Honda 2004 Accord Online Reference Owner's Manual page 183

Automatic Transmission
Second (2) This position locks
the transmission in second gear. It
does not downshift to first gear
when you come to a stop.
Use Second gear:
For more power when climbing.
To increase engine braking when
going down steep hills.
For starting out on a slippery
surface or in deep snow.
To help reduce wheel spin.
When driving downhill with a
trailer.
184
Driving
First (1) To shift from Second to
First, press the release button on the
side of the shift lever. With the lever
in this position, the transmission
locks in First gear. By upshifting and
downshifting through 1, 2, D , and D,
you can operate this transmission
much like a manual transmission
without a clutch pedal.
Engine Speed Limiter
If you exceed the maximum speed
for the gear you are in, the engine
speed will enter into the tachometer's
red zone. If this occurs, you may feel
the engine cut in and out. This is
3
caused by a limiter in the engine's
computer controls. The engine will
run normally when you reduce the
RPM below the red zone.