2000 HONDA ACCORD COUPE light

Exterio
r Car e

Washin g
Frequen t washin g help s preserv e
you r car' s beauty . Dir t an d gri t ca n
scratc h th e paint , whil e tre e sa p an d
bir d dropping s ca n permanentl y rui n
th e finish .
Was h you r ca r i n a shad y area , no t i n
direc t sunlight . I f th e ca r i s parke d in
th e sun , mov e it int o th e shad e an d
le t th e exterio r coo l dow n befor e yo u
start .
Onl y us e th e solvent s an d cleaner s
recommende d in thi s Owner' s

Manual .

Chemical solvents and strong cleaners
can damage the paint, metal, and
plastic on your car.
Rins
e th e ca r thoroughl y wit h coo l
wate r t o remov e loos e dirt .
Fil l a bucke t wit h coo l water . Mi x
i n a mil d detergent , suc h a s
dishwashin g liqui d o r a produc t
mad e especiall y fo r ca r washing .
Was h th e ca r usin g th e wate r an d
detergen t solutio n an d a soft -
bristl e brush , sponge , o r sof t cloth .
Star t a t th e to p an d wor k you r wa y
down . Rins e frequently .
Chec k th e bod y fo r roa d tar , tre e
sap , etc . Remov e thes e stain s wit h
ta r remove r o r turpentine . Rins e it
of f immediatel y s o it doe s no t
har m th e finish . Remembe r t o re -
wa x thes e areas , eve n if th e res t o f
th e ca r doe s no t nee d waxing . Whe
n yo u hav e washe d an d rinse d
th e whol e exterior , dr y it wit h a
chamoi s o r sof t towel . Lettin g it
air-dr y wil l caus e dullin g an d wate r

spots .

A s yo u dr y th e car , inspec t i t fo r
chip s an d scratche s tha t coul d allo w
corrosio n to start . Repai r the m wit h
touch-u p pain t (se e pag e 269 ).

Appearanc e Car e

NOTIC
E

Exterio
r Car e

Waxin g
Alway s was h an d dr y th e whol e ca r
befor e waxin g it . Yo u shoul d wa x
you r car , includin g th e meta l trim ,
wheneve r wate r sit s o n th e surfac e
i n larg e patches . I t shoul d for m int o
bead s o r droplet s afte r waxing .
Yo u shoul d us e a qualit y liqui d o r
past e wax . Appl y i t accordin g t o th e
instruction s o n th e container . I n
general , ther e ar e tw o type s o f
products :
Waxe s — A wa x coat s th e finis h an d
protect s i t fro m damag e b y exposur e
t o sunlight , ai r pollution , etc . Yo u
shoul d us e a wa x o n you r Hond a
whe n it i s new .
Polishe s — Polishe s an d cleaner /
waxe s ca n restor e th e shin e t o pain t
tha t ha s oxidize d an d los t som e o f it s
shine . The y normall y contai n mil d
abrasive s an d solvent s tha t remov e
th e to p laye r o f th e finish . Yo u shoul
d us e a polis h o n you r Hond a if
th e finis h doe s no t hav e it s origina l
shin e afte r usin g a wax .
Cleanin g tar , insects , etc . wit h
remover s als o take s of f th e wax .
Remembe r t o re-wa x thos e areas ,
eve n if th e res t o f th e ca r doe s no t

nee d waxing .

Aluminu m Wheel s

On some models

Clea n you r Honda' s aluminu m allo y
wheel s a s yo u d o th e res t o f th e
exterior . Was h the m wit h th e sam e
solution , an d rins e the m thoroughly .
Th e wheel s hav e a protectiv e clear -
coa t tha t keep s th e aluminu m fro m
corrodin g an d tarnishing . Usin g
hars h chemicals , includin g som e
commercia l whee l cleaners , o r stif f
brushe s ca n damag e thi s clear-coat .
Onl y us e a mil d detergen t an d sof t
brus h o r spong e t o clea n th e wheels .Pain
t Touch-u p
You r deale r ha s touch-u p pain t t o
matc h you r car' s color . Th e colo r
cod e is printe d o n a sticke r o n th e
driver' s doorjamb . Tak e thi s cod e t o
you r deale r s o yo u ar e sur e t o ge t
th e correc t color .
Inspec t you r ca r frequentl y fo r chip s
o r scratche s i n th e paint . Repai r
the m righ t awa y t o preven t corrosio n
o f th e meta l underneath . Us e th e
touch-u p pain t onl y o n smal l chip s
an d scratches . Mor e extensiv e pain t
damag e shoul d b e repaire d b y a
professional .
Appearanc e Car e

Changin
g a Fla t Tir e
I f yo u hav e a fla t tir e whil e driving ,
sto p in a saf e plac e to chang e it .
Stoppin g in traffi c o r o n th e shoulde r
o f a bus y roa d is dangerous . Driv e
slowl y alon g th e shoulde r unti l yo u
ge t t o a n exi t o r a n are a to sto p tha t
i s fa r awa y fro m th e traffi c lanes .
1 . Par k th e ca r o n firm , leve l an d
non-slipper y groun d awa y fro m
traffic . Pu t th e transmissio n in
Par k (automatic ) o r Revers e
(manual) . Appl y th e parkin g brake .2
. Tur n o n th e hazar d warnin g light s
an d tur n th e ignitio n switc h t o
LOC K (0) . Hav e al l th e
passenger s ge t ou t o f th e ca r whil e
yo u chang e th e tire .
3 . Ope n th e trunk . Rais e th e trun k
floo r b y liftin g u p o n th e bac k edge .
4 . Th e tool s ar e in th e too l bo x o n
th e righ t sid e o f th e trunk . Tak e
th e tool s ou t o f th e too l box . 5
. Unscre w th e win g bol t an d tak e
th e spar e tir e ou t o f it s well .
6 . Th e jac k is behin d a cove r i n th e
righ t fender . Remov e th e cove r b y
turnin g th e handl e counterclock -
wise , the n pullin g o n th e cover .

CONTINUED

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

Th
e ca r ca n easil y roi l of f th e

jack , seriousl y injurin g anyon e

underneath .

Follo w th e direction s fo r
changin g a tir e exactly , an d
neve r ge t unde r th e ca r whe n i t
i s supporte d onl y b y th e jack . TRUN
K FLOO R
SPAR E TIR E JACK
TOO
L KI T
COVER

I
f You r Engin e Won' t Star t

Diagnosin g wh y you r engin e won' t
star t fall s int o tw o areas , dependin g
o n wha t yo u hea r whe n yo u tur n th e
ke y t o STAR T (III) :
Yo u hea r nothing , o r almos t
nothing . Th e engine' s starte r
moto r doe s no t operat e a t all , o r
operate s ver y slowly .
Yo u ca n hea r th e starte r moto r
operatin g normally , o r th e starte r
moto r sound s lik e it i s spinnin g
faste r tha n normal , bu t th e engin e
doe s no t star t u p an d run . Nothin
g Happen s o r th e Starte r
Moto r Operate s Ver y Slowl y
Whe n yo u tur n th e ignitio n switc h t o
STAR T (III) , yo u d o no t hea r th e
norma l nois e o f th e engin e tryin g to
start . Yo u ma y hea r a clickin g soun d
o r serie s o f clicks , o r nothin g a t all .
Chec k thes e things :
You r ca r ha s th e Immobilize r
System . Yo u shoul d us e a
properly-code d maste r o r vale t ke y
t o star t th e engin e (se e pag e 7 3 ) .
A ke y tha t i s no t properl y code d
wil l caus e th e immobilize r syste m
indicato r i n th e das h pane l t o blin k
rapidly . Chec
k th e transmissio n interlock .
I f yo u hav e a manua l transmission ,
th e clutc h peda l mus t b e pushe d
al l th e wa y t o th e floo r o r th e
starte r wil l no t operate . Wit h a n
automati c transmission , i t mus t b e
i n Par k o r Neutral .
Tur n th e ignitio n switc h t o O N (II) .
Tur n o n th e headlight s an d chec k
thei r brightness . I f th e headlight s
ar e ver y di m o r don' t ligh t a t all ,
th e batter y is discharged . Se e

Jum p Startin g o n pag e 28 5 .

CONTINUED

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

I
f You r Engin e Won' t Star t
Tur
n th e ignitio n switc h t o STAR T
(III) . I f th e headlight s d o no t dim ,
chec k th e conditio n o f th e fuses . I f
th e fuse s ar e OK , ther e is proba -
bl y somethin g wron g wit h th e
electrica l circui t fo r th e ignitio n
switc h o r starte r motor . Yo u wil l
nee d a qualifie d technicia n to
determin e th e problem . (Se e

Emergenc y Towin g o n pag e 301 .)

I f th e headlight s di m noticeabl y o r
g o ou t whe n yo u tr y t o star t th e
engine , eithe r th e batter y is dis -
charge d o r th e connection s ar e
corroded . Chec k th e conditio n o f
th e batter y an d termina l connec -
tion s (se e pag e 23 8 ) . Yo u ca n
the n tr y jum p startin g th e ca r fro m
a booste r batter y (se e pag e 28 5 ) . Th
e Starte r Operate s Normall y
I n thi s case , th e starte r motor' s
spee d sound s normal , o r eve n faste r
tha n normal , whe n yo u tur n th e
ignitio n switc h t o STAR T (III) , bu t
th e engin e doe s no t run .
Ar e yo u usin g th e prope r startin g
procedure ? Refe r t o Startin g th e
Engin e o n pag e 17 5 .
D o yo u hav e fuel ? Tur n th e
ignitio n switc h t o O N (II ) fo r a
minut e an d watc h th e fue l gauge .
Th e lo w fue l leve l warnin g ligh t
ma y no t b e working , s o yo u wer e
no t reminde d t o fil l th e tank .
Ther e ma y b e a n electrica l
problem , suc h a s n o powe r t o th e
fue l pump . Chec k al l th e fuse s

(se e pag e 296 ).
I
f yo u fin d nothin g wrong , yo u wil l
nee d a qualifie d technicia n to fin d
th e problem . Se e Emergenc y
Towin g o n pag e 301 .

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

Jum
p Startin g

I f you r car' s batter y ha s ru n down ,
yo u ma y b e abl e to star t th e engin e
b y usin g a booste r battery . Althoug h
thi s seem s lik e a simpl e procedure ,
yo u shoul d tak e severa l precautions .
You canno t star t a Hond a wit h a n
automati c transmissio n b y pushin g
o r pullin g it . T
o jum p star t you r car , follo w thes e
direction s closely :
1 . Ope n th e hoo d an d chec k th e
physica l conditio n o f th e batter y
(se e pag e 23 8 ) . I n ver y col d
weather , chec k th e conditio n o f
th e electrolyte . I f i t seem s slush y
o r lik e ice , d o no t tr y jum p startin g
unti l i t thaws .

/ f a battery sits in extreme cold, the

electrolyte inside can freeze.

Attempting to jump start with a frozen
battery can cause it to rupture.

2 . Tur n of f al l th e electrica l acces -
sories : heater , A/C , climat e
control , stere o system , lights , etc .
Pu t th e transmissio n in Neutra l o r
Par k an d se t th e parkin g brake .

CONTINUED

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

A
batter y ca n explod e i f yo u d o

no t follo w th e correc t procedure ,
seriousl y injurin g anyon e
nearby .
Kee p al l sparks , ope n flames ,

an d smokin g material s awa y

fro m th e battery .

NOTICE

Brak
e Syste m Indicato r

Th e Brak e Syste m Indicato r ligh t
come s o n whe n yo u tur n th e ignitio n
O N (II) . I f th e parkin g brak e i s no t
set , i t goe s of f afte r yo u star t th e
engine . I f th e parkin g brak e is set , i t
goe s of f whe n yo u full y releas e th e
parkin g brak e wit h th e engin e
running . I
f i t come s o n a t an y othe r time , i t
indicate s a proble m wit h th e car' s
brak e system . I n mos t cases , th e
proble m is a lo w flui d leve l i n th e
brak e flui d reservoir . Pres s lightl y o n
th e brak e peda l t o se e i f i t feel s
normal . I f i t does , chec k th e brak e
flui d leve l th e nex t tim e yo u sto p a t a
servic e statio n (se e pag e 22 8 ) . I f th e
flui d leve l i s low , tak e th e ca r t o you r
deale r an d hav e th e brak e syste m
inspecte d fo r leak s o r wor n brak e

pads .

However , i f th e brak e peda l doe s no t
fee l normal , yo u shoul d tak e
immediat e action . Becaus e o f th e
brak e system' s dual-circui t design , a
proble m in on e par t o f th e syste m
wil l stil l giv e yo u brakin g a t tw o
wheels . Yo u wil l fee l th e brak e peda l
g o dow n muc h farthe r befor e th e ca r
begins to slo w down , an d yo u wil l
hav e t o pres s harde r o n th e pedal .
Th e distanc e neede d to sto p wil l b e
muc h longer . Slo
w dow n b y shiftin g to a lowe r
gear , an d pul l t o th e sid e o f th e roa d
whe n it i s safe . Becaus e o f th e
longe r distanc e neede d to stop , i t i s
hazardou s t o driv e th e car . Yo u
shoul d hav e it towed , an d repaire d a s
soo n a s possible . (Se e Emergenc y
Towin g o n pag e 301 .)
I f yo u mus t driv e th e ca r a shor t
distanc e in thi s condition , driv e
slowl y an d cautiously .
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
BRAK
E SYSTE M INDICATOR *
* U.S . indicato r show n

Fuse
s
Checkin g an d Replacin g Fuse s

I f somethin g electrica l i n you r ca r
stop s working , th e firs t thin g yo u
shoul d chec k fo r i s a blow n fuse .
Determin e fro m th e char t o n page s
29 9 an d 300 , o r th e diagra m on th e
fus e bo x lid , whic h fus e o r fuse s
contro l tha t component . Chec k those
fuse s first , bu t chec k al l th e fuse s
befor e decidin g tha t a blow n fus e is
no t th e cause . Replac e an y blow n
fuse s an d chec k th e component' s

operation .

1 . Tur n th e ignitio n switc h t o LOC K
(0) . Mak e sur e th e headlight s an d
al l othe r accessorie s ar e off .
2 . Remov e th e cove r fro m th e fus e
box .
FUS
E

3 . Chec k eac h o f th e larg e fuse s i n
th e under-hoo d fus e bo x b y
lookin g throug h th e to p at th e wir e
inside . Removin g thes e fuse s
require s a Phillips-hea d screw -
driver . 4
. Chec k th e smalle r fuse s in th e
under-hoo d fus e bo x an d al l th e
fuse s in th e interio r fus e boxe s b y
pullin g ou t eac h fus e wit h th e fus e
pulle r provide d in th e under-hoo d
fus e box .

CONTINUED

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
BLOW
N

FUSE PULLE R