2001 HONDA ACCORD SEDAN headlights

Driving in Bad Weather

Visibility — Being able to see clearly in all directions and being
visible to other drivers are important in all weather conditions. This ismore difficult in bad weather. To beseen more clearly during daylight
hours, turn on your headlights.
Inspect your windshield wipers and
washers frequently. Keep the wind- shield washer reservoir full of the
proper fluid. Have the windshield
wiper blades replaced if they start to streak the windshield or leave parts
unwiped. Use the defrosters and air conditioning to keep the windows
from fogging up on the inside (seepage 115). Traction — Check your tires
frequently for wear and proper
pressure. Both are important in
preventing "hydroplaning" (loss of
traction on a wet surface). In the
winter, mount snow tires on all four
wheels for the best handling.
Watch road conditions carefully, they can change from moment tomoment. Wet leaves can be as slip-
pery as ice. "Clear" roads can have
patches of ice. Driving conditionscan be very hazardous when the
outside temperature is near freezing.
The road surface can become covered with areas of water puddles
mixed with areas of ice, so your
traction can change without warning.
Be careful when downshifting. If
traction is low, you can lock up the drive wheels for a moment and cause
a skid. Be very cautious when passing, or
being passed by other vehicles. The spray from large vehicles reduces
your visibility, and the wind buffeting can cause you to lose control.

Driving

Owner Maintenance Checks
You should check the following items at the specified intervals. If
you are unsure of how to perform any check, turn to the page given. Engine oil level — Check every
time you fill the fuel tank. See
page 182. Engine coolant level — Check the
radiator reserve tank every time
you fill the fuel tank. See page 184 .
Windshield washer fluid — Check
the level in the reservoir monthly.If weather conditions cause you to
use the washers frequently, check
the reservoir each time you stop
for fuel. See page 246 . Automatic transmission — Check
the fluid level monthly. See page 247. Brakes — Check the fluid level

monthly. See page 251.
Tires — Check the tire pressure
monthly. Examine the tread for
wear and foreign objects. See page
267.
Lights — Check the operation of
the headlights, parking lights,
taillights, high-mount brake light,
turn signals, brake lights, and
license plate lights monthly. See

page 274.

Maintenance

Lights

HIGH-MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT

BACK-UP LIGHT

STOP/TAILLIGHT

TURN SIGNAL LIGHT

TAILLIGHT
Check the following:
Headlights (low and high beam)
Parking lights
Taillights Brake lightsHigh-mount brake light
Turn signals Back-up lights
Hazard light functionLicense plate light
Side marker lights
Daytime running lights (Canadian models)
If you find any bulbs are burned out,
replace them as soon as possible.
Refer to the chart on page 327 to determine what type of replacement
bulb is needed.
Maintenance

Lights

Headlight Aiming

The headlights were properly aimed when your car was new. If youregularly carry heavy items in the
trunk, readjustment may be required.
Adjustment of the headlights should be performed by a Honda technicianor other qualified mechanic.
Replacing a Headlight Bulb
Your car has two bulbs on each side, four in total. Make sure you arereplacing the bulb that is burned out.
Your car uses halogen headlight bulbs. When replacing a bulb, handleit by its plastic case and protect the
glass from contact with your skin or
hard objects. If you touch the glass,clean it with denatured alcohol and a
clean cloth.
BULB

1. Open the hood. If you need to change a bulb on
the passenger's side (on the driver's side on 6-cylinder models),
remove the radiator reserve tank.
2. Remove the electrical connector from the bulb by squeezing theconnector to unlock the tab, thenslide the connector off the bulb. 3. Remove the bulb by turning it
approximately one-quarter turn
counterclockwise.
4. Insert the new bulb into the hole and turn it one-quarter turn clock-
wise to lock it in place.
5. Push the electrical connector back onto the bulb. Make sure it is on
all the way.
6. Turn on the headlights to test the new bulb.
7. (Passenger's side on 4-cylinder models, driver's side on 6-cylindermodels)
Reinstall the radiator reserve tank.

Halogen headlight bulbs get very hot when lit. Oil, perspiration, or a scratch
on the glass can cause the bulb to
overheat and shatter.

Maintenance
NOTICE

TAB

If Your Engine Won't Start
Nothing Happens or the Starter Motor Operates Very Slowly
When you turn the ignition switch to START (III), you do not hear the
normal noise of the engine trying tostart. You may hear a clicking sound
or series of clicks, or nothing at all.
Check these things:
Your car has the ImmobilizerSystem. You should use a
properly-coded master or valet key
to start the engine (see page 57).
A key that is not properly coded will cause the immobilizer systemindicator in the dash panel to blink
rapidly. Check the transmission interlock.
If you have a manual transmission,
the clutch pedal must be pushed all the way to the floor or the
starter will not operate. With an
automatic transmission, it must be
in Park or Neutral.
Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
Turn on the headlights and check their brightness. If the headlightsare very dim or don't light at all,
the battery is discharged. See
Jump Starting on page 304. Turn the ignition switch to START
(III). If the headlights do not dim,
check the condition of the fuses. If
the fuses are OK, there is proba-
bly something wrong with the electrical circuit for the ignitionswitch or starter motor. You will
need a qualified technician to
determine the problem. (See
Emergency Towing on page 320 .)
If the headlights dim noticeably or
go out when you try to start the engine, either the battery is dis-
charged or the connections arecorroded. Check the condition of
the battery and terminal connec-
tions (see page 260). You can
then try jump starting the car from a booster battery (see page 304).

Taking Care of the Unexpected

Fuses

Checking and Replacing Fuses
If something electrical in your carstops working, the first thing you
should check for is a blown fuse.
Determine from the chart on pages 318 and 319, or the diagram on the
fuse box lid, which fuse or fuses control that component. Check those
fuses first, but check all the fuses
before deciding that a blown fuse is not the cause. Replace any blown
fuses and check the component's
operation.

1. Turn the ignition switch to LOCK (0). Make sure the headlights and
all other accessories are off.
2. Remove the cover from the fuse box. 3. Check each of the large fuses in
the under-hood fuse box by
looking through the top at the wireinside. Removing these fuses
requires a Phillips-head screw-
driver.
FUSE PULLER

4. Check the smaller fuses in the under-hood fuse box and all the
fuses in the interior fuse boxes by pulling out each fuse with the fuse

puller provided in the under-hood
fuse box.

Taking Care of the Unexpected BLOWN

Index

Accessories and Modifications.... 186 Accessories................................. 186Additional Safety Precaution.... 187 Modifications............................. 187
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key Position)........................................ 74
Accessory Power Socket.............. 106
Additives, Engine Oil..................... 234
Airbag (SRS) ...................................... 9

Air Cleaner Element...................... 253

Air Conditioning............................. 110
Maintenance............................... 265

Usage.......................................... 110

Air Conditioning Filter.................. 266
Air Pressure, Tires........................ 268
Alcohol in Gasoline........................ 331

Antifreeze....................................... 239

Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
Description................................. 204

Indicator............................... 55, 205
Operation.................................... 204

Anti-theft Steering Column Lock.. 73

Appearance Care........................... 287

Audio System................ 125, 137, 153

Automatic Speed Control................

68


Automatic Transmission............... 196

Capacity, Fluid........................... 326

Checking Fluid Level....... 247, 249
Shifting........................................ 196

Shift Lever Position Indicator.. 197

Shift Lever Positions................. 197

Shift Lock Release..................... 200

Battery Charging System Light...... 54, 310

Jump Starting............................. 304
Maintenance............................... 260

Specifications............................. 329

Before Driving............................... 177

Belts, Seat........................................... 8
Beverage Holder............................ 104
Body Repair.................................... 296
Brakes Anti-lock System (ABS)............ 204Break-in, New Linings .............. 178
Bulb Replacement..................... 281

Fluid............................................ 251
Parking........................................ 101
System Indicator.......................... 55
Wear Indicators......................... 203
Braking System.............................. 203
Break-in, New Car......................... 178 Brightness Control, Instruments... 63
Brights, Headlights......................... 62
Bulb Replacement Back-up Lights........................... 281
Brake Lights............................... 281Ceiling Light............................... 282
Courtesy Light........................... 283
Front Parking Lights................. 278
Front Side Marker Lights......... 277
Headlights.................................. 276
High-mount Brake Light.......... 281
License Plate Lights.................. 281
Specifications............................. 327
Spotlight...................................... 283
Trunk Light................................ 284
Turn Signal Lights..................... 277
Bulbs, Halogen............................... 276

CONTINUED

Index

Capacities Chart............................. 326
Carbon Monoxide Hazard.............. 49
Carrying Cargo.............................. 188
Cassette Player
Care.............................................151

Operation........................... 130, 148
CAUTION, Explanation of............... ii
CD Changer.......................... 133, 165
CD Player........................................ 142
Certification Label......................... 324
Chains............................................. 273
Changing a Flat Tire ..................... 297 Changing Engine Coolant.............
241

Changing Oil

How to......................................... 235

When to....................................... 224

Charging System Indicator .... 54, 310
Checklist, Before Driving............. 192 Childproof Door Locks................... 79
Child Seats........................................ 27 Tether Anchorage Points........... 38
Cleaner, Air.................................... 253

Cleaning
Aluminum Wheels..................... 289 Carpeting.................................... 290
Exterior....................................... 288
Fabric.......................................... 291
Interior........................................ 290
Seat Belts.................................... 292
Vinyl............................................ 291 Window....................................... 292
Climate Control System................ 117
Clock, Setting the .......................... 102
Clutch Fluid.................................... 252

CO in the Exhaust......................... 333
Coin Box......................................... 103
Cold Weather, Starting in............. 194
Compact Spare............................... 296
Console Compartment.................. 103
Consumer Information*................ 340
Controls, Instruments and..............

51

Coolant

Adding......................................... 239Checking..................................... 184
Proper Solution.......................... 239
Temperature Gauge.................... 59
Corrosion Protection..................... 293
Crankcase Emissions Control System......................................... 333
Cruise Control Operation............... 68
Customer Relations Office........... 340

DANGER, Explanation of................. ii Dashboard........................................ 52
Daytime Running Lights................. 63
Defects, Reporting Safety............. 344 Defogger, Rear Window................. 64
Dimensions..................................... 328
Dimming the Headlights................ 62
Dipstick Automatic Transmission . 247, 248
Engine Oil................................... 182

Directional Signals........................... 64
Disc Brake Wear Indicators......... 203
Disposal of Used Oil...................... 238 Doors Locking and Unlocking............... 74
Power Door Locks....................... 75
DOT Tire Quality Grading........... 329
Downshifting, 5-speed Manual Transmission.............................. 195
Drive Belts...................................... 266
Driver and Passenger Safety............ 5