2000 HONDA INSIGHT towing

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

Takin
g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

Thi s sectio n cover s th e more -
commo n problem s tha t motorist s
experienc e wit h thei r vehicles . I t
give s yo u informatio n abou t ho w to
safel y evaluat e th e proble m an d wha t
t o d o to correc t it . I f th e proble m ha s
strande d yo u o n th e sid e o f th e road ,
yo u ma y b e abl e to ge t goin g again .
I f not , yo u wil l als o fin d instruction s
o n gettin g you r ca r towed . Compac
t Spar e Tire...................... . 20
6

Changin g a
Fla
t Tir e .................... . 20

7

I f You r
Engin
e Won' t Start.......... . 21

3

Nothin g Happen s
o
r th e
Starte r Moto r Operate s
Ver y Slowly............................ . 21

3

Th e Starte r
Operate
s
Normally................................ . 21 4
Jum p Starting................................ . 21 4
I f You r Engin e Overheats............ . 21 7
Lo w Oi l Pressur e Indicator......... . 21 8
Chargin g Syste m Indicator.......... . 21 9
Malfunctio n Indicato r Lam p ....... . 22 0
Brak e Syste m Indicator............... . 22 1
Fuses.............................................. . 22 2
Checkin g an d Replacing.......... . 22 3
Emergenc y Towing...................... . 22 8

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

Emergenc
y Towin g

I f you r ca r need s t o b e towed , cal l a
professiona l towin g servic e or , i f yo u
belon g to one , a n organizatio n tha t
provide s roadsid e assistance . Neve r
to w you r ca r behin d anothe r vehicl e
wit h jus t a rop e o r chain . I t i s ver y

dangerous .

Ther e ar e thre e popula r type s o f
professiona l towin g equipment .
Flat-bed Equipment — Th e operato r
load s you r ca r o n th e bac k o f a truck .
Thi s i s th e best way t o transpor t
you r Honda .
Wheel-Lift Equipment — Th e to w
truc k use s tw o pivotin g arm s tha t g o
unde r th e tire s (fron t o r rear ) an d lif t
the m of f th e ground . Th e othe r tw o
tire s remai n o n th e ground . Thi s i s

a n acceptabl e wa y to to w you r

Honda .

Sling-type Equipment — Th e to w

truc k use s meta l cable s wit h hook s o
n th e ends . Thes e hook s g o aroun d
part s o f th e fram e o r suspensio n an d
th e cable s lif t tha t en d o f th e ca r of f
th e ground . You r car' s suspensio n
an d bod y ca n b e seriousl y damaged .
Thi s metho d o f towin g is
unacceptable .
I f you r Hond a canno t b e transporte d
b y flat-bed , i t shoul d b e towe d b y
wheel-lif t equipmen t wit h th e fron t
wheel s of f th e ground . I f du e t o
damage , you r ca r mus t b e towe d
wit h th e fron t wheel s o n th e ground ,
d o th e following :
Releas e th e parkin g brake .
Shif t th e transmissio n t o Neutral .
Improper
towing preparation will

damage the transmission. Follow the

above procedure exactly. If you cannot

shift the transmission, your car must be

transported with the front wheels off

the ground.

Wit h th e fron t wheel s o n th e ground ,
i t i s bes t t o to w th e ca r n o farthe r
tha n 5 0 mile s (8 0 km) , an d kee p th e
spee d belo w 3 5 mp h (5 5 km/h) .
I f you r ca r i s equippe d wit h a fron t
spoiler , remov e i t befor e towin g s o i t
i s no t damaged .
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
NOTIC
E

Emergenc
y Towin g

I f yo u decid e t o to w you r ca r wit h al l
fou r wheel s o n th e ground , mak e
sur e yo u us e a properly-designe d an d
attache d to w bar . Prepar e th e ca r fo r
towin g a s describe d above , an d leav e
th e ignitio n switc h in Accessor y (I )
s o th e steerin g whee l doe s no t lock .
Mak e sur e th e radi o an d an y item s
plugge d int o th e accessor y powe r
socke t ar e turne d of f s o the y d o no t
ru n dow n th e battery .
The steering system can be damaged if
the steering wheel is locked. Leave the
ignition switch in Accessory (I), and
make sure the steering wheel turns
freely before you begin towing.
Trying
to lift or tow your car by the

bumpers will cause serious damage.

The bumpers are not designed to

support the car's weight.

Taking Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

NOTIC
E NOTIC
E

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

Towin g
A Trailer..................................... . 14 3
Emergenc y Wrecker................ . 22 8

Transmissio n

Checkin g Flui d Level ,
Manual................................... . 17 0
Flui d Selection........................... . 17 0
Identificatio n Number.............. . 23 3
Shiftin g th e Manual.................. . 13 6

Treadwear..................................... . 23 6

Tri p Meters..................................... . 5 1
Tri p Mileage.................................... . 5 2
Tur n Signals.................................... . 6 1

Underside , Cleaning..................... . 19 9

Unexpected , Takin g Car e

o f the.......................................... . 20 5

Unifor m Tir e Qualit y Grading.... . 23 6

Unleade d Gasoline........................ . 11 8

Upholster y Cleaning..................... . 20 1

Use d Oil , Ho w to Dispos e of....... . 16 2
Vehicl
e Capacit y Load................. . 12 9

Vehicl e Dimensions...................... . 23 4

Vehicl e Identificatio n Number.... . 23 2

Vehicl e Storage............................. . 19 6

VIN................................................. . 23 2

Viny l Cleaning............................... . 20 1

Viscosity , Oil.................................. . 16 0

Warnin g Beeper s
Headlight s on.............................. . 5 9
Ke y in Ignition............................. . 6 8
Sea t Belts............................... . 34 , 4 6

WARNING , Explanatio n of............. . i i

Warnin g Labels , Locatio n of......... . 4 1

Warrant y Coverages*.................. . 24 7
Washer , Windshiel d
Operation..................................... . 6 2
Washing......................................... . 19 9
Waxin g an d Polishing.................. . 20 0

Wheel s

Alignmen t an d Balance............ . 18 4
Compac t Spare.......................... . 20 6
Wrench......................................
. 20 9

Window s

Cleaning..................................... . 20 2

Rear , Defogger........................... . 6 3
Windshiel d

Cleaning....................................... . 6 1

Defroster..................................... . 9 4
Wipers , Windshiel d
Changin g Blades....................... . 17 7

Operation..................................... . 6 3

Wor n Tires.................................... . 18 4

Wrecker , Emergenc y Towing..... . 20 5
* U.S . an d Canad a onl y