2001 HONDA INSIGHT ignition

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 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

The indicator blinks as a reminder
that the engine has stopped because
of the Auto Idle Stop f unction. You
cannot restart the engine with the
ignition switch when this light is
blinking.If you open the driver’s door when
Auto Stop is active, the indicator will
blink and you will hear a chime. The
chime will stop when you close the
door.
Always turn the ignition switch to
LOCKandremovethekeyif youare
getting out of the vehicle.
Driving
A uto Idle Stop Indicator
Automatic Transmission (CVT)
146
AAUUTTOOIIDDLLEESSTTOOPPIINNDDIICCAATTOORR

CONT INUED
Turn the ignition ON (II). Turn
the temperature control dial to
maximum heat. Turn of f the
ignition and remove the key. Open
the hood. Make sure the engine
and radiator are cool to the touch.Removethealloycoverunderthe
radiator.
Remove the radiator cap.
Thecoolingsystemshouldbe
completely drained and ref illed with
new coolant according to the time
and distance recommendations in
the maintenance schedule. Only use
Honda All Season Antif reeze/
Coolant Type 2.
Draining the coolant requires access
to the underside of the car. Unless
you have the tools and knowledge,
you should have this maintenance
done by a skilled mechanic. 1.
2.3.
Replacing Engine Coolant
Cooling Syst em
Maint enance
173

If you have a f lat tire while driving,
stop in a saf e place to change it.
Stopping in traf f ic or on the shoulder
of a busy road is dangerous. Drive
slowly along the shoulder until you
gettoanexitoranareatostopthat
is far away from the traffic lanes.Remove the storage box from the
cargo area well.
Take the tool kit f rom the spare
tire well. Remove the jack (in the
jack cover) f rom the inside of the
spare tire.
Unscrew the wing bolt and take
the spare tire out of its well.
Park the car on f irm, level and
non-slippery ground away f rom
traf f ic. Put the transmission in
Reverse (5-speed manual) or Park
(CVT). Apply the parking brake.
Open the hatch. Raise the cargo
area f loor by lif ting up on the back
edge.
Turn on the hazard warning lights
and turn the ignition switch to
LOCK (0). Have all the
passengers get out of the car while
you change the tire.
2. 3.
1.
4. 5. 6.
CONT INUED
Changing a Flat T ire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed217
SSPPAARREETTIIRREE
JJAACCKK
FFLLOOOORRBBOOAARRDDTTOOOOLLKKIITT
SSTTOORRAAGGEEBBOOXX
The car can easily roll off the
jack, seriously injuring anyoneunderneath.
Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and
never get under the car when it
is supported only by the jack.

Diagnosing why your engine won’t
start f alls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
key to START (III):You hear nothing, or almost
nothing. The engine’s starter
motor does not operate at all, or
operates very slowly.
You can hear the starter motor
operating normally, or the starter
motor sounds like it is spinning
f aster than normal, but the engine
does not start up and run. When you turn the ignition switch to
START (III), you do not hear the
normal noise of the engine trying to
start. You may hear a clicking sound
or series of clicks, or nothing at all.
Check these things:
If the headlights dim noticeably or
go out when you try to start the
engine, either the battery is dis-
charged or the connections are
corroded. Check the condition of
the battery and terminal connec-
tions (see page ). You can
then try jump starting the car from
a booster battery (see page ).
Turn the ignition switch to START
(III). If the headlights do not dim,
check the condition of the f uses. If
thefusesareOK,thereisproba-
bly something wrong with the
electrical circuit f or the ignition
switch or starter motor. You will
need a qualif ied technician to
determine the problem. (See
on page .)
Your car has the Immobilizer
System. You should use a
properly-coded master or valet key
to start the engine (see page ).
A key that is not properly coded
will cause the immobilizer system
indicator in the dash panel to blink
rapidly.
Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
Turn on the headlights and check
their brightness. If the headlights
are very dim or don’t light at all,
the battery is discharged. See
on page .68
224 237
185 224
Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
Emergency T owing
Jump Starting
If Your Engine Won’t Start
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed 223

Turn of f all the electrical acces-
sories: heater, A/C, stereo system,
lights, etc.
In this case, the starter motor’s
speed sounds normal, or even f aster
than normal, when you turn the
ignition switch to START (III), but
the engine does not run.
Do you have f uel? Turn the
ignition switch to ON (II) for a
minute and watch the f uel gauge.
The low f uel level warning light
may not be working, so you were
not reminded to f ill the tank. Open the hood and check the
physical condition of the battery
(see page ). In very cold
weather, check the condition of
the electrolyte. If it seems slushy
or like ice, do not try jump starting
until it thaws.
If your car’s battery has run down,
you may be able to start the engine
by using a booster battery. Although
this seems like a simple procedure,
you should take several precautions.
To jump start your car, f ollow these
directions closely:
Are you using the proper starting
procedure? Ref er to on page .
There may be an electrical
problem, such as no power to the
f uel pump. Check all the f uses
(see page ).
If youfindnothingwrong,youwill
need a qualif ied technician to f ind
the problem. See on page . Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park, and set the parking brake.
1. 2.
135
233 239 185
T he Starter Operates Normally Jump Starting
Starting the
Engine
Emergency
Towing
If Your Engine Won’t Start, Jump Starting
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
224 A battery can explode if you do
not follow the correct procedure,
seriously injuring anyonenearby.
Keep all sparks, open flames,
and smoking materials away
from the battery.
If a battery sits in extreme cold, the
electrolyte inside can f reeze.
Attempting to jump start with a f rozen
battery can cause it to rupture.