2003 HONDA ACCORD COUPE climate control

If you see steam and/or spray
coming f rom under the hood, turn
of f the engine.
The pointer of your car’s tempera-
ture gauge should stay in the mid-
range under most conditions. It may
go higher if you are driving up a long
steep hill on a very hot day. If it
climbs to the red mark, you should
determine the reason.
Your car can overheat f or several
reasons, such as lack of coolant or a
mechanical problem. The only
indication may be the temperature
gauge climbing to or above the red
mark. Or you may see steam or
spray coming f rom under the hood.
In either case, you should take
immediate action. Saf ely pull to the side of the road.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park and set the parking brake.
Turn of f the heating and cooling/
climate control system and all
otheraccessories.Turnonthe
hazard warning indicators.
1.
2.
If Your Engine Overheats
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed376
Steam and spray from an
overheated engine can
seriously scald you.
Do not open the hood if steam
is coming out.
Driving with the temperature gauge
pointer at the red mark can cause
serious damage to your engine.

Using gloves or a large heavy
cloth, turn the radiator cap
counterclockwise, without pushing
down, to the f irst stop. This
releases any remaining pressure in
the cooling system. After the
pressure releases, push down on
the cap and turn it until it comes
off.Start the engine and set the
temperature control dial to
maximum (climate control to
AUTO at 90°F/32°C). Add
coolant to the radiator up to the
base of the f iller neck. If you do
not have the proper coolant
mixture available, you can add
plain water. Remember to have
the cooling system drained and
ref illed with the proper mixture as
soon as you can.Put the radiator cap back on
tightly. Run the engine and watch
the temperature gauge. If it goes
back to the red mark, the engine
needs repair. (See
on page .)
If the temperature stays normal,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. If it has
gone down, add coolant to the
MAX mark. Put the cap back on
tightly.
9.
11.
12.
10.
391
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
If Your Engine Overheats
Emergency
Towing
378

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.
This indicator should come on when
the ignition switch is ON (II), and go
out af ter the engine starts. If it
comes on brightly when the engine
is running, it indicates that the
charging system has stopped
charging the battery. Immediately turn of f all electrical
accessories:radio,heater,A/C,
climate control, rear def ogger, cruise
control, etc. Try not to use other
electrically-operated controls such as
the power windows. Keep the engine
running and take extra care not to
stall it. Starting the engine will
discharge the battery rapidly.
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Charging System Indicator
380
CHARGING SYSTEM INDICATOR

µ
The treadwear grade is a compara-
tive rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specif ied government
test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and one-
half (1 1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded
100. The relative perf ormance of
tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may
depart signif icantly f rom the norm
due to variations in driving habits,
service practices and dif f erences in
road characteristics and climate. The traction grades, f rom highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. Those
grades represent the tire’s ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on
specif ied government test surf aces
of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction
perf ormance.
Warning: The traction grade
assignedtothistireisbasedon
straight-ahead braking traction tests,
and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak
traction characteristics.
All passenger car tires must conf orm
to Federal Saf ety Requirements in
addition to these grades. Quality grades can be f ound where
applicable on the tire sidewall
between the tread shoulder and the
maximum section width. For
example: The tires on your car meet all U.S.
Federal Saf ety Requirements. All
tires are also graded for treadwear,
traction, and temperature perform-
ance according to Department of
Transportation (DOT) standards.
The f ollowing explains these
gradings. Treadwear
Traction AA, A, B, C
T readwear 200
Traction AA
Temperature A
Unif orm T ire Quality Grading
DOT T ire Quality Grading (U.S. Cars)
T echnical Inf ormation400

Î
ÎThe burning of gasoline in your car’s
engine produces several byproducts.
Some of these are carbon monoxide
(CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and
hydrocarbons (HC). Gasoline
evaporating from the tank also
produces hydrocarbons. Controlling
the production of NOx, CO, and HC
is important to the environment.
Under certain conditions of sunlight
and climate, NOx and HC react to
f orm photochemical ‘‘smog.’’ Carbon
monoxide does not contribute to
smog creation, but it is a poisonous
gas. The United States Clean Air Act
sets standards f or automobile
emissions. It also requires that
automobile manufacturers explain to
owners how their emissions controls
workandwhattodotomaintain
them. This section summarizes how
the emissions controls work.
Scheduled maintenance is on page
.
In Canada, Honda vehicles comply
with the Canadian emission
requirements, as specif ied in an
agreement with Environment
Canada, at the time they are
manuf actured.
Your car has a Positive Crankcase
Ventilation System. This keeps
gasses that build up in the engine’s
crankcase from going into the
atmosphere. The Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve routes them from
the crankcase back to the intake
manif old. They are then drawn into
the engine and burned.
The Onboard Ref ueling Vapor
Recovery (ORVR) system captures
the f uel vapors during ref ueling. The
vapors are adsorbed in a canister
f illed with activated carbon. While
driving, the f uel vapors are drawn
into the engine and burned of f . As gasoline evaporates in the f uel
tank, an evaporative emissions
control canister f illed with charcoal
adsorbs the vapor. It is stored in this
canister while the engine is of f . Af ter
the engine is started and warmed up,
the vapor is drawn into the engine
and burned during driving.
274
The Clean Air Act
Crankcase Emissions Control
System
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor
Recovery Evaporative Emissions Control
System
Emissions Cont rols
T echnical Inf ormation405

Î
...................
Capacities Chart . 396,398
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 56
......................................
Cargo Net .237
.............................
Carrying Cargo .234
..............
CAUTION, Explanation of . ii
..................
CD Changer . 156,173,196
.......................................
CD Player .154
........................
CD Pocket, Center .113
........................
Certif ication Label .394
............................................
Chains .338
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .365
............
Changing Engine Coolant . 301
Changing Oil ........................................
How to .296
.............................
When to .276, 284
...
Charging System Indicator . 62,380
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving . 240
.......................................
Child Seats .26
.........................................
LATCH .43
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 42
...................................
Cleaner, Air .316
Cleaning ....................
Aluminum Wheels .357
...................................
Carpeting .358 ......................................
Exterior .356
.........................................
Fabric .359
.......................................
Interior .358
.......................................
Leather .359
...................................
Seat Belts .359
...........................................
Vinyl .359
......................................
Window .360
...............
Climate Control System . 129
.........
Clock, Setting the . 153,171,193
...................................
Clutch Fluid .314
........................
CO in the Exhaust .406
...................................
Coin Pocket .113
............
Cold Weather, Starting in . 242
..............................
Compact Spare .364
.................
Console Compartment . 111
...............
Consumer Inf ormation . 412
.............
Controls, Instruments and . 59
Coolant ........................................
Adding .299
....................................
Checking .230
.........................
Proper Solution .299
...................
Temperature Gauge . 70
....................
Corrosion Protection .361
Crankcase Emissions Control ........................................
System .405
............
Cruise Control Operation . 214..........
Customer Relations Of f ice . 412
................
DANGER, Explanation of . ii
...................................
Dashboard .2, 60
................
Daytime Running Lights . 76
............
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety . 414
................
Def ogger, Rear Window . 79
Defrosting the ....................
Windows .127, 136,144
............................
Dimensions .396, 398
...............
Dimming the Headlights . 74
Dipstick .
Automatic Transmission . 307,308
..................................
Engine Oil .228
..........................
Directional Signals .77
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators . 254
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil .298
Doors ..............
Locking and Unlocking . 86
......................
Power Door Locks .86
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 400
Downshif ting, Manual .....................
Transmission .243, 245
.......................................
Drive Belt .332
Index
C
D
II