2001 HONDA ACCORD SEDAN service indicator

2001 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.helminc.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 Restraint System.
Instruments and Controls.................................................................................................................51
Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ..............................................................................................109
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features.
Before Driving..................................................................................................................................177
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ..............................................................................................................................................191
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, plus towing a trailer.
Maintenance.....................................................................................................................................219
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Care..............................................................................................................................287
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your vehicle ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpected......................................................................................................295
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, and how to handle them.
Technical Information.....................................................................................................................323
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................339
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)......................................................................................................345
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.
Accord Value Package Audio System
Owner's Identification Form

Driver and Passenger Safety

This section gives you important
information about how to protect

yourself and your passengers. It
shows you how to use seat belts

properly. It explains your Supple-

mental Restraint System. And it tells

you how to properly restrain infants
and children in your car.
Important Safety Precautions.......... 6
Your Car's Safety Features.............. 7

Seat Belts........................................ 8

Airbags............................................ 9
Seats & Seat-Backs...................... 10
Head Restraints........................... 10
Door Locks................................... 10
Pre-Drive Safety Checklist......... 11

Protecting Adults............................. 12
1. Close and Lock the Doors...... 12
2. Adjust the Front Seats............ 12

3. Adjust the Seat-Backs............. 13

4. Adjust the Head Restraints.... 14

5. Fasten and Position the Seat
Belts...................................... 14

6. Adjust the Steering Wheel..... 16 7. Maintain a Proper Sitting
Position................................. 16
Advice for Pregnant Women...... 17 Additional Safety Precautions.... 18
Protecting Children......................... 19 All Children Must Be Restrained................................ 19
Children Should Sit in the Back
Seat............................................ 20

The Passenger's Front Airbag Poses Serious Risks toChildren................................ 20
If You Must Drive with Several Children.................................... 22
If a Child Requires Close
Attention................................... 23

Additional Safety Precautions.... 23 General Guidelines for Using Child Seats................................ 24
Protecting Infants........................ 28 Protecting Small Children.......... 31
Protecting Larger Children........ 34
Using Child Seats with
Tethers...................................... 37

Using the Lower Anchorages.... 38
Additional Information About Your
Seat Belts.................................. 40

Seat Belt System Components... 40
Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 40
Automatic Seat Belt
Tensioners................................ 41

Seat Belt Maintenance................ 42
Additional Information About
Your Airbags............................ 43

SRS Components......................... 43

How Your Front Airbags
Work.......................................... 43

How Your Side Airbags Work.... 45

How the SRS Indicator Light
Works........................................ 45

How The Side Airbag Indicator
Light Works............................. 46

Airbag Service.............................. 48

Additional Safety Precautions.... 48

Carbon Monoxide Hazard.............. 49

Safety Labels.................................... 50

Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Airbags

Airbag ServiceYour front and side airbag systems (if equipped) are virtually
maintenance-free, and there are no
parts you can safely service. However, you must have your car
serviced if:
Your airbags ever inflate. Any
airbag that has deployed must be
replaced along with the control
unit and other related parts. Do
not try to remove or replace any airbag by yourself.
This must be done by a Honda dealer or a knowledgeable body
shop.

The SRS indicator light alerts you

to a problem. Take your car to an
authorized Honda dealer as soon as possible. If you ignore this
indication, the airbags might not
inflate when you need them. Additional Safety Precautions

Do not attempt to deactivate your

airbags. Together, airbags and

seat belts provide the best
protection.
Do not tamper with airbag
components or wiring for any

reason. Tampering could cause

the airbags to deploy, possibly causing very serious injury.

Do not expose the front seat-backs
to water. If rain or spilled water
soaks into a seat-back, it can
prevent the side airbag system from working properly.
Do not cover or replace front seat-

back covers without consulting a

Honda dealer. Improperly

replacing or covering front seat-
back covers can prevent your side airbags from inflating during a
collision.
See page 187 for further information
and precautions relating to your
airbags.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Break-in Period, Gasoline, Service Station Procedures

Break-in Period
Help assure your car's future
reliability and performance by paying
extra attention to how you drive
during the first 600 miles (1,000 km).
During this period: Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid

acceleration.
Avoid hard braking. New brakes
need to be broken-in by moderate
use for the first 200 miles (300
km).

Do not change the oil until the

recommended time or mileage

interval shown in the maintenance
schedule.

You should follow these same re-
commendations with an overhauled
or exchanged engine, or when the

brakes are relined.
Gasoline

Your Honda is designed to operate on unleaded gasoline with a pump
octane number of 86 or higher. Useof a lower octane gasoline can cause
a persistent, heavy metallic rapping
noise in the engine that can lead to
mechanical damage.
We recommend gasolines containing detergent additives that help prevent
fuel system and engine deposits. Using gasoline containing lead willdamage your car's emissions
controls. This contributes to air
pollution.
In Canada, some gasolines contain
an octane-enhancing additive called
MMT. If you use such gasolines,
your emission control system performance may deteriorate and
the Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
your instrument panel may turn on.If this happens, contact your
authorized Honda dealer for service. Filling the Fuel Tank
1. Because the fuel fill cap is on the driver's side of the car, park with
that side closest to the service

station pumps.

2. Open the fuel fill door by pushing on the handle to the left of the
driver's seat.
Before Driving

Service Station Procedures

3. Remove the fuel fill cap slowly. You may hear a hissing sound as
pressure inside the tank escapes.
Place the cap in the holder on the
fuel fill door.
4. Stop filling the tank after the fuel nozzle automatically clicks off. Do
not try to "top off" the tank, leave
some room for the fuel to expand
with temperature changes.
Your car has an on-board refueling
vapor recovery system to help keep fuel vapors from going into
the atmosphere. If the fuel pump
keeps clicking off even though the
tank is not full, there may be a
problem with this system. Consult
your dealer. 5. Screw the fuel fill cap back on,
tighten it until it clicks several
times. If you do not properly
tighten the cap, the Malfunction
Indicator Lamp may come on (see

page 311).

6. Push the fuel fill door closed until it latches.
Before Driving

FUEL FILL CAP

Gasoline is highly flammable

and explosive. You can be
burned or seriously injured

when handling fuel.
Stop the engine and keep

heat, sparks, and flame away.
Handle fuel only outdoors.

Wipe up spills immediately.

Charging System Indicator

This indicator should come on when the ignition switch is ON (II), and goout after the engine starts. If it
conies on brightly when the engine
is running, it indicates that the charging system has stopped
charging the battery. Immediately turn off all electrical
accessories: radio, heater, A/C, rear
defogger, cruise control, etc. Try not
to use other electrically-operated controls such as the power windows.Keep the engine running and takeextra care not to stall it. Starting the
engine will discharge the battery
rapidly. By eliminating as much of the
electrical load as possible, you can
drive several miles (kilometers)
before the battery is too discharged
to keep the engine running. Drive to a service station or garage where
you can get technical assistance.

Taking Care of the Unexpected

CHARGING SYSTEM INDICATOR

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

Index

Setting the Clock........................... 101 The 5-speed Manual Transmission.......................... 195
Shift Lever Position Indicator...... 197
Shift Lock Release......................... 200
Side Airbags..................................... 45
How Your Side Airbags Work.... 45
How The Side Airbag IndicatorLight Works............................. 46
Side Marker Lights, Bulb Replacement............................... 279

Signaling Turns................................ 64

Snow Tires...................................... 273

Solvent-type Cleaners.................... 288
Sound System........................ 125, 153
Spare Tire
Inflating....................................... 297

Specifications............................. 330
Spark Plugs, Replacing........ 256, 258
Specifications Charts..................... 328
Speed Control...................................
68

Speed Limiter........................ 196, 200
Speedometer....................................

58

SRS, Additional Information........... 43
Additional Safety Precautions.... 23How Your Airbags Work..... 43, 45
How Your SRS Indicator
Works........................................43

SRS Components......................... 43
SRS Service................................... 48

SRS Indicator............................. 43, 55

START (Ignition Key Position) ..... 74
Starting the Engine........................

193

In Cold Weather at High
Altitude...................................

194

With a Dead Battery................. 306
Steam Coming from Engine......... 308
Steering Wheel Adjustment................................... 67
Anti-theft Column Lock.............. 73
Stereo Sound System........... 125,
153
Storing Your Car.............................
287


Sun Visor......................................... 105

Sunglasses Holder......................... 106
Supplemental Restraint System Servicing....................................... 48

SRS Indicator......................... 43, 55
System Components.................... 43
Synthetic Oil................................... 235 Tachometer...................................... 58
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in....... 281
Taking Care of the Unexpected .. 295
Tape Player ........................... 130, 160
Technical Descriptions DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 329
Emissions Control Systems...... 332
Oxygenated Fuels...................... 331
Three Way Catalytic Converter................................ 335
Temperature Gauge........................ 59
Tether Attachment Points.............. 37
Three Way Catalytic Converter... 335 Time, Setting the...........................

101

Timing Belt..................................... 267
Tire Chains..................................... 273
Tire, How to Change a Flat.......... 297

CONTINUED