manual transmission HONDA ACCORD 2012 8.G User Guide

µ
µ µ
µ To shif t to second,
pressthereleasebuttononthefront
of the shif t lever. This position locks
the transmission in second gear. It
does not downshif t to f irst gear
when you come to a stop.
Use second gear:
For more power when climbing.
To increase engine braking when
going down steep hills.
For starting out on a slippery
surf ace or in deep snow.
To help reduce wheel spin.
When driving downhill with a
trailer.
Use this position f or
your normal driving. The
transmission automatically selects a
suitable gear (1 through 5) f or your
speed and acceleration. You may
notice the transmission shif ting up at
higher engine speeds when the
engine is cold. This helps the engine
warm up f aster. To shif t f rom second to
first, press the release button on the
f ront of the shif t lever. This position
locks the transmission in f irst gear.
By upshif ting and downshif ting
through 1, 2, D3, and D, you can
operate this transmission much like
a manual transmission without a
clutch pedal.
To shift from D to D3,
press the shif t lever release button.
This position is similar to D, except
only the f irst three gears are
selected.UseD3whentowinga
trailer in hilly terrain, or to provide
engine braking when going down a
steep hill. D3 can also keep the
transmission f rom cycling between
third and f ourth gears in stop-and-go
driving.
Automatic Transmission
Second (2)
Drive (D) First (1)
Drive (D3)
314
Main MenuTable of Contents

Always use the parking brake when
you park your vehicle. Make sure
the parking brake is set f irmly, or
your vehicle may roll if it is parked
on an incline.
If your vehicle has an automatic
transmission, set the parking brake
bef ore you put the transmission in
Park. This keeps the vehicle f rom
moving and putting pressure on the
parking mechanism in the
transmission.Make sure the moonroof (if
equipped) and the windows are
closed.
Turn of f the lights.
Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the trunk or take them with you.
Make sure the parking brake is
f ully released bef ore driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or
damage the rear brakes.
If the vehicle is f acing uphill, turn
the f ront wheels away f rom the
curb. If your vehicle has a manual
transmission, put it in f irst gear.
If the vehicle is f acing downhill,
turn the front wheels toward the
curb. If your vehicle has a manual
transmission, put it in reverse gear.
Lock the doors.
Check the indicator on the
instrument panel to verif y that the
security system is set.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other f lammable
materials. The hot three way
catalytic converter could cause
these materials to catch on fire.
Except LX
Parking T ips
Parking
Driving
317
Main MenuTable of Contents

Always drive slowly and have
someone guide you when backing up.
Grip the of the steering wheel,
then turn the wheel to the left to get
the trailer to move to the lef t. Turn
the wheel to the right to move the
trailer to the right.
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. Your vehicle is not designed to be
towed behind a motor home. If your
vehicle needs to be towed in an
emergency, see page .
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. Follow all normal precautions when
parking, including f irmly 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. 407
bottom
Backing Up
Parking
Handling Crosswinds and Buf f et ing
Towing Your Vehicle
Towing a Trailer
332
Main MenuTable of Contents

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, and
instructions f or simple maintenance
tasks you may want to take care of
yourself .
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.U.S. Vehicles:
......................
Maintenance Saf ety . 334
.................
Maintenance Minder . 335
..............................
Fluid Locations . 342
........................
Adding Engine Oil . 344
Changing the Engine Oil and
...........................................
Filter . 346
..............................
Engine Coolant . 348
....................
Windshield Washers . 350
.......................
Transmission Fluid . 351
..........
Automatic Transmission . 351
..............
Manual Transmission . 353
................
Brake and Clutch Fluid . 354
................................
Brake Fluid . 354
...............................
Clutch Fluid . 355
....................
Power Steering Fluid . 355
....................................
Timing Belt . 356
.............................................
Lights . 357
................
Cleaning the Seat Belts . 367
.....................................
Floor Mats . 367
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 368
.................................
Wiper Blades . 369
...............................................
Tires . 372
...................
Checking the Battery . 380
.............................
Vehicle Storage . 381
..................................
Interior Care . 382
431
Maintenance
Maintenance, replacement, or
repair of emissions control
devices and systems may be done
by any automotive repair
establishment or individual using
parts that are ‘‘certif ied’’ to EPA
standards.
Maint enance
333
TM
Main Menu

Fluid Locations
4-cylinder models
342
CLUTCH FLUID
(Manual
Transmission only)
(Light gray cap)
AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
FLUID DIPSTICK
(Yellow loop)
BRAKE FLUID
(Black cap)
ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK
(Orange handle)
POWER STEERING FLUID
(Red cap)
RADIATOR CAP
ENGINE COOLANT
RESERVOIR ENGINE OIL FILL CAP
WASHER FLUID
(Blue cap)
Main MenuTable of Contents

Check the f luid level with the
transmission at normal operating
temperature and the vehicle sitting
on level ground.Reinstall the under cover and put the
holding clips back in place. Make
sure the under cover is installed
under the edge of the f ront bumper.
The transmission should be drained
and ref illed with new f luid according
to the Maintenance Minder (see
page ).
If you are not sure how to check and
add f luid, contact your dealer.
Remove the transmission f iller bolt,
and caref ully f eel inside the bolt hole
with your f inger.
The f luid level should be up to the
edge of the bolt hole. If it is not, add
Honda Manual Transmission Fluid
(MTF) until it starts to run out of the
hole. Reinstall the f iller bolt, and
tighten it securely.
To check the transmission f luid level,
remove the under cover holding clips
with a flat-tip screwdriver, then
remove the under cover caref ully. If Honda MTF is not available, you
may use an SAE 0W-20 or 5W-20
viscosity motor oil with the API
Certif ication Seal that says ‘‘FOR
GASOLINE ENGINES’’ as a
temporary replacement. However,
motor oil does not contain the proper
additives, and continued use can
cause stif f er shif ting. Replace as
soon as it is convenient.
335
4-cylinder models
T ransmission Fluid
Manual Transmission
Maint enance
353
CLIP UNDER COVER Correct levelFILLER BOLT
TM
Main MenuTable of Contents

Check the f luid level in the
reservoirs monthly. There are up to
two reservoirs, depending on the
model. They are:Always use Honda Heavy Duty
Brake Fluid DOT 3. If it is not
available, you should use only DOT 3
or DOT 4 f luid, f rom a sealed
container, as a temporary
replacement.
Using any non-Honda brake f luid can
cause corrosion and decrease the lif e
of the system. Have the brake
system f lushed and ref illed with
Honda Heavy Duty Brake Fluid
DOT 3 as soon as possible.
Brake f luid marked DOT 5 is not
compatible with your vehicle’s
braking system and can cause
extensive damage. The f luid level should be between
theMINandMAXmarksontheside
of the reservoir. If the level is at or
below the MIN mark, your brake
system needs attention. Have the
brake system inspected f or leaks or
worn brake pads.
Brake f luid reservoir (all models)
Clutch f luid reservoir
(manual transmission only)
Independent of the Maintenance
Minder inf ormation, replace the
brake f luid every 3 years.
Brake and Clutch Fluid
Brake Fluid
354
MAX
MIN
Main MenuTable of Contents

Check the level on the side of the
reservoir when the engine is cold.
The f luid should be between the
UPPER LEVEL and LOWER LEVEL.
If not, add power steering f luid to the
UPPER LEVEL.
The f luid level should be between
theMINandMAXmarksontheside
of the reservoir. If it is not, add
brake f luid to bring it up to that level.
Use the same fluid specified for the
brake system. A low f luid level can indicate a leak
in the clutch system. Have this
system inspected as soon as possible.
CONT INUED
On models with manual transmission
Power Steering Fluid
Clutch Fluid
Brake and Clutch Fluid, Power Steering Fluid
Maint enance
355
MAX
MIN 4-cylinder modelsUPPER LEVEL
LOWER LEVEL
Main MenuTable of Contents

Support the f ront wiper blade
arms with a f olded towel or rag so
they do not touch the windshield.
To minimize sticking, apply a
silicone spray lubricant to all door
and trunk seals. Also, apply a
vehiclebodywaxtothepainted
surfaces that mate with the door
and trunk seals.
Cover the vehicle with a
‘‘breathable’’ cover, one made
f rom a porous material such as
cotton. Non-porous materials, such
as plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint.
Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in reverse
(manual) or Park (automatic).
If possible, periodically run the
engine until it reaches f ull
operating temperature (the
cooling f ans cycle on and of f
twice). Pref erably, do this once a
month.
Block the rear wheels.
If the vehicle is to be stored f or a
longer period, it should be
supported on jackstands so the
tires are of f the ground.
Leave one window open slightly (if
the vehicle is being stored
indoors).
Disconnect the battery.
Vacuum dirt and dust f rom the
leather f requently. Pay close
attention to the pleats and seams.
Clean the leather with a sof t cloth
dampened with a 90% water and 10%
neutral wool detergent solution.
Then buf f it with a clean, dry cloth.
Remove any dust or dirt on leather
surf aces immediately.
If equipped
Vehicle Storage, Interior Care
Leather
382
Main MenuTable of Contents

CONT INUED
Park the vehicle on f irm, level, and
non-slippery ground. Put the
transmission in Park (automatic)
or reverse (manual). Apply the
parking brake.
If you have a f lat tire while driving,
pull over saf ely. Drive slowly along
the shoulder until you get to an area
far away from traffic lanes.
Turn on the hazard warning lights,
and turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK (0) position. Have all
passengers get out of the vehicle
while you change the tire.
The tools are in the trunk. Open
the trunk and raise the trunk f loor
by lif ting up on the back edge.
Take the tool kit out of the trunk.
Unscrew the wing bolt and take
the spare tire out of its well.
5.
4.
3.
2.
1.
Changing a Flat T ire
T aking Care of the Unexpected
385
TRUNK FLOOR JACK
SPARE TIRE TOOL KIT
The vehicle can easily roll off
the jack, seriously injuring
anyone underneath.
Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and
never get under the vehicle
when it is supported only by thejack.
Main MenuTable of Contents