2000 HONDA ACCORD COUPE light

Preparin
g to Driv e

Yo u shoul d d o th e followin g check s
an d adjustment s ever y da y befor e
yo u driv e you r car .
1 . Mak e sur e al l windows , mirrors ,
an d outsid e light s ar e clea n an d
unobstructed . Remov e frost , snow ,
o r ice .
2 . Chec k tha t th e hoo d an d trun k ar e
full y closed .
3 . Visuall y chec k th e tires . I f a tir e
look s low , us e a gaug e to chec k it s

pressure .

4 . Chec k tha t an y item s yo u ma y b e
carryin g wit h yo u insid e ar e store d
properl y o r fastene d dow n

securely .
5
. Chec k th e adjustmen t o f th e sea t
(se e pag e 8 7).
6 . Chec k th e adjustmen t o f th e
insid e an d outsid e mirror s (se e
pag e 9 9).
7 . Chec k th e
adjustmen
t o f th e
steerin g whee l (se e pag e 68 ).
8 . Mak e sur e th e door s ar e securel y

close d an d locked .

9 . Faste n you r sea t belt . Chec k tha t
you r passenger s hav e fastene d
thei r sea t belt s (se e pag e 1 5 ) . 10.
Tur n th e ignitio n switc h O N (II) .
Chec k th e indicato r light s i n th e
instrumen t panel .
11. Star t th e engin e (se e pag e 175 ).
12. Chec k th e gauge s an d indicato r
light s i n th e instrumen t pane l (se e
pag e 53 ).

Drivin g

Parkin
g

Alway s us e th e parkin g brak e whe n
yo u par k you r car . Th e indicato r o n
th e instrumen t pane l show s tha t th e
parkin g brak e is no t full y released ; i t
doe s no t indicat e tha t th e parkin g
brak e is firml y set . Mak e sur e th e
parkin g brak e is se t firml y o r you r
ca r ma y rol l i f i t i s parke d o n a n
incline .
I f you r ca r ha s a n automati c
transmission , se t th e parkin g brak e
befor e yo u pu t th e transmissio n in
Park . Thi s keep s th e ca r fro m
movin g an d puttin g pressur e o n th e
parkin g mechanis m in th e
transmissio n — makin g it easie r t o
mov e th e shif t leve r ou t o f Par k
whe n yo u wan t t o driv e away . I
f th e ca r i s facin g uphill , tur n th e
fron t wheel s awa y fro m th e curb . I f
yo u hav e a manua l transmission , pu t
i t i n firs t gear .
I f th e ca r i s facin g downhill , tur n th e
fron t wheel s towar d th e curb . I f yo u
hav e a manua l transmission , pu t i t i n
revers e gear .
Mak e sur e th e parkin g brake is full y
release d befor e drivin g away .
Drivin g wit h th e parkin g brake
partiall y se t ca n overhea t o r damag e
th e rea r brakes . Parkin
g Tip s Mak
e sur e th e moonroo f an d th e
window s ar e closed . Tur
n of f th e lights . Plac
e an y packages , valuables , etc. ,
i n th e trun k o r tak e the m wit h you . Loc
k th e doors .
On EX and EX-V6 models
Loc k th e door s wit h th e ke y o r th e
remot e transmitter . Chec k th e
indicato r o n th e driver' s doo r t o
verif y tha t th e securit y syste m is

set .
Neve
r par k ove r dr y leaves , tal l
grass , o r othe r flammabl e
materials . Th e thre e wa y catalyti c
converte r get s ver y hot , an d coul d
caus e thes e material s to catc h o n

fire .

Drivin g

Th
e Brakin g Syste m

You r Hond a is equippe d wit h fron t
dis c brakes . Th e brake s o n th e rea r
wheel s ma y b e dis c o r drum ,
dependin g o n model . A powe r assis t
help s reduc e th e effor t neede d o n
th e brak e pedal . Th e AB S help s yo u
retai n steerin g contro l whe n brakin g
ver y hard .
Pu t you r foo t o n th e brak e peda l onl y
whe n yo u inten d to brake . Restin g
you r foo t o n th e peda l keep s th e
brake s applie d lightly , causin g the m
t o buil d u p heat . Hea t build-u p ca n
reduc e ho w wel l you r brake s work . I t
als o keep s you r brak e light s o n al l
th e time , confusin g driver s behin d

you .
Constan
t applicatio n o f th e brake s
whe n goin g dow n a lon g hil l build s
u p hea t an d reduce s thei r effective -
ness . Us e th e engin e to assis t th e
brake s b y downshiftin g to a lowe r
gea r an d takin g you r foo t of f th e

accelerato r pedal .

Chec k you r brake s afte r drivin g
throug h dee p water . Appl y th e
brake s moderatel y t o se e if the y fee l
normal . I f not , appl y the m gentl y an d
frequentl y unti l the y do . Sinc e a
longe r distanc e is neede d to sto p
wit h we t brakes , b e extr a cautiou s
an d aler t i n you r driving . Brak
e Wea r Indicator s
Th e fron t dis c brake s o n al l model s
hav e audibl e brak e wea r indicators .
The y ar e als o o n th e rea r brake s o f
car s equippe d wit h AB S a s standar d
equipment .
Whe n th e brak e pad s nee d replacing ,
yo u wil l hea r a distinctiv e metalli c
"screeching " soun d whe n yo u appl y
th e brakes . I f yo u d o no t hav e th e
brak e pad s replaced , the y wil l begi n
screechin g al l th e time .
You r brake s ma y sometime s squea l
o r squea k whe n yo u appl y the m
lightly . D o no t confus e thi s wit h th e
brak e wea r indicators . The y mak e a
ver y audibl e "screeching. "

Drivin g

Drivin
g in Ba d Weathe r

Visibilit y — Bein g abl e to se e
clearl y i n al l direction s an d bein g
visibl e t o othe r driver s ar e importan t
i n al l weathe r conditions . Thi s i s
mor e difficul t i n ba d weather . T o b e
see n mor e clearl y durin g dayligh t
hours , tur n o n you r headlights .
Inspec t you r windshiel d wiper s an d
washer s frequently . Kee p th e wind -
shiel d washe r reservoi r ful l o f th e
prope r fluid . Hav e th e windshiel d
wipe r blade s replace d i f the y star t t o
strea k th e windshiel d o r leav e part s
unwiped . Us e th e defroste r an d ai r
conditionin g to kee p th e window s
fro m foggin g u p o n th e insid e (se e
page s 11 5 an d 123 ). Tractio
n — Chec k you r tire s
frequentl y fo r wea r an d prope r
pressure . Bot h ar e importan t i n
preventin g "hydroplaning " (los s o f
tractio n o n a we t surface) . I n th e
winter , moun t sno w tire s o n al l fou r
wheel s fo r th e bes t handling .
Watc h roa d condition s carefully ,
the y ca n chang e fro m momen t t o
moment . We t leave s ca n b e a s slip -
per y a s ice . "Clear " road s ca n hav e
patche s o f ice . Drivin g condition s
ca n b e ver y hazardou s whe n th e
outsid e temperatur e i s nea r freezing .
Th e roa d surfac e ca n becom e
covere d wit h area s o f wate r puddle s
mixe d wit h area s o f ice , s o you r
tractio n ca n chang e withou t warning .
B e carefu l whe n downshifting . I f
tractio n is low , yo u ca n loc k u p th e
driv e wheel s fo r a momen t an d caus e
a skid . B
e ver y cautiou s whe n passing , o r
bein g passe d b y othe r vehicles . Th e
spra y fro m larg e vehicle s reduce s
you r visibility , an d th e win d buffetin g
ca n caus e yo u to los e control .

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

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

Owne
r Maintenanc e Check s
Yo u shoul d chec k th e followin g
item s a t th e specifie d intervals . I f
yo u ar e unsur e o f ho w to perfor m
an y check , tur n t o th e pag e given . Engin
e oi l leve l — Chec k ever y
tim e yo u fil l th e fue l tank . Se e
pag e 164 . Engin
e coolan t leve l — Chec k th e
radiato r reserv e tan k ever y tim e
yo u fil l th e fue l tank . Se e pag e 166 .
Windshiel
d washe r flui d — Chec k
th e leve l i n th e reservoi r monthly .
I f weathe r condition s caus e yo u to
us e th e washer s frequently , chec k
th e reservoi r eac h tim e yo u sto p
fo r fuel . Se e pag e 224 . Automati
c transmissio n — Chec k
th e flui d leve l monthly . Se e pag e

225 .
Brake
s — Chec k th e flui d leve l

monthly . Se e pag e 22 8 .
Tire
s — Chec k th e tir e pressur e
monthly . Examin e th e trea d fo r
wea r an d foreig n objects . Se e pag e

246 .
Light
s — Chec k th e operatio n o f
th e headlights , parkin g lights ,
taillights , high-moun t brak e light ,
tur n signals , brak e lights , an d
licens e plat e light s monthly . Se e

pag e 252 .

Maintenanc e