2001 HONDA INSIGHT transmission

The engine can be severely damaged
if this light f lashes or stays on when
the engine is running. For complete
inf ormation, see page .
This indicator lights when you turn
the ignition switch ON (II). If it
comes on at any other time, it
indicates a problem in the
supplemental restraint system. For
complete inf ormation, see page .
If this light comes on when the
engine is running, the battery is not
being charged. For complete
inf ormation, see page .
If you do not f asten your seat belt,
the beeper will stop af ter a f ew
seconds but the light stays on until
you do. Both the light and the beeper
stay of f if you f asten your seat belt
bef ore turning on the ignition.
The instrument panel has many
indicators to give you important
inf ormation about your car.
This indicator lights when you turn
the ignition switch ON (II). It is a
reminder to you and your passengers
to protect yourselves by f astening
the seat belts. A beeper also sounds
if you have not fastened your seat
belt.
See page .
See pages .
See page . This indicator normally comes on f or
a f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch ON (II). If it comes
on at any other time, it indicates a
problem in the Integrated Motor
Assist (IMA) system. Have the
vehicle checked by the dealer as
soon as possible.
This indicator is a reminder to
check the parking brake. Driving
with the parking brake not fully
released can damage the brakes
and tires.
This light has two f unctions: 1.
38
227 226
(Manual Transmission) 141
142 137, 139
(Automatic Transmission)
CONT INUED
L ow Oil Pressure
Indicator
Supplemental Restraint
System Indicator
Shif t Up/Shif t Down Indicators
Charging System
Indicator
Seat Belt Reminder L ight
Shif t L ever Position Indicator
A uto Idle Stop Indicator IMA System Indicator
Parking Brake
and Brake
System
Indicator
Indicator L ights
Inst rument s and Cont rols 47
U.S. Canada

You can temporarily turn off the
Current Fuel Mileage and Fuel
Mileage displays.
To turn them off:
When the odometer is displayed, the
Fuel Mileage display shows the
lif etime f uel mileage. This is the
average f uel mileage your vehicle
has gotten since the last time the
display was reset. To reset this display, turn the
ignition switch to ON (II). If the
engine is running, make sure the
transmission is in neutral and the
parking brake is set. Use the Trip
button to display the odometer. Then
press and hold the Trip button until
the Lif etime Fuel Mileage Display
begins to blink (approximately f ive
seconds). Release the Trip button,
then press it again while the display
is blinking and hold it until the
display clears to dashes.
Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
If the engine is running, make
sure the transmission is in neutral
andtheparkingbrakeisset.
Use the Trip button to select Trip
A, Trip B, or the odometer.
Press and hold the FCD Select
button f or approximately three
seconds. The Current Fuel
Mileage display will turn of f .
Press and hold the FCD Select
button again. The Fuel Mileage
display f or the meter you are
displaying (Trip A, Trip B, or
odometer) will turn of f .
1. 3. 4.
2.
CONT INUED
Gauges
Inst rument s and Cont rols
T urning Of f the Mileage Displays
Lifetime Fuel Mileage
55

The condition of your car and your
driving habits are the two most
important things that affect the fuel
mileage you get.
Always maintain your car according
to the maintenance schedule. This
will keep it in top operating condition.
An important part of that mainte-
nance is the(see page ). For
example, an underinf lated tire
causes more ‘‘rolling resistance,’’
which uses f uel. It also wears out
f aster, so check the tire pressure at
least monthly. Engine oil also af f ects f uel economy.
The f uel ef f icient, low-viscosity
0W-20 oil recommended f or your
Insightisformulatedtohelpthe
engine use less f uel. This oil is
available at your Honda dealer.
In winter, the build-up of snow on
your car’s underside adds weight and
rolling resistance. Frequent cleaning
helps your f uel mileage and reduces
thechanceof corrosion.
You can improve f uel economy by
driving moderately. Rapid acceler-
ation, abrupt cornering, and hard
braking use more f uel.
To get the best f uel mileage, drive in
the highest gear that is practical for
the speed you are driving, and
always accelerate slowly.You may f ind that your Insight’s
unique combination of an engine and
an electric motor has driving
characteristics that are somewhat
dif f erent f rom what you are used to.
Shif t Up and Shif t Down indicators
(5-speed manual transmission only)
on the instrument panel show when
to shif t to a higher or lower gear. By
shifting as soon as the indicator
comes on, you will keep the engine
operating in its most economical
range.
Wind resistance causes vehicles to
usemorefuelathigherspeeds.
Driving at moderate speeds on the
highway reduces wind resistance
and conserves f uel.
Depending on traf f ic conditions, try
to maintain a constant speed. Every
time you slow down and speed up,
your car uses extra f uel.
165
Fuel Economy
Bef ore Driving
Vehicle Condition
Owner Maintenance
Checks Driving Habits
126

This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
manual transmission. It also includes
important inf ormation on parking
your car, and the braking system.........................
Preparing to Drive . 134
.......................
Starting the Engine . 135
Starting in Cold Weather ....................
at High Altitude . 135
....
5-speed Manual Transmission . 136
............................
Auto Idle Stop . 137
Shif t Up/Shif t Down
...............................
Indicators . 139
..............
Engine Speed Limiter . 139
..............
Automatic Transmission . 140
Continuously Variable ............
Transmission (CVT) . 140
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 140
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 140
.............
Engine Speed Limitter . 143
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 144
............................
Auto Idle Stop . 145
...........................................
Parking . 147
..............................
Parking Tips . 147
.....................
The Braking System . 148
.............
Brake Wear Indicators . 148
...............
Brake System Design . 149
.......................
Anti-lock Brakes . 149
...............
Driving in Bad Weather . 151
...........................
Towing a Trailer . 152
Driving
Driving 133

Apply the parking brake.
In cold weather, turn of f all
electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery.
Push the clutch pedal down all the
way. START (III) does not
f unction unless the clutch pedal is
depressed.
Without touching the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition key to the
START (III) position. If the engine
does not start right away, do not
hold the key in START (III) f or
more than 15 seconds at a time.
Pause f or at least 10 seconds
bef ore trying again.
If the engine does not start within
15 seconds, or starts but stallsright away, repeat step 4 with the
accelerator pedal pressed half-way
down. If the engine starts, release
pressure on the accelerator pedal
so the engine does not race.
If the engine still does not start,
press the accelerator pedal all the
way down and hold it there while
starting in order to clear f looding.
As bef ore, keep the ignition key in
the START (III) position f or no
more than 15 seconds. Return to
step 5 if the engine does not start.
If it starts, lif t your f oot of f the
accelerator pedal so the engine
does not race.
An engine is harder to start in cold
weather. The thinner air f ound at
high altitude above 8,000 f eet (2,400
meters) adds to the problem.
Use the f ollowing procedure: Turn of f all electrical accessories
to reduce the drain on the battery.
Push the accelerator pedal half-
way to the f loor and hold it there
while starting the engine. Do not
hold the ignition key in START
(III) f or more than 15 seconds.
When the engine starts, release
the accelerator pedal gradually as
the engine speeds up and smooths
out.
If the engine fails to start in step 2,
push the accelerator pedal to the
f loor and hold it there while you
try to start the engine for no more
than 15 seconds. If the engine
does not start, return to step 2.
Make sure the shif t lever is in
Park. Press on the brake pedal.
1. 2. 3. 4.5. 6.
1. 2. 3.
Manual Transmission:
Automatic Transmission:
Starting the Engine
Driving
Starting in Cold Weather at High
A ltitude (A bove 8,000 f eet/
2,400 meters)
135

The manual transmission is syn-
chronizedinallforwardgearsfor
smooth operation. It has a lockout so
you cannot shift directly from Fifth
to Reverse. When shif ting up or
down,makesureyoupushtheclutch
pedal down all the way, shift to the
next gear, and let the pedal up
gradually. When you are not shif ting,
do not rest your f oot on the clutch
pedal. This can cause your clutch to
wear out faster.Come to a full stop before you shift
into Reverse. You can damage the
transmission by trying to shift into
Reverse with the car moving. Push
down the clutch pedal, and pause f or
a f ew seconds bef ore shif ting into
Reverse, or shif t into one of the
f orward gears f or a moment. This
stops the gears so they won’t ‘‘grind.’’
When slowing down, you can get
extra braking f rom the engine by
shifting to a lower gear. This extra
braking can help you maintain a safe
speed and prevent your brakes f rom
overheating while going down a
steep hill. Bef ore downshif ting,
make sure the vehicle speed is low
enough that you will not activate the
engine speed limiter in the lower
gear. Make sure the engine speed
will not go into the tachometer’s red
zone in the lower gear bef ore
downshif ting.
5-speed Manual T ransmission
Driving
136 Rapid slowing or speeding-up
can cause loss of control on
slippery surfaces. If you crash,
you can be injured.
Use extra care when driving on
slippery surfaces.

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

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