[andrew28]

Read both the owner's manual & guide when you get the chance because it covers a lot of important topics not covered here.

• If the doors are frozen shut, use warm water around the door edges to melt any ice. Do not try to force them open, as this can damage the rubber trim around the doors. When done, wipe dry to avoid further freezing.
• Heat from the engine and exhaust can ignite flammable materials left under the hood, causing a fire. If you’ve parked your vehicle for an extended period, inspect and remove any debris that may have collected, such as dried grass and leaves that have fallen or have been carried in for use as a nest by a small animal. Also check under the hood for leftover flammable materials after you or someone else has performed maintenance on your vehicle.
• During the first 600 miles (1,000 km) of operation, avoid sudden acceleration or full throttle operation so as to not damage the engine or powertrain.
• Avoid hard braking for the first 200 miles (300 km). You should also follow this when the brake pads are replaced.
• The maximum load for your vehicle type is: • 850 lbs (385 kg) . This figure includes the total weight of all occupants, cargo, and accessories, and the tongue load if you are towing a trailer. Overloading or improper loading can affect handling and stability and cause a crash in which you can be hurt or killed.
• The headlight aim on your vehicle was set by the factory, and does not need to be adjusted. However, if you regularly carry heavy items in the cargo area or tow a trailer, have the aiming readjusted at your dealer or by a qualified technician.
• Your vehicle is not designed to tow a trailer. Attempting to do so can void your vehicle warranties.
• The READY indicator comes on when the power system is on and you can start driving. If the outside temperature is extremely low, you cannot drive until conditions are improved. In this case, the READY indicator does not come on and a warning message appears on the driver information interface.
• The engine is harder to start in cold weather and in thinner air found at altitudes above 8,000 feet (2,400 m). When starting the engine in cold weather, turn off all electrical accessories such as the lights, climate control system, and rear defogger in order to reduce battery drain.
• When you change from D to R and vice versa, or want to change to Park (P), come to a complete stop and keep the brake pedal applied. Operating the gear buttons before the vehicle has come to a complete standstill can damage the transmission.
• If the POWER button is pressed while the vehicle is in car wash mode, the power mode will change to ACCESSORY.
• The ABS may not function correctly if you use an incorrect tire type and size.
• When ACC with LSF slows your vehicle by applying the brakes, your vehicle's brake lights will illuminate.
• Improper use of ACC can lead to a crash. Use ACC only when traveling on open highways in good weather.
• Do not place an object on the top of the instrument panel. It may reflect onto the windshield and prevent the system(LKAS) from detecting lane lines properly.
• Braking is applied only when the lane markings are solid continuous lines. (RDM)
• The system(CMBS) activates when: • The speed difference between your vehicle and a vehicle or pedestrian detected in front of you is about 3 mph (5 km/h) and over with a chance of a collision. • Your vehicle speed is about 62 mph (100 km/h) or less and there is a chance of a collision with an oncoming detected vehicle or a pedestrian in front of you
• CMBS is designed to reduce the severity of an unavoidable collision.
• The rear camera view is restricted. You cannot see the corner ends of the bumper or what is underneath the bumper. Its unique lens also makes objects appear closer or farther than they actually are.
• Use of unleaded gasoline of 87 octane or higher is recommended. • Honda recommends TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline where available. • Do NOT use gasoline containing more than 15% ethanol. • Do NOT use gasoline containing methanol. • Do NOT use gasoline containing MMT.
• We recommend quality gasoline containing detergent additives that help prevent fuel system and engine deposits. In addition, in order to maintain good performance, fuel economy, and emissions control, we strongly recommend the use of gasoline that does NOT contain harmful manganese-based fuel additives such as MMT, if such gasoline is available.
• When the tank is full, the filler nozzle will click off automatically. This leaves space in the fuel tank in case the fuel expands with a change in the temperature.
• If any electrical devices are not working, turn the vehicle off and check to see if any applicable fuse is blown. Fuse locations are shown on the fuse box cover.
• Replacing a fuse with one that has a higher rating greatly increases the chances of damaging the electrical system.
• Do not fill the engine oil above the upper mark. Overfilling the engine oil can result in leaks and engine damage
• Failure to reset the engine oil life after a maintenance service results in the system showing incorrect maintenance intervals, which can lead to serious mechanical problems.
• For vehicles used in temperatures below -31°F (-35°C), change the coolant from the standard 50:50 antifreeze:water mix to one with added antifreeze. Consult a dealer for more information.
• Use of a battery not designed for this vehicle could cause a hydrogen gas leak inside the vehicle, resulting in a fire or explosion that may cause injury or death. Only install a 12V AGM battery designed for use in this vehicle.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. When conducting any battery maintenance, wear protective clothing and a face shield, or have a skilled technician do it.
• The battery condition is monitored by the sensor on the negative terminal. If there is a problem with the sensor, a warning message appears on the Driver Information Interface Have your vehicle checked by a dealer.
• Battery posts, terminals, and related accessories contain lead and lead compounds. Wash your hands after handling.
• Do not use engine antifreeze or a vinegar/water solution in the windshield washer reservoir. Antifreeze can damage your vehicle’s paint. A vinegar/water solution can damage the windshield washer pump.
• Brake fluid marked DOT 5 is not compatible with your vehicle’s braking system and can cause extensive damage.
• AGM labeled batteries, like those installed in your vehicle, require a compatible charger to be properly charged. Damage to the battery can result if the battery is charged improperly or with the wrong equipment. For more information on how to charge your vehicle's AGM battery, consult a dealer.
• You should refuel when the reading approaches E. Running out of fuel can cause the engine to misfire, damaging the catalytic converter.

Wiper Blade Maintenance Mode

• Set the power mode to VEHICLE OFF.
• While holding the wiper switch in the MIST position, set the power mode to ON, then to VEHICLE OFF. Both wiper arms are set to the maintenance position.
• Lift both wiper arms.

Avoid dropping the wiper arm onto the windshield, it may damage the wiper arm and/or the windshield.

OEM Tires

• If a tire failure occurs, you may hear a loud noise, feel a vibration, and/or the vehicle may pull toward the side of the failed tire. If possible, step on the accelerator momentarily to maintain forward momentum and ensure vehicle control. It is important that you DO NOT BRAKE OR ABRUPTLY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. Slowly remove your foot from the accelerator and hold the steering wheel firmly while steering to remain in your lane. Once the vehicle has slowed and is fully under control, apply the brakes gently; safely pull over to the shoulder and come to a stop. Inspect the tires.
• It is impossible to determine whether tires are properly inflated by simply looking at them. It is almost impossible to “feel or hear” when a tire is being run underinflated or nearly flat. Tires must be checked monthly with a tire pressure gauge. Pressures should be checked when tires are cold, in other words, before they have been driven on. Driving, even for a short distance, causes tires to heat up and air pressure to increase.
• If pressures are checked after tires have been driven for more than three minutes or more than two kilometers the tires become hot and the pressures will increase by approximately 4 psi. Therefore when the tire pressure is adjusted under these conditions, it should be increased to a gauge reading of 4 psi greater than the recommended cold inflation pressure.
• Do not spin wheels in excess of 35 mph (55 km/h) as indicated on the speedometer. Excessive speed in a free-running, unloaded tire can cause it to “explode” from centrifugal force. The energy released by such an explosion is sufficient to cause serious physical injury or death. Never allow anyone to stand near or behind the spinning tire.
• When in mud, sand, snow, ice or other slippery conditions, do not engage in excessive wheel spin. Accelerating the motor excessively, particularly with automatic transmission vehicles, may cause a drive tire that has lost traction to spin beyond its speed capability.
• A tire impacted by a road hazard (curb, pothole, debris) may be damaged but not have visible signs of damage on its surface. A tire damaged by an impact may sustain a sudden failure a day, week, or even months later. You may not recall hitting an object that damaged or injured your tires. Air loss, unusual tire wear, localized wear or vibrations can also be signs of internal tire damage.
• All tires will wear out faster when subjected to high speeds as well as hard cornering, rapid starts, sudden stops, frequent driving on roads which are in poor condition, and off road use. Roads with holes and rocks or other objects can damage tires and cause misalignment of your vehicle. When driving on such roads, drive carefully and slowly, and before driving again at normal or highway speeds, examine your tires for any damage, such as cuts, bulges, penetrations, unusual wear patterns, etc.
• Tires which are loaded beyond their maximum allowable loads for the particular application will build up excessive heat that may result in sudden tire destruction.
• If your tires are wearing unevenly, such as the inside shoulder of the tire wearing faster than the rest of the tread, or if you detect excessive vibration, your vehicle may be out of alignment or balance. These conditions not only shorten the life of your tires but adversely affect the handling characteristics of your vehicle, which could be dangerous. If you detect irregular wear or vibration, have your alignment and balance checked immediately. Tires which have been run underinflated will show more wear on the shoulders than in the center of the tread.
• Michelin recommends rotating your tires every 6,000 to 8,000 miles (10,000 to 12,000 km).
  Monthly inspection for tire wear is recommended. Your tires should be rotated at the first sign of irregular wear, even if it occurs before 6,000 miles (10,000 km). This is true for all vehicles.
• Determine whether rotated tires require tire inflation adjustment as front and rear position tire pressure may vary according to the vehicle manufacturer’s specification due to the actual load on that wheel position.
• Tires which become unserviceable due to alterations such as truing, whitewall inlays, addition of balancing or sealant liquids, or the use of tire dressing containing petroleum distillates are excluded from warranty coverage.
• Tires contain waxes and emollients to protect their outer surfaces from ozone and weather checking. As the tire rolls and flexes, the waxes and emollients continually migrate to the surface, replenishing this protection throughout the normal use of the tire. Consequently, when tires sit outdoors, unused for long periods of time (a month or more) their surfaces become dry and more susceptible to ozone and weather checking and the casing becomes susceptible to flat spotting.
• Repairs of all tires must be of the combined plug and inside patch type. Plug only repairs are improper. A tire should be removed from the rim and inspected prior to repair. Any tire repair done without removing the tire from the rim is improper. An improperly repaired tire will cause further damage to the tire by either leaking air or allowing air, moisture and contaminants to enter the structure of the tire. An improperly repaired tire can fail suddenly or at a later date. Never repair a tire with less than 2/32nds of an inch tread remaining. At this tread depth, the tire is worn out and must be replaced.

Understanding Your Vehicle's Safety Equipment
A guide to what every driver and passenger should know about their Honda vehicle's safety equipment.

2020 Honda Insight Emergency Response guide

 

[Wasabi]

Good stuff, thanks! :smile:

 

[hasarad]

I'm not so sure this applies to us:

When your vehicle speed drops below 22 mph (35 km/h), ACC will automatically cancel and no longer will apply your vehicle’s brakes.

We have low-speed follow. My Insight will keep ACC active all the way to a full stop. It' will keep the brakes engaged thereafter until I provide some type of input.

It's sad they needed to put this in print, but I guess they had to because someone tried it:

Do not use engine antifreeze or a vinegar/water solution in the windshield washer reservoir. Antifreeze can damage your vehicle’s paint. A vinegar/water solution can damage the windshield washer pump.

 

[evers]

Thanks for compiling all of this!

 

[andrew28]

I'm not so sure this applies to us:

When your vehicle speed drops below 22 mph (35 km/h), ACC will automatically cancel and no longer will apply your vehicle’s brakes.

We have low-speed follow. My Insight will keep ACC active all the way to a full stop. It' will keep the brakes engaged thereafter until I provide some type of input.

It's sad they needed to put this in print, but I guess they had to because someone tried it:

Do not use engine antifreeze or a vinegar/water solution in the windshield washer reservoir. Antifreeze can damage your vehicle’s paint. A vinegar/water solution can damage the windshield washer pump.

Low speed follow only works if our Insight has a lock on a target car. When LSF is not active due to no target car, you're using ACC. ACC has the above limitation which solves one of @Verdier 's main complaints below. :wink:

 

[insightfully]

• accessory or on mode: Press the power button once without pressing the brake pedal for accessory mode. Press it again for on mode. Starting the engine: Press and hold the brake pedal, then press the power button. Keep your foot firmly on the brake pedal when starting the engine. Turning the vehicle off: Select park, then press the power button. If you press the button and the shift lever is not in park, the vehicle goes into accessory mode. (this was interesting never knew the car had an "on" mode and i finally know how to get back to "accessory" mode to keep music playing while turning off the engine.)
• if the power button is pressed while the vehicle is in car wash mode, the power mode will change to accessory.

Have you had a chance to use the "pressing Power button while not in park" feature yet to put the car into accessory mode from the ON mode? The arrows in the attached power mode diagram suggested that getting to accessory mode was "one-directional" from the OFF mode, so I haven't tried it yet... but would like to know how it works.

Ironically, you suggested getting to accessory mode from ON mode as an improvement in this "Accessory Mode without Powering Down" thread.

"I think requiring your foot on the brake while pushing the start button to turn the car off similar to starting up would fix this issue. So you can then push the start button once during engine on to put it in accessory mode. I'm not sure why automakers still have not implement this solution but they probably have a good reason to not "fix" it."​

"ON" mode was referenced in that thread, and your suggestion at the time for tricking/overriding the shutdown now seems to parallel putting the Insight in car wash mode (Neutral). Maybe these features are Honda's response to your post from April 2019!

 

[andrew28]

Have you had a chance to use the "pressing Power button while not in park" feature yet to put the car into accessory mode from the ON mode? The arrows in the attached power mode diagram suggested that getting to accessory mode was "one-directional" from the OFF mode, so I haven't tried it yet... but would like to know how it works.

Ironically, you suggested getting to accessory mode from ON mode as an improvement in this "Accessory Mode without Powering Down" thread.

"I think requiring your foot on the brake while pushing the start button to turn the car off similar to starting up would fix this issue. So you can then push the start button once during engine on to put it in accessory mode. I'm not sure why automakers still have not implement this solution but they probably have a good reason to not "fix" it."​

"ON" mode was referenced in that thread, and your suggestion at the time for tricking/overriding the shutdown now seems to parallel putting the Insight in car wash mode (Neutral). Maybe these features are Honda's response to your post from April 2019!

I haven't got the chance to try it today but will post an update here when I do. Still amazed I'm discovering new things about this car 6 months later. Honda seems to have lots of secret button sequences(even the brake pedal is used to reset the Eco score) hidden on this car that triggers different things. Some of them are disclosed in the owners manual/guide but some are hidden (diagnostic mode on the display audio and the display audio forced reboot).

 

[andrew28]

If you press the button and the shift lever is not in Park, the vehicle goes into Accessory mode.

The car went into park automatically and shut down instead of going into Accessory mode when I tried earlier.

If the POWER button is pressed while the vehicle is in car wash mode, the power mode will change to ACCESSORY.

This one worked but if I shift to park the car will shut down.

 

[insightfully]

If you press the button and the shift lever is not in Park, the vehicle goes into Accessory mode.
The car went into park automatically and shut down instead of going into Accessory mode when I tried earlier.

Thanks for verifying. It seemed a little odd that the diagram didn't show the "reverse direction/arrow" option to go from ON to Accessory. I'd still LIKE for it to work, though... and misleading that the Owners Guide mentions it but it doesn't hold true.

If the POWER button is pressed while the vehicle is in car wash mode, the power mode will change to ACCESSORY.
This one worked but if I shift to park the car will shut down.

I'll try this next time when I want to shut down the car but continue a phone conversation. Since the car was in Neutral vs Park when you pressed the Power button, I assume you needed to leave your foot on the brake until you wanted to exit accessory mode...?

 

[insightfully]

I haven't got the chance to try it today but will post an update here when I do. Still amazed I'm discovering new things about this car 6 months later. Honda seems to have lots of secret button sequences(even the brake pedal is used to reset the Eco score) hidden on this car that triggers different things. Some of them are disclosed in the owners manual/guide but some are hidden (diagnostic mode on the display audio and the display audio forced reboot).

As quick reference links for those who haven't yet seen the threads regarding these "hidden" features...

Diagnostic Menu - https://www.gen3insight.com/forum/290-honda-insight-user-interface/422-look-what-i-discovered-service-menu.html
Infotainment Reboot - https://www.gen3insight.com/forum/7-2019-honda-insight-general-discussion/2602-infotainment-system-restarting-rebooting-instructions.html

 

[andrew28]

Thanks for verifying. It seemed a little odd that the diagram didn't show the "reverse direction/arrow" option to go from ON to Accessory. I'd still LIKE for it to work, though... and misleading that the Owners Guide mentions it but it doesn't hold true.



I'll try this next time when I want to shut down the car but continue a phone conversation. Since the car was in Neutral vs Park when you pressed the Power button, I assume you needed to leave your foot on the brake until you wanted to exit accessory mode...?

The Owners Guide also mentions that a temperature gauge exist but where is it....?

Yep, I had to have my foot on the brake pedal. The moment I shifted into park, the car shut off. Not sure if engaging the parking brake and foot off the brake pedal would had allowed me to safely stay in Accessory mode.

 

[insightfully]

The Owners Guide also mentions that a temperature gauge exist but where is it....?

Very weird... we definitely don't have a temperature gauge and have talked about that at length; we only have a high or low engine temperature alert. Maybe this is something Honda originally planned to include, then removed from the car (but not the Owner's Guide) -?

I haven't spent a lot of time in the Owners Guide since it wasn't very detailed... and it's disappointing to see that it describes things that don't even work for the car (e.g. ON to Accessory mode, temperature gauge). I just rechecked manuals listed at the Honda Owner's Site, and the latest version is still the one from 6/15/18. Maybe a more accurate version/update will come out with the 2020 Insight...

 

[J. Bond]

Good excerpting! Much thanks for putting that together.

I was initially confused by this (and still may be!).

“When your vehicle speed drops below 22 mph (35 km/h), ACC will automatically cancel and no longer will apply your vehicle’s brakes.”

Does the ACC go off? Don't recall that it does.

It also sounds like the Honda statement could be incorrect, especially given Hasard's observation.

Doesn't ACC automatically come on when you start the Insight? IIRC, the dashboard shows in green: READY, ACC, and LKAS.

 

[hasarad]

Good excerpting! Much thanks for putting that together.

I was initially confused by this (and still may be!).

“When your vehicle speed drops below 22 mph (35 km/h), ACC will automatically cancel and no longer will apply your vehicle’s brakes.”

Does the ACC go off? Don't recall that it does.

It also sounds like the Honda statement could be incorrect, especially given Hasard's observation.

Doesn't ACC automatically come on when you start the Insight? IIRC, the dashboard shows in green: READY, ACC, and LKAS.

The dash just indicates that it's in ready state - not necessarily enabled.

I have gone from 40mph down to zero while following in traffic. We have ACC with low-speed follow. Perhaps it's not documented properly in the manual? I've never had it just "turn off."

 

[andrew28]

Good excerpting! Much thanks for putting that together.

I was initially confused by this (and still may be!).

“When your vehicle speed drops below 22 mph (35 km/h), ACC will automatically cancel and no longer will apply your vehicle’s brakes.”

Does the ACC go off? Don't recall that it does.

It also sounds like the Honda statement could be incorrect, especially given Hasard's observation.

Doesn't ACC automatically come on when you start the Insight? IIRC, the dashboard shows in green: READY, ACC, and LKAS.

I think it's referring to ACC LSF(low speed follow) braking is cancelled if no target vehicle in front is locked(you need a vehicle lock to follow for LSF to work) when under 22mph.

 

[Wifey'sInsight]

LKAS and ACC in green simply means that the systems are available and ready for use (sort of).

ACC is only on fully when you see a target speed and a car outline on your dash. If you decide to engage it while stopped (pressing set, foot on brake, car not moving). It Defaults to 25mph, and you can not reduce that target speed. LSF is a passive system, only engaged when ACC is active. This system doesn't recognize traffic signals or stop signs.

If you are following a vehicle, and that vehicle changes lanes, or turns etc... The car resumes the ACC target speed until another car is detected. It is critical that when using ACC that the driver is aware of all traffic signs/lights, and isn't overly reliant on these systems.

LKAS is on when you press the button and see the "lane lines" on your dash. Hollow lines means the system is looking for lines. Solid lines means that the system has found the lane markings and engaged on them. LKAS works at speeds of 45mph+

 

[J. Bond]

“LKAS is on when you press the button and see the "lane lines" on your dash.“

I thought that one came on automatically. I mean, i don't recall ever pressing any dedicated LKAS button, but have gotten steering warnings.

I do little highway driving, but it sounds like I’ll need to read up on cruise control and auto cruise control.

It'd be better if they had a LSF indicator and a separate ACC one.

 

[insightfully]

“LKAS is on when you press the button and see the "lane lines" on your dash.“

I thought that one came on automatically. I mean, i don't recall ever pressing any dedicated LKAS button, but have gotten steering warnings.

For both the Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) and Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), the car needs to be traveling 45+ mph for them to actively alert. Below that speed, the systems are 'on' but do not provide any driver alert. There are also conditions that temporarily deactivate LKAS and RDM when in use at 45+ mph (e.g. turn signals, braking, wipers on, etc).

LKAS is associated with ACC and highway driving. LKAS is activated after you press the MAIN button on the steering wheel AND press/select the LKAS button. It also turns off every time the car is powered down (see attachment 1). In combination with ACC, LKAS gives the car a 'semi-automated driving feel' since the car manages speed to the selected setpoint (ACC) and keeps the car centered while at the selected speed (LKAS).

RDM is 'always on' unless you select it off. It provides lane departure alerts, which is what generated the "steering warnings" you've previously seen (see attachment 2).

I created a mini-summary of Honda Sensing functions and limits in this prior post, which may help as you plan to read up on the Cruise and Sensing functions - https://www.gen3insight.com/forum/10920-post10.html

 

[Wifey'sInsight]

“LKAS is on when you press the button and see the "lane lines" on your dash.“

I thought that one came on automatically. I mean, i don't recall ever pressing any dedicated LKAS button, but have gotten steering warnings.

I do little highway driving, but it sounds like I’ll need to read up on cruise control and auto cruise control.

It'd be better if they had a LSF indicator and a separate ACC one.

The steering warning that comes on after "Lane Departure" warning has to do with the Lane Departure warning. (It's the same warning as with LKAS, see below)

Lane keep assist, the camera detects lane markings and will actually steer the vehicle to keep it between the lines. If you take your hands off the steering wheel, or don't provide enough input the "steering required warning" will illuminate on the dash.

 

[J. Bond]

Let me see if I understand this...

Even though the LKAS and ACC lights are on, the two systems are NOT active unless you press other buttons!

That's confusing.

So, the vibration and alert that I get the couple of times I've drifted over ever so slightly are RDM and not LKAS. I can't help but think that lots of Insight drivers would think that both are functional (or, at least, that LKAS is) given the green lit up letters!

I definitely will need to do more reading on this. Thank you both -- and Insightfully, in particular, for the links and JPGs.

I'm feeling as if there are stages of Insight driver development... first stage involves the obvious tech features and basic goodies (Econ, EV Mode, MPG instant display, RDM). Second stage involves the next level of invoking more of the Honda Sensing features -- through MANUAL activation. Third stage... to be discovered.