2001 HONDA INSIGHT Owners Manual

This indicator comes on as a
reminder that the engine has
stopped because of the Auto Idle
Stop f unction. When the indicator is
of f , it means that Auto Idle Stop is
not active. When the indicator is on,
but the engine is not running, it
means the clutch pedal is depressed,
but the transmission is not in gear.
When the indicator is blinking, it
means the clutch pedal is not
depressed. You cannot restart theengine with the ignition switch when
this light is blinking.
This indicator will blink, and you will
hear a chime, if you open the door
when Auto Stop is active.
Always turn the ignition switch to
LOCKandremovethekeyif youare
getting out of the vehicle.
5-speed Manual T ransmission
Driving
A uto Idle Stop Indicator 138
AAUUTTOOIIDDLLEESSTTOOPPIINNDDIICCAATTOORR

If you exceed the maximum speed
f or the gear you are in, the engine
speed will enter into the tachometer’s
red zone. If this occurs, you may f eel
the engine cut in and out. This is
caused by a limiter in the engine’s
computer controls. The engine will
run normally when you reduce the
RPM below the red zone.
Bef ore downshif ting, make sure the
engine will not go into the
tachometer’s red zone.
Road and traffic conditions may
require you to shif t at times other
than those indicated.
Either the Shift Up or Shift Down
indicator will light to show the best
time to shift to a higher or lower
gear. You can achieve the best f uel
economy by accelerating and
decelerating slowly, and shif ting
when prompted by the Shif t Up
indicator.
The Shift Down indicator prompts to
shif t to a lower gear to keep speed in
a hilly road.
5-speed Manual T ransmission
Driving
Shif t Up/Shif t Down Indicators
Engine Speed L imiter
139
SSHHIIFFTTUUPPIINNDDIICCAATTOORR
SSHHIIFFTTDDOOWWNNIINNDDIICCAATTOORR

Honda’s Continuously Variable
automatic transmission’s unique
design provides a smooth, constant
f low of power. It is electronically
controlled f or more precise operation
and better f uel economy.This indicator on the instrument
panel shows which position the shif t
lever is in.
The ‘‘D’’ indicator comes on f or a
f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch ON (II). If it f lashes
while driving (in any shif t position),
it indicates a possible problem in the
transmission. Avoid rapid acceler-
ation and have the transmission
checkedbyanauthorizedHonda
dealer as soon as possible.The shift lever has five positions. It
must be in Park or Neutral to start
the engine. When you are stopped in
D, L, N or R, press f irmly on the
brake pedal and keep your f oot of f
the accelerator pedal.
U.S. model
Continuously Variable
T ransmission (CVT )
Shif t L ever Position Indicator Shif t L ever Positions
Automatic Transmission (CVT)
Driving
140

µYou must also press the release
button to shift into Park. To avoid
transmission damage, come to a
complete stop bef ore shif ting into
Park. The shif t lever must be in Park
bef ore you can remove the key f rom
the ignition switch.
This position mechani-
cally locks the transmission. Use
Park whenever you are turning of f or
starting the engine. To shif t out of
Park, you must press on the brake
pedal, have your f oot of f the accelera-
tor pedal, and press the release
button on the side of the shift lever.
If you have done all of the above and
still cannot move the lever out of
Park, see Shif t Lock Release on page .
146
To shift from:
PtoR
RtoP
NtoR DtoL
NtoD
DtoN LtoD
RtoN Do this:
Press the brake pedal and
press the release button.
Press the release button.
Move the lever.
CONT INUED
Automatic Transmission (CVT)
Driving
Park (P)
141

µ
µ µ
µ
To shift from Re-
verse to Park, see the explanation
under Park. To shif t to Reverse f rom
Neutral, come to a complete stop
first. Press the release button before
shifting into Reverse from Neutral.
Use Neutral if you
need to restart a stalled engine, or if
it is necessary to stop brief ly with
the engine idling. Always shif t to
Park position if you need to leave the
vehicle for any reason. Press on the
brake pedal when you are moving
the shift lever from Neutral to
another position. Usethismodefor
everyday driving. The transmission
automatically adjusts to keep the
engine at the best speed f or driving
conditions. To help the engine warm
up f aster, the transmission will select
ratios that allow the engine to run at
higher speeds when it is cold. Push
the Drive mode button on the
steering wheel to change f rom the
Second mode to the Drive mode.
Use this position f or
your normal driving. The drive
position has two modes, Drive (D)
andSecond(S).Youcanselectthe
desired mode with the two select
buttons on the steering wheel. The
‘‘D’’ indicator light remains lit in
either mode.
Reverse (R)
Neutral (N)
Drive (D)
Automatic Transmission (CVT)
Driving
Drive Mode
142
DDRRIIVVEEMMOODDEEBBUUTTTTOONN
SSEECCOONNDDMMOODDEEBBUUTTTTOONN

µ
µ To shif t to Low, press
the release button on the side of the
shif t lever. Use Low to get more
power when climbing, and f or
maximum engine braking when
going down steep hills.
You can switch into and out of
Second mode with the ignition
switch ON (II) and the shif t lever in
D position. If you turn the ignition
switch to ACCESSORY (I) in Second
mode, the mode is switched to Drive.
The ‘‘S’’ indicator also comes on f or a
f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch ON(II).
ForfasteraccelerationwheninDor
L, the transmission will automatically
‘‘kick down’’ to a lower range of
ratios by pushing the accelerator
pedal to the f loor.
In this mode, the
transmission selects a wider range of
ratios to give better acceleration.
Usethismodefordrivingupor
downhill. Push the Second mode
buttononthesteeringwheelto
select Second mode. Along with the
‘‘D’’ indicator, the ‘‘S’’ indicator
comes on as a reminder. To change
f rom Second (S) mode to Drive
mode, push the Drive mode button. If you exceed the maximum speed
f or the gear you are in, the engine
speed will enter into the tachometer’s
red zone. If this occurs, you may f eel
the engine cut in and out. This is
caused by a limiter in the engine’s
computer controls. The engine will
run normally when you reduce the
RPM below the red zone.
Low (L)
Engine Speed L imiter
Automatic Transmission (CVT)
Driving
Second (S) Mode
143
‘‘‘‘DD’’’’IINNDDIICCAATTOORR
‘‘‘‘SS’’’’IINNDDIICCAATTOORR

This allows you to move the shif t
lever out of Park if the normal
method of pushing on the brake
pedal and pressing the release
button does not work.Set the Parking brake.
Remove the key from the ignition
switch.
Push down on the key while you
pressthereleasebuttononthe
shif t lever and move the shif t lever
out of Park to Neutral.
Insert the key in the Shift Lock
Release slot.
Put a cloth on the edge of the Shif t
Lock Release slot cover next to
the shift lever.
Use a small flat-tipped screwdriver
or small metal plate (neither are
included in the tool kit) to remove
the cover. Caref ully pry of f the
edge of the cover. Remove the key from the Shift
Lock Release slot, then reinstall
thecover.Makesurethenotchon
the cover is on the lef t side.
Depress the brake pedal and
restart the engine.
If you need to use the Shif t Lock
Release, it means your car is
developing a problem. Have the car
checked by your Honda dealer.
1. 2. 3.
4.5.6.
Driving
Shif t L ock Release
Automatic Transmission (CVT)
144
RREELLEEAASSEEBBUUTTTTOONN
SSHHIIFFTTLLOOCCKKRREELLEEAASSEESSLLOOTTCCOOVVEERR

To maximize f uel economy, your
Insight has an Auto Idle Stop
f unction. Under certain conditions,
the engine will shut of f when you
come to a stop. Those conditions are:The engine coolant is nearly up to
normal operating temperature. During Auto Stop, the IMA charge
and power brake vacuum reserve is
monitored by the system. If the
vacuum reserve drops below an
optimal level, the engine will restart
to replenish the vacuum supply. If
the IMA charge drops below an
optimal level and the shift lever is in
Neutral, the engine will restart to
recharge the IMA battery.
The shift lever is in D or N.
You are not pressing on the
accelerator pedal.
The IMA battery is sufficiently
charged (at least 1/3 on the
Battery Level Gauge).
The A/C is of f , or in ECON mode,
and the outside temperature is
above 41°F (5°C) (See pages , ). There is adequate vacuum reserve
f or the power brakes.
When these conditions are met, the
engine will shut of f as you are
braking to a stop and the vehicle
speed goes below 5 mph (8 km/h).
The engine will start again when you
release the brake pedal. It will also
restart, even if you are still pressing
the brake pedal, under these
conditions:
You move the shif t lever f rom D
orNtoR,L,orP.
You press the accelerator pedal.
You are on an incline, and the
vehicle begins rolling.
93 84
CONT INUED
Driving
Automatic Transmission (CVT)
Auto Idle Stop
145