2004 HONDA INSIGHT tow

2004 Insight Online Reference Owner's Manual
Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through\
this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.h\
elminc.com.
Contents

Owner's Identification Form
Introduction ........................................................................\
................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safet y........................................................................\
.........................................ii
Your Vehicle at a Glanc e........................................................................\
.............................................2
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
......................................5
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restr\
aint System.
Instruments and Control s........................................................................\
........................................ .39
Instrume nt panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
....................... .71
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
........................................................... .91
What gasoline to use, how to break -in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
..................................................................... .105
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
.............................................................123
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take you r vehicle to the dealer.
Taking Care of the Unexpecte d........................................................................\
..............................163
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, an d how to handle them.
Technical Informatio n........................................................................\
.............................................189
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................201
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manu als (U.S. only)........................................................................\
..............................205
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index........................................................................\
........................................................................\
...... I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.

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MIST
OFF
INT Intermittent
LO Low
HI High
Windshield Washers Push the right lever up or down to
select a position.
The wipers are not activated.The wipers run at high
speed until you release the lever.
To turn on the rear window wiper,
turn the rotary switch clockwise to
ON. To also use the rear window
washer, turn the switch clockwise
past ON. The washer will spray as
long as you hold the switch in this
position. If you turn the switch
counterclockwise f rom the OFF
position, the washer will spray
without activating the rear window
wiper.
The wipers run at low speed.
The wipers operate every
f ew seconds. In low speed and
high speed, the wipers run
continuously.
The wipers run at high speed. Pull the
wiper control lever toward you and
hold it. The washers spray until
you release the lever. The wipers
run at low speed, then complete
one more sweep af ter you release
the lever.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6. OFF MIST
Rear Window Wiper and Washer
LO INT
HI
Windshield Washer
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Windshield Wipers and Washers
53

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

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

Always use the parking brake when
you park your vehicle. Make sure
the parking brake is set f irmly or
your vehicle may roll if it is parked
on an incline.
If your vehicle has an automatic
transmission, set the parking brake
bef ore you put the transmission in
Park. This keeps the vehicle f rom
moving and putting pressure on the
parking mechanism in the
transmission.If the vehicle is f acing uphill, turn
the f ront wheels away f rom the
curb. If you have a manual
transmission, put it in f irst gear.
If the vehicle is f acing downhill,
turn the front wheels toward the
curb. If you have a manual
transmission, put it in reverse gear.
Make sure the parking brake is
f ully released bef ore driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or
damage the rear brakes.Make sure the windows are closed.
Turn of f the lights.
Place any packages, valuables, etc.
in the storage box or take them
with you.
Lock the doors and the hatch with
the key or the remote transmitter.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other f lammable
materials. The hot three way
catalytic converter could cause
these materials to catch on fire.
Parking T ips
Driving
Parking T ips
118

It only helps with the
steering control during braking. on loose or
uneven surf aces, such as gravel or
snow, than a vehicle without anti-
lock. Slow down and allow a greater
distance between vehicles under
those conditions. Your vehicle is not designed to tow a
trailer. Attempting to do so can void
your warranties.
such as trying to take a
corner too f ast or making a sudden
lane change. Always drive at a safe
speed f or the road and weather
conditions.
Always steer moderately
when you are braking hard. Severe
or sharp steering wheel movement
can still cause your vehicle to veer
into oncoming traffic or off the road.
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS), Towing a Trailer
Driving
Important Saf ety Reminders
A BS does not reduce the time or
distance it takes to stop the
vehicle. A vehicle with A BS may require a
longer distance to stop
Towing a Trailer
A BS will not prevent a skid that
results f rom changing direction
abruptly,
A BS cannot prevent the loss of
stability.
121

Disconnect the blade assembly
fromthewiperarmbypushingin
the lock tab. Hold the lock tab in
while you push the blade assembly
toward the base of the arm.Remove the blade f rom its holder
by grasping the tabbed end of the
blade. Pull f irmly until the tabs
come out of the holder.
2.
3.
Wiper Blades
Maint enance152
NOTICE:
LOCK TABBLADE
Do not open the hood when
the wiper arms are raised, or you will
damage the hood and the wiper arms.

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Check the condition of your vehicle’s
12 volt battery monthly by looking at
the test indicator window. The label
on the battery explains the test
indicator’s colors. Check the terminals f or corrosion (a
white or yellowish powder). To
remove it, cover the terminals with a
solution of baking soda and water. It
will bubble up and turn brown. When
this stops, wash it of f with plain
water. Dry off the battery with a
cloth or paper towel. Coat the
terminals with grease to help prevent
f uture corrosion.
If additional battery maintenance is
needed, see your Honda dealer or a
qualif ied technician.
Battery posts,
terminals, and related accessories
contain lead and lead compounds. If you need to connect the battery to
a charger, disconnect both cables to
prevent damaging your vehicle’s
electrical system. Always disconnect
the negative ( ) cable first, and
reconnect it last.
Checking the Battery
Maint enance
WARNING:
Wash your hands af ter handling.
160
TEST INDICATOR WINDOW
The battery gives off explosive
hydrogen gas during normal
operation.
A spark or flame can cause the
battery to explode with enough
force to kill or seriously hurt you.
Wear protective clothing and a
face shield, or have a skilled
mechanic do the battery
maintenance.