2006 HONDA ACCORD HYBRID towing

2006 Accord Hybrid Online Reference Owner's Manual
Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.helminc.com.

Contents
Owner's Identification Form
Introduction ........................................................................\
............................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safety ........................................................................\
.................................................. ii
Your Vehicle at a Glance........................................................................\
.......................................................4
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
...............................................7
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restraint System.
Instruments and Controls........................................................................\
.................................................. .51
Instrument panel indica tor and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features........................................................................\
............................... 99
How t o operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features.
Before Driving ........................................................................\
...................................................... ...............149
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving........................................................................\
...................................................... .............................163
The proper way to start the engine, shift the tr ansmission, and park, plus towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
...................................................... ...................185
T he Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer.
Taking Care of the Unexpected........................................................................\
.......................................225
This section covers several prob lems motorists sometimes experience, and how to handle them.
Technical Information........................................................................\
...................................................... .249
ID numbers, dimensions, capaciti es, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)..................................................................... 263
A summary of the warranties covering your new Honda, and how to contact us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)........................................................................\
.......................................267
How t o order manuals and other technical literature.
Index ........................................................................\
......................................................................................... I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.

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The maximum load f or your vehicle
is 850 lbs (395 kg). This f igure
includes the total weight of all
occupants, cargo, and accessories,
and the tongue load if you are towing
a trailer.
Determine the combined weight
of luggage and cargo being loaded
in the vehicle. That weight may
not saf ely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity in
step 4.
If your vehicle will be towing a
trailer, the load f rom your trailer
will be transf erred to your vehicle.
Consult this manual to determine
how this reduces the available
cargo and luggage load capacity of
yourvehicle(seepage ).
The resulting f igure equals the
available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity.
For example, if the maximum load
is 850 lbs and there will be f ive 150
lb passengers in your vehicle, the
amount of available cargo and
luggage load capacity is 100 lbs.
(850 750 (5 150) = 100 lbs.) Subtract the combined weight of
the driver and passengers f rom
850 pounds or 395 kilograms. Determine the combined weight
of the driver and passengers that
will be riding in your vehicle. Locate the statement, ‘‘the
combined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed 850
lbs’’ on your vehicle’s placard.
[The placard is on the driver’s
doorjamb.]
Steps f or determining correct load
limit:
1.
2. 5.
6.
3.
4. 179
Load Limits
Carrying Cargo
Bef ore Driving
159
Overloading or improper
loading can affect handling and
stability and cause a crash in
which you can be hurt or killed.
Follow all load limits and other
loading guidelines in this
manual.
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........................
Preparing to Drive .164
.......................
Starting the Engine .165
..............
Automatic Transmission .166
Shif t Lever Position ...............................
Indicators .166
.......................................
Shif ting .166
..............
Engine Speed Limiter .168
....................
Shif t Lock Release .169
............................
Auto Idle Stop .171
...........
Auto Idle Stop Indicator .172
...........................................
Parking .173
.............................
Braking System .174
...............
Brake System Design .174
.............
Brake Wear Indicators .174
...........
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) .175
Activating the Anti-lock ................................
Brakes .175
........................
ABS Indicator .175
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) ....................................
System .177
.........
VSA Activation Indicator .177
..............
VSA System Indicator .177
.........................
VSA Of f Switch .178
...........................
Towing a Trailer .179
This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
automatic transmission. It also
includes important inf ormation on
parking your vehicle, the braking
system, the vehicle stability assist
(VSA) system, and f acts you need if
you are planning to tow a trailer.
Driving
Driving
163
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If you have done all of the above and
still cannot move the lever out of
Park, see 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. Press the brake
pedal and press the release button to
shif t f rom Park to Reverse. To shif t
from Reverse to Neutral, come to a
completestopandthenshift. 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 this position f or
your normal driving. The
transmission automatically selects a
suitable gear for the vehicle 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. 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 the Park
position if you need to leave your
vehicle and apply the parking brake.
Press on the brake pedal when you
are moving the shif t lever f rom
Neutral to another gear.
This position
mechanically locks the transmission.
Use Park whenever you are turning
of f or starting the engine. To shif t
outofPark,youmustpressonthe
brake pedal and have your foot off
the accelerator pedal. Press the
release button on the bottom of the
shif t lever to move it.
169
3 3
CONT INUED
Automatic Transmission
Shif t L ock ReleaseReverse (R) Drive (D )
Drive (D) Neutral (N)
Park (P)
3
Driving
167
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Your vehicle has been designed to
primarily carry passengers and their
cargo. You can also use it to tow a
trailer if you caref ully observe the
load limits, use the proper equipment,
and f ollow the guidelines in this
section.The
maximum allowable weight of the
trailer and everything in or on it
must not exceed 1,000 lbs (450 kg).
Towing a load that is too heavy
can seriously af f ect your vehicle’s
handling and perf ormance. It can
also damage the engine and
drivetrain. The weight that
the tongue of a f ully-loaded trailer
puts on the hitch should be
approximately 10 percent of the
trailer weight. Too much tongue
load reduces front-tire traction and
steering control. Too little tongue
load can make the trailer unstable
and cause it to sway.
Load Limits
T otal T railer Weight: T ongue L oad:
Towing a Trailer
Driving
179
Exceeding any load limit or
improperly loading your vehicle
and trailer can cause a crash in
which you can be seriously hurt
or killed.
Check the loading of your
vehicle and trailer carefully
beforestartingtodrive.
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To achieve a proper tongue load,
start by loading 60 % of the load
toward the front of the trailer and 40
% toward the rear, then re-adjust the
load as needed.The total weight of the vehicle, all
occupants, all cargo, and the
tongue load must not exceed: The total weight of each axle must
not exceed:
The best way to conf irm that vehicle
and trailer weights are within limits
is to have them checked at a public
scale. To locate the public scales in
your area, consult your local yellow
pages or ask your dealer f or
assistance.
Using a suitable scale or a special
tongue load gauge, check the tongue
load the f irst time you set up a
towing combination (a f ully-loaded
vehicle and trailer), then recheck the
tongue load whenever the conditions
change.
on the f ront axle
on the rear axle
Checking L oads
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR): Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GA WR):
Towing a Trailer
180
4,565 lbs (2,070 kg)2,470 Ibs (1,120 kg)
2,140 Ibs (970 kg)
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Honda recommends that any trailer
having a total weight of 1,000 lbs
(450 kg) or more be equipped with
its own electric or surge-type brakes.
If you choose electric brakes, be
sure they are electrically actuated.
Do not attempt to tap into your
vehicle’s hydraulic system. No
matter how successf ul it may seem,
any attempt to attach trailer brakes
to your vehicle’s hydraulic system
will lower braking ef f ectiveness and
create a potential hazard.
Seeyourtrailerdealerformore
inf ormation on installing electric
brakes.
Any hitch used on your vehicle must
be properly bolted to the underbody.
Always use saf ety chains when you
tow a trailer. Make sure the chains
are secured to the trailer and hitch,
and that they cross under the tongue
and can catch the trailer if it
becomes unhitched. Leave enough
slack to allow the trailer to turn
corners easily, but do not let the
chains drag on the ground.
Towing can require a variety of
equipment, depending on the size of
your trailer, how it will be used, how
much load you are towing, and
where you tow. To ensure the best
quality, we recommend that you
purchase Honda equipment
whenever possible.
Discuss your needs with your trailer
sales or rental agency, and f ollow the
guidelines in the rest of this section.
Also make sure that all equipment is
properly installed and that it meets
f ederal, state, province, and local
regulations. T owing Equipment and
A ccessories
Trailer Brakes
Hitches
Saf et y Chains
Towing a Trailer
Driving
181
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Askyourtrailersalesorrental
agency if any other items are
recommended or required f or your
towing situation.
Since lighting and wiring vary by
trailer type and brand, you should
have a qualif ied technician install a
suitable connector between the
vehicle and the trailer. Improper
equipment or installation can cause
damage to your vehicle’s electrical
system and af f ect your vehicle
warranty. Trailer lights and equipment must
comply with f ederal and state
regulations. Check with your trailer
sales or rental agency f or the
requirements in your area, and use
only equipment designed f or your
vehicle. Many states and 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.T railer L ight s
A ddit ional T owing Equipment
Towing a Trailer
182
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