2000 HONDA ACCORD COUPE airbag

You
r Ca r a t a Glanc e
DOO
R
LOCK
SWITCH

(P. 76)
MIRRO
R
CONTROL S
(P. 99)
AIRBAG
S (P. 9)

HEATING/COOLIN
G
CONTROL S

(P. 110 )

CLIMAT E CONTRO L
SYSTE M
(P. 117 )
AUDI O SYSTE M
(P. 125 , 137 )
AUTOMATI C TRANSMISSIO N (P. 178)
MANUA L TRANSMISSIO N (P. 177)
HOO
D RELEAS E
HANDL E
(P. 162 )
FUE
L FIL L DOO R RELEAS E
(P. 161 )
TRUNK RELEASE HANDLE
(P. 81)

POWE
R
WINDOWSWITCHE
S

(P. 96)
DIGITA
L CLOC K
(P. 101 )

Drive
r an d Passenge r Safet y

Thi s sectio n give s yo u importan t

informatio n abou t ho w to protec t

yoursel f an d you r passengers . I t

show s yo u ho w to us e sea t belt s

properly . I t explain s you r Supple -

menta l Restrain t System . An d it tell s

yo u ho w to properl y restrai n infant s
an d childre n in you r car .

Importan t Safet y Precaution s ......... . 6
You r Car' s Safet y Features............. . 7

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

Airbags........................................... 9
Seat s & Seat-Backs..................... . 1 0
Hea d Restraints.......................... . 1 0
Doo r Locks.................................. . 1 0
Pre-Driv e Safet y Checklist........ . 1 1

Protectin g Adults............................ . 1 2

1 . Clos e an d Loc k th e Doors..... . 1 2
2 . Adjus t th e Fron t Seats........... . 1 2
3
. Adjus t th e Seat-Backs............ . 1 3

4 . Adjus t th e Hea d Restraints... . 1 4

5 . Faste n an d Positio n th e Sea t

Belts..................................... . 1 5

6 . Adjus t th e Steerin g Wheel.... . 1 6

7 . Maintai n a Prope r Sittin g

Position................................ . 17
Advic e fo r Pregnan t Women..... . 1 8

Additiona l Safet y Precautions... . 1 8

Protectin g Children........................ 2 0

Al l Childre n Mus t B e

Restrained............................... . 2 0
Childre n Shoul d Si t i n th e Bac k

Seat........................................... 21

Th e Passenger' s Fron t Airba g
Pose s Seriou s Risk s
t o Children........................... . 2 1
I f Yo u Mus t Driv e wit h Severa l
Children................................... . 23
I f a Chil d Require s Clos e
Attention.................................. . 2 3
Additiona l Safet y Precautions... . 2 3
Genera l Guideline s fo r Usin g
Chil d Seats............................... . 2 4
Protectin g Infants....................... . 2 8
Protectin g Smal l Children......... . 3 2 Protectin
g Large r Children....... . 3 5
Usin g Chil d Seat s wit h

Tethers..................................... 39

Additiona l Informatio n Abou t You r

Sea t Belts................................. . 4 0

Sea t Bel t Syste m Components.. . 4 0
Lap/Shoulde r Belt...................... .
40

Seat Bel t
Maintenance...............
.

42

Additional Informatio n
Abou
t You r
Fron t Airbags.......................... .

43

SRS Components........................ .
4 3

Ho w You r
Fron
t Airbag s

Work......................................... .

43

Ho w th e SRS
Indicato
r Ligh t

Works....................................... .

45

Additional Informatio n
Abou
t

You r Sid e Airbags................... .

46

Ho w You r
Sid
e Airbag s Work... .

4 6

Ho w The
Sid
e Airba g Indicato r

Ligh t Works............................ .

4 7

Additiona l Informatio n
Abou
t

You r Airbags........................... .

48

Airbag Service............................. .
48

Additional Safet y
Precautions...
.

48

Carbon Monoxid e
Hazard..............
.

49

Safety Labels................................... ..
5 0

Drive r an d
Passenge
r Safet y

Importan
t Safet y Precaution s

You'l l fin d man y safet y
recommendation s throughou t thi s
section , an d throughou t thi s manual .
Th e recommendation s o n thi s pag e
ar e th e one s w e conside r t o b e th e
mos t important .
Alway s Wea r You r Sea t Bel t
A sea t bel t i s you r bes t protectio n in
al l type s o f collisions . Airbag s
supplemen t sea t belts , bu t airbag s
ar e designe d to inflat e onl y in a
moderat e to sever e fronta l collision .
S o eve n thoug h you r ca r i s equippe d
wit h airbags , mak e sur e yo u an d
you r passenger s alway s wea r you r
sea t belts , an d wea r the m properly .
(Se e pag e 15 .)
Restrai n Al l Childre n
Childre n ar e safes t whe n the y ar e
properl y restraine d in th e bac k seat ,
no t th e fron t seat . A chil d wh o is to o
smal l fo r a sea t bel t mus t b e properl y
restraine d in a chil d safet y seat . (Se e
pag e 20 .) B
e Awar e o f Airba g Hazard s
Whil e airbag s ca n sav e lives , the y
ca n caus e seriou s o r fata l injurie s t o
occupant s wh o si t to o clos e t o them ,
o r ar e no t properl y restrained .
Infants , youn g children , an d shor t
adult s ar e a t th e greates t risk . B e
sur e t o follo w al l instruction s an d
warning s i n thi s manual . (Se e pag e
9 .)

Don' t Drin k an d Driv e

Alcoho l an d drivin g don' t mix . Eve n
on e drin k ca n reduc e you r abilit y t o
respon d t o changin g conditions , an d
you r reactio n tim e get s wors e wit h
ever y additiona l drink . S o don' t drin k
an d drive , an d don' t le t you r friend s
drin k an d drive , either . Contro
l You r Spee d
Excessiv e spee d is a majo r facto r i n
cras h injurie s an d deaths . Generally ,
th e highe r th e spee d th e greate r th e
risk , bu t seriou s accident s ca n als o
occu r a t lowe r speeds . Neve r driv e
faste r tha n is saf e fo r curren t
conditions , regardles s o f th e
maximu m spee d posted .
Kee p You r Ca r i n Saf e Conditio n
Havin g a tir e blowou t o r a
mechanica l failur e ca n b e extremel y
hazardous . T o reduc e th e possibilit y
o f suc h problems , chec k you r tir e
pressure s an d conditio n frequently ,
an d perfor m al l regularl y schedule d
maintenance . (Se e pag e 20 2 .)

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

You
r Car' s Safet y Feature s
* O n al l V 6 model s an d th e 4-cylinde r E X
mode l wit h leathe r interio r
(1
) Safet y Cag e
(2 ) Crus h Zone s

(3 ) Seat s & Seat-Back s

(4 ) Hea d Restraint s
(5 ) Collapsibl e Steerin g Colum n

(6 ) Sea t Belt s

(7 ) Fron t Airbag s

(8 ) Sid e Airbags *

(9 ) Doo r Lock s You
r ca r i s equippe d wit h man y
feature s tha t wor k togethe r t o
protec t yo u an d you r passenger s
durin g a crash .
Som e safet y feature s do no t requir e
an y actio n o n you r part . Thes e
includ e a stron g stee l framewor k
tha t form s a safet y cag e aroun d th e
passenge r compartment ; fron t an d
rea r crus h zone s tha t ar e designe d t o
crumpl e an d absor b energ y durin g a
crash ; an d a collapsibl e steerin g

column .

Thes e safet y feature s ar e designe d
t o reduc e th e severit y o f injurie s i n a
crash . However , yo u an d you r
passenger s can' t tak e ful l advantag e
o f thes e safet y feature s unles s yo u
remai n sittin g in a prope r positio n

an d always wear your seat belts

properly. I n fact , som e safet y
feature s ca n contribut e t o injurie s i f
the y ar e no t use d properly .

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

You
r Car' s Safet y Feature s
Sea t Belt s
Fo r you r safety , an d th e safet y o f
you r passengers , you r ca r i s
equippe d wit h sea t belt s i n al l seating
positions .
You r sea t bel t syste m als o
include s a ligh t o n th e
instrumen t pane l t o remin d yo u an d
you r passenger s t o faste n you r sea t
belts .
Why Wear Seat Belts
Sea t belt s ar e th e singl e mos t
effectiv e safet y devic e fo r adult s an d
large r children . (Infant s an d smalle r
childre n mus t b e properl y restraine d
i n chil d seats. )
No t wearin g a sea t bel t properl y
increase s th e chanc e o f seriou s
injur y o r deat h in a crash , eve n
thoug h you r ca r ha s airbags . I
n addition , mos t state s an d al l
Canadia n province s requir e yo u to
wea r sea t belts .
Whe n properl y worn , sea t belts :
Kee p yo u connecte d t o th e vehicl e
s o yo u ca n tak e advantag e o f th e
vehicle' s built-i n safet y features .
Hel p protec t yo u i n almos t ever y
typ e o f crash , includin g frontal ,
side , an d rea r impact s an d
rollovers .
Hel
p kee p yo u fro m bein g throw n

agains t th e insid e o f th e ca r an d

agains t othe r occupants .

Kee p yo u fro m bein g throw n ou t

o f th e car .

Hel p kee p yo u in a goo d positio n

shoul d th e airbag s eve r deploy . A

goo d positio n reduce s th e ris k o f

injur y fro m an inflatin g airbag , an d

allow s yo u to ge t th e bes t

advantag e fro m th e airbag .

O f course , sea t belt s canno t

completel y protec t yo u in ever y

crash . Bu t i n mos t cases , sea t belt s

ca n reduc e you r ris k o f seriou s

injury .

What you should do: Always wea r

you r sea t belt , an d mak e sur e yo u
wea r i t properly .
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y
No
t wearin g a sea t bel t properl y
increase s th e chanc e o f seriou s
injur y o r deat h i n a crash , eve n
i f yo u hav e airbags .
B e sur e yo u an d you r
passenger s alway s wea r sea t
belt s an d wea r the m properly .

You
r Car' s Safet y Feature s
Airbag s
You r ca r ha s a Supplementa l
Restrain t Syste m (SRS ) wit h fron t
airbag s t o hel p protec t th e head s an d
chest s o f th e drive r an d a fron t sea t
passenge r durin g a moderat e to
sever e fronta l collision . Al
l V- 6 models , an d th e 4-cylinde r E X
mode l wit h leathe r interio r als o hav e
sid e airbag s t o hel p protec t th e
uppe r tors o o f th e drive r o r a fron t
sea t passenge r durin g a moderat e t o
sever e sid e impact .
Th e mos t importan t thing s yo u nee d
t o kno w abou t you r airbag s are :
Airbags do not replace seat belts.
The y ar e designe d to supplemen tth
e sea t belts .

Airbags offer no protection in rear
impacts, rollovers, or minor

frontal or side collisions.

Airbags can pose serious hazards.

T o d o thei r job , airbag s mus t
inflat e wit h tremendou s forc e an d
speed . S o whil e airbag s hel p sav e
lives , the y ca n caus e mino r injuries ,
o r mor e seriou s o r eve n fata l
injurie s i f occupant s ar e no t
properl y restraine d o r sittin g
properly .

What you should do: Alway s wea r

you r sea t bel t properly , an d si t
uprigh t an d a s fa r bac k a s possibl e
fro m th e steerin g whee l o r

dashboard .

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

You
r Car' s Safet y Feature s

Seat s & Seat-Back s
You r car' s seat s ar e designe d t o kee p
yo u in a comfortable , uprigh t
positio n s o yo u ca n tak e ful l
advantag e o f th e protectio n offere d
b y sea t belt s an d th e energ y
absorbin g material s in th e seats .
Ho w yo u adjus t you r seat s an d seat -
back s ca n als o affec t you r safety . Fo r
example , sittin g to o clos e to th e
steerin g whee l o r dashboar d
increase s th e ris k o f yo u o r you r
passenge r bein g injure d b y strikin g
th e insid e o f th e car , o r b y a n
inflatin g airbag .
Reclinin g a seat-bac k to o fa r reduce s
th e sea t belt' s effectivenes s an d
increase s th e chanc e tha t th e seat' s
occupan t wil l slid e unde r th e sea t
bel t i n a cras h an d b e seriousl y

injured .
What you should do: Mov
e th e fron t

seat s a s fa r bac k a s possible , an d
kee p adjustabl e seat-back s in a n
uprigh t positio n wheneve r th e ca r i s

moving .
Hea
d Restraint s
Hea d restraint s ca n hel p protec t yo u
fro m whiplas h an d othe r injuries . Fo r
maximu m protection , th e bac k o f
you r hea d shoul d res t agains t th e
cente r o f th e hea d restraint .
Doo r Lock s
Keepin g you r door s locke d reduce s
th e chanc e o f bein g throw n ou t o f
th e ca r durin g a crash . I t als o help s
preven t occupant s fro m accidentall y
openin g a doo r an d fallin g out , an d
outsider s fro m unexpectedl y openin g
you r doors .
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

You
r Car' s Safet y Feature s
Pre-Driv e Safet y Checklis t
T o mak e sur e yo u an d you r
passenger s ge t th e maximu m
protectio n fro m you r car' s safel y
features , chec k th e followin g eac h
tim e befor e yo u driv e away :
Al l adults , an d childre n wh o hav e
outgrow n chil d safet y seats , ar e
wearin g thei r sea t belt s an d
wearin g the m properl y (se e pag e

15 ).

An y infan t o r smal l chil d i s
properl y restraine d i n a chil d sea t
i n th e bac k sea t (se e pag e 20 ). Fron
t sea t occupant s ar e sittin g
uprigh t an d a s fa r bac k a s possibl e
fro m th e steerin g whee l an d
dashboar d (se e pag e 12 ).
Seat-back s ar e uprigh t (se e pag e
13 ).

Hea d restraint s ar e properl y

adjuste d (se e pag e 14 ).
Al l door s ar e close d an d locke d
(se e pag e 12 ).
Al l carg o i s properl y store d o r
secure d (se e pag e 17 0 ) . Th
e res t o f thi s sectio n give s mor e
detaile d informatio n abou t ho w yo u
ca n maximiz e you r safety .
Remember , however , tha t n o safet y
syste m ca n preven t al l injurie s o r
death s tha t ca n occu r i n sever e
crashes , eve n whe n sea t belt s ar e
properl y wor n an d th e airbag s deploy .

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y