2004 HONDA INSIGHT Owners Manual

Screw the fuel fill cap back on
until it clicks at least three times.
If you do not properly tighten the
cap, the Malf unction Indicator
Lampmaycomeon(seepage).
Push the f uel f ill door closed until
it latches.
Park the vehicle, and set the
parking brake. Pull the hood
release handle located under the
lower lef t corner of the dashboard.
The hood will pop up slightly.Put your f ingers under the f ront
edge of the hood to the right of
center. Slide your hand to the lef t
until you f eel the hood latch
handle. Push this handle up until it
releases the hood. Lif t the hood.
If the hood latch handle moves
stif f ly, or if you can open the hood
without lifting the handle, the
mechanism should be cleaned and
lubricated (see page ).
1.
2.
5.
6.
178
143
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving
Opening the Hood
94
HOOD
RELEASE
HANDLELATCH

To Close the Hood:
Lif t it up slightly to remove the
support rod f rom the hole. Put the
support rod back into its holding clip.
Lower the hood to about a f oot (30
cm) above the f ender, then let it
drop. Make sure it is securely
latched.Pull the support rod out of its clip,
and insert the end into the hole on
theleftsideof thehood.
Wait a f ew minutes af ter turning the
engine of f bef ore you check the oil.
Remove the dipstick (orange
handle).
Wipe of f the dipstick with a clean
cloth or paper towel.
Insert it all the way back in its hole. Remove the dipstick again and
check the level. It should be
between the upper and lower
marks.
If it is near or below the lower mark,
see on page .
3.
3. 1.
2.4.
133
Oil Check
A dding Oil
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving95
CLIPSUPPORT ROD
DIPSTICK
UPPER MARK
LOWER MARK

Refer toon page f or inf ormation
on checking other items in your
Honda.
Look at the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. Make sure it is
between the MAX and MIN lines. If
it is below the MIN line, see on page f or inf ormation
on adding the proper coolant. 126
137
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving
Engine Coolant Check Owner’s Maintenance
Checks
Engine
Coolant
96
RESERVE
TANK
MAX MIN

CONT INUED
Always maintain your vehicle
according to the maintenance
schedule. Seeon page
. Drive moderately. Rapid
acceleration, abrupt cornering,
and hard braking use more f uel.
Always drive in the highest gear
possible.
Try to maintain a constant speed.
Everytimeyouslowdownand
speed up, your vehicle uses extra
f uel.
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, so you will keep the
engine operating in its most
economical range. Wind resistance causes vehicles to
usemorefuelathigherspeeds.
Driving at moderate speeds on the
highway also reduces wind
resistance and conserves f uel.
The current f uel mileage display is
available to drive appropriately and
save the fuel.
Driving in ECON mode, the A/C
of f , and using the Auto Idle Stop
function is the most effective way
to get the best f uel economy.
Combine several short trips into
one.
an underinf lated tire
causes more ‘‘rolling resistance,’’
which uses f uel.
The build-up of snow or mud on
your vehicle’s underside adds
weight and rolling resistance.
Frequent cleaning helps your f uel
mileage and reduces the chance of
corrosion.
The f uel ef f icient, low-viscosity
0W- 20oil recommended f or your
Insightisformulatedtohelpthe
engine use less f uel. This oil is
available at your Honda dealer. 126
For example,
Fuel Economy
Bef ore Driving
Improving Fuel Economy
Owner’s
Maintenance Checks
97

The air conditioning puts an extra
load on the engine which makes it
usemorefuel.Usethefresh-air
ventilation when possible.
If air conditioning is needed, you
can save some f uel by using the
A/C in ‘‘ECON’’ mode. When the
outside temperature is above 41°F
(5°C), this mode allows the Auto
Idle Stop f unction to shut of f the
engine when the vehicle is stopped,
resulting in f uel savings.
You may notice that using the A/C
causes a greater drop in f uel
economy. Although the extra f uel
used by the A/C load on the
engine is no greater than other
vehicles, it is more noticeable
because of your Insight’s excellent
f uel mileage.
Fuel Economy
Bef ore Driving98

Your dealer has Honda accessories
that allow you to personalize your
vehicle. These accessories have
been designed and approved f or your
vehicle, and are covered by warranty.When properly installed, cellular
phones, alarms, two-way radios, and
low-powered audio systems should
not interf ere with your vehicle’s
computer controlled systems, such
as the SRS and anti-lock brake
system.Bef ore installing any accessory:
Modif ying your vehicle, or installing
some non-Honda accessories, can
make your vehicle unsaf e. Bef ore
you make any modif ications or add
anyaccessories,besuretoreadthe
f ollowing inf ormation.
Although aftermarket accessories
may f it on your vehicle, they may not
meet f actory specif ications, and
could adversely af f ect your vehicle’s
handling and stability. (See
‘‘Modif ications’’ on page f or
additional information.) 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 ) or interf ere with
proper operation. Make sure the accessory does not
obscure any lights, or interf ere
with proper vehicle operation or
perf ormance.
100 183
A ccessories
Bef ore Driving
A ccessories and Modif ications
99
Improper accessories or
modifications can affect your
vehicle’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.

Some examples are:Raising your vehicle with an
af termarket suspension kit can
af f ect the handling and stability.
Af termarket wheels, because they
are a universal design, can cause
excessive stress on suspension
components. Larger or smaller wheels and tires
can interf ere with the operation of
your vehicle’s anti-lock brakes and
other systems.
Removing parts f rom your vehicle,
or replacing components with non-
Honda (af termarket) components
could seriously af f ect your vehicle’s
handling, stability, and reliability.
Lowering your vehicle with an
aftermarket suspension kit that
signif icantly reduces ground
clearance can allow the
undercarriage to hit speed bumps
or other raised objects, which
could cause the airbags to deploy. If you plan to modif y your vehicle,
consult your Honda dealer. 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. See the Saf ety
Precautions on page .
22
Bef ore Driving
Modif ying Your Vehicle
A ccessories and Modif ications
100

Î
Î
Your vehicle has several convenient
storage areas:Glove box
Seat-back pocket
Storage box
Cargo area
Rear center pocket
However, carrying too much cargo,
or improperly storing it, can af f ect
your vehicle’s handling, stability,
stopping distance, and tires, and
make it unsaf e. Bef ore 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.
CONT INUED
Carrying Cargo
Bef ore Driving101
STORAGE BOX
CARGO AREA REAR CENTER
POCKET
SEAT-BACK POCKET GLOVE BOX