2000 HONDA INSIGHT tires

Indicato
r Light s

Sea t Bel t Reminde r Ligh t
Thi s indicato r light s whe n yo u tur n
th e ignitio n switc h O N (II) . I t i s a
reminde r t o yo u an d you r passenger s
t o protec t yourselve s b y fastenin g
th e sea t belts . A beepe r als o sound s
i f yo u hav e no t fastene d you r sea t
belt .
I f yo u d o no t faste n you r sea t belt ,
th e beepe r wil l sto p afte r a fe w
second s bu t th e ligh t stay s o n unti l
yo u do . Bot h th e ligh t an d th e beepe r
sta y of f i f yo u faste n you r sea t bel t
befor e turnin g o n th e ignition .
Chargin g Syste m
Indicato r
I f thi s ligh t come s o n whe n th e
engin e is running , th e batter y is no t

bein g charged . Fo r complet e

information , se e pag e 21 9 .
Lo
w Oi l Pressur e
Indicato r
Th e engin e ca n b e severel y damage d
i f thi s ligh t flashe s o r stay s o n whe n
th e engin e is running . Fo r complet e

information , se e pag e 218 .

Supplementa l Restrain t

Syste m Indicato r

Thi s indicato r light 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 a proble m in th e

supplementa l restrain t system . Fo r

complet e information , se e pag e 38 .
Shif t Up/Shif t Dow n Indicator s

Se e pag e 137 .

Aut o Idl e Sto p Indicato r

Se e pag e 135 .

IM A Syste m Indicato r
Thi s indicato r normall y 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 a
proble m in th e Integrate d Moto r
Assis t (IMA ) system . Hav e th e
vehicl e checke d b y th e deale r a s

soo n a s possible .

U.S .

Parkin
g Brak e
an d Brak e

Syste m

Indicato r
Thi s ligh t ha s tw o functions :
1 . I t light s a s a reminde r tha t yo u
hav e no t release d th e parkin g
brake . Drivin g wit h th e parkin g
brak e applie d ca n damag e th e
brake s an d tires .
2 . I f i t remain s li t afte r yo u releas e
th e parkin g brake , o r come s o n
whil e driving , i t ca n indicat e a
proble m in th e brak e system . Fo r
complet e information , se e pag e

221 .

Instrument s an d Control s
Canad
a

SR S
BRAK
E

Preparin
g to Driv e

Yo u shoul d d o th e followin g check s
an d adjustment s ever y da y befor e
yo u driv e you r car .
1 . Mak e sur e al l windows , mirrors ,
an d outsid e light s ar e clea n an d
unobstructed . Remov e frost , snow ,
o r ice .
2 . Chec k tha t th e hoo d an d hatc h ar e
full y closed .
3 . Visuall y chec k th e tires . I f a tir e
look s low , us e a gaug e to chec k it s
pressure .
4 . Chec k tha t an y item s yo u ma y b e
carryin g wit h yo u insid e ar e store d
properl y o r fastene d dow n
securely . 5
. Chec k th e adjustmen t o f th e sea t
(se e pag e 7 4 ) .
6 . Chec k th e adjustmen t o f th e
insid e an d outsid e mirror s (se e
pag e 7 6 ) .
7 . Mak e sur e th e door s ar e securel y

close d an d locked .

8 . Faste n you r sea t belt . Chec k tha t
you r passenge r ha s fastene d hi s
sea t bel t (se e pag e 15 ). 9
. Tur n th e ignitio n switc h O N (II) .
Chec k th e indicato r light s i n th e
instrumen t panel .
10 . Star t th e engin e (se e pag e 13 3 ) .
11 . Chec k th e gauge s an d indicato r
light s i n th e instrumen t pane l (se e
pag e 45 ).

Drivin g

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

Tire
s

T o safel y operat e you r car , you r tire s
mus t b e th e prope r typ e an d size , i n

goo d conditio n wit h adequat e tread ,

an d correctl y inflated . Th e followin g

page s giv e mor e detaile d informatio n

o n ho w an d whe n to chec k ai r
pressure , ho w to inspec t you r tire s
fo r damag e an d wear , an d wha t t o d o
whe n you r tire s nee d to b e replaced .Inflatio
n
Keepin g th e tire s properl y inflate d
provide s th e bes t combinatio n o f
handling , trea d lif e an d ridin g
comfort . Underinflate d tire s wea r
unevenly , adversel y affec t handlin g
an d fue l economy , an d ar e mor e
likel y t o fai l fro m bein g overheated .
Overinflate d tire s ca n mak e you r ca r
rid e mor e harshly , ar e mor e pron e to
damag e fro m roa d hazards , an d wea r

unevenly .

W e recommen d tha t yo u visuall y
chec k you r tire s ever y day . I f yo u
thin k a tir e migh t b e low , chec k it
immediatel y wit h a tir e gauge .
Us e a gaug e to measur e th e ai r
pressur e a t leas t onc e a month . Eve n
tire s tha t ar e in goo d conditio n ma y
los e on e to tw o ps i (1 0 to 2 0 kPa , 0. 1
t o 0. 2 kgf/cm 2) pe r month .
Remembe r t o chec k th e spar e tir e a t
th e sam e tim e yo u chec k al l th e
othe r tires . Chec
k th e pressur e in th e tire s whe n
the y ar e cold . Thi s mean s th e ca r
ha s bee n parke d fo r a t leas t thre e
hours . I f yo u hav e to driv e th e ca r

befor e checkin g th e tir e pressure ,

th e tire s ca n stil l b e considere d

"cold " i f yo u driv e les s tha n 1 mil e

(1.6km) .

I f yo u chec k th e pressur e whe n th e
tire s ar e ho t (th e ca r ha s bee n drive n
severa l miles) , yo u wil l se e reading s
4 to 6 ps i (3 0 to 4 0
kPa ,
0. 3 to 0. 4
kgf/cm 2) highe r tha n th e col d
reading . Thi s is normal . D o no t le t
ai r ou t t o matc h th e specifie d col d
pressure . Th e tir e wil l b e

underinflated .

Maintenanc e

Usin
g tire s tha t ar e excessivel y
wor n o r improperl y inflate d ca n
caus e a cras h i n whic h yo u ca n
b e seriousl y hur t o r killed .
Follo w al l instruction s i n thi s
owner' s manua l regardin g tir e
inflatio n an d maintenance .

Tire
s

Tir e Rotatio n
T o hel p increas e tir e lif e an d
distribut e wea r mor e evenly , yo u
shoul d hav e th e tire s rotate d ever y
7,50 0 mile s (12,00 0 km) . Mov e th e
tire s t o th e position s show n in th e
char t eac h tim e the y ar e rotated . Whe
n shoppin g fo r replacemen t
tires , yo u ma y fin d tha t som e tire s
ar e "directional. " Thi s mean s the y
ar e designe d t o rotat e onl y in on e
direction . I f yo u us e directiona l tires ,
the y shoul d b e rotate d onl y front-to -
back . Replacin
g Tire s an d Wheel s
Th e tire s tha t cam e wit h you r ca r
wer e selecte d to matc h th e perform -
anc e capabilitie s o f th e ca r whil e
providin g th e bes t combinatio n o f
handling , rid e comfort , an d lon g life .
Yo u shoul d replac e the m wit h radia l
tire s o f th e sam e size , loa d range ,
spee d rating , an d maximu m col d tir e
pressur e ratin g (a s show n o n th e
tire' s sidewall) . Mixin g radia l an d
bias-pl y tire s o n you r ca r ca n reduc e
it s brakin g ability , traction , an d
steerin g accuracy .
CONTINUED
Maintenanc e
Fron
t

Front

(Fo r Non-directiona l
Tire s an d Wheels )(Fo
r Directiona l
Tire s an d Wheels )

Tire
s

I t i s bes t t o replac e al l fou r tire s a t
th e sam e time . I f tha t i s no t possibl e
o r necessary , the n replac e th e tw o
fron t tire s o r th e tw o rea r tire s a s a
pair . Replacin g jus t on e tir e ca n
seriousl y affec t you r car's handling .
I f yo u eve r nee d to replac e a wheel ,
mak e sur e th e wheel' s specification s
matc h thos e o f th e origina l whee l
tha t cam e o n you r car . Replacemen t
wheel s ar e availabl e a t you r Hond a

dealer .
Wheel
s an d Tire s

Wheels :

14x51/ 2 J J
Tires :

P165/65R1478 S

Se e pag e 23 6 fo r informatio n abou t
DO T Tir e Qualit y Grading .
Winte
r Drivin g

Tire s tha t ar e marke d "M+S " o r
"Al l Season " o n th e sidewal l hav e a n
all-weathe r trea d design . The y
shoul d b e suitabl e fo r mos t winte r
drivin g conditions . Tire s withou t
thes e marking s ar e designe d fo r
optimu m tractio n i n dr y conditions .
The y ma y no t provid e adequat e
performanc e i n winte r driving .
Fo r th e bes t performanc e i n snow y
o r ic y conditions , yo u shoul d instal l
sno w tire s o r tir e chains . The y ma y
b e require d b y loca l law s unde r
certai n conditions .

Maintenanc e

Installin
g imprope r tire s o n you r
ca r ca n affec t handlin g an d
stability . Thi s 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 us e th e siz e an d typ e o f
tire s recommende d in thi s
owner' s manual .

Tire
s

Snow Tires
I f yo u moun t sno w tire s o n you r
Honda , mak e sur e the y ar e radia l
tire s o f th e sam e siz e an d loa d rang e
a s th e origina l tires . Moun t sno w
tire s o n al l fou r wheel s t o balanc e
you r car' s handlin g in al l weathe r
conditions . Kee p in min d th e tractio n
provide d b y sno w tire s o n dr y road s
ma y no t b e a s hig h a s you r car' s
origina l equipmen t tires . Yo u shoul d
driv e cautiousl y eve n whe n th e road s
ar e clear . Chec k wit h th e tir e deale r
fo r maximu m spee d recommenda -
tions . Tire
Chains
Moun t sno w chain s o n you r vehicl e
whe n warrante d b y drivin g condi -
tion s o r require d b y loca l laws . Mak e
sur e th e chain s ar e th e correc t siz e
fo r you r tires . Instal l the m onl y o n
th e fron t tires . I f meta l chain s ar e
used , the y mus t b e SA E clas s "S. "
Cabl e typ e tractio n device s ca n als o
b e used .
Whe n installin g chains , follo w th e
manufacturer' s instruction s an d
moun t the m as tightl y a s yo u can .
Driv e slowl y wit h chain s installed . I f
yo u hea r th e chain s contactin g th e
bod y o r chassis , sto p an d investigate .
Mak e sur e th e chain s ar e installe d
tightly , an d tha t the y ar e no t
contactin g th e brak e line s o r
suspension . Remov e th e chain s a s
soo n a s yo u begi n drivin g o n cleare d

roads .
Chains
of the wrong size or that are
improperly installed can damage your
car's brake lines, suspension, body, and
wheels. Stop driving if you hear the
chains hitting any pan of the car.
Maintenanc e

NOTIC
E

Compac
t Spar e Tir e

You r ca r ha s a compac t spar e tir e
tha t take s u p les s space . Us e thi s
spar e tir e a s a temporar y replace -
men t only . Ge t you r regula r tir e
repaire d o r replace d an d pu t bac k o n
you r ca r a s soo n a s yo u can .
Chec k th e inflatio n pressur e o f th e
compac t spar e tir e ever y tim e yo u
chec k th e othe r tires . I t shoul d b e
inflate d to :

6 0 ps i (42 0 kPa ) Follo
w thes e precaution s wheneve r
yo u ar e usin g th e compac t spar e tire :
D o no t excee d 5 0 mp h (8 0 km/h )
unde r an y circumstances .
Thi s tir e give s a harshe r rid e an d
les s tractio n o n som e roa d sur -
face s tha n th e regula r tire . Us e
greate r cautio n whil e drivin g o n

thi s tire .

D o no t moun t sno w chain s o n th e
compac t spare .
Th e whee l o f th e compac t spar e
tir e is designe d especiall y t o fi t
you r car . D o no t us e you r spar e
tir e o n anothe r vehicl e unles s it i s
th e sam e mak e an d model .
INDICATO
R LOCATIO N MAR K
Th e compac t spar e tir e ha s a shorte r
trea d lif e tha n a regula r tire . Replac e
i t whe n yo u ca n se e th e trea d wea r
indicato r bars . Th e replacemen t
shoul d b e th e sam e siz e an d desig n
tire , mounte d o n th e sam e wheel .
Th e compac t spar e tir e i s no t
designe d to b e mounte d o n a regula r
wheel , an d th e compac t whee l i s no t
designe d fo r mountin g a regula r tire .
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d TREA
D WEA R INDICATO R BA R