2000 HONDA ACCORD COUPE flat tire

Accessorie
s an d Modification s

Modification s
D o no t remov e an y origina l
equipmen t o r modif y you r ca r i n an y
wa y tha t woul d alte r it s desig n o r
operation . Thi s coul d mak e you r ca r
unsaf e an d illega l t o drive .
Fo r example , d o no t mak e an y
modification s tha t woul d chang e th e
rid e heigh t o f you r car , o r instal l
wheel s an d tire s wit h a differen t
overal l diameter .
Suc h modification s ca n adversel y
affec t handling , an d interfer e wit h
th e operatio n o f th e car' s anti-loc k
brake s an d othe r systems . I
n addition , an y modification s tha t
decreas e groun d clearanc e increas e
th e chanc e o f undercarriag e part s
strikin g a curb , spee d bump , o r othe r
raise d object , whic h coul d caus e
you r airbag s t o deploy .
D o no t modif y you r steerin g whee l
o r an y othe r par t o f you r
Supplementa l Restrain t System .
Modification s coul d mak e th e
syste m ineffective .
Additiona l Safet y Precautio n
D o no t attac h o r plac e object s o n
th e airba g covers . An y objec t
attache d t o o r place d o n th e cover s
marke d "SR S AIRBAG, " i n th e
cente r o f th e steerin g whee l an d
o n to p o f th e dashboard , coul d
interfer e wit h th e prope r operatio n
o f th e airbags . Or , i f th e airbag s
inflate , th e object s coul d b e
propelle d insid e th e ca r an d hur t

someone .
Only on models equipped with side
airbags
Do not attach hard objects on or

near a front door. I f a sid e airba g
inflates , a cu p holde r o r othe r har d
objec t attache d o n o r nea r th e
doo r coul d b e propelle d insid e th e
ca r an d hur t someone .
Do not place any objects over the
outside edge of a front seat-back.

Covering th e outsid e edg e o f a
fron t seat-back , wit h a non-Hond a
sea t cove r fo r example , coul d
prevent the airba g fro m inflatin g
properly .

Before Drivin g

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

Tire
s

T o safel y operat e you r car , you r tire s
mus t b e th e prope r typ e an d size , i n
goo d conditio n wit h adequat e tread ,
an d correctl y inflated . Th e followin g
page s giv e mor e detaile d informatio n
o n ho w an d whe n to chec k ai r
pressure , ho w to inspec t you r tire s
fo r damag e an d wear , an d wha t t o d o
whe n you r tire s nee d to b e replaced .
Inflatio
n

Keepin g th e tire s properl y inflate d
provide s th e bes t combinatio n o f
handling , trea d lif e an d ridin g
comfort . Underinflate d tire s wea r
unevenly , adversel y affec t handlin g
an d fue l economy , an d ar e mor e
likel y t o fai l fro m bein g overheated .
Overinflate d tire s ca n mak e you r ca r
rid e mor e harshly , ar e mor e pron e t o
damag e fro m roa d hazards , an d wea r

unevenly .

W e recommen d tha t yo u visuall y
chec k you r tire s ever y day . I f yo u
thin k a tir e migh t b e low , chec k i t
immediatel y wit h a tir e gauge .
Us e a gaug e t o measur e th e ai r
pressur e a t leas t onc e a month . Eve n
tire s tha t ar e in goo d conditio n ma y
los e 1 to 2 ps i ( 7 to 1 5 kPa , 0.0 7 to
0.1 5 kgf/cm 2) pe r month .
Remembe r t o chec k th e spar e tir e a t
th e sam e tim e yo u chec k al l th e
othe r tires . Chec
k th e pressur e in th e tire s whe n
the y ar e cold . Thi s mean s th e ca r
ha s bee n parke d fo r a t leas t thre e
hours . I f yo u hav e to driv e th e ca r
befor e checkin g th e tir e pressure ,
th e tire s ca n stil l b e considere d
"cold " i f yo u driv e les s tha n 1 mil e
(1. 6 km) .
I f yo u chec k th e pressur e whe n th e
tire s ar e ho t (th e ca r ha s bee n drive n
severa l miles) , yo u wil l se e reading s
4 to 6 ps i (3 0 to 4 0 kPa , 0. 3 to 0. 4
kgf/cm 2) highe r tha n th e col d
reading . Thi s is normal . D o no t le t
ai r ou t t o matc h th e specifie d col d
pressure . Th e tir e wil l b e
underinflated .
Yo u shoul d ge t you r ow n tir e
pressur e gaug e an d us e it wheneve r
yo u chec k you r tir e pressures . Thi s
wil l mak e i t easie r fo r yo u t o tel l i f a
pressur e los s i s du e to a tir e proble m
an d no t du e to a variatio n betwee n

gauges .

Maintenanc e

Usin
g tire s tha t ar e excessivel y
wor n o r improperl y inflate d ca n
caus e a cras h i n whic h yo u ca n
b e seriousl y hur t o r killed .
Follo w al l instruction s i n thi s
owner' s manua l regardin g tir e
inflatio n an d maintenance .

Tire
s

Recommended Tire Pressures for
Normal Driving

Th e followin g char t show s th e
recommende d col d tir e pressure s fo r
mos t norma l drivin g condition s an d
speeds . Tir e pressure s fo r hig h
spee d drivin g ar e th e sam e a s fo r
norma l driving . Th
e compac t spar e tir e pressur e is :
6 0 ps i (42 0 kP a , 4. 2 kgf/cm 2)
Thes e pressure s ar e als o give n o n
th e tir e informatio n labe l o n th e
driver' s doorjamb .
Tubeles s tire s hav e som e abilit y t o
self-sea l i f the y ar e punctured .
However , becaus e leakag e is ofte n
ver y slow , yo u shoul d loo k closel y
fo r puncture s i f a tir e start s losin g

pressure .
Inspectio
n
Ever y tim e yo u chec k inflation , yo u
shoul d als o examin e th e tire s fo r
damage , foreig n objects , an d wear .
Yo u shoul d loo k for :
Bump s o r bulge s i n th e trea d o r
sid e o f th e tire . Replac e th e tir e if
yo u fin d eithe r o f these conditions .
Cuts , splits , o r crack s i n th e sid e
o f th e tire . Replac e th e tir e i f yo u
ca n se e fabri c o r cord .
Excessiv e trea d wear .

CONTINUED

Maintenanc e

Tire
s

You r car' s tire s hav e wea r indicator s
molde d int o th e tread . Whe n th e
trea d wear s dow n to tha t point , yo u
wil l se e a 1/ 2 inc h (12. 7 mm ) wid e
ban d runnin g acros s th e tread . Thi s
show s ther e is les s tha n 1/1 6 inc h
(1. 6 mm ) o f trea d lef t o n th e tire . A
tir e tha t i s thi s wor n give s ver y littl e
tractio n o n we t roads . Yo u shoul d
replac e th e tir e if yo u ca n se e th e
trea d wea r indicato r i n thre e o r mor e
place s aroun d th e tire .
Maintenanc
e

I n additio n t o prope r inflation ,
correc t whee l alignmen t help s t o
decreas e tir e wear . I f yo u fin d a tir e
i s wor n unevenly , hav e you r deale r
chec k th e whee l alignment .
Th e tire s wer e properl y balance d b y
th e factory . The y ma y nee d to b e
rebalance d a t som e tim e befor e the y
ar e wor n out . Hav e you r deale r
chec k th e tire s if yo u fee l a consis -
ten t vibratio n whil e driving . A tir e
shoul d alway s b e rebalance d if i t i s
remove d fro m th e whee l fo r repair .
Mak e sur e th e installe r balance s th e
wheel s whe n yo u hav e ne w tire s
installed . Thi s increase s ridin g
comfor t an d tir e life . You r car' s
origina l tire s wer e dynami c o r "spin "
balance d a t th e factory . Fo r bes t
results , hav e th e installe r perfor m a
dynami c balance .
On some models

Improper wheel weights can damage

your car's aluminum wheels. Use only
Genuine Honda wheel weights for

balancing.

Maintenanc e
INDICATO
R LOCATIO N MARK S
TREA D WEA R INDICATOR S
NOTIC
E

Compac
t Spar e Tir e

You r ca r ha s a compac t spar e tir e
tha t take s u p les s space . Us e thi s
spar e tir e a s a temporar y replace -
men t only . Ge t you r regula r tir e
repaire d o r replace d an d pu t bac k o n
you r ca r a s soo n a s yo u can .
Chec k th e inflatio n pressur e o f th e
compac t spar e tir e ever y tim e yo u
chec k th e othe r tires . I t shoul d b e
inflate d to :
6 0 ps i (42 0 kP a , 4. 2 kgf/cm 2)
Follo
w thes e precaution s wheneve r
yo u ar e usin g the compac t spar e tire :
D o no t excee d 5 0 mp h (8 0 km/h )
unde r an y circumstances .
Thi s tir e give s a harshe r rid e an d
les s tractio n o n som e roa d sur -
face s tha n th e regula r tire . Us e
greate r cautio n whil e drivin g o n
thi s tire .
D o no t moun t sno w chain s o n th e
compac t spare .
Th e whee l o f the compac t spar e
tir e is designe d especiall y to fi t
you r car . D o no t us e you r spar e
tir e o n anothe r vehicl e unles s it i s
th e sam e mak e an d model .
Th
e compac t spar e tir e ha s a shorte r
trea d lif e tha n a regula r tire . Replac e
i t whe n yo u ca n se e th e trea d wea r
indicato r bars . Th e replacemen t
shoul d b e th e sam e siz e an d desig n
tire , mounte d o n th e sam e wheel .
Th e compac t spar e tir e is no t
designe d to b e mounte d o n a regula r
wheel , an d th e compac t whee l i s no t
designe d fo r mountin g a regula r tire .

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
INDICATO
R
LOCATIO N
MAR K
TREAD WEA R
INDICATO R

BA R

Emergenc
y Towin g

I f you r ca r need s t o b e towed , cal l a
professiona l towin g servic e or , i f yo u
belon g to one , a n organizatio n tha t
provide s roadsid e assistance . Neve r
to w you r ca r behin d anothe r vehicl e
wit h jus t a rop e o r chain . I t i s ver y

dangerous .

Ther e ar e thre e popula r type s o f
professiona l towin g equipment .

Flat-bed Equipment — Th e operato r

load s you r ca r o n th e bac k o f a truck .
Thi s i s th e bes t wa y t o transpor t
you r Honda .

Wheel-Lift Equipment — Th e to w

truc k use s tw o pivotin g arm s tha t g o
unde r th e tire s (fron t o r rear ) an d lif t
the m of f th e ground . Th e othe r tw o
tire s remai n o n th e ground . Thi s is
a n acceptabl e wa y t o to w you r
Honda .
Sling-type Equipment — Th
e to w

truc k use s meta l cable s wit h hook s
o n th e ends . Thes e hook s g o aroun d
part s o f th e fram e o r suspensio n an d
th e cable s lif t tha t en d o f th e ca r of f
th e ground . You r car' s suspensio n
an d bod y ca n b e seriousl y damaged .
Thi s metho d o f towin g is
unacceptable .
I f you r Hond a canno t b e transporte d
b y flat-bed , i t shoul d b e towe d b y
wheel-lif t equipmen t wit h th e fron t
wheel s of f th e ground . I f du e t o
damage , you r ca r mus t b e towe d
wit h th e fron t wheel s o n th e ground ,
d o th e following :
5-speed Manual Transmission Releas e th e parkin g brake .
Shif t th e transmissio n to Neutral .

Automatic Transmission:
Releas e th e parkin g brake .
Star t th e engine .
Shif t t o D4 , the n to N .
Tur n of f th e engine .
Improper towing preparation will

damage the transmission. Follow the

above procedure exactly. If you cannot

shift the transmission or start the
engine (automatic transmission), your

car must be transported with the front

wheels off the ground.

Wit h th e fron t wheel s o n th e ground ,
i t i s bes t t o to w th e ca r n o farthe r
tha n 5 0 mile s (8 0 km) , an d kee p th e
spee d belo w 3 5 mp h (5 5 km/h) .

CONTINUED

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

NOTIC
E