2004 HONDA ACCORD COUPE trailer

Crosswinds and air turbulence
caused by passing trucks can disrupt
your steering and cause trailer
swaying. When being passed by a
large vehicle, keep a constant speed
and steer straight ahead. Do not try
to make quick steering or braking
corrections.
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.Drive slower than normal in all
driving situations, and obey posted
speed limits f or vehicles 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
inf ormation.)
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.
The added weight, length, and
height of a trailer will af f ect your
vehicle’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
below.
Maketurnsmoreslowlyandwider
than normal. The trailer tracks a
smaller arc than your vehicle, and it
canhitorrunoversomethingthe
vehicle 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.
bottom
3
Towing a Trailer
Driving
Handling Crosswinds and Buf f et ing
Backing Up Driving on Hills
T owing Speeds and Gears
Parking
Making T urns and Braking
Driving Saf ely With a T railer
198
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If you must stop when f acing uphill,
use the f oot brake or parking brake.
Do not try to hold the vehicle in
placebypressingontheaccelerator,
as this can cause the automatic
transmission to overheat.
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.
If the automatic transmission shif ts
f requently within 3rd, 4th, and 5th
gears while going up a hill, shif t toD.
3
Towing a Trailer
Driving
Driving on Hills
199
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The maintenance schedule assumes
you will use your vehicle as normal
transportation for passengers and
their possessions. You should also
f ollow these recommendations:
Avoid exceeding your vehicle’s
load limit. This puts excess stress
on the engine, brakes, and many
other vehicle parts. The load limit
is shown on the tire inf ormation
label on the driver’s doorjamb.
Operate your vehicle on
reasonable roads within legal
speed limits. Service your vehicle according to the
time and mileage periods on one of
the Maintenance Schedules on the
f ollowing pages.
Follow the
Maintenance Schedule f or Severe
Conditions if you drive your vehicle
MAINLY under one or more of the
f ollowing conditions.
Driving less than 5 miles (8 km)
per trip or, in f reezing
temperatures, driving less than 10
miles (16 km) per trip.
Driving in extremely hot [over
90°F (32°C)] conditions. Trailer towing, driving with a roof
rack, or driving in mountainous
conditions.
Driving on muddy, dusty, or de-
iced roads.
If you only OCCASIONALLY
drive under a ‘‘severe’’ condition, you
should f ollow the Maintenance
Schedule f or Normal Conditions.
Follow the
Maintenance Schedule f or Severe
Conditions.
Drive your vehicle regularly over a
distance of several miles
(kilometers).
Always use unleaded gasoline with
theproperoctanerating(seepage ). Extensive idling or long periods of
stop and go driving, such as a taxi
or a commercial delivery vehicle.
164
Maintenance Schedule
Maint enance
Which Schedule to Follow:
U.S. Owners
Canadian Owners
203
NOTE:
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Theheadlightswereproperlyaimed
when your vehicle was new. If you
regularly carry heavy items in the
trunk or pull a trailer, readjustment
may be required. Adjustments
should be perf ormed by a Honda
dealer or other qualif ied mechanic.Your vehicle has two bulbs on each
side, f our in total. Make sure you are
replacing the bulb that is burned out.
Your vehicle 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.
Open the hood. To change a bulb
on the passenger’s side, undo the
two fasteners and remove the air
intake cover.
1.
CONT INUED
Lights
Headlight A iming Replacing a Headlight BulbHigh Beam Headlight
Maint enance233
NOTICE:4-cylinder models
FASTENERS AIR INTAKE
COVERHalogen headlight bulbs get
very hot when lit. Oil, perspiration, or a
scratch on the glass can cause the bulb
to overheat and shatter.
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Use the compact spare tire as a
temporary replacement only. Get
your regular tire repaired or replaced
and put it back on your vehicle as
soon as you can.Follow these precautions:
Never exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)
under any circumstances.
This tire gives a harsher ride and
less traction on some road sur-
f aces. Use greater caution while
driving.
Do not mount snow chains on it.
Do not use your compact spare
tire on another vehicle unless it is
thesamemakeandmodel.
Do not use the compact spare tire
if you are towing a trailer.
Turn off the Traction Control
System (see page ). Driving
withthecompactsparetiremay
activate the TCS. Replace the tire when you can see
the tread wear indicator bars. The
replacement should be the same size
and design tire, mounted on the
same wheel. The spare tire is not
designed to be mounted on a regular
wheel, and the spare wheel is not
designed f or mounting a regular tire.
Check the compact spare tire
inf lation pressure every time you
check the other tires. It should be
inf lated to:
192
On all V6 models
Compact Spare Tire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed256
INDICATOR LOCATION MARKTREAD WEAR INDICATOR BAR
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm)
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CONT INUED
If you have a f lat tire while driving,
stop in a saf e place to change it.
Drive slowly along the shoulder until
you get to an exit or an area that is
far away from the traffic lanes.Park the vehicle on f irm, level and
non-slippery ground. Put the
transmission in Park (automatic)
or Reverse (manual). Apply the
parking brake.
If you are towing a trailer, unhitch
the trailer.
Turn on the hazard warning
indicators, and turn the ignition
switch to LOCK (0). Have all the
passengers get out of the vehicle
while you change the tire.The tools are in the trunk. Open
the trunk and raise the trunk f loor
by lif ting up on the back edge.
Take the tool kit out of the trunk.
Unscrew the wing bolt and take
the spare tire out of its well.
5.
4.
3.
2. 1.
Changing a Flat T ire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed257
TRUNK FLOOR
SPARE TIRE JACK
TOOL KIT
The vehicle can easily roll off
the jack, seriously injuring
anyone underneath.
Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and
never get under the vehicle
when it is supported only by thejack.
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......
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in . 238
.
Taking Care of the Unexpected . 255
Technical Descriptions
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 288
.....
Emissions Control Systems . 293
.....................
Oxygenated Fuels . 164
Three Way Catalytic
...............................
Converter . 295
.......................
Temperature Gauge . 67 ........
Temperature, Inside Sensor . 119
....................
Temperature, Outside . 66
..............
Tether Anchorage Points . 45
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter . 295
..................
Tilt the Steering Wheel . 74
..........................
Time, Setting the . 154
....................................
Timing Belt . 232
....................................
Tire Chains . 250
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat . 257
...........................
Tire Inf ormation . 290
...............................................
Tires . 245
......................
Air Pressure . 245, 246
........................................
Chains . 250
.........................
Checking Wear . 247
..........................
Compact Spare . 256
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 288
......................................
Inf lation . 245
..................................
Inspection . 247
.....................................
Labeling . 290
...................................
Replacing . 248
......................................
Rotating . 248
...........................................
Snow . 250
....................
Specif ications . 285, 287
...................
Tools, Tire Changing . 257
Towing
.....................................
A Trailer . 194 ................
Emergency Wrecker . 272
....
Equipment and Accessories . 196
.....................
Weight Limit . 194, 195
..
Traction Control System (TCS) . 191
...
TCS Activation Indicator . 60, 192
......................
TCS Indicator . 60, 191
...............
TCS ON/OFF Switch . 192
.............................
Trailer Loading . 194
......................
Trailer Towing Tips . 198
Transmission
Checking Fluid Level, ......................
Automatic . 225, 226
Checking Fluid Level, ...................................
Manual . 228
..................
Fluid Selection . 225, 228
..............
Identif ication Number . 283
.............
Shif ting the Automatic . 183
..................
Shif ting the Manual . 180
.....................................
Treadwear . 288
.......................................
Trip Meter . 66
................................................
Trunk . 82
....................
Emergency Opener . 82
.........................................
Hooks . 176
.................................
Opening the . 82
.............
Open Monitor Indicator . 61
....................................
Turn Signals . 70
Steering Wheel
..................................
Adjustment . 74
.............
Anti-theft Column Lock . 77
...............
Steering Wheel Buttons . 152
Stereo Sound
........................................
System . 120
....................
Storing Your Vehicle . 254
........................................
Sun Visor . 101
........................
Sunglasses Holder . 103
Supplemental Restraint System
......................................
Servicing . 30
.........................
SRS Indicator . 27, 59
...................
System Components . 21
..................................
Synthetic Oil . 218
Index
T
VIII
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