2003 HONDA ACCORD warning

If you see steam and/or spray
coming f rom under the hood, turn
of f the engine.
If you do not see steam or spray,
leave the engine running and
watch the temperature gauge. If
the high heat is due to overloading
(climbing a long, steep hill on a
hot day with the A/C running, for
example), the engine should start
to cool down almost immediately.
If it does, wait until the tempera-
ture gauge comes down to the mid-
point then continue driving.
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
system and all other accessories.
Turn on the hazard warning
indicators.
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. 1.
2. 3.
CONT INUED
If Your Engine Overheats
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed345
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.
——yy
(yy

This indicator should light when the
ignition switch is ON (II), and go out
af ter the engine starts. It should
never come on when the engine is
running. If it starts f lashing, it
indicates that the oil pressure
dropped very low f or a moment, then
recovered. If the indicator stays on
with the engine running, it shows
that the engine has lost oil pressure
and serious engine damage is
possible. In either case, you should
take immediate action.Saf ely pull of f the road and shut
of f the engine. Turn on the hazard
warning indicators.
If necessary, add oil to bring the
level back to the full mark on the
dipstick (see page ).
Letthecarsitforaminute.Open
the hood and check the oil level
(see page ). Although oil level
and oil pressure are not directly
connected, an engine that is very
low on oil can lose pressure during
cornering and other driving
maneuvers. Start the engine and watch the oil
pressure indicator. If the light
does not go out within ten seconds,
turn of f the engine. There is a
mechanical problem that needs to
be repaired bef ore you can
continue driving. (See
on page .)
1. 2. 3. 4.
208 268 358
L ow Oil Pressure Indicator
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Emergency
Towing
347
LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR
Running the engine with low oil
pressure can cause serious mechanical
damage almost immediately. Turn of f
the engine as soon as you can saf ely get
the car stopped.
——yy
(yy

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.
T echnical Inf ormation
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)
367
——y
y
(yy

µWarning: The temperature grade f or
this tire is established f or a tire that
is properly inf lated and not over-
loaded. Excessive speed, underinf la-
tion, or excessive loading, either
separately or in combination, can
cause heat buildup and possible tire
f ailure.
The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B, and C, representing the
tire’s resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled
conditions on a specif ied indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high
temperature can cause the material
of the tire to degenerate and reduce
tire life, and excessive temperature
can lead to sudden tire f ailure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of
perf ormance which all passenger car
tires must meet under the Federal
Motor Vehicle Saf ety Standard No.
109. Grades B and A represent
higher levels of perf ormance on the
laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.
T echnical Inf ormation
Temperature A,B,C
DOT T ire Quality Grading (U.S. Cars)
368
——yy
(y
y

CONT INUED
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 300
..............................
Economy, Fuel . 211
............
Emergencies on the Road . 333
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 342
...........
Brake System Indicator . 351
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 335
.....
Charging System Indicator . 348
..................
Checking the Fuses . 354
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 347
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 349
...
Manually Closing Moonroof . 352
..................
Overheated Engine . 345
.........................
Emergency Brake . 102
......................
Emergency Flashers . 72
......................
Emergency Towing . 358
.......................
Emissions Controls . 371 Engine
............................................
Belts . 302
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 64
Malf unction Indicator
................................
Lamp . 58, 349
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 58, 347
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 268 ...............................
Overheating . 345
............................
Specif ications . 365
....................
Speed Limiter . 222, 226
.......................................
Starting . 219
..........
Engine Speed Limiter . 222, 226
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline . 369
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 371
...............................
Exhaust Fumes . 52
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
........................................
Belts by . 19
..................
Exterior, Cleaning the . 326
............................
Fabric, Cleaning . 329
...................................
Fan, Interior . 112
Features, Comfort and
..............................
Convenience . 111
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 204
Filter
.........................
Dust and Pollen . 300
...............................................
Oil . 270
5-speed Manual Transmission ...............
Checking Fluid Level . 283
5-speed Manual Transmission ................................
Shif ting the . 221 .............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 72
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 335
Fluids
.
Automatic Transmission . 280, 281
..........................................
Brake . 284
.........................................
Clutch . 285
..............
Manual Transmission . 283
..........................
Power Steering . 285
..................
Windshield Washer . 279
...........................
Folding Rear Seat . 92
.....
Foreign Countries, Driving in . 370
..........................
Four-way Flashers . 72
.................................................
Fuel . 204
......................
Fill Door and Cap . 205
...........................................
Gauge . 65
................
Octane Requirement . 204
...............................
Oxygenated . 369
........................
Tank, Filling the . 204
.....................
Fuses, Checking the . 354
Index
E
F
III
——y
y
(yy

..................................................
Keys . 74
...............
Gas Mileage, Improving . 211
..........................................
Gasohol . 369
.........................................
Gasoline . 204
...........................................
Gauge . 65
................
Octane Requirement . 204
........................
Tank, Filling the . 204
................
Gas Station Procedures . 204
Gauges
...
Engine Coolant Temperature . 64
...............................................
Fuel . 65
...............................
Speedometer . 63
.................................
Tachometer . 63
Gearshif t Lever Positions ..........
Automatic Transmission . 222
5-speed Manual
.........................
Transmission . 221
..............................
Glass Cleaning . 330
........................................
Glove Box . 86
.............
Halogen Headlight Bulbs . 312
..............
Hazard Warning Flashers . 72 ........................................
Headlights . 68
........................................
Aiming . 312
..............
Automatic Lighting Off . 69
............
Daytime Running Lights . 69
............
Low Beams, Turning on . 68
.........................
Reminder Chime . 68
........
Replacing Halogen Bulbs . 312
...................................
Turning on . 68
..............................
Head Restraints . 91
.....................
Heating and Cooling . 112
...............................
Heated Mirror . 102
.............
High Altitude, Starting at . 220
HomeLink Wireless Control
........................................
System . 198
.......................
Hood, Opening the . 206
...........................
Hydraulic Clutch . 285
.................................
Hydroplaning . 236 ........................ Jacking up the Car . 337
.......................................
Jack, Tire . 336
................................
Jump Starting . 342
...
Identif ication Number, Vehicle . 362
Ignition
..............................................
Keys . 74
...........................................
Switch . 77
............
Timing Control System . 372
........................
Immobilizer System . 76 .........
Important Safety Precautions . 6
.........
Indicators, Instrument Panel . 57
...............................
Inf ant Restraint . 30
......................................
Inf ant Seats . 30
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 39
...................
Inf lation, Proper Tire . 303
.................................
Inside Mirror . 101
.............................
Inspection, Tire . 305
............................
Instrument Panel . 57
........
Instrument Panel Brightness . 69
...........................
Interior Cleaning . 328
...............................
Interior Lights . 108
........................................
Introduction . i
Index
G H I J K
IV
——yy
(yy

Î
....................................
Tire Chains . 308
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat . 335
...............................................
Tires . 303
..............................
Air Pressure . 304
.........................
Checking Wear . 305
..........................
Compact Spare . 334
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 367
......................................
Inf lation . 303
..................................
Inspection . 305
...................................
Replacing . 306
......................................
Rotating . 306
...........................................
Snow . 308
............................
Specif ications . 366
...................
Tools, Tire Changing . 335
Towing
.....................................
A Trailer . 237
................
Emergency Wrecker . 358
..............
Traction Control System . 232
...
TCS Activation Indicator . 59, 233
......................
TCS Indicator . 60, 232
...............
TCS ON/OFF Switch . 233
Transmission Checking Fluid Level, ......................
Automatic . 280, 281
Checking Fluid Level, ...................................
Manual . 283 ..................
Fluid Selection . 280, 283
..............
Identif ication Number . 362
.............
Shif ting the Automatic . 223
..................
Shif ting the Manual . 221
.....................................
Treadwear . 367
.......................................
Trip Meter . 64
................................................
Trunk . 84
....................
Emergency Opener . 85
.................................
Opening the . 84
...................
Open Monitor Light . 60
....................................
Turn Signals . 70
.....................
Underside, Cleaning . 331
Unexpected, Taking Care
..........................................
of the . 333
....
Unif orm Tire Quality Grading . 367
........................
Unleaded Gasoline . 204
.....................
Upholstery Cleaning . 328
.......
Used Oil, How to Dispose of . 272
................................
Vanity Mirror . 106
.................
Vehicle Capacity Load . 215 ......................
Vehicle Dimensions . 364
....
Vehicle Identif ication Number . 362
.............................
Vehicle Storage . 323
.................................................
VIN . 362
...............................
Vinyl Cleaning . 329
..................................
Viscosity, Oil . 269
.............
WARNING, Explanation of . ii
.........
Warning Labels, Location of . 53
..................
Warranty Coverages . 379
Washer, Windshield
........
Checking the Fluid Level . 279
.....................................
Operation . 72
.........................................
Washing . 326
..................
Waxing and Polishing . 327
Wheels
...............
Adjusting the Steering . 73
............
Alignment and Balance . 305
..........................
Compact Spare . 334
......................................
Wrench . 337
Windows .....................................
Cleaning . 330
..................
Operating the Power . 96
...........................
Rear, Def ogger . 72
Index
U V W
VIII
——y
y
(yy