2012 HONDA INSIGHT Owners Manual

If you need to use the shif t lock
release, it means your vehicle is
developing a problem. Have it
checked by your dealer.
Push down on the key while you
pressthereleasebuttononthe
shif t lever and move the shif t lever
out of Park to neutral. Insert the key in the shift lock
release slot.
This allows you to move the shif t
lever out of Park if the normal
method of pushing on the brake
pedal and pressing the release
button does not work.
Putaclothonthenotchof the
shif t lock release slot cover to
prevent scratches. Using a small
f lat-tip screwdriver or a metal
f ingernail f ile, caref ully pry on the
notch of the cover to remove it. Remove the key from the ignition
switch. Set the parking brake. Remove the key from the shift
lock release slot, then reinstall the
cover. Make sure the notch on the
cover is on the lef t side. Insert the
key into the ignition switch, press
the brake pedal, and restart the
engine.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.6.
Shif t L ock Release
Automatic Transmission (CVT)
Driving
277
SHIFT LOCK RELEASE SLOT RELEASE BUTTON

´
µ
´ µ
To shif t up or down, use the
(right) or (lef t) paddle shif ter on
either side of the steering wheel.
Pull the (right) paddle shifter to
upshift. Pull (left) to downshift. When you pull either paddle shif ter,
the shif t indicator shows you the
selected speed number.
WhenyouaredrivingintheD
position, pulling either paddle shif ter
switches f rom the D-normal shif t
mode to the D-paddle shif t mode.
You can shif t the transmission up or
down through seven-stages manually
with the paddle shifters.
When the transmission returns to
ordinary automatic transmission
(CVT), the displayed shif t indicator
disappears.
Downshif ting gives you more power
when climbing, and provides engine
braking when going down a steep hill.
On EX models
Driving with the Paddle Shif ters
Using the Paddle Shif ters in the
D position (D-Paddle Shif t Mode)
278
SHIFT INDICATOR

µ´
CONT INUED
The transmission control system
monitors the accelerator pedal use
and your driving conditions. When
you press the accelerator pedal as in
the normal driving, the system
judges that you are driving at a
constant cruising speed without
using the paddle shif ters. Under
these conditions, D-paddle shif t
mode is canceled, and the
transmission automatically returns to
ordinary automatic transmission
(CVT).
Downshifting with the (left)
paddle shif ter allows you to increase
the engine braking when going down
steep or long hills, and provides
more power when climbing uphills.
You can upshif t the transmission
manually to reduce the rpm.
To cancel the D-paddle shif t mode
manually, pull and hold the side
paddle shif ter until the shif t indicator
goes out.
The transmission remains in the
selected speed if you do not
accelerate.
Driving with the Paddle Shif ters
Driving
279

Each time you pull either paddle
shif ter, the transmission shif ts one
speed up or down. If you want to
shif t up or down more than two
speeds, pull the paddle shif ter twice,
pause, and then pull it again.The automatic transmission (CVT)
will not allow you to shif t if :
The transmission downshif ts to f irst
speed and returns to ordinary
automatic transmission (CVT) when
the vehicle comes to a complete stop
and the vehicle speed is about 6 mph
(10 km/h).
If there is a problem in the
transmission while you are driving
with the paddle shifters, the D
indicator f lashes, the D-paddle shif t
mode is canceled, and the
transmission returns to ordinary
automatic transmission (CVT).
You upshif t bef ore the engine
speed reaches the lowest
threshold of the higher speed. If you try to do this, the shift
indicator will f lash the number of
the lower speed several times,
then return to a higher speed. You downshif t bef ore the engine
speed reaches the highest
threshold of the lower speed.
You pull both paddle shif ters at
thesametime.
You pull one of the two paddle
shifters with another paddle
shif ter being pulled.
Driving with the Paddle Shif ters
280

´µ µ
With the shif t lever in the S position,
you can select the 7-Speed Manual
shif t mode to shif t speeds; much like
a manual transmission using the
paddle shif ters, but without a clutch
pedal.
When you move the shif t lever f rom
the ‘‘D’’ to the ‘‘S’’ position and pull
either paddle shif ter, the shif t
indicator displays ‘‘M’’ along with the
selected speed number.
To upshif t, pull the (right) paddle
shif ter. To downshif t, pull the
(lef t) paddle shif ter.If you keep depressing the
accelerator pedal without pulling the
paddle shif ter, the speed will be
automatically shifted up just before
the tachometer’s red zone.
The transmission also shif ts
automatically as the vehicle comes to
a complete stop. It downshif ts to f irst
speed when the vehicle speed
reaches 6 mph (10 km/h) or less.
Downshifting with the (left)
paddle shif ter allows you to increase
the engine braking when going down
steep or long hills, and provides
more power when climbing uphills.
You can upshif t the transmission
manually to reduce the rpm.
To enter the 7-speed manual shif t
mode, press the release button on
the front of the shift lever, move the
lever to the S position, then pull
either paddle shif ter. To cancel the
7-speed manual shif t mode and
return to the ordinary automatic
transmission (CVT), move the shif t
lever f rom the S position. When
moving the shift lever, be careful not
to operate incorrectly. While you are
driving in the 7-speed manual shif t
mode, the transmission will not
automatically return to the ordinary
automatic transmission (CVT).
CONT INUED
On EX models
Driving with the Paddle Shif ters
Using the Paddle Shif ters in the S
position (7-Speed Manual Shif t
Mode)
Driving
281
SHIFT INDICATOR ‘‘M’’ INDICATOR

µ
à
à
à
à
à
à
The automatic transmission (CVT)
will not allow you to shif t if :
You downshif t bef ore the engine
speed reaches the highest
threshold of the lower speed.
If you try to do this, the shift
indicator will f lash the number of
the lower speed several times,
then return to a higher speed.
You upshif t bef ore the engine
speed reaches the lowest
threshold of the higher speed. Drive in the highest speed number
that lets the engine run and
accelerate smoothly. This will give
you ef f ective emissions control. The
f ollowing shif t points are
recommended:
To shift to Low,
pull and hold both paddle shif ters
simultaneously until you see L in the
shift indicator. Use Low to get more
power when climbing, and f or
maximum engine braking when
going down steep hills.
Shif t up 12
23
34
45
56
67 Normal acceleration
15 mph (24 km/h)
25 mph (40 km/h)
40 mph (64 km/h)
45 mph (72 km/h)
50 mph (81 km/h)
55 mph (89 km/h)
You pull both paddle shif ters at
thesametime.
You pull one of the two paddle
shifters with another paddle
shif ter being pulled.
Driving with the Paddle Shif ters
Recommended Shif t Points L (L ow) mode
282

To help maximize f uel economy,
your vehicle has an Auto Idle Stop
f unction. Depending on
environmental conditions and vehicle
operation, the engine will shut of f
when you come to a stop.The transmission f luid
temperature is low.
When the vehicle is stopped on an
incline.
The windshield def roster is on.
The f an speed is selected to high
(more than f our steps on the
horizontal f an speed indicators).
The IMA battery charge is low.
While the auto idle stop f unction is
activated, the auto idle stop indicator
in the instrument panel blinks (see
page ).
WhentheECONmodeison,the
engine is more likely to stop than
when it is of f (see page ).
The engine will not stop
automatically under the f ollowing
conditions:
The engine automatically stops when
the vehicle comes to a stop with the
shif t lever in the D position and the
brake pedal pressed.
The engine may also stop when
vehicle speed drops below 7 mph (11
km/h) with the brake pedal pressed. Vehicle speed does not go above 9
mph (15 km/h) af ter starting the
engine.The vehicle is stopped with the
shif t position in P, R, S, or L.
The engine coolant temperature is
low. The pointer of the charge/assist
gauge does not move when
accelerating or decelerating. 285
127
CONT INUED
Auto Idle Stop
Driving
283

The engine coolant temperature
becomes low.
Thepressureonthebrakepedalis
repeatedly applied and released
slightly during a stop.
The ECON button is off, and the
dif f erence between the ambient
temperature and the temperature
setting of the climate control
system becomes signif icant.
Theclimatecontrolsystemstarts
to dehumidif y the interior
The engine automatically restarts
when:
The brake pedal is released.
Under the f ollowing conditions, the
engine restarts even if the brake
pedal is pressed:
The shif t position is changed to R
or L.
The accelerator pedal is pressed
The pressure to the brake pedal is
reduced and the vehicle starts
moving while stopped on an incline.
The IMA battery charge becomes
low.
The engine may not stop
automatically under the f ollowing
conditions:
The windshield def roster button is
pressed.
TheECONbuttonisoff,andthere
is a signif icant dif f erence between
the ambient temperature and the
temperature setting of the climate
control system.
The climate control system is
dehumidif ying the air.
The vehicle is stopped by braking
suddenly.
When the ECON button is on, the
engine is more likely to stop. See
page f or the ECON button. 127
Auto Idle Stop
284