HONDA ACCORD SEDAN 2020 Owner's Manual (in English)

489
uuWhen Driving uShifting
Driving
■7-Speed Manual Shift Mode Operation17-Speed Manual Shift Mode Operation
Each paddle shift operati on makes a single speed
change.
To change continuously, re lease the paddle shifter
before pulling it agai n for the next speed.
The gear selection indicato r blinks when you cannot
shift up or down. It indicate s that your vehicle speed
is not in its allo wable shifting range.
Slightly accelerate to shift up and decelerate to shift
down while the indi cator is blinking.
(- Paddle Shifter
(Shift down)( + Paddle Shifter
(Shift up)
Downshifting when pulling
the
( - paddle shifter.
(Changes to lower speed
number) Upshifting when pulling
the (
+ paddle shifter.
(Changes to higher speed
number)

490
uuWhen Driving uShifting
Driving
Shifting
Fully depress the clutch pedal to operate the shift lever and change gears, then
slowly release the pedal.
Depress the clutch pedal, and pause for a few seconds before shifting into
(R, or
shift into one of the forward gears for a mo ment. This stops the gears so they do not
“grind.”
When you are not shifting, do not rest your
foot on the clutch pedal. This can cause your
clutch to wear out faster.
■Shift Lever Operation
Manual transmission models
1Shifting
NOTICE
Do not shift to (R before the vehicle comes to a
complete stop.
Shifting to
( R before stopping can damage the
transmission.
NOTICE
Before downshifting, make sure the engine will not
go into the tachometer’s red zone. Should this occur,
it can severely da mage your engine.
There is a metallic part on the shift lever. If you leave
the vehicle parked outside for a long time on a hot
day, be careful before moving the shift lever. Because
of heat, the shift lever may be extremely hot. If the
outside temperature is low, the shift lever may feel
cold.
If you exceed the maximum speed for the gear you
are in, the engine speed will enter into the
tachometer’s red zone. When this happens, you may
experience a slight jolt.

Continued491
uuWhen Driving uShifting
Driving
Come on to inform y ou that upshifting or
downshifting is necessary to prevent the
engine from over revving or stalling.
The shift up indicator:
Comes on when upshifting is recommended.
The shift down indicator:
Comes on when downshifting is
recommended.
■Shift Up/Down Indicators1 Shift Up/Down Indicators
This indicator will not prom pt you to downshift to
increase engine br aking. It is up to you to downshift
to increase engine brak ing when driving downhill.
Always shift down at the appropriate vehicle speed.
The shift down indicator does not come on when
downshifting from
( 2 to (1.
Road and traffic c onditions may require you to shift
at times other than those indicated.

492
uuWhen Driving uShifting
Driving
The manual transmission has a lockout mech anism that stops you from accidentally
shifting into
(R from a forward gear while the ve hicle is moving above a certain
speed.
If you cannot shift to
(R when the vehicle is stopped, do the following: 1.Depress the clutch pedal, move the shift
lever all the way to the left, and shift to
(R.
2. If you still cannot shift into
(R, apply the
parking brake, and set the power mode to
ACCESSORY or VEHICLE OFF.
3. Depress the clutch pedal and shift into
(R.
4. Keep depressing the clutch pedal and start
the engine.
Have the vehicle checked by a dealer if you
have to go through this procedure repeatedly.
■Reverse Lockout

493
uuWhen Driving uSPORT Mode*
Driving
SPORT Mode*
To turn the SPORT mode on and off, press the SPORT button.
The SPORT mode increases engine pe rformance, transmission and handling
*.
This mode is suitable for driving on hills or through curves on mountain roads.
The SPORT mode is turned off every time yo u start the engine, even if you turned it
on the last time you drove the vehicle.
The ambient meter color changes to a cons tant red and the turbo meter appears on
the driver information interface.
SPORT Button
SPORT Mode Indicator
Models with adaptive
damper system
Models without adaptive
damper system
* Not available on all models

494
uuWhen Driving uECON Button
Driving
ECON Button
The ECON button turns the ECON mode on and off.
The ECON mode helps you improve your fuel economy by adjusting the
performance of the engine, transmiss ion and climate control system.
*1 : Models without the adaptive damper system
*2 : Models with the adaptive damper system
*3 : Continuously variable transmission models without SPORT mode
*4 : Manual transmission models
*5 : Automatic transmission/Continuously variable transmission models with SPORT mode
1 ECON Button
While in ECON mode, the climate control system has
greater temperature fluctuations.
*1
*2 *3
*4 *5

495
uuWhen Driving uAdaptive Damper System*
Driving
Adaptive Damper System*
Constantly controls your vehicle’s front and rear dampers according to current road
conditions, vehicle speed and steering operation.
You can change handling response by turning the SPORT mode on.
2 SPORT Mode* P. 493
* Not available on all models

496
uuWhen Driving uVehicle Stability AssistTM (VSA ®), aka Electronic Stability Control (ESC), System
Driving
Vehicle Stability AssistTM (VSA ®), aka Electronic
Stability Control (ESC), System
VSA ® helps to stabilize the vehicle during cornering if the vehicle turns more or less
than what was intended. It also assists in maintaining traction on slippery surfaces.
It does so by regulating engine output and select ively applying the brakes.
When VSA ® activates, you may notice that the
engine does not respond to the accelerator.
You may also notice some noise from the
hydraulic system. You will also see the
indicator blink.
■VSA ® Operation
1 Vehicle Stability AssistTM (VSA ®), aka Electronic Stability Control
(ESC), System
The VSA ® may not function properl y if tire type and
size are mixed. Make sure to use the same size and
type of tire, and the air pressures as specified.
When the VSA ® system indicator comes on and stays
on while driving, there ma y be a problem with the
system. While this may not interfere with normal
driving, have your vehi cle checked by a dealer
immediately.
VSA ® cannot enhance stability in all driving situations
and does not control the entire braking system. You
still need to drive and corner at speeds appropriate
for the conditions and always leave a sufficient
margin of safety.
The main function of the VSA ® system is generally
known as Electronic Stability Control (ESC). The
system also includes a traction control function.
The Vehicle Stability Assist
TM (VSA ®) system, Vehicle
Stability AssistTM (VSA ®) OFF, adaptive cruise control
(ACC) with Low Speed Follow*, adaptive cruise
control (ACC)*, safety support and low tire pressure/
TPMS indicators may come on in amber along with a
message in the driver info rmation interface when you
set the power mode to ON after reconnecting the
battery.
Drive a short distance at more than 12 mph (20 km/h).
Each indicator should go off. If any do not, have your
vehicle checked by a dealer.
VSA ® System
Indicator
* Not available on all models

497
uuWhen Driving uVehicle Stability AssistTM (VSA ®), aka Electronic Stability Control (ESC), System
Driving
This button is on the driver side control panel.
To partially disable VSA ® functionality/features,
press and hold it until you hear a beep.
Your vehicle will have normal braking and
cornering ability, but tra ction control function
will be less effective.
To restore VSA ® functionality/features, press
the (VSA ® OFF ) button until you hear a
beep.
VSA ® is turned on every time you start the
engine, even if you turned it off the last time
you drove the vehicle.
■VSA ® On and Off1 Vehicle Stability AssistTM (VSA® ), aka Electronic Stability Control
(ESC), System
In certain unusual conditions when your vehicle gets
stuck in shallow mud or fr esh snow, it may be easier
to free it with the VSA ® temporarily switched off.
When the button is pressed, the traction control
function becomes less effective. This allows for the
wheels to spin more freely at low speed. You should
only attempt to free your vehicle with the VSA ® off if
you are not able to free it when the VSA ® is on.
Immediately after freeing your vehicle, be sure to
switch VSA ® on again. We do not recommend driving
your vehicle with the VSA ® system switched off.
You may hear a motor sound coming from the
engine compartment while system checks are being
performed immediately after starting the engine or
while driving. This is normal.
VSA ® OFF Indicator

498
uuWhen Driving uAgile Handling Assist
Driving
Agile Handling Assist
Lightly brakes the front wheel s, as needed, when you turn the steering wheel, and
helps support the vehicle’s stability and performance during cornering.1 Agile Handling Assist
The agile handling assist ca nnot enhance stability in
all driving situations. You still need to drive and
corner at speeds appropriate for the conditions and
always leave a sufficient margin of safety.
When the VSA ® system indicator comes on and stays
on while driving, the agil e handling assist does not
activate.
You may hear a sound coming from the engine
compartment while the agile handling assist is
activated. This is normal.