2002 HONDA ACCORD COUPE Owners Manual

190

Bef ore you begin driving your Honda,
youshouldknowwhatgasolineto
use, and how to check the levels of
important f luids. You also need to
know how to properly store luggage
or packages. The inf ormation in this
section will help you. If you plan to
add any accessories to your car,
please read the inf ormation in this
section f irst..............................
Break-in Period .192
.........................................
Gasoline .192
.........
Service Station Procedures . 193
................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 193
....................
Opening the Hood .194
...............................
Oil Check .196
.........
Engine Coolant Check . 198
...............................
Fuel Economy .199
.....................
Vehicle Condition .199
...........................
Driving Habits .199
...
Accessories and Modif ications . 200
.............................
Carrying Cargo .202
Bef ore Driving
Bef ore Driving191

During this period:Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid
acceleration. We recommend gasolines containing
detergent additives that help prevent
f uel system and engine deposits.
Avoidhardbraking.Newbrakes
need to be broken-in by moderate
use f or the f irst 200 miles (300
km). Your Honda is designed to operate
on unleaded gasoline with a pump
octane number of 86 or higher. Use
of a lower octane gasoline can cause
a persistent, heavy metallic rapping
noise in the engine that can lead to
mechanical damage.
In Canada, some gasolines contain
an octane-enhancing additive called
MMT. If you use such gasolines,
your emission control system
perf ormance may deteriorate and
the Malf unction Indicator Lamp on
your instrument panel may turn on.
If this happens, contact your
authorized Honda dealer f or service.
Help assure your car’s f uture
reliability and perf ormance by paying
extra attention to how you drive
during the f irst 600 miles (1,000 km).
Using gasoline containing lead will
damage your car’s emissions
controls. This contributes to air
pollution.
Youshouldfollowthesesamere-
commendations with an overhauled
or exchanged engine, or when the
brakes are relined. Do not change the oil until the
recommended time or mileage
intervalshowninthemaintenance
schedule.
Bef ore Driving
Break-in Period
Gasoline
Break-in Period, Gasoline
192

CONT INUED
Remove the f uel f ill 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.
Stop f illing the tank af ter the f uel
nozzle automatically clicks of f . Do
not try to ‘‘top of f ’’ the tank, leave
some room f or the f uel to expand
with temperature changes.
Open the f uel f ill door by pushing
onthehandletotheleftof the
driver’s seat. Because the f uel f ill cap is on the
driver’s side of the car, park with
that side closest to the service
station pumps. Your car has an on-board ref ueling
vapor recovery system to help
keep f uel vapors f rom going into
the atmosphere. If the fuel nozzle
keeps clicking of f even though the
tank is not f ull, there may be a
problem with this system. Consult
your dealer.
3.
4.
1.
2.
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving
Filling the Fuel Tank
193
F FU UE EL
L F
FIILLL L C
CAA P
P
P
P
u
us
shh
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.

Shift to Park or Neutral and set
the parking brake. Pull the hood
release handle located under the
lower lef t corner of the dashboard.
The hood will pop up slightly.Standing in f ront of the car, put
your f ingers under the f ront edge
of the hood to the right of center.
Slide your hand to the lef t until
you f eel the hood latch handle.
Push this handle up until it
releases the hood. Lif t the hood.
Screw the f uel f ill 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 ).
Push the f uel f ill door closed until
it latches.
1. 2.
5.
6.
329
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving
Opening the Hood
194
H H
O
OO ODD R
REEL
LEE A
A S
SEE H
HA
AN
ND DL
LEE L
LAA T
TC
CH H

CONT INUED
4-cylinder models
Pull the support rod out of its clip
by holding the grip and insert the
end into the hole on the f ront of
the hood around the center.
If you can open the hood without
lifting the hood latch handle, or the
hood latch handle moves stif f ly or
does not spring back as bef ore, the
mechanism should be cleaned and
lubricated (see page ).
To close the hood, lif t it up slightly to
remove the support rod f rom the
hole. Put the support rod back into
its holding clip. Lower the hood to
about a f oot (30 cm) above the
fender,thenletitdrop.
After closing the hood, make sure it
is securely latched.
3.
269
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving195
S SU
UP PP
PO
OR RTT R
ROOD D
4
4- -c
cy yl liinn d
de
err m
m o
od
de
ellss
G
GR
RIIPP

Remove the dipstick (orange
handle).
Lif t the hood up most of the way.
The hydraulic supports will lif t it
uptherestof thewayandholdit
up.
To close the hood, lower it to about a
f oot (30 cm) above the f ender, then
press down f irmly with your hands.
Afterclosingthehood,makesureit
is securely latched. Check the engine oil level every time
you f ill the car with f uel. Wait a f ew
minutes af ter turning the engine of f
bef ore you check the oil.
1.
6-cylinder models
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving
Oil Check
196
D D
I
IPP S
ST TI
ICCK K
6
6- -c
cy yl liinn d
de
err m
m o
od
de
ellss
6
6-
-c
cy yl liinn d
de
err m
m o
od
de
ellss
4
4--c
cy yl liinn d
de
err m
m o
od
de
ellss D
D
I
IPP S
ST TI
ICCK K

CONT INUED
Insert it all the way back in its tube.
Wipe the dipstick with a clean
cloth or paper towel. 3.
2.
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving197
4 4- -c
cy yl liinn d
de
err m
m o
od
de
ellss 6
6--c
cy yl liinn d
de
err m
m o
od
de
ellss