trailer HONDA ACCORD COUPE 2000 CF / 6.G Owners Manual

2000 Accord Coupe Online Reference Owner's Manual
Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through\
this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.h\
elminc.com.
Contents


Introduction ........................................................................\
................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safety........................................................................\
........................................ . ii
Your Vehicle at a Glance........................................................................\
............................................ . 2
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
..................................... . 5
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restr\
aint System.
Instruments and Controls........................................................................\
........................................ . 51
Instrume nt panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
..................... . 109
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
.......................................................... 159
What gasoline to use, how to break -in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
..................................................................... . 173
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
............................................................. 197
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take you r vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Care........................................................................\
..................................................... . 267
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your\
vehicle ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpected........................................................................\
.............................. 275
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, an d how to handle them.
Technical Information........................................................................\
............................................ . 303
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................ 317
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)........................................................................\
.............................. 323
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index........................................................................\
........................................................................\
...... I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump. Owner's Identification Form

Carryin
g Carg o

Loa d Limi t
Th e maximu m loa d fo r you r ca r i s
85 0 1b s (395kg) .
Thi s figur e include s th e tota l weigh t
o f al l occupants , cargo , accessories ,
an d th e tongu e weigh t i f yo u ar e
towin g a trailer .
To figur e ou t ho w muc h carg o yo u
ca n carry :
Ad d u p th e weigh t o f al l occupants .
I f yo u ar e towin g a trailer , ad d th e
tongu e weigh t t o th e numbe r

above .

Subtrac t th e tota l fro m 85 0 Ib s
(395kg) .
Th e fina l numbe r i s th e tota l weigh t
o f carg o yo u ca n carry . Carryin
g Item s i n th e Passenge r
Compartmen t
Stor e o r secur e al l item s tha t coul d
b e throw n aroun d an d hur t
someon e durin g a crash .
D o no t pu t an y item s o n to p o f th e
rea r shelf . The y ca n bloc k you r
vie w an d b e throw n aroun d th e ca r
durin g a crash .
B e sur e item s place d o n th e floo r
behin d th e fron t seat s canno t rol l
unde r th e seat s an d interfer e wit h
th e driver' s abilit y t o operat e th e
pedals , o r wit h th e prope r
operatio n o f th e seats .
Kee p th e glov e bo x close d whil e
driving . I f th e li d is open , a
passenge r coul d injur e thei r knee s
durin g a cras h o r sudde n stop .

Befor e Drivin g

Overloadin
g o r imprope r
loadin g ca n affec t handlin g an d
stabilit y an d caus e a cras h in
whic h yo u ca n b e hur t o r killed .

Follo w al l loa d limit s an d othe r

loadin g guideline s in thi s

manual .

Drivin
g

Thi s sectio n give s yo u tip s o n
startin g th e engin e unde r variou s

conditions , an d ho w to operat e th e

5-spee d manua l an d automati c

transmissions . I t als o include s

importan t informatio n o n parkin g

you r car , th e brakin g system , an d

fact s yo u nee d if yo u ar e plannin g to

to w a trailer .
Preparin
g to Drive........................ . 17 4
Startin g th e Engine....................... . 17 5
Startin g in Col d Weathe r
a t Hig h Altitud e .................... . 17 6
5-spee d Manua l Transmission.... . 17 7
Recommende d Shif t Points..... . 17 8
Engin e Spee d Limite r .............. . 17 8
Automati c Transmission.............. . 17 8
Shif t Leve r Positio n Indicato r .. 17 9
Shif t Leve r Positions................ . 17 9
Engin e Spee d Limite r .............. . 18 2
Shif t Loc k Release.................... . 18 2
Parking........................................... . 18 4
Th e Brakin g System..................... . 18 5
Brak e Wea r Indicators............. . 18 5
Brak e Syste m Design............... . 18 6
Anti-loc k Brakes....................... . 18 6
Importan t Safet y
Reminders......................... . 18 7
AB S Indicator........................ . 18 7
Drivin g in Ba d Weather............... . 18 8
Towin g a Trailer........................... . 19 0

Drivin g

Towin
g a Traile r
Gros
s Axl e Weigh t Ratin g
(GAWR) :

Th e tota l weigh t o f th e vehicle , al l
occupants , al l cargo , an d th e
tongu e loa d mus t no t exceed :

(LX )

2,16 0
Ib s
(98 0
kg )

(EX )
2,18 5
Ib s
(99 0
kg )

(LX-V6.EX-V6 )
2,31 5 Ib s (1,05 0 kg )
o n th e fron t axl e
(LX )

1,89 5 Ib s (86 0 kg )

(EX )

1,92 0 Ib s (87 0 kg )

(LX-V6,EX-V6 )

1,94 0
Ibs .
(88 0 kg )

o n th e rea r axl e
Checkin
g Load s

Th e bes t wa y t o confir m tha t vehicl e
an d traile r weight s ar e withi n limit s
i s t o hav e the m checke d a t a publi c

scale .

Usin g a suitabl e scal e o r a specia l
tongu e loa d gauge , chec k th e tongu e
loa d th e firs t tim e yo u se t u p a
towin g combinatio n ( a fully-loade d
vehicl e an d trailer) , the n rechec k th e
tongu e loa d wheneve r th e condition s

change .

Driving

Exceedin
g loa d limit s o r

improperl y loadin g you r vehicl e
an d traile r ca n caus e a cras h in
whic h yo u ca n b e seriousl y
injure d o r killed .
Chec k th e loadin g o f you r
vehicl e an d traile r carefull y
befor e startin g to drive .

Towin
g a Traile r

Towin g Equipmen t an d
Accessorie s
Towin g ca n requir e a variet y o f
equipment , dependin g o n th e siz e o f
you r trailer , ho w it wil l b e used , an d
ho w muc h loa d yo u ar e towing .
Discus s you r need s wit h you r traile r
sale s o r renta l agency , an d follo w th e
guideline s i n th e res t o f thi s section .
Als o mak e sur e tha t al l equipmen t i s
properl y installe d an d tha t i t meet s
federal , state , province , an d loca l
regulations .
Hitches

An y hitc h use d o n you r vehicl e mus t
b e properl y bolte d to th e underbody .
Safety Chain

Alway
s us e a safet y chain . Mak e
sur e tha t i t i s secure d t o bot h th e
traile r an d hitch , an d tha t i t crosse s
unde r th e tongu e s o it ca n catc h th e
traile r i f i t become s unhitched .
Leav e enoug h slac k t o allo w th e
traile r t o tur n corner s easily , bu t d o
no t le t th e chai n dra g o n th e ground .

Drivin g

Towin
g a Traile r

Trailer Brakes

Hond a recommend s tha t an y traile r
havin g a tota l weigh t o f 1,00 0 Ib s
(45 0 kg ) o r mor e b e equippe d wit h
it s ow n electri c o r surge-typ e brakes .
I f yo u choos e electri c brakes , b e
sur e the y ar e electronicall y actuated .
D o no t attemp t t o ta p int o you r
vehicle' s hydrauli c system . N o
matte r ho w successfu l i t ma y seem ,
an y attemp t t o attac h traile r brake s
t o you r vehicle' s hydrauli c syste m
wil l lowe r brakin g effectivenes s an d
creat e a potentia l hazard .
Your ca r ha s a traile r lightin g
connecto r locate d behin d th e lef t
sid e pane l i n th e trunk . Refe r t o th e
drawin g abov e fo r th e wirin g colo r
cod e an d purpos e o f eac h pin .
I f yo u us e a converter , yo u ca n ge t
th e connecto r an d pin s tha t mat e
wit h th e connecto r i n you r ca r fro m
you r Hond a dealer . Sinc
e lightin g an d wirin g var y wit h
traile r typ e an d brand , yo u shoul d
als o hav e a qualifie d technicia n
instal l a suitabl e connecto r betwee n
th e vehicl e an d th e trailer .

CONTINUED

Drivin g

Trailer Lights

BACK-UP LIGH T
(GREEN/BLACK ) LEF
T TUR N SIGNA L
(GREEN/BLUE )
TAILLIGH T
(RED/BLACK )

BRAK
E LIGH T

(GREEN/WHITE )

RIGH
T TUR N SIGNA L
(GREEN/YELLOW )

GROUN
D
(BLACK )

Towin
g a Traile r

Additional Trailer equipment
Man y state s an d province s requir e
specia l outsid e mirror s whe n towin g
a trailer . Eve n if the y don't , yo u
shoul d instal l specia l mirror s i f yo u
canno t clearl y se e behin d you , o r i f
th e traile r create s a blin d spot .
As k you r traile r sale s o r renta l
agenc y i f an y othe r item s ar e
recommende d o r require d fo r you r
towin g situation . Pre-To
w Checklis t
Whe n preparin g to tow , an d befor e
drivin g away , b e sur e t o chec k th e
following : Th
e vehicl e ha s bee n properly
serviced , an d th e tires , brakes ,
suspension , an d coolin g syste m
ar e in goo d operatin g condition . Al
l weight s an d load s ar e withi n
limit s (se e page s 19 0 an d 191 ). Th
e hitch , safet y chain , an d an y
othe r attachment s ar e secure . Al
l item s o n an d in th e traile r ar e
properl y secure d an d canno t shif t
whil e yo u drive . Th
e light s an d brake s o n you r
vehicl e an d th e traile r ar e workin g
properly . You
r vehicl e tire s an d spar e ar e
properl y inflate d (se e pag e 247 ),
an d th e traile r tire s an d spar e ar e
inflate d a s recommende d b y th e
traile r maker .

Drivin g

Towin
g a Traile r

Drivin g Safel y Wit h a Traile r
Th e adde d weight , length , an d
heigh t o f a traile r wil l affec t you r
vehicle' s handlin g an d performance ,
s o drivin g wit h a traile r require s
som e specia l drivin g skill s an d
techniques .
Fo r you r safet y an d th e safet y o f
others , tak e tim e t o practic e drivin g
maneuver s befor e headin g fo r th e
ope n road , an d follo w th e guideline s
discusse d below .
Towing Speeds and Gears
Driv e slowe r tha n norma l i n al l
drivin g situations , an d obe y poste d
spee d limit s fo r vehicle s wit h trailers .
I f yo u hav e a n automati c
transmission , us e th e D 4 positio n
whe n towin g a traile r o n leve l roads .
D 3 i s th e prope r shif t leve r positio n
t o us e whe n towin g a traile r i n hill y
terrain . (Se e "Driving on Hills" i n th e
nex t colum n fo r additiona l gea r
information. )
Making Turns and Braking

Mak
e turn s mor e slowl y an d wide r
tha n normal . Th e traile r track s a
smalle r ar c tha n you r vehicle , an d i t
ca n hi t o r ru n ove r somethin g th e
vehicl e misses . Allo w mor e tim e an d
distanc e fo r braking . D o no t brak e o r
tur n suddenl y a s thi s coul d caus e th e
traile r t o jackknif e o r tur n over .

Driving on Hills

Whe n climbin g hills , closel y watc h
you r temperatur e gauge . I f i t near s
th e re d (Hot ) mark , tur n th e ai r
conditionin g off , reduc e spee d and , i f
necessary , pul l t o th e sid e o f th e
roa d to le t th e engin e cool .
I f th e automati c transmissio n shift s
frequentl y betwee n 3r d an d 4t h
gear s whil e goin g u p a hill , shif t t o

D 3.
I
f yo u mus t sto p whe n facin g uphill ,
us e th e foo t brak e o r parkin g brake .
D o no t tr y t o hol d th e vehicl e in
plac e b y pressin g o n th e accelerator ,
a s thi s ca n caus e th e automati c
transmissio n to overheat .
Whe n drivin g dow n hills , reduc e
you r spee d an d shif t dow n to 2n d
gear . D o no t "ride " th e brakes , an d
remembe r i t wil l tak e longe r t o slo w
dow n an d sto p whe n towin g a trailer .

CONTINUED

Drivin g

Towin
g a Traile r

Handling Crosswinds and Buffeting

Crosswind s an d ai r turbulenc e
cause d b y passin g truck s ca n disrup t

you r steerin g an d caus e traile r

swaying . Whe n bein g passe d b y a

larg e vehicle , kee p a constan t spee d

an d stee r straigh t ahead . D o no t tr y
t o mak e quic k steerin g o r brakin g

corrections .

Backing Up
Alway s driv e slowl y an d hav e
someon e guid e yo u whe n backin g up .
Gri p th e bottom o f th e steerin g
wheel ; the n tur n th e whee l t o th e lef t
t o ge t th e traile r t o mov e t o th e left ,
an d tur n th e whee l righ t t o mov e th e
traile r t o th e right .
Parking

Follo w al l norma l precaution s whe n
parking , includin g firml y settin g th e
parkin g brak e an d puttin g th e
transmissio n in Par k (automatic ) or
i n 1 st o r Revers e (manual) . Also ,
plac e whee l chock s a t eac h o f th e
trailer' s tires .
Drivin g

Maintenance
U.S. Owner s
Follo w th e Sever e Condition s
Maintenanc e Schedul e i f yo u
driv e you r vehicl e MAINLY
unde r on e o r mor e o f th e
followin g conditions :
Driving les s tha n 5 mile s ( 8
km ) pe r tri p or , i n freezin g
temperatures , drivin g les s
tha n 1 0 mile s (1 6 km ) pe r trip .
Drivin g in extremel y ho t
[ove r 90 ° F (32°C ] conditions .
E xtensive idlin g o r lon g
period s o f stop-and-g o driving .
Trailer towing , drivin g wit h a
roo f to p carrier , o r drivin g in
mountainou s conditions .
Driving o n muddy , dusty , o r
de-ice d roads .
*1 : Balance r bel t applie s t o 4-cylinde r
model s only .
*2 : Refe r t o pag e 24 5 fo r replacemen t
information unde r specia l drivin g
conditions .
*3 : Refe r t o pag e 24 4 fo r replacemen t
information unde r specia l drivin g
conditions .
# : Se e informatio n o n maintenanc e an d
emission s warranty , last column , pag e
201.
Canadia n Owner s
Follow th e Maintenanc e
Schedule fo r Sever e Conditions .