2003 HONDA ACCORD COUPE automatic transmission

Your Car at a Glance
2
POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES
MIRROR CONTROLS
AUDIO SYSTEM
DIGITAL CLOCK
INSTRUMENT PANEL (P.
61)
POWER DOOR LOCK
MASTER SWITCH
HOOD RELEASE
HANDLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MANUAL TRANSMISSION HEATING/COOLING
CONTROLS
(P.122)
CLIMATE CONTROL
SYSTEM
(P.129)
FUEL FILL DOOR/
TRUNK RELEASE HANDLE
(P.108)
(P.86)
(P.103)
(P.225, 91)
(P.226) (P.243,
245)
(P.248) (P.153,
171,193)
(P.148,
163,187)
HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS
(P.79)

µYou can insert or
remove the key only in this position.
To switch f rom ACCESSORY to
LOCK, you must push the key in
slightly as you turn it. If your car has
an automatic transmission, the shif t
lever must also be in Park. The anti-
thef t lock will lock the steering
column when you remove the key.
If the f ront wheels are turned, the
anti-thef t lock may sometimes make
it difficult to turn the key from
LOCK to ACCESSORY. Firmly turn
the steering wheel to the lef t or to
the right as you turn the key.
The ignition switch is on the right
side of the steering column. It has
f our positions:
LOCK(0)
 ACCESSORY (I)
 ON (II)
 START (III)As required by the FCC:
This device complies with Part 15 of theFCC rules. Operation is subject to thef ollowing two conditions: (1) This devicemay not cause harmf ul interf erence, and(2) this device must accept anyinterf erence received, includinginterf erence that may cause undesiredoperation.
Changes or modif ications not expresslyapproved by the party responsible f orcompliance could void the user’sauthority to operate the equipment.
This device complies with IndustryCanada Standard RSS-210.Operation is subject to the f ollowing twoconditions: (1) this device may not causeinterf erence, and (2) this device mustaccept any interf erence that may causeundesired operation of the device.LOCK (0)
Ignition Switch
Keys and Locks
Inst rument s and Cont rols84

Accelerate to the desired cruising
speedabove25mph(40km/h). Push in the Cruise Control Master
Buttononthesteeringwheel.The
CRUISE MAIN light on the
instrument panel comes on.Press and release the DECEL/
SET button on the steering wheel.
The CRUISE CONTROL light on
the instrument panel comes on to
show the system is now activated.
Cruise control allows you to maintain
asetspeedabove25mph(40km/h)
without keeping your f oot on the
accelerator pedal. It should be used
f or cruising on straight, open
highways. It is not recommended f or
conditions such as city driving,
winding roads, slippery roads, heavy
rain, or bad weather. You should
have f ull control of the car under
those conditions. The cruise control may not hold the
set speed when you are going up and
down hills. If your speed increases
going down a hill, use the brakes to
slow down to the desired speed. This
will cancel the cruise control. To
resume the set speed, press the
RESUME/ACCEL button. The
CRUISE CONTROL light on the
instrument panel comes on.
When climbing a steep hill, the
automatic transmission may
downshifttoholdthesetspeed.
1.
2. 3.
Using the Cruise Control
Cruise Control
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures214
CRUISE CONTROL MASTER BUTTON
CANCEL
BUTTON RES/ACCEL
BUTTON
DECEL/SET
BUTTON
Improper use of the cruise
control can lead to a crash.
Use the cruise control only
when traveling on open
highways in good weather.

This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
5-speed/6-speed manual and
automatic transmissions. It also
includes important inf ormation on
parking your car, the braking system,
the Traction Control System, and
f acts you need if you are planning to
tow a trailer.........................
Preparing to Drive .240
.......................
Starting the Engine .241
Starting in Cold Weather ....................
at High Altitude .242
....
5-speed Manual Transmission . 243
.....
Recommended Shif t Points . 244
..............
Engine Speed Limiter . 244
....
6-speed Manual Transmission . 245
.....
Recommended Shif t Points . 246
..............
Engine Speed Limiter . 246
.......................
Reverse Lockout .246
..............
Automatic Transmission . 248
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 248
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 248
..............
Engine Speed Limiter . 251
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 251
...........................................
Parking .253
..............................
Parking Tips .253
.....................
The Braking System .254
.............
Brake Wear Indicators . 254
...............
Brake System Design . 255
.......................
Anti-lock Brakes .255
Important Saf ety .........................
Reminders .256
........................
ABS Indicator .256 ..............
Traction Control System . 258
...............
TCS ON/OFF Switch . 259
.........
TCSActivationIndicator . 259
...............
Driving in Bad Weather . 261
...........................
Towing a Trailer .263
Driving
Driving239

Push the clutch pedal down all the
way. START (III) does not
f unction unless the clutch pedal is
depressed. Apply the parking brake.
In cold weather, turn of f all
electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery.
Make sure the shif t lever is in
Park. Press on the brake pedal.If the engine still does not start,
press the accelerator pedal all the
way down and hold it there while
starting in order to clear f looding.
As bef ore, keep the ignition key in
the START (III) position f or no
more than 15 seconds. Return to
step 5 if the engine does not start.
If it starts, lif t your f oot of f the
accelerator pedal so the engine
does not race.
Without touching the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition key to the
START (III) position. If the engine
does not start right away, do not
hold the key in START (III) f or
more than 15 seconds at a time.
Pause f or at least 10 seconds
bef ore trying again.
If the engine does not start within
15 seconds, or starts but stalls
right away, repeat step 4 with the
accelerator pedal pressed half-way
down. If the engine starts, release
pressure on the accelerator pedal
so the engine does not race.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.6.
Automatic Transmission:
Manual Transmission:
Starting the Engine
Driving241

The shift lever has seven positions.
It must be in Park or Neutral to start
the engine. When you are stopped in
D, D , 2, 1, N or R, press f irmly on
the brake pedal, and keep your f oot
of f the accelerator pedal.
The ‘‘D’’ indicator comes on f or a
f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to ON (II). If it
f lashes while driving (in any shif t
position), it indicates a possible
problem in the transmission. Avoid
rapid acceleration and have the trans-
mission checked by an authorized
Honda dealer as soon as possible.
The malf unction indicator lamp may
come on along with the ‘‘D’’ indicator
if there is a problem in the automatic
transmission control system.
This indicator between the tacho-
meter and speedometer shows which
position the shif t lever is in. Your Honda’s transmission has f ive
f orward speeds, and is electronically
controlled f or smoother shif ting. It
also has a ‘‘lock-up’’ torque converter
forbetterfueleconomy.Youmay
f eel what seems like another shif t
when the converter locks.
3
Shif t L ever Positions
Shif t L ever Position Indicator
Automatic Transmission
Driving248
SHIFT LEVER
RELEASE BUTTON

µ
µ
To shif t to Reverse
f rom Park, see the explanation under
Park. To shif t to Reverse f rom
Neutral, come to a complete stop and
then shift. Press the release button
bef ore shif ting into Reverse f rom
Neutral.
This position mechani-
cally locks the transmission. Use
Park whenever you are turning of f or
starting the engine. To shif t out of
Park, you must press on the brake
pedal and have your f oot of f the
accelerator pedal. Press the release
button on the side of the shift lever
to move it.
If you have done all of the above and
still cannot move the lever out of
Park, see Shif t Lock Release on page .
You must also press the release
button to shift into Park. To avoid
transmission damage, come to a
complete stop bef ore shif ting into
Park. The shif t lever must be in Park
bef ore you can remove the key f rom
the ignition switch. 251
CONT INUED
To shift from:
PtoR
RtoP
NtoR
Dto2 2to1
1to2
2toD
DtoD DtoN
DtoD NtoDRtoN Do this:
Press the brake pedal and
press the release button.
Press the release button.
Move the lever.
3
3
3
3
Reverse (R)
Park (P)
Automatic Transmission
Driving249

µ
µ
µ
µ
µ To shift to Second,
pressthereleasebuttonontheside
of the shif t lever. This position locks
the transmission in second gear. It
does not downshif t to f irst gear
when you come to a stop. Second
gives you more power when climbing,
and increased engine braking when
going down steep hills. Use second
gear when starting out on a slippery
surf ace or in deep snow. It will help
reduce wheelspin.
To shif t f rom Second to
First, press the release button on the
side of the shift lever. With the lever
in this position, the transmission
locks in First gear. By upshif ting and
downshif ting through 1, 2, D , and D,
you can operate this transmission
much like a manual transmission
without a clutch pedal.
This position is similar
to D, except only the first three
gears are selected instead of all f ive.
Use D when towing a trailer in hilly
terrain, or to provide engine braking
when going down a steep hill. D can
also keep the transmission f rom
cycling between third and f ourth
gears in stop-and-go driving.
Use Neutral if you
need to restart a stalled engine, or if
it is necessary to stop brief ly with
the engine idling. Shif t to Park posi-
tion if you need to leave the car for
any reason. Press on the brake pedal
when you are moving the shif t lever
f rom Neutral to another gear.
Use this position f or
your normal driving. The transmis-
sion automatically selects a suitable
gear (1 through 5) f or your speed
and acceleration. You may notice the
transmission shif ting up at higher
speeds when the engine is cold. This
helps the engine warm up f aster. ForfasteraccelerationwheninD or
D, you can get the transmission to
automatically downshif t by pushing
the accelerator pedal to the floor.
The transmission will shif t down one,
two or three gears, depending on
your speed.
3
3
3
3
Second (2)
First (1)
Drive (D )
Neutral (N)
Drive (D)3
Automatic Transmission
Driving250