Acura Integra (2001 year). Instruction — part 17

DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Cars)

The tires on your car meet all U.S.

Federal Safety Requirements. All
tires are also graded for treadwear,
traction, and temperature perform-
ance according to Department of

Transportation (DOT) standards.
The following explains these

gradings.

Uniform Tire Quality Grading

Quality grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall

between the tread shoulder and the
maximum section width. For

example:

Treadwear 200

Traction AA

Temperature A

DOT Quality Grades

All passenger car tires must conform

to Federal Safety Requirements in
addition to these grades.

Treadwear

The treadwear grade is a compara-

tive rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government
test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and one-
half (11/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded

100. The relative performance of

tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits,

service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.

Traction — AA, A, B, C

The traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. Those

grades represent the tire's ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on
specified government test surfaces
of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction
performance.

Warning: The traction grade

assigned to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction tests,
and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak
traction characteristics.

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DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Cars)

Temperature — A, B, C

The temperature grades are A (the

highest), B, and C, representing the
tire's resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high
temperature can cause the material

of the tire to degenerate and reduce
tire life, and excessive temperature
can lead to sudden tire failure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger car
tires must meet under the Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No.

109. Grades B and A represent

higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.

Warning: The temperature grade for

this tire is established for a tire that
is properly inflated and not over-
loaded. Excessive speed, underinfla-
tion, or excessive loading, either

separately or in combination, can
cause heat buildup and possible tire

failure.

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Oxygenated Fuels

Some conventional gasolines are
being blended with alcohol or an
ether compound. These gasolines
are collectively re 101ferred to as
oxygenated fuels. To meet clean air

standards, some areas of the United
States and Canada use oxygenated

fuels to help reduce emissions.

If you use an oxygenated fuel, be
sure it is unleaded and meets the
minimum octane rating requirement.

Before using an oxygenated fuel, try
to confirm the fuel's contents. Some

states/provinces require this
information to be posted on the
pump.

The following are the U.S. EPA and

Canadian CGSB approved
percentages of oxygenates:

ETHANOL (ethyl or grain alcohol)

You may use gasoline containing up

to 10 percent ethanol by volume.
Gasoline containing ethanol may be
marketed under the name "Gasohol."

MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl

Ether)

You may use gasoline containing up

to 15 percent MTBE by volume.

METHANOL (methyl or wood

alcohol)

Your vehicle was not designed to use

fuel that contains methanol.
Methanol can corrode metal parts in
the fuel system, and also damage
plastic and rubber components. This
damage would not be covered by
your warranties.

If you notice any undesirable
operating symptoms, try another
service station or switch to another
brand of gasoline.

Fuel system damage or performance
problems resulting from the use of
an oxygenated fuel containing more
than the percentages of oxygenates
given above are not covered under

warranty.

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Driving in Foreign Countries

Technical Information

If you are planning to take your

Acura outside the U.S. or Canada,

contact the tourist bureaus in the
areas you will be traveling in to find
out about the availability of unleaded
gasoline with the proper octane
rating.

If unleaded gasoline is not available,
be aware that using leaded gasoline
in your Acura will affect perfor-
mance and fuel mileage, and damage
its emissions controls. It will no
longer comply with U.S. and

Canadian emissions regulations, and

will be illegal to operate in North
America. To bring your car back into

compliance will require the replace-
ment of several components, such as
the oxygen sensors and the three

way catalytic converter. These re-

placements are not covered under
warranty.

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Emissions Controls

The burning of gasoline in your car's

engine produces several byproducts.
Some of these are carbon monoxide

(CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and

hydrocarbons (HC). Gasoline
evaporating from the tank also
produces hydrocarbons. Controlling
the production of NOx, CO, and HC
is important to the environment.
Under certain conditions of sunlight
and climate, NOx and HC react to
form photochemical "smog." Carbon
monoxide does not contribute to
smog creation, but it is a poisonous
gas.

The Clean Air Act

The United States Clean Air Act*

sets standards for automobile
emissions. It also requires that
automobile manufacturers explain to
owners how their emissions controls

work and what to do to maintain
them. This section summarizes how
the emissions controls work.

Scheduled maintenance is on page

164

.

* In Canada, Acura vehicles comply

with the Canadian Motor Vehicle

Safety Standards (CMVSS) for
Emissions valid at the time they are
manufactured.

Crankcase Emissions Control

System

Your car has a Positive Crankcase
Ventilation System. This keeps
gasses that build up in the engine's

crankcase from going into the
atmosphere. The Positive Crankcase

Ventilation valve routes them from
the crankcase back to the intake
manifold. They are then drawn into
the engine and burned.

Evaporative Emissions Control

System

As gasoline evaporates in the fuel

tank, an evaporative emissions
control canister filled with charcoal
adsorbs the vapor. It is stored in this
canister while the engine is off. After
the engine is started and warmed up,
the vapor is drawn into the engine
and burned during driving.

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Emissions Controls

Onboard Refueling Vapor

Recovery

The Onboard Refueling Vapor

Recovery (ORVR) system captures
the fuel vapors during refueling. The

vapors are adsorbed in a canister
filled with activated carbon. While

driving, the fuel vapors are drawn
into the engine and burned off.

Exhaust Emissions Controls

The exhaust emissions controls

include three systems: PGM-FI,
Ignition Timing Control and Three

Way Catalytic Converter. These

three systems work together to
control the engine's combustion and
minimize the amount of HC, CO, and
NOx that comes out the tailpipe. The
exhaust emissions control systems
are separate from the crankcase and

evaporative emissions control
systems.

PGM-FI System

The PGM-FI System uses sequential

multiport fuel injection.
It has three subsystems: Air Intake,
Engine Control, and Fuel Control.

The Engine Control Module (ECM)

or the Powertrain Control Module

(PCM) uses various sensors to

determine how much air is going
into the engine. It then controls how
much fuel to inject under all operat-
ing conditions.

Ignition Timing Control System

This system constantly adjusts the

ignition timing, reducing the amount
of HC, CO and NOx produced.

Three Way Catalytic Converter

The three way catalytic converter is

in the exhaust system. Through
chemical reactions, it converts HC,
CO, and NOx in the engine's exhaust
to carbon dioxide (C0

2

), dinitrogen

(N

2

), and water vapor.

Replacement Parts

The emissions control systems are

designed and certified to work to-

gether in reducing emissions to
levels that comply with the Clean Air

Act. To make sure the emissions

remain low, you should use only new

Genuine Acura replacement parts or

their equivalent for repairs. Using
lower quality parts may increase the
emissions from your car.

The emissions control systems are

covered by warranties separate from
the rest of your car. Read your

warranty instruction for more informa-
tion.

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Three Way Catalytic Converter

The three way catalytic converter

contains precious metals that serve
as catalysts, promoting chemical
reactions to convert the exhaust
gasses without affecting the metals.

The catalytic converter is referred to

as a three-way catalyst, since it acts
on HC, CO, and NOx. A replacement
unit must be an original Acura part
or its equivalent.

The three way catalytic converter

must operate at a high temperature
for the chemical reactions to take
place. It can set on fire any com-
bustible materials that come near it.

Park your car away from high grass,
dry leaves, or other flammables.

A defective three way catalytic

converter contributes to air pollution,
and can impair your engine's per-
formance. Follow these guidelines to
protect your car's three way catalytic
converter.

Always use unleaded gasoline.

Even a small amount of leaded
gasoline can contaminate the
catalyst metals, making the three

way catalytic converter ineffective.

Keep the engine tuned-up.

Have your car diagnosed and
repaired if it is misfiring, back-

firing, stalling, or otherwise not
running properly.

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THREE WAY CATALYTIC CONVERTER

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State Emissions Testing

Testing of Readiness Codes

If you take your vehicle for a state
emissions test shortly after the
battery has been disconnected or
gone dead, it may not pass the test.
This is because of certain "readiness

codes" that must be set in the on-
board diagnostics for the emissions
systems. These codes are erased
when the battery is disconnected,
and set again only after several days

of driving under a variety of
conditions.

If the testing facility determines that
the readiness codes are not set, you
will be requested to return at a later
date to complete the test. If you must
get the vehicle re-tested within the
next two or three days, you can
condition the vehicle for re-testing
by doing the following.

Make sure the gas tank is nearly,
but not completely, full (around
3/4).

Make sure the vehicle has been
parked with the engine off for 8
hours or more.

Make sure the ambient
temperature is between 20° and
95° F.

Without touching the accelerator

pedal, start the engine and let it
idle for 20 seconds.

Keep the vehicle in Park

(automatic transmission) or

Neutral (instruction transmission).
Increase the engine speed to 2,000
rpm and hold it there until the

temperature gauge rises to at least

1/4 of the scale (approximately 3

minutes).

CONTINUED

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State Emissions Testing

Select a nearby lightly traveled
major highway where you can
maintain a speed of 50 to 60 mph

(80 to 90 km/h) for at least 20

minutes. Drive on the highway in
D4 (A/T) or 5th (M/T). Do not
use the cruise control. When
traffic allows, drive for 90 seconds
without moving the accelerator
pedal. (Vehicle speed may vary

slightly; this is okay.) If you cannot
do this for a continuous 90
seconds because of traffic
conditions, drive for at least 30
seconds, then repeat it two more
times (for a total of 90 seconds).

Then drive in city/suburban

traffic for at least 10 minutes.
When traffic conditions allow, let
the vehicle coast for several

seconds without using the
accelerator pedal or the brake

pedal.

If the testing facility determines the
readiness codes are still not set, see
your Acura dealer.

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Warranty and Customer Relations

Customer Relations

Information. . . . . . . . .

266

Canada Zone Office Map. . . ..

267

Warranty Coverages. . . . . .

268

Reporting Safety Defects

(U.S. Vehicles). . . . . . ...

269

Authorized Instructions. . . . . ..

271

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Customer Relations Information

Acura dealership personnel are

trained professionals. They should
be able to answer all your questions.
If you encounter a problem that your

dealership does not solve to your
satisfaction, please discuss it with
the dealership's management. The
Service Manager or General
Manager can help. Almost all
problems are solved in this way.

If you are dissatisfied with the
decision made by the dealership's
management, contact the Acura
Customer Relations Office.

U.S. Owners:

Acura Automobile Division

Client Services Office

American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

1919 Torrance Blvd.

Torrance, CA 90501-2746

or telephone: (800) 382-2238

In Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin
Islands:

Vortex Motor Corp.

Bella International

P.O. Box 190816

San Juan, PR 00919-0816

(787) 250-4327

Canadian Owners:
Refer to the Canadian Zone Office
Map on the next page.

When you call or write, please give

us this information:

Vehicle Identification Number

(see page

252

)

Name and address of the dealer

who services your car

Date of purchase
Mileage on your car

Your name, address, and tele-
phone number
A detailed description of the
problem

Name of the dealer who sold the
car to you

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Warranty Coverages

U.S. Owners

Your new Acura is covered by these
warranties:

New Vehicle Limited Warranty —
covers your new vehicle, except for

the battery, emissions control
systems and accessories, against

defects in materials and

workmanship.

Emissions Control Systems Defects

Warranty and Emissions

Performance Warranty — these two

warranties cover your vehicle's emis-

sions control systems. Time, mileage,
and coverage are conditional. Please
read the warranty instruction for exact
information.

Original Equipment Battery Limited

Warranty — this warranty gives up

to 100 percent credit toward a
replacement battery.

Seat Belt Limited Warranty — a seat

belt that fails to function properly is
covered for the useful life of the
vehicle.

Rust Perforation Limited Warranty

— all exterior body panels are

covered for rust-through from the
inside for the specified time period

with no mileage limit.

Accessory Limited Warranty —

Genuine Acura Accessories are

covered under this warranty. Time
and mileage limits depend on the
type of accessory and other factors.
Please read your warranty instruction
for details.

Replacement Parts Limited

Warranty — covers all genuine

Honda replacement parts against
defects in materials and workman-
ship.

Replacement Battery Limited

Warranty — provides prorated

coverage for a replacement battery
purchased from an Acura dealer.

Replacement Muffler Lifetime
Limited Warranty — provides

coverage for as long as the pur-
chaser of the muffler owns the car.

Restrictions and exclusions apply to
all these warranties. Please read the
2001 Acura Warranty Information

booklet that came with your car for
precise information on warranty
coverages. Your Acura's original
tires are covered by their
manufacturer. Tire warranty
information is in a separate booklet.

Canadian Owners
Please refer to the 2001 Warranty
Instruction that came with your car.

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Reporting Safety Defects (U.S. Vehicles)

If you believe that your vehicle has a
defect which could cause a crash or
could cause injury or death, you
should immediately inform the
National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration (NHTSA) in addition

to notifying Acura Automobile
Division, American Honda Motor Co.,
Inc.

If NHTSA receives similar com-
plaints, it may open an investigation,
and if it finds that a safety defect
exists in a group of vehicles, it may
order a recall and remedy campaign.
However, NHTSA cannot become
involved in individual problems
between you, your dealer, or Acura

Automobile Division, American

Honda Motor Co., Inc.

To contact NHTSA, you may either

call the Auto Safety Hotline toll-free
at 1-800-424-9393 (or 366-0123 in

Washington D.C. area) or write to:

NHTSA, U.S. Department of

Transportation, Washington,

D.C. 20590. You can also obtain
other information about motor

vehicle safety from the Hotline.

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Authorized Instructions

Purchasing Factory Authorized Instructions (U.S. only)

The following publications covering the operation and

servicing of your vehicle can be obtained from Helm
Incorporated, either by filling out the attached form or,
for credit card holders, calling the toll-free phone number
on the form. For instructions prior to the year shown below,
contact Helm Incorporated, P.O. Box 07280, Detroit,
Michigan 48207, or call 1-800-7824356.

Valid only for sales within the U.S. Canadian owners should

contact their authorized Acura dealer.

By completing this form you can order the materials desired. You can
pay by check or money order, or charge to your credit card. Mail to
Helm Incorporated at the address shown on the back of the order form.

61ST705

61ST708

61ST708EL

61ST730

61ST731

31ST7670

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