HONDA ACCORD HYBRID 2006 CL7 / 7.G Owners Manual

To achieve a proper tongue load,
start by loading 60 % of the load
toward the front of the trailer and 40
% toward the rear, then re-adjust the
load as needed.The total weight of the vehicle, all
occupants, all cargo, and the
tongue load must not exceed: The total weight of each axle must
not exceed:
The best way to conf irm that vehicle
and trailer weights are within limits
is to have them checked at a public
scale. To locate the public scales in
your area, consult your local yellow
pages or ask your dealer f or
assistance.
Using a suitable scale or a special
tongue load gauge, check the tongue
load the f irst time you set up a
towing combination (a f ully-loaded
vehicle and trailer), then recheck the
tongue load whenever the conditions
change.
on the f ront axle
on the rear axle
Checking L oads
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR): Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GA WR):
Towing a Trailer
180
4,565 lbs (2,070 kg)2,470 Ibs (1,120 kg)
2,140 Ibs (970 kg)
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Honda recommends that any trailer
having a total weight of 1,000 lbs
(450 kg) or more be equipped with
its own electric or surge-type brakes.
If you choose electric brakes, be
sure they are electrically actuated.
Do not attempt to tap into your
vehicle’s hydraulic system. No
matter how successf ul it may seem,
any attempt to attach trailer brakes
to your vehicle’s hydraulic system
will lower braking ef f ectiveness and
create a potential hazard.
Seeyourtrailerdealerformore
inf ormation on installing electric
brakes.
Any hitch used on your vehicle must
be properly bolted to the underbody.
Always use saf ety chains when you
tow a trailer. Make sure the chains
are secured to the trailer and hitch,
and that they cross under the tongue
and can catch the trailer if it
becomes unhitched. Leave enough
slack to allow the trailer to turn
corners easily, but do not let the
chains drag on the ground.
Towing can require a variety of
equipment, depending on the size of
your trailer, how it will be used, how
much load you are towing, and
where you tow. To ensure the best
quality, we recommend that you
purchase Honda equipment
whenever possible.
Discuss your needs with your trailer
sales or rental agency, and f ollow the
guidelines in the rest of this section.
Also make sure that all equipment is
properly installed and that it meets
f ederal, state, province, and local
regulations. T owing Equipment and
A ccessories
Trailer Brakes
Hitches
Saf et y Chains
Towing a Trailer
Driving
181
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Askyourtrailersalesorrental
agency if any other items are
recommended or required f or your
towing situation.
Since lighting and wiring vary by
trailer type and brand, you should
have a qualif ied technician install a
suitable connector between the
vehicle and the trailer. Improper
equipment or installation can cause
damage to your vehicle’s electrical
system and af f ect your vehicle
warranty. Trailer lights and equipment must
comply with f ederal and state
regulations. Check with your trailer
sales or rental agency f or the
requirements in your area, and use
only equipment designed f or your
vehicle. Many states and provinces require
special outside mirrors when towing
a trailer. Even if they don’t, you
should install special mirrors if you
cannot clearly see behind you, or if
the trailer creates a blind spot.T railer L ight s
A ddit ional T owing Equipment
Towing a Trailer
182
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When preparing to tow, and bef ore
driving away, be sure to check the
f ollowing:The vehicle has been properly
serviced, and the tires, brakes,
suspension, cooling system, and
lights are in good operating
condition.
The lights and brakes on your
vehicle and the trailer are working
properly. All items in or on the trailer are
properly secured and cannot shif t
while you drive. Thehitch,safetychains,andany
other attachments are secure. All weights and loads are within
limits (see pages and ). Your vehicle tires and spare are
properly inf lated (see page ),
and the trailer tires and spare are
inflated as recommended by the
trailer maker.
Foryoursafetyandthesafetyof
others,taketimetopracticedriving
maneuvers bef ore heading f or the
open road, and f ollow the guidelines
below. The added weight, length, and
height of a trailer will af f ect your
vehicle’s handling and perf ormance,
so driving with a trailer requires
some special driving skills and
techniques. Drive slower than normal in all
driving situations, and obey posted
speed limits f or vehicles with trailers.
Use the D position when towing a
trailer on level roads. Do not exceed
55 mph (88 km/h). At higher speeds,
the trailer may sway or affect vehicle
handling.
D is the proper shif t lever position
to use when towing a trailer in hilly
terrain.
179 180 216
3
Pre-T ow Checklist
Driving Saf ely With a T railerT owing Speeds and Gears
Towing a Trailer
Driving
183
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Maketurnsmoreslowlyandwider
than normal. The trailer tracks a
smaller arc than your vehicle, and it
canhitorrunoversomethingthe
vehicle misses. Allow more time and
distance f or braking. Do not brake or
turn suddenly as this could cause the
trailer to jackknif e or turn over.
When climbing hills, closely watch
your temperature gauge. If it nears
the red (Hot) mark, turn the air
conditioning of f , reduce speed and, if
necessary, pull to the side of the
road to let the engine cool.Always drive slowly and have
someone guide you when backing up.
Grip the of the steering
wheel; then turn the wheel to the lef t
to get the trailer to move to the lef t,
andturnthewheelrighttomovethe
trailer to the right.
Follow all normal precautions when
parking, including f irmly setting the
parking brake and putting the
transmission in Park. Also, place
wheel chocks at each of the trailer’s
tires.
Crosswinds and air turbulence
caused by passing trucks can disrupt
your steering and cause the trailer to
sway. 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. When driving down hills, reduce
your speed, and shif t down to second
gear. Do not ‘‘ride’’ the brakes, and
remember, it will take longer to slow
downandstopwhentowingatrailer.
If you must stop when f acing uphill,
use the f oot brake or parking brake.
Do not try to hold the vehicle in
placebypressingontheaccelerator,
as this can cause the automatic
transmission to overheat.
bottom
Making T urns and Braking
Driving on Hills Handling Crosswinds and Buf f et ingBacking Up
Parking
Towing a Trailer
184
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If you have the skills and tools to
perf orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your vehicle, you may want
to purchase the service manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your dealer. This section explains why it is
important to keep your vehicle well
maintained and how to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.
This section also includes
instructions on how to read the
maintenance minder messages on
the information display, a
maintenance record, and instructions
for simple maintenance tasks you
may want to take care of yourself.......................
Maintenance Saf ety .186
....................
Maintenance Minder .187
....................
Maintenance Record .193
..............................
Fluid Locations .195
........................
Adding Engine Oil .196
.......
Recommended Engine Oil .196
..............................
Synthetic Oil .197
................
Engine Oil Additives .197
.........
Changing the Oil and Filter .198
....................
Windshield Washers .200
..............................
Engine Coolant .201
.......................
Transmission Fluid .203
....................................
Brake Fluid .204
....................................
Timing Belt .205
.............................................
Lights .206
.......................................
Seat Belts .212
........................
Driver’s Floor Mat .212
.................................
Wiper Blades .213
...............................................
Tires .215
..................
Inf lation Guidelines .215
.
Recommended Tire Pressure .216
..........................
Tire Inspection .217
.....................
Tire Maintenance .217
.............................
Tire Rotation .218
...
Replacing Tires and Wheels .218
......................
Wheels and Tires .219 ..........................
Winter Driving .219
.............................
Snow Tires .219
............................
Tire Chains .220
...................
Checking the Battery .221
.............................
Vehicle Storage .222
267
Maintenance
Maint enance
185
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All service items not detailed in this
section should be perf ormed by a
certif ied technician or other qualif ied
mechanic.
To eliminate potential hazards, read
the instructions bef ore you begin,
and make sure you have the tools
and skills required.To clean parts, use a commercially
available degreaser or parts
cleaner, not gasoline.
To reduce the possibility of f ire or
explosion, keep cigarettes, sparks,
and flames away from the battery
and all f uel-related parts.
Wear eye protection and
protective clothing when
working near the battery or
when using compressed air. Be sure
there is adequate ventilation
whenever you operate the
engine. Let the
engine and exhaust system cool
bef ore touching any parts. Do
not run the engine unless
instructed to do so. Some of the most important saf ety
precautions are given here. However,
we cannot warn you of every
conceivable hazard that can arise in
perf orming maintenance. Only you
can decide whether or not you
should perf orm a given task.
Make sure your vehicle is parked
on level ground, the parking brake
is set, and the engine is of f .
Maintenance Saf ety
Important Saf ety Precautions
Carbon Monoxide poison
f rom engine exhaust.
Burns f rom hot parts.
Injury f rom moving parts.
Potential Vehicle Hazards
186
Failure to properly follow
maintenance instructions and
precautions can cause you to
be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the procedures
and precautions in this owner’s
manual.
Improperly maintaining this
vehicle or failing to correct a
problem before driving can
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the inspection,
maintenance recommendations,
and schedules in this owner’s
manual.
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Your vehicle displays engine oil lif e
and maintenance service items on
the inf ormation display to show you
when you should have your dealer
perf orm engine oil replacement and
indicated maintenance service.
Based on the engine operating
conditions and accumulated engine
revolutions, the onboard computer in
your vehicle calculates the remaining
engine oil lif e and displays it as a
percentage.To see the current engine oil lif e,
turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position, and push and release
the Select/Reset knob repeatedly
until the engine oil lif e display
appears (see page ).If the remaining engine oil lif e is 15
to 6 percent, you will see the engine
oil lif e indicator every time you turn
the ignition switch to the ON (II)
position. The maintenance minder
indicator will also come on, and the
maintenance item code(s) for other
scheduled maintenance items
needing service will be displayed
next to the engine oil lif e indicator.
63
CONT INUED
Maintenance Minder
Engine Oil L if e Indicator
Maint enance
187
ENGINE OIL LIFE MAINTENANCE ITEM CODE
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When the remaining engine oil lif e is
5 to 1 percent, you will see a
‘‘SERVICE’’ message in the
inf ormation display, along with the
same maintenance item code(s),
everytimeyouturntheignition
switch to the ON (II) position. When the remaining engine oil lif e is
0percent,youwillseetheabove
display. In this display, the remaining
oil lif e indicator will be blinking. This
display comes on and stays on every
time you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position. When you see
this message, have the indicated
maintenance perf ormed by your
dealer as soon as possible.If you still do not perf orm the
indicated maintenance, you will see a
negative mileage, f or example ‘‘ 10,’’
blinking in the display. This negative
mileage means that you should have
perf ormed the indicated
maintenance 10 miles f or U.S. (10
km for Canada) ago. Immediately
have the indicated maintenance done
by your dealer.
Maintenance Minder
188
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When the vehicle needs
maintenance, maintenance codes
appear on the inf ormation display.
For an explanation of the
maintenance codes, see page .Turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position.
If maintenance service is done by
someone other than your dealer,
reset the maintenance minder as
f ollows:
Press the Select/Reset knob until
the engine oil lif e indicator is
displayed. Press the Select/Reset knob f or
more than 10 seconds. The engine
oil lif e indicator and the
maintenance item code(s) will
blink.
Your dealer will reset the display
af ter completing the required
maintenance service. You will see
‘‘OIL LIFE 100 %’’ on the inf ormation
display the next time you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position.
3.
1.
2.
192
CONT INUED
Resetting the Engine Oil Lif e
Indicator
Maintenance Main Items and Sub
Items
Maintenance Minder
Maint enance
189
MAINTENANCE ITEM CODE
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