2001 HONDA INSIGHT towing

µ
µ
µ
There are three popular types of
prof essional towing equipment.
The tow
truck uses two pivoting arms that go
under the tires (f ront or rear) and lif t
them of f the ground. The other two
tires remain on the ground.
If your car needs to be towed, call a
prof essional towing service or, if you
belong to one, an organization that
provides roadside assistance. Never
tow your car behind another vehicle
with just a rope or chain. It is very
dangerous.
The operator
loads your car on the back of a truck.
The tow
truck uses metal cables with hooks on the ends. These hooks go around
parts of the f rame or suspension and
the cables lif t that end of the car of f
the ground. Your car’s suspension
and body can be seriously damaged.
If your Honda cannot be transported
by f lat-bed, it should be towed by
wheel-lif t equipment with the f ront
wheels of f the ground. If due to
damage, your car must be towed
with the f ront wheels on the ground,
do the f ollowing:
With the f ront wheels on the ground,
it is best to tow the car no farther
than 50 miles (80 km), and keep the
speedbelow35mph(55km/h).
If your car is equipped with a f ront
spoiler, remove it bef ore towing so it
is not damaged.
Release the parking brake.
Shif t the transmission to Neutral.
Release the parking brake.
Start the engine.
ShifttoD,thentoN.
Turn of f the engine.
CONT INUED
5-speed Manual Transmission
Automatic Transmission
Wheel-lif t Equipment
Flat -bed Equipment
Sling-t ype Equipment
T his is
an acceptable way to tow your
Honda.
This is the best way to transport
your Honda. T his method of towing is
unacceptable.
Emergency T owing
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
239
Improper towing preparation will
damage the transmission. Follow the
above procedure exactly. If you cannot
shif t the transmission, your car must be
transported with the f ront wheels of f
the ground.

If you decide to tow your car with all
f our wheels on the ground, make
sure you use a properly-designed and
attached tow bar. Prepare the car for
towing as described above, and leave
the ignition switch in Accessory (I)
so the steering wheel does not lock.
Make sure the radio and any items
plugged into the accessory power
socket are turned of f so they do not
rundownthebattery.
Emergency T owing
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
240 Trying to lif t or tow your car by the
bumpers will cause serious damage.
The bumpers are not designed to
support the car’s weight.
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
f reely bef ore you begin towing.

CONT INUED
.....
Charging System Indicator . 229
..................
Checking the Fuses . 233
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 228
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 230
..................
Overheated Engine . 227
...........................
Emergency Brake . 79
......................
Emergency Flashers . 65
......................
Emergency Towing . 239
.......................
Emissions Controls . 250 Engine
............................................
Belts . 191
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 58
Malf unction Indicator
................................
Lamp . 48, 230
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 167
...............................
Overheating . 227
............................
Specif ications . 244
.......................................
Starting . 135
..........
Engine Speed Limiter . 139, 143
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline . 248
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 250
...............................
Exhaust Fumes . 40
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
........................................
Belts by . 17
..................
Exterior, Cleaning the . 208 ............................
Fabric, Cleaning . 211
.....................................
Fan, Interior . 84
Features, Comfort and
................................
Convenience . 83
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 121
Filter
.........................
Dust and Pollen . 191
...............................................
Oil . 167
5-speed Manual Transmission ...............
Checking Fluid Level . 180
................................
Shif ting the . 136
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 65
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 217
Fluids
Automatic Transmission .....................................
(CVT) . 178
..........................................
Brake . 181
.........................................
Clutch . 181
..............
Manual Transmission . 180
..................
Windshield Washer . 177
FM Stereo Radio ...................................
Reception . 112
.....
Foreign Countries, Driving in . 249
..........................
Four-way Flashers . 65 .................................................
Fuel . 126
......................
Fill Door and Cap . 121
...........................................
Gauge . 58
................
Octane Requirement . 120
...............................
Oxygenated . 248
........................
Reserve Indicator . 58
........................
Tank, Filling the . 121
.....................
Fuses, Checking the . 233
...............
Gas Mileage, Improving . 126
..........................................
Gasohol . 248
.........................................
Gasoline . 120
...............
Fuel Reserve Indicator . 48
...........................................
Gauge . 50
................
Octane Requirement . 120
........................
Tank, Filling the . 121
................
Gas Station Procedures . 121
Index
F
G
III

CONT INUED
........
Steam Coming f rom Engine . 227
Steering Wheel
.............
Anti-theft Column Lock . 69
.....................
Stereo Sound System . 98
...........................
Storing Your Car . 200
Supplemental Restraint
..................................
System .9,36
......................................
Servicing . 39
.........................
SRS Indicator . 34, 46
...................
System Components . 36
..................................
Synthetic Oil . 168 .....................
Underside, Cleaning . 208
Unexpected, Taking Care
..........................................
of the . 215
....
Unif orm Tire Quality Grading . 246
........................
Unleaded Gasoline . 120
.....................
Upholstery Cleaning . 211
.......
Used Oil, How to Dispose of . 170
.................
Vehicle Capacity Load . 131
......................
Vehicle Dimensions . 244
....
Vehicle Identif ication Number . 242
.............................
Vehicle Storage . 206
.....................................
Tachometer . 58
......
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in . 203
Taking Care of the
...............................
Unexpected . 215
....................................
Tape Player . 104
Technical Descriptions
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 246
.....
Emissions Control Systems . 250
.....................
Oxygenated Fuels . 248
Three Way Catalytic
...............................
Converter . 252
.......................
Temperature Gauge . 58 ..............
Tether Anchorage Points . 33
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter . 252
..........................
Time, Setting the . 103
....................................
Tire Chains . 197
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat . 195
...............................................
Tires . 192
..............................
Air Pressure . 193
.........................
Checking Wear . 194
..........................
Compact Spare . 216
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 246
......................................
Inf lation . 192
..................................
Inspection . 194
...................................
Replacing . 195
......................................
Rotating . 195
...........................................
Snow . 197
............................
Specif ications . 244
................................
Tire Chains . 197
...................
Tools, Tire Changing . 217
Towing
.....................................
A Trailer . 152
................
Emergency Wrecker . 238
Transmission Checking Fluid Level, ..................
Automatic (CVT) . 178
Checking Fluid Level, ...................................
Manual . 180 ...........................
Fluid Selection . 180
..............
Identif ication Number . 243
..................
Shif ting the Manual . 136
.....................................
Treadwear . 246
.....................................
Trip Meters . 53
....................................
Trip Mileage . 54
....................................
Turn Signals . 63
Index
T U V
VII

ÎÎ
.............
WARNING, Explanation of . ii
.........
Warning Labels, Location of . 41
..................
Warranty Coverages . 257
Washer, Windshield
.....................................
Operation . 64
.........................................
Washing . 209
..................
Waxing and Polishing . 210
Wheels
............
Alignment and Balance . 194
..........................
Compact Spare . 216
......................................
Wrench . 219
Windows
.....................................
Cleaning . 212
...........................
Rear, Def ogger . 65
Windshield .......................................
Cleaning . 63
.....................................
Def roster . 95
.......................................
Washers . 64
Wipers, Windshield
.......................
Changing Blades . 187 .....................................
Operation . 65
....................................
Worn Tires . 194
.....
Wrecker, Emergency Towing . 239
.................................................
VIN . 242
...............................
Vinyl Cleaning . 211
..................................
Viscosity, Oil . 168
U.S. and Canada only
Index
W
VIII