light Acura Integra 2001 Service Manual

Audi
o Syste m

Carin g fo r th e Cassett e Playe r
The cassette player picks up dirt and oxides from the tape. This contami-
nation builds up over time and
causes the sound quality to degrade.
To prevent this, you should clean the player after every 30 hours of use.
Your dealer has a cleaning kit
available.

If you do not clean the cassette
player regularly, it may eventually
become impossible to remove thecontamination with a normal
cleaning kit.
The player automatically ejects cassettes that do not play properly. If
it ejects a cassette before it begins to
play, it is probably defective andshould not be inserted again. You
may have a cassette suddenly stop
playing, reverse directions once or
twice and then eject. This is normally an indication the tape is wound
unevenly. It should play after the tape is manually rewound.
Use 100-minute or shorter cassettes.Cassettes longer than that use
thinner tape that may break or jam
the drive.
Look at the cassette before you
insert it. If the tape is loose, tighten
it by turning a hub with a pencil or
your finger.
If the label is peeling off, remove it
from the cassette or it could cause
the cassette to jam in the player. Never try to insert a warped ordamaged cassette in the player.
When they are not in use, store cassettes in their cases to protect
them from dust and moisture. Never
place cassettes where they will be exposed to direct sunlight, high heat,
or high humidity. If a cassette is
exposed to extreme heat or cold, let
it reach a moderate temperature
before inserting it in the player. Never try to insert foreign objects
into the cassette player.
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s

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).
Do not change the oil until the
recommended time or mileage
interval shown in the maintenance

schedule.

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.

In Canada, some gasolines contain an octane-enhancing additive called
MMT. If you use such gasolines,
your emissions control system performance may deteriorate and
the Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
your instrument panel may turn on. If this happens, contact yourauthorized Acura dealer for service. (SE, 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 and Type-R models)
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 aslight decrease in power as a result.

Before Drivin g

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 240).
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 hoodrelease 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 edge
of 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 until
it releases the hood. Lift the hood.

CONTINUED
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 or does not spring back as before, the
mechanism should be cleaned and
lubricated (see page 189).
SUPPOR
T RO D

CLIP
3. Pull the support rod out of its clip and 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 to
about a foot (30 cm) above the
fender, then let it drop.
After closing the hood, make sure it is securely latched.

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 usuallydesigned for universal applications.
Although aftermarket accessories may fit on your car, they may not
meet factory specifications, andcould adversely affect your car's
handling and stability. (See "Modifications" on the page 131 for
additional information.) When properly installed, cellular
phones, alarms, two-way radios, and
low-powered audio systems shouldnot interfere with your car's
computer-controlled systems, suchas 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 243). Have the installer contact your
Acura dealer for assistance before installing any electronic accessory.
If possible, have your dealer inspect
the final installation.

Befor e 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.

Carryin
g Carg o

CONSOL E COMPARTMEN T
CARG O ARE A GLOV
E BO X Your car has several convenient
storage areas so you can stow cargo

safely.

The glove box, and the pockets in the doors are designed for small,
lightweight items. The cargo area isintended for larger, heavier items. In
addition, the back seat can be foldeddown 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.

Befor e Drivin g
DOO
R POCKE T

Preparin
g to Driv e
You should do the following checks and adjustments every day before
you drive your car.
1. Make sure all windows, mirrors, and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove frost, snow,or ice.
2. Check that the hood and hatch are fully closed.
3. Visually check the tires. If a tire looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure.

4. Check that any items you may be carrying with you inside are stored
properly or fastened down
securely.
5. Check the adjustment of the seat
(see page 79 ).
6. Check the adjustment of the inside and outside mirrors (see
page 86 ).
7. Check the adjustment of the steering wheel (see page 66 ).
8. Make sure the doors and hatch
are securely closed and locked.

9. Fasten your seat belt. Check that
your passengers have fastened
their seat belts (see page 16 ). 10. Turn the ignition switch ON (II).
Check the indicator lights in the
instrument panel.
11. Start the engine (see page 137).
12. Check the gauges and indicator lights in the instrument panel (see
page 53).
Drivin g

Parkin
g
Always use the parking brake when you park your car. The indicator onthe instrument panel shows that theparking brake is not fully released; itdoes not indicate that the parking
brake is firmly set. Make sure the
parking brake is set firmly or your car may roll if it is parked on an

incline.

If your car has an automatic
transmission, set the parking brake
before you put the transmission in Park. This keeps the car from
moving and putting pressure on the
parking mechanism in the
transmission — making it easier to move the shift lever out of Park
when you want to drive away. If the car is facing uphill, turn the
front wheels away from the curb. If
you have a manual transmission, put it in first gear.
If the car is facing downhill, turn the
front wheels toward the curb. If you
have a manual transmission, put it in reverse gear.
Make sure the parking brake is fully
released before driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or damage
the rear brakes. Parkin
g Tip s Make sure the moonroof and the
windows are closed. Turn off the lights.
Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the cargo area or take them

with you.
Lock the doors.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other flammable
materials. The three way catalytic
converter gets very hot, and could
cause these materials to catch on

fire.

Drivin g

Th
e Brakin g Syste m
Your Acura is equipped with disc brakes at all four wheels. A power assist helps reduce the effort needed
on the brake pedal. The ABS helps
you retain steering control when braking very hard.
Put your foot on the brake pedal only
when you intend to brake. Resting
your foot on the pedal keeps the brakes applied lightly, causing themto build up heat. Heat build-up can
reduce how well your brakes work. It
also keeps your brake lights on all
the time, confusing drivers behind

you.
Constant application of the brakes
when going down a long hill builds up heat and reduces their effective-
ness. Use the engine to assist the
brakes by downshifting to a lower gear and taking your foot off theaccelerator pedal.
Check your brakes after driving
through deep water. Apply the
brakes moderately to see if they feel normal. If not, apply them gently and
frequently until they do. Since a
longer distance is needed to stop
with wet brakes, be extra cautious and alert in your driving. Brak
e Wea r Indicator s
All four brakes have audible brake wear indicators.
When the brake pads need replacing, you will hear a distinctive metallic "screeching" sound when you apply
the brakes. If you do not have the
brake pads replaced, they will begin screeching all the time.
Your brakes may sometimes squeal or squeak when you apply them
lightly. Do not confuse this with the
brake wear indicators. They make a
very audible "screeching."

Driving

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