steering wheel Acura Integra 2001 Owner's Guide

Th
e Brakin g Syste m

Yo u shoul d neve r pum p th e
brak e pedal , this defeats the
purpose of the ABS. Let the ABS
work for you by always keeping firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal
as you steer away from the hazard.
This is sometimes referred to as
"stomp and steer."

You will feel a pulsation in the brake pedal when the ABS activates, and
you may hear some noise. This is normal, it is the ABS rapidly
pumping the brakes.
Activation varies with the amount of traction your tires have. On drypavement, you will need to press on
the brake pedal very hard before you activate the ABS. However, you may
feel the ABS activate immediately if
you are trying to stop on snow or ice.
Important Safety Reminders

AB S doe s no t reduc e th e tim e o r
distanc e i t take s t o sto p th e car , it
only helps with steering control
during braking. You should always
maintain a safe following distance
from other vehicles.
AB S wil l no t preven t a ski d tha t
result s fro m changin g directio n
abruptly , such as trying to take a
corner too fast or making a sudden
lane change. Always drive at a safe,
prudent speed for the road and
weather conditions.
AB S canno t preven t a los s o f
stability . Always steer moderately
when you are braking hard. Severe or sharp steering wheel movement
can still cause your car to veer into
oncoming traffic or off the road. A
vehicl e wit h AB S ma y requir e a
longe r distanc e t o sto p on loose or
uneven surfaces, such as gravel or snow, than a vehicle without anti-
lock. Slow down and allow a greater distance between vehicles under
those conditions.

CONTINUED
Drivin g

Th
e Brakin g System , Limite d Sli p Differentia l

ABS Indicator

* U.S . indicato r show n

The ABS is self-checking. If anything goes wrong, the ABS indicator on
the instrument panel comes on (see
page 55). This means the anti-lock
function of the braking system hasshut down. The brakes still work like
a conventional system without anti-
lock, providing normal stopping ability. You should have the dealer
inspect your car as soon as possible.
Limite
d Sli p Differentia l

Type-R model only

Your Acura is equipped with a Limited Slip Differential (LSD). Ifone front wheel slips, the LSD helps
traction by automatically
transmitting driving force to the other front wheel. You may feel the
transfer through the steering wheel.

Drivin g

AB
S INDICATOR *

Drivin
g in Ba d Weathe r

Rain, fog, and snow conditions require a different driving technique
because of reduced traction and
visibility. Keep your car well- maintained and exercise greatercaution when you need to drive in
bad weather. The cruise control should not be used in these
conditions. Drivin
g Techniqu e — Always drive
slower than you would in dry
weather. It takes your car longer to react, even in conditions that mayseem just barely damp. Apply
smooth, even pressure to all the
controls. Abrupt steering wheel
movements or sudden, hard appli- cation of the brakes can cause loss of
control in wet weather. Be extra
cautious for the first few miles (kilometers) of driving while you
adjust to the change in driving
conditions. This is especially true in snow. A person can forget some
snow-driving techniques during the
summer months. Practice is needed
to relearn those skills.
Exercise extra caution when driving
in rain after a long dry spell. After
months of dry weather, the first
rains bring oil to the surface of the roadway, making it slippery. Visibilit
y — Being able to see
clearly in all directions and being
visible to other drivers are important in all weather conditions. This is
more difficult in bad weather. To beseen more clearly during daylight
hours, turn on your headlights.
Inspect your windshield wipers and
washers frequently. Keep the wind- shield washer reservoir full of the
proper fluid. Have the windshield
wiper blades replaced if they start to streak the windshield or leave parts
unwiped. Use the defrosters and air conditioning to keep the windows
from fogging up on the inside (see page 100).
CONTINUED
Drivin g

Towin
g a Traile r

Handling Crosswinds and Buffeting

Crosswinds and air turbulence
caused by passing trucks can disrupt

your steering and cause trailer
swaying. When being passed by a

large vehicle, keep a constant speed
and steer straight ahead. Do not try
to make quick steering or braking
corrections.

Backing Up
Always drive slowly and have someone guide you when backing up.
Grip the bottom of the steering
wheel; then turn the wheel to the left to get the trailer to move to the left,and turn the wheel right to move the
trailer to the right.
Parking

Follow all normal precautions when
parking, including firmly setting the parking brake and putting the
transmission in Park (automatic) or in 1st or Reverse (manual). Also,
place wheel chocks at each of the
trailer's tires.
Driving

Maintenanc
e

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 271 for information on how toobtain a copy, or see your Acura

dealer.
Maintenance Safety....................... 160
Important Safety Precautions.. 161
Maintenance Schedule.................. 162
Maintenance Record..................... 169
Owner Maintenance Checks........ 171
Fluid Locations............................... 172

Engine Oil....................................... 173 Adding Oil................................... 173
Recommended Oil..................... 173
Synthetic Oil............................... 175

Additives..................................... 175
Changing the Oil and Filter...... 175
Cooling System.............................. 178
Adding Engine Coolant............. 178Replacing Engine Coolant........ 180
Windshield Washers..................... 182
Transmission Fluid........................ 183 AutomaticTransmission.......................... 183
5-speed Manual Transmission.......................... 185
Brake and Clutch Fluid................. 185 Brake System............................. 186Clutch System............................ 186
Power Steering............................... 187
Air Cleaner Element...................... 188
Hood Latch..................................... 189

Spark Plugs..................................... 189

Replacement............................... 189

Specifications............................. 191

Battery............................................ 191

Wiper Blades.................................. 194
Air Conditioning System............... 196
Drive Belts...................................... 197

Timing Belt..................................... 197

Tires................................................ 198
Inflation....................................... 198
Inspection................................... 199 Maintenance............................... 200
Tire Rotation.............................. 201

Tire Wear.................................... 201
Replacing Tires and Wheels.... 202

Wheels and Tires....................... 203
Winter Driving........................... 203
Snow Tires.............................. 204

Tire Chains............................. 204
Lights.............................................. 205 Headlight Aiming...................... 207
Replacing Bulbs......................... 209

Storing Your Car............................ 216

Maintenance

Powe
r Steerin g
Check the level when the engine is
cold. Look at the side of the
reservoir. The fluid should be
between the UPPER LEVEL and LOWER LEVEL. If it is below the
LOWER LEVEL, add power steering
fluid to the UPPER LEVEL. Always use Honda Power Steering
Fluid. If it is not available, you may
use another power steering fluid as
an emergency replacement.
However, continued use can cause
increased wear and poor steering in
cold weather. Have the powersteering system flushed and refilled
with Honda PSF as soon as possible. A low power steering fluid level can
indicate a leak in the system. Check
the fluid level frequently and have
the system inspected as soon as

possible.

Turning the steering wheel to full left
or right lock and holding it there can
damage the power steering pump.

Maintenance

NOTIC
E

LOWE R LEVE L
UPPE
R LEVE L

Tire
s

Replacin g Tire s an d Wheel s
The tires that came with your car were selected to match the perform- ance capabilities of the car while
providing the best combination of
handling, ride comfort, and long life.
You should replace them with radial tires of the same size, load range,speed rating, and maximum cold tire
pressure rating (as shown on the
tire's sidewall). Mixing radial and
bias-ply tires on your car can reduce its braking ability, traction, andsteering accuracy. It is best to replace all four tires at
the same time. If that is not possible
or necessary, then replace the two
front tires or the two rear tires as a pair. Replacing just one tire canseriously affect your car's handling. The ABS works by comparing the
speed of the wheels. When replacing
tires, use the same size originally supplied with the car. Tire size and
construction can affect wheel speed
and may cause the system to work
inconsistently.
If you ever need to replace a wheel,
make sure the wheel's specifications
match those of the original wheel
that came on your car. Replacement
wheels are available at your Acura
dealer.

Maintenanc e
Installing improper tires on your
car can affect handling and stability. This can cause a crash in which you can be seriously

hurt or killed.

Always use the size and type of

tires recommended in this

owner's manual.

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 anyelectrical accessories are turned off
so they do not run down the battery.

The steering 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.

Taking Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
NOTIC
E

NOTIC E

Inde
x

Head Restraints........................... 10

Seat Belts........................................ 8

Seats & Seat-Backs...................... 10
Safety Labels, Location of.............. 50
Safety Messages................................ ii Seat Belts..................................... 8, 42 Additional Information................ 42
Cleaning...................................... 221
Lap/Shoulder Belt................ 16,
42

Maintenance................................. 4
3
Reminder Light and Beeper................................ 42,

54

System Components...................
. 42
Use During Pregnancy................ 19
Wearing a Lap/Shoulder Belt.... 16
Seats, Adjusting the................... 13, 79

Serial Number................................ 252

Service Intervals............................ 164
Service Manual*............................ 271 Service Station Procedures.......... 124
Setting the Clock............................. 88
Shift Lever Position Indicator...... 140
Shift Lock Release......................... 143Shifting The Automatic Transmission.. 140 The 5-speed Manual
Transmission.......................... 138
Side Marker Lights, Bulb
Replacement in.......................... 210

Signaling Turns................................ 63

Snow Tires...................................... 204

Solvent-type Cleaners.................... 218
Sound System................................. 102

Spare Tire Inflating....................................... 226
Specifications............................. 255
Spark Plugs, Replacing................. 189
Specifications Charts..................... 254

Speed Control................................... 67
Speedometer.................................... 58
Spotlights.......................................... 92

SRS, Additional Information........... 45
Additional Safety Precautions.... 48
How Your Airbags Work............ 45
How the SRS Indicator Light
Works........................................ 47

SRS Components......................... 45 SRS Service................................... 47
SRS Indicator............................. 47, 55
Stat

e Emission
s Testing............... 263
START (Ignition Key Position)..... 74 Starting the Engine........................ 137

In Cold Weather at High
Altitude................................... 137

With a Dead Battery................. 233

Steam Coming from Engine......... 236

Steering Wheel
Adjustment................................... 66

Anti-theft Column Lock.............. 74

Stereo Sound System.................... 102

Storing Your Car............................ 216

Supplemental Restraint
System.................................. 9, 45
Servicing....................................... 47

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

Synthetic Oil................................... 175
Tachometer...................................... 58
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in....... 212
Taking Care of the Unexpected................................ 225
Tape Player..................................... 115

CONTINUED

Inde
x

Technical Descriptions................. 251 Emissions Control Systems...... 260Oxygenated Fuels...................... 258
Three Way Catalytic
Converter................................ 262

Temperature Gauge........................ 59
Tether Anchorage Points............... 41
Three Way Catalytic Converter... 262
Time, Setting the............................. 88
Timing Belt..................................... 197
Tire Chains..................................... 204
Tire, How to Change a Flat.......... 227
Tires................................................ 198 Air Pressure............................... 198Checking Wear.......................... 199
Compact Spare........................... 226
DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 256
Inflation....................................... 198
Inspection................................... 199
Maintenance............................... 200
Replacing.................................... 202
Rotating....................................... 201

Snow............................................ 204

Specifications............................. 255
Tire Chains................................. 204
Winter Driving........................... 203 Tools, Tire Changing.................... 227
Towing
A Trailer...................................... 151

Emergency................................. 248

Transmission
Checking Fluid Level,Automatic............................... 183
Checking Fluid Level, Manual.................................... 185
Fluid Selection.................. 184,
185

Identification Number..............
. 253
Shifting the Automatic.............. 140
Shifting the Manual................... 138

Treadwear...................................... 256

Trip Meter........................................ 58
Turn Signals..................................... 63
Underside, Cleaning...................... 223
Unexpected, Taking Care
of the........................................... 225

Uniform Tire Quality Grading..... 256
Unleaded Gasoline......................... 123
Upholstery Cleaning...................... 220
Used Oil, How to Dispose of........ 177 Vehicle Capacity Load.................. 133
Vehicle Dimensions....................... 254
Vehicle Identification Number..... 252
Vehicle Storage.............................. 216
Ventilation......................................... 97
VIN 252
Vinyl Cleaning................................ 221

Viscosity, Oil................................... 174
WARNING, Explanation of.............. ii
Warning Labels, Location of.......... 50
Warranty Coverages*................... 268
Washer, Windshield
Checking the Fluid Level......... 182
Operation...................................... 64
Washing.......................................... 218
Waxing and Polishing................... 219
Wheels Adjusting the Steering................ 66
Alignment and Balance............. 200
Cleaning Aluminum Alloys....... 219