2000 HONDA INSIGHT engine

Coolin
g Syste m

15.Star t th e engin e an d le t i t ru n fo r
abou t 3 0 seconds . The n tur n of f
th e engine .
16.Pou r coolan t int o th e radiato r u p
t o th e bas e o f th e fille r neck . 17.Fil
l th e reserv e tan k t o th e MA X
mark . Instal l th e reserv e tan k cap .
Maintenanc e

Windshiel
d Washer s

Chec k th e leve l i n th e windshiel d
washe r reservoi r a t leas t monthl y
durin g norma l usage . I n ba d weather ,
whe n yo u us e th e washer s often ,
chec k th e leve l ever y tim e yo u sto p
fo r fuel . Thi s reservoi r supplie s th e
windshiel d an d rea r windo w washers .
LEVE
L GAUG E

Th e windshiel d washe r reservoi r i s
locate d behin d th e passenger' s sid e
headlight . Chec k th e reservoir' s flui d
leve l b y removin g th e ca p an d
lookin g a t th e leve l gaug e attache d

t o th e
cap . Fil
l th e reservoi r wit h a good-qualit y
windshiel d washe r fluid . Thi s
increase s th e cleanin g capabilit y an d
prevent s freezin g in col d weather .
Whe n yo u refil l th e reservoir , clea n
th e edge s o f th e windshiel d wipe r
blade s wit h windshiel d washe r flui d
o n a clea n cloth . Thi s wil l hel p to
conditio n th e blad e edges .

Do not use engine antifreeze or a
vinegar/water solution in the

windshield washer reservoir.

Antifreeze can damage your car's paint,
while a vinegar/water solution can

damage the windshield washer pump.

Use only commercially-available
windshield washer fluid.

Maintenanc e

NOTIC
E

Transmissio
n Flui d

Chec k th e flui d leve l wit h th e
transmissio n a t norma l operatin g
temperatur e an d th e ca r sittin g o n
th e leve l ground .
Remov e th e blac k cove r unde r th e

engine .
Remov
e th e transmissio n fille r bol t
an d carefull y fee l insid e th e bol t hol e
wit h you r finger . Th e flui d leve l
shoul d b e u p to th e edg e o f th e bol t
hole . I f i t i s not , ad d Genuin e Hond a
Manua l Transmissio n Flui d (MTF )
unti l i t start s t o ru n ou t o f th e hole .
Reinstal l th e fille r bol t an d tighte n i t

securely .
I
f Hond a MT F is no t available , yo u
ma y us e a n AP I servic e SG , S H o r S J
grad e moto r oi l wit h a viscosit y o f
SA E 10W-3 0 o r 10W-4 0 a s a
temporar y replacement . A n S G
grad e is preferred , bu t a n S H o r S J
grad e ma y b e use d if S G is no t
available . However , moto r oi l doe s
no t contai n th e prope r additive s an d
continue d us e ca n caus e stiffe r
shifting . Replac e a s soo n a s it i s
convenient .
Th e transmissio n shoul d b e draine d
an d refille d wit h ne w flui d accordin g
t o th e tim e an d distanc e recommen -
dation s i n th e maintenanc e schedule .
Maintenanc e

Ai
r Conditionin g Syste m (Optional )

You r car' s ai r conditionin g is a seale d
system . An y majo r maintenance ,
suc h a s recharging , shoul d b e don e
b y a qualifie d mechanic . Yo u ca n d o
a coupl e o f thing s t o mak e sur e th e
ai r conditionin g work s efficiently .
AI R CONDITIONIN G CONDENSE RPeriodicall
y chec k th e engine' s
radiato r an d ai r conditionin g
condense r fo r leaves , insects , an d
dir t stuc k t o th e fron t surface . Thes e
bloc k th e ai r flo w an d reduc e coolin g
efficiency . Us e a ligh t spra y fro m a
hos e o r a sof t brus h to remov e them .
The condenser and radiator fins bend
easily. Only use a low-pressure spray
or soft-bristle brush to clean them.
Ru n th e ai r conditionin g a t leas t onc e
a wee k durin g th e col d weathe r
months . Ru n it fo r a t leas t te n
minute s whil e yo u ar e drivin g a t a
stead y spee d wit h th e engin e a t
norma l operatin g temperature . Thi s
circulate s th e lubricatin g oi l con -
taine d in th e refrigerant . I
f th e ai r conditionin g doe s no t ge t a s
col d a s before , hav e you r deale r
chec k th e system . Recharg e th e
syste m wit h Refrigerant HFC-134a
(R-134a) . (Se e Specification s o n pag e
235 .)

Whenever you have the air conditioning

system serviced, make sure the service

facility uses a refrigerant recycling

system. This system captures the

refrigerant for reuse. Releasing

refrigerant into the atmosphere can

damage the environment.

Maintenanc e
NOTIC
E NOTIC
E

Light
s

4 . Uncli p th e en d o f th e hold-dow n
wir e fro m its slot . Pivo t i t ou t o f
th e wa y an d remov e th e bulb .
5 . Inser t th e ne w bul b int o th e hole ,
makin g sur e th e tab s ar e in thei r
slots . Pivo t th e hold-dow n wir e
bac k in plac e an d cli p th e en d int o
th e slot .
6 . Instal l th e rubbe r sea l ove r th e
bac k o f th e headligh t assembly .
Mak e sur e it i s righ t sid e up ; i t i s

marke d "TOP. "

7 . Pus h th e electrica l connecto r ont o
th e tab s o f th e ne w bulb . Mak e
sur e i t lock s i n place .
Tur n o n th e headlight s t o tes t th e
ne w bulb .
8 . Reinstal l th e radiato r reserv e tank .Replacin
g th e Fron t Parkin g
Light s
1 . Remov e th e socke t fro m th e
headligh t assembl y b y turnin g it

one-quarte r tur n counterclockwise .

2 . Pul l th e bul b straigh t ou t o f it s

socket .

3 . Instal l th e ne w bul b int o th e

socket .
4
. Inser t th e socke t bac k int o th e
headligh t assembly . Tur n it
clockwis e t o loc k i t i n place .
5 . Tes t th e light s t o mak e sur e th e
ne w bul b is working .
Replacin g th e Fron t Sid e Marker /
Tur n Signa l an d Parkin g Ligh t
Bul b
1 . I f yo u ar e changin g th e bul b o n
th e driver' s side , star t th e engine ,
tur n th e steerin g whee l al l th e wa y
t o th e right , an d tur n of f th e
engine . I f yo u ar e changin g th e
bul b o n th e passenger' s side , tur n
th e steerin g whee l t o th e left .
CONTINUED
Maintenanc e

I
f You r Engin e Won' t Star t

Diagnosin g wh y you r engin e won' t
star t fall s int o tw o areas , dependin g
o n wha t yo u hea r whe n yo u tur n th e
ke y t o STAR T (III) :
Yo u hea r nothing , o r almos t
nothing . Th e engine' s starte r
moto r doe s no t operat e a t all , o r
operate s ver y slowly .
Yo u ca n hea r th e starte r moto r
operatin g normally , o r th e starte r
moto r sound s lik e i t i s spinnin g
faste r tha n normal , bu t th e engin e
doe s no t star t u p an d run . Nothin
g Happen s o r th e Starte r
Moto r Operate s Ver y Slowl y
Whe n yo u tur n th e ignitio n switc h t o
STAR T (III) , yo u d o no t hea r th e
norma l nois e o f th e engin e tryin g to
start . Yo u ma y hea r a clickin g soun d
o r serie s o f clicks , o r nothin g a t all .
Chec k thes e things :
You r ca r ha s th e Immobilize r
System . Yo u shoul d us e a
properly-code d maste r o r vale t ke y
t o star t th e engin e (se e pag e 66 ).
A ke y tha t i s no t properl y code d
wil l caus e th e immobilize r syste m
indicato r i n th e das h pane l t o blin k
rapidly .
Tur n th e ignitio n switc h t o O N (II) .
Tur n o n th e headlight s an d chec k
thei r brightness . I f th e headlight s
ar e ver y di m o r don' t ligh t a t all ,
th e batter y is discharged . Se e

Jum p Startin g o n pag e 21 4 .
Tur
n th e ignitio n switc h t o STAR T
(III) . I f th e headlight s d o no t dim ,
chec k th e conditio n o f th e fuses . I f
th e fuse s ar e OK , ther e is proba -
bl y somethin g wron g wit h th e
electrica l circui t fo r th e ignitio n
switc h o r starte r motor . Yo u wil l
nee d a qualifie d technicia n to
determin e th e problem . (Se e

Emergenc y Towin g o n pag e 22 8 .)

I f th e headlight s di m noticeabl y o r
g o ou t whe n yo u tr y t o star t th e
engine , eithe r th e batter y is dis -
charge d o r th e connection s ar e
corroded . Chec k th e conditio n o f
th e batter y an d termina l connec -
tion s (se e pag e 17 5 ) . Yo u ca n
the n tr y jum p startin g th e ca r fro m
a booste r batter y (se e pag e 21 4 ) .
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

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 .

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

NOTIC
E

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 .