2000 HONDA ACCORD COUPE towing

2000 Accord Coupe Online Reference Owner's Manual
Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through\
this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.h\
elminc.com.
Contents


Introduction ........................................................................\
................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safety........................................................................\
........................................ . ii
Your Vehicle at a Glance........................................................................\
............................................ . 2
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
..................................... . 5
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restr\
aint System.
Instruments and Controls........................................................................\
........................................ . 51
Instrume nt panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
..................... . 109
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
.......................................................... 159
What gasoline to use, how to break -in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
..................................................................... . 173
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
............................................................. 197
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take you r vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Care........................................................................\
..................................................... . 267
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your\
vehicle ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpected........................................................................\
.............................. 275
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, an d how to handle them.
Technical Information........................................................................\
............................................ . 303
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................ 317
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)........................................................................\
.............................. 323
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index........................................................................\
........................................................................\
...... I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump. Owner's Identification Form

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

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

Maintenance
U.S. Owner s
Follo w th e Sever e Condition s
Maintenanc e Schedul e i f yo u
driv e you r vehicl e MAINLY
unde r on e o r mor e o f th e
followin g conditions :
Driving les s tha n 5 mile s ( 8
km ) pe r tri p or , i n freezin g
temperatures , drivin g les s
tha n 1 0 mile s (1 6 km ) pe r trip .
Drivin g in extremel y ho t
[ove r 90 ° F (32°C ] conditions .
E xtensive idlin g o r lon g
period s o f stop-and-g o driving .
Trailer towing , drivin g wit h a
roo f to p carrier , o r drivin g in
mountainou s conditions .
Driving o n muddy , dusty , o r
de-ice d roads .
*1 : Balance r bel t applie s t o 4-cylinde r
model s only .
*2 : Refe r t o pag e 24 5 fo r replacemen t
information unde r specia l drivin g
conditions .
*3 : Refe r t o pag e 24 4 fo r replacemen t
information unde r specia l drivin g
conditions .
# : Se e informatio n o n maintenanc e an d
emission s warranty , last column , pag e
201.
Canadia n Owner s
Follow th e Maintenanc e
Schedule fo r Sever e Conditions .

Use thi s schedul e i f you r vehicl e i s MAINL Y drive n i n an y o f th e followin g Sever e Conditions , o r normall y drive n i n Canada ; otherwis e us e th e Norma l
Schedule . Servic e a t th e indicate d distanc e o r time , whicheve r come s first . D o th e item s i n A , B , C , D as require d fo r eac h distance/time .
Sever e Conditions :
Driving les s tha n 5 mile s ( 8 km ) pe r tri p or , i n freezin g temperatures , drivin g les s tha n 1 0 mile s (1 6 km ) pe r trip .Drivin g i n extremel y ho t (ove r 90°F/32°C ) conditions .Extensive idlin g o r lon g period s o f stop-and-g o driving .Trailer towing , drivin g wit h a roo f to p carrier , o r drivin g in mountainou s conditions .Driving o n muddy , dusty , o r de-ice d roads .
CONTINUED
Maintenanc e
page 24 9

Takin
g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

Thi s sectio n cover s th e more -

commo n problem s tha t motorist s

experienc e wit h thei r vehicles . I t
give s yo u informatio n abou t ho w to
safel y evaluat e th e proble m an d wha t
t o d o to correc t it . I f th e proble m ha s
strande d yo u o n th e sid e o f th e road ,
yo u ma y b e abl e to ge t goin g again .
I f not , yo u wil l als o fin d instruction s

o n gettin g you r ca r towed .
Compac
t Spar e Tire...................... . 27 6
Changin g a Fla t Tir e .................... 277
I f You r Engin e Won' t Start.......... . 28 3
Nothin g Happen s o r th e
Starte r Moto r Operate s
Ver y Slowly............................ . 28 3
Th e Starte r Operate s

Normally................................ 284

Jum p Starting................................ . 28 5
I f You r Engin e Overheats............ . 28 8
Lo w Oi l Pressur e Indicator......... . 29 1
Chargin g Syste m Indicator.......... . 29 2
Malfunctio n Indicato r Lam p ....... . 29 3
Brak e Syste m Indicator............... . 29 4
Closin g th e Moonroof.................. . 29 5

Fuses.............................................. . 29 6

Checkin g an d Replacing.......... . 29 7

Emergenc y Towing...................... . 30 1

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

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

Emergenc
y Towin g

I f yo u decid e t o to w you r ca r wit h al l
fou r wheel s o n th e ground , mak e
sur e yo u us e a properly-designe d an d
attache d to w bar . Prepar e th e ca r fo r
towin g a s describe d above , an d leav e
th e ignitio n switc h in Accessor y (I )
s o th e steerin g whee l doe s no t lock .
Mak e sur e th e radi o an d an y item s
plugge d int o th e accessor y powe r
socke t ar e turne d of f s o the y d o no t
ru n dow n th e battery .
The steering wheel system can be
damaged if the steering wheel is locked.
Leave the ignition switch in Accessory (I), and make sure the steering wheel
turns freely before you begin towing.
Trying to lift or tow your car by the

bumpers will cause serious damage.
The bumpers are not designed to

support the car's weight.

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
NOTIC
E
NOTIC E