Acura Integra 2000 Sedan Owner's Manual

Break-i
n Period , Gasolin e
Break-i n Perio d

Help assure your car's future
reliability and performance by paying
extra attention to how you drive

during the first 600 miles (1,000 km).

During this period:
Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid

acceleration.

Avoid hard braking. New brakes

need to be broken-in by moderate
use for the first 200 miles (300

km).

You should follow these same re-
commendations with an overhauled

or exchanged engine, or when the
brakes are relined.
Gasolin
e

Your Acura is designed to operate on
unleaded gasoline.
We recommend gasolines containing
detergent additives that help prevent
fuel system and engine deposits.
Using gasoline containing lead will
damage your car's emissions
controls. This contributes to air
pollution.
(LS and GS models)

Use an unleaded gasoline with a
pump octane number of 86 or higher. Use of a lower octane gasoline can
cause a persistent, heavy metallic
rapping noise in the engine that can
lead to mechanical damage.

(GS-R model)

Use a premium unleaded gasoline
with a pump octane number of 91 or
higher.
If you are unable to find premium
unleaded gasoline, you may substi-
tute an unleaded regular gasoline. The engine will compensate for the
lower octane, but you may notice a slight decrease in power as a result.
Befor e Drivin g

Servic
e Statio n Procedure s

Fillin g th e Fue l Tan k

1. Because the fuel fill cap is on the driver's side of the car, park with
that side closest to the service
station pumps.

2. Open the fuel fill door by pulling on the handle to the left of the

driver's seat.

FUEL FIL L CA P 3. Remove the fuel fill cap slowly.
You may hear a hissing sound aspressure inside the tank escapes.Place the cap in the holder on the
fuel fill door.
4. Stop filling the tank after the fuel nozzle automatically clicks off. Do
not try to "top off" the tank, leave some room for the fuel to expand
with temperature changes.
Your car has an on-board refueling
vapor recovery system to help keep fuel vapors from going into theatmosphere. If the fuel pump keeps
clicking off even though the tank is
not full, there may be a problem with
this system. Consult your dealer.

CONTINUED

Befor e Drivin g

Gasoline is highly flammable

and explosive. You can be
burned or seriously injured

when handling fuel.

Stop the engine and keep

heat, sparks, and flame away.

Handle fuel only outdoors.

Wipe up spills immediately.

Pul
l

Servic
e Statio n Procedure s

5. Screw the fuel fill cap back on, tighten it until it clicks several
times. If you do not properly
tighten the cap, the Malfunction
Indicator Lamp may come on (see
page 233 ).
6. Push the fuel fill door closed until it latches. Openin
g th e Hoo d
1. Shift to Park or Neutral and set the parking brake. Pull the hood
release handle located under the
lower left corner of the dashboard.
The hood will pop up slightly. 2. Standing in front of the car, put
your fingers under the front edgeof the hood to the left of center.
Slide your hand to the right until
you feel the hood latch handle. Push this handle to the right untilit releases the hood. Lift the hood.

Befor e Drivin g
HOO
D RELEAS E HANDL E LATC
H

Servic
e Statio n Procedure s

If you can open the hood without
lifting the hood latch handle, or the hood latch handle moves stiffly ordoes not spring back as before, the
mechanism should be cleaned and
lubricated (see page 183 ).
3. Pull the support rod out of its clipand insert the end into the hole on
the left side of the hood. To close the hood, lift it up slightly to
remove the support rod from the
hole. Put the support rod back into
its holding clip. Lower the hood toabout a foot (30 cm) above the
fender, then let it drop.
After closing the hood, make sure it is securely latched.

CONTINUED

Befor e Drivin g

SUPPOR
T RO D

Servic
e Statio n Procedure s

Oil Check
Check the engine oil level every time
you fill the car with fuel. Wait a few minutes after turning the engine off
before you check the oil.
1. Remove the dipstick (orange
handle).
2. Wipe the dipstick with a clean
cloth or paper towel. 3. Insert it all the way back in its tube.
Befor e Drivin g
DIPSTIC
K

Servic
e Statio n Procedure s

4. Remove the dipstick again and check the level. It should bebetween the upper and lower
marks.
If it is near or below the lower mark, see Addin g Oi l on page 167. Engine Coolant Check
Look at the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. Make sure it is
between the MAX and MIN lines. If
it is below the MIN line, see Addin g
Engin e Coolan t on page 172 for
information on adding the proper

coolant.
Refer to Owne
r Maintenanc e
Check s on page 165 for information
on checking other items in your Acura.

Before Drivin g

UPPE
R MAR K
LOWE R MAR K
RESERVE TAN K

MI
N

MAX

Fue
l Econom y

The condition of your car and your
driving habits are the two most
important things that affect the fuel
mileage you get.

Vehicl e Conditio n

Always maintain your car according
to the maintenance schedule. This
will keep it in top operating condition.
An important part of that mainte-
nance is the Owne r Maintenanc e
Check s (see page 165 ). For

example, an underinflated tire

causes more "rolling resistance,"

which uses fuel. It. also wears out
faster, so check the tire pressure at

least monthly.

In winter, the build-up of snow on
your car's underside adds weight and
rolling resistance. Frequent cleaning

helps your fuel mileage and reduces the chance of corrosion. Drivin
g Habit s
You can improve fuel economy by
driving moderately. Rapid acceler-
ation, abrupt cornering, and hard
braking use more fuel.
Always drive in the highest gear that
allows the engine to run and acceler- ate smoothly.
Depending on traffic conditions, try to maintain a constant speed. Every
time you slow down and speed up, your car uses extra fuel. Use the
cruise control, when appropriate, to increase fuel economy. A cold engine uses more fuel than a
warm engine. It is not necessary to
"warm-up" a cold engine by letting it idle for a long time. You can drive away in about a minute, no matter
how cold it is outside. The engine
will warm up faster, and you get
better fuel economy. To cut down on the number of "cold starts," try to combine several short trips into one.
The air conditioning puts an extra
load on the engine which makes it
use more fuel. Turn off the A/C to
cut down on air conditioning use. Use the flow-through ventilation
when the outside air temperature is

moderate.

Befor e Drivin g

Accessorie
s an d Modification s

Modifying your car, or installing some non-Acura accessories, can
make your car unsafe. Before you
make any modifications or add any
accessories, be sure to read the following information.

Accessorie s

Your dealer has Genuine Acura
accessories that allow you to
personalize your car. These accessories have been designed and
approved for your car, and are
covered by warranty.
Non-Acura accessories are usually
designed for universal applications.
Although aftermarket accessories
may fit on your car, they may not
meet factory specifications, and
could adversely affect your car's
handling and stability. (See
"Modifications" on the page 126 for
additional information.) When properly installed, cellular
phones, alarms, two-way radios, and
low-powered audio systems should not interfere with your car's
computer-controlled systems, such
as the SRS and anti-lock brake
system.

However, if electronic accessories
are improperly installed, or exceed your car's electrical system capacity,
they can interfere with the operation of your car, or even cause the
airbags to deploy.
Before installing any accessory:
Make sure the accessory does not
obscure any lights, or interfere
with proper car operation or
performance. Be sure electronic accessories do
not overload electrical circuits (see page 236 ). Have the installer contact your
Acura dealer for assistance before
installing any electronic accessory.
If possible, have your dealer inspect
the final installation.

Before Drivin g

Improper accessories or
modifications can affect your
car's handling, stability and performance, and cause a

crash in which you can be hurt

or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner's manual regarding
accessories and modifications.

Accessorie
s an d Modification s

Modification s
Do not remove any original
equipment or modify your car in any
way that would alter its design or operation. This could make your car
unsafe and illegal to drive.
For example, do not make any
modifications that would change the
ride height of your car, or install
wheels and tires with a different overall diameter.
Such modifications can adverselyaffect handling, and interfere with
the operation of the car's anti-lock
brakes and other systems. In addition, any modifications that
decrease ground clearance increase
the chance of undercarriage parts striking a curb, speed bump, or other
raised object, which could cause your airbags to deploy.
Do not modify your steering wheel or any other part of your
Supplemental Restraint System. Modifications could make the
system ineffective. Additiona
l Safet y Precautio n
Do not attach or place objects on the
airbag covers. Any object attached to
or placed on the covers marked "SRS
AIRBAG," in the center of the steering wheel and on top of the
dashboard, could interfere with the
proper operation of the airbags. Or, if the airbags inflate, the objects
could be propelled inside the car and
hurt someone.

Befor e Drivin g

Carryin
g Carg o
CONSOL E COMPARTMEN T FRONT DOO R POCKE T

TRUN K
GLOVE BO X Your car has several convenient
storage areas so you can stow cargo

safely.

The glove box, and the pockets in
the front doors, are designed for small, lightweight items. The trunk
is intended for larger, heavier items.
In addition, the back seat can be
folded down to allow you to carry more cargo or longer items.
However, carrying too much cargo,
or improperly storing it, can affect
your car's handling, stability and operation and make it unsafe. Before
carrying any type of cargo, be sure to
read the following pages.

Before Drivin g