transmission 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

Key
s an d Lock s

Ignitio n Switc h

Th e ignitio n switc h is o n th e righ t
sid e o f th e steerin g column . I t ha s

fou r positions :
LOC
K (0 ) ACCESSOR
Y (I ) O
N (II) STAR
T (III ) LOC
K (0 ) —
Yo u ca n inser t o r
remov e th e ke y onl y in thi s position .
T o switc h fro m ACCESSOR Y to
LOCK , yo u mus t pus h th e ke y in
slightl y a s yo u tur n it . I f you r ca r ha s
a n automati c transmission , th e shif t
leve r mus t als o b e in Park . Th e anti -
thef t loc k wil l loc k th e steerin g
colum n whe n yo u remov e th e key .
I f th e fron t wheel s ar e turned , th e
anti-theft lock ma y sometime s mak e
i t difficul t t o tur n th e ke y fro m
LOC K to ACCESSORY . Firml y tur n
th e steerin g whee l t o th e lef t o r t o
th e righ t a s yo u tur n th e key .

CONTINUED

Instrument s an d Control s

Removin
g th e ke y fro m th e

ignitio n switc h whil e drivin g

lock s th e steering . Thi s ca n

caus e yo u to los e control .

Remov e th e ke y fro m th e
ignitio n switc h onl y whe n

parked .

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 0
Startin g th e Engine....................... . 17 1
Startin g in Col d Weathe r
a t Hig h Altitude.................... . 17 2
5-spee d Manua l Transmission.... . 17 3
Recommende d Shif t Points..... . 17 4
Engin e Spee d Limite r .............. . 17 4
Automati c Transmission.............. . 17 4
Shif t Leve r Positio n Indicator. . 17 5
Shif t Leve r Positions................ . 17 5
Engin e Spee d Limite r .............. . 17 8
Shif t Loc k Release.................... . 17 8
Parking........................................... . 18 0
Th e Brakin g System..................... . 18 1
Brak e Wea r Indicators............. . 18 1
Brak e Syste m Design............... . 18 2
Anti-loc k Brakes....................... . 18 2
Importan t Safet y
Reminders......................... . 18 3
AB S Indicator........................ . 18 3
Drivin g in Ba d Weather............... . 18 4
Towin g a Trailer........................... . 18 6

Drivin g

Startin
g th e Engin e

1 . Appl y th e parkin g brake .
2 . I n col d weather , tur n of f al l
electrica l accessorie s t o reduc e
th e drai n o n th e battery .

3 . Manual Transmission:

Pus h th e clutc h peda l dow n al l th e
way . STAR T (III ) doe s no t
functio n unles s th e clutc h peda l i s

depressed .

Automatic Transmission:

Mak e sur e th e shif t leve r i s i n
Park . Pres s o n th e brak e pedal . 4
. Withou t touchin g th e accelerato r
pedal , tur n th e ignitio n ke y t o th e
STAR T (III ) position . I f th e engin e
doe s no t star t righ t away , d o no t
hol d th e ke y i n STAR T (III ) fo r
mor e tha n 1 5 second s a t a time .
Paus e fo r a t leas t 1 0 second s
befor e tryin g again .
5 . I f th e engin e doe s no t star t withi n
1 5 seconds , o r start s bu t stall s
righ t away , repea t ste p 4 wit h th e
accelerato r peda l presse d half-wa y
down . I f th e engin e starts , releas e
pressur e o n th e accelerato r peda l
s o th e engin e doe s no t race . 6
. I f th e engin e stil l doe s no t start ,
pres s th e accelerato r peda l al l th e
wa y dow n an d hol d it ther e whil e
startin g i n orde r t o clea r flooding .
A s before , kee p th e ignitio n ke y i n
th e STAR T (III ) positio n fo r n o
mor e tha n 1 5 seconds . Retur n t o
ste p 5 if th e engin e doe s no t start .
I f i t starts , lif t you r foo t of f th e
accelerato r peda l s o th e engin e
doe s no t race .
Driving

5-spee
d Manua l Transmission , Automati c Transmissio n

Recommende d Shif t Point s
Driv e i n th e highes t gea r tha t let s
th e engin e ru n an d accelerat e
smoothly . Thi s wil l giv e yo u th e bes t
fue l econom y an d effectiv e emis -
sion s control . Th e followin g shif t
point s ar e recommended : Engin
e Spee d Limite r
I f yo u excee d th e maximu m spee d
fo r th e gea r yo u ar e in , th e engin e
spee d wil l ente r int o th e tachometer' s
re d zone . I f thi s occurs , yo u ma y fee l
th e engin e cu t i n an d out . Thi s i s
cause d b y a limite r i n th e engine' s
compute r controls . Th e engin e wil l
ru n normall y whe n yo u reduc e th e
RP M belo w th e re d zone .
Befor e downshifting , mak e sur e th e
engin e wil l no t g o int o th e
tachometer' s re d zon e in th e lowe r

gear .
Automati
c Transmissio n
You r Honda' s transmissio n ha s fou r
forwar d speeds , an d is electronicall y
controlle d fo r smoothe r shifting . I t
als o ha s a "lock-up " torqu e converte r
fo r bette r fue l economy . Yo u ma y
fee l wha t seem s lik e anothe r shif t
whe n th e converte r locks .

Drivin g

Automati
c Transmissio n

Shif t Leve r Positio n Indicato r
Thi s indicato r betwee n th e fue l
gaug e an d temperatur e gaug e show s
whic h positio n th e shif t leve r i s in .
Th e "D 4" indicato r come s o n fo r a
fe w second s whe n yo u tur n th e
ignitio n switc h O N (II) . I f i t flashe s
whil e drivin g (i n an y shif t position) ,
i t indicate s a possibl e proble m in th e
transmission . Avoi d rapi d acceler -
atio n an d hav e th e transmissio n
checke d b y a n authorize d Hond a
deale r a s soo n a s possible . Shif
t Leve r Position s
Th e shif t leve r ha s seve n positions .
I t mus t b e i n Par k o r Neutra l t o star t
th e engine . Whe n yo u ar e stoppe d in
D4, D3, 2,1, N or R, press firmly on

th e brak e pedal , an d kee p you r foo t
of f th e accelerato r pedal .

CONTINUED

Drivin g

SHIF
T LEVE R

Automati
c Transmissio n

Par k (P ) — Thi s positio n mechani -
call y lock s th e transmission . Us e
Par k wheneve r yo u ar e turnin g of f o r
startin g th e engine . T o shif t ou t o f
Park , yo u mus t pres s o n th e brak e
peda l an d hav e you r foo t of f th e
accelerato r pedal . Pres s th e releas e
butto n o n th e sid e o f th e shif t leve r
t o mov e it .
I f yo u hav e don e al l o f th e abov e an d
stil l canno t mov e th e leve r ou t o f
Park , se e Shif t Loc k Releas e o n pag e

178 .

Yo u mus t als o pres s th e releas e
butto n t o shif t int o Park . T o avoi d
transmissio n damage , com e to a
complet e sto p befor e shiftin g int o
Park . Th e shif t leve r mus t b e in Par k
befor e yo u ca n remov e th e ke y fro m
th e ignitio n switch . Revers
e (R ) — To shif t t o Revers e
fro m Park , se e th e explanatio n unde r
Park . T o shif t t o Revers e fro m
Neutral , com e to a complet e sto p an d
the n shift . Pres s th e releas e butto n
befor e shiftin g int o Revers e fro m
Neutral . Neutra
l (N ) — Us e Neutra l i f yo u
nee d to restar t a stalle d engine , o r i f
i t i s necessar y t o sto p briefl y wit h
th e engin e idling . Shif t t o Par k posi -
tio n if yo u nee d to leav e th e ca r fo r
an y reason . Pres s o n th e brak e peda l
whe n yo u ar e movin g th e shif t leve r
fro m Neutra l t o anothe r gear .
Driv e (D 4) — Us e thi s positio n fo r
you r norma l driving . Th e transmis -
sio n automaticall y select s a suitabl e
gea r fo r you r spee d an d acceleration .
Yo u ma y notic e th e transmissio n
shiftin g u p a t highe r speed s whe n
th e engin e is cold . Thi s help s th e
engin e war m up faster .

Drivin g

Parkin
g

Alway s us e th e parkin g brak e whe n
yo u par k you r car . Th e indicato r o n
th e instrumen t pane l show s tha t th e
parkin g brak e is no t full y released ; i t
doe s no t indicat e tha t th e parkin g
brak e is firml y set . Mak e sur e th e
parkin g brak e is se t firml y o r you r
ca r ma y rol l i f i t i s parke d o n a n
incline .
I f you r ca r ha s a n automati c
transmission , se t th e parkin g brak e
befor e yo u pu t th e transmissio n in
Park . Thi s keep s th e ca r fro m
movin g an d puttin g pressur e o n th e
parkin g mechanis m in th e
transmissio n — makin g it easie r t o
mov e th e shif t leve r ou t o f Par k
whe n yo u wan t t o driv e away . I
f th e ca r i s facin g uphill , tur n th e
fron t wheel s awa y fro m th e curb . I f
yo u hav e a manua l transmission , pu t
i t i n firs t gear .
I f th e ca r i s facin g downhill , tur n th e
fron t wheel s towar d th e curb . I f yo u
hav e a manua l transmission , pu t i t i n
revers e gear .
Mak e sur e th e parkin g brake is full y
release d befor e drivin g away .
Drivin g wit h th e parkin g brak e
partiall y se t ca n overhea t o r damag e
th e rea r brakes . Parkin
g Tip s
Mak e sur e th e moonroo f an d th e
window s ar e closed .
Tur n of f th e lights .
Plac e an y packages , valuables , etc. ,
i n th e trun k o r tak e the m wit h you .
Loc k th e door s wit h th e ke y o r th e
remot e transmitter .

On SE, EX and EX-V6 models

Chec k th e indicato r o n th e driver' s
doo r t o verif y tha t th e securit y
syste m is set .
Neve r par k ove r dr y leaves , tal l
grass , o r othe r flammabl e
materials . Th e thre e wa y catalyti c
converte r get s ver y hot , an d coul d
caus e thes e material s t o catc h o n

fire .

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

Maintenanc
e

Thi s sectio n explain s wh y i t i s
importan t t o kee p you r ca r wel l
maintaine d an d t o follo w basi c
maintenanc e safet y precautions .
Thi s sectio n als o include s
Maintenanc e Schedule s fo r norma l
drivin g an d sever e drivin g conditions ,
a Maintenanc e Record , an d instruc -
tion s fo r simpl e maintenanc e task s
yo u ma y wan t to tak e car e of

yourself .

I f yo u hav e th e skill s an d tool s t o per -
for m mor e comple x maintenanc e
task s o n you r Honda , yo u ma y wan t
t o purchas e th e Servic e Manual . Se e
pag e 31 5 fo r informatio n o n ho w to
obtai n a copy , o r se e you r Hond a

dealer .
Maintenanc
e Safety...................... . 19 4
Importan t Safet y Precautions. . 19 5
Maintenanc e Schedule................. . 19 6
Maintenanc e Record.................... . 20 3
Owne r Maintenanc e Checks....... . 20 5
Flui d Locations.............................. . 20 6

Engin e Oil...................................... . 20 8
Addin g Oil.................................. . 20 8

Recommende d Oil.................... . 20 8

Syntheti c Oil.............................. . 21 0

Additives.................................... . 21 0
Changin g th e Oi l an d Filter..... . 21 0
Coolin g System............................. . 21 3
Addin g Engin e Coolant............ . 21 3
Replacin g Engin e Coolant....... . 21 5
Windshiel d Washers.................... . 22 0
Transmissio n Fluid....................... . 22 1
Automati c
Transmission......................... . 22 1
5-spee d Manua l
Transmission......................... . 22 3
Brak e an d Clutc h Fluid................ . 22 4
Brak e System............................ . 22 4
Clutc h System........................... . 22 5
Powe r Steering.............................. . 22 5
Ai r Cleane r Element..................... . 22 6 Hoo
d Latch.................................... . 22 9
Spar k Plugs.................................... . 22 9
Replacement.............................. . 22 9
Specifications............................ . 23 0
Battery........................................... . 23 3
Wipe r Blades................................. . 23 6
Ai r Conditionin g System.............. . 23 8
Ai r Conditionin g Filter................. . 23 9
Driv e Belts..................................... . 23 9
Timin g Belt.................................... . 24 0
Tires............................................... . 24 0
Inflation...................................... . 24 1
Inspection.................................. . 24 3
Maintenance.............................. . 24 3
Tir e Rotation............................. . 24 4
Replacin g Tire s an d Wheels... . 24 4
Wheel s an d Tires...................... . 24 5
Winte r Driving.......................... . 24 6

Sno w Tires............................. . 24 6

Tir e Chains............................ . 24 6
Lights............................................. . 24 7
Replacin g Bulbs........................ . 25 1
Storin g You r Car........................... . 26 0

Maintenanc e