2000 HONDA INSIGHT air condition

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

Emission
s Control s

Exhaus t Emission s Control s
Th e exhaus t emission s control s
includ e thre e systems : PGM-FI ,
Ignitio n Timin g Contro l an d Thre e
Wa y Catalyti c Converter . Thes e
thre e system s wor k togethe r t o
contro l th e engine' s combustio n an d
minimiz e th e amoun t o f HC , CO , an d
NO x tha t come s ou t th e tailpipe . Th e
exhaus t emission s contro l system s
ar e separat e fro m th e crankcas e an d
evaporativ e emission s contro l

systems .
PGM-FI
System

Th e PGM-F I Syste m use s sequentia l
multipor t fue l injection .
I t ha s thre e subsystems : Ai r Intake ,
Engin e Control , an d Fue l Control .
Th e Engin e Contro l Modul e (ECM )
o r th e Powertrai n Contro l Modul e
(PCM ) use s variou s sensor s t o
determin e ho w muc h ai r i s goin g
int o th e engine . I t the n control s ho w
muc h fue l t o injec t unde r al l operat -
in g conditions .

Ignition Timing Control System

Thi s syste m constantl y adjust s th e
ignitio n timing , reducin g th e amoun t
o f HC , C O an d NO x produced .

Three Way Catalytic Converter

Th e thre e wa y catalyti c converte r i s
i n th e exhaus t system . Throug h
chemica l reactions , i t convert s HC ,
CO , an d NO x in th e engine' s exhaus t
t o carbo n dioxid e (CO 2), dinitroge n

(N 2), an d wate r vapor .
Replacemen
t Part s
Th e emission s contro l system s ar e
designe d an d certifie d t o wor k to -
gethe r i n reducin g emission s t o
level s tha t compl y wit h th e Clea n Ai r
Act . T o mak e sur e th e emission s
remai n low , yo u shoul d us e onl y ne w
Genuin e Hond a replacemen t part s o r
thei r equivalen t fo r repairs . Usin g
lowe r qualit y part s ma y increas e th e
emission s fro m you r car .
Th e emission s contro l system s ar e
covere d b y warrantie s separat e fro m
th e res t o f you r car . Rea d you r
warrant y manua l fo r mor e informa -
tion .
Technica l Informatio n

Inde
x

Accessorie s an d Modifications... . 12 6
Accessories................................ . 12 6
Additiona l Safet y Precaution... . 12 7
Modifications............................ . 12 7
ACCESSOR Y (Ignitio n Ke y
Position)....................................... . 6 8
Accessor y Powe r Socket............... . 7 9
Addin g
Brak e Fluid................................ . 17 1
Clutc h Fluid............................... . 17 1
Engin e Coolant.......................... . 16 3

Engin e Oil.................................. . 15 9

Manua l Transmissio n Flui d .... . 17 0
Windshiel d Washe r Fluid........ . 16 9
Additiona l Informatio n Abou t
You r Sea t Belts....................... . 3 4
Lap/Shoulde r Belt...................... . 3 4
Sea t Bel t Maintenance............... . 3 5
Sea t Bel t Syste m Components.. . 3 4
Additiona l Informatio n Abou t
You r SRS................................... 36
Additiona l Safel y Precautions... . 3 9
Ho w th e SR S Indicato r

Works....................................... . 3 8
Ho
w You r Airbag s Work........... . 3 6
SR S Components........................ . 3 6
Additives , Engin e Oil.................... . 16 0
Adjustment s

Mirrors......................................... . 7 6

Seats............................................. . 7 4

Airba g (SRS)............................... .
9
, 4
6

Ai r Conditionin g
System................
.

88

Maintenance.............................. . 18 0

Usage............................................ .
8
8

Ai r Outlet s (Vents)......................... . 8 8
Ai r Pressure , Tires....................... . 18 2

Norma l Driving......................... . 18 2

Alcoho l i n Gasoline....................... . 23 8
Antifreeze...................................... . 16 3

Anti-thef t Steerin g Colum n

Lock.............................................. . 6 7

Appearanc e Care.......................... . 19 7

Audi o System.................................. . 9 6

Aut o Idl e Stop................................ . 13 4

Batter y

Chargin g Syste m

Indicator........................... . 54 , 21 9
Jum
p Starting............................ . 21 4
Maintenance.............................. . 17 5
Specifications............................ . 23 5
Befor e Driving.............................. . 11 7
Belts , Seat.......................................... . 8
Beverag e Holder............................. . 7 8
Bod y Repairs................................. . 20 3

Brake s

Break-in , Ne w Lining s ............. . 11 8

Fluid........................................... . 17 1

Light , Burned-out..................... . 19 3

Parking......................................... . 7 7

Syste m Indicator................. . 46 ,

221

Wea r Indicators........................ .
13
9
Brakin g System............................. . 14 0
Break-in , Ne w Car........................ . 11 8
Brightnes s Control , Instruments.. . 6 0
Brights , Headlights........................ . 5 9
Bul b Replacemen t
Back-u p Lights.......................... . 19 3
Brak e Light............................... . 19 3
Fron t Parkin g Lights................ .

191

Fron t Sid e
Marke
r Lights........ .

191

Headlights................................. .
190

CONTINUED

Inde
x

Bul b Replacemen t
Interio r Light............................. . 19 5
Licens e Plat e Lights................. . 19 4
Specifications............................ . 23 5
Tur n Signa l Lights.................... . 19 1
Bulbs , Halogen.............................. . 19 6
Cables , Jum p Startin g With......... . 21 4
Capacitie s Chart............................ . 23 4
Carbo n Monoxid e Hazard............. . 4 0
Carryin g Cargo............................. . 12 8
Cassett e Playe r
Care............................................ . 11 6
Operation................................... . 10
2

CAUTION , Explanatio n
of..............
. i i
C D Changer................................... . 11 2
C D Player....................................... . 10 6
Certificatio n Label........................ . 23 2
Chains............................................ . 18 7
Charge/Assis t Gauge.................... . 5 5
Chang e Oi l

Ho w to........................................ . 16 1

Whe n to...................................... . 15 0

Changin g a Fla t Tire.................... . 18

5

Changin g Engin e
Coolant............
. 16 5
Chargin g Syste m Indicator... . 54 , 21 9

Checkin g

Batter y Condition..................... . 17 5
Brak e Fluid................................ . 17 1
Clutc h Fluid............................... . 17 1
Driv e Belts................................. . 18 1
Engin e Coolant.......................... . 12 3
Engin e Oil.................................. . 12 2
Fuses.......................................... . 22 2
Manua l Transmissio n Fluid.... . 17 0
Checklist , Befor e Driving............ . 11 7
Chil d Safety..................................... . 1 9
Cleane r Element , Air.................... . 17 3

Cleanin g

Exterior...................................... . 19 8
Interior....................................... . 20 1
Sea t Belts................................... . 20 1
Vinyl........................................... . 20 1
Windows.................................... . 20 2
Clock , Settin g the......................... . 10 1
Clutc h Fluid................................... . 17 1
C O in th e Exhaust........................ . 24 0
Col d Weather , Startin g in............ . 13 3
Compac t Spare.............................. . 20 6
Consume r Information*............... . 24 4 Controls
, Instrument s and............. . 5 8

Coolan t

Adding........................................ . 16 3

Checking.................................... . 12

3

Prope r Solution......................... .
16

3

Replacing...................................
. 16 5
Temperatur e
Gauge...................
. 5 6
Corrosio n Protection.................... . 20 2
Crankcas e Emission s Contro l
System........................................ . 24 0
Curren t Fue l Mileage..................... . 5 3
Custome r Relation s Office.......... . 24 4
DANGER , Explanatio n of................ .

ii

Dashboard................................... . 2 ,
4
4
Daytim e Runnin g Lights................ . 6 0
Dea d Battery , Wha t t o Do........... . 21 4
Defects , Reportin g Safety............ . 24 8
Defo g an d Defrost.......................... . 8 2
Defogger , Rea r Window................ . 6 3
Defrostin g th e Windows................ . 8 2
Dimensions.................................... . 23 4
Dimmin g th e Headlights............... . 5 9