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.

Open the hood. Remove the electrical connectorf rom the bulb by squeezing the
connector on both sides to unlock
the tab. Pull the connector straight
off.
Remove the rubber weather seal
by pulling on the tab.
If you need to change the head-
light bulb on the driver’s side,
remove the engine coolant
reservoir tank by pulling it out of
its holder.
Your car has halogen headlight
bulbs, one on each side. When
replacing a bulb, handle it by its steel
base and protect the glass from
contactwithyourskinorhard
objects. If you touch the glass, clean
it with denatured alcohol and a clean
cloth.
Theheadlightswereproperlyaimed
when your vehicle was new. If you
regularly carry heavy items in the
cargo area, readjustment may be
required. Adjustment of the
headlights should be perf ormed by a
Honda technician or other qualif ied
mechanic.
1.2. 3.
Lights
Maint enance
Headlight A iming
Replacing a Headlight Bulb 200
HHOOLLDDEERRWWEEAATTHHEERRSSEEAALLBBUULLBB
CCOONNNNEECCTTOORRHHOOLLDD--DDOOWWNNWWIIRREE
Halogen headlight bulbs get very hot
when lit. Oil, perspiration, or a scratch
on the glass can cause the bulb to
overheat and shatter.

This section covers the more-
common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you inf ormation about how to
safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has
stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again.
If not, you will also f ind instructions
on getting your car towed.......................
Compact Spare Tire . 216
....................
Changing a Flat Tire . 217
..........
If Your Engine Won’t Start . 223
Nothing Happens or theStarter Motor Operates ............................
Very Slowly . 223
The Starter Operates ................................
Normally . 224
................................
Jump Starting . 224
............
If Your Engine Overheats . 227
.........
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 228
..........
Charging System Indicator . 229
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 230
...............
Brake System Indicator . 232
..............................................
Fuses . 233
..........
Checking and Replacing . 234
......................
Emergency Towing . 239
Taking Care of the Unexpected
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed 215

Your car can overheat f or several
reasons, such as lack of coolant or a
mechanical problem. The only
indication may be the temperature
gauge climbing to or above the red
mark. Or you may see steam or
spray coming f rom under the hood.
In either case, you should take
immediate action.
The pointer of your car’s tempera-
ture gauge should stay in the mid-
range under most conditions. It may
go higher if you are driving up a long
steep hill on a very hot day. If it
climbs to the red mark, you should
determine the reason.
Keep the ends of the jumper cables
away from each other and any metal
on the car until all are disconnected.
Otherwise, you may cause an
electrical short.
If you do not see steam or spray,
leave the engine running and
watch the temperature gauge. If
the high heat is due to overloading
(climbing a long, steep hill on a
hot day with the A/C running, f or
example), the engine should start
to cool down almost immediately.
If it does, wait until the tempera-
ture gauge comes down to the mid-
point then continue driving.
If you see steam and/or spray
coming f rom under the hood, turn
of f the engine.
Saf ely pull to the side of the road.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park, and set the parking brake.
Turn of f the heating and cooling
system and all other accessories.
Turn on the hazard warning
indicators.
1. 2. 3.
If Your Engine Overheats
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
226 Steam and spray from an
overheated engine can
seriously scald you.
Do not open the hood if steam
is coming out.
Driving with the temperature gauge
pointer at the red mark can cause
serious damage to your engine.

If the temperature gauge stays at
the red mark, turn of f the engine.
Wait until you see no more signs
of steam or spray, then open thehood.
If you don’t f ind an obvious leak,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank (see page). If the level is below the
MIN mark, add coolant to halfway
between the MIN and MAX marks. If the temperature stays normal,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. If it has
gone down, add coolant to the
MAX mark. Put the cap back on
tightly.
If there was no coolant in the
reserve tank, you may also have to
add coolant to the radiator. Let the
engine cool down until the pointer reaches the middle of the tempera-
ture gauge, or lower, bef ore check-
ing the radiator.
Using gloves or a large heavy
cloth, turn the radiator cap
counterclockwise, without pushing
down, to the f irst stop. This
releases any remaining pressure in
the cooling system. After the
pressure releases, push down on
the cap and turn it until it comes
off.
Start the engine and set the
temperature control dial to
maximum. Add coolant to the
radiator up to the base of the f iller
neck. If you do not have the
proper coolant mixture available,
you can add plain water.
Remember to have the cooling
system drained and ref illed with
the proper mixture as soon as you
can.
Look f or any obvious coolant leaks,
such as a split radiator hose.
Everything is still extremely hot,
so use caution. If you f ind a leak, it
must be repaired bef ore you
continue driving (see
on page ). Put the radiator cap back on
tightly. Run the engine and watch
the temperature gauge. If it goes
back to the red mark, the engine
needs repair. (See
on page .)
4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9.
12.
11.
10.
239
125 239
Emergency
Towing
Emergency
Towing
If Your Engine Overheats
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed 227
Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and
radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.

CONT INUED
.....
Charging System Indicator . 229
..................
Checking the Fuses . 233
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 228
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 230
..................
Overheated Engine . 227
...........................
Emergency Brake . 79
......................
Emergency Flashers . 65
......................
Emergency Towing . 239
.......................
Emissions Controls . 250 Engine
............................................
Belts . 191
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 58
Malf unction Indicator
................................
Lamp . 48, 230
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 167
...............................
Overheating . 227
............................
Specif ications . 244
.......................................
Starting . 135
..........
Engine Speed Limiter . 139, 143
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline . 248
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 250
...............................
Exhaust Fumes . 40
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
........................................
Belts by . 17
..................
Exterior, Cleaning the . 208 ............................
Fabric, Cleaning . 211
.....................................
Fan, Interior . 84
Features, Comfort and
................................
Convenience . 83
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 121
Filter
.........................
Dust and Pollen . 191
...............................................
Oil . 167
5-speed Manual Transmission ...............
Checking Fluid Level . 180
................................
Shif ting the . 136
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 65
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 217
Fluids
Automatic Transmission .....................................
(CVT) . 178
..........................................
Brake . 181
.........................................
Clutch . 181
..............
Manual Transmission . 180
..................
Windshield Washer . 177
FM Stereo Radio ...................................
Reception . 112
.....
Foreign Countries, Driving in . 249
..........................
Four-way Flashers . 65 .................................................
Fuel . 126
......................
Fill Door and Cap . 121
...........................................
Gauge . 58
................
Octane Requirement . 120
...............................
Oxygenated . 248
........................
Reserve Indicator . 58
........................
Tank, Filling the . 121
.....................
Fuses, Checking the . 233
...............
Gas Mileage, Improving . 126
..........................................
Gasohol . 248
.........................................
Gasoline . 120
...............
Fuel Reserve Indicator . 48
...........................................
Gauge . 50
................
Octane Requirement . 120
........................
Tank, Filling the . 121
................
Gas Station Procedures . 121
Index
F
G
III

CONT INUED
.....................................
Load Limit . 131
......
LOCK (Ignition Key Position) . 69
Locks
............................
Fuel Fill Door . 121
............................................
Hatch . 71
........................
Low Coolant Level . 125
.........................
Low Fuel Indicator . 58
...
Lower Gear, Downshif ting to a . 139
...
Lubricant Specif ications Chart . 244
.........................................
Luggage . 130
..................................
Maintenance . 153
...
Owner Maintenance Checks . 165
........................................
Record . 154
......................
Required Indicator . 59
..........................................
Saf ety . 154
....................................
Schedule . 156
.
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 48, 230
...................
Manual Transmission . 136
........
Manual Transmission Fluid . 180
...............................
Meters, Gauges . 50
...................
Methanol in Gasoline . 248
..........................
Mirrors, Adjusting . 78 ..................
New Vehicle Break-in . 120
..................
NOTICE, Explanation of . ii
...............
Numbers, Identif ication . 242
...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline . 120
.........................................
Odometer . 50
...............................
Odometer, Trip . 51
Oil
........................
Change, How to . 169
......................
Change, When to . 158
......................
Checking Engine . 124
Selecting Proper Viscosity
......................................
Chart . 168
...........
ON (Ignition Key Position) . 70
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor
....................................
Recovery . 250
.........................
Opening the Hatch . 71
..
Operation in Foreign Countries . 249
..............................
Outside Mirrors . 78
....................
Overheating, Engine . 227
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 165
.........................
Oxygenated Fuels . 248 ..............................
Paint Touch-up . 210
..............
Panel Brightness Control . 62
...........................................
Parking . 147
.................................
Parking Brake . 79
Parking Brake and Brake
.................
System Indicator . 46, 232
..
Parking Over Things that Burn . 252
.............................
PGM-FI System . 251
..................
Polishing and Waxing . 210
............
Pre-Drive Saf ety Checklist . 11
.........
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts . 17
............................
Protecting Adults . 12
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 18
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 17
........................
Protecting Children . 19
.......
Protecting Larger Children . 29
.........
Protecting Small Children . 26
Using Child Seats with
.....................................
Tethers . 33
Index
M N O
P
V

Î
Î
..................................
Saf ety Belts . 8, 34
.........
Safety Defects, Reporting . 259
.................................
Saf ety Features . 7
...........................................
Airbags . 9
..................................
Door Locks . 10
..........................
Head Restraints . 10
.......................................
Seat Belts . 8
.....................
Seats & Seat-Backs . 10
.............
Saf ety Labels, Location of . 41
...............................
Saf ety Messages . ii
.....................................
Seat Belts . 8, 34
...............
Additional Information . 34
.....................................
Cleaning . 208
......................
Lap/Shoulder Belt . 34
................................
Maintenance . 35
Reminder Light and
................................
Beeper . 34, 46
...................
System Components . 34
...............
Use During Pregnancy . 17
...
Wearing a Lap/Shoulder Belt . 15
........................
Seats, Adjusting the . 76
...............................
Serial Number . 242
...........................
Service Intervals . 156
...........................
Service Manual . 259 .........
Service Station Procedures . 121
..........................
Setting the Clock . 103
.....
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 140
........................
Shif t Lock Release . 144
...............................
Signaling Turns . 63
.....................................
Snow Tires . 197
...................
Solvent-type Cleaners . 209
..................................
Sound System . 98
Spare Tire
......................................
Inf lating . 216
............................
Specif ications . 245
....................
Specif ications Charts . 244
...................................
Speedometer . 50
..........
SRS, Additional Inf ormation . 36
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 39
How the SRS Indicator
.......................................
Works . 38
...........
How Your Airbags Work . 36
........................
SRS Components . 36
..................................
SRS Service . 39
.............................
SRS Indicator . 34, 46
....
START (Ignition Key Position) . 70
.......................
Starting the Engine . 135
In Cold Weather at High ..................................
Altitude . 135
................
With a Dead Battery . 224
...................
Radiator Overheating . 227
......
Radio/Cassette Sound System . 98
..
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement . 203
............................
Rear View Mirror . 79
.................
Rear Window Def ogger . 65
....................
Rear Window Washer . 65
.......................
Rear Window Wiper . 65
...............
Reclining the Seat Backs . 76
Replacement Inf ormation
.................
Air Cleaner Element . 183
..........................
Engine Coolant . 173
................
Engine Oil and Filter . 169
..........................................
Fuses . 233
................................
Light Bulbs . 203
....................................
Schedule . 156
...................................
Drive Belt . 191
...........................................
Tires . 195
.............................
Wiper Blades . 187
Replacing Seat Belts Af ter a ............................................
Crash . 35
Reserve Tank, Engine ...............................
Coolant . 124, 173
...............................
Restraint, Child . 19
................................
Rotation, Tire . 195
Index
RS
VI