engine Acura Integra 2000 Sedan User Guide

Key
s an d Lock s

LOC K (0 ) — You can insert or
remove the key only in this position.
To switch from ACCESSORY to LOCK, you must push the key in
slightly as you turn it. If your car has
an automatic transmission, the shift
lever must also be in Park. The anti-
theft lock will lock the steering
column when you remove the key. If the front wheels are turned, the
anti-theft lock may sometimes make
it difficult to turn the key from
LOCK to ACCESSORY. Firmly turn
the steering wheel to the left or to
the right as you turn the key. ACCESSOR
Y (I ) — In this position,
you can operate the audio system and the cigarette lighter.
O N (II ) — This is the normal key
position when driving. All features
and accessories on the car are usable. Several of the lights on the instru-
ment panel come on as a test when
you turn the ignition switch from ACCESSORY to ON. STAR
T (III ) — Use this position
only to start the engine. The switch
returns to ON (II) when you let go of
the key.
The engine will not start if the Immobilizer System does not
recognize the key's coding (see page 69).
You will hear a reminder beeper if
you leave the key in the ignition switch in the LOCK (0) or
ACCESSORY (I) position and open
the driver's door. Remove the key to
turn off the beeper.

Instrument s an d Control s

Removing the key from the

ignition switch while driving

locks the steering. This can cause you to lose control.
Remove the key from the

ignition switch only when

parked.

Heatin
g an d Coolin g
Ven t Control s
You can adjust the direction of the
air coming from the dashboard vents
by moving the tab in the center of
each vent up-and-down and side-to-
side.
The vents in the corners of the
dashboard can be opened and closed
with the dials underneath them. Ho
w to Us e th e Syste m
This section covers how to set up the
system controls for ventilation, heating, cooling, dehumidifying, and
defrosting.
The engine must be running for the
heater and air conditioning to generate hot and cold air. The heater
uses engine coolant to warm the air.
If the engine is cold, it will be several
minutes before you feel warm air
coming from the system.
The air conditioning does not rely on
engine temperature.
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s
SID
E VEN T
CENTE R VEN T

Heatin
g an d Coolin g
If the interior is very warm from
being parked in the sun, you can cool it down more rapidly by setting up
the controls this way:
1. Start the engine.
2. Turn on the A/C by pressing the button. Make sure the tempera-ture control lever is all the way to
the left.
3. Set the fan to maximum speed.
4. Open the windows partially. Select and Fresh Air mode.
When the interior has cooled down to a more comfortable temperature,
close the windows and set the
controls as described for normal

cooling.
Air conditioning places an extra load
on the engine. Watch the engine
coolant temperature gauge (see page
58) when driving in stop-and-go
traffic or climbing a long, steep hill.
If it moves near the red zone, turn off the A/C until the gauge reads
normally.

To Heat

To warm the interior:
1. Start the engine. 2. Select and Fresh Air mode.
3. Set the fan to the desired speed.
4. Adjust the warmth of the air with
the temperature control lever.
To Heat and Dehumidify with Air

Conditioning

Air conditioning, as it cools, removes
moisture from the air. When used in
combination with the heater, it
makes the interior warm and dry.
1. Switch the fan on.
2. Turn on the air conditioning.
3. Select
and Fresh Air mode.
4. Adjust the temperature control
lever so the mixture of heated andcooled air feels comfortable.
This setting is suitable for all driving conditions whenever the outside
temperature is above 32°F (0°C).

CONTINUED

Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s

Heatin
g an d Coolin g

To remove exterior frost or ice from
the windshield and side windows
after the car has been sitting out in
cold weather:
1. Start the engine.
2. Select the Fresh Air mode and 3. Switch the fan and temperature
controls to maximum.
To rapidly remove exterior frost or ice from the windshield (on very colddays), first select the Recirculation
mode. Once the windshield is clear, select the Fresh Air mode to avoid
fogging the windows. These settings direct all the air flow
to the defroster vents at the base of
the windshield and the side window defroster vents. The air flow will getwarmer and clear the windows faster
as the engine warms up. You can
close the side vents with the dial
underneath each vent. This will send
more warm air to the windshield defroster vents.
For safety, make sure you have a
clear view through all the windows
before driving away. T
o Tur n Everythin g Of f
To shut off the system temporarily, slide the fan speed and temperature
control levers all the way to the left.
You should shut the system
completely off only for the first few
minutes of driving in cold weather,
until the engine coolant warms up
enough to operate the heater. Keep
the fan on at all other times so stale air does not build up in the interior.

Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s

Befor
e Drivin g

Before you begin driving your Acura,
you should know what gasoline to use, and how to check the levels of
important fluids. You also need to
know how to properly store luggage or packages. The information in this
section will help you. If you plan to
add any accessories to your car,
please read the information in this section first. Break-in Period.............................. 118
Gasoline.......................................... 118
Service Station Procedures.......... 119
Filling the Fuel Tank................. 119
Opening the Hood..................... 120 Oil Check................................ 122
Engine Coolant Check.......... 123
Fuel Economy................................ 124
Vehicle Condition...................... 124
Driving Habits............................ 124
Accessories and Modifications.... 125
Carrying Cargo.............................. 127

Before Drivin g

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

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