2001 HONDA ACCORD SEDAN air condition

Maintenance
# : See information on maintenance and emissions warranty, last
column, page 223.
* 1 : See timing belt on page 267 to determine need for replacement.
* 2 : Balancer belt applies to 4-cylinder models only.
* 3 : See air conditioning filter on page 266 for replacement information
under special driving conditions.

NOTE:
Check engine oil and coolant at each fuel stop.
Check and adjust valve clearance, cold engine, only if noisy.

Power Steering, Air Cleaner Element

UPPER LEVEL

6-cylinder models
Always use Honda Power
Steering Fluid. If it is not available,
you may use another power steering fluid as an emergency replacement.However, continued use can cause
increased wear and poor steering in
cold weather. Have the power
steering system flushed and refilled
with Honda PSF as soon as possible.
A low power steering fluid level can indicate a leak in the system. Check
the fluid level frequently and have
the system inspected as soon as

possible.

Turning the steering wheel to full left
or right lock and holding it there can
damage the power steering pump.
Air Cleaner Element

The air cleaner element should be
cleaned or replaced according to the
time and distance recommendations
in the maintenance schedule.
Cleaning (Severe Conditions)
Clean the air cleaner element by
blowing compressed air through it in
the opposite direction to normal air flow. If you do not have access to
compressed air (such as a service station), ask your Honda dealer to do
this service.
Follow the replacement procedure
for removal and reinstallation.
Maintenance

NOTICE

LOWER LEVEL

Air Conditioning System
Optional for U.S. DX model

Your car's air conditioning is a sealed system. Any major maintenance,
such as recharging, should be done
by a qualified mechanic. You can do a couple of things to make sure the
air conditioning works efficiently.
Periodically check the engine's
radiator and air conditioning condenser for leaves, insects, and
dirt stuck to the front surface. These
block the air flow and reduce cooling efficiency. Use a light spray from a
hose or a soft brush to remove them.

The condenser and radiator fins bend

easily. Only use a low-pressure spray

or soft-bristle brush to clean them.
AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER

Run the air conditioning at least once
a week during the cold weather
months. Run it for at least ten
minutes while you are driving at a steady speed with the engine at
normal operating temperature. This
circulates the lubricating oil con-
tained in the refrigerant.
If the air conditioning does not get as

cold as before, have your dealer

check the system. Recharge the

system with Refrigerant HFC-134a

(R-134a). (See Specifications on page 328.)

Whenever you have the air conditioning

system serviced, make sure the service

facility uses a refrigerant recycling
system. This system captures the
refrigerant for reuse. Releasing
refrigerant into the atmosphere can

damage the environment.

Maintenance

NOTICE
NOTICE

Air Conditioning Filter, Drive Belts

Air Conditioning FilterThe air conditioning filter removes pollen and dust that is brought in
from the outside through the heatingand cooling system.
This filter should be replaced every 30,000 miles (48,000 km) under
normal conditions. It should be replaced every 15,000 miles (24,000
km) if you drive primarily in urban areas that have high concentrationsof soot in the air from industry and
diesel-powered vehicles. Replace it
more often if air flow from the
climate control system becomes less
than usual. Have the air conditioning
filter replaced by your Honda dealer. Drive Belts

Check the condition of the drive

belts (two on 4-cylinder models, one
on 6-cylinder models). Examine the

edges of each belt for cracks or

fraying.
Check the tension of each belt by

pushing on it with your thumb

midway between the pulleys.

The belts should have the following
"play" or deflection.
4-cylinder models

Alternator belt: (On vehicles without A/C)
0.41 — 0.49 in (10.5 — 12.5 mm)

(On vehicles with A/C)

0.28 — 0.35 in (7.0 — 9.0 mm)


Power steering belt:

0.51 — 0.63 in (13.0 — 16.0 mm)


Maintenance
ALTERNATOR BELT

4-cylinder models
POWER STEERING
BELT

6-cylinder models
POWER STEERING BELT

Drive Belts, Timing Belt, Tires

6-cylinder models

Power steering belt:

0.51 — 0.65 in (13.0 — 16.5 mm)

If you see signs of wear or looseness,
have your dealer adjust or replace
the belts.

Timing Belt

The timing belt and balancer belt
should normally be replaced at the
intervals shown in the maintenance

schedule.

Replace these belts at 60,000 miles
(U.S.) or 100,000 km (Canada) if you
regularly drive your car in one or
more of these conditions:
In very high temperatures
(over 110° F,43°C).
In very low temperatures

(under — 20°F, — 29°C).

Tires

To safely operate your car, your tires
must be the proper type and size, in
good condition with adequate tread,
and correctly inflated. The following
pages give more detailed information
on how and when to check air
pressure, how to inspect your tires
for damage and wear, and what to do
when your tires need to be replaced.

Maintenance

Using tires that are excessively
worn or improperly inflated can
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously hurt or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner's manual regarding tire
inflation and maintenance.

Tires

Inflation
Keeping the tires properly inflated
provides the best combination of
handling, tread life and riding comfort. Underinflated tires wear
unevenly, adversely affect handling
and fuel economy, and are more
likely to fail from being overheated. Overinflated tires can make your car
ride more harshly, are more prone to damage from road hazards, and wear

unevenly.

We recommend that you visually check your tires every day. If you
think a tire might be low, check it immediately with a tire gauge. Use a gauge to measure the air
pressure at least once a month. Even
tires that are in good condition may
lose one to two psi (10 to 20 kPa, 0.1
to 0.2 kgf/cm2) per month. Remember to check the spare tire at
the same time you check all theother tires.
Check the pressure in the tires when
they are cold. This means the car
has been parked for at least three
hours. If you have to drive the car
before checking the tire pressure, the tires can still be considered"cold" if you drive less than 1 mile (1.6 km). If you check the pressure when the
tires are hot (the car has been driven several miles), you will see readings
4 to 6 psi (30 to 40 kPa, 0.3 to 0.4
kgf/cm2) higher than the cold
reading. This is normal. Do not let air out to match the specified cold
pressure. The tire will be
underinflated.
You should get your own tire pressure gauge and use it whenever
you check your tire pressures. This will make it easier for you to tell if apressure loss is due to a tire problem
and not due to a variation between

gauges.

Maintenance

Tires

Inspection

Every time you check inflation, youshould also examine the tires for
damage, foreign objects, and wear.
You should look for: Bumps or bulges in the tread orside of the tire. Replace the tire if
you find either of these conditions.
Cuts, splits, or cracks in the side
of the tire. Replace the tire if you
can see fabric or cord.
Excessive tread wear. INDICATOR LOCATION MARKS
Your car's tires have wear indicators molded into the tread. When the
tread wears down to that point, you
will see a 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) wide band running across the tread. This shows there is less than 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) of tread left on the tire. A
tire that is this worn gives very little
traction on wet roads. You should replace the tire if you can see the
tread wear indicator in three or more
places around the tire. Maintenance
In addition to proper inflation,
correct wheel alignment helps todecrease tire wear. If you find a tire
is worn unevenly, have your dealer
check the wheel alignment.
The tires were properly balanced by the factory. They may need to berebalanced at some time before theyare worn out. Have your dealer
check the tires if you feel a consis-
tent vibration while driving. A tire should always be rebalanced if it is
removed from the wheel for repair.
Maintenance TREAD WEAR INDICATORS

Brake System Indicator

BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR*
The Brake System Indicator normally comes on when you turn
the ignition switch ON (II). It is a
reminder to check the parking brake.
It comes on and stays lit if you do not
fully release the parking brake. If it comes on at any other time, it
indicates a problem with the car's
brake system. In most cases, the problem is a low fluid level in the
brake fluid reservoir. Press lightly on the brake pedal to see if it feels
normal. If it does, check the brake
fluid level the next time you stop at a service station (see page 251). If the
fluid level is low, take the car to your dealer and have the brake system
inspected for leaks or worn brake

pads.

However, if the brake pedal does not
feel normal, you should take
immediate action. Because of the
brake system's dual-circuit design, a problem in one part of the system
will still give you braking at two
wheels. You will feel the brake pedalgo down much farther before the car
begins to slow down, and you will have to press harder on the pedal.
The distance needed to stop will be much longer. Slow down by shifting to a lower
gear, and pull to the side of the road
when it is safe. Because of the longer distance needed to stop, it is
hazardous to drive the car. Youshould have it towed, and repaired as
soon as possible. (See Emergency
Towing on page 320 .)
If you must drive the car a short
distance in this condition, driveslowly and cautiously.

Taking Care of the Unexpected

*U.S. indicator shown