HONDA INSIGHT 2003 1.G Owners Manual

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 vehicle towed.......................
Compact Spare Tire .348
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .349
.............
If the Engine Won’t Start . 356
................................
Jump Starting .358
..............
If the Engine Overheats . 360
.........
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 363
12 Volt Battery Charging System .....................................
Indicator .364
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 365
...............
Brake System Indicator . 366
..............................................
Fuses .367
..............................
Fuse Locations .372
......................
Emergency Towing .374
..........
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck . 375
Taking Care of the Unexpected
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
347

Check the air pressure of the
compact spare tire every time you
check the other tires. It should be
inf lated to:Replace the tire when you can see
the tread wear indicator bars. The
replacement tire should be the same
size and design, mounted on the
samewheel.Thesparetireisnot
designed to be mounted on a regular
wheel, and the spare wheel is not
designed f or mounting a regular tire.
Use the compact spare tire as a
temporary replacement only. Get
your regular tire repaired or replaced,
and put it back on your vehicle as
soon as you can.
Follow these precautions:
Never exceed 50 mph (80 km/h).
This tire gives a harsher ride and
less traction on some road
surf aces. Use greater caution
while driving. Do not use your compact spare
tire on another vehicle unless it is
thesamemakeandmodel. Do not mount snow chains on the
compact spare tire.
After the flat tire is replaced with
the spare tire, the low tire
pressure/TPMS indicator stays on
while driving. Af ter several miles
(kilometers) driving, this indicator
begins to f lash, then stays on
again. You will also see a ‘‘CHECK
TPMS SYSTEM’’ message on the
multi-inf ormation display. This is
normal; the system cannot
monitor the spare tire pressure.
Manually check the spare tire
pressure to be sure it is correct.
On U.S. models
Compact Spare Tire
348
INDICATOR LOCATION MARK
TREAD WEAR INDICATOR BAR
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm)

CONT INUED
If you have a f lat tire while driving,
stop in a saf e place to change it.
Drive slowly along the shoulder until
you get to an exit or an area to stop
that is far away from the traffic lanes.Park the vehicle on f irm, level, and
non-slippery ground. Put the
transmission in Park. Apply the
parking brake.
Turn on the hazard warning lights,
and turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK (0) position. Have all
passengers get out of the vehicle
while you change the tire.Open the hatch.
Remove the cargo area floor by
caref ully pulling the f ront edge of
the f loor straight up.
4. 3.
2. 1.
Changing a Flat T ire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
349
HOLDER
FLOOR
TABThe vehicle can easily roll off
the jack, seriously injuring
anyone underneath.
Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and
never get under the vehicle
when it is supported only by the
jack.

Loosen each wheel nut 1/2 turn
with the wheel nut wrench.
Take the box out of the spare tire.
Take the spare tire casing out of
the cargo area.
Unscrew the wing bolt and take
the spare tire out of its well. Remove the jack compartment
cover by pulling the knob.
Turn the jack’s end bracket
counterclockwise to loosen it, then
remove the jack.
6.
7. 10.
5. 8.
9.
Changing a Flat T ire
350
WHEEL NUT WRENCH
BOX
JACK
KNOB
COVER
SPARE TIRE
CASING
SPARE TIRE

CONT INUED
Remove the wheel nuts, then
remove the f lat tire. Handle the
wheel nuts caref ully; they may be
hot f rom driving. Place the f lat tire
on the ground with the outside
surface facing up. Use the extension and the wheel
nut wrench as shown to raise the
vehicle until the f lat tire is of f the
ground.
Place the jack under the jacking
point nearest the tire you need to
change. Turn the end bracket
clockwise until the top of the jack
contacts the jacking point. Make
sure the jacking point tab is
restinginthejacknotch. Remove the wheel cover by
caref ully prying under its edge
with the flat tip of the extension.
11.
13.
14.
12.
Insight and LX models
Changing a Flat T ire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
351
WHEEL NUT WRENCH EXTENSION
JACKING POINTS
EXTENSION
WHEEL NUT
WHEEL COVER

Bef ore mounting the spare tire,
wipeanydirtoff themounting
surface of the wheel and hub with
a clean cloth. Wipe the hub
carefully;itmaybehotfrom
driving.Lower the vehicle to the ground,
and remove the jack. Put on the spare tire. Put the
wheel nuts back on f inger-tight,
then tighten them in a crisscross
pattern with the wheel nut wrench
until the wheel is f irmly against
the hub. Do not try to tighten the
wheel nuts f ully.
Tighten the wheel nuts securely in
the same crisscross pattern. Have
the wheel nut torque checked at
the nearest automotive service
f acility.
Tighten the wheel nuts to:
18.
17. 16.
15.
Changing a Flat T ire
352
BRAKE HUB
80 lbf·ft (108 N·m , 11 kgf·m)

CONT INUED
Place the flat tire face down in the
spare tire well.Remove the spacer cone f rom the
wing bolt, turn it over, and put it
back on the bolt.
Remove the carpet f rom the spare
tire casing and store it in the
casing. Securetheflattirebyscrewing
the wing bolt back into its hole.
Store the box in the wheel of the
flat tire.
Remove the center cap (if
equipped) bef ore storing the f lat
tire in the cargo area well.
Install the spare tire casing in the
original position in the spare tire
well.
20.
21.
19.
22.23.
24.EX models
Changing a Flat T ire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
353
SPACER CONE
WING BOLT
For normal tire
For compact
spare tire
CARPET
SPARE TIRE
CASING
CENTER CAP BOX

Your vehicle’s original tire has a
tire pressure monitoring system
sensor. To replace a tire, ref er to(see
page ).
Store the center cap in the cargo
area. Make sure it does not get
scratched or damaged.
Store the tools in the spare tire
casing and the jack in its holder.
Turn the jack’s end bracket
clockwise to lock it in place, and
reinstall the cover.
Place the cargo area f loor in its
original position. Close the hatch.
25.
26.27.
28.
291
U.S. models only
Changing a Flat T ire
Changing a T ire with T PMS
354
FLOOR
Loose items can fly around the
interior in a crash and could
seriously injure the occupants.
Store the wheel, jack, and tools
securely before driving.

Make sure the wire support ring is
hooked into the clips around the
edge of the wheel cover.Align the valve mark on the wheel
cover to the tire valve on the
wheel, then install the wheel cover.
Make sure the wire support ring is
ontheoutersideof thetirevalve
as shown.
1. 2.
3.
Insight and LX models
Changing a Flat T ire
Inst alling a wheel cover
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
355
CLIPSCLIPS WIRE SUPPORT RING

The engine normally starts with the
IMA motor. If the engine does not
start while the IMA battery charge is
normally suf f icient, check the
f ollowing:Check the transmission interlock.
The transmission must be in Park
or neutral or the starter will not
operate. Are you using a properly coded
key? An improperly coded key will
cause the immobilizer system
indicator in the instrument panel
to blink rapidly (see page ).
Do you have f uel? Check the f uel
gauge; the low f uel indicator may
not be working.
There may be an electrical
problem, such as no power to the
f uel pump. Check all the f uses
(see page ).
Are you using the proper starting
procedure? Ref er to
on page . 130
263 367
If theEngineWon’tStart
Starting the
Engine
356