engine Acura Integra 2000 Sedan Owner's Guide

Towin
g a Traile r

Your Acura has been designed primarily to carry passengers and
their cargo. You can use it to tow a
trailer if you carefully observe the load limits, use the proper equipment,
and follow the guidelines in this
section.

Loa d Limit s
Tota l Traile r Weight : The total
weight of the trailer and everything loaded in it must notexceed 1,000 lbs (450 kg). Towing
a load that is too heavy can
seriously affect your vehicle's handling and performance. It can
also damage the engine and

drivetrain.
Tongu
e Load : The weight that
the tongue of a fully-loaded trailer
puts on the hitch should be approximately 10 percent of the
trailer weight. Too little tongue
load can make the trailer unstable and cause it to sway. Too much
tongue load reduces front-tire
traction and steering control.
To achieve a proper tongue load, start by loading 60 percent of the
load toward the front of the trailer and 40 percent toward the rear, then
readjust the load as needed.
Gros
s Vehicl e Weigh t Ratin g

(GVWR) :

The total weight of the vehicle, all occupants, all cargo, and the
tongue load must not exceed: 3,680 lbs (1,670 kg)
Gros
s Axl e Weigh t Ratin g

(GAWR) :

The total weight of the vehicle, all occupants, all cargo, and the
tongue load must not exceed:
1,985 lbs (900 kg)on the front axle
1,740 lbs (790 kg) on the rear axle

Driving
CONTINUED

Towin
g a Traile r
Drivin g Safel y Wit h a Traile r
The added weight, length, and height of a trailer will affect your
vehicle's handling and performance, so driving with a trailer requires
some special driving skills and

techniques.

For your safety and the safety of others, take time to practice driving
maneuvers before heading for the open road, and follow the guidelines

discussed below.

Towing Speeds and Gears
Driving slower than normal in all
driving situations, and obey posted speed limits for vehicles with trailers.
If you have automatic transmission,
use D4 position when towing a trailer
on level roads. D3 is the proper shift
lever position to use when towing a
trailer in hilly terrain. (See "Driving on Hills" in the next column for
additional gear information.)
Making Turns and Braking

Make turns more slowly and wider
than normal. The trailer tracks a smaller arc than your vehicle, and it
can hit or run over something the
vehicle misses. Allow more time and distance for braking. Do not brake or
turn suddenly as this could cause the
trailer to jackknife or turn over.

Driving on Hills

When climbing hills, closely watch your temperature gauge. If it nears the red mark, turn the air
conditioning off, reduce speed and, if necessary, pull to the side of the
road to let the engine cool.
If the automatic transmission shifts
frequently between 3rd and 4th gears while going up a hill, shift to
D3.
If you must stop when facing uphill,
use the foot brake or parking brake.
Do not try to hold the vehicle in
place by pressing on the accelerator, as this can cause the automatic
transmission to overheat.
When driving down hills, reduce
your speed and shift down to 2nd gear. Do not "ride" the brakes, andremember it will take longer to slowdown and stop when towing a trailer.

Driving

CONTINUED

This section explains why it is important to keep your car well
maintained and to follow basic
maintenance safety precautions.
This section also includes Maintenance Schedules for normaldriving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions for simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of

yourself.

If you have the skills and tools to per-
form more complex maintenance tasks on your Acura, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. Seepage 259 for information on how to
obtain a copy, or see your Acura
dealer.
Maintenance Safety....................... 154
Important Safety Precautions.. 155
Maintenance Schedule.................. 156
Maintenance Record..................... 163
Owner Maintenance Checks........ 165
Fluid Locations............................... 166

Engine Oil......................................
. 167
Adding Oil................................... 167
Recommended Oil..................... 167

Synthetic Oil............................... 169

Additives..................................... 169
Changing the Oil and Filter...... 170
Cooling System.............................. 172 Adding Engine Coolant............. 172Replacing Engine Coolant........ 174
Windshield Washers..................... 177
Transmission Fluid........................ 178 AutomaticTransmission.......................... 178

5-speed Manual
Transmission.......................... 179
Brake and Clutch Fluid................. 179 Brake System............................. 180Clutch System............................
181
Power Steering..............................
. 181
Air Cleaner Element....................... 182 Hood Latch..................................... 183
Spark Plugs..................................... 183 Replacement............................... 183
Specifications............................. 185
Battery............................................ 186
Wiper Blades.................................. 188
Air Conditioning System............... 190
Drive Belts...................................... 191
Timing Belt..................................... 191
Tires................................................ 192 Inflation....................................... 192
Inspection...................................
194
Maintenance............................... 194
Tire Rotation.............................. 195 Replacing Tires and Wheels.... 195
Wheels and Tires....................... 196 Winter Driving........................... 196

Snow Tires.............................. 197

Tire Chains............................. 197
Lights.............................................. 198
Headlight Aiming.....................
. 200
Replacing Bulbs......................... 202
Storing Your Car............................ 210

Maintenance

Maintenanc
e Safet y
Importan t Safet y Precaution s
Before you begin any maintenance,
make sure your car is parked on
level ground and that the parking
brake is set. Also, be sure the engine
is off. This will help to eliminate several potential hazards: Carbo
n monoxid e poisonin g
fro m engin e exhaust . Be sure
there is adequate ventilation
whenever you operate the engine. Burn
s fro m ho t parts . Let the
engine and exhaust system cool
before touching any parts. Injur
y fro m movin g parts . Do
not run the engine unless in- structed to do so. Read the instructions before you
begin, and make sure you have the tools and skills required.
To reduce the possibility of fire or explosion, be careful when working
around gasoline or batteries. Use a
commercially available degreaser or
parts cleaner, not gasoline, to clean parts. Keep cigarettes, sparks, and
flames away from the battery and all
fuel-related parts.
You should wear eye protection and protective clothing when workingnear the battery or when usingcompressed air.

Maintenance

Maintenanc
e Schedul e

The Maintenance Schedule specifies how often you should have your car serviced and what things need
attention. It is essential that you have
your car serviced as scheduled to retain its high level of safety,dependability, and emissions control
performance.
The services and time or distance
intervals shown in the maintenanceschedule assume you will use your
vehicle as normal transportation for passengers and their possessions.
You should also follow these

recommendations:
Avoid exceeding your car's load
limit. This puts excess stress on
the engine, brakes, and many
other parts of your car. The load
limit is shown on the label on the
driver's doorjamb.
Operate your car on reasonable
roads within the legal speed limit.
Drive your car regularly over a
distance of several miles

(kilometers).
Always use unleaded gasoline with
the proper octane rating (see page
118). Whic
h Schedul e t o Follow :
Service your car according to the
time and mileage periods on one of
the Maintenance Schedules on the
following pages. Select the schedule
for "Severe Conditions" if most of
your driving is done under one or more of the conditions listed on thatpage. Otherwise, follow the schedule
for "Normal Conditions."

Maintenanc e

Owne
r Maintenanc e Check s
You should check the following items at the specified intervals. If
you are unsure of how to perform any check, turn to the page given. Engine oil level — Check every
time you fill the fuel tank. See
page 122.
Engine coolant level — Check the
radiator reserve tank every time
you fill the fuel tank. See page 123 , Windshield washer fluid — Check
the level in the reservoir monthly.
If weather conditions cause you to
use the washers frequently, check
the reservoir each time you stop
for fuel. See page 177. Automatic transmission — Check
the fluid level monthly. See page
178.
Brakes — Check the fluid level
monthly. See page 179 . Tires — Check the tire pressure
monthly. Examine the tread for
wear and foreign objects. See page 192. Lights — Check the operation of
the headlights, parking lights,
taillights, high-mount brake light, turn signals, brake lights, and
license plate lights monthly. See

page 198.

Maintenance

Engin
e Oi l
Addin g Oi l
To add oil, unscrew and remove the engine oil fill cap on top of the valve
cover. Pour in the oil, and install the
engine oil fill cap. Tighten it securely.
Wait a few minutes and recheck the oil level. Do not fill above the upper
mark; you could damage the engine. Recommende
d Oi l
Oil is a major contributor to your
engine's performance and longevity.
Always use a premium-grade deter- gent oil. It is highly recommended
that you use Genuine Honda Motor Oil in your vehicle for as long as you
own it. You can determine an oil's SAE
viscosity and Service Classification
from the API Service label on the oilcontainer.

CONTINUED

Maintenanc e

ENGIN
E OI L FIL L CA P

Engin
e Oi l
A fuel-efficient oil is recommended for your Acura. This is shown on the
API Service label by the words "Energy Conserving." This oil is
formulated to help your engine use
less fuel. The API Service label also tells you
the service classification of the oil.
Always use an oil that is labeled "API
Service SJ." This service rating may
include other classifications, such as
CD. These additional classifications
are not a problem, as long as the
label also carries the SJ classification.
API SERVIC E LABE L The oil container may also display
the API Certification seal. Make sure
it says "For Gasoline Engines."
API CERTIFICATIO N SEA L

Maintenanc e

Engin
e Oi l
The SAE numbers tell you the oil's viscosity or weight. Select the oil for
your car according to this chart.
An oil with a viscosity of 5W-30 is
preferred for improved fuel economy
and year-round protection in your Acura. You may use a 10W-30 oil if
the temperature in your area never
goes below 20°F ( — 7°C).
Syntheti
c Oi l
You may use a synthetic motor oil if it meets the same requirements
given for conventional motor oil:
energy conserving, a service
classification of SJ, and the proper
weight as shown on the chart. When using synthetic oil, you must follow
the oil and filter change intervals
given in the maintenance schedule. Additive
s
Your Honda does not need any oil additives. Purchasing additives for
the engine or transmission will not increase your car's performance or
longevity. It only increases the cost of operating your car.
Maintenance
Ambien
t Temperatur e

Engin
e Oi l
Changin g th e Oi l an d Filte r
Always change the oil and filter according to the time and distance
(miles/kilometers) recommenda- tions in the maintenance schedule.
The oil and filter collect contami- nants that can damage your engine if
they are not removed regularly.
Changing the oil and filter requires
special tools and access from
underneath the car. The car should
be raised on a service station-type
hydraulic lift for this service. Unless you have the knowledge and proper
equipment, you should have this
maintenance done by a skilled

mechanic.
1. Run the engine until it reaches
normal operating temperature,
then shut it off.
2. Open the hood and remove the engine oil fill cap. Remove the oil
drain bolt and washer from the
bottom of the engine. Drain the oil
into an appropriate container.
3. Remove the oil filter and let the
remaining oil drain. A special
wrench (available from your Acura dealer) is required to remove the

filter.

4. Install a new oil filter according to instructions that come with it.

Maintenanc e
OI
L FILTE R
OI L DRAI N BOL T WASHE R