2007 HONDA ACCORD HYBRID engine

Look at the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. Make sure it is
between the MAX and MIN lines. If
it is below the MIN line, seeon page f or
inf ormation on adding the proper
coolant. Refer to
on page f or inf ormation
about checking other items on your
vehicle.
207 198
Engine Coolant Check
A dding
Engine Coolant Owner’s Maintenance
Checks
Service Station Procedure
160
MAX RESERVE TANK
MIN
06/08/08 14:42:40 31SDR620_165

Always drive in the highest gear
possible.
Try to maintain a constant speed.
Everytimeyouslowdownand
speed up, your vehicle uses extra
f uel. Use cruise control when
appropriate.
Combine several short trips into
one.
The air conditioning puts an extra
load on the engine which makes it
usemorefuel.Usethefresh-air
ventilation when possible.
Always maintain your vehicle
according to the maintenance
messages displayed on the
inf ormation display. See
on page
.
Drive moderately. Rapid
acceleration, abrupt cornering,
and hard braking use more f uel. The build-up of snow or mud on
your vehicle’s underside adds
weight and rolling resistance.
Frequent cleaning helps your f uel
mileage and reduces the chance of
corrosion. an underinf lated tire
causes more ‘‘rolling resistance,’’
which uses more f uel. 198
For example,
Improving Fuel Economy
Owner’s
Maintenance Checks
Fuel Economy
Bef ore Driving
161
06/08/08 14:42:48 31SDR620_166

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.
........................Preparing to Drive . 170
.......................Starting the Engine . 171
..............Automatic Transmission . 172
Shif t Lever Position
...............................Indicators . 172
.......................................Shif ting . 172
..............Engine Speed Limiter . 174
....................Shif t Lock Release . 175
............................Auto Idle Stop . 177
...........Auto Idle Stop Indicator . 178
...........................................Parking . 179
.............................Braking System . 180
...........Braking System Design . 180
.....Brake Pad Wear Indicators . 180
...............Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) . 181
............................ABS Indicator . 181
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA)
....................................System . 183
.........VSA Activation Indicator . 183
..............VSA System Indicator . 183
.........................VSA Of f Switch . 184
...................VSA and Tire Sizes . 184
...........................Towing a Trailer . 185
Driving
Driving
169
06/08/08 14:43:58 31SDR620_174

Youshoulddothefollowingchecks
and adjustments bef ore you drive
your vehicle.Make sure all windows, mirrors,
and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove f rost, snow,
or ice.
Make sure the doors are securely
closed and locked.
Fasten your seat belt. Check that
your passengers have f astened
their seat belts (see page ). Check the steering wheel
adjustment (see page ).
Check that the hood is f ully closed.
Check that the trunk is f ully
closed.
Visually check the tires. If a tire
looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure.
Check that any items you may be
carrying are stored properly or
f astened down securely. Check the seat adjustment (see
pages to ).
Check the adjustment of the
inside and outside mirrors (see
pages and ).
When you start the engine, check
the gauges and indicators in the
instrument panel (see pages to
).
3. 2. 1.
4.
5. 6.
7.
8.
9.
11.
10. 16
90 92
93 94 80 73
59
Preparing to Drive
170
06/08/08 14:44:11 31SDR620_175

Apply the parking brake.
In cold weather, turn of f all
electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery.
Make sure the shif t lever is in
Park. Press on the brake pedal.If the engine does not start within
15 seconds, or starts but stalls
right away, repeat step 4 with the
accelerator pedal pressed halfway
down. If the engine starts, release
pressure on the accelerator pedal
so the engine does not race.In cold weather, conventional starter
is used instead of the IMA system
starter. This is normal.
Without touching the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition key to the
START (III) position. Do not hold
the key in the START (III)
position f or more than 15 seconds
at a time. If the engine does not
start right away, pause for at least
10 seconds bef ore trying again. If the engine f ails to start, press the accelerator pedal all the way
down, and hold it there while
starting to clear flooding. If the
engine still does not start, return
to step 5.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
82
Starting the Engine
Starting in Cold Weather
Driving
171
T he immobilizer system protects your
vehicle f rom thef t. If an improperly-
coded key (or other device) is used, the
engine’s f uel system is disabled. For
more inf ormation, see page .
The engine is harder to start in cold
weather. Also, the thinner air f ound at
altitudes above 8,000 f eet (2,400
meters) adds to this problem.
06/08/08 14:44:22 31SDR620_176

µµ
µ
µ
µ
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 mechani-
cally locks the transmission. Use
Park whenever you are turning of f or
starting the engine. To shif t out of
Park, you must press on the brake
pedal and have your f oot of f the
accelerator pedal. Press the release
buttononthefrontof theshiftlever
to move it.
175
3
3
CONT INUED
Automatic Transmission
Shif t L ock Release
Reverse (R) Drive (D )
Drive (D)
Neutral (N)
Park (P)3
Driving
173
06/08/08 14:44:40 31SDR620_178

µµThis position locks
the transmission in second gear. It
does not downshif t to f irst gear
when you come to a stop.
Use second gear:
For starting out on a slippery
surf ace or in deep snow.
To help reduce wheel spin.
When driving downhill with a
trailer. If you exceed the maximum speed
f or the gear you are in, the engine
speed will enter into the tachometer’s
red zone. If this occurs, you may f eel
the engine cut in and out. This is
caused by a limiter in the engine’s
computer controls. The engine will
run normally when you reduce the
rpm below the red zone.
For more power when climbing.
To increase engine braking when
going down steep hills. To shif t f rom second to
first, press the release button on the
f ront of the shif t lever. This position
locks the transmission in f irst gear.
By upshif ting and downshif ting
through 1, 2, D , and D, you can
operate this transmission much like
a manual transmission without a
clutch pedal.
3
Automatic Transmission
Second (2) Engine Speed L imiter
First (1)
174
06/08/08 14:44:49 31SDR620_179

Push down on the key while you
pressthereleasebuttononthe
shif t lever and move the shif t lever
out of Park to neutral.
Remove the key from the Shift
Lock Release slot, then reinstall
thecover.Makesurethenotchon
the cover is on the lef t side.
Depress the brake pedal and
restart the engine.If you need to use the shif t lock
release, it means your vehicle is
developing a problem. Have the
vehicle checked by your dealer.
5.
6.
Automatic Transmission
176
RELEASE
BUTTON
SHIFT LOCK RELEASE SLOT
06/08/08 14:45:03 31SDR620_181