2003 HONDA ACCORD SEDAN trailer

Many states and Canadian provinces
require special outside mirrors when
towing a trailer. Even if they don’t,
you should install special mirrors if
you cannot clearly see behind you, or
if the trailer creates a blind spot.
Askyourtrailersalesorrental
agency if any other items are
recommended or required f or your
towing situation.When preparing to tow, and bef ore
driving away, be sure to check the
f ollowing:
All weights and loads are within
limits (see pages and ).
Thehitch,safetychains,andany
other attachments are secure.
Allitemsonandinthetrailerare
properly secured and cannot shif t
while you drive. The car has been properly
serviced, and the tires, brakes,
suspension, and cooling system
are in good operating condition.
The lights and brakes on your car
and the trailer are working
properly. Your car tires and spare are
properly inf lated (see page ),
and the trailer tires and spare are
inflated as recommended by the
trailer maker.
237 238 303
Additional Trailer EquipmentPre-T ow Checklist
Towing a Trailer
Driving241

When driving down hills, reduce
your speed and shif t down to 2nd
gear. Do not ‘‘ride’’ the brakes, and
remember it will take longer to slow
downandstopwhentowingatrailer.
When climbing hills, closely watch
your temperature gauge. If it nears
the red (Hot) mark, turn the air
conditioning of f , reduce speed and, if
necessary, pull to the side of the
road to let the engine cool.
The added weight, length, and
height of a trailer will af f ect your car’s
handling and perf ormance, so
driving with a trailer requires some
special driving skills and techniques.
Foryoursafetyandthesafetyof
others,taketimetopracticedriving
maneuvers bef ore heading f or the
open road, and f ollow the guidelines
discussed below.
Make turns more slowly and wider
than normal. The trailer tracks a
smaller arc than your car, and it can
hit or run over something the car
misses. Allow more time and
distance f or braking. Do not brake or
turn suddenly as this could cause the
trailer to jackknif e or turn over.
If youmuststopwhenfacinguphill,
use the f oot brake or parking brake.
Do not try to hold the car in place by
pressing on the accelerator, as this
can cause the automatic
transmission to overheat.
Drive slower than normal in all
driving situations, and obey posted
speed limits f or cars with trailers. If
you have an automatic transmission,
use D position when towing a trailer
on level roads. D is the proper shif t
lever position to use when towing a
trailer in hilly terrain. (See ‘‘ ’’ in the next column f or
additional gear information.) If the automatic transmission shif ts
f requently while going up a hill, shif t
to D .
3
3
Driving Saf ely With a T railerMaking T urns and Braking
Driving on Hills
T owing Speeds and Gears
Driving
on Hills
Towing a Trailer
Driving242

Always drive slowly and have
someone guide you when backing up.
Grip the of the steering
wheel; then turn the wheel to the lef t
to get the trailer to move to the lef t,
andturnthewheelrighttomovethe
trailer to the right.Follow all normal precautions when
parking, including f irmly setting the
parking brake and putting the
transmission in Park (automatic) or
in 1st or Reverse (manual). Also,
place wheel chocks at each of the
trailer’s tires.
Crosswinds and air turbulence
caused by passing trucks can disrupt
your steering and cause trailer
swaying. When being passed by a
large car, keep a constant speed and
steer straight ahead. Do not try to
make quick steering or braking
corrections.
bottom
Handling Crosswinds and Buf f et ing
Backing Up Parking
Towing a Trailer
Driving243

Ì
µ U.S. Cars:
According to state and federal
regulations, f ailure to perf orm
maintenance on the items marked
with will not void your emissions
warranties. However, Honda
recommends that all maintenance
services be perf ormed at the
recommended time or mileage
period to ensure long-term reliability.
Your authorized Honda dealer
knows your car best and can provide
competent, ef f icient service.
However, service at a dealer is not
mandatory to keep your warranties
in effect. Maintenance may be done
by any qualif ied service f acility or
person who is skilled in this type of
automotive service. Keep all the
receipts as proof of completion, and
have the person who does the work
f ill out the Maintenance Record.
Check your warranty booklet f or
more inf ormation.
We recommend the use of genuine
Honda parts and f luids whenever you
have maintenance done. These are
manuf actured to the same high-
quality standards as the original
components, so you can be conf ident
of their perf ormance and durability.
Trailer towing, driving with a roof
rack, or driving in mountainous
conditions.
Driving on muddy, dusty, or
deiced roads.
NOTE: If you only
drive under a ‘‘severe’’ condition, you
should f ollow the Normal Conditions
Maintenance Schedule. Follow the
Maintenance Schedule f or Severe
Conditions.
OCCASIONALLY
Maintenance Schedule
Maint enance
Maintenance, replacement or
repair of emissions control
devices and systems may be done
by any automotive repair
establishment or individual using
parts that are ‘‘certif ied’’ to EPA
standards.
Canadian Owners
249

Theheadlightswereproperlyaimed
when your car was new. If you
regularly carry heavy items in the
trunk or pull a trailer, readjustment
may be required. Adjustment of the
headlights should be perf ormed by a
Honda technician or other qualif ied
mechanic.Your car has two bulbs on each side,
four in total. Make sure you are
replacing the bulb that is burned out.
Your car uses halogen headlight
bulbs. When replacing a bulb, handle
it by its plastic case and protect the
glass from contact with your skin or
hard objects. If you touch the glass,
clean it with denatured alcohol and a
clean cloth.
Headlight A iming
Replacing a Headlight Bulb
Lights
Maint enance312
Halogen headlight bulbs get very hot
when lit. Oil, perspiration, or a scratch
on the glass can cause the bulb to
overheat and shatter.

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