2000 HONDA INSIGHT engine overheat

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 .

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 .

Inde
x

Dipstic k

Engin e Oil.................................. . 12
2

Directiona l Signals.......................... .
6
1
Disabled , Towin g You r Ca r If..... . 22 8
Dis c Brak e Wea r Indicators........ . 13 9
Disposa l o f Use d Oil..................... . 16 2
Displa y Chang e Button.................. . 4 9
Door s
Lockin g an d Unlocking.............. . 6 9
DO T Tir e Qualit y Grading.......... . 23 6
Downshifting , 5-spee d Manua l
Transmission............................. . 13 6
Driv e Belts..................................... . 18 1
Drive r an d Passenge r Safety........... . 5
Driving........................................... . 13 1
Economy.................................... . 12 4
I n Ba d Weather......................... . 14 2
I n Foreig n Countries................ . 23 9

Economy , Fuel.............................. . 12 4

Emergencie s o n th e Road............ . 20 5
Battery , Jum p Starting............. . 21 4
Brak e Syste m Indicator........... . 22 1
Changin g a Fla t Tire................ . 20

7

Chargin g Syste m
Indicator.....
. 21 9
Checkin g th e Fuses.................. . 22 3
Lo w Oi l Pressur e Indicator..... . 21 8
Malfunctio n Indicato r Lamp... . 22 0
Overheate d Engine.................. . 21 7
Emergenc y Brake........................... . 7 7
Emergenc y Flashers...................... . 6 3
Emergenc y Towing...................... . 22 8
Emission s Controls....................... . 24 0
Engin e
Belts............................................ . 18 1
Coolan t Temperatur e Gaug e .... . 5 6
Malfunctio n Indicato r
Lamp................................ . 47 , 22 0
Oil , Wha t Kin d to Use.............. . 15 9
Overheating............................... . 21 7
Specifications............................ . 23 4
Engin e Spee d Limiter................... . 13 7
Ethanoli n Gasoline...................... . 23 8
Evaporativ e Emission s Controls. . 24 0
Exhaus t Fumes............................... . 4 0
Expectan t Mothers , Us e o f Sea t
Belt s by........................................ . 1 7
Exterior , Cleanin g the.................. . 19 8 Fabric
, Cleaning............................ . 20 1

Fan , Interior..................................... . 8 2

Features , Comfor t an d
Convenience................................ . 8 1

Fillin g th e Fuel Tank.................... . 11 9

Filte r

Ai r Conditioning....................... . 18 1
Oil............................................... . 16 1

5-spee d Manua l Transmissio n

Checkin g Flui d Level............... . 17 0
Shiftin g the................................ . 13 6
Flashers , Hazar d Warning............. . 6 3
Fla t Tire , Changin g a................... . 18 5

Fluid s

Brake.......................................... . 17 1
Clutch......................................... . 17 1
Manua l Transmission.............. . 17 0

Windshiel d Washer.................. . 16 9

F M Stere o Radi o

Reception................................... . 11 0
Foreig n Countries , Drivin g in..... . 23 9
Four-wa y Flashers.......................... . 6 3
CONTINUED

Inde
x

Jackin g u p th e Car........................ . 20 7

Jack , Tire....................................... . 20 7

Jum p Starting................................ . 21 4

Keys.................................................. . 6 5

Label , Certification....................... . 23 2

Lan e Change , Signaling................. . 6 1
Lap/Shoulde r Belt.......................... . 3 4
Leakin g o f Exhaus t int o Car......... . 4 0

Lifetim e Fue l Mileage.................... . 5 3

Light s
Bulb Replacement.................... . 19 3

Indicator....................................... . 4 7

Parking......................................... . 4 6

Tur n Signal.................................. . 6 1

Loa d Limit..................................... . 12 9
LOC K (Ignitio n Ke y Position)...... . 6 7
Lock s
Fue l Fil l Door............................ . 11 9
Hatch............................................
. 6 9

Lo w Coolan t Level........................ . 12 3
Lo w Fuel Indicator......................... . 5 6
Lowe r Gear , Downshiftin g to a... . 13 7
Lubrican t Specification s Chart... . 23 4
Luggage......................................... . 12 8

Maintenance.................................. . 14 5

Owne r Maintenanc e Checks... . 15 7

Record........................................ . 15 5

Require d Indicator...................... . 5 7

Safety.......................................... . 14 6

Schedule.................................... . 14 8

Malfunctio n Indicato r Lamp. . 47 , 22 0

Manua l Transmission................... . 13 6

Manua l Transmissio n Flui d ........ . 17 0

Meters , Gauges............................... . 4 9

Methano l i n Gasoline................... . 23 8

Mirrors , Adjusting.......................... . 7 6

Ne w Vehicl e Break-i n .................. .
118

NOTICE , Explanatio n
of..................
.

ii

Numbers , Identification............... .
23

2

Octan
e Requirement ,
Gasoline...
.

118

Odometer......................................... .
49

Odometer , Trip............................... .
5
1
Oi l

Change , Ho w to........................ . 16 1

Change , Whe n to...................... . 15 0

Checkin g Engine...................... . 12 2
Selectin g Prope r Viscosit y
Chart...................................... . 16 0
O N (Ignitio n Ke y Position)........... . 6 8
Onboar d Refuelin g Vapo r
Recovery.................................... . 24 0
Openin g th e Hatch......................... . 6 9
Openin g th e Hood........................ . 12 0
Operatio n in Foreig n Countries.. . 23 9
Outsid e Mirrors.............................. . 7 6
Overheating , Engine.................... . 21 7
Owne r Maintenanc e Checks....... . 15 7
Oxygenate d Fuels......................... . 23 8
CONTINUED