2000 HONDA INSIGHT ESP

Introduction
Congratulation s ! You r selectio n o f a 200 0 Hond a Insigh t wa s a wis e
investment . I t wil l giv e yo u year s o f drivin g pleasure .
On e o f th e bes t way s t o enhanc e th e enjoymen t o f you r ne w Hond a is t o
rea d thi s manual . I n it , yo u wil l lear n ho w to operat e it s drivin g control s an d
convenienc e items . Afterwards , kee p thi s owner' s manua l i n you r ca r s o yo u
ca n refe r t o i t a t an y time .
Severa l warrantie s protec t you r ne w Honda . Rea d th e warrant y bookle t
thoroughl y s o yo u understan d th e coverage s an d ar e awar e o f you r right s
an d responsibilities .
Maintainin g you r ca r accordin g t o th e schedule s give n in thi s manua l help s
t o kee p you r drivin g trouble-fre e whil e i t preserve s you r investment . Whe n
you r ca r need s maintenance , kee p in min d tha t you r Hond a dealer' s staf f i s
speciall y traine d in servicin g th e man y system s uniqu e t o you r Honda . You r
Hond a deale r i s dedicate d to you r satisfactio n an d wil l b e please d t o answe r
an y question s an d concerns . A
s yo u rea d thi s manual , yo u wil l
fin d informatio n tha t i s precede d b y
symbol . Thi s
informatio n i s intende d t o hel p yo u
avoi d damag e t o you r Honda , othe r
property , o r th e environment .
aNOTICE

A
Fe w Word s Abou t Safet y

You r safety , an d th e safet y o f others ,
i s ver y important . An d operatin g thi s
ca r safel y is a n importan t
responsibility .
T o hel p yo u mak e informe d
decision s abou t safety , w e hav e
provide d operatin g procedure s an d
othe r informatio n o n label s an d in
thi s manual . Thi s informatio n alert s
yo u t o potentia l hazard s tha t coul d
hur t yo u o r others .
O f course , i t i s no t practica l o r
possibl e t o war n yo u abou t al l th e
hazard s associate d wit h operatin g o r
maintainin g you r car . Yo u mus t us e
you r ow n goo d judgement . Yo
u wil l fin d thi s importan t safet y informatio n in a variet y o f forms ,
including :
Safet y Label s — on th e car . Safet
y Message s — precede d b y a safet y aler t symbo l an d on e o f
thre e signa l words : DANGER , WARNING , o r CAUTION .

Thes e signa l word s mean :

Yo u WIL L b e KILLE D o r SERIOUSL Y
HUR T if yo u don' t follo w instructions .

Yo u CA N b e KILLE D o r SERIOUSL Y

HUR T if yo u don' t follo w instructions .

Yo u CA N b e HUR T if yo u don' t follo w

instructions .
Safet
y Heading s — suc h a s Importan t Safet y Reminder s o r Importan t
Safet y Precautions .
Safet y Sectio n — suc h a s Drive r an d Passenge r Safety .
Instruction s — ho w to us e thi s ca r correctl y an d safely .
Thi s entir e boo k is fille d wit h importan t safet y informatio n — pleas e rea d it
carefully .

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

Protectin
g Adult s

Introductio n
Th e followin g page s provid e
instruction s o n ho w to properl y
protec t adul t occupants .
Thes e instruction s als o appl y t o a
chil d who m yo u hav e decide d is
larg e enoug h an d matur e enoug h t o
rid e a s a passenger . (Se e pag e 2 9 fo r
importan t additiona l guideline s o n
ho w to properl y protec t large r
children. )
1 . Clos e an d Loc k th e Door s
Afte r everyon e ha s entere d th e car ,
b e sur e th e door s ar e close d an d

locked .
You
r ca r ha s a doo r monito r ligh t o n
th e instrumen t pane l t o indicat e
whe n a specifi c doo r i s no t tightl y

closed .

Fo r safety , lockin g th e door s reduce s
th e chanc e tha t a passenger ,
especiall y a child , wil l ope n a doo r
whil e th e ca r i s movin g an d
accidentall y fal l out . I t als o reduce s
th e chanc e o f someon e bein g throw n
ou t o f th e ca r durin g a crash .
Fo r security , locke d door s ca n
preven t a n outside r fro m
unexpectedl y openin g a doo r whe n
yo u com e to a stop .
Se e pag e 6 9 fo r ho w to loc k th e

doors .
2.Adjus
t th e Fron t Seat s
An y drive r wh o sit s to o clos e t o th e
steerin g whee l i s a t ris k o f bein g
seriousl y injure d o r kille d b y strikin g
th e steerin g wheel , o r fro m bein g
struc k b y a n inflatin g airba g durin g a

crash .

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Protectin
g Childre n

Childre n depen d o n adult s t o protec t
them . However , despit e thei r bes t
intentions , man y parent s an d othe r
adult s ma y no t kno w ho w to properly
protec t youn g passengers .
S o if yo u hav e children , o r i f yo u eve r
nee d to driv e wit h a grandchil d o r
othe r childre n in you r car , b e sur e t o
rea d thi s section . Al
l Childre n Mus t B e Restraine d
Eac h year , man y childre n ar e injure d
o r kille d in vehicl e crashe s becaus e
the y ar e eithe r unrestraine d o r no t
properl y restrained . I n fact , vehicl e
accident s ar e th e numbe r on e caus e
o f deat h o f childre n age s 1 2 an d
under .
T o reduc e th e numbe r o f chil d
death s an d injuries , ever y stat e an d
Canadia n provinc e require s tha t
infant s an d childre n b e restraine d
wheneve r the y rid e i n a vehicle .

Any child who is too small to wear a

seat belt should be properly

restrained in a child seat. (See pag e

26 .)
A larger child should always be
restrained with a seat belt. (See pag e
29 .)
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y
Childre
n wh o ar e unrestraine d
o r improperl y restraine d ca n b e
seriousl y injure d o r kille d in a
crash .
An y chil d to o smal l fo r a sea t
bel t shoul d b e properl y
restraine d in a chil d seat . A
large r chil d shoul d b e properl y
restraine d wit h a sea t belt .

Additiona
l Informatio n Abou t You r SR S

Durin g a crash , you r sea t bel t help s
restrai n you r lowe r bod y an d torso ,
whil e th e tensione r tighten s an d
lock s th e sea t bel t t o hel p kee p yo u
i n place . You r airba g provide s a
cushio n to hel p restrai n an d protec t
you r hea d an d chest .
Sinc e bot h airbag s us e th e sam e
sensors , bot h airbag s normall y
inflat e a t th e sam e time . However , i t
i s possibl e fo r onl y on e airba g to
inflate .
Thi s ca n occu r whe n th e severit y o f
a collisio n is a t th e margin , o r
threshold , tha t determine s whethe r
o r no t th e airbag s wil l deploy . I n
suc h cases , th e sea t bel t wil l provid e
sufficien t protection , an d th e
supplementa l protectio n offere d b y
th e airba g woul d b e minimal . Afte
r inflating , th e airbag s
immediatel y deflate , s o the y won' t
interfer e wit h th e driver' s visibility ,
o r th e abilit y t o stee r o r operat e
other controls .
Th e tota l tim e fo r inflatio n an d
deflatio n is approximatel y one-tent h
o f a second , s o fas t tha t mos t
occupant s ar e no t awar e tha t th e
airbag s deploye d unti l the y se e the m
lyin g in thei r laps . Afte
r a crash , yo u ma y se e wha t
look s lik e smoke . Thi s is actuall y
powde r fro m th e airbag' s surface .
Althoug h th e powde r i s no t harmful ,
peopl e wit h respirator y problem s

ma y experienc e som e temporar y

discomfort . I f thi s occurs , ge t ou t o f
th e ca r a s soo n a s it i s saf e to d o so .

U.S. Owners

Fo r additiona l informatio n o n ho w

you r airbag s work , se e th e bookle t

title d SRS: What You Need to Know
About Airbags that came wit h you r

owner' s manual .

Canadian Owners

Fo r additiona l informatio n o n ho w

you r airbag s work , as k you r deale r

fo r a cop y o f th e bookle t title d SRS:

What You Need to Know About Airbags.

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Gauges
MEINTENANC E REQUIRE D INDICATO R
DISPLAY CHANG E
BUTTO N
TEMPERATUR E GAUG ETRIP BUTTO N
Liquid crysta l i s use d in th e mete r
panel . Yo u ma y fee l th e indicator s
appea r slowl y i n th e lo w temperature .
Speedomete r
Thi s show s you r spee d in mile s pe r
hou r (mph ) o r kilometer s pe r hou r
(km/h) .
Displa y Chang e Butto n
Th e Displa y Chang e butto n switche s
th e speedomete r readin g betwee n
mile s pe r hou r an d kilometer s pe r
hour . I t als o change s th e odomete r
an d tri p meter s t o rea d in mile s o r
kilometer s correspondingly . T o
chang e th e readings , pus h th e
Displa y Chang e button . Odomete
r
Th e odomete r show s th e tota l dis -
tanc e you r ca r ha s bee n driven . I t
display s i n mile s an d kilometers .
I t i s illega l unde r U.S . federa l la w an d
Canadia n provincia l regulation s t o
disconnect , reset , o r alte r th e
odomete r wit h th e inten t t o chang e
th e numbe r o f mile s o r kilometer s
indicated.
CONTINUED
Instrument s an d Control s
TACHOMETE R
FUEL GAUG E
TRI P METER/ODOMETE R
SPEEDOMETER

Keys an d Lock s
Immobilize r Syste m
Th e Immobilize r Syste m protect s
you r ca r fro m theft . A properly -
code d maste r o r vale t ke y mus t b e
use d in th e ignitio n switc h fo r th e
engin e to start . I f a n improperly -
code d ke y (o r othe r device ) i s used ,
th e engine' s fue l syste m is disabled .
Whe n yo u tur n th e ignitio n switc h t o
O N (II) , th e Immobilize r Syste m
indicato r shoul d com e o n fo r a fe w
seconds , the n g o out . I f th e indicato r
start s t o blink , i t mean s th e syste m
doe s no t recogniz e th e codin g o f th e
key . Tur n th e ignitio n switc h to
LOC K (0) , remov e th e key , reinser t
it , an d tur n th e switc h to O N (II )
again .
The syste m ma y no t recogniz e you r
key' s codin g if anothe r immobilize r
ke y o r othe r meta l objec t i s nea r th e
ignitio n switc h whe n yo u inser t th e
key . T o mak e sur e th e syste m
recognize s th e ke y code : D
o no t kee p othe r immobilize r
key s o n th e sam e ke y ring .
Us e a plasti c o r leathe r ke y fob ,
no t metal .
Kee p othe r key s awa y fro m you r
vehicle' s ke y an d th e ignitio n
switc h whil e tryin g t o star t th e
engine .
If th e syste m repeatedl y doe s no t
recogniz e th e codin g o f you r key ,
contac t you r Hond a dealer .
Thi s indicato r wil l als o blin k severa l
time s whe n yo u tur n th e ignitio n
switc h fro m O N (II ) t o ACCESSOR Y
(I ) o r LOC K (0) .
D o no t attemp t t o alte r thi s syste m
o r ad d othe r device s t o it . Electrica l
problem s coul d resul t tha t ma y mak e
you r ca r undriveable .
I f yo u hav e los t you r ke y an d yo u
canno t star t th e engine , contac t you r
Hond a dealer .
As required by the FCC:
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1) This device
may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any
interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired
operation.
Changes or modifications not expressly
approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void the user's
authority to operate the equipment.
This device complies with Industry
Canada Standard RSS-210.
Operation is subject to the following two
conditions: (1) this device may not cause
interference, and (2) this device must
accept any interference that may cause
undesired operation of the device.
Instrument s an d Control s