2000 HONDA INSIGHT maintenance

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

Introduction
Congratulation s ! You r selectio n o f a 200 0 Hond a Insigh t wa s a wis e
investment . I t wil l giv e yo u year s o f drivin g pleasure .
On e o f th e bes t way s t o enhanc e th e enjoymen t o f you r ne w Hond a is t o
rea d thi s manual . I n it , yo u wil l lear n ho w to operat e it s drivin g control s an d
convenienc e items . Afterwards , kee p thi s owner' s manua l i n you r ca r s o yo u
ca n refe r t o i t a t an y time .
Severa l warrantie s protec t you r ne w Honda . Rea d th e warrant y bookle t
thoroughl y s o yo u understan d th e coverage s an d ar e awar e o f you r right s
an d responsibilities .
Maintainin g you r ca r accordin g t o th e schedule s give n in thi s manua l help s
t o kee p you r drivin g trouble-fre e whil e i t preserve s you r investment . Whe n
you r ca r need s maintenance , kee p in min d tha t you r Hond a dealer' s staf f i s
speciall y traine d in servicin g th e man y system s uniqu e t o you r Honda . You r
Hond a deale r i s dedicate d to you r satisfactio n an d wil l b e please d t o answe r
an y question s an d concerns . A
s yo u rea d thi s manual , yo u wil l
fin d informatio n tha t i s precede d b y
symbol . Thi s
informatio n i s intende d t o hel p yo u
avoi d damag e t o you r Honda , othe r
property , o r th e environment .
aNOTICE

Drive
r an d Passenge r Safet y

Thi s sectio n give s yo u importan t
informatio n abou t ho w to protec t
yoursel f an d you r passenger . I t
show s yo u ho w to us e sea t belt s
properly . I t explain s you r Supple -
menta l Restrain t System . An d it tell s
yo u ho w to properl y restrai n childre n
i n you r car . Importan
t Safet y Precautions......... . 6
You r Car' s Safet y Features............. . 7

Sea t Belts....................................... . 8

Airbags........................................... . 9
Seat s & Seat-Backs..................... . 1 0
Hea d Restraints.......................... . 1 0
Doo r Locks.................................. . 1 0
Pre-Driv e Safet y Checklist........ . 1 1

Protectin g Adults............................ . 1 2

1 . Clos e an d Loc k th e Doors..... . 1 2
2 . Adjus t th e Fron t Seats........... . 1 2
3 . Adjus t th e Seat-Backs............ . 1 3
4 . Faste n an d Positio n th e Sea t

Belts..................................... . 1 5

5 . Maintai n a Prope r Sittin g

Position................................ . 1 6

Advic e fo r Pregnan t Women..... . 1 7

Additiona l Safet y Precautions... . 1 8

Protectin g Children........................ . 1 9

Al l Childre n Mus t B e

Restrained............................... . 1 9

You r Ca r i s No t Recommende d

fo r Chil d Passengers.............. . 2 0

Th e Passenger' s Airba g Pose s

Seriou s Risk s t o Children...... . 2 0

Additiona l Safet y Precaution..... . 2 2
Genera
l Guideline s fo r Usin g
Chil d Seats............................... . 2 2
Protecting Small Children......... . 2 6
Protecting Larger Children....... . 2 9
Usin g Chil d Seat s wit h
Tethers..................................... . 3 3
Additiona l Informatio n Abou t You r

Sea t Belts................................. . 3 4

Sea t Bel t Syste m Components.. . 3 4
Lap/Shoulde r Belt...................... . 3 4
Sea t Bel t Maintenance............... . 3 5
Additiona l Informatio n Abou t
You r SRS................................... 36

SR S Components........................ . 3 6

Ho w You r Airbag s Work........... . 3 6
Ho w th e Automati c Sea t Bel t

Tensioner s Work.................... . 3 8

Ho w th e SR S Indicato r Ligh t

Works....................................... . 3 8

SR S Service.................................. . 3 9

Additiona l Safet y Precautions... . 3 9

Carbo n Monoxid e Hazard............. .
40

Safet y Labels................................... .
4
1

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Importan
t Safet y Precaution s

You'l l fin d man y safet y
recommendation s throughou t thi s
section, and throughou t thi s manual .
Th e recommendation s o n thi s pag e
ar e th e one s w e conside r t o b e th e
mos t important .
Alway s Wea r You r Sea t Bel t
A sea t bel t i s you r bes t protectio n in
al l type s o f collisions . Airbag s
supplemen t sea t belts , bu t airbag s
ar e designe d to inflat e onl y in a
moderat e to sever e fronta l collision .
S o eve n thoug h you r ca r i s equippe d
wit h airbags , mak e sur e yo u and
you r passenge r alway s wea r you r
sea t belts , an d wea r the m properly .
(Se e pag e 15 ).
You r Ca r i s No t Recommende d
fo r Chil d Passenger s
Sinc e al l childre n ar e safes t i n th e
bac k sea t o f a car , an d you r ca r doe s
no t hav e a bac k seat , w e recommen d
tha t yo u d o no t carr y a chil d

passenger . Due to the passenger's
airbag
hazard, you should never

carry an infant in a rear-facing child

seat in this car. If a smal l chil d wh o
mus t b e restraine d in a forward -
facin g chil d seat , o r a large r child ,
mus t rid e in thi s car , b e sur e to
follo w al l instruction s an d safet y
warning s in thi s manual . (Se e page s
2 6 an d 29 .)
B e Awar e o f Airba g Hazard s
Whil e airbag s ca n sav e lives , the y
ca n caus e seriou s o r fata l injurie s t o
occupant s wh o sit too clos e t o them ,
o r ar e no t properl y restrained .
Infants , youn g children , an d shor t
adult s ar e a t th e greates t risk . B e
sur e t o follo w al l instruction s an d
warning s in thi s manual . (Se e pag e
7 . )

Don' t Drin k an d Driv e

Alcoho l an d drivin g don' t mix . Eve n
on e drin k ca n reduc e you r abilit y t o
respon d to changin g conditions , an d
you r reactio n tim e get s wors e wit h ever
y additiona l drink . S o don' t drin k
an d drive , an d don' t le t you r friend s
drin k an d drive , either .
Contro l You r Spee d
Excessiv e spee d is a majo r facto r i n
cras h injurie s an d deaths . Generally ,
th e highe r th e spee d th e greate r th e
risk , bu t seriou s accident s ca n als o
occu r a t lowe r speeds . Neve r driv e
faste r tha n is saf e fo r curren t
conditions , regardles s o f th e
maximu m spee d posted .
Kee p You r Ca r i n Saf e Conditio n
Havin g a tir e blowou t o r a
mechanica l failur e ca n b e extremel y
hazardous . T o reduc e th e possibilit y
o f suc h problems , chec k you r tir e
pressure s an d conditio n frequently ,
an d perfor m al l regularl y schedule d
maintenance . (Se e pag e 14 8 .)
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Additiona
l Informatio n Abou t You r SR S

SR S Servic e
You r Supplementa l Restrain t Syste m
i s virtuall y maintenance-free , an d
ther e ar e n o part s yo u ca n safel y
service . However , yo u mus t hav e
you r ca r service d if :

Your airbags ever inflate. The

airbags , sea t bel t tensioners , an d
contro l uni t mus t b e replaced . D o
no t tr y t o remov e o r replac e th e
airbag s yourself .
Thi s mus t b e don e b y a Hond a
deale r o r a knowledgeabl e bod y
shop .

The SRS indicator light alerts you

t o a problem. Take you r ca r t o a n
authorize d Hond a deale r a s soo n
a s possible . I f yo u ignor e thi s
indication , th e airbag s migh t no t
inflat e whe n yo u nee d them . Additiona
l Safet y Precaution s
D o no t attemp t t o deactivat e you r
airbags . Together , airbag s an d
sea t belt s provid e th e bes t
protectio n i n a moderat e t o sever e
fronta l collision .
D o no t tampe r wit h SR S
component s o r wirin g fo r an y
reason . Tamperin g coul d caus e
th e airbag s t o deploy , possibl y
causin g ver y seriou s injury .
Se e pag e 12 6 fo r furthe r informatio n
an d precaution s relatin g t o you r SRS .

Driver an d Passenge r Safet y

Gauges
Maintenanc e Require d Indicato r
This indicato r remind s yo n tha t i t i s
tim e t o tak e you r ca r i n fo r
schedule d maintenance .
Refer t o th e Maintenanc e Schedule s
for Norma l an d Sever e Driving -
Condition s o n page s 1 50 — 15 4.
Whe n th e distanc e drive n sinc e th e
las t schedule d maintenanc e reache s
6,00 0 mile s (9,60 0 km) , th e indicato r
start s blinking . I f yo u excee d 7,50 0
mile s (12,00 0 km) , th e indicato r
stay s on .
You r deale r wil l rese t thi s indicato r
afte r completin g th e schedule d
maintenance . I f thi s maintenanc e is
don e b y someon e othe r tha n you r
Hond a dealer , rese t th e indicato r a s
follows .
T o rese t th e maintenanc e require d
indicator , tur n th e ignitio n switc h t o
O N (II) , an d continu e to hol d th e tri p
button .
Instrument s an d Control s
INDICATO R

Maintenanc
e

Thi s sectio n explain s wh y i t i s
importan t t o kee p you r ca r wel l
maintaine d an d to follo w basi c
maintenanc e safet y precautions .
Thi s sectio n als o include s
Maintenanc e Schedule s fo r norma l
drivin g an d sever e drivin g conditions ,
a Maintenanc e Record , an d instruc -
tion s fo r simpl e maintenanc e task s
yo u ma y wan t t o tak e car e o f

yourself .

I f yo u hav e th e skill s an d tool s t o per -
for m mor e comple x maintenanc e
task s o n you r Honda , yo u ma y wan t
t o purchas e th e Servic e Manual . Se e
pag e 24 9 fo r informatio n o n ho w to
obtai n a copy , o r se e you r Hond a

dealer .
Maintenanc
e Safety...................... . 14 6
Importan t Safet y Precautions. . 14 7
Maintenanc e Schedule................. . 14 8
Maintenanc e Record.................... . 15 5
Owne r Maintenanc e Checks....... . 15 7
Flui d Locations.............................. . 15 8

Engin e Oil...................................... . 15 9
Addin g Oil.................................. . 15 9

Recommende d Oil.................... . 15 9

Syntheti c Oil.............................. . 16 0

Additives.................................... . 16 0
Changin g th e Oi l an d Filter..... . 16 1
Coolin g System............................. . 16 3
Addin g Engin e Coolant............ . 16 3
Replacin g Engin e Coolant....... . 16 5
Windshiel d Washers.................... . 16 9
Transmissio n Fluid....................... . 17 0
Brak e an d Clutc h Fluid................ . 17 1
Brak e System............................ . 17 1
Clutc h System........................... . 17 2
Ai r Cleane r Element..................... . 17 3
Hoo d Latch.................................... . 17 4
Battery........................................... . 17 5
Wipe r Blades................................. . 17 7
Ai r Conditionin g System.............. . 18 0
Ai r Conditionin g Filter................. . 18 1 Driv
e Belts..................................... .
181

Tires............................................... . 18
2

Inflation...................................... . 18
2

Recommende d Tir e
Pressure s
fo
r Norma l
Driving............................... . 18

3

Inspection.................................. . 18 4
Maintenance.............................. .
18
4
Tir e Rotation............................. . 18 5
Replacin g Tire s an d Wheels... . 18 5
Wheel s an d Tires...................... . 18 6
Winte r Driving.......................... . 18 6
Sno w Tires............................. . 18 7
Tir e Chains............................ . 18 7
Lights............................................. . 18 8
Replacin g Bulbs........................ . 19 0
Storin g You r Car........................... . 19 6
Maintenanc e

Maintenanc
e Safet y

Regularl y maintainin g you r ca r i s th e
bes t wa y t o protec t you r investment .
Prope r maintenanc e i s essentia l t o
you r safel y an d th e safet y o f you r
passengers . I t wil l als o rewar d yo u
wit h mor e economical , trouble-fre e
drivin g an d hel p reduc e ai r pollution .Thi
s sectio n include s instruction s fo r
simpl e maintenanc e tasks , suc h a s
checkin g an d addin g oil . An y servic e
item s no t detaile d in thi s sectio n
shoul d b e performe d b y a Hond a
technicia n o r othe r qualifie d
mechanic . Som
e o f th e mos t importan t safety
precaution s ar e give n here . However ,
w e canno t war n yo u o f ever y
conceivabl e hazar d tha t ca n aris e in
performin g maintenance . Onl y yo u
ca n decid e whethe r o r no t yo u
shoul d perfor m a give n task .

Maintenanc e

Improperl
y maintainin g thi s ca r
o r failin g t o correc t a proble m
befor e drivin g ca n caus e a
cras h i n whic h yo u ca n b e
seriousl y hur t o r killed .
Alway s follo w th e inspectio n
an d maintenanc e
recommendation s an d
schedule s i n thi s owner' s
manual . Failur
e t o properl y follo w
maintenanc e instruction s an d
precaution s ca n caus e yo u t o
b e seriousl y hur t o r killed .
Alway s follo w th e procedure s
an d precaution s i n thi s owner' s
manual .