2004 HONDA INSIGHT brake

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

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

This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
manual and automatic transmissions.
It also includes important
information on parking your vehicle,
and the braking system.........................
Preparing to Drive .106
.......................
Starting the Engine .107
....
5-speed Manual Transmission . 108
............................
Auto Idle Stop .109
..............
Automatic Transmission . 111
Continuously Variable ............
Transmission (CVT) . 111
............................
Auto Idle Stop .116
..................................
Parking Tips .118
.............................
Braking System .119
...............
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) . 120
...........................
Towing a Trailer .121
Driving
Driving105

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
pressed.
Make sure the shif t lever is in
Park. Press on the brake pedal.
Without touching the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition key to the
START (III) position. Do not hold
the key in START for more than
15 seconds at a time. If the engine
does not start right away, pause
f or at least 10 seconds bef ore
trying again.If the engine does not start within
15 seconds, or starts but stalls
right away, repeat step 4 with the
accelerator pedal pressed halfway
down. If the engine starts, release
pressure on the accelerator pedal
so the engine does not race.
If the engine fails to start, press
the accelerator pedal all the way
downandholdittherewhile
starting to clear flooding. If the
engine still does not start, return
to step 5.
1.
2.
3.
4. 5.
6.
Manual Transmission:
Automatic Transmission (CVT):
Starting the Engine
Driving107
NOTICE: The engine is harder to start
in cold weather. Also, the thinner air
f ound at altitudes above 8,000 f eet
(2,400 meters) adds to this problem.

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 shif t into
Reverse with the vehicle 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
Driving108
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.

CONT INUED
The Shif t Up or Shif t Down indicator
will come on at the best time to shif t
toahigherorlowergearforthebest
f uel economy. You can achieve the
best f uel economy by accelerating
and decelerating slowly, and shif ting
up when prompted.
The Shift Down indicator prompts
you to shif t to a lower gear when you
are climbing a hill f aster than 12 mph
(19km/h),losingspeed,andpressing on the accelerator pedal.
Road and traffic conditions may
require you to shif t at times other
than those indicated.
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.
Bef ore downshif ting, make sure the
engine will not go into the
tachometer’s red zone.
To maximize f uel economy, under
certain conditions, the engine will
shut of f when you come to a stop.
Those conditions are:
The A/C is of f , or in ECON mode,
and the outside temperature is
above 41°F (5°C) (see page ). The engine coolant is nearly up to
normal operating temperature.
The vehicle’s speed is below 19
mph (30 km/h) and you are
pressing on the brake pedal to
come to a stop.
You depress the clutch pedal.
You are not pressing on the
accelerator pedal.
The IMA battery is suf f iciently
charged (at least 1/3 on the
battery level gauge). 73
5-speed Manual T ransmission
Driving
Shif t Up/Shif t Down Indicators
Engine Speed L imiterAuto Idle Stop
109
SHIFT UP INDICATOR
SHIFT DOWN INDICATOR

There is adequate vacuum reserve
f or the power brakes.
The engine will start again
automatically when you shift to first
gear. There is no need to start the
engine with the ignition switch.
It is recommended that you shif t to
Neutral and release the clutch pedal
while stopped. Sitting with the clutch
pedal depressed and the shif t lever
in gear will cause the engine to
continue running, def eating the f uel
economy benef its of the Auto Idle
Stop f unction.
During Auto Idle Stop, the IMA
charge and power brake vacuum
reserve is monitored by the system.
If either drops below a desired level,
and the shif t lever is in Neutral, the
engine will restart so it can recharge
the IMA battery or replenish the
vacuum supply. Auto Idle Stop is not active.
Auto Idle Stop is active.
The clutch pedal is depressed.
The transmission is not in gear.Auto Idle Stop is active.
The clutch is not depressed.
You cannot restart the engine.
You will hear a chime if the door is
open.
When the indicator is of f :
When the indicator is on: When the indicator is blinking:
5-speed Manual T ransmission
Driving
A uto Idle Stop Indicator
110
AUTO IDEL STOP INDICATOR