Acura Integra 2000 Hatchback Owner's Manual

Interio
r Car e
Carpetin g
Vacuum the carpeting frequently to remove dirt. Ground-in dirt will make
the carpet wear out faster. Periodically shampoo the carpet to
keep it looking new. Use one of the
foam-type carpet cleaners on the market. Follow the instructions that
come with the cleaner, applying it
with a sponge or soft brush. Keep the carpeting as dry as possible bynot adding water to the foam.
Fabri c
Vacuum dirt and dust out of the material frequently. For generalcleaning, use a solution of mild soap
and lukewarm water, letting it air dry.
To clean off stubborn spots, use a commercially-available fabric cleaner.
Test it on a hidden area of the fabric first, to make sure it does not bleachor stain the fabric. Follow the
instructions that come with the

cleaner.
Viny
l

Remove dirt and dust with a vacuum
cleaner. Wipe the vinyl with a soft
cloth dampened in a solution of mild soap and water. Use the same
solution with a soft-bristle brush on
more difficult spots. You can also use
commercially-available spray or
foam-type vinyl cleaners.
Leathe r
On some models
Vacuum dirt and dust from the leather frequently. Pay particular
attention to the pleats and seams.Clean the leather with a soft cloth
dampened with clear water, then
buff it with a clean, dry cloth. If
further cleaning is needed, use a soap specifically for leather, such as
saddle soap. Apply this soap with a
damp, soft cloth. Wipe down and
buff as described above. Sea
t Belt s
If your seat belts get dirty, you can
use a soft brush with a mixture of
mild soap and warm water to clean
them. Do not use bleach, dye, or cleaning solvents. They can weaken
the belt material. Let the belts air- dry before you use the car.
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LOO
P

Interio
r Car e
Dirt build-up in the loops of the seat
belt anchors can cause the belts to retract slowly. Wipe the insides of
the loops with a clean cloth dampened in mild soap and warm
water or isopropyl alcohol. Window
s
Clean the windows, inside and out,
with a commercially-available glass cleaner. You can also use a mixtureof one part white vinegar to ten parts
water. This will remove the haze that
builds up on the inside of the
windows. Use a soft cloth or paper towels to clean all glass and clear
plastic surfaces.

The rear window defogger wires are

bonded to the inside of the glass.
Wiping vigorously up-and-down can

dislodge and break the defogger wires.
When cleaning the rear window, use

gentle pressure and wipe side-to-side.
Ai
r Freshener s
If you want to use an air freshener/ deodorizer in the interior of your car,
it is best to use a solid type. Some
liquid air fresheners contain chemi- cals that may cause parts of the
interior trim and fabric to crack or discolor.
If you use a liquid air freshener,
make sure you fasten it securely so it does not spill as you drive.
Appearance Car e

NOTIC
E

Corrosio
n Protectio n

Two factors normally contribute to causing corrosion in your car:
1. Moisture trapped in body cavities.
Dirt and road salt that collects in
hollows on the underside of the car stays damp, promoting
corrosion in that area.

2. Removal of paint and protective

coatings from the exterior and
underside of the car.

Many corrosion-preventive measures
are built into your Acura. You can
help keep your car from corroding
by performing some simple periodic
maintenance:
Repair chips and scratches in the
paint as soon as you discover them. Inspect and clean out the drain
holes in the bottom of the doors and body.
Check the floor coverings for
dampness. Carpeting and floor
mats may remain damp for a long
time, especially in winter. This dampness can eventually cause
the floor panels to corrode. Use a high-pressure spray to clean
the underside of your car. This is especially important in areas that
use road salt in winter. It is also a
good idea in humid climates and areas subject to salt air. Cars
equipped with ABS have a sensor
and wiring at each wheel. Be
careful not to damage them. Have the corrosion-preventive
coatings on the underside of your
car inspected and repaired
periodically.
Appearanc e Car e

Bod
y Repair s
Body repairs can affect your car's
resistance to corrosion. If your car
needs repairs after a collision, pay
close attention to the parts used in
the repair and the quality of the
work.
Make sure the repair facility usesGenuine Acura replacement bodyparts. Some companies make sheet
metal pieces that seem to duplicate
the original Acura body parts, butare actually inferior in fit, finish, and
corrosion resistance. Once installed,
they do not give the same high- quality appearance. When reporting your collision to the
insurance company, tell them you
want Genuine Acura parts used in the repair. Although most insurers
recognize the quality of original
parts, some may try to specify that
the repairs be done with otheravailable parts. You should investi-
gate this before any repairs have

begun.

Take your car to your authorized
Acura dealer for inspection after the repairs are completed. Your dealer
can make sure that quality materials
were used, and that corrosion- preventive coatings were applied toall repaired and replaced parts.
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222

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g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

This section covers the more- common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you information about how to safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again. If not, you will also find instructionson getting your car towed. Compact Spare Tire....................... 224
Changing a Flat Tire..................... 225
If Your Engine Won't Start........... 230 Nothing Happens or theStarter Motor OperatesVery Slowly............................. 230
The Starter Operates Normally................................. 231
Jump Starting................................. 231 If Your Engine Overheats............. 233
Low Oil Pressure Indicator.......... 235Charging System Indicator........... 236
Malfunction Indicator Lamp........ 237
Brake System Indicator................ 238 Closing the Moonroof................... 239
Fuses............................................... 240 Checking and Replacing........... 241
Emergency Towing....................... 245

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Compac
t Spar e Tir e

Your car has a compact spare tire that takes up less space. Use thisspare tire as a temporary replace-
ment only. Get your regular tirerepaired or replaced and put back on
your car as soon as you can.
Check the inflation pressure of the
compact spare tire every time you
check the other tires. It should be

inflated to:

60 psi (420 kPa , 4.20 kgf/cm2)

Follow these precautions whenever
you are using the compact spare tire:
Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)
under any circumstances.
This tire gives a harsher ride and
less traction on some road sur-
faces than the regular tire. Use greater caution while driving on
this tire. Do not mount snow chains on the

compact spare.

The wheel of the compact spare tire is designed especially to fit
your car. Do not use your spare tire on another vehicle unless it is

the same make and model.

Type-R model only
Do not drive with the compactspare tire mounted on the front
wheels for a long period; it will damage the Limited Slip Differential. The compact spare tire has a shorter

tread life than a regular tire. Replace
it when you can see the tread wear

indicator bars. The replacement
should be the same size and design

tire, mounted on the same wheel.

The compact spare tire is not
designed to be mounted on a regular

wheel, and the compact wheel is not
designed for mounting a regular tire.

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d INDICATO
R LOCATIO N MAR K
TREA D WEA R INDICATO R BA R

Changin
g a Fla t Tir e
If you have a flat tire while driving, stop in a safe place to change it.
Stopping in traffic or on the shoulderof a busy road is dangerous. Drive
slowly along the shoulder until you
get to an exit or an area to stop that is far away from the traffic lanes.
1. Park the car on firm, level and
non-slippery ground away from
traffic. Put the transmission in Park (automatic) or Reverse (manual). Apply the parking brake.

2. Turn on the hazard warning lights

and turn the ignition switch to
LOCK (0). Have all the
passengers get out of the car while
you change the tire.

3. Open the hatch. Pull up the floor

mat and remove the spare tire
cover.

4. Take the tool kit out of the spare

tire well.

5. Unscrew the wing bolt and take

the spare tire out of its well.

CONTINUED

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The car can easily roll off the

jack, seriously injuring anyone
underneath.

Follow the directions for

changing a tire exactly, and never get under the car when it
is supported only by the jack. JAC
K
SPAR E TIR E
TOOL KI T

Changin
g a Fla t Tir e

6. Turn the jack's end bracket counterclockwise to loosen it, then
remove the jack.

7. (Except Type-R)

Loosen the four wheel nuts 1/2
turn with the wheel wrench.
(Type-R)
Loosen the five wheel nuts 1/2
turn with the wheel wrench.

8. Find the jacking point nearest the

wheel you are removing. Place the
jack under the jacking point. Turn the end bracket clockwise until
the top of the jack contacts the
jacking point. Make sure the
jacking point tab is resting in the
jack notch.

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JAC
K
JACKIN
G POIN T

Changin
g a Fla t Tir e
9. Use the extension and wheelwrench as shown to raise the
vehicle until the flat tire is off the
ground.
10.Remove the wheel nuts and flat
tire. Temporarily place the flat tire on the ground with the outside
surface of the wheel facing up.
You could scratch the wheel if you put it face down.
11.Before mounting the spare tire,
wipe any dirt off the mountingsurface of the wheel and hub with
a clean cloth. Wipe the hub
carefully, it may be hot from driving.

CONTINUED

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EXTENSIO
N
WHEE L WRENC H BRAK
E HU B