2012 HONDA ACCORD COUPE fuel

This shows how much f uel you have.
It may show slightly more or less
than the actual amount. The needle
returns to the bottom after you turn
of f the ignition.
The trip meter shows the number of
miles (U.S.) or kilometers (Canada)
driven since you last reset it.
There are two trip meters: Trip A
and Trip B. Switch between these
displays by pressing the select/reset
knob repeatedly.
Each trip meter works independently,
so you can keep track of two
dif f erent distances.
To reset a trip meter, display it and
then press and hold the select/reset
knob until the number resets to ‘‘0.0’’. When you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position, your last
selection is displayed. This shows the temperature of the
engine’s coolant. During normal
operation, the pointer should rise
from the bottom mark to about the
middle of the gauge. In severe
driving conditions, such as very hot
weather or a long period of uphill
driving, the pointer may rise to the
upper zone. If it reaches the red
(hot) mark, pull saf ely to the side of
the road. Turn to page for
instructions and precautions on
checking the engine cooling system.
403
Fuel Gauge
T emperature Gauge
Trip Meter
Gauges
65
Avoid driving with an extremely low
f uel level. Running out of f uel could
cause the engine to misf ire, damaging
the catalytic converter.

Inst rument s and Cont rols
2012 Accord Coupe

The inf ormation display in the
instrument panel shows you the
engine oil lif e and maintenance
service items when the ignition
switch is in the ON (II) position. This
inf ormation helps to keep you aware
of the periodic maintenance your
vehicle needs f or continued trouble-
f ree driving. Ref er to page f or
more inf ormation.
If your f uel f ill cap is loose or
missing, a ‘‘CHECK FUEL CAP’’
message appears on the information
display af ter you start the engine.
For more inf ormation, see page .
287
341
Maintenance Minder
Check Fuel Cap Message
Gauges
67
TM

Inst rument s and Cont rols
2012 Accord Coupe

Bef ore you begin driving your
vehicle, you should know what
gasoline to use and how to check the
levels of important f luids. You also
need to know how to properly store
luggage or packages. The
inf ormation in this section will help
you. If you plan to add any
accessories to your vehicle,.............................
Break-in Period .284
.................
Fuel Recommendation . 284
.........
Service Station Procedures . 286
....................................
Ref ueling .286
........
Check Fuel Cap Message . 287
Opening and Closing ................................
the Hood .289
...................................
Oil Check .291
.............
Engine Coolant Check . 292
...............................
Fuel Economy .293
...
Accessories and Modif ications . 296
.............................
Carrying Cargo .298
Bef ore Driving
Bef ore Driving
283

please read the information in this
section first.
2012 Accord Coupe

Help assure your vehicle’s f uture
reliability and perf ormance by paying
extra attention to how you drive
during the f irst 600 miles (1,000 km).
During this period:Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid
acceleration.
You should also f ollow these
recommendations with an
overhauled or exchanged engine, or
when the brakes are replaced. Your vehicle is designed to operate
on unleaded gasoline with a pump
octane number of 87 or higher. Use
of a lower octane gasoline can cause
a persistent, heavy metallic rapping
noise that can lead to engine damage.
Avoidhardbrakingforthefirst
200 miles (300 km).
Do not tow a trailer. Do not change the oil until the
scheduled maintenance time. You may hear a knocking noise from
the engine if you drive the vehicle at
low engine speed (below about 1,000
rpm) in a higher gear. To stop this,
raise the engine speed by shif ting to
a lower gear.
On models with manual transmissionBreak-in Period
Fuel Recommendation
Break-in Period, Fuel Recommendation
284

Bef ore Driving
2012 Accord Coupe

Because the level of detergency and
additives in gasoline vary in the
market, Honda endorses the use of
‘‘TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline’’
where available to help maintain the
perf ormance and reliability of your
vehicle. TOP TIER Detergent
Gasoline meets a new gasoline
standard jointly established by
leading automotive manuf acturers to
meet the needs of today’s advanced
engines. Qualif ying gasoline retailers
will, in most cases, identif y their
gasoline as having met ‘‘TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline’’ standards at the
retail location. This f uel is
guaranteed to contain the proper
level of detergent additives and be
f ree of metallic additives. The proper
level of detergent additives, and
absence of harmf ul metallic additives
in gasoline, help avoid build-up of
deposits in your engine and emission
control system.For f urther important f uel-related
inf ormation f or your vehicle, or
inf ormation on gasoline that does not
contain MMT, visit Owner Link at
. In Canada, visit
f or additional
inf ormation on gasoline. For more
inf ormation on top tier gasoline, visit
owners.honda.com
www.honda.ca
www.toptiergas.com.
Fuel Recommendation
285
We recommend quality gasoline
containing detergent additives that help
prevent f uel system and engine deposits.
In addition, in order to maintain good
perf ormance, f uel economy, and
emissions control, we strongly
recommend the use of gasoline that
does NOT contain harmf ul manganese-
based f uel additives such as MMT , if
such gasoline is available.
Use of gasoline with these additives
may adversely af f ect perf ormance, and
cause the malf unction indicator lamp
on your instrument panel to come on. If
this happens, contact your dealer f or
service. Some gasoline today is blended
with oxygenates such as ethanol. Your
vehicle is designed to operate on
oxygenated gasoline containing up to
10% ethanol by volume. Do not use
gasoline containing methanol. If you
notice any undesirable operating
symptoms, try another service station
or switch to another brand of gasoline.

Bef ore Driving
2012 Accord Coupe

Park with the driver’s side closest
to the service station pump.
To open the f uel f ill door, push
down on the lever located to the
lef t of the driver’s seat.Remove the f uel f ill cap slowly.
You may hear a hissing sound as
pressure inside the tank equalizes.
The fuel fill cap is attached to the
f uel f iller with a tether. Place the
cap in the holder on the f uel f ill
door.
1.
2.
3.
Service Station Procedures
Ref ueling
286
Push
TETHER
HOLDER FUEL FILL CAP
Gasoline is highly flammable
and explosive. You can be
burned or seriously injured
when handling fuel.
Stop the engine, and keep
heat, sparks, and flame away.
Handle fuel only outdoors.
Wipe up spills immediately.

Bef ore Driving
2012 Accord Coupe

Stop f illing the tank af ter the f uel
nozzle automatically clicks of f . Do
not try to ‘‘top off’’ the tank. This
leaves some room in the f uel tank
for the fuel to expand with
temperature changes.
If thefuelnozzlekeepsclickingoff
even though the tank is not f ull,
there may be a problem with your
vehicle’s fuel vapor recovery
system. The system helps keep
f uel vapor f rom going into the
atmosphere. Try f illing at another
pump. If this does not f ix the
problem, consult your dealer.Screw the f uel f ill cap back on
until it clicks at least once. If you
do not properly tighten the cap,
you will see a ‘‘CHECK FUEL
CAP’’ message on the inf ormation
display. If the system still detects
an evaporative system leak af ter
retightening the cap, the
malf unction indicator lamp may
come on (see page ).
Push the f uel f ill door closed until
it latches.
Your vehicle’s onboard diagnostic
system will detect a loose or missing
f uel f ill cap as an evaporative system
leak. The f irst time a leak is detected
a ‘‘CHECK FUEL CAP’’ message
appears on the information display.
5.
6.
4.
406
CONT INUED
Check Fuel Cap Message
Service Station Procedures
287

Bef ore Driving
2012 Accord Coupe

Turn the engine of f , and conf irm the
f uel f ill cap is installed. If it is, loosen
it, then retighten it until it clicks at
least once. The message should go
off after several days of normal
driving once you tighten or replace
the f uel f ill cap. To scroll to another
display, press the select/reset knob.
The ‘‘CHECK FUEL CAP’’ message
will appear each time you restart the
engine until the system turns the
message of f .If the system still detects a leak in
your vehicle’s evaporative emissions
system, the malf unction indicator
lamp (MIL) comes on. If the f uel f ill
cap was not already tightened, turn
the engine of f , and check or
retighten the f uel f ill cap until it
clicks at least once. The MIL should
go off after several days of normal
driving once the cap is tightened or
replaced. If the MIL does not go of f ,
have your vehicle inspected by a
dealer. For more inf ormation, see
page .
406
Service Station Procedures
288

Bef ore Driving
2012 Accord Coupe