2000 Acura Integra brake light

Servic
e Statio n Procedure s
5. Screw the fuel fill cap back on,
tighten it until it clicks at least
three times. If you do not properly
tighten the cap, the Malfunction Indicator Lamp may come on (see
page 237).

6. Push the fuel fill door closed until

it latches.

Openin g th e Hoo d
1. Shift to Park or Neutral and set

the parking brake. Pull the hood release handle located under the
lower left corner of the dashboard.
The hood will pop up slightly.

2. Standing in front of the car, put

your fingers under the front edge of the hood to the left of center.
Slide your hand to the right until
you feel the hood latch handle. Push this handle to the right until
it releases the hood. Lift the hood.

CONTINUED
Befor e Drivin g

LATC
H
HOO D RELEAS E HANDL E

Accessorie
s an d Modification s

Modifying your car, or installing some non-Acura accessories, can
make your car unsafe. Before you
make any modifications or add any
accessories, be sure to read the
following information.

Accessorie s

Your dealer has Genuine Acura accessories that allow you to
personalize your car. These accessories have been designed and
approved for your car, and are
covered by warranty.
Non-Acura accessories are usuallydesigned for universal applications.
Although aftermarket accessories may fit on your car, they may not
meet factory specifications, andcould adversely affect your car's
handling and stability. (See "Modifications" on the page 131 for
additional information.) When properly installed, cellular
phones, alarms, two-way radios, and
low-powered audio systems should
not interfere with your car'scomputer-controlled systems, such
as the SRS and anti-lock brake

system.

However, if electronic accessories
are improperly installed, or exceed
your car's electrical system capacity, they can interfere with the operation of your car, or even cause the
airbags to deploy.
Before installing any accessory: Make sure the accessory does notobscure any lights, or interfere
with proper car operation or
performance. Be sure electronic accessories do
not overload electrical circuits (see page 240). Have the installer contact your
Acura dealer for assistance before installing any electronic accessory.
If possible, have your dealer inspect
the final installation.

Befor e Drivin g
Improper accessories or
modifications can affect your
car's handling, stability and performance, and cause a

crash in which you can be hurt

or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner's manual regarding
accessories and modifications.

Parkin
g
Always use the parking brake when you park your car. The indicator onthe instrument panel shows that the
parking brake is not fully released; it does not indicate that the parking
brake is firmly set. Make sure the
parking brake is set firmly or your car may roll if it is parked on an

incline.

If your car has an automatic
transmission, set the parking brake
before you put the transmission inPark. This keeps the car frommoving and putting pressure on the
parking mechanism in the
transmission — making it easier to move the shift lever out of Park
when you want to drive away. If the car is facing uphill, turn the
front wheels away from the curb. If
you have a manual transmission, put it in first gear.
If the car is facing downhill, turn the
front wheels toward the curb. If you
have a manual transmission, put it in reverse gear.
Make sure the parking brake is fully
released before driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or damagethe rear brakes. Parkin
g Tip s Make sure the moonroof and the
windows are closed.
Turn off the lights. Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the cargo area or take them

with you.
Lock the doors.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other flammable materials. The three way catalytic
converter gets very hot, and could
cause these materials to catch on

fire.

Drivin g

Th
e Brakin g Syste m
Your Acura is equipped with disc brakes at all four wheels. A powerassist helps reduce the effort needed
on the brake pedal.
Put your foot on the brake pedal only
when you intend to brake. Resting
your foot on the pedal keeps the brakes applied lightly, causing them
to build up heat. Heat build-up canreduce how well your brakes work. Italso keeps your brake lights on all
the time, confusing drivers behind

you.
Constant application of the brakes
when going down a long hill builds up heat and reduces their effective-
ness. Use the engine to assist the
brakes by downshifting to a lower
gear and taking your foot off the accelerator pedal.
Check your brakes after driving
through deep water. Apply the brakes moderately to see if they feel
normal. If not, apply them gently and
frequently until they do. Since a
longer distance is needed to stop
with wet brakes, be extra cautious and alert in your driving. Brak
e Wea r Indicator s
All four brakes have audible brake wear indicators.
When the brake pads need replacing,
you will hear a distinctive metallic "screeching" sound when you apply
the brakes. If you do not have the
brake pads replaced, they will begin screeching all the time.
Your brakes may sometimes squeal or squeak when you apply them
lightly. Do not confuse this with the
brake wear indicators. They make a
very audible "screeching."
Driving

Drivin
g in Ba d Weathe r

Rain, fog, and snow conditions re-
quire a different driving technique
because of reduced traction and
visibility. Keep your car well- maintained and exercise greatercaution when you need to drive in
bad weather. The cruise control should not be used in these condi-

tions.
Drivin
g Techniqu e — Always drive
slower than you would in dry
weather. It takes your car longer to react, even in conditions that may seem just barely damp. Apply
smooth, even pressure to all the
controls. Abrupt steering wheel
movements or sudden, hard appli-
cation of the brakes can cause loss of
control in wet weather. Be extra
cautious for the first few miles (kilometers) of driving while you
adjust to the change in driving
conditions. This is especially true in snow. A person can forget some
snow-driving techniques during the
summer months. Practice is needed
to relearn those skills.
Exercise extra caution when driving
in rain after a long dry spell. After
months of dry weather, the first
rains bring oil to the surface of the
roadway, making it slippery. Visibilit
y — Being able to see
clearly in all directions and being
visible to other drivers are important in all weather conditions. This is
more difficult in bad weather. To be
seen more clearly during daylight
hours, turn on your headlights.
Inspect your windshield wipers and
washers frequently. Keep the wind- shield washer reservoir full of the
proper fluid. Have the windshield
wiper blades replaced if they start to streak the windshield or leave parts
unwiped. Use the defrosters and air
conditioning to keep the windows
from fogging up on the inside (see
page 100).
CONTINUED
Drivin g

Towin
g a Traile r

Trailer Brakes

Acura recommends that any trailer having a total weight of 1,000 Ibs (450 kg) or more be equipped with
its own electric or surge-type brakes.
If you choose electric brakes, be sure they are electronically actuated.
Do not attempt to tap into your
vehicle's hydraulic system. No matter how successful it may seem,any attempt to attach trailer brakes
to your vehicle's hydraulic system
will lower braking effectiveness and create a potential hazard.
Trailer Lights

If you use a converter, you can get
the connector and pins that mate
with the connector in your vehicle
from your Acura dealer.
Your vehicle has a trailer lighting connector located behind the leftside panel in the cargo area. Refer to
the drawing above for the wiring color code and purpose of each pin. Since lighting and wiring vary with
trailer type and brand, you should also have a qualified technician
install a suitable connector between
the vehicle and the trailer.

CONTINUED

Drivin g

GROUN
D

(BLACK )
BACK-U
P 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 )

Towin
g a Traile r

Additional Trailer Equipment Many states and provinces requirespecial outside mirrors when towing
a trailer. Even if they don't, you
should install special mirrors if you
cannot clearly see behind you, or if
the trailer creates a blind spot.
Ask your trailer sales or rental agency if any other items are
recommended or required for your
towing situation. Pre-To
w Checklis t
When preparing to tow, and before driving away, be sure to check the
following: The vehicle has been properly
serviced, and the tires, brakes,
suspension, and cooling system
are in good operating condition.
All weights and loads are within limits (see pages 151 and 152). The hitch, safety chain, and any
other attachments are sucure. All items on and in the trailer are
properly secured and cannot shift
while you drive. The lights and brakes on your
vehicle and the trailer are workingproperly. Your vehicle tires and spare are
properly inflated (see page 251),and the trailer tires and spare are
inflated as recommended by the
trailer maker.
Drivin g

Maintenanc
e

This section explains why it is important to keep your car well
maintained and to follow basic
maintenance safety precautions.
This section also includes Maintenance Schedules for normaldriving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions for simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of
yourself.
If you have the skills and tools to per-
form more complex maintenance
tasks on your Acura, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See
page 265 for information on how to obtain a copy, or see your Acura
dealer.
Maintenance Safety....................... 158
Important Safety Precautions.. 159
Maintenance Schedule.................. 160
Maintenance Record..................... 167
Owner Maintenance Checks........ 169
Fluid Locations............................... 170

Engine Oil....................................... 171 Adding Oil................................... 171
Recommended Oil..................... 171

Synthetic Oil............................... 173

Additives..................................... 173
Changing the Oil and Filter...... 173
Cooling System.............................. 176
Adding Engine Coolant............. 176Replacing Engine Coolant........ 178
Windshield Washers..................... 181
Transmission Fluid........................ 182 AutomaticTransmission.......................... 182
5-speed Manual Transmission.......................... 183
Brake and Clutch Fluid................. 183 Brake System............................. 184
Clutch System............................ 184
Power Steering............................... 185
Air Cleaner Element...................... 186
Hood Latch..................................... 187

Spark Plugs..................................... 187 Replacement............................... 187
Specifications............................. 189
Battery............................................ 189
Wiper Blades.................................. 192
Air Conditioning System............... 194
Drive Belts...................................... 195
Timing Belt..................................... 195
Tires................................................ 196 Inflation....................................... 196
Inspection................................... 197
Maintenance............................... 198
Tire Rotation.............................. 199
Tire Wear.................................... 199
Replacing Tires and Wheels.... 200
Wheels and Tires....................... 201
Winter Driving........................... 201

Snow Tires.............................. 202

Tire Chains............................. 202
Lights.............................................. 203 Headlight Aiming...................... 205
Replacing Bulbs......................... 207
Storing Your Car............................ 214
Maintenance