2000 HONDA ACCORD COUPE Owners Manual

Towin
g a Traile r

You r Hond a ha s bee n designe d
primaril y t o carr y passenger s an d
thei r cargo . Yo u ca n us e it t o to w a
traile r i f yo u carefull y observ e th e
loa d limits , us e th e prope r equipment ,
an d follo w th e guideline s in thi s

section .

Loa d Limit s Tota
l Traile r Weight : Th e tota l
weigh t o f th e traile r an d
everythin g loade d in it mus t no t
excee d 1,00 0 Ib s (45 0 kg) . Towin g
a loa d tha t i s to o heav y ca n
seriousl y affec t you r car' s
handlin g an d performance . I t ca n
als o damag e th e engin e an d
drivetrain . Tongu
e Load : Th e weigh t tha t
th e tongu e o f a fully-loade d traile r
put s o n th e hitc h shoul d b e
approximatel y 1 0 percent of th e
traile r weight . To o littl e tongu e
loa d ca n mak e th e traile r unstabl e
an d caus e it t o sway . To o muc h
tongu e loa d reduce s front-tir e
tractio n an d steerin g control .
T o achiev e a prope r tongu e load ,
star t b y loadin g 6 0 percent of th e
loa d towar d th e fron t o f th e traile r
an d 4 0 percen t towar d th e rear , the n
readjus t th e loa d a s needed .
Gros
s Vehicl e Weigh t Ratin g

(GVWR) :

Th e tota l weigh t o f th e vehicle , al l
occupants , al l cargo , and th e
tongu e loa d mus t no t exceed :

(LX )

3,99 0 Ib s (1,81 0 kg )

(EX )

4,03 5 Ib s (1,83 0 kg )
(LX-V6 , EX-V6 )
4,23 5 Ib s (1,92 0 kg )

Drivin g

Towin
g a Traile r
Gros
s Axl e Weigh t Ratin g
(GAWR) :

Th e tota l weigh t o f th e vehicle , al l
occupants , al l cargo , an d th e
tongu e loa d mus t no t exceed :

(LX )

2,16 0
Ib s
(98 0
kg )

(EX )
2,18 5
Ib s
(99 0
kg )

(LX-V6.EX-V6 )
2,31 5 Ib s (1,05 0 kg )
o n th e fron t axl e
(LX )

1,89 5 Ib s (86 0 kg )

(EX )

1,92 0 Ib s (87 0 kg )

(LX-V6,EX-V6 )

1,94 0
Ibs .
(88 0 kg )

o n th e rea r axl e
Checkin
g Load s

Th e bes t wa y t o confir m tha t vehicl e
an d traile r weight s ar e withi n limit s
i s t o hav e the m checke d a t a publi c

scale .

Usin g a suitabl e scal e o r a specia l
tongu e loa d gauge , chec k th e tongu e
loa d th e firs t tim e yo u se t u p a
towin g combinatio n ( a fully-loade d
vehicl e an d trailer) , the n rechec k th e
tongu e loa d wheneve r th e condition s

change .

Driving

Exceedin
g loa d limit s o r

improperl y loadin g you r vehicl e
an d traile r ca n caus e a cras h in
whic h yo u ca n b e seriousl y
injure d o r killed .
Chec k th e loadin g o f you r
vehicl e an d traile r carefull y
befor e startin g to drive .

Towin
g a Traile r

Towin g Equipmen t an d
Accessorie s
Towin g ca n requir e a variet y o f
equipment , dependin g o n th e siz e o f
you r trailer , ho w it wil l b e used , an d
ho w muc h loa d yo u ar e towing .
Discus s you r need s wit h you r traile r
sale s o r renta l agency , an d follo w th e
guideline s i n th e res t o f thi s section .
Als o mak e sur e tha t al l equipmen t i s
properl y installe d an d tha t i t meet s
federal , state , province , an d loca l
regulations .
Hitches

An y hitc h use d o n you r vehicl e mus t
b e properl y bolte d to th e underbody .
Safety Chain

Alway
s us e a safet y chain . Mak e
sur e tha t i t i s secure d t o bot h th e
traile r an d hitch , an d tha t i t crosse s
unde r th e tongu e s o it ca n catc h th e
traile r i f i t become s unhitched .
Leav e enoug h slac k t o allo w th e
traile r t o tur n corner s easily , bu t d o
no t le t th e chai n dra g o n th e ground .

Drivin g

Towin
g a Traile r

Trailer Brakes

Hond a recommend s tha t an y traile r
havin g a tota l weigh t o f 1,00 0 Ib s
(45 0 kg ) o r mor e b e equippe d wit h
it s ow n electri c o r surge-typ e brakes .
I f yo u choos e electri c brakes , b e
sur e the y ar e electronicall y actuated .
D o no t attemp t t o ta p int o you r
vehicle' s hydrauli c system . N o
matte r ho w successfu l i t ma y seem ,
an y attemp t t o attac h traile r brake s
t o you r vehicle' s hydrauli c syste m
wil l lowe r brakin g effectivenes s an d
creat e a potentia l hazard .
Your ca r ha s a traile r lightin g
connecto r locate d behin d th e lef t
sid e pane l i n th e trunk . Refe r t o th e
drawin g abov e fo r th e wirin g colo r
cod e an d purpos e o f eac h pin .
I f yo u us e a converter , yo u ca n ge t
th e connecto r an d pin s tha t mat e
wit h th e connecto r i n you r ca r fro m
you r Hond a dealer . Sinc
e lightin g an d wirin g var y wit h
traile r typ e an d brand , yo u shoul d
als o hav e a qualifie d technicia n
instal l a suitabl e connecto r betwee n
th e vehicl e an d th e trailer .

CONTINUED

Drivin g

Trailer Lights

BACK-UP 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 )

GROUN
D
(BLACK )

Towin
g a Traile r

Additional Trailer equipment
Man y state s an d province s requir e
specia l outsid e mirror s whe n towin g
a trailer . Eve n if the y don't , yo u
shoul d instal l specia l mirror s i f yo u
canno t clearl y se e behin d you , o r i f
th e traile r create s a blin d spot .
As k you r traile r sale s o r renta l
agenc y i f an y othe r item s ar e
recommende d o r require d fo r you r
towin g situation . Pre-To
w Checklis t
Whe n preparin g to tow , an d befor e
drivin g away , b e sur e t o chec k th e
following : Th
e vehicl e ha s bee n properly
serviced , an d th e tires , brakes ,
suspension , an d coolin g syste m
ar e in goo d operatin g condition . Al
l weight s an d load s ar e withi n
limit s (se e page s 19 0 an d 191 ). Th
e hitch , safet y chain , an d an y
othe r attachment s ar e secure . Al
l item s o n an d in th e traile r ar e
properl y secure d an d canno t shif t
whil e yo u drive . Th
e light s an d brake s o n you r
vehicl e an d th e traile r ar e workin g
properly . You
r vehicl e tire s an d spar e ar e
properl y inflate d (se e pag e 247 ),
an d th e traile r tire s an d spar e ar e
inflate d a s recommende d b y th e
traile r maker .

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 , us e th e D 4 positio n
whe n towin g a traile r o n leve l roads .
D 3 i s th e prope r shif t leve r positio n
t o us e whe n towin g a traile r i n hill y
terrain . (Se e "Driving on Hills" i n 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 i t
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 to 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 automati c
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 .

CONTINUED

Drivin g

Towin
g a Traile r

Handling Crosswinds and Buffeting

Crosswind s an d ai r turbulenc e
cause d b y passin g truck s ca n disrup t

you r steerin g an d caus e traile r

swaying . Whe n bein g passe d b y a

larg e vehicle , kee p a constan t spee d

an d stee r straigh t ahead . D o no t tr y
t o mak e quic k steerin g o r brakin g

corrections .

Backing Up
Alway s driv e slowl y an d hav e
someon e guid e yo u whe n backin g up .
Gri p th e bottom o f th e steerin g
wheel ; the n tur n th e whee l t o th e lef t
t o ge t th e traile r t o mov e t o th e left ,
an d tur n th e whee l righ t t o mov e th e
traile r t o th e right .
Parking

Follo w al l norma l precaution s whe n
parking , includin g firml y settin g th e
parkin g brak e an d puttin g th e
transmissio n in Par k (automatic ) or
i n 1 st o r Revers e (manual) . Also ,
plac e whee l chock s a t eac h o f th e
trailer' s tires .
Drivin g

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 to 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 t o tak e car e o f
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 32 3 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 8

Importan t Safet y Precautions. . 19 9

Maintenanc e Schedule................. . 20 0

Maintenanc e Record.................... . 20 7
Owne
r Maintenanc e Checks....... . 20 9

Flui d Locations.............................. . 21 0

Engin e Oil...................................... . 21 2

Addin g Oil.................................. . 21 2

Recommende d Oil.................... . 21 2
Syntheti c Oil.............................. . 21 4

Additives.................................... . 21 4

Changin g th e Oi l an d Filter..... . 21 4

Coolin g System............................. . 21 7

Addin g Engin e Coolant............ . 21 7
Replacin g Engin e Coolant........ 219

Windshiel d Washers.................... . 22 4

Transmissio n Fluid....................... . 22 5

Automati c

Transmission......................... . 22 5

5-spee d Manua l

Transmission......................... . 22 7

Brak e an d Clutc h Fluid................ . 22 8

Brak e System............................ . 22 8
Clutc h System........................... . 22 9

Powe r Steering.............................. . 23 0

Ai r Cleane r Element..................... . 23 1

Hoo d Latch.................................... . 23 3

Spar k Plug s

(4-cylinde r Models).............. . 23 3

Replacement.............................. . 23 3
Specifications............................
. 23 4
Spar k Plug s
(6-cylinde r Models).............. . 23 5

Replacement.............................. . 23 5

Specifications............................ . 23 7
Battery........................................... . 23 8
Wipe r Blades................................. . 24 1
Ai r Conditionin g System.............. . 24 3
Ai r Conditionin g Filter................. . 24 4
Driv e Belts..................................... . 24 4
Timin g Belt.................................... . 24 5
Tires............................................... . 24 6
Inflation...................................... . 24 6
Inspection.................................. . 24 7
Maintenance.............................. . 24 8
Tir e Rotation............................. . 24 9
Replacin g Tire s an d Wheels... . 24 9
Wheel s an d Tires...................... . 25 0
Winte r Driving.......................... . 25 0

Sno w Tires............................. . 25 1

Tir e Chains............................ . 25 1
Lights............................................. . 25 2
Headligh t Aiming..................... . 25 4
Replacin g Bulbs........................ . 25 5
Storin g You r Car........................... . 26 6

Maintenanc e