2008 HONDA ACCORD SEDAN engine overheat

2008 Accord Sedan Online Reference Owner's Manual
Contents

Owner's Identification Form

Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................... i A Few Words About Safety .............................................................................................................................. iii
Your Vehicle at a Glance (main controls) ...................................................................................................... 3
Driver and Passenger Safety (seat belts, SRS, and child protection) .......................................................... 5
Instruments and Controls (indicators, gauges, dashboard, and steering column) ......................................... 53
Features (climate control, audio, steering wheel, security, cruise control, HomeLink and other convenience items)... 119
Before Driving (fuel, vehicle break- in, and cargo loading) ............................................................................ 259
Driving (engine and transmission operation) ...................................................................................................... 279
Maintenance (minder, fluid checking, minor services, and vehicle storage)...................................................... 305
Taking Care of the Unexpected (flat tire, dead battery, overheating, and fuses) ..................................... 355
Technical Information (vehicle specifications, tires, and emissions controls) ................................................ 381
Warranty and Customer Relations (U. S. and Canada only) (warranty and contact information) ......... 399
Authorized Manuals (U. S. only) (how to order) ........................................................................................... 403
Index ............................................................................................................................... ...................................... I

Service Information Summary ( fluid capacities and tire pressures)

1 00X31-TA5-6000

On models with manual transmission
The manual transmission is
synchronized in all f orward gears f or
smooth operation. It has a lockout so
you cannot shift directly from fifth to
reverse.When shif ting up or down, make
sure you push the clutch pedal down
all the way, shif t to the next gear,
and let the pedal up gradually. When
you are not shif ting, do not rest your
f oot on the clutch pedal. This can
cause your clutch to wear out f aster.
Come to a full stop before you shift
into reverse. You can damage the
transmission by trying to shif t into
reverse with the vehicle moving.
Push down the clutch pedal, and
pause f or a f ew seconds bef ore
shif ting into reverse, or shif t into one
of the f orward gears f or a moment.
This stops the gears so they won’t
‘‘grind.’’
When slowing down, you can get
extra braking from the engine by
shifting to a lower gear. This extra
braking can help you maintain a safe
speed and prevent your brakes f rom
overheating while going down a
steep hill. Bef ore downshif ting,
make sure the engine speed will not
go into the tachometer’s red zone in
the lower gear.
Manual T ransmission
282
Rapid slowing or speeding up
can cause loss of control on
slippery surfaces. If you crash,
you can be injured.
Use extra care when driving on
slippery surfaces.
\f—\f—
y

y
)\f\f\fy\fy
2008 Accord Sedan

Your vehicle is equipped with a tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
that turns on every time you start the
engine and monitors the pressure in
your tires while driving.When the low tire pressure indicator
is on, one or more of your tires is
signif icantly underinf lated. You
should stop and check your tires as
soon as possible, and inf late them to
the proper pressure as indicated on
the vehicle’s tire inf ormation placard.
If you think you can saf ely drive a
short distance to a service station,
proceed slowly, and inf late the tire to
the recommended pressure shown
on the driver’s doorjamb.
If the tire is f lat, or if the tire
pressure is too low to continue
driving, replace the tire with the
compact spare tire (see page ).
If you cannot make the low tire
pressure indicator go out af ter
inf lating the tires to the specif ied
values, have your dealer check the
system as soon as possible.
Each tire has its own pressure
sensor (not including the spare tire).
If the air pressure of a tire becomes
signif icantly low while driving, the
sensor in that tire immediately sends
a signal that causes the low tire
pressure indicator to come on.
Driving on a signif icantly under-
inf lated tire causes the tire to
overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-inf lation also reduces f uel
efficiency and tire tread life, and may
af f ect the vehicle’s handling and
stopping ability.
Becausetirepressurevariesby
temperature and other conditions,
the low tire pressure indicator may
come on unexpectedly.
356
CONT INUED
Low Tire Pressure
Indicator
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Driving
295
\f—\f—
y

\fy
)\f\f\fy\f\f\fy
2008 Accord Sedan

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 done by your dealer or
other qualif ied technician.Your vehicle has halogen headlight
bulbs. When replacing a bulb, handle
it by its base, and protect the glass
f rom 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, remove the
engine coolant reserve tank by
pulling it out of its stay.
1.
CONT INUED
Headlight A iming Replacing a Headlight Bulb
Lights
High Beam Headlight
Maint enance
329
2.4engine models
STAY
Halogen headlight bulbs get very hot
when lit. Oil, perspiration, or a scratch
on the glass can cause the bulb to
overheat and shatter.
\f—\f—
y

y
)\f\f\fy\fy
2008 Accord Sedan

This section covers the more
common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you inf ormation about how to
safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has
stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again.
If not, you will also f ind instructions
on getting your vehicle towed.......................
Compact Spare Tire .356
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .357
.............
If the Engine Won’t Start .362
................................
Jump Starting .364
..............
If the Engine Overheats .367
.........
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .369
..........
Charging System Indicator .369
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .370
...............
Brake System Indicator .371
..............................................
Fuses .372
..............................
Fuse Locations .376
......................
Emergency Towing .379
Taking Care of the Unexpected
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
355
\f—\f—
y


y
)\f\f\fy\f\fy
2008 Accord Sedan

If you do not see steam or spray,
leave the engine running and
watch the temperature gauge. If
the high heat is due to overloading,
the engine should start to cool
down almost immediately. If it
does, wait until the temperature
gauge comes down to the midpoint,
then continue driving.
If the temperature gauge stays at
the red mark, turn off the engine.
Look f or any obvious coolant leaks,
such as a split radiator hose.
Everything is still extremely hot,
so use caution. If you f ind a leak, it
must be repaired bef ore you
continue driving (seeon page ).
The pointer of the vehicle’s
temperature gauge should stay in
the midrange. If it climbs to the red
mark, you should determine the
reason (hot day, driving up a steep
hill, etc.).
If your vehicle overheats, you should
take immediate action. The only
indication may be the temperature
gauge climbing to or above the red
mark. Or you may see steam or
spray coming f rom under the hood.
If you see steam and/or spray
coming f rom under the hood, turn
of f the engine. Wait until you see
no more signs of steam or spray,
then open the hood.
Saf ely pull to the side of the road.
Put the transmission in neutral
(manual) or Park (automatic), and
set the parking brake. Turn of f all
accessories, and turn on the
hazard warning indicators.
1.
2. 3.
4.
5.
379
CONT INUED
Emergency
Towing
If theEngineOverheats
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
367
Steam and spray from an
overheated engine can
seriously scald you.
Do not open the hood if steam
is coming out.
Driving with the temperature gauge
pointer at the red mark can cause
serious damage to the engine.
\f—\f—
y

y
)\f\f\fy\fy
2008 Accord Sedan

Using gloves or a large heavy
cloth, turn the radiator cap
counterclockwise, without pushing
down, to the f irst stop. Af ter the
pressure releases, push down on
the cap, and turn it until it comes
off.Put the radiator cap back on
tightly. Run the engine, and check
the temperature gauge. If it goes
back to the red mark, the engine
needs repair (see
on page ).
If the temperature stays normal,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. If it has
gone down, add coolant to the
MAX mark. Put the cap back on
tightly.
If you do not f ind an obvious leak,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. Add coolant
if the level is below the MIN mark.
If there was no coolant in the
reserve tank, you may need to add
coolant to the radiator. Let the
engine cool down until the pointer
reaches the middle of the tempera-
ture gauge, or lower, bef ore check-
ing the radiator.
Start the engine, and set the
temperature to maximum heat
(climate control to AUTO at
‘‘ ’’). Add coolant to the
radiator up to the base of the f iller
neck. If you do not have the
proper coolant mixture available,
you can add plain water.
Remember to have the cooling
system drained and ref illed with
the proper mixture as soon as you
can.
7.
6. 8.
9.10.
11.
379
Emergency
Towing
If theEngineOverheats
368
Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and
radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.
\f—\f—
y

y
)\f\f\fy\fy
2008 Accord Sedan

CONT INUED
Downshif ting, Manual.............................
Transmission .282
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety .5
...........................................
Driving .279
....................................
Economy .268
..........
Dual Temperature Control .130
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter .339
..............................
Economy, Fuel .268
..................................
Emergencies .355
.............
Battery, Jump Starting .364
...........
Brake System Indicator .371
................
Changing a Flat Tire .357
.....
Charging System Indicator .369
.........
Hazard Warning Flashers .73
............................
Jump Starting .364
..................
Checking the Fuses .372
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .369
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .370
..................
Overheated Engine .367
.......................................
Towing .379
.........................
Emergency Brake .109
......................
Emergency Flashers .73
......................
Emergency Towing .379 .......................
Emissions Controls .394
........................
Emissions Testing .397
Engine
............
Adding Engine Coolant .320
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge .66
.........................
If It Won’t Start .362
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .370
.......................
Oil Lif e Indicator .307
..............
Oil Pressure Indicator .369
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use .316
...............................
Overheating .367
....................
Specif ications .384,386
....................
Speed Limiter .283,287
.......................................
Starting .281
..........
Engine Speed Limiter .283,287
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline .261
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls .394
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .51
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
........................................
Belts by .16
..........................
Fan, Interior .121,128
.........................................
Features .119
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank .261 Filters
........................
Dust and Pollen .339
...............................................
Oil .318
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning .73
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a .357
Fluids
..........
Automatic Transmission .324
..........................................
Brake .326
.........................................
Clutch .327
..............
Manual Transmission .325
..........................
Power Steering .327
..................
Windshield Washer .322
........................................
Fog Lights .72
...........................
Folding Rear Seat .97
..........................
Four-way Flashers .73
..............................
Front Airbags .9,23
.................................................
Fuel .260
........
Check Fuel Cap Message .262
......................
Fill Door and Cap .261
...........................................
Gauge .66
.....................
Low Fuel Indicator .61
................
Octane Requirement .260
...............................
Oxygenated .261
........................
Tank, Ref ueling .261
Index
INDEX
E
F
III
\f—\f—
y
\f
y
)\f\f\fy\f
y
2008 Accord Sedan