2000 HONDA ACCORD SEDAN trailer

2000 Accord Sedan 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........................................................................\
........................................ .49
Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
..................... .105
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
..........................................................155
What gasoline to use, how to break -in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
..................................................................... .169
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
.............................................................193
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take you r vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Care........................................................................\
..................................................... .261
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your\
vehicle ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpected........................................................................\
..............................269
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, an d how to handle them.
Technical Information........................................................................\
............................................ .295
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................309
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)........................................................................\
..............................315
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

Carryin
g Carg o

Loa d Limi t

Th e maximu m loa d fo r you r ca r i s

85 0 lbs(395 kg) .

Thi s figur e include s th e tota l weigh t

o f al l occupants , cargo , accessories ,

an d th e tongu e weigh t i f yo u ar e

towin g a trailer .

T o figur e ou t ho w muc h carg o yo u

ca n carry :

Ad d u p th e weigh t o f al l occupants .

I f yo u ar e towin g a trailer , ad d th e

tongu e weigh t t o th e numbe r

above .

Subtrac t th e tota l fro m 85 0 Ib s

(395 kg) .

Th e fina l numbe r i s th e tota l weigh t

o f carg o yo u ca n carry .
Carryin
g Item s i n th e Passenge r
Compartmen t
Stor e o r secur e al l item s tha t coul d
b e throw n aroun d an d hur t
someon e durin g a crash .
D o no t pu t an y item s o n to p o f th e
rea r shelf . The y ca n bloc k you r
vie w an d b e throw n aroun d th e ca r
durin g a crash .
B e sur e item s place d o n th e floo r
behin d th e fron t seat s canno t rol l
unde r th e seat s an d interfer e wit h
th e driver' s abilit y t o operat e th e
pedals , o r wit h th e prope r
operatio n o f th e seats .
Kee p th e glov e bo x close d whil e
driving . I f th e li d is open , a
passenge r coul d injur e thei r knee s
durin g a cras h o r sudden stop.

Befor e Drivin g

Overloadin
g o r imprope r
loadin g ca n affec t handlin g an d
stabilit y an d caus e a cras h in
whic h yo u ca n b e hur t o r killed .
Follo w al l loa d limit s an d othe r
loadin g guideline s in thi s
manual .

Drivin
g

Thi s sectio n give s yo u tip s o n

startin g th e engin e unde r variou s

conditions , an d ho w to operat e th e

5-spee d manua l an d automati c

transmissions . I t als o include s

importan t informatio n o n parkin g

you r car , th e brakin g system , an d

fact s yo u nee d if yo u ar e plannin g to

to w a trailer .
Preparin
g to Drive........................ . 17 0
Startin g th e Engine....................... . 17 1
Startin g in Col d Weathe r
a t Hig h Altitude.................... . 17 2
5-spee d Manua l Transmission.... . 17 3
Recommende d Shif t Points..... . 17 4
Engin e Spee d Limite r .............. . 17 4
Automati c Transmission.............. . 17 4
Shif t Leve r Positio n Indicator. . 17 5
Shif t Leve r Positions................ . 17 5
Engin e Spee d Limite r .............. . 17 8
Shif t Loc k Release.................... . 17 8
Parking........................................... . 18 0
Th e Brakin g System..................... . 18 1
Brak e Wea r Indicators............. . 18 1
Brak e Syste m Design............... . 18 2
Anti-loc k Brakes....................... . 18 2
Importan t Safet y
Reminders......................... . 18 3
AB S Indicator........................ . 18 3
Drivin g in Ba d Weather............... . 18 4
Towin g a Trailer........................... . 18 6

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 , and the
tongu e loa d mus t no t exceed :

4-cylinder models:

( DX , LX , SE )
2, 160 Ibs (98 0 kg )
o n th e fron t axl e
1, 895 Ibs ( 860 kg)
o n th e rea r axl e
(EX )
2,18 5 Ib s (99 0 kg )
o n th e fron t axl e
1 ,920 Ibs (8 70 kg )
o n th e rea r axl e

6-cylinder models:

2,315 Ib s ( 1,050 kg)
o n th e fron t axl e
1,940 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 i n
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 t o 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 t o 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 .

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 .

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

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 ,
use the D 4 position when towing a
traile r o n leve l roads . D 3 i s th e prope r
shif t leve r positio n to us e whe n towin g
a traile r i n hill y terrain . (Se e "Driving
o n Hills " in 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 it
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 t o 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 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 .

Drivin g

CONTINUED