2002 HONDA INSIGHT Owners Manual

Modif ying your car, or installing
some non-Honda accessories, can
make your car unsaf e. Bef ore you
make any modif ications or add any
accessories,besuretoreadthe
f ollowing inf ormation.
Your dealer has genuine Honda
accessories that allow you to
personalize your car. These
accessories have been designed and
approved f or your car, and are
covered by warranty.
Non-Honda accessories are usually
designed f or universal applications.
Although aftermarket accessories
may f it on your car, they may not
meet f actory specif ications, and
could adversely af f ect your car’s
handling and stability. (See
‘‘Modif ications’’ on page f or
additional information.)When properly installed, cellular
phones, alarms, two-way radios, and
low-powered audio systems should
not interf ere with your car’s
computer-controlled systems, such
as the SRS.
If possible, have your dealer inspect
the f inal installation.Have the installer contact your
Honda dealer f or assistance bef ore
installing any electronic accessory. Be sure electronic accessories do
not overload electrical circuits
(see page ). Make sure the accessory does not
obscure any lights, or interf ere
with proper car operation or
perf ormance.
Bef ore installing any accessory: However, if electronic accessories
are improperly installed, or exceed
your car’s electrical system capacity,
they can interfere with the operation
of your car, or even cause the
airbags to deploy.
127 227
A ccessories
A ccessories and Modif ications
Bef ore Driving126
Improper accessories or
modifications can affect your
car’s handling, stability and
performance, and cause a
crash in which you can be hurt
or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner’s manual regarding
accessories and modifications.

In addition, any modif ications that
decrease ground clearance increase
the chance of undercarriage parts
striking a curb, speed bump, or other
raised object, which could cause
your airbags to deploy.
Do not modif y your steering wheel
or any other part of your
Supplemental Restraint System.
Modif ications could make the
system inef f ective.
Do not remove any original
equipment or modif y your car in any
way that would alter its design or
operation. This could make your car
unsaf e and illegal to drive.
For example, do not make any
modif ications that would change the
ride height of your car, or install
wheels and tires with a dif f erent
overall diameter. Do not attach or place objects on the
airbag covers. Any object attached to
or placed on the covers marked ‘‘SRS
AIRBAG,’’ in the center of the
steering wheel and on top of the
dashboard, could interf ere with the
proper operation of the airbags. Or,
if the airbags inf late, the objects
could be propelled inside the car and
hurt someone.
Such modif ications can adversely
af f ect handling, and interf ere with
the operation of the car’s other
systems. Modif ications Additional Saf ety Precaution
Bef ore Driving
A ccessories and Modif ications
127

Î
Î
Î
Your car has several convenient
storage areas so you can stow cargo
saf ely.
The glove box, rear center pocket
and seat-back pocket are designed
f or small, lightweight items. The
cargo area is intended f or larger,
heavier items.
However, carrying too much cargo,
or improperly storing it, can af f ect
your car’s handling, stability, and
operation and make it unsafe. Before
carrying any type of cargo, be sure to
read the f ollowing pages.Do not store large objects in the
rear center pocket. The objects in
the pocket will be broken when
you adjust the seats backwards.
Carrying Cargo
Bef ore Driving128
C CAA R
RGGO O A
AR
REEA
A G
GL
LOOV VE
E B
BOOX X
S
ST
TO
OR RAA G
GE E B
BOOX X
S
SEEA
A T
T-
-B
BA A C
CKK P
PO
OC CKKEET
T
R
RE
EA
A R
R C
CEEN
NT TE
ER
R
P
P O
OC CKKEET
T

This f igure includes the total weight
of all occupants, cargo, and
accessories.
To f igure out how much cargo you
can carry:Add up the weight of all occupants.
The f inal number is the total weight
of cargo you can carry. Store or secure all items that could
be thrown around and hurt
someone during a crash.
Be sure items placed on the f loor
behind the f ront seats cannot roll
under the seats and interf ere with
the driver’s ability to operate the
pedals, or with the proper
operation of the seats.Keep the glove box closed while
driving. If the lid is open, a
passenger could injure their knees
during a crash or sudden stop.
Do not stack objects higher than
the tops of the seat-backs. They
could block your view and be
thrown about the vehicle during a
crash or sudden stop. Distribute cargo evenly on the
f loor of the cargo area, placing the
heaviest items on the bottom and
as far forward as possible.
Tie down items that could be
thrown about the car during a
crash or sudden stop.
The maximum load f or your vehicle
is 400 lbs (185 kg).
Subtract the total f rom 400 lbs
(185 kg).
CONT INUED
Load Limit
Carrying Items in the Passenger
CompartmentCarrying Cargo in the Cargo A rea
Carrying Cargo
Bef ore Driving129
Overloading or improper
loading can affect handling and
stability and cause a crash in
which you can be hurt or killed.
Follow all load limits and other
loading guidelines in this
manual.

The air intake f or the battery is
located behind the passenger’s seat.
Do not block this air intake with any
cargo.
If you carry large items that
prevent you f rom closing the
hatch, exhaust gas can enter the
passenger area. To avoid the
possibility of carbon monoxide
poisoning, f ollow the instructions
on page .
To secure the cargo, you can use the
f our cargo hooks on the cargo area.
The illustration shows the location of
each cargo hook. The cargo net can be used to help
hold down light items in the cargo
area. The cargo net may not prevent
heavy items f rom being thrown
forwardinacrashorasuddenstop.
Cargo secured with this net should
not exceed 22 lbs (10 kg). Heavy
items should be secured to the cargo
area floor with tie-downs or cinch
straps attached to the cargo hooks.
The f loor of the storage box is
made of a sof t plastic material. It is
not strong enough to stand heavy
goods on it.
40
Carrying Cargo
Bef ore Driving
Air Intake
Cargo Hooks Cargo Net
130
A AI
IRR I
INNT TA
A K
KEE
C
Ca arrgg o
o H
Ho
oo
ok
kss a
ann d
d C
Caarrgg o
o N
Neett

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 .132
.......................
Starting the Engine .133
Starting in Cold Weather ....................
at High Altitude .133
....
5-speed Manual Transmission . 134
............................
Auto Idle Stop .135
Shif t Up/Shif t Down ...............................
Indicators .137
..............
Engine Speed Limiter . 137
..............
Automatic Transmission . 138
Continuously Variable ............
Transmission (CVT) . 138
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 138
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 138
.............
Engine Speed Limitter . 141
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 142
............................
Auto Idle Stop .143
...........................................
Parking .145
..............................
Parking Tips .145
.....................
The Braking System .146
.............
Brake Wear Indicators . 146
...............
Brake System Design . 147
.......................
Anti-lock Brakes .147
...............
Driving in Bad Weather . 149
...........................
Towing a Trailer .150
Driving
Driving131

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 or
her seat belt (see page ).
1.
2.
3.
4. 5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10. 11. 45
76
78
15 133
Preparing to Drive
Driving132

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)
133