2001 HONDA INSIGHT window

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The f low-through ventilation system
draws in outside air, circulates it
through the interior, then exhausts it
through vents near the rear window.Turn the temperature control dial
all the way to the lef t.
Select and Fresh Air mode.
Set the f an to the desired speed.
The outside air intakes f or the
heating system are at the base of the
windshield. Keep these clear of
leaves and other debris.
This section covers how to set up the
system controls f or ventilation,
heating, and def rosting.
The engine must be running f or the
heater to generate hot air. The
heater uses engine coolant to warm
the air. If the engine is cold, it will be
several minutes bef ore you f eel
warm air coming f rom the system.
The air conditioning does not rely on
engine temperature.
It is best to leave the system in Fresh
Air mode under almost all conditions.
Keeping the system in Recirculation
mode can cause the windows to f og
up. Switch to Recirculation mode
when you are driving through smoky
or dusty conditions, then switch back
to Fresh Air mode when the
condition clears.
1. 2. 3.
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Vent ilat ion
How to Use the System
Heating
87
RREECCIIRRCCUULLAATTIIOONNBBUUTTTTOONNFFAANNCCOONNTTRROOLLBBUUTTTTOONNSS
MMOODDEEBBUUTTTTOONNTTEEMMPPEERRAATTUURREECCOONNTTRROOLLDDIIAALL

To warm the interior:Start the engine.
Select and Fresh Air mode.
Set the f an to the desired speed.
Adjust the warmth of the air with
the temperature control dial. To remove f og f rom the inside of the
windows:
To remove exterior f rost or ice f rom
the windshield and side windows
after the car has been sitting out in
cold weather:
To rapidly remove exterior f rost or
ice f rom the windshield (on very cold
days), f irst select the Recirculation
mode. Once the windshield is clear,
select the Fresh Air mode to avoid
f ogging the windows.
Press the button.
Adjust the temperature control
dial so the air f low f rom the
def roster vents f eels warm.
Turn on the rear window def ogger
to help clear the rear window.
Start the engine.
Press the button.
Adjust the fan and temperature
controls to maximum.
1.2.3.4.
1.2. 3.1. 2.3.
To Heat To Defog and Defrost
Heating
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
88

These settings direct all the air f low
to the defroster vents at the base of
the windshield and the side window
def roster vents. The air f low will get
warmer and clear the windows faster
as the engine warms up. You can
close the side vents with the dial
underneath each vent. This will send
more warm air to the windshield
defroster vents.
For saf ety, make sure you have a
clear view through all the windows
bef ore driving away.To shut of f the system temporarily,
stop the fan and turn the
temperature control dial all the way
to the left.
You should shut the system
completely of f only f or the f irst f ew
minutes of driving in cold weather,
until the engine coolant warms up
enough to operate the heater. Keep
the fan on at all other times so stale
air does not build up in the interior.
Heating
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
To Turn Everything Of f
89

The button directs the main
air f low to the windshield f or f aster
def rosting. It also overrides any
MODE selection you may have made.
When you turn of f by
pressing the button again, the
system returns to its former settings.
When you select , the A/C
turns on automatically and the
system selects Fresh Air mode. For
f aster def rosting, manually set the
fanspeedtohigh.Youcanalso
increase air f low to the windshield by
closing the side vents in the
dashboard.
When this mode is selected, the auto
idle stop f unction will not activate.
This button turns the rear window
def ogger on and of f (see pages
and ).
65 66
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Rear Window Def ogger Button 96
RREEAARRWWIINNDDOOWWDDEEFFOOGGGGEERRBBUUTTTTOONN

Make sure all windows, mirrors,
and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove f rost, snow,
or ice.Check the adjustment of the seat
(see page ).
Check the adjustment of the
inside and outside mirrors (see
page ).
Turn the ignition switch ON (II).
Check the indicator lights in the
instrument panel.
Start the engine (see page ).
Check the gauges and indicator
lights in the instrument panel (see
page ).
Check that any items you may be
carrying with you inside are stored
properly or f astened down
securely.
Visually check the tires. If a tire
looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure.
Check that the hood and hatch are
f ully closed.
Youshoulddothefollowingchecks
and adjustments every day bef ore
you drive your car.
Make sure the doors are securely
closed and locked.
Fasten your seat belt. Check that
your passenger has f astened his
seat belt (see page ).
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
9.
10. 11.
15 45
76
78 135
Preparing to Drive
Driving
134

µMakesurethewindowsareclosed.
Turn of f the lights.
Lock the doors.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other f lammable
materials. The three way catalytic
converter gets very hot, and could
cause these materials to catch on
fire.
Always use the parking brake when
you park your car. The indicator on
the instrument panel shows that the
parking brake is not f ully released; it
does not indicate that the parking
brakeisfirmlyset.Makesurethe
parking brake is set f irmly or your
car may roll if it is parked on an
incline.
Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the storage box or take them
with you.
If your car has an automatic
transmission, set the parking brake
bef ore you put the transmission in
Park.Thiskeepsthecarfrom
moving and putting pressure on the
parking mechanism in the
transmission making it easier to
move the shift lever out of Park
when you want to drive away. Make sure the parking brake is f ully
released bef ore driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or damage
the rear brakes.
If the car is f acing uphill, turn the
f ront wheels away f rom the curb. If
you have a manual transmission, put
it in f irst gear.
If the car is f acing downhill, turn the
f ront wheels toward the curb. If you
have a manual transmission, put it in
reverse gear.
Parking T ips
Parking
Driving
147

µ
µ Being able to see
clearly in all directions and being
visible to other drivers are important
in all weather conditions. This is
more difficult in bad weather. To be
seen more clearly during daylight
hours, turn on your headlights.
Inspect your windshield wipers and
washers f requently. Keep the wind-
shield washer reservoir f ull of the
proper f luid. Have the windshield
wiper blades replaced if they start to
streak the windshield or leave parts
unwiped. Use the def rosters and air
conditioning to keep the windows
f rom f ogging up on the inside (see
page ).
Exercise extra caution when driving
in rain af ter a long dry spell. Af ter
months of dry weather, the f irst
rains bring oil to the surf ace of the
roadway, making it slippery.
Rain, f og, and snow conditions re-
quire a dif f erent driving technique
because of reduced traction and
visibility. Keep your car well-
maintained and exercise greater
caution when you need to drive in
bad weather. Always drive
slower than you would in dry
weather. It takes your car longer to
react, even in conditions that may
seem just barely damp. Apply
smooth, even pressure to all the
controls. Abrupt steering wheel
movements or sudden, hard appli-
cation of the brakes can cause loss of
control in wet weather. Be extra
cautious f or the f irst f ew miles
(kilometers) of driving while you
adjust to the change in driving
conditions. This is especially true in
snow. A person can f orget some
snow-driving techniques during the
summer months. Practice is needed
to relearn those skills. 88
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Visibility
Driving T echnique
Driving in Bad Weather
Driving 151

Check the level in the windshield
washer reservoir at least monthly
during normal usage. In bad weather,
when you use the washers of ten,
check the level every time you stop
f or f uel. This reservoir supplies the
windshield and rear window washers.Fill the reservoir with a good-quality
windshield washer f luid. This
increases the cleaning capability and
prevents f reezing in cold weather.
When you ref ill the reservoir, clean
the edges of the windshield wiper
blades with windshield washer fluid
on a clean cloth. This will help to
condition the blade edges.
The windshield washer reservoir is
located behind the passenger’s side
headlight. Check the reservoir’s f luid
level by removing the cap and
looking at the level gauge attached
to the cap.
Windshield Washers
Maint enance 177
LLEEVVEELLGGAAUUGGEE
Do not use engine antif reeze or a
vinegar/water solution in the
windshield washer reservoir.
Antif reeze can damage your car’s paint,
while a vinegar/water solution can
damage the windshield washer pump.
Use only commercially-available
windshield washer f luid.