2006 HONDA ACCORD SEDAN towing

2006 Accord Sedan 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.h\
elminc.com.
Contents

Owner's Identification Form
Introduction ........................................................................\
................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safet y........................................................................\
.........................................ii
Your Vehicle at a Glance........................................................................\
............................................ .4
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
..................................... .7
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restr\
aint System.
Instruments and Control s........................................................................\
........................................ .55
Instrume nt panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
..................... .101
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
..........................................................153
What gasoline to use, how to break -in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
..................................................................... .167
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
.............................................................191
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take you r vehicle to the dealer.
Taking Care of the Unexpecte d........................................................................\
..............................237
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, an d how to handle them.
Technical Informatio n........................................................................\
.............................................263
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canad a)................................................................277
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manu als (U.S. only)........................................................................\
..............................281
How to 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.

Accord Value Package Audio System

µ·
The maximum load for your vehicle
is 850 lbs (395 kg). This figure
includes the total weight of all
occupants, cargo, and accessories,
and the tongue load if you are towing
a trailer. Steps
for determining correct load
limit:
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 driv er’s
doorjamb.]
Determine the combined weight
of the driver and passengers that
will be riding in your vehicl e.
Subtract the combined weight of
the driver and passengers from
850 pounds or 395 kilograms. Determine
the combined weight
of luggage and cargo being loaded
on the vehicle. That weight may
not safely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity in
step 4.
The resulting figure equals the
available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity.
For example, if the maximum load
is 850 lbs and there will be five 150
lb passengers in your vehicle, the
amount of available cargo and
luggage load capacity is 100 lbs. (850
750 (5 150) = 100 lbs.)
If your vehicle will be towing a
trailer, the load from 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 ).
1.
2.
5.
6.
3.
4. 184
CONT INUED
Carrying Cargo
Load Limits
Bef ore Driving
165
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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This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
manual and automatic transmissions.
It also includes important
information on parking your vehicle,
the braking system, the traction
control system, and f acts you need if
you are planning to tow a trailer.........................
Preparing to Drive .168
.......................
Starting the Engine .169
...................
Manual Transmission . 170
.....
Recommended Shif t Points . 171
..............
Engine Speed Limiter . 172
.......................
Reverse Lockout .172
..............
Automatic Transmission . 173
Shif t Lever Position ...............................
Indicators .173
.......................................
Shif ting .173
..............
Engine Speed Limiter . 175
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 176
...........................................
Parking .178
..............................
Parking Tips .178
.............................
Braking System .179
...............
Brake System Design . 179
.............
Brake Wear Indicators . 179
...............
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) . 180
Activating the Anti-lock ....................................
Brakes .180
............................
ABS Indicator .180
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) ....................................
System .182
.........
VSA Activation Indicator . 182
..............
VSA System Indicator . 182
.........................
VSA Of f Switch .183 ...........................
Towing a Trailer .184
Driving
Driving
167
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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.
176
3 3
Shif t L ock ReleaseReverse (R)
Drive (D )
Drive (D) Neutral (N)
Park (P)
3
Automatic Transmission
174
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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
trailerandeverthinginoronit
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.
Towing a Trailer
Load Limits
T otal T railer Weight: T ongue L oad:
184
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 percent of the
load toward the front of the trailer
and 40 percent toward the rear, then
re-adjust the load as needed.The total weight of each axle must
not exceed:
The total weight of the vehicle, all
occupants, all cargo, and the
tongue load must not exceed:
U.S. VP and LX:
Canadian DX-G:
U.S. LX-V6 and EX-V6 with automatictransmission:Canadian SE-V6 and EX-V6 withautomatic transmission:
U.S. EX-V6 with manual transmission:Canadian EX-V6 with manualtransmission: U.S. VP and LX:
Canadian DX-G:
U.S. LX-V6 and EX-V6:Canadian SE-V6 and EX-V6:
U.S. EX, EX-L and SE:
Canadian SE and EX-L:
U.S. EX-L and SE:
Canadian SE and EX-L:
Towing a Trailer
Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GA WR):
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR):
Driving
185
4,080 Ibs (1,850 kg)
4,145 Ibs (1,880 kg)
4,345 Ibs (1,970 kg)
4,300 Ibs (1,950 kg) 1,960 Ibs (890 kg)
on the rear axle
2,225 Ibs (1,010 kg)
on the front axle
1,985 Ibs (900 kg)
on the rear axle
2,360 Ibs (1,070 kg)
on the front axle
2,005 Ibs (910 kg)
on the rear axle 2,195 Ibs (995 kg)
on the front axle
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Any hitch used on your vehicle must
be properly bolted to the underbody.
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.
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.
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 a Trailer
Hitches
Saf et y ChainsT owing Equipment and
A ccessories
Checking L oads
186
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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.
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, state, and
regulations. Check with your local
trailer sales or rental agency for the
requirements in your area, and use
only equipment designed f or your
vehicle.
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.
Towing a Trailer
A ddit ional T owing Equipment
T railer L ights
Trailer Brakes
Driving
187
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