2002 HONDA INSIGHT brake

The f luid level should be between
theMINandMAXmarksontheside
of the reservoir. If the level is at or
below the MIN mark, your brake
system needs attention. Have the
brake system inspected f or leaks or
worn brake pads.
Always use Honda Heavy Duty
Brake Fluid DOT 3. If it is not
available, you should use only DOT 3
or DOT 4 f luid, f rom a sealed
container, as a temporary
replacement. However, the use of
any non-Honda brake fluid can cause
corrosion and decrease the lif e of the
system. Have the brake system
f lushed and ref illed with Honda
Heavy Duty Brake Fluid DOT 3 as
soon as possible.
Brake f luid marked DOT 5 is not
compatible with your car’s braking
system and can cause extensive
damage.
Check the f luid level in the reser-
voirs monthly. There are up to two
reservoirs, depending on the model.
They are:
The brake f luid should be replaced
accordingtothetimeanddistance
recommendations in the mainte-
nance schedule.
Brake f luid reservoir (all models)
Clutch f luid reservoir
(manual transmission only)
Maint enance
Brake and Clutch Fluid
Brake System
179
M M
A
AX
X
M
M I
INN

The f luid should be between the
MIN and MAX marks on the side of
the reservoir. If it is not, add brake
f luid to bring it up to that level. Use
the same f luid specif ied f or the
brake system.
Low f luid level can indicate a leak in
the clutch system. Have this system
inspected as soon as possible.
Maint enance
Brake and Clutch Fluid
Clutch System
180
M MA
AX
X
M
M I
INN

Mount snow chains on your vehicle
when warranted by driving condi-
tions or required by local laws. Make
sure the chains are the correct size
f or your tires. Install them only on
the front tires. If metal chains are
used, they must be SAE class ‘‘S.’’
Cable type traction devices can also
be used.
When installing chains, f ollow the
manuf acturer’s instructions and
mount them as tightly as you can.
Drive slowly with chains installed. If
you hear the chains contacting the
body or chassis, stop and investigate.
Make sure the chains are installed
tightly, and that they are not
contacting the brake lines or
suspension. Remove the chains as
soon as you begin driving on cleared
roads.
If you mount snow tires on your
Honda, make sure they are radial
tires of the same size and load range
as the original tires. Mount snow
tiresonallfourwheelstobalance
your car’s handling in all weather
conditions. Keep in mind the traction
provided by snow tires on dry roads
may not be as high as your car’s
original equipment tires. You should
drive cautiously even when the roads
areclear.Checkwiththetiredealer
f or maximum speed recommenda-
tions.
Snow T ires
T ire Chains
Tires
Maint enance195
Chains of the wrong size or that are
improperly installed can damage your
car’s brake lines, suspension, body, and
wheels. Stop driving if you hear the
chains hitting any part of the car.

Check the f ollowing:Headlights (low and high beam)
Parking lights
Taillights
Brake lights
High-mount brake light
Turn signals
Back-up lights
Hazard light f unction
License plate light
Side marker lights
Daytime running lights
(Canadian models)
If youfindanybulbsareburnedout,
replace them as soon as possible.
Refer to the chart on page to
determinewhattypeof replacement
bulb is needed. 243
Lights
Maint enance197
H H
I
IGGH H-
-M
M O
OUUNNTT B
BRRAA K
KEE L
LIIGGH HT
T
S
STTO
OP P/
/T
T A
A I
ILLL LIIGGH HT
T
T
T U
UR RNN S
SIIGGN NAAL
L
L
LI IGGH HT
T
B
BA A C
CKK--U
UP P L
LIIGGH HT
T
L
LI
ICCE EN
NS SEE P
PL
LAA T
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E L
LIIGGH HT
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Block the rear wheels.
Fill the f uel tank.
Change the engine oil and f ilter
(see page ).
Wash and dry the exterior
completely.
Cleantheinterior.Makesurethe
carpeting, floor mats, etc. are
completely dry.
If you need to park your car f or an
extended period (more than one
month), there are several things you
should do to prepare it f or storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to
get your car back on the road. If
possible, store your car indoors.
If the car is to be stored for a
longer period, it should be
supported on jackstands so the
tires are of f the ground.
Leave one window open slightly (if
the car is being stored indoors).Coverthecarwitha‘‘breathable’’
cover, one made f rom a porous
material such as cotton.
Nonporous materials, such as
plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint.
Disconnect the battery.
Support the f ront and rear wiper
blade arms with a f olded towel or
ragsotheydonottouchthe
windshield.
To minimize sticking, apply a
silicone spray lubricant to all door
and hatch seals. Also, apply a body
wax to the painted surf aces that
mate with the door and hatch seals. Drive your car every month f or
about 30 minutes. This will keep
the IMA battery charged and in
good condition.
If you store your car f or 12 months
or longer, have your Honda dealer
perf orm the inspections called f or in
the 24 months/30,000 miles (48,000
km) maintenance schedule (Normal
Conditions) as soon as you take it
out of storage (see page ). The
replacements called f or in the
maintenance schedule are not
needed unless the car has actually
reached that time or mileage.
Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in Reverse (5-
speed manual) or Park (CVT). 167
156
Maint enance
St oring Your Car
204

This section covers the more-
common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you inf ormation about how to
safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has
stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again.
If not, you will also f ind instructions
on getting your car towed.......................
Compact Spare Tire .214
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .215
..........
If Your Engine Won’t Start . 221
Nothing Happens or the Starter Motor Operates ............................
Very Slowly .221
The Starter Operates ................................
Normally .222
................................
Jump Starting .222
............
If Your Engine Overheats . 224
.........
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 226
..........
Charging System Indicator . 227
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 228
...............
Brake System Indicator . 230
..............................................
Fuses .231
..........
Checking and Replacing . 232
......................
Emergency Towing .237
Taking Care of the Unexpected
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed213

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 ed215
S SPPA
A R
REE T
TI
IRRE E
J
JA
A C
CKK
F
FL
LOOO ORR B
BOOA AR
RDD T
TO
OO OLL K
KIITT
S
ST TO
OR RAA G
GE E B
BOOX X
The car can easily roll off the
jack, seriously injuring anyone
underneath.
Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and
never get under the car when it
is supported only by the jack.

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, follow 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.
133
231 237 183
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 ed222
A battery can explode if you do
not follow the correct procedure,
seriously injuring anyone
nearby.
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.