towing Acura Integra 2000 Sedan User Guide

Takin
g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
This section covers the more- common problems that motoristsexperience 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....................... 220
Changing a Flat Tire..................... 221
If Your Engine Won't Start........... 226
Nothing Happens or theStarter Motor OperatesVery Slowly......................... 226
The Starter Operates Normally................................. 227
Jump Starting................................. 227
If Your Engine Overheats............. 229Low Oil Pressure Indicator.......... 231
Charging System Indicator........... 232
Malfunction Indicator Lamp........ 233
Brake System Indicator................ 234
Closing the Moonroof................... 235
Fuses............................................... 236 Checking and Replacing........... 237
Emergency Towing...................... 241

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

Emergenc
y Towin g

If your car needs to be towed, call a
professional towing service or, if you
belong to one, an organization that provides roadside assistance. Never
tow your car behind another vehicle
with just a rope or chain. It is very
dangerous.

There are three popular methods of
towing a vehicle:

Flat-bed Equipment — The operator

loads your car on the back of a truck.

Thi s is th e bes t wa y to transpor t

you r Acura .

Wheel-Lift Equipment — The tow

truck uses two pivoting arms that go under the tires (front or rear) and lift
them off the ground. The other two
tires remain on the ground. Thi s is

a n acceptabl e wa y to to w you r

Acura .
Sling-type Equipment — The tow

truck uses metal cables with hooks on the ends. These hooks go around
parts of the frame or suspension and the cables lift that end of the vehicle
off the ground. Your car's sus-
pension and body can be seriously damaged if this method of towing is
attempted.
If your Acura cannot be transported
by flat-bed, it should be towed by
wheel-lift equipment with the front
wheels off the ground. If, due to damage, your car must be towed
with the front wheels on the ground, do the following.

5-speed Manual Transmission
Release the parking brake.
Shift the transmission to Neutral.

Automatic Transmission:
Release the parking brake.
Start the engine.
Shift to D4, then to N.
Turn off the engine.Improper towing preparation will

damage the transmission. Follow the

above procedure exactly. If you cannot

shift the transmission or start the

engine (automatic transmission), your

car must be transported with the front

wheels off the ground.
With the front wheels on the
ground, it is best to tow the car no
farther than 50 miles (80 km), and
keep the speed below 35 mph (55

km/h).

CONTINUED
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

NOTIC
E

Emergenc
y Towin g

If you decide to tow your car with all
four wheels on the ground, make sure you use a properly-designed and
attached tow bar. Prepare the car for
towing as described above, and leave the ignition switch in Accessory (I) so the steering wheel does not lock.
Make sure the radio and any items plugged into the accessory power
socket are turned off so they do not
run down the battery.

The steering wheel system can be
damaged if the steering wheel is locked.
Leave, the ignition switch in Accessory (I), and make sure the steering wheel
turns freely before you begin towing. Trying to lift or tow your car by the
bumpers will cause serious damage. The bumpers are not designed to
support the car's weight.

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d NOTIC
E

NOTIC E

Inde
x

Cold Weather, Starting in............. 133 Compact Spare............................... 220
Console Compartment.................... 85
Consumer Information *................ 256
Controls, Instruments and.............. 51

Coolant
Adding......................................... 172

Checking..................................... 123
Proper Solution.......................... 172
Replacing.................................... 174
Temperature Gauge.................... 58
Corrosion Protection..................... 216
Crankcase Emissions Control
System......................................... 252

Cruise Control Operation............... 66 Customer Relations Office........... 256
DANGER, Explanation of................. ii
Dashboard........................................ 52 Dead Battery, What to Do............ 227
Defects, Reporting Safety............. 258
Defog and Defrost........................... 96
Defogger, Rear Window................. 64
Defrosting the Windows................. 96 DEXRON
®
III Automatic
Transmission Fluid.................... 178
Dimensions..................................... 246
Dimming the Headlights................ 61
Dipstick Automatic Transmission........... 178

Engine Oil................................... 122

Directional Signals........................... 62
Disabled, Towing Your Car If...... 241

Disc Brake Wear Indicators......... 141
Disposal of Used Oil...................... 171 Doors Locking and Unlocking............... 72
Open Indicator............................. 55
Power Door Locks....................... 72
DOT Tire Quality Grading........... 248
Downshifting, 5-speed Manual Transmission.............................. 134
Driver and Passenger Safety............ 5 Drive Belts...................................... 191
Driving............................................ 131 Economy.....................................
124

In Ba
d Weather..........................

145

In Foreig

n Countries................. 251
Economy, Fuel............................... 124

Emergencies on the Road............. 219
Battery, Jump Starting.............. 227
Brake System Indicator............ 234
Changing a Flat Tire................. 221
Charging System Indicator ...... 232
Checking the Fuses................... 237
Low Oil Pressure Indicator...... 231
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.... 233
Manually Closing Moonroof.... 235 Overheated Engine................... 229
Emergency Brake............................ 82 Emergency Flashers....................... 64
Emissions Controls........................ 252
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge ..... 58
Malfunction Indicator
Lamp................................ 55, 233

Oil Pressure Indicator........ 54, 231
Oil, What Kind to Use............... 167
Overheating................................ 229
Specifications............................. 246
Speed Limit........................ 135, 138
CONTINUED

Inde
x

Ethanol in Gasoline ....................... 250
Evaporative Emissions Controls.. 252 Exhaust Fumes................................ 49
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat Belts by.........................................19
Exterior, Cleaning the................... 212
Fabric, Cleaning............................. 214

Fan, Interior...................................... 90

Features, Comfort and
Convenience................................. 89

Filling the Fuel Tank..................... 119
Filters
Air................................................ 182

Oil................................................ 170

5-speed Manual Transmission
Checking Fluid Level................ 179
Shifting the................................. 134
Flashers, Hazard Warning.............. 64
Flat Tire, Changing a.................... 221
Fluids
Automatic Transmission........... 178
Brake........................................... 179Clutch.......................................... 181 Manual Transmission............... 179
Power Steering........................... 181
Windshield Washer................... 177
FM Stereo Radio Reception.................................... 103
Folding Rear Seat............................ 77
Foreign Countries, Driving in...... 251
Four-way Flashers........................... 64
Front End, Towing by Emergency Wrecker................. 241

Fuel.................................................. 118
Fill Door and Cap....................... 119Gauge............................................ 58
Octane Requirement................. 118
Oxygenated................................ 250
Reserve Indicator......................... 55
Tank, Filling the......................... 119
Fuses, Checking the...................... 237
Gas Mileage, Improving................ 124
Gasohol........................................... 250Gasoline.......................................... 118
Fuel Reserve Indicator................ 55Gauge............................................ 58 Octane Requirement................. 118
Tank, Filling the......................... 119
Gas Station Procedures................. 119

Gauges
Engine Coolant Temperature.... 58
Fuel................................................ 58
Maintenance Required Indicator.................................... 59
Gearshift Lever Positions Automatic Transmission........... 136
5-speed Manual
Transmission.......................... 135

Glass Cleaning............................... 215

Glove Box......................................... 75
Halogen Headlight Bulbs.............. 202
Hazard Warning Flashers............... 64
Headlights
Aiming......................................... 200

High Beam Indicator................... 56
High Beams, Turning on............ 61
Low Beams, Turning on............. 61
Reminder Chime.......................... 61
Replacing Halogen Bulbs ......... 202

Inde
x

Maintenance
Required Indicator....................... 59
Safety........................................... 154
Schedule.............................. 156-162

Malfunction
Indicator Lamp. 55, 233
Manual

Transmission.................... 134
Manual Transmission Fluid ......... 179 Meters, Gauges................................ 57
Methanol in Gasoline.................... 250Mirrors,

Adjusting........................... 81

Moonroof.......................................... 80
Closing Manually....................... 235
Operation...................................... 80

Neutral Gear Position.................... 137

New Vehicle Break-in................... 118

Normal

Shift Speeds...................... 135

NOTICE, Explanation of.................... i

Numbers, Identification................ 244

Octane

Requirement, Gasoline.... 118

Odometer.......................................... 57
Odometer, Trip................................ 57

Oil
Change, How to......................... 170
Change, When to....................... 158
Checking Engine.......................
122
Pressure Indicator.............. 54, 231
Selecting Proper Viscosity Chart....................................... 169
ON (Ignition Key Position)............ 71
Onboard Refueling Vapor Recovery..................................... 252
Opening the Hood......................... 120
Opening the Trunk.......................... 73
Operation in Foreign Countries... 251
Outside

Mirrors............................... 81
Overheating, Engine..................... 229
Park Gear Position......................... 137
Parking............................................ 140

Parking Brake.................................. 82

Parking Lights.................................. 61

Parking Over Things that Burn... 254

PGM-FI

System.............................. 253
Polishing and Waxing................... 213

Power

Doo

r Locks................................... 72

Mirrors.......................................... 81

Steering.......................................

181

Windows....................................... 79

Pre-Drive

Safety Checklist............. 11
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts.......... 19

Protecting Adults............................. 12
Additional
Safety Precautions.... 19
Advice for Pregnant Women...... 19
Protectin

g Children......................... 21
Protecting Infants........................ 29
Protecting Larger Children........ 37 Protecting Small Children.......... 33
Using

Child Seats with
Tethers...................................... 40
Radiator Overheating.................... 229
Radio/Cassett

e Sound System....... 98
Rear End Towing........................... 241
Rear

Lights, Bulb Replacement... 204
Rear Seat, Folding........................... 77
Rear View Mirror............................. 81

Inde
x

SRS, Additional Information
SRS Components......................... 45

SRS Service................................... 47

SRS Indicator............................. 47, 55

START (Ignition Key Position) ..... 71
Starting the Engine........................ 133 In Cold Weather at HighAltitude................................... 133
With a Dead Battery................. 227
Steam Coming from Engine......... 229

Steering Wheel
Adjustment................................... 65

Anti-theft Column Lock.............. 71

Stereo Sound System...................... 98
Storing Your Car............................ 210
Supplemental Restraint System..... 45 Servicing....................................... 47

SRS Indicator......................... 47, 55

System Components.................... 45
Synthetic Oil................................... 169
Tachometer...................................... 57
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in....... 204 Taking Care of the Unexpected.. 219
Tape Player..................................... 111

Technical Descriptions
Driving In Foreign Countries... 251

Emissions Control Systems...... 252

Oxygenated Fuels...................... 250
Three Way Catalytic Converter................................ 254
Technical Information................... 243
Temperature Gauge........................ 58
Tether Attachment Points.............. 40
Three Way Catalytic Converter... 254
Time, Setting the............................. 83
Timing Belt..................................... 191
Tire Chains..................................... 197 Tire, How to Change a Flat.......... 221
Tires................................................ 192 Air Pressure............................... 192
Checking Wear.......................... 194Compact Spare........................... 220
DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 248
Inflation....................................... 192
Inspection................................... 194
Maintenance............................... 194
Replacing.................................... 195
Rotating....................................... 195
Snow............................................ 197
Specifications............................. 247

Tools, Tire Changing.................... 221

Towing
A Trailer...................................... 147

Emergency Wrecker................. 241

Transmission
Checking Fluid Level,
Automatic............................... 178

Checking Fluid Level, Manual.................................... 179
Fluid Selection............................ 178

Identification Number............... 244

Shifting the Automatic..............136
Shifting the Manual................... 134

Treadwear...................................... 248

Trip Meter........................................ 57

Trunk................................................. 73

Opening......................................... 73

Open Monitor Light.................... 55

Turn Signals..................................... 62

Underside, Cleaning...................... 216
Unexpected, Taking Care of the........................................... 219

Inde
x

Uniform Tire Quality Grading..... 248
Unleaded Gasoline......................... 118
Upholstery Cleaning...................... 214
Used Oil, How to Dispose of........ 171

Vehicle Capacity Load.................. 128

Vehicle Dimensions....................... 246

Vehicle Identification Number..... 244

Vehicle Storage.............................. 210

Ventilation......................................... 92
VIN..................................................244

Vinyl Cleaning................................ 214

Viscosity, Oil.................................. 169

Warning Beepers Headlights on............................... 61
Key in Ignition.............................. 71

Seat Belts...................................... 54

WARNING, Explanation of.............. ii
Warning Labels, Location of.......... 50
Warranty Coverages*................... 257 Washer, Windshield
Checking the Fluid Level......... 177
Operation...................................... 63
Washing.......................................... 212
Waxing and Polishing................... 213
Wheels Adjusting the Steering................ 65
Alignment and Balance............. 195 Compact Spare........................... 220
Wrench....................................... 222
Windows Cleaning...................................... 215
Operating the Power................... 79
Rear, Defogger............................ 64
Windshield Cleaning........................................ 63
Defroster...................................... 96
Wipers, Windshield Changing Blades........................ 188
Operation...................................... 63
Worn Tires..................................... 194 Wrecker, Emergency Towing...... 241 * : U.S. and Canada only