towing HONDA ACCORD SEDAN 2000 Owner's Manual (in English)

2000 Accord Sedan 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........................................................................\
........................................ .49
Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
..................... .105
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
..........................................................155
What gasoline to use, how to break -in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
..................................................................... .169
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
.............................................................193
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take you r vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Care........................................................................\
..................................................... .261
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your\
vehicle ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpected........................................................................\
..............................269
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, an d how to handle them.
Technical Information........................................................................\
............................................ .295
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................309
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)........................................................................\
..............................315
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

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 t o 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 .

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 .

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 ,
use the D 4 position when towing a
traile r o n leve l roads . D 3 i s th e prope r
shif t leve r positio n to us e whe n towin g
a traile r i n hill y terrain . (Se e "Driving
o n Hills " in 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 it
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 t o 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 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 .

Drivin g

CONTINUED

U.S
. Owner s

Follo w th e Sever e Condition s
Maintenanc e Schedul e if yo u
driv e you r vehicl e MAINLY
unde r on e o r mor e o f th e
followin g conditions :
Drivin g 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 .
Extensiv e idlin g o r lon g
period s o f stop-and-g o driving .
Traile r towing , drivin g wit h a
roo f to p carrier , o r drivin g in
mountainou s conditions .
Drivin g o n muddy , dusty , o r
de-ice d roads .

Canadia n Owner s
Follo w th e Maintenanc e
Schedul e fo r Sever e Conditions .* : See information on maintenance and emissions warranty, last column, page 197.
* 1 : See Timing Belt on page 240 to determine need for replacement.
* 2 : Balancer belt applies to 4-cylinder models only.
* 3
: Se e Ai r Conditionin g Filte r o n pag e 23 9 fo r replacemen t informatio n unde r specia l conditions .
Maintenanc e

Takin
g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

Thi s sectio n cover s th e more -
commo n problem s tha t motorist s
experienc e wit h thei r vehicles . I t
give s yo u informatio n abou t ho w to
safel y evaluat e th e proble m an d wha t
t o d o t o correc t it . I f th e proble m ha s
strande d yo u o n th e sid e o f th e road ,
yo u ma y b e abl e to ge t goin g again .
I f not , yo u wil l als o fin d instruction s
o n gettin g you r ca r towed . Compac
t Spar e Tire...................... .
270

Changing a
Fla
t Tire.................... .

271

I f You r
Engin
e Won' t Start.......... .

276

Nothin g Happen s
o
r th e
Starte r Moto r Operates
Ver y Slowly............................ .

277

The Starte r
Operates
Normally................................ .

278

Jum p Starting................................ .
278

If You r
Engin
e Overheats............ .

281

Lo w Oi l
Pressur
e Indicator......... .

283

Chargin g Syste m
Indicator..........
.

284

Malfunctio n Indicato r
Lam
p ....... .

285

Brak e Syste m
Indicator...............
.

286

Closin g th e
Moonroof..................
.

287

Fuses..............................................
287

Checkin g an d
Replacing..........
.

289

Emergenc y Towing...................... .
293

Takin g Car e
o
f th e Unexpecte d

Emergenc
y Towin g

I f you r ca r need s t o b e towed , cal l a
professiona l towin g servic e or , i f yo u
belon g to one , a n organizatio n tha t
provide s roadsid e assistance . Neve r
to w you r ca r behin d anothe r vehicl e
wit h jus t a rop e o r chain . I t i s ver y

dangerous .

Ther e ar e thre e popula r method s o f
towin g a vehicle :

Flat-bed Equipment — Th e operato r

load s you r ca r o n th e bac k o f a truck .
Thi s i s th e bes t wa y t o transpor t
you r Honda .
Wheel-Lift Equipment — Th e to w
truc k use s tw o pivotin g arm s tha t g o
unde r th e tire s (fron t o r rear ) an d lif t
the m of f th e ground . Th e othe r tw o
tire s remai n o n th e ground . Thi s i s
a n acceptabl e wa y t o to w you r
Honda .
Sling-type
Equipment — Th e to w

truc k use s meta l cable s wit h hook s
o n th e ends . Thes e hook s g o aroun d
part s o f th e fram e o r suspensio n an d
th e cable s lif t tha t en d o f th e ca r of f
th e ground . You r car' s suspensio n
an d bod y ca n b e seriousl y damaged .
Thi s metho d o f towin g is
unacceptable .
I f you r Hond a canno t b e transporte d
b y flat-bed , i t shoul d b e towe d b y
wheel-lif t equipmen t wit h th e fron t
wheel s of f th e ground . I f du e t o
damage , you r ca r mus t b e towe d
wit h th e fron t wheel s o n th e ground ,
d o th e following :
5-speed Manual Transmission
Releas e th e parkin g brake .
Shif t th e transmissio n to Neutral .

Automatic Transmission:

Releas e th e parkin g brake .
Star t th e engine .
Shif t t o D 4, the n to N .
Tur n of f th e engine .
Improper
towing preparation will

damage the transmission. Follow the

above procedure exactly. If you cannot

shift the transmission or start the

engine (automatic transmission), your

car must be transported with the front

wheels off the ground.

Wit h th e fron t wheel s o n th e ground ,
i t i s bes t t o to w th e ca r n o farthe r
tha n 5 0 mile s (8 0 km) , an d kee p th e
spee d belo w 3 5 mp h (5 5 km/h) .

CONTINUED

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

NOTIC
E

Emergenc
y Towin g

I f yo u decid e t o to w you r ca r wit h al l
fou r wheel s o n th e ground , mak e sur e
yo u us e a properly-designe d an d
attache d to w bar . Prepar e th e ca r fo r
towin g a s describe d above , an d leav e
th e ignitio n switc h i n Accessor y (I )
s o th e steerin g whee l doe s not lock .
Mak e sur e th e radi o an d an y item s
plugge d int o th e accessor y powe r
socke t ar e turne d of f s o the y d o no t
ru n dow n th e battery .
Trying
to lift or tow your car by the

bumpers will cause serious damage.

The bumpers are not designed to

support the car's weight.

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
NOTIC
E
NOTIC E

The steering wheel system can be
damaged if the steering wheel is locked.
Leave the ignition switch in Accessory
(I), and make sure the steering wheel
turns freely before you begin towing.

Inde
x

Emergenc y Flashers...................... . 6 4
Emergenc y Towing...................... . 29 3
Emission s Controls....................... . 30 5

Engin e

Belts............................................ . 23 9
Coolan t Temperatur e Gauge..... 5 7
Malfunctio n Indicato r
Lamp................................ . 53 , 28 5
Oi l Pressur e Indicator........ . 52 , 28 3
Oil , Wha t Kin d to Use.............. . 20 8
Overheating............................... . 28 1
Specifications............................ . 29 9
Spee d Limiter................... . 174 , 17 8
Engin e Spee d Limiter.......... . 174 , 17 8
Ethano l i n Gasolin e ...................... . 303
Evaporativ e Emission s Controls. . 305
Exhaus t Fumes............................... . 4 7
Expectan t Mothers , Us e o f Sea t
Belt s by......................................... 17
Exterior , Cleanin g the.................. . 262

Fabric , Cleaning............................ . 26 4

Fan , Interior................................... . 106
Features
, Comfor t an d
Convenience.............................. . 105

Fillin g th e Fue l Tank.................... . 156

Filte r

Ai r Conditioning....................... . 239
Oil............................................... . 210
Firs t Gear , Shifting....................... . 177

5-spee d Manua l Transmissio n

Checkin g Flui d Level............... . 223

5-spee d Manua l Transmissio n

Shiftin g the................................ . 173
Flashers , Hazar d Warning............. . 6 4
Fla t Tire , Changin g a................... . 271

Fluid s

Automati c Transmissio n .. 221 , 222
Brake.......................................... . 224
Clutch......................................... . 225

Manua l Transmission.............. . 223

Powe r Steering.......................... . 225

Windshiel d Washer.................. . 220

F M Stere o Radi o

Reception................................... . 139

Foldin g Rea r Seat........................... . 89

Foreign Countries , Drivin g in..... . 304
Four-wa y Flashers.......................... . 64 Fron
t End , Towin g b y
Emergenc y Wrecker................ . 293

Fuel................................................. . 156

Fil l Doo r an d Cap...................... . 156
Gauge........................................... . 57
Octan e Requirement................ . 156
Oxygenated............................... . 303
Tank , Fillin g the........................ . 156
Fuses , Checkin g the..................... . 289
Ga s Mileage , Improving............... . 163
Gasohol.......................................... . 303
Gasoline......................................... . 156
Gauge........................................... . 57
Octan e Requirement................ . 156
Tank , Fillin g the........................ . 156
Ga s Statio n Procedures................ . 156

Gauge s

Engin e Coolan t Temperatur e ... . 5 7
Fuel............................................... . 57
Gearshif t Leve r Position s
Automati c Transmission.......... . 175
5-spee d Manua l
Transmission......................... . 173

Inde
x

Protectin g Children........................ . 19
Protectin g Infants....................... . 27
Protectin g Large r Children....... . 34
Protectin g Smal l Children......... . 31
Usin g Chil d Seat s wit h
Tethers..................................... . 37
Radiato r Overheating................... . 281
Radio/Cassett e Soun d Syste m ... . 121
Rea r En d Towing.......................... . 293
Rea r Lights , Bul b Replacement.. . 254
Rea r Sea t Armrest.......................... . 90
Rea r Seat , Folding.......................... . 89
Rea r Vie w Mirror............................ . 95
Rea r Windo w Defogger................. . 64
Reclinin g th e Sea t Backs......... . 84 , 87
Recommende d Shif t Speed s ....... . 174
Reminde r Lights............................. . 51
Remot e Transmitter....................... . 74
Replacemen t Informatio n
Ai r Cleane r Element................. . 226
Coolant....................................... . 215
Engin e Oi l an d Filter................ . 210

Fuses.......................................... . 289
Ligh
t Bulbs................................ . 251
Schedule.................................... . 198
Spar k Plug s ....................... . 229 , 231
Tires........................................... . 244
Wipe r Blades............................. . 236
Replacin g Sea t Belt s Afte r a

Crash............................................ 40

Reserv e Tank , Coolant................. . 162
Restraint , Child............................... . 19
Revers e Gea r Position.................. . 176
Rotation , Tire................................ . 244
Safet y Belts........................................ . 8
Safet y Defects , Reporting * ......... . 314
Safet y Features................................. . 7

Airbags........................................... . 9

Doo r Locks.................................. . 10

Hea d Restraints.......................... . 10

Sea t Belts....................................... . 8

Seat s & Seat-Backs..................... . 10

Safet y Labels , Locatio n of............. . 48

Safet y Messages............................... . ii

Sea t Belt , Additiona l Information. . 39

Lap/Shoulde r Belt...................... . 39
Sea
t Bel t Maintenance............... . 40
Sea t Bel t Syste m Components.. . 39

Sea t Belts........................................... . 8

Cleaning..................................... 265
Maintenance................................ . 40
Reminde r Ligh t an d
Beeper................................ . 39 , 52
Syste m Components................... . 39
Tethe r Attachmen t Points......... . 37
Us e Durin g Pregnancy............... . 17

Seats , Adjustin g the........................ . 84

Securit y System............................ . 153
Seria l Number............................... . 296
Servic e Intervals........................... . 198
Servic e Manual*........................... . 315
Servic e Statio n Procedure s ......... . 156
Settin g th e Clock............................ . 9 8
Shiftin g
Th e Automati c
Transmission......................... . 174
Th e 5-spee d Manua l
Transmission......................... . 173
Shif t Leve r Positio n Indicator..... . 175
Shif t Loc k Release........................ . 178

CONTINUED

Inde
x

Towin g
A Trailer..................................... . 186
Emergenc y Wrecker................ . 293

Transmissio n

Checkin g Flui d Level ,

Automatic...................... . 221 , 222

Checkin g Flui d Level ,
Manual................................... . 223

Flui d Selection.................. . 221 , 222

Identificatio n Number.............. . 296
Shiftin g th e Automatic............. . 174
Shiftin g th e Manual.................. . 173
Treadwear..................................... . 301
Tri p Meter....................................... . 57

Trunk................................................ . 78

Openin g the................................. . 78

Ope n Monito r Light................... . 53

Tur n Signals.................................... . 62

Underside , Cleaning..................... . 266

Unexpected , Takin g Car e

o f the.......................................... . 269

Unifor m Tir e Qualit y Grading.... . 301

Unleade d Gasoline........................ . 156
Upholster
y Cleaning..................... . 264

Use d Oil , Ho w to Dispos e of....... . 212 Waxin
g an d Polishing.................. . 263
Wheel s
Adjustin g th e Steering............... . 65
Alignmen t an d Balance............ . 243
Compac t Spare.......................... . 270

Wrench...................................... . 272

Window s
Cleaning..................................... . 265
Operatin g th e Power.................. . 9 3
Rear , Defogger........................... . 64
Windshiel d

Cleaning....................................... . 62

Wipers , Windshiel d
Changin g Blades....................... . 236
Operation..................................... . 62
Wor n Tires.................................... . 243
Wrecker , Emergenc y Towing..... . 293
*: U.S. and Canada only

Vanit y Mirror................................ . 101

Vehicl e
Capacit
y Load................. . 167

Vehicl e Dimensions...................... . 298

Vehicl e Identificatio n Number.... . 296

Vehicl e Storage............................. . 260

VIN................................................. . 296

Viny l Cleaning............................... . 264

Viscosity , Oil.................................. . 210

Warnin g Beeper s
Ke y in Ignition............................. . 72

Sea t Belts..................................... . 52

WARNING , Explanatio n of............. . ii

Warnin g Labels , Locatio n of......... . 4 8

Warrant y Coverages*.................. . 31 3
Washer , Windshiel d
Checkin g th e Flui d Level........ . 22 0
Operation..................................... . 6 4

Washing......................................... 262