check engine Acura Integra 2000 Sedan User Guide

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.
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 them
to build up heat. Heat build-up can reduce how well your brakes work. Italso 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 the
accelerator 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

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

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

5. Put a new washer on the drain bolt,
then reinstall the drain bolt.
Tighten it to:
33 lbf .
ft (44 N .
m , 4.5 kgf .
m)

6. Refill the engine with the recom-

mended oil.

Engine oil change capacity
(including filter):

(LS,
GS)

4. 0 US qt (3.8 l , 3.3 Imp qt)

(GS-R)

4.2 US qt (4.0 l , 3.5 Imp qt)

7. Replace the engine oil fill cap.
Start the engine. The oil pressureindicator light should go out within
five seconds. If it does not, turn off
the engine and reinspect your
work.
8. Let the engine run for several minutes and check the drain bolt
and oil filter for leaks.
9. Turn off the engine, let it sit for several minutes, then check the oillevel. If necessary, add oil to bring
the level to the upper mark on the
dipstick.
Improper disposal of engine oil can be
harmful to the environment. If you
change your own oil, please dispose of
the used oil properly. Put it in a sealed
container and take it to a recycling
center. Do not discard it in a trash bin
or dump it on the ground.
Maintenance

NOTIC
E

Coolin
g Syste m

Addin g Engin e Coolan t
If the coolant level in the reserve
tank is at or below the MIN line, add coolant to bring it up to the MAX line.
Inspect the cooling system for leaks.
This coolant should always be a mixture of 50 percent antifreeze and50 percent water. Never add straight
antifreeze or plain water. Always use Genuine Honda
Antifreeze/Coolant. If it is not
available, you may use anothermajor-brand non-silicate coolant as a
temporary replacement. Make sure it is a high-quality coolant
recommended for aluminum engines.
However, continued use of any non-
Honda coolant can result in
corrosion, causing the coolingsystem to malfunction or fail. Have
the cooling system flushed and refilled with Honda antifreeze/
coolant as soon as possible. If the reserve tank is completely
empty, you should also check the
coolant level in the radiator.

Maintenanc e
Removing the radiator cap

while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.

Always let the engine and radiator cool down before

removing the radiator cap.
RESERV
E TAN K

Coolin
g Syste m

10.Fill the reserve tank to the MAX mark. Install the reserve tank cap.
11.Check the level in the radiator, add coolant if needed.
12.Install the radiator cap, and tighten it to the first stop.
13.Start the engine and let it run until the radiator fan comes on two
times. Then stop the engine.
14.Remove the radiator cap. Fill the radiator with coolant up to the
base of the filler neck. 15.Start the engine and hold it at
1,500 rpm until the radiator fan
comes on. Turn off the engine.
Check the coolant level in the
radiator and add coolant if needed.
16.Install the radiator cap, and tighten it fully.
17.If necessary, fill the reserve tank to the MAX mark. Install the
reserve tank cap.

Maintenanc e

Windshiel
d Washer s

Check the level in the windshield
washer reservoir at least monthly during normal usage. In bad weather,
when you use the washers often, check the level every time you stop

for fuel.

The windshield washer reservoir is located behind the left headlight.Check the reservoir's fluid level by
removing the cap and looking at the
level gauge attached to the cap.

Fill the reservoir with a good-quality
windshield washer fluid. Thisincreases the cleaning capability and
prevents freezing in cold weather. When you refill the reservoir, clean
the edges of the windshield wiper
blades with windshield washer fluid on a clean cloth. This will help to
condition the blade edges.

Do not use engine antifreeze or a vinegar/water solution in thewindshield washer reservoir.
Antifreeze can damage your car's paint, while a vinegar/water solution can
damage the windshield washer pump.
Use only commercially-available
windshield washer fluid.

Maintenance

LEVE
L GAUG E

NOTICE

Transmissio
n Flui d

Automati c Transmissio n
Check the fluid level with the engine
at normal operating temperature.
1. Park the car on level ground. Shut off the engine.
2. Remove the dipstick (yellow loop) from the transmission and wipe itwith a clean cloth. 3. Insert the dipstick all the way into
the transmission.
4. Remove the dipstick and check the fluid level. It should be
between the upper and lower
marks. 5. If the level is below the lower
mark, add fluid into the tube to
bring it to the upper mark. Always use Honda Premium Formula
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF). If it is not available, you
may use a DEXRON ®
III
automatic transmission fluid as a
temporary replacement. However,
continued use can affect shift quality. Have the transmission
drained and refilled with Honda
ATF as soon as it is convenient.
6. Insert the dipstick all the way back in the transmission.
The transmission should be drained and refilled with new fluid according
to the time and distance recommen- dations in the maintenance schedule.

Maintenanc e

DIPSTIC
K
UPPER MAR K
LOWE R MAR K

Brak
e an d Clutc h Fluid , Powe r Steerin g
Clutc h Syste m
The fluid should be between the MIN and MAX marks on the side of
the reservoir. If it is not, add brake
fluid to bring it up to that level. Use
the same fluid specified for the
brake system.
Low fluid level can indicate a leak in
the clutch system. Have this system inspected as soon as possible. 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 Genuine 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

MI
N MA
X UPPE
R LEVE L
LOWE R LEVE L