spare tire Acura Integra 2000 Hatchback Owner's Manual

Towin
g a Traile r

Additional Trailer Equipment Many states and provinces requirespecial outside mirrors when towing
a trailer. Even if they don't, you
should install special mirrors if you
cannot clearly see behind you, or if
the trailer creates a blind spot.
Ask your trailer sales or rental agency if any other items are
recommended or required for your
towing situation. Pre-To
w Checklis t
When preparing to tow, and before driving away, be sure to check the
following: The vehicle has been properly
serviced, and the tires, brakes,
suspension, and cooling system
are in good operating condition.
All weights and loads are within limits (see pages 151 and 152). The hitch, safety chain, and any
other attachments are sucure. All items on and in the trailer are
properly secured and cannot shift
while you drive. The lights and brakes on your
vehicle and the trailer are workingproperly. Your vehicle tires and spare are
properly inflated (see page 251),and the trailer tires and spare are
inflated as recommended by the
trailer maker.
Drivin g

Tire
s

To safely operate your car, your tires must be the proper type and size, in

good condition with adequate tread,
and correctly inflated. The following
pages give more detailed information on how and when to check air
pressure, how to inspect your tires
for damage and wear, and what to do
when your tires need to be replaced.
Inflatio
n

Keeping the tires properly inflated
provides the best combination of
handling, tread life and riding comfort. Underinflated tires wear
unevenly, adversely affect handling and fuel economy, and are more
likely to fail from being overheated. Overinflated tires can make your car
ride more harshly, are more prone to damage from road hazards, and wear

unevenly.

We recommend that you visually check your tires every day. If you
think a tire might be low, check it immediately with a tire gauge.
Use a gauge to measure the air
pressure at least once a month. Even
tires that are in good condition may
lose one to two psi (10 to 20 kPa, 0.1
to 0.2 kgf/cm2) per month. Remember to check the spare tire at
the same time you check all theother tires.
Check the pressure in the tires when
they are cold. This means the car

has been parked for at least three

hours. If you have to drive the car
before checking the tire pressure,

the tires can still be considered
"cold" if you drive less than 1 mile
(1.6
km).
If you check the pressure when the
tires are hot (the car has been driven

several miles), you will see readings

4 to
6 psi (30
to
40
kPa,
0.3
to
0.4
kgf/cm2) higher than the cold reading. This is normal. Do not letair out to match the specified cold
pressure. The tire will be

underinflated.

You should get your own tire pressure gauge and use it whenever
you check your tire pressures. This
will make it easier for you to tell if a pressure loss is due to a tire problemand not due to a variation between

gauges.

Maintenanc e

Using tires that are excessively

worn or improperly inflated can
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously hurt or killed.

Follow all instructions in this

owner's manual regarding tire
inflation and maintenance.

Tire
s

Recommended Tire Pressures for
Normal Driving

The following chart shows the recommended cold tire pressures for
most normal driving conditions andspeeds. Tire pressures for high
speed driving are the same as for
normal driving.
The compact spare tire pressure is:
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.20 kgf/cm2)

These pressures are also given onthe tire information label on thedriver's doorjamb.
Tubeless tires have some ability to self-seal if they are punctured.
However, because leakage is often
very slow, you should look closely for punctures if a tire starts losing
pressure. Inspectio
n
Every time you check inflation, you should also examine the tires for
damage, foreign objects, and wear.
You should look for: Bumps or bulges in the tread or
side of the tire. Replace the tire if
you find either of these conditions.
Cuts, splits, or cracks in the side
of the tire. Replace the tire if you
can see fabric or cord.
Excessive tread wear.

CONTINUED

Maintenanc e

Takin
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

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

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

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

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
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

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

EXTENSIO
N
WHEE L WRENC H BRAK
E HU B

Changin
g a Fla t Tir e

12.Put on the spare tire. Put the
wheel nuts back on finger-tight, then tighten them in a crisscross
pattern with the wheel wrench
until the wheel is firmly against
the hub. Do not try to tighten
them fully.

13.Lower the car to the ground and

remove the jack.

14.Tighten the wheel nuts securely in

the same crisscross pattern. Have
the wheel nut torque checked at
the nearest automotive service
facility.
Tighten the wheel nuts to: 80 lbf.ft (108 N.
m , 11 kgf .
m)

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
(Excep
t
Type-R )

(Type-R )

Changin
g a Fla t Tire , I f You r Engin e Won' t Star t
15.Remove the wheel cover or center
cap.

Place the flat tire face down in the
spare tire well.
16.Remove the spacer cone from the
wing bolt, turn it over, and put it back on the bolt.

17.Secure the flat tire by screwing

the wing bolt back into its hole.
18.Store the jack in its holder with
the end bracket facing to the right.
Turn the jack's end bracket to lock i t in place. Store the tool kit.

19.Store the wheel cover or center
cap in the cargo area. Make sure it
will not get scratched or damaged. I
f You r Engin e Won' t Star t

Diagnosing why your engine won't
start falls into two areas, depending

on what you hear when you turn the
key to START (III):

You hear nothing, or almostnothing. The engine's starter

motor does not operate at all, or

operates very slowly.
You can hear the starter motor

operating normally, or the starter

motor sounds like it is spinning

faster than normal, but the engine

does not start up and run.

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

Loose items can fly around the
interior in a crash and could
seriously injure the occupants.
Store the wheel, jack and tools
securely before driving.

WIN
G BOL T

SPACER

CON E

Inde
x

Clock, Setting the............................ 88

Clutch Fluid.................................... 183

Code, Audio System...................... 119
CO in the Exhaust......................... 256

Cold Weather, Starting in............. 137

Compact Spare............................... 224

Console Compartment.................... 90
Consumer Information*................ 260
Controls, Instruments and............. 51
Coolant
Adding......................................... 176

Checking..................................... 128

Proper Solution.......................... 176

Replacing.................................... 178

Temperature Gauge.................... 59

Corrosion Protection..................... 220

Crankcase Emissions Control
System......................................... 256

Cruise Control Operation............... 67
Customer Relations Office........... 260
DANGER, Explanation of................
ii
Dashboard.................................... 2, 52
Daytime Running Lights................. 62 Dead Battery, What to Do............ 231
Defects, Reporting Safety............. 263
Defog and Defrost......................... 100
Defogger, Rear Window................. 65
DEXRON ®
III Automatic
Transmission Fluid.................... 182
Dimensions..................................... 250
Dimming the Headlights................ 62
Dipstick Automatic Transmission........... 182
Engine Oil................................... 127
Directional Signals........................... 63
Disabled, Towing Your Car
If......
245
Disc Brake Wear Indicators......... 145 Disposal of Used Oil...................... 175
Doors Locking and Unlocking............... 75
Power Door Locks....................... 75
DOT Tire Quality Grading........... 252
Downshifting, 5-speed Manual Transmission.............................. 138
Drive Belts...................................... 195
Driver and Passenger Safety............ 5
Driving............................................ 135 Economy..................................... 129
In Bad Weather.......................... 149 In Foreign Countries................. 255

Economy, Fuel............................... 129

Emergencies on the Road............. 223 Battery, Jump Starting.............. 231
Brake System Indicator............ 238
Changing a Flat Tire................. 225
Charging System Indicator...... 236
Checking the Fuses................... 241
Low Oil Pressure Indicator...... 235
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.... 237
Manually Closing Moonroof.... 239 Overheated Engine................... 233
Emergency Brake............................ 87
Emergency Flashers....................... 65
Emergency Towing....................... 241
Emissions Controls........................ 256

CONTINUED