2000 HONDA ACCORD SEDAN light

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 .
Pu t you r foo t o n th e brak e peda l onl y
whe n yo u inten d t o 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 in al l direction s an d bein g
visibl e to othe r driver s ar e importan t
i n al l weathe r conditions . Thi s is
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 if the y star t t o
strea k th e windshiel d o r leav e part s
unwiped . Us e th e defroster s 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
pag e 111 ). 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 is 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 Lights

You r vehicl e ha s a traile r lightin g
connecto r i n th e trunk . Refe r t o th e
drawin g o n thi s pag 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 vehicl e
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 .

Driving

CONTINUED

GROUN
D
(BLACK )
BACK-U
P LIGH T
(GREEN/BLACK )LEF
T TUR N SIGNA L
(GREEN/BLUE )

RIGH T TUR N SIGNA L

(GREEN/YELLOW )
BRAK
E LIGH T
(WHITE/BLACK )TAILLIGH
T
(RED/BLACK )

Towin
g a Traile r
Additional Trailer equipment

Many 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 if 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 if 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 to 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 18 6 an d 187 ).
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
properly inflated (se e pag e 24 2 ) ,
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 t o 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 to tak e car e of

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 31 5 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 4
Importan t Safet y Precautions. . 19 5
Maintenanc e Schedule................. . 19 6
Maintenanc e Record.................... . 20 3
Owne r Maintenanc e Checks....... . 20 5
Flui d Locations.............................. . 20 6

Engin e Oil...................................... . 20 8
Addin g Oil.................................. . 20 8

Recommende d Oil.................... . 20 8

Syntheti c Oil.............................. . 21 0

Additives.................................... . 21 0
Changin g th e Oi l an d Filter..... . 21 0
Coolin g System............................. . 21 3
Addin g Engin e Coolant............ . 21 3
Replacin g Engin e Coolant....... . 21 5
Windshiel d Washers.................... . 22 0
Transmissio n Fluid....................... . 22 1
Automati c
Transmission......................... . 22 1
5-spee d Manua l
Transmission......................... . 22 3
Brak e an d Clutc h Fluid................ . 22 4
Brak e System............................ . 22 4
Clutc h System........................... . 22 5
Powe r Steering.............................. . 22 5
Ai r Cleane r Element..................... . 22 6 Hoo
d Latch.................................... . 22 9
Spar k Plugs.................................... . 22 9
Replacement.............................. . 22 9
Specifications............................ . 23 0
Battery........................................... . 23 3
Wipe r Blades................................. . 23 6
Ai r Conditionin g System.............. . 23 8
Ai r Conditionin g Filter................. . 23 9
Driv e Belts..................................... . 23 9
Timin g Belt.................................... . 24 0
Tires............................................... . 24 0
Inflation...................................... . 24 1
Inspection.................................. . 24 3
Maintenance.............................. . 24 3
Tir e Rotation............................. . 24 4
Replacin g Tire s an d Wheels... . 24 4
Wheel s an d Tires...................... . 24 5
Winte r Driving.......................... . 24 6

Sno w Tires............................. . 24 6

Tir e Chains............................ . 24 6
Lights............................................. . 24 7
Replacin g Bulbs........................ . 25 1
Storin g You r Car........................... . 26 0

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 to 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 160 .
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 16 2 .
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 t o
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 220 .
Automati c transmissio n — Chec k
th e flui d leve l monthly . Se e pag e
22 1 .

Brake s — Chec k th e flui d leve l

monthly . Se e pag e 22 4 .
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

24 0 .

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 247 .
Maintenanc e

Windshiel
d Washer s

Chec k th e leve l i n th e windshiel d
washe r reservoi r a t leas t monthl y
durin g norma l usage . I n ba d weather ,
whe n yo u us e th e washer s often ,
chec k th e leve l ever y tim e yo u sto p

fo r fuel .

Th e windshiel d washe r reservoi r i s
locate d behin d th e headlight .
Chec k th e reservoir' s flui d leve l b y
removin g th e ca p an d lookin g a t th e
leve l gaug e attache d to th e cap .
Canadian Models
Th e lo w washe r leve l indicato r wil l
ligh t whe n th e leve l i s lo w (se e pag e

55 ).

Fil l th e reservoi r wit h a good-qualit y
windshiel d washe r fluid . Thi s
increase s th e cleanin g capabilit y an d
prevent s freezin g in col d weather .
Do
not use engine antifreeze or a

vinegar/water solution in the

windshield washer reservoir.

Antifreeze can damage your car's paint,

while a vinegar/water solution can

damage the windshield washer pump.

Use only commercially-available

windshield washer fluid.
Whe
n yo u refil l th e reservoir , clea n
th e edge s o f th e windshiel d wipe r
blade s wit h windshiel d washe r flui d
o n a clea n cloth . Thi s wil l hel p to
conditio n th e blad e edges .

Maintenanc e LEVE
L GAUG E
6-cylinder model s
4-cylinde r model s

NOTIC E

Light
s

Chec k th e operatio n o f you r car' s
exterio r light s a t leas t onc e a month .
A burne d ou t bul b ca n creat e a n
unsaf e conditio n b y reducin g you r
car' s visibilit y an d th e abilit y t o
signa l you r intention s t o othe r

drivers .
HEADLIGH
T
TUR
N SIGNAL/SID E MARKE R LIGH T
PARKIN G LIGH T

CONTINUED

Maintenanc e