2000 HONDA INSIGHT Owners Manual

I
f You r Engin e Won' t Start , Jum p Startin g

Th e Starte r Operate s Normall y
I n thi s case , th e starte r motor' s
spee d sound s normal , o r eve n faste r
tha n normal , whe n yo u tur n th e
ignitio n switc h to STAR T (III) , bu t
th e engin e doe s no t run .
Ar e yo u usin g th e prope r startin g
procedure ? Refe r t o Startin g th e
Engin e o n pag e 13 3 .
D o yo u hav e fuel ? Tur n th e
ignitio n switc h to O N (II ) fo r a
minut e an d watc h th e fue l gauge .
Th e lo w fue l leve l warnin g ligh t
ma y no t b e working , s o yo u wer e
no t reminde d t o fil l th e tank .
Ther e ma y b e a n electrica l
problem , suc h a s n o powe r t o th e
fue l pump . Chec k al l th e fuse s
(se e pag e 222 ).
I f yo u fin d nothin g wrong , yo u wil l
nee d a qualifie d technicia n to fin d
th e problem . Se e Emergenc y
Towin g o n pag e 22 8 . Jum
p Startin g
I f you r car' s batter y ha s ru n down ,
yo u ma y b e abl e to star t th e engin e
b y usin g a booste r battery . Althoug h
thi s seem s lik e a simpl e procedure ,
yo u shoul d tak e severa l precautions .T
o jum p star t you r car , follo w thes e
direction s closely :
1 . Ope n th e hoo d an d chec k th e
physica l conditio n o f th e batter y
(se e pag e 17 5 ) . I n ver y col d
weather , chec k th e conditio n o f
th e electrolyte . I f i t seem s slush y
o r lik e ice , d o no t tr y jum p startin g
unti l i t thaws .

If a battery sits in extreme cold, the

electrolyte inside can freeze.

Attempting to jump start with a frozen

battery can cause it to rupture.

2 . Tur n of f al l th e electrica l acces -
sories : heater , A/C , stere o system ,
lights , etc .
Pu t th e transmissio n i n Neutra l
an d se t th e parkin g brake .
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
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E

A
batter y ca n explod e i f yo u d o
no t follo w th e correc t procedure ,
seriousl y injurin g anyon e

nearby .

Kee p al l sparks , ope n flames ,
an d smokin g material s awa y
fro m th e battery .

Jum
p Startin g

3 . Connec t on e jumpe r cabl e to th e
positiv e ( + ) termina l o n th e
booste r battery . Connec t th e othe r
en d t o th e positiv e ( + ) termina l
o n you r Honda' s battery . 4
. Connec t th e secon d jumpe r cabl e
t o th e negativ e ( — ) termina l o n
th e booste r battery . Connec t th e
othe r en d t o th e groundin g stra p
a s shown . D o no t connec t thi s
jumpe r cabl e t o an y othe r par t o f
th e engine .
5 . I f th e booste r batter y is i n anothe r
vehicle , hav e a n assistan t star t
tha t vehicl e an d ru n it a t a fas t idle . BOOSTE
R BATTER Y
6 . Star t you r car . I f th e starte r moto r
stil l operate s slowly , chec k th e
jumpe r cabl e connection s t o mak e
sur e the y hav e goo d metal-to -
meta l contact .
7 . Onc e you r ca r i s running , discon -
nec t th e negativ e cabl e fro m you r
car , the n fro m th e booste r battery .
Disconnec t th e positiv e cabl e fro m
you r car , the n th e booste r battery .

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

I
f You r Engin e Overheat s

Th e pointe r o f you r car' s tempera -
tur e gaug e shoul d sta y in th e mid -
rang e unde r mos t conditions . I t ma y
g o highe r i f yo u ar e drivin g u p a lon g
stee p hil l o n a ver y ho t day . I f i t
climb s to th e re d mark , yo u shoul d

determin e th e reason .

Driving with the temperature gauge
pointer at the red mark can cause
serious damage to your engine.
You
r ca r ca n overhea t fo r severa l
reasons , suc h a s lac k o f coolan t o r a

mechanica l problem . Th e onl y

indicatio n ma y b e th e temperatur e

gaug e climbin g to o r abov e th e re d
mark . O r yo u ma y se e stea m or

spra y comin g fro m unde r th e hood .

I n eithe r case , yo u shoul d tak e

immediat e action .
1
. Safel y pul l t o th e sid e o f th e road .
Pu t th e transmissio n in Neutra l
an d se t th e parkin g brake . Tur n
of f th e heatin g an d coolin g syste m
an d al l othe r accessories . Tur n o n
th e hazar d warnin g indicators .
2 . I f yo u se e stea m and/o r spra y
cornin g fro m unde r th e hood , tur n
of f th e engine .
3 . I f yo u d o no t se e stea m or spray ,
leav e th e engin e runnin g an d
watc h th e temperatur e gauge . I f
th e hig h hea t i s du e to overloadin g
(climbin g a long , stee p hil l o n a
ho t da y wit h th e A/ C running , fo r
example) , th e engin e shoul d star t
t o coo l dow n almos t immediately .
I f i t does , wai t unti l th e tempera -
tur e gaug e come s dow n to th e mid -
poin t the n continu e driving .

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Steam an d spra y fro m a n
overheate d engin e ca n
seriousl y scal d you .
D o no t ope n th e hoo d i f stea m
i s comin g out .

I
f You r Engin e Overheat s
4 . I f th e temperatur e gaug e stay s a t
th e re d mark , tur n of f th e engine .
5 . Wai t unti l yo u se e n o mor e sign s
o f stea m o r spray , the n ope n th e

hood .

6 . Loo k fo r an y obviou s coolan t leaks ,
suc h a s a spli t radiato r hose .
Everythin g is stil l extremel y hot ,
s o us e caution . I f yo u fin d a leak , i t
mus t b e repaire d befor e yo u
continu e drivin g (se e Emergenc y
Towin g o n pag e 22 8 ) .
7 . I f yo u don' t fin d a n obviou s leak ,
chec k th e coolan t leve l i n th e
radiato r reserv e tan k (se e pag e
10 5 ) . I f th e leve l i s belo w th e
MI N mark , ad d coolan t t o halfwa y
betwee n th e MI N an d MA X marks .
8 . I f ther e wa s n o coolan t i n th e
reserv e tank , yo u ma y als o hav e to
ad d coolan t t o th e radiator . Le t th e
engin e coo l dow n unti l th e pointe r reache
s th e middl e o f th e tempera -
tur e gauge , o r lower , befor e check -
in g th e radiator .
9 . Usin g glove s o r a larg e heav y
cloth , tur n th e radiato r ca p
counterclockwise , withou t pushin g
down , t o th e firs t stop . Thi s
release s an y remainin g pressur e i n
th e coolin g system . Afte r th e
pressur e releases , pus h dow n o n
th e ca p an d tur n i t unti l i t come s
off . 10.Star
t th e engin e an d se t th e
temperatur e contro l dia l t o
maximum . Ad d coolan t t o th e
radiato r u p t o th e bas e o f th e fille r
neck . I f yo u d o no t hav e th e
prope r coolan t mixtur e available ,
yo u ca n ad d plai n water .
Remembe r t o hav e th e coolin g
syste m draine d an d refille d wit h
th e prope r mixtur e a s soo n a s yo u

can .

11.Pu t th e radiato r ca p bac k o n
tightly . Ru n th e engin e an d watc h
th e temperatur e gauge . I f i t goe s
bac k t o th e re d mark , th e engin e
need s repair . (Se e Emergenc y
Towin g o n pag e 22 8 .)
12.I f th e temperatur e stay s normal ,
chec k th e coolan t leve l i n th e
radiato r reserv e tank . I f i t ha s
gon e down , ad d coolan t t o th e
MA X mark . Pu t th e ca p bac k o n

tightly .

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

Removin
g th e radiato r ca p

whil e th e engin e i s ho t ca n

caus e th e coolan t t o spra y out ,
seriousl y scaldin g you .

Alway s le t th e engin e an d
radiato r coo l dow n befor e

removin g th e radiato r cap .

Lo
w Oi l Pressur e Indicato r
LO W OI L PRESSUR E INDICATO R

Thi s indicato r shoul d ligh t whe n th e
ignitio n switc h is O N (II) , an d g o ou t
afte r th e engin e starts . I t shoul d
neve r com e o n whe n th e engin e is
running . I f i t start s flashing , i t
indicate s tha t th e oi l pressur e
droppe d ver y lo w fo r a moment , the n
recovered . I f th e indicato r stay s o n
wit h th e engin e running , i t show s
tha t th e engin e ha s los t oi l pressur e
an d seriou s engin e damag e is
possible . I n eithe r case , yo u shoul d
tak e immediat e action . Running
the engine with low oil
pressure can cause serious mechanical
damage almost immediately. Turn off
the engine as soon as you can safely get
the car stopped.
1 . Safel y pul l of f th e roa d an d shu t
of f th e engine . Tur n o n th e hazar d
warnin g indicators .
2 . Le t th e ca r si t fo r a minute . Ope n
th e hoo d an d chec k th e oi l leve l
(se e pag e 12 2 ) . Althoug h oi l leve l
an d oi l pressur e ar e no t directl y
connected , a n engin e tha t i s ver y
lo w o n oi l ca n los e pressur e durin g
cornerin g an d othe r drivin g

maneuvers .

3 . I f necessary , ad d oi l t o brin g th e
leve l bac k t o th e ful l mar k o n th e
dipstic k (se e pag e 15 9 ) . 4
. Star t th e engin e an d watc h th e oi l
pressur e indicator . I f th e ligh t
doe s no t g o ou t withi n te n seconds ,
tur n of f th e engine . Ther e is a
mechanica l proble m tha t need s t o
b e repaire d befor e yo u ca n
continu e driving . (Se e Emergenc y
Towin g o n pag e 22 8 . )
Th e engin e runnin g generate s th e
oi l pressure .
Whe n th e aut o idl e sto p is
activated , th e engin e is stopped .
Bu t th e lo w oi l pressur e indicato r
doe s no t light .
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Chargin
g Syste m Indicato r

CHARGIN G SYSTE M INDICATO R
Thi s indicato r shoul d com e o n whe n
th e ignitio n switc h is O N (II) , an d g o
ou t afte r th e engin e starts . I f i t
come s o n brightl y whe n th e engin e
i s running , i t indicate s tha t th e
chargin g syste m ha s stoppe d
chargin g th e battery . Immediatel
y tur n of f al l electrica l
accessories : A/C , rea r defogger , etc .
Tr y no t t o us e othe r electrically -
operate d control s suc h a s th e radio .
Kee p th e engin e runnin g an d tak e
extr a car e no t t o stal l it . Startin g th e
engin e wil l discharg e th e batter y
rapidly . B
y eliminatin g a s muc h o f th e
electrica l loa d a s possible , yo u ca n
driv e severa l mile s (kilometers )
befor e th e batter y i s to o discharge d
t o kee p th e engin e running . Driv e t o
a servic e statio n o r garag e wher e
yo u ca n ge t technica l assistance .

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

Malfunctio
n Indicato r Lam p
MALFUNCTIO N INDICATO R LAM P

Thi s indicato r come s o n fo r a fe w
second s whe n yo u tur n th e ignitio n
switc h O N (II) . I f i t come s o n a t an y
othe r time , i t indicate s on e o f th e
engine' s emission s contro l system s
ma y hav e a problem . Eve n thoug h
yo u ma y fee l n o differenc e in you r
car' s performance , i t ca n reduc e
you r fue l econom y an d caus e you r
ca r t o pu t ou t excessiv e emissions .
Continue d operatio n ma y caus e
seriou s damage .
I
f yo u hav e recentl y refuele d you r
car , th e caus e o f thi s indicato r
comin g o n coul d b e a loos e o r
missin g fue l fil l cap . Chec k th e ca p
an d tighte n it unti l i t click s severa l
times . Replac e th e fue l fil l ca p if i t i s
missing . Tightenin g th e ca p wil l no t
mak e th e indicato r tur n of f
immediately ; i t take s thre e drivin g

trips .

I f th e indicato r remain s o n pas t thre e
drivin g trips , o r th e fue l ca p wa s no t
loos e o r missing , hav e th e ca r
checke d b y th e deale r a s soo n a s
possible . Driv e moderatel y unti l th e
deale r ha s inspecte d th e problem .
Avoi d full-throttl e acceleratio n an d
drivin g a t hig h speed .
Yo
u shoul d als o hav e th e deale r
inspec t you r ca r i f thi s indicato r
come s o n repeatedly , eve n thoug h it
ma y tur n of f a s yo u continu e driving .

If you keep driving with the
malfunction indicator lamp on, you can
damage your car's emissions controls
and engine. Those repairs may not be
covered by your car's warranties.

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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