2000 HONDA INSIGHT fuel cap

2000 Insight Online Reference Owner's Manual
Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through\
this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.h\
elminc.com. Contents
Introduction
........................................................................\
................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safety........................................................................\
........................................ .ii
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
..................................... .5
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restr\
aint System.
Instruments and Control s........................................................................\
........................................ .43
Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
..................... 81
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
..........................................................117
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
..................................................................... .131
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
.............................................................145
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Car e........................................................................\
..................................................... .197
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your\
vehicle ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpecte d........................................................................\
..............................205
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, a nd how to handle them.
Technical Informatio n........................................................................\
.............................................231
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................243
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manu als (U.S. only)........................................................................\
..............................249
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index........................................................................\
........................................................................\
...... I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.
Your Car at a Glance.....................................................................................\
....................2
Owner's Identification Form

Servic
e Statio n Procedure s

Fillin g th e Fue l Tan k
1 . Becaus e th e fue l fil l ca p is o n th e
passenger' s sid e o f th e car , par k
wit h tha t sid e closes t t o th e
servic e statio n pumps .
2 . Ope n th e fue l fil l doo r b y pullin g
o n th e handl e t o th e lef t o f th e
driver' s seat .
FUEL FIL L CA P 3
. Remov e th e fue l fil l ca p slowly .
Yo u ma y hea r a hissin g soun d a s
pressur e insid e th e tan k escapes .
4 . Sto p fillin g th e tan k afte r th e fue l
nozzl e automaticall y click s off . D o
no t tr y t o "to p off " th e tank , leav e
som e roo m fo r th e fue l t o expan d
wit h temperatur e changes .
You r ca r ha s a n on-boar d refuelin g
vapo r recover y syste m to hel p
kee p fue l vapor s fro m goin g int o
th e atmosphere . I f th e fue l pum p
keep s clickin g of f eve n thoug h th e
tan k is no t full , ther e ma y b e a
proble m wit h thi s system . Consul t
you r dealer .
CONTINUED
Befor e Drivin g

PUL
L
Gasolin
e is highl y flammabl e
an d explosive . Yo u ca n b e
burne d o r seriousl y injure d
whe n handlin g fuel .

Sto p th e engin e an d kee p

heat , sparks , an d flam e away .
Handl e fue l onl y outdoors .
Wip e u p spill s immediately .

Engin
e Oi l

Addin g Oi l
ENGIN E OI L FIL L CA P
T o ad d oil , unscre w an d remov e th e
engin e oi l fil l ca p o n to p o f th e valv e
cover . Pou r i n th e oil , an d instal l th e
engin e oi l fil l cap . Tighte n it securely .
Wai t a fe w minute s an d rechec k th e
oi l level . D o no t fil l abov e th e uppe r
mark ; yo u coul d damag e th e engine .Recommende
d Oi l
Oi l i s a majo r contributo r t o you r
engine' s performanc e an d longevity .
Alway s us e a premium-grad e deter -
gen t oil . I t i s highl y recommende d
tha t yo u us e Genuin e Hond a Moto r
Oi l i n you r vehicl e fo r a s lon g a s yo u
ow n it .
Yo u ca n determin e an oil' s SA E
viscosit y an d Servic e Classificatio n
fro m th e AP I Servic e labe l o n th e oi l
container .
A ver y low-viscosity , fuel-efficien t
OW-2 0 oi l i s preferre d engin e
lubrican t fo r you r Insight . Thi s i s
show n o n th e AP I Servic e labe l b y
th e word s "Energ y Conserving. "
Thi s specia l oi l i s formulate d t o hel p
you r engin e us e les s fuel . I t i s
availabl e a t you r Hond a dealer .
Th
e AP I Servic e labe l als o tell s yo u

th e servic e classificatio n o f th e oil .
Alway s us e a n oi l tha t i s labele d "AP I

Servic e SJ. "

AP I SERVIC E LABE L

CONTINUED

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

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.

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
NOTIC
E

Technica
l Informatio n

Th e diagram s i n thi s sectio n giv e
yo u th e dimension s an d capacitie s o f
you r Honda , an d th e location s o f th e
identificatio n numbers . Th e expla -
nation s o f severa l electroni c an d
mechanica l system s o n you r Hond a
ar e fo r th e mor e technically-oriente d
owner . Identificatio
n Numbers................ . 23 2
Specifications................................ . 23 4
DO T Tir e Qualit y Gradin g
(U.S . Vehicles)...................... . 23 6
Unifor m Tir e Qualit y
Grading.................................. . 23 6
Treadwear................................. . 23 6
Traction...................................... . 23 6
Temperatur e ............................ . 23 7 Oxygenate
d Fuels......................... . 23 8
Drivin g in Foreig n Countries...... . 23 9
Emission s Controls....................... . 24 0
Th e Clea n Ai r Act..................... . 24 0
Crankcas e Emission s Contro l
System.................................... . 24 0
Evaporativ e Emission s Contro l
System.................................... . 24 0
Onboar d Refuelin g Vapo r
Recovery................................ . 24 0
Exhaus t Emission s Controls... . 24 1
PGM-F I System.................... . 24 1
Ignitio n Timin g Contro l
System................................ . 24 1
Thre e Wa y Catalyti c
Converter........................... . 24 1
Replacemen t Parts.................... . 24 1
Thre e Wa y Catalyti c Converter.. . 24 2

Technica l Informatio n

Emission
s Control s

Th e burnin g o f gasolin e in you r car' s
engin e produce s severa l byproducts .
Som e o f thes e ar e carbo n monoxid e
(CO) , oxide s o f nitroge n (NOx ) an d
hydrocarbon s (HC) . Gasolin e
evaporatin g fro m th e tan k als o
produce s hydrocarbons . Controllin g
th e productio n o f NOx , CO , an d H C
i s importan t t o th e environment .
Unde r certai n condition s o f sunligh t
an d climate , NO x an d H C reac t t o
for m photochemica l "smog. " Carbo n
monoxid e doe s no t contribut e t o
smo g creation , bu t i t i s a poisonou s

gas .
Th
e Clea n Ai r Ac t
Th e Unite d State s Clea n Ai r Act *
set s standard s fo r automobil e
emissions . I t als o require s tha t
automobil e manufacturer s explai n t o
owner s ho w thei r emission s control s
wor k an d wha t t o d o t o maintai n
them . Thi s sectio n summarize s ho w
th e emission s control s work .
Schedule d maintenanc e is o n pag e
15 0 .
* I n Canada , Hond a vehicle s compl y
wit h th e Canadia n Moto r Vehicl e
Safet y Standard s (CMVSS ) fo r
Emission s vali d a t th e tim e the y ar e
manufactured .
Crankcas e Emission s Contro l

Syste m

You r ca r ha s a Positiv e Crankcas e
Ventilatio n System . Thi s keep s
gasse s tha t buil d u p in th e engine' s
crankcas e fro m goin g int o th e
atmosphere . Th e Positiv e Crankcas e
Ventilatio n valv e route s the m fro m th
e crankcas e bac k t o th e intak e
manifold . The y ar e the n draw n int o
th e engin e an d burned .
Evaporativ e Emission s Contro l
Syste m
A s gasolin e evaporate s i n th e fue l
tank , a n evaporativ e emission s
contro l caniste r fille d wit h charcoa l
adsorb s th e vapor . I t i s store d in thi s
caniste r whil e th e engin e i s off . Afte r
th e engin e is starte d an d warme d up ,
th e vapo r i s draw n int o th e engin e
an d burne d durin g driving .
Onboar d Refuelin g Vapo r
Recover y
Th e Onboar d Refuelin g Vapo r
Recover y (ORVR ) syste m capture s
th e fue l vapor s durin g refueling . Th e
vapor s ar e adsorbe d in a caniste r
fille d wit h activate d carbon . Whil e
driving , th e fue l vapor s ar e draw n
int o th e engin e an d burne d off .
Technica l Informatio n

Inde
x

Fron t End , Towin g b y

Emergenc y Wrecker................ . 22 8

Fuel................................................. . 11 8

Fil l Doo r an d Cap...................... . 11 9

Gauge........................................... . 5 6

Octan e Requirement................ . 11 8

Oxygenated............................... . 23 8

Reserv e Indicator........................ . 5 6

Tank , Fillin g the........................ . 11 9

Fuses , Checkin g the..................... . 22 3

Ga s Mileage , Improving............... . 12 4

Gasohol.......................................... . 23 8

Gasoline......................................... . 11 8

Fue l Reserv e Indicator............... . 4 7

Gauge........................................... . 4 9

Octan e Requirement................ . 11 8

Tank , Fillin g the........................ . 11 9

Ga s Statio n Procedures................ . 11 9

Gauge s
Engin e Coolan t

Temperature........................... . 5 6

Fuel............................................... . 5 6
Gearshif
t Leve r Position s

5-spee d Manua l

Transmission......................... . 13 6

Glas s Cleaning............................. . 20 2

Glov e Box........................................ . 7 8

Haloge n Headligh t Bulbs............. . 19 0

Hatc h

Openin g the................................. .
69

Ope n Monito r
Light...................
. 4 7
Hazar d Warnin g Flashers.............. . 6 3

Headlight s

Daytim e Runnin g Lights............ . 6 0
Hig h Bea m Indicator.................. . 4 7

Hig h Beams , Turnin g on........... . 5 9

Lo w Beams , Turnin g o n ............ . 5 9

Reminde r Beeper........................ . 5 9
Replacin g Haloge n Bulbs........ . 19 0

Turnin g on................................... . 6 1

Heating............................................. . 8 1

Hig h Altitude , Startin g at............. . 13 3

High-Lo w Bea m Switc h ................. . 5 9

Hoo d Latch.................................... . 17 4

Hood , Openin g the....................... . 12 0
Horn....................................................
. 3

Ho t Coolant , Warnin g about....... . 16 3
Hydrauli c Clutch........................... . 17 1
Hydroplaning................................. . 14 2
Identificatio n Number , Vehicle... . 23 2
I f You r Ca r Ha s t o b e Towed...... . 22 8
Ignitio n
Keys.............................................. . 6 5
Switch........................................... . 6 7
Timin g Contro l System............ . 24 1
Importan t Safet y Precaution s ......... . 6
Indicato r Lights , Instrumen t
Panel............................................. . 4 5
Inflation , Prope r Tir e ................... . 18 2
Norma l Driving......................... . 18 3
Insid e Mirror................................... . 7 4
Inspection , Tire............................. . 18 4
Instrumen t Panel............................ . 4 5
Instrumen t Pane l Brightness........ . 6 0
Interio r Cleaning........................... . 20 1
Interio r Light................................... . 8 0
Introduction........................................ . i