1997 Prelude Online Reference Owner's Manual Contents...Introduction Congratulations ! Your...

1997 Prelude Online Reference Owner's Manual Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through this reference. For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.helminc.com.

Contents

Owner's Identification Form

Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... i

A Few Words About Safety ............................................................................................................... ii

Driver and Passenger Safety ............................................................................................................ 3 Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restraint System. Instruments and Controls ................................................................................................................ 27Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls.

Comfort and Convenience Features .............................................................................................. 69How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features.

Before Driving.................................................................................................................................. 97What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.

Driving .............................................................................................................................................. 107The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, plus towing a trailer.

Maintenance ..................................................................................................................................... 135The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer.

Appearance Care.............................................................................................................................. 191Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your vehicle ever needs body repairs.

Taking Care of the Unexpected ...................................................................................................... 199This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, and how to handle them.

Technical Information..................................................................................................................... 223ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information. Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada) ................................................................ 235A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact us.

Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)...................................................................................................... 241How to order manuals and other technical literature. Index...................................................................................................................................................... I

Gas Station InformationA summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.

Introduction

Congratulations ! Your selection of a 1997 Honda Prelude was a wiseinvestment. It will give you years of driving pleasure.

One of the best ways to enhance the enjoyment of your new Honda is toread this manual. In it, you will learn how to operate its driving controls andconvenience items. Afterwards, keep this owner's manual in your vehicle soyou can refer to it at any time.

Several warranties protect your new Honda. Read the warranty bookletthoroughly so you understand the coverages and are aware of your rightsand responsibilities.

Maintaining your vehicle according to the schedules given in this manualhelps to keep your driving trouble-free while it preserves your investment.When your vehicle needs maintenance, keep in mind that your Hondadealer's staff is specially trained in servicing the many systems unique toyour Honda. Your Honda dealer is dedicated to your satisfaction and will bepleased to answer any questions and concerns.

31S30601

As you read this manual, you willfind information that is preceded by

symbol. Thisinformation is intended to help youavoid damage to your Honda, otherproperty, or the environment.

NOTICEa

Main Menu ▲ ▼

A Few Words About Safety

Your safety, and the safety of others,is very important. And operating thisvehicle safely is an importantresponsibility.

To help you make informeddecisions about safety, we haveprovided operating procedures andother information on labels and inthis manual. This information alertsyou to potential hazards that couldhurt you or others.

Of course, it is not practical orpossible to warn you about all thehazards associated with operating ormaintaining your vehicle. You mustuse your own good judgement.

You will find important safety information in a variety of forms, including:

Safety Labels — on the vehicle.Safety Messages — preceded by a safety alert symbol and one of

three signal words: DANGER, WARNING, or CAUTION.These signal words mean:

You WILL be KILLED or SERIOUSLYHURT if you don't follow instructions.

You CAN be KILLED or SERIOUSLYHURT if you don't follow instructions.

You CAN be HURT if you don't followinstructions.

Safety Headings — such as Important Safety Reminders or ImportantSafety Precautions.

Safety Section — such as Driver and Passenger Safety.Instructions — how to use this vehicle correctly and safely.

This entire book is filled with important safety information — please read itcarefully.

Main Menu ▲ ▼

Driver and Passenger Safety

This section gives you importantinformation about occupant protec-tion. It shows how to use seat beltsproperly. It explains the Supple-mental Restraint System. And itgives useful information about howto protect infants and children inyour car.

Your Occupant Protection System.. 4The Seat Belt System

and How It Works...................... 5Why Wear Seat Belts.................... 5Important Safety Reminders........ 5Seat Belt System Components..... 6Lap/Shoulder Belt......................... 6Wearing Seat Belts Properly........ 7Wearing a Lap/Shoulder Belt...... 7Advice for Pregnant Women........ 9Seat Belt Maintenance.................. 9

Supplemental Restraint System..... 10SRS Components......................... 10What Happens In a Crash........... 10Important Facts About

Airbags...................................... 11How the Driver's Airbag

Works........................................ 12How the Passenger's Airbag

Works........................................ 13How the SRS Indicator Light

Works......................................14System Service............................. 14System Service Precautions....... 15

Additional Safety Information........ 16Seat-back Position........................ 16

Head Restraint Position.............. 16Door Locks................................... 17Storing Cargo Safely................... 17Driving with Pets......................... 17

Child Safety...................................... 18Where Should Children Sit?....... 18Important Safety Reminders...... 19General Guidelinesfor Restraining ChildrenUnder 40 Ibs (18kg)............... 19

Restrainingan Infant Who WeighsLess Than 20 Ibs (9 kg).......... 20

Restraininga Child Who Weighs Between20 and 40 Ibs (9 and 18 kg)..... 20

Restraining a Child Who WeighsOver 40 Ibs (18 kg).................. 21

Securing a Child Seat with aLap/Shoulder Belt................... 22

Using Child Restraintswith Tethers............................. 22

Storing a Child Seat..................... 23Alcohol and Drugs........................... 24Carbon Monoxide Hazard.............. 25Safety Labels.................................... 26


Main Menu ▲ ▼

Your Occupant Protection System

Your Honda is equipped with seatbelts and other features that worktogether to protect you and yourpassengers during a crash.

Seat belts are the most importantpart of your occupant protectionsystem. When worn properly, seatbelts can reduce the chance ofserious injury or death in a crash.

For added protection during a severefrontal collision, your Prelude has aSupplemental Restraint System(SRS) with airbags for the driver anda front seat passenger.

Two indicator lights are also part ofyour safety system. One reminds youto make sure you and your passen-gers wear seat belts. The otheralerts you to a possible problem withyour supplemental restraint system(see page 14).

The seats, head restraints and doorlocks also play a role in occupantsafety. For example, reclining theseat-back can decrease the effec-tiveness of your seat belt. Headrestraints can help protect your neckand head, especially during rear-endimpacts. Door locks help keep yourdoors from being accidentallyopened during a crash.

To get the maximum protection fromyour occupant protection system,check the following before you driveaway:

Everyone in the car is wearing aseat belt properly (see page 7) .Infants and small children areproperly secured in child safetyseats (see page 18).Both doors are closed and locked(see page 17).Seat-backs are upright and headrestraints are properly adjusted(see pages 16 and 55).There are no loose items thatcould be thrown around and hurtsomeone during a crash or suddenstop (see page 17).

By following these guidelines, youcan reduce injuries to yourself andyour passengers in many crashsituations. Remember, however, thatno safety system can prevent allinjuries or deaths that can occur insevere crashes.


Main Menu Table of Contents ▲ ▼

The Seat Belt System and How It Works

Why Wear Seat BeltsWearing seat belts, and wearingthem properly, is fundamental toyour safety and the safety of yourpassengers.

During a crash or emergency stop,seat belts can help keep you frombeing thrown against the inside ofthe car, against other occupants, orout of the car.

Of course, seat belts cannot com-pletely protect you in every crash.But, in most cases, seat belts reduceyour chance of serious injury. Theycan even save your life. That is whymany states and all Canadian pro-vinces require you to wear seat belts.

Important Safety RemindersSeat belts are designed for adultsand larger children. All infants andsmall children must be properlyrestrained in child safety seats (seepage 18).

A pregnant woman needs to wear aseat belt to protect herself and herunborn child (see page 9).

Two people should never use thesame seat belt. If they do, they couldbe very seriously injured in a crash.

Do not place the shoulder portion ofa lap/shoulder belt under your armor behind your back. This couldincrease the chance of seriousinjuries in a crash.

Do not put shoulder belt pads orother accessories on seat belts. Theycan reduce the effectiveness of thebelts and increase the chance ofinjury.


Not wearing a seat beltincreases the chance of seriousinjury or death in a crash.

Be sure you and yourpassengers always wear seatbelts and wear them properly.



Seat Belt System ComponentsYour Honda has lap/shoulder seatbelts in all four seating positions.

Your seat belt system also includes alight on the instrument panel toremind you to fasten your seat belt,and to make sure your passengersfasten theirs. This light comes onwhen you turn on the ignition if youhave not fastened your seat belt. Abeeper also sounds for severalseconds (see page 30).

The following pages cover moreabout the seat belt components andhow they work.

Lap/Shoulder Belt

This style of seat belt has a singlebelt that goes over your shoulder,across your chest, and across yourhips.Each lap/shoulder belt has anemergency locking retractor. Innormal driving, the retractor lets youmove freely in your seat while itkeeps some tension on the belt.During a collision or sudden stop,the retractor automatically locks thebelt to help restrain your body.

The lap/shoulder belt retractor ineach passenger seating position hasan additional locking mechanismintended to secure a child seat (seepage 22). If the shoulder part of thebelt is pulled all the way out, thismechanism will engage. The belt willretract, but it will not allow thepassenger to move freely. If the beltfeels too tight, unlatch it, let it retractfully, then pull it out as far as needed.


SHOULDERPORTION

UPPER SEATBELT ANCHOR

LAPPORTION

BUCKLE

LATCHPLATE



Wearing Seat Belts ProperlyYou can increase the effectiveness ofyour seat belts if you take a littletime to read the following pages andmake sure you know how to wearseat belts properly.

Wearing a Lap/Shoulder BeltBefore putting on the seat belt, movethe driver's seat as far back as ispractical while still allowing you tomaintain full control of the vehicle.Make sure the seat-back is upright(see page 16). The front seatpassenger should move the seat asfar back as possible.

1. Pull the latch plate across yourbody and insert it into the buckle.Tug on the belt to make sure thelatch is securely locked.

CONTINUED


Not wearing a seat belt properlyincreases the chance of seriousinjury or death in a crash.




2. Check that the belt is not twisted.

3. Position the lap portion of the beltas low as possible across your hips,not across your stomach. This letsyour strong pelvic bones take theforce of a crash.

4. Pull up on the shoulder part of thebelt to remove any slack. Makesure the belt goes over yourcollarbone and across your chest.

To unlatch the seat belt, push thered PRESS button on the buckle.Guide the belt across your body tothe door pillar.

After you exit the vehicle, make surethe seat belt is out of the way andwill not get closed in the door.




Advice for Pregnant Women

Protecting the mother is the bestway to protect her unborn child.Therefore, a pregnant woman shouldwear a properly-positioned seat beltwhenever she drives or rides in a car.

When using a seat belt, remember tokeep the lap portion as low aspossible (see page 7).

Each time you have a check-up, askyour doctor if it's okay for you todrive and how you should position alap/shoulder seat belt.

Seat Belt MaintenanceFor safety, you should check thecondition of your seat belts regularly.

Pull out each belt fully and look forfrays, cuts, burns, and wear. Checkthat the latches work smoothly andthe lap/shoulder belts retract easily.Any belt not in good condition or notworking properly should be replaced.

If a seat belt is worn during a crash,have your dealer replace the belt andinspect the anchors for damage.

For information on how to clean yourseat belts, see page 195.



Supplemental Restraint System

Your car is equipped with a Supple-mental Restraint System (SRS) tohelp protect the head and chest ofthe driver and front seat passengerduring a severe frontal collision.

This system does not replace your seatbelts. It supplements, or adds to, theprotection offered by seat belts andother occupant protection features.

SRS ComponentsYour supplemental restraint systemincludes:

One airbag in the steering wheelfor the driver and another in thedashboard for the passenger.

Sensors that can detect a severefrontal collision.

A sophisticated electronic systemthat continually monitors thesensors, control unit, airbagactivators, and all related wiringwhen the ignition is ON (II).

An indicator light on the instru-ment panel to alert you to apossible problem with thesystem.

Emergency backup power incase your car's electrical systemis disconnected in a crash.

What Happens In a CrashIf you ever have a severe frontalcollision, the sensors will detectrapid deceleration and signal thecontrol unit to instantly inflate theairbags.

During a crash, your seat belts willhelp to restrain your lower body andtorso. The airbags will provide acushion to absorb crash energy andhelp keep the head and chest of thedriver and front passenger fromstriking the interior of the car.

After inflating, the airbags willimmediately deflate. The entireprocess, from detection to deflation,takes a fraction of a second. Thisprocess occurs so quickly that youmay not hear the loud noise createdby the airbag inflators, or realizewhat has happened.


Not wearing a seat beltincreases the chance of seriousinjury or death in a crash, evenif you have airbags.




After the crash, you may see whatlooks like smoke. This is actuallypowder from the airbag's surface.People with respiratory problemsmay experience some temporarydiscomfort from the chemicals usedby the airbag's activators.

Important Facts About AirbagsAirbags inflate only when needed; ina severe frontal collision. A severecollision would be similar to a crashinto a parked vehicle of similar sizeand weight at 25 mph (40 km/h).Airbags will not inflate in a moderatefrontal collision, or during a rearimpact, side impact, or rollover —even if the impact is severe.

Airbags inflate and deflate only once.They cannot protect you during anyadditional impacts that can occurduring a crash sequence.

Injuries, including fatal injuries, canoccur in a severe collision, even ifseat belts are worn properly and theairbags inflate. No safety system canprovide complete protection in asevere crash.

Just from viewing the vehicledamage after a crash, it is verydifficult to accurately determine ifthe airbags should or should nothave inflated. In some cases wherethe airbag did not inflate, extensivevisible damage indicated that the carabsorbed much of the crash energy,and the airbags were not needed. Inother cases, a severe jolt, such as animpact to the undercarriage, may notcause extensive body damage butmay still cause the airbags to inflate.


Frontal Collision Range



How the Driver's Airbag Works

If you ever have a severe frontalcollision, your airbag will instantlyinflate to help protect your head andchest.

To do its job, the airbag inflates withconsiderable force. So, while it canreduce serious injuries and even saveyour life, the airbag might causesome facial abrasions or otherinjuries. To reduce the possibility ofinjury, you should always sit back asfar from the steering wheel aspractical while still maintaining fullvehicle control.

After the bag completely inflates, itimmediately starts deflating so itwon't interfere with your visibility,ability to steer, or ability to operateother controls. The total time forinflation and deflation is a fraction ofa second. You may not even beaware that the airbag has been fullyinflated.




The driver's airbag is stored in thecenter of the steering wheel. Foryour safety, do not attach any itemsto the steering wheel. They couldinterfere with the proper operationof the airbag. Or, if the airbaginflates, they could be propelledinside the car and hurt someone.

How the Passenger's AirbagWorks

If you ever have a severe frontalcollision, the passenger's airbag willinflate at the same time as the driver'sairbag.

This airbag is quite large and inflateswith considerable force. It canseriously hurt a front seat passengerwho is not in the proper position andwearing the seat belt properly.

Front seat passengers should movethe seat as far back as practical andsit well back in the seat.

We strongly recommend that you donot put an infant seat in the frontpassenger's seat. If the airbaginflates, it can hit the infant seat withgreat force. The infant seat can bedislodged or struck with enoughforce to cause very serious injury tothe infant.

If a toddler seat is used in the frontpassenger's seat, the vehicle seatshould be moved as far back aspossible. If the passenger's baginflates, it could seriously hurt atoddler who is not in the properposition or properly restrained.

CONTINUED




The passenger's airbag is storednear the top of the dashboard, undera lid marked SRS. Do not place anyobjects on top of this lid. If the airbaginflates, those objects can bepropelled inside the car and possiblyhurt someone.

How the SRS IndicatorLight Works

The purpose of the SRS light on yourinstrument panel is to alert you to apotential problem with your supple-mental restraint system.

Have the system checked if:

The light does not come on whenyou turn the ignition ON (II).

The light stays on after the enginestarts.

The light comes on or flasheswhile you are driving.

If you see any of these indications,the airbag may not work whenneeded in an accident. Take the carto your dealer promptly for diagnosisand service.

System ServiceYour supplemental restraint systemis virtually maintenance-free. Theonly scheduled maintenance is aninspection of the system by thedealer when the car is ten years old.For your convenience, the car'sproduction date is on a label on thedriver's doorjamb.

If either of the following happens,you must have an authorized Hondadealer service the system. There areno parts you can safely service.

If your airbags ever inflate, theairbags and control unit must bereplaced. Do not try to remove ordiscard the airbags yourself. Thismust be done by a Honda dealer.


SRS



If the SRS Indicator light alertsyou to a problem, have thesupplemental restraint systeminspected as soon as possible. Ifyou ignore this indication, theairbags might not inflate when youneed them.

System Service PrecautionsDo not modify your steering wheelor any other part of the supplementalrestraint system. Modifications couldmake the system ineffective.

Do not tamper with the system'scomponents or wiring. This couldcause the airbags to inflate inadver-tently, possibly injuring someonevery seriously.

Tell anyone who works on your carthat you have a supplementalrestraint system. Failure to followthe procedures and precautions inthe official Honda service manualcould result in personal injury ordamage to the system.

Scrapping an entire car that hasuninflated airbags can be dangerous.Get assistance from a Honda dealerif your car must be scrapped.

If you sell your car, please be sure totell the new owner that the car has asupplemental restraint system. Alertthem to the information and precau-tions in this part of the owner'smanual.



Additional Safety Information

The seat belts and airbags are obvi-ously important parts of your occu-pant protection system.

In addition, you should know thatsitting upright, adjusting the headrestraints properly, locking the doors,and stowing things properly can alsoincrease your safety and possiblyeven save your life.

Seat-back PositionThe seat-backs should be in anupright position for you and yourpassengers to get the most protec-tion from the seat belts.

If you recline a seat-back, you reducethe protective capability of your seatbelt. The farther a seat-back isreclined, the greater the risk thatyou will slide under the belt in asevere crash and be very seriouslyinjured.

For information on how to adjust theseat-back, see page 53.

Head Restraint Position

Head restraints can help protect youfrom whiplash and other injuries. Forthe best protection, adjust the top ofthe restraint so it is even with thetops of your ears, or as high as possi-ble. For instructions on adjusting thehead restraints, see page 55.



Additional Safety Information

Door LocksIt is not safe to leave your car doorsunlocked. A passenger, especially achild, could open a door and acci-dentally fall out. Also, there is agreater chance of being thrown outof the car during a crash when thedoors are not locked.

Storing Cargo SafelyBefore you drive, make sure youfirst securely store or tie down anyitems that could be thrown aroundthe car and hurt someone, orinterfere with your ability to operatethe controls.

Do not put any items on top of therear shelf. They can block your viewand they could be thrown about thecar in a crash.

Be sure to keep compartment doorsclosed when the car is moving. If afront passenger hits the door of anopen glove box, for example, hecould injure his knees.

For information on loading cargo,see page 106.

Driving with PetsLoose pets can be a hazard while youare driving. An unrestrained pet caninterfere with your ability to drivethe car. In a crash or sudden stop,loose pets or cages can be thrownaround inside the car and hurt you oryour passengers. It is also for theirsafety that pets should be properlyrestrained in your car.

The recommended way to restrain amedium-sized or larger dog is with aspecial traveling harness. This har-ness can be secured to the rear seatwith a seat belt. Travel harnesses areavailable at pet stores.

A small dog, cat, or other smallanimal will be safest in a pet carrierwith rigid sides. Choose a style thatallows you to secure it to the car'sseat by routing a seat belt throughthe carrier's handle.

For further information, contact yourveterinarian or local animal protec-tion society.



Child Safety

Children depend on adults to protectthem. To help make sure we do,every state and Canadian provincehas laws requiring infants and youngchildren to be properly restrainedwhenever they ride in a car.

Where Should Children Sit?According to accident statistics,children of all sizes and ages aresafer when they are properlyrestrained in the rear seat ratherthan the front seat.

We recommend that, wheneverpossible, you secure your child'sinfant or toddler seat in the rear seatwith a lap/shoulder belt. Be sure tofollow the instructions for securing achild seat with a lap/shoulder belt onpage 22.


If a toddler seat is used in the frontpassenger's seat, the vehicle seatshould be moved as far back aspossible. If the passenger's baginflates, it could seriously hurt atoddler who is not in the properposition or properly restrained.

We also recommend that any childwho is too large to use an infant ortoddler seat ride in the rear seat. Thechild should then wear the lap/shoulder belt properly for protection.

If the child is not large enough towear the lap/shoulder belt properly,you should use a booster seat.


An infant or child who is notproperly restrained can be killedor seriously injured in a crash.

Be sure any child too small forseat belts is properly secured ina child restraint.


Child Safety

Important Safety RemindersNever hold a baby or child on yourlap when riding in a car. If you arewearing your seat belt, the violentforces created during a crash willtear the child from your arms. Thechild could be seriously hurt or killed.

If you are holding a child and notwearing a seat belt in a crash, youcould crush the child against the car'sinterior.

Never put your seat belt overyourself and a child. During a crash,the belt could press deep into thechild, causing serious internalinjuries.

Two children should never use thesame seat belt. If they do, they couldbe very seriously injured in a crash.

For their safety, do not leavechildren alone in your car withoutadult supervision.

General Guidelines forRestraining Children Under40 lbs (18kg)Use an approved child seat. The seatmust meet Federal Motor VehicleSafety Standard 213 (FMVSS-213) orCanadian Motor Vehicle SafetyStandards. Look for the manufac-turer's statement of compliance onthe box and seat.

Use a seat of the right size. Make surethe seat fits your child. Check theseat manufacturer's instructions andlabels for height and weight limits.

Secure the child seat to the car. Al lapproved child seats are designed tobe secured to the car seat by the lapbelt portion of a lap/shoulder belt. Achild whose seat is not properlysecured to the car can be endan-gered in a crash.

To properly route a seat belt througha child seat, follow the seat maker'sinstructions. Be sure to follow theinstructions for securing a child seatwith a lap/shoulder belt on page 22 .

Secure the child in the child seat. Makesure the infant or child is firmlysecured to the child seat. Use thestraps provided, and carefully followthe manufacturer's instructions.



Child Safety

Restraining an Infant WhoWeighs Less Than 20 Ibs(9 kg)

An infant up to about 20 Ibs (9 kg)must be restrained in an infant seator a convertible seat designed for ababy. Because infants must ride in areclining position, be sure the infantseat always faces the REAR of thecar as shown.

We recommend that, wheneverpossible, you put the infant seat inthe rear seat and secure it to the carwith a lap/shoulder belt. Be sure tofollow the instructions for securing achild seat with a lap/shoulder belt onpage 22.


Restraining a Child Who WeighsBetween 20 and 40 Ibs(9 and 18 kg)

Toddler seats are designed forchildren who weigh between 20 and40 Ibs (9 and 18 kg).



Child Safety

The preferred place to put a toddlerseat is in the rear seat. Use the car'slap/shoulder belt to secure the seatto the car. Be sure to follow theinstructions for securing a child seatwith a lap/shoulder belt on page 22.

If you are using a toddler seat in thefront passenger's seat, move thepassenger's seat as far back aspossible before installing the childseat. If the passenger's bag inflates,it could seriously hurt a toddler whois not in the proper position orproperly restrained.

Restraining a Child Who WeighsOver 40 Ibs (18 kg)

We recommend that, wheneverpossible, a child who has outgrown atoddler seat ride in the rear seat anduse a lap/shoulder belt.

Put the lap/shoulder belt on yourchild and check its fit. The shoulderbelt should fit over the collarboneand across the chest. The lap beltshould sit low on your child's hips,not across the stomach.

If the shoulder belt crosses the neck,you should use a booster seat.

Several styles of booster seats areavailable. We recommend a designthat allows the child to use the car'slap/shoulder belt.

Whichever style you select, followthe booster seat manufacturer'sinstructions.



Child Safety

Securing a Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder BeltThe lap/shoulder belt retractors inthe passenger seating positions havea built-in locking mechanismintended to secure a child seat.When you are placing a child seat inone of these seating positions, do thefollowing:

1. Place the child seat in the desiredseating position. Route the lap/shoulder belt through the seataccording to the seat manufac-turer's instructions.

2. Insert the latch plate into thebuckle. Make sure it is fullylatched.

3. Slowly pull the shoulder portion ofthe belt out of the retractor until itstops.

4. Allow the belt to slowly feed backinto the retractor. You should heara clicking noise that indicates thelocking mechanism has engaged.

5. After the belt has retracted fully,pull up on the shoulder portion toremove any slack.

6. Push and pull on the child seat toverify that it is held firmly in place.If not, unlatch the seat belt, allowit to retract fully, and repeat thesesteps.

To unlatch the seat belt, push thered PRESS button on the buckle.Guide the belt across to the doorpillar. If the belt doesn't retracteasily, pull it out and check for twistsor kinks.

Using Child Restraints withTethers

Your Honda has two attachmentpoints for tether-style child seats.

Select the attachment point you wantto use and remove the plug with asmall flat-tipped screwdriver orfingernail file.



Child Safety

Then Install the tether hardware thatcame with the child seat.Tighten the bolt to:16 lbf.ft (2.2 kgf.m , 22 N.m)

If you are not sure how to install thehardware, have it installed by yourauthorized Honda dealer.

If you need an anchor plate andmounting hardware, contact yourHonda dealer.

Canadian Models

The anchor plate and mountinghardware for a top tether aresupplied with the car. When install-ing, make sure the toothed washer ison the bottom of the bolt.

The supplied anchor plate isdesigned only for mounting a childrestraint. Do not use it for any otherpurpose.

Storing a Child SeatWhen you are not using an infantseat or other child restraint, eitherremove it or make sure it is properlysecured so it cannot be thrownaround the car during a crash.


TOOTHED WASHER


Alcohol and Drugs

Driving a car requires your full at-tention and alertness. Traffic condi-tions change rapidly. You must beable to react just as rapidly. Alcoholor drugs directly affect your alert-ness and ability to react. Even pre-scription and non-prescription medi-cines can have this effect.

There are laws that deal withdrunken driving. These laws definehow much alcohol it takes in yoursystem to be legally "drunk." How-ever, your judgment and reactiontime get worse with every drink—even the first one.

The safest thing you can do is neverdrink and drive. This can be done ifyou plan ahead. If you know you aregoing to be drinking, make plans toride with a friend who will not bedrinking.

What if you find that you've beendrinking and cannot get a ride from afriend? Find alternative transpor-tation. Call a taxi. Take a bus. Manycommunities have transportationservices devoted to shuttling peoplewho have been drinking.

If you have no choice but to drive,stop drinking and give yourself lotsof time to sober up. Time is the onlything that can make you sober.Things like coffee or a cold showerdon't speed up the process.

If you see friends trying to getbehind the wheel after drinking, stopthem. Drive them yourself orarrange other transportation. If youthink you are interfering, rememberthat your interference will keep themfrom sharing the road with you.



Carbon Monoxide Hazard

Your car's exhaust contains carbonmonoxide gas. You should have noproblem with carbon monoxideentering the car in normal driving ifyou maintain your car properly.Have the exhaust system inspectedfor leaks whenever:

The car is raised for an oil change.You notice a change in the soundof the exhaust.The car was in an accident thatmay have damaged the underside. High levels of carbon monoxide can

collect rapidly in enclosed areas,such as a garage. Do not run theengine with the garage door closed.Even with the door open, run theengine only long enough to move thecar out of the garage.

With the trunk lid open, air flow canpull exhaust gas into your car'sinterior and create a hazardouscondition. If you must drive with thetrunk lid open, open all the windowsand set the heating and coolingsystem as shown below.

If you must sit in your parked car,even in an unconfined area, with theengine running, adjust the heatingand cooling system as follows:

1. Select the Fresh Air mode.2. Select the mode.3. Turn the fan on high speed.4. Set the temperature control to a

comfortable setting.


Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.Breathing it can causeunconsciousness and even killyou.

Avoid any enclosed areas oractivities that expose you tocarbon monoxide.


Safety Labels

These labels are in the locationsshown. They warn you of potentialhazards that could cause seriousinjury. Read these labels carefullyand don't remove them.

If a label comes off or becomes hardto read, contact your Honda dealerfor a replacement.


BATTERY

RADIATOR CAP


Instruments and Controls

This section gives information aboutthe controls and displays thatcontribute to the daily operation ofyour Honda. All the essentialcontrols are within easy reach.

Control Locations............................ 28Indicator Lights................................ 29Gauges.............................................. 34

Speedometer................................ 34

Tachometer.................................. 34Odometer...................................... 34Trip Meter.................................... 34Fuel Gauge................................... 35Temperature Gauge.................... 35Maintenance Required

Indicator.................................... 36Controls Near the Steering

Wheel........................................ 37Headlights.................................... 38Daytime Running Lights............. 38Instrument Panel Brightness..... 39Turn Signals................................. 39Windshield Wipers...................... 40Windshield Washers................... 41Hazard Warning........................... 41Rear Window Defogger.............. 41Steering Wheel Adjustment....... 42

Steering Wheel Controls................ 43Cruise Control.............................. 43

Keys and Locks................................ 46Keys............................................... 46Learning Key................................ 47Immobilizer System..................... 47Ignition Switch............................. 48Power Door Locks....................... 50

Lockout Prevention..................... 51Trunk............................................ 51Glove Box ..................................... 52

Seat Adjustments............................. 53Front Seat Adjustments ............. 53Driver's Seat Height

Adjustment............................... 54Rear Seat Access......................... 54Head Restraints........................... 55

Seat Heaters..................................... 56Folding Rear Seat............................ 56Power Windows............................... 58Moonroof.......................................... 60Mirrors.............................................. 61

Adjusting the Power Mirrors..... 61Parking Brake................................. 62Digital Clock..................................... 63Beverage Holder.............................. 64Console Compartment.................... 65Coin Box........................................... 66Accessory Power Socket ................ 66Ashtrays............................................ 67Interior Lights.................................. 67

Ceiling Lights............................... 67Courtesy Lights........................... 68


Main Menu ▲ ▼

Control Locations

MIRRORCONTROLS(P.61)

POWERWINDOWSWITCHES(P.58)

FUEL FILLDOOR RELEASE(P. 100)

DOOR LOCKSWITCHES(P.50)

DIGITAL CLOCK(P.63)

TRUNK RELEASEHANDLE(P.51)

HOOD RELEASEHANDLE(P.101)

COOLINGCONTROLS(P.70)

AUDIO SYSTEM(P.78)


HEATING/


Indicator Lights

The instrument panel has manyindicators to give you importantinformation about your car.

Lamp CheckThese indicator lights come on whenyou turn the ignition switch ON (II),allowing you to see that they areworking:

SRS IndicatorMalfunction Indicator LampCharging System IndicatorLow Oil Pressure IndicatorAnti-lock Brake System IndicatorSeat Belt Reminder LightD4 LampImmobilizer System IndicatorActive Torque Transfer SystemIndicator

If an indicator does not light duringthis test, it cannot alert you if thatsystem develops a problem. Have thedealer check your car for burned-outbulbs or other problems.

* The U.S. instrument panel is shown. Differences for the Canadian modelare noted in the text.


MALFUNCTIONINDICATOR LAMP

TRUNK-QPEMINDICATOR

DOOR-OPENINDICATOR

SUPPLEMENTALRESTRAINTSYSTEMINDICATOR

PARKING BRAKE ANDBRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR*

ANTI-LOCK BRAKESYSTEM INDICATOR*

IMMOBlLIZERSYSTEM INDICATOR

LOW FUELINDICATOR

CRUISE CONTROLINDICATOR

SEAT BELTREMINDER LIGHT

HIGH BEAMINDICATOR

CHARGING SYSTEMINDICATOR

LOW OIL PRESSUREINDICATOR


Indicator Lights

Seat Belt Reminder Light

This indicator lights when you turnthe ignition ON (II). It is a reminderto you and your passengers toprotect yourselves by fastening theseat belts. A beeper also sounds ifyou have not fastened your seat belt.

If you do not fasten your seat belt,the beeper will stop after a fewseconds but the light stays on untilyou do. Both the light and the beeperstay off if you fasten your seat beltbefore turning on the ignition.

* The U.S. Type SH instrument panel is shown. Differences for the Canadianmodel are noted in the text.


MALFUNCTIONINDICATOR LAMP

TRUNK-OPENINDICATOR

DOOR-OPENINDICATOR

SUPPLEMENTALRESTRAINTSYSTEMINDICATOR

PARKING BRAKE ANDBRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR*

ACTIVE TORQUE TRANSFERSYSTEM INDICATOR

ANTI-LOCK BRAKESYSTEM INDICATOR*

IMMOBILIZERSYSTEM INDICATOR

LOW FUELINDICATOR

CRUISE CONTROLINDICATOR

SEAT BELTREMINDER LIGHT

HIGH BEAMINDICATOR

LOW OIL PRESSUREINDICATOR

CHARGING SYSTEMINDICATOR


Indicator Lights

Supplemental RestraintSystem Indicator

This indicator lights when you turnthe ignition ON (II). If it comes on atany other time, it indicates a problemin the supplemental restraint system.For complete information, see page

14 .

Immobilizer SystemIndicator

This indicator should come on for afew seconds when you turn the igni-tion switch ON (II). It will then gooff if you have inserted a properly-coded ignition key. If it is not a prop-erly-coded key, the indicator willblink and the engine will not start(see page 47 ).

This indicator also blinks severaltimes when you remove the keyfrom the ignition switch.

Charging SystemIndicator

If this light comes on when theengine is running, the battery is notbeing charged. For completeinformation, see page 213.

Low Oil PressureIndicator

The engine can be severely damagedif this light flashes or stays on whenthe engine is running. For completeinformation, see page 212 .

Malfunction IndicatorLamp

See page 214.

Cruise Control Indicator

This lights when you set the cruisecontrol. See page 43 for informationon operating the cruise control.

Parking Brakeand BrakeSystemIndicator

This light has two functions:

1. It lights as a reminder that youhave not released the parkingbrake. Driving with the parkingbrake applied can damage thebrakes and tires.

2. If it remains lit after you releasethe parking brake while the engineis running, or comes on whiledriving, it can indicate that thebrake fluid level is low. This isnormally due to worn brake pads.Have your dealer check thebraking system for worn pads orfluid leaks.


U.S. CanadaS R SBRAKE

CRUISECONTROL


Indicator Lights

U.S. Anti-lock BrakeSystem (ABS)Indicator

This light normally comes on for afew seconds when you turn theignition ON (II), and when theignition switch is turned to START(III). If this light comes on at anyother time, there is a problem in theABS. If this happens, take the car toyour dealer to have it checked. Withthe light on, your car still has normalbraking ability but no anti-lock.

Active Torque TransferSystem Indicator

Type SH onlyThis indicator normally comes on fora few seconds when you turn theignition switch ON (II).If it comes on at any other time,there is a problem in the ActiveTorque Transfer System (ATTS).If this happens, take the car to yourdealer to have it checked. With theindicator on, your car will cornernormally, but you will not have activetorque transfer.

Turn Signal andHazard WarningIndicators

The left or right turn signal lightblinks when you signal a lane changeor turn. If the light does not blink orblinks rapidly, it usually means oneof the turn signal bulbs is burned out(see page 182 ). Replace the bulb assoon as possible, since other driverscannot see that you are signalling.

When you turn on the HazardWarning switch, both turn signallights blink. All turn signals on theoutside of the car should flash.


Canada

A B SATTS


Indicator Lights

Trunk-open Indicator

This light comes on if the trunk lid isnot closed tightly.

Door-open Indicator

This light comes on if either door isnot closed tightly.

High Beam Indicator

This light comes on with the highbeam headlights. See page 38 forinformation on the headlightcontrols.

On Canadian models, this indicatorcomes on with reduced brightnesswhen the Daytime Running Lights(DRL) are on (see page 38).

Low Fuel Indicator "Daytime RunningLights" Indicator

Canadian models onlyThis indicator lights when you turnthe ignition to ON (II) with theheadlight switch off and the parkingbrake set. It should go off if you turnon the headlights or release theparking brake. If it comes on at anyother time, it means there is aproblem with the DRL. There mayalso be a problem with the highbeam headlights.

This indicator is located in the fuelgauge. It comes on as a reminderthat you must refuel soon.


LOW FUEL INDICATOR

D R L


Gauges

SpeedometerU.S. ModelsThis shows your speed in miles perhour (mph). The smaller innernumbers are the speed in kilometersper hour (km/h).

Canadian ModelsThis shows your speed in kilometersper hour (km/h). The smaller innernumbers are the speed in miles perhour (mph).

TachometerThe tachometer shows the enginespeed in revolutions per minute(rpm). To protect the engine fromdamage, never drive with thetachometer needle in the red zone.

OdometerThe odometer shows the total dis-tance your car has been driven. Itmeasures miles in U.S. models andkilometers in Canadian models.It is illegal under federal law (in theU.S.) and provincial regulations (inCanada) to disconnect, reset, or alterthe odometer with the intent tochange the number of miles orkilometers indicated.

Trip MeterThis meter shows the number ofmiles (U.S.) or kilometers (Canada)driven since you last reset it. Toreset it, push the trip meter resetbutton.


TACHOMETER SPEEDOMETER TRIP METER

FUEL GAUGE

TRIP METERRESET BUTTON

MAINTENANCEREQUIRED INDICATOR

ODOMETERTEMPERATUREGAUGE


Gauges

Fuel GaugeThis shows how much fuel you have.It is most accurate when the car is onlevel ground. It may show slightlymore or less than the actual amountwhen you are driving on curvy orhilly roads.

The gauge stays at the same fuellevel reading after you turn off theignition. When you add fuel, thegauge slowly changes to the newreading after you turn the ignitionback ON (II).

Temperature GaugeThis shows the temperature of theengine's coolant. During normaloperation, the pointer should risefrom the bottom white mark to aboutthe middle of the gauge. In severedriving conditions, such as very hotweather or a long period of uphilldriving, the pointer may rise to nearthe upper white mark. If it reachesthe red (Hot) mark, pull safely to theside of the road. Turn to page 210 forinstructions and precautions onchecking the engine's coolingsystem.


TACHOMETER SPEEDOMETER TRIP METER

FUEL GAUGE

TRIP METERRESET BUTTON

MAINTENANCEREQUIRED INDICATOR

ODOMETERTEMPERATUREGAUGE


Gauges

Maintenance Required Indicator

This indicator reminds you that it isnearing 7,500 miles (12,000 km)since the last scheduled maintenance.Refer to the Maintenance Schedulesfor Normal and Severe DrivingConditions on pages 140 — 141.

When the distance driven since thelast scheduled maintenance nears7,500 miles (12,000 km), theindicator will turn yellow. If youexceed 7,500 miles (12,000 km), theindicator will turn red.Your dealer will reset the indicatorwhen he performs the scheduledmaintenance. If someone elseperforms the maintenance, reset theindicator by inserting your master orvalet key in the slot beside theindicator.


SLOT INDICATOR


Controls Near the Steering Wheel

The two levers on the steeringcolumn contain controls for drivingfeatures you use most often. The leftlever controls the turn signals,headlights, and high beams. Theright lever controls the windshieldwashers and wipers.

The controls under the left air ventare for the moonroof, cruise controland instrument panel brightness.The switches for the hazard warninglights and rear window defogger areto the right of the steering column.

The tilt adjustment lever on theunderside of the steering columnallows you to tilt the steering wheel.


REAR WINDOWDEFOGGERHORN

BUTTONSTILTADJUSTMENT

HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS

MOONROOF

CRUISECONTROL

INSTRUMENT PANELBRIGHTNESS

HAZARD WARNINGLIGHTS

WINDSHIELDWIPERS/WASHERS



Headlights

The rotating switch on the left levercontrols the lights. Turning thisswitch to the position turnson the parking lights, taillights,instrument panel lights, side-markerlights, and rear license plate lights.Turning the switch to theposition turns on the headlights.

If you leave the lights on with theignition switch in ACCESSORY (I)or LOCK (0), you will hear areminder chime when you open thedriver's door.

To change between low beams andhigh beams, pull the turn signal leveruntil you hear a click, then let go.The blue high beam indicator willlight (see page 33).

To flash the high beams, pull theturn signal lever back lightly, thenrelease it. The high beams will comeon and go off.

The high beams will stay on for aslong as you hold the lever back, nomatter what position the headlightswitch is in.

Daytime Running Lights(Canadian Models)With the headlight switch off, thehigh beam headlights come on withreduced brightness when you turnthe ignition switch to ON (II) andrelease the parking brake. Theyremain on until you turn the ignitionoff, even if you set the parking brake.

The headlights revert to normaloperation when you turn them onwith the switch.




Instrument Panel Brightness

The dial on the dashboard to the leftof the instrument panel controls thebrightness of the instrument panellights. Turn the dial to adjust thebrightness.

Turn Signals

TURN SIGNAL LEVER

Signal a turn or lane change with thislever. Push down on the lever tosignal a left turn, and up to signal aright turn. If you push it up or downall the way, the turn signal continuesto blink even when you release thelever. It shuts off automatically asyou complete the turn.

To signal a lane change, push lightlyon the turn signal lever in the properdirection and hold it. The lever willreturn to the center position as soonas you release it.




Windshield Wipers

The right lever controls the wind-shield wipers and washers. Therotary switch at the end of the leverhas three positions:

INT: intermittent: low speed: high speed

In intermittent, the wipers operateevery few seconds. You can varyhow often the wipers sweep thewindshield by turning the INT TIMEring next to the rotary switch. In lowspeed and high speed, the wipers runcontinuously.

To operate the wipers in mist mode,push the control lever down. Thewipers run at high speed until yourelease the lever. This gives you aquick way to clear the windshield.




Windshield Washers

To clean the windshield, pull back onthe wiper control lever. The washersspray until you release the lever.

The wipers run at low speed whileyou're pulling the lever, thencomplete one more sweep of thewindshield after you release it.

Hazard Warning

Push the red button to the left of theclock to turn on the hazard warninglights (four-way flashers). Thiscauses all four outside turn signalsand both indicators in the instrumentpanel to flash. Use the hazardwarning lights if you need to park ina dangerous area near heavy traffic,or if your car is disabled.

The rear window defogger will clearfog, frost, and thin ice from thewindow. Push the defogger button toturn it on and off. The light in thebutton lights to show the defogger ison. If you do not turn it off, thedefogger will shut itself off afterabout 25 minutes. It also shuts offwhen you turn off the ignition. Youhave to turn it on again when yourestart the car.


Rear Window Defogger

CONTINUED



Make sure the rear window is clearand you have good visibility beforestarting to drive.

The defogger and antenna wires onthe inside of the rear window can beaccidentally damaged. Whencleaning the glass, always wipe sideto side.

Steering Wheel AdjustmentYou can adjust the steering wheelheight to suit your preference. Dothis before you begin driving.

1. Adjust the seat so you are acomfortable distance from thepedals and can operate themsafely.

2. The lever to tilt the steering wheelis under the steering column tothe left. Push this lever all the waydown.

3. Move the steering wheel up ordown to the desired position.Position the wheel so you can seeall the instrument panel gaugesand warning lights. Push the leverup to lock the steering wheel inthat position.

4. Make sure you have securelylocked the steering wheel in placeby trying to move it up and down.


Adjusting the steering wheelposition while driving maycause you to lose control of thecar and be seriously injured in acrash.

Adjust the steering wheel onlywhen the car is stopped.


Steering Wheel Controls

Cruise ControlCruise control allows you to maintaina set speed above 25 mph (40 km/h)without keeping your foot on theaccelerator pedal. It should be usedfor cruising on straight, openhighways. It is not recommended forconditions such as city driving,winding roads, slippery roads, heavyrain, or bad weather. You shouldhave full control of the car underthose conditions.

Using the Cruise Control

The cruise control, as it operates,moves the accelerator pedal. You candamage your car's acceleratormechanism by resting your foot underthe pedal and blocking the movement.

1. Push in the Cruise Control MasterSwitch to the left of the steeringcolumn. The indicator in theswitch will light.

2. Accelerate to the desired cruisingspeed above 25 mph (40 km/h).

CONTINUED


NOTICE

Improper use of the cruisecontrol can lead to a crash.

Use the cruise control onlywhen traveling on openhighways in good weather.

CRUISE CONTROL MASTER SWITCH


Steering Wheel Controls

3. Press and hold the SET/decelbutton on the steering wheel untilthe CRUISE CONTROL light onthe instrument panel comes on.This shows the system is nowactivated.

The set speed may vary slightly,particularly on hills.

Changing the Set SpeedYou can increase the set cruisingspeed in either of two ways:

Press and hold the RESUME/accel button. The car will acceler-ate slowly. When you reach thedesired cruising speed, release thebutton.

Push on the accelerator pedal. Ac-celerate to the desired cruisingspeed and press the SET/decelbutton.

You can decrease the set cruisingspeed in either of two ways:

Press and hold the SET/decelbutton. The car will decelerate.Release the button when youreach the desired speed.

Tap the brake or clutch pedallightly with your foot. TheCRUISE CONTROL light on theinstrument panel will go out.When the car slows to the desiredspeed, press the SET/decel button.The car will then maintain thedesired speed.


RESUME/accel

SET/decel


Steeling Wheel Controls

Even with the cruise control turnedon, you can still use the acceleratorpedal to speed up for passing. Aftercompleting the pass, take your footoff the accelerator pedal. The carwill return to the set cruising speed.

Resting your foot on the brake orclutch pedal will cause the cruisecontrol to cancel.

Cancelling the Cruise ControlYou can cancel the cruise control inany of these ways:

Tap the brake or clutch pedal.

Press the SET/decel and RE-SUME/accel buttons at the sametime.

Press the Cruise Control MasterSwitch.

When you tap the brake or clutchpedal, or press the SET and RE-SUME buttons at the same time, theCRUISE CONTROL light on theinstrument panel will go out and thecar will begin to slow down. You canuse the accelerator pedal in thenormal way.

If you use the brake or clutch pedalto cancel cruise control, the systemremembers the previously-setcruising speed. To return to that

speed, accelerate to above 25 rnph(40 km/h) and press the RESUME/accel button until the CRUISE CON-TROL light comes on. The car willaccelerate to the same cruisingspeed as before.

If you cancel cruise control bypressing the SET and RESUMEbuttons at the same time, thepreviously-set cruising speed iserased. To use the cruise control,accelerate to the desired cruisingspeed and press the SET/decelbutton.

Pressing the Cruise Control MasterSwitch turns the system completelyoff and erases the previous cruisingspeed from memory. To use thesystem again, refer to Using theCruise Control.



Keys and Locks

Keys

Your vehicle comes with two kindsof keys: a master key and a valet key.The master key fits all the locks onyour vehicle:

IgnitionDoorsTrunkTrunk release handleRear seat trunk accessGlove box

The valet key works only in theignition and the door locks. You cankeep the trunk, trunk release handle,rear seat trunk access and the glovebox locked when you leave yourvehicle and the valet key at a parkingfacility.

You should have received a keynumber plate with your keys. Youwill need this key number if you everhave to get a lost key replaced. Keep

the plate stored in a safe place. If youneed to replace a key, use onlyHonda-approved key blanks.

These keys contain electroniccircuits that are activated by theImmobilizer System. They will notwork to start the engine if thecircuits are damaged.

Protect the keys from directsunlight, high temperature, andhigh humidity.

Do not drop the keys or set heavyobjects on them.

Keep the keys away from liquids.If they get wet, dry them immedi-ately with a soft cloth.

The keys do not contain batteries.Do not try to take them apart.


KEYNUMBERPLATE

VALETKEY(Gray)

MASTERKEY(BIack)

LEARNINGKEY(Red)


Keys and Locks

Learning Key

You should also receive a small casecontaining a learning key. It is usedby the Honda dealer to code replace-ment keys to your vehicle'sImmobilizer System. It must not beused in your vehicle's ignition switch.Store the learning key with the keynumber plate in a safe place.

If you attempt to use the learningkey to start your vehicle's engine, itmay cause a malfunction in thesystem that makes your master andvalet keys unusable. If this happens,you should contact your Hondadealer.

If you need a new key made, take thekey number plate, the learning key,and all other keys that came withyour car to your Honda dealer.

Immobilizer SystemThe Immobilizer System protectsyour vehicle from theft. A properly-coded master or valet key must beused in the ignition switch for theengine to start. If an improperly-coded key (or other device) is used,the engine's starting circuit isdisabled.

When you turn the ignition switch toON (II), the Immobilizer Systemindicator should come on for a fewseconds, then go out. If the indicatorstarts to blink, it means the systemdoes not recognize the coding of thekey. Turn the ignition switch toLOCK (0), remove the key, reinsertit, and turn the switch to ON (II)again.

If the system repeatedly does notrecognize the coding of your key,contact your Honda dealer.


CONTINUED


Keys and Locks

Do not attempt to alter this systemor add other devices to it. Electricalproblems could result that may makeyour vehicle undriveable.

If you have lost your key and youcannot start the engine, contact yourHonda dealer.

As required by the FCC:This device complies with Part 15 of theFCC rules. Operation is subject to thefollowing two conditions: (1) This devicemay not cause harmful interference, and(2) this device must accept anyinterference received, includinginterference that may cause undesiredoperation.This device complies with DOC rules inCanada.

Changes or modifications not expresslyapproved by the party responsible forcompliance could void the user'sauthority to operate the equipment.

Ignition Switch

The ignition switch is on the rightside of the steering column. It hasfour positions:

LOCK (0)ACCESSORY (I)ON (II)START (III)



Keys and Locks

LOCK (0) — You can insert orremove the key only in this position.When you turn the key from LOCKto ACCESSORY, you may have toturn the steering wheel to releasethe anti-theft lock. To switch fromACCESSORY to LOCK, you mustpush the key in slightly as you turn it.If your car has an automatic trans-mission, it must also be in Park. Theanti theft lock will lock the steeringcolumn when you remove the key.

ACCESSORY (I) — In this position,you can operate the audio systemand the accessory power socket.

ON (II) — This is the normal keyposition when driving. All featuresand accessories on the car are usable.Several of the lights on the instru-ment panel come on as a test whenyou turn the ignition switch fromACCESSORY to ON (see page 29).

START (III) — Use this positiononly to start the engine. The switchreturns to ON (II) when you let go ofthe key.

The engine will not start if theImmobilizer System does notrecognize the key's coding (see page47).

You will hear a reminder beeper ifyou leave the key in the ignitionswitch in the LOCK (0) orACCESSORY (I) position and openthe driver's door. Remove the key toturn off the beeper.


Removing the key from theignition switch while drivinglocks the steering. This cancause you to lose control.

Remove the key from theignition switch only whenparked.


Keys and Locks

Power Door Locks

Each door has a master door lockswitch. Either switch locks andunlocks both doors. Push the switchdown to lock both doors and up tounlock them.

Each door has a lock tab next to theinside door handle. When you pushin the lock tab on the driver's door,both doors lock. Pulling out the locktab on the driver's door only unlocksthat door. The lock tab on thepassenger's door only locks andunlocks that door.

To lock the passenger's door whengetting out of the car, push the locktab in and close the door. To lock thedriver's door, remove the key fromthe ignition switch and push the locktab in or push the master switchdown, then close the door.

Both doors can be locked from theoutside by using the key in eitherdoor.To unlock only the driver's doorfrom the outside, insert the key inthe driver's door lock, turn the keyand release it. If you turn the keyand hold it, both doors will unlock.Both doors will unlock when youunlock the passenger's door with thekey.



Keys and Locks

Lockout PreventionIf you forget and leave the key in theignition switch, Lockout Preventionwill not allow you to lock the driver'sdoor. With either door open and thekey in the ignition, the master doorlock switches are disabled. If you tryto lock the driver's door by pushingin the lock tab, the tabs on bothdoors immediately pop out.

Trunk

You can open the trunk in two ways:

Pull the trunk release handle tothe left of the driver's seat.

Use the master key to open thetrunk lock. The valet key does notwork in this lock.

To close the trunk, press down onthe trunk lid.

See page 106 for cargo loading andweight limit information. Keep thetrunk lid closed at all times whiledriving to avoid damaging the lid,and to prevent exhaust gas fromgetting into the interior. See CarbonMonoxide Hazard on page 25 .


CONTINUED

TRUNK RELEASEHANDLE

MASTER KEY


Keys and Locks

Glove Box

To protect items in the trunk whenyou need to give the key to someoneelse, lock the trunk release handlewith the master key and give theother person the valet key.

Open the glove box by pulling thebottom of the handle. Close it with afirm push. Lock or unlock the glovebox with the master key.


MASTER KEY

An open glove box can causeserious injury to your passengerin a crash, even if thepassenger is wearing the seatbelt.

Always keep the glove boxclosed while driving.


Seat Adjustments

Front Seat Adjustments

Adjust the seat before you startdriving.

To adjust the seat forward andbackward, pull up on the lever underthe seat cushion's front edge. Movethe seat to the desired position andrelease the lever. Try to move theseat to make sure it is locked inposition.

To change the angle of the seat-back,pull up on the lever on the outside ofthe seat bottom. Move the seat-backto the desired position and releasethe lever. Let the seat-back latch inthe new position.


Reclining the seat-back candecrease the protection you getfrom your seat belt in a crash.

You can slide under the seatbelt and be seriously injured.

Adjust the seat-back to anupright position and sit wellback in the seat.


Seat Adjustments

Driver's Seat Height Adjustment

The height of your driver's seat isadjustable. Turn the dial on theoutside of the seat cushion to changethe height.

Rear Seat AccessTo get into the back seat on thedriver's side, pull up on the seat-backadjustment lever.

To get into the back seat on thepassenger's side, push forward onthe release lever at the base of theseat-back. The seat-back will tiltforward and the entire seat will moveforward to allow easier entry to theback seat. After you return the seat-back to the upright position, pushthe whole seat backwards until itlatches. Make sure the seat is fullylatched before sitting in it.


RELEASELEVER


Seat Adjustments

Head Restraints

The front head restraints helpprotect you and your passenger fromwhiplash and other injuries. They aremost effective when you adjust themso the top of the restraint is evenwith the top of your ears.

The front head restraints adjust forheight. You need both hands toadjust the restraint. Do not attemptto adjust it while driving. To raise it,pull upward. To lower the restraint,push the release button sidewaysand push the restraint down.

To remove a head restraint forcleaning or repair, pull it up as far asit will go. Push the release buttonand pull the restraint out of the seat-back.


Driving your car without headrestraints can lead to seriousinjury to you and yourpassenger in a crash.

Make sure the head restraintsare in place and adjustedproperly before driving.

RELEASEBUTTON


Seat Heaters, Folding Rear Seat

Seat Heaters

On Canadian modelsBoth front seats are equipped withseat heaters. The ignition must beON (II) to use them. Push the frontof the switch to turn the power on ata high temperature setting, and therear to set the heater at a lowtemperature. The HI or LO lamplights and remains on while theheater is on.

To turn the power off, push theopposite side of the switch lightly.The lamp will go out.

Follow these precautions wheneveryou use the seat heaters:

Use the HI setting only to heat theseats quickly. Select the LOsetting when the seats feel warm.The HI setting draws largeamounts of current from thebattery.

Do not use the seat heaters, evenat a low setting, if the engine is leftidling for an extended period.They can weaken the battery,causing hard starting.

Folding Rear SeatThe back of the rear seat folds down,giving you direct access to the trunk.The seat-back can be released frominside the car or inside the trunk.


SEAT HEATER


Folding Rear Seat

To fold down the seat-back frominside the car, insert the master keyin the lock on the rear shelf. Turnthe key clockwise, pull down the topof the seat-back, then release thekey.

To release the seat-back from insidethe trunk, pull the release under therear shelf.

To lock the seat-back upright, push itfirmly against the rear shelf. Makesure it is latched in place by pullingon the top of the seat.

Make sure both rear shoulder beltsare positioned in front of the rearseat-back whenever the seat-back isin its upright position.

Make sure all items in the trunk, oritems extending through the openinginto the back seat, are tied down.Loose items can fly forward andcause injury if you have to brakehard. See Loading Cargo on page106.

Never drive with the seat-backfolded down and the trunk lid open.See Carbon Monoxide Hazard onpage 25.


MASTER KEY RELEASE

Pull


Power Windows

Your car's windows are electrically-powered. Turn the ignition switch toON (II) to raise or lower any window.

Each door has a switch that controlsits window. To open the window,push the switch down and hold it.Release the switch when you wantthe window to stop. Close thewindow by pulling back on theswitch and holding it.

The driver's armrest has a masterpower window control panel. Toopen the passenger's window, pushdown on the switch and hold it downuntil the window reaches the desiredposition. To close the window, pullback on the window switch. Releasethe switch when the window gets tothe position you want.


DRIVER'S WINDOWSWITCH

MAINSWITCH

Closing a power window on achild's hands or fingers cancause serious injury.

Make sure your children areaway from the windows beforeclosing them.


Power Windows

The master control panel also con-tains these extra features:

AUTO — To open the driver'swindow fully, push the windowswitch firmly down and release it.The window automatically goes allthe way down. To stop the windowfrom going all the way down, pullback on the window switch briefly.

To open the driver's window onlypartially, push the window switchdown lightly and hold it. The windowwill stop as soon as you release theswitch.

The AUTO function only works tolower the driver's window. To raisethe window, you must pull back onthe window switch and hold it untilthe window reaches the desiredposition.

The MAIN switch controls power tothe passenger's window. With thisswitch off, the passenger's windowcannot be raised or lowered. TheMAIN switch does not affect thedriver's window. Keep the MAINswitch off when you have children inthe car so they do not injure them-selves by operating the windowunintentionally.

The power window system has a key-off delay function. The windows willstill operate for up to ten minutesafter you turn off the ignition.Opening either door cancels thedelay function. You must turn theignition ON (II) again before you canraise or lower the windows.



Moonroof

Use the switch on the dashboard toopen and close the moonroof. Theignition must be ON (II). Push andhold the switch to open themoonroof. Release the switch whenthe moonroof reaches the desiredposition. To close the moonroof,press and hold the switch.

The moonroof has a key-off delay.You can still open and close themoonroof for up to ten minutes afteryou turn off the ignition. The key-offdelay cancels as soon as you openeither door. You must then turn theignition ON (II) for the moonroof tooperate.

If you try to open the moonroof inbelow-freezing temperatures, or whenit is covered with snow or ice, you candamage the moonroof panel or motor.


MOONROOF SWITCH

NOTICE

Closing the moonroof onsomeone's hands or fingers cancause serious injury.

Make sure passengers areclear of the moonroof beforeclosing it.


Mirrors

Keep the inside and outside mirrorsclean and adjusted for best visibility.Be sure to adjust the mirrors beforeyou start driving.

The inside mirror has day and nightpositions. The night position reducesglare from headlights behind you.Flip the tab on the bottom edge ofthe mirror to select the day or nightposition.

Adjusting the Power Mirrors

Adjust the outside mirrors with theadjustment switch on the driver'sdoor armrest:

1. Turn the ignition switch ON (II).

2. Move the selector switch to L(driver's side) or R (passenger'sside).

3. Push the appropriate edge of theadjustment switch to move themirror right, left, up or down.

4. When you finish, move theselector switch to the center (off)position. This turns off theadjustment switch so you can'tmove a mirror out of position byaccidentally bumping the switch.


TAB

SELECTOR SWITCH

CONTINUED


Mirrors, Parking Brake

Available on all Canadian modelsThe outside mirrors are heated to re-move fog and frost. With the ignitionON (II), turn on the heaters bypressing the button. The light in thebutton comes on as a reminder.Press the button again to turn theheaters off.

Parking Brake

PARKING BRAKE LEVER

To apply the parking brake, pull thelever up fully. To release it, pull upslightly, push the button, and lowerthe lever. The parking brake light onthe instrument panel should go outwhen the parking brake is fullyreleased (see page 31).

Driving the car with the parking brakeapplied can damage the rear brakesand axles.


NOTICEHEATED MIRRORBUTTON


Digital Clock

The digital clock displays the timewith the ignition switch ON (II).

To set the clock:

1. Turn the ignition switch ON (II) todisplay the time.

2. Swing down the front cover of thewide button under the clockdisplay. You will see HOUR, MIN,and RESET buttons.

3. Press and hold the HOUR buttonuntil the hour advances to thedesired time.

4. Press and hold the MIN buttonuntil the numbers advance to thedesired time.

You can use the RESET button toquickly set the time to the nearesthour. If the displayed time is beforethe half hour, pressing RESET setsthe clock back to the previous hour.If the displayed time is after the halfhour, pressing RESET sets the clockforward to the beginning of the nexthour.

For example:1:06 would RESET to 1:00.1:52 would RESET to 2:00.


HOUR MIN RESET


Beverage Holder

The front beverage holder is locatedon the center console.The partition in the beverage holdercan be moved forward or backward.If you want to use the beverageholder, slide the partition forwarduntil it clicks. To put small items inthe beverage holder, slide thepartition completely backward.

Use the beverage holder only whenthe car is parked. If you place cups inthe holder while driving, the liquidmay spill when you go over bumps oraround corners.

Be careful when you are using thebeverage holder. A spilled liquid thatis very hot can scald you or yourpassengers. Spilled liquids can alsodamage the upholstery, carpeting,and electrical components in theinterior.


PARTITION


Beverage Holder, Console Compartment

The rear seat also has a beverageholder in the armrest on the driver'sside.

Console Compartment

To open the console compartment,press the lower lever and lift the lid.

To close, lower the lid and push itdown until it latches.

You can put small items in the traylocated in the console compartmentlid. To use the tray, press the upperlever and lift up the armrest pad.


CONSOLECOMPART-MENT

LEVER LEVER


Coin Box, Accessory Power Socket

Accessory Power Socket

The coin box is located next to thebeverage holder. Open the lid bylifting it up.

To remove the coin box for emptying,lift the coin box up by pushing up onthe middle edge of the coin box onthe console guide. Never use thecoin box for smoking materials.

To use the accessory power socket,pull down the cover. The ignitionswitch must be in ACCESSORY (I)or ON (II).

This socket is intended to supplypower for 12 volt DC accessoriesthat are rated 120 watts or less (10amps).

It will not power an automotive typecigarette lighter element.


ACCESSORYPOWERSOCKET

Coin Box


Ashtrays, Interior Lights

Ashtrays(Optional)Front and rear ashtrays are availableas options. The front ashtray fits Inthe coin box.The rear ashtray fits in the rearpocket on the rear seat armrest onthe driver's side.

Open the rear ashtray by lifting upthe lid. To remove the ashtray foremptying, open the lid and then lift itup and out.

Use the ashtray only for cigarettes,cigars, and other smoking materials.To prevent a possible fire and damageto your car, don't put paper or otherthings that can burn in the ashtray.

Ceiling Lights

The ceiling light contains a mainlight as well as two spotlights.

The ceiling light has a three-positionswitch. In the OFF position, the lightdoes not come on. In the centerposition, the ceiling light comes onwhen you open either door. Afterboth doors are closed tightly, thelight dims slightly, then fades out inabout 10 seconds. In the ON position,the ceiling light stays oncontinuously.

CONTINUED


NOTICE

DOOR ACTIVATED


Interior Lights

Turn on the spotlight by pushing thebutton next to each light. Push thebutton again to turn it off. You canuse the spotlights at all times.

Courtesy Lights

Your car has a courtesy light in theignition switch. The ignition switchlight comes on whenever you openeither door. It remains on, then fadesout in about 10 seconds after bothdoors are closed tightly.

The ignition switch light and ceilinglight (with the switch in the centerposition) also comes on when youunlock the door with the key, thelock tab on the driver's door, or the

master door lock switch.If you relock the driver's door orclose the driver's door with the keyin the ignition switch, the lightsturns off immediately. Otherwise,the light remains on, then fades outin about 10 seconds.

If you keep the door open, the ceilinglight (with the switch in the centerposition) will turn off after threeminutes when the key is not in theignition switch.

On Type SHYour car also has a courtesy light ineach door. Each door light comes onwhen the door is opened, and goesout when the door is closed tightly.



Comfort and Convenience Features

The heating and air conditioningsystems in your Honda provide acomfortable driving environment inall weather conditions.

The standard audio system hasmany features. This section de-scribes those features and how touse them. (If you selected anoptional audio system, refer to theoperating instructions that camewith it.)

Your Honda has an anti-theft audiosystem that requires a code numberto enable it.

Heating and Cooling........................ 70What Each Control Does............ 70How to Use the System............... 72To Turn Everything Off............. 77

Audio System................................... 78AM/FM/CD Audio System....... 78Operating the Radio.................... 79Adjusting the Sound.................... 82Audio System Lighting............... 83Radio Frequencies....................... 83Radio Reception.....,...,...,..,..,,...... 83Operating the CD Player............ 85Operating the CD Changer........ 87Protecting Compact Discs.......... 88CD Player Error Indications....... 89CD Changer Error Indications... 90Operating the Cassette Player... 91Tape Search Functions............... 92Caring for the Cassette Player... 94Theft Protection........................... 95


Main Menu ▲ ▼

Heating and Cooling

Proper use of the Heating andCooling system can make theinterior dry and comfortable, andkeep the windows clear for bestvisibility.

What Each Control Does

Fan Control LeverSliding this lever to the rightincreases the fan's speed, whichincreases air flow.

Temperature Control LeverSliding this lever to the rightincreases the temperature of the airflow.

Air Conditioning (A/C) ButtonThis button turns the air condi-tioning ON and OFF. The indicatorin the button lights when the A/C ison.

Rear Window Defogger ButtonThis button turns the rear windowdefogger on and off (see page 41).

Recirculation ButtonThis button controls the source ofthe air going into the system. Whenthe indicator in this button is lit, airfrom the vehicle's interior is sentthrough the system again (Recircula-tion mode). When the indicator is off,air is brought in from outside thevehicle (Fresh Air mode).


MODE BUTTONS REAR WINDOWDEFOGGER BUTTON

RECIRCULATIONBUTTON

TEMPERATURECONTROL LEVER

FAN CONTROLLEVER

AIR CONDITIONINGBUTTON


Heating and Cooling

Mode ButtonsUse the MODE buttons to select thevents the air flows from.

Air flows from the centerand corner vents in the dashboard.

Air flow is divided betweenthe vents in the dashboard and thefloor vents.

Air flows from the floorvents.

Air flow is divided betweenthe floor vents and the defrostervents at the base of the windshield.

Air flows from the defrostervents at the base of the windshield.

When you select the systemautomatically switches to Fresh Airmode and turns on the A/C.



Heating and Cooling

Vent Controls

You can adjust the direction of theair coming from the dashboard ventsby moving the tab in the center ofeach vent up-and-down and side-to-side.

The vents in the corners of thedashboard can be opened and closedwith the dials underneath them.

How to Use the SystemThis section covers how to set up thesystem controls for ventilation,heating, cooling, dehumidifying, anddefrosting.

The engine must be running for theheater and air conditioning togenerate hot and cold air. 'The heateruses engine coolant to warm the air.If the engine is cold, it will be severalminutes before you feel warm aircoming from the system.The air conditioning does not rely onengine temperature.


CENTER VENT SIDE VENT


Heating and Cooling

It Is best to leave the system in FreshAir mode under almost all conditions.Keeping the system in Recirculationmode, particularly with the A/C off,can cause the windows to fog up.Switch to Recirculation mode whenyou are driving through smoky ordusty conditions, then switch back toFresh Air mode when the conditionclears.

The outside air intakes for theheating and cooling system are atthe base of the windshield. Keepthese clear of leaves and otherdebris.

VentilationThe flow-through ventilation systemdraws in outside air, circulates itthrough the interior, then exhausts itthrough vents near the rear window.

1. Slide the temperature control leverall the way to the left.Make sure the A/C is off.

2. Select and Fresh Air mode.3. Set the fan to the desired speed.

CONTINUED


MODE BUTTONS RECIRCULATIONBUTTON


FAN CONTROLLEVER



Heating and Cooling

To Cool with A/C1. Turn on the A/C by pressing the

button. The light in the buttonshould come on.

2. Make sure the temperaturecontrol lever is all the way to theleft.

3. Select and Fresh Air mode.4. Set the fan to the desired speed.


MODE BUTTONS RECIRCULATIONBUTTON


FAN CONTROLLEVER



Heating and Cooling

If the interior is very warm frombeing parked in the sun, you can coolit down more rapidly by setting upthe controls this way:

1. Start the engine.2. Turn on the A/C by pressing the

button. Make sure the tempera-ture control lever is all the way tothe left.

3. Set the fan to maximum speed.4. Open the windows partially. Select

and Recirculation mode.

When the interior has cooled downto a more comfortable temperature,close the windows and set thecontrols as described for normalcooling.

Air conditioning places an extra loadon the engine. Watch the enginecoolant temperature gauge (see page35) when driving in stop-and-gotraffic or climbing a long, steep hill.If it moves near the red zone, turnoff the A/C until the gauge readsnormally.

To HeatTo warm the interior:

1. Start the engine.2. Select and Fresh Air mode.3. Set the fan to the desired speed.4. Adjust the warmth of the air with

the temperature control lever.

To Heat and Dehumidify with AirConditioningAir conditioning, as it cools, removesmoisture from the air. When used incombination with the heater, itmakes the interior warm and dry.

1. Switch the fan on.2. Turn on the air conditioning.3. Select and Fresh Air mode.4. Adjust the temperature control

lever so the mixture of heated andcooled air feels comfortable.

This setting is suitable for all drivingconditions whenever the outsidetemperature is above 32°F (0°C).

CONTINUED



Heating and Cooling

To Defog and DefrostTo remove fog from the inside of thewindows:

1. Switch the fan on.2. Select

When you select thesystem automatically switches toFresh Air mode and turns on theA/C.

3. Adjust the temperature controllever so the air flow from thedefroster vents feels warm.

4. Turn on the rear window defoggerto help clear the rear window.

'When you switch to another modefrom the A/C stays on.Press the A/C button to turn if off.


MODE BUTTONS REAR WINDOWDEFOGGER BUTTON

RECIRCULATIONBUTTON


FAN CONTROLLEVER



Heating and Cooling

To remove exterior frost or ice fromthe windshield and side windowsafter the car has been sitting out incold weather:

1. Start the engine.2. Select

When you select thesystem automatically switches toFresh Air mode and turns on theA/C.

3. Switch the fan and temperaturecontrols to maximum.

To rapidly remove exterior frost orice from the windshield (on very colddays), first select the Recirculationmode. Once the windshield is clear,select the Fresh Air mode to avoidfogging the windows.

These settings direct all the air flowto the defroster vents at the base ofthe windshield and the side windowdefroster vents. The air flow will getwarmer and clear the windows fasteras the engine warms up. You canclose the side vents with the dialunderneath each vent. This will sendmore warm air to the windshielddefroster vents.

For safety, make sure you have aclear view through all the windowsbefore driving away.

To Turn Everything OffTo shut off the system temporarily,slide the fan speed and temperaturecontrol levers all the way to the left,

You should shut the systemcompletely off only for the first fewminutes of driving in cold weather,until the engine coolant warms upenough to operate the heater. Keepthe fan on at all other times so staleair does not build up in the interior.



Audio System

AM/FM/CD Audio SystemYour Honda's audio system providesclear reception on both AM and FMbands, while the preset buttons allowyou to easily select your favoritestations.

The Anti-theft feature will disablethe system if it is disconnected fromthe car's battery. To get the systemworking again, you must enter acode number (see page 95 ).


AM/FM 1-2 BUTTON TUNE BAR

SEEK BARPRESET BUTTONSPWR/VOL KNOB


Audio System

Operating the RadioThe ignition switch must be inACCESSORY (I) or ON (II) tooperate the audio system. Turn thesystem on by pushing the PWR/VOL knob. Adjust the volume byturning the same knob.

The band and frequency that theradio was last tuned to is displayed.To change bands, press the AM/FM1-2 button. On the FM band, ST willbe displayed if the station is broad-casting in stereo. Stereo reproduc-tion on AM is not available.

You can use any of three methods tofind radio stations on the selectedband: TUNE, SEEK, or the Presetbuttons.

TUNE — Use the TUNE bar to tunethe radio to a desired frequency.Press the side of the bar to tuneto a higher frequency, and the

side to tune to a lowerfrequency. The frequency numberswill start to change rapidly. Releasethe bar when the display reaches thedesired frequency. To change thefrequency in small increments, pressand release the TUNE bar quickly.

SEEK — The SEEK functionsearches the band for a station witha strong signal. To activate it, pressthe SEEK bar on either the or

side, then release it.Depending on which side you press,the system scans upward or down-ward from the current frequency. Itstops when it finds a station with astrong signal.

Preset — You can store the fre-quencies of your favorite radiostations in the six preset buttons.Each button will store one frequencyon the AM band, and two on the FMband.

CONTINUED



Audio System

To store a frequency:

1. Select the desired band, AM orFM. FM1 and FM2 let you storetwo frequencies with each Presetbutton.

2. Use the TUNE or SEEK functionto tune the radio to a desiredstation.

3. Pick the Preset button you wantfor that station. Press the buttonand hold it until you hear a beep.

4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 to store a totalof six stations on AM and twelveon FM.

Once a station's frequency is stored,simply press and release the properPreset button to tune to it.The preset frequencies will be lost ifyour vehicle's battery goes dead, isdisconnected or the radio fuse isremoved.

AM/FM 1-2 BUTTON TUNE BAR

PRESET BUTTONS SEEK BAR



Audio System

AUTO SELECT — If you aretraveling far from home and can nolonger receive the stations youpreset, you can use the Auto Selectfeature to find stations in the localarea.

To activate Auto Select, press theA. SEL/RPT button. A. SEL willflash in the display, and the systemwill go into scan mode for severalseconds. It automatically scans bothbands, looking for stations withstrong signals. It stores the frequen-cies of six AM stations and twelveFM stations in the preset buttons.You can then use the preset buttonsto select those stations.

If you are in a remote area, AutoSelect may not find six strong AMstations or twelve strong FM stations.If this happens, you will see a "0"displayed when you press any presetbutton that does not have a stationstored.

With Auto Select on, you cannotmanually store any frequencies inthe preset buttons. If you do not likethe stations found by Auto Select,you can use the TUNE and SEEKfunctions to find other stations.

Auto Select does not erase thefrequencies that you preset pre-viously. When you return home, turnoff Auto Select by pressing theA. SEL/RPT button. The presetbuttons will then select the fre-quencies you originally set.


TUNE BAR SEEK BAR

AUTO SELECT/REPEAT BUTTON

PRESET BUTTONS


Audio System

Adjusting the SoundBass, Treble, Balance, and Fader areeach adjustable. You select which ofthese you want to adjust by pressingthe MODE button several times. Theselected mode, BAS, TRE, FAD, orBAL is shown in the display.

Balance/Fader — These twomodes adjust the strength of thesound coming from each speaker.BAL adjusts the side-to-side strength,while FAD adjusts the front-to-backstrength.

Select BAL or FAD by pressing theMODE button. Adjust the Balance orFader to your liking by turning thePWR/VOL knob. The number in thedisplay (from — 9 to 9) shows you thecurrent setting.

MODE BUTTON

PWR/VOL KNOB

Treble/Bass — Use these modes toadjust the tone to your liking. SelectTRE or BAS by pressing the MODEbutton. Adjust the desired mode byturning the PWR/VOL knob. Thedisplayed number (from — 5 to 5)shows you the current setting.

The system will automatically returnthe display to normal mode aboutseven seconds after you stopadjusting a mode with the PWR/VOL knob. You can also continuepressing the MODE button until thefrequency is displayed.



Audio System

Audio System LightingYou can use the MODE button toturn the Illumination on the audiosystem on or off when the headlighsare on.

Push and hold the MODE button forthree seconds and the illuminationwill turn off. Push it again for threeseconds to turn the illumination on.

Radio FrequenciesYour Honda's radio can receive thecomplete AM and FM bands.Those bands cover these frequen-cies:

AM band:530 to 1,710 kilohertzFM band:87.7 to 107.9 megahertz

Radio stations on the AM band areassigned frequencies at least tenkilohertz apart (530, 540, 550).Stations on the FM band areassigned frequencies at least 0.2megahertz apart (87.9, 88.1, 88.3).

Stations must use these exactfrequencies. It is fairly common forstations to round-off the frequency intheir advertising, so your radio coulddisplay a frequency of 100.9 eventhough the announcer may identifythe station as "FM101."

Radio ReceptionHow well your Honda's radioreceives stations is dependent onmany factors, such as the distancefrom the station's transmitter,nearby large objects, and atmos-pheric conditions.

A radio station's signal gets weakeras you get farther away from itstransmitter. If you are listening to anAM station, you will notice the soundvolume becoming weaker, and thestation drifting in and out. If you arelistening to an FM station, you willsee the stereo indicator flickering offand on as the signal weakens.Eventually, the stereo indicator willgo off and the sound will fadecompletely as you get out of range ofthe station's signal.

CONTINUED



Audio System

Driving very near the transmitter ofa station that is broadcasting on afrequency close to the frequency ofthe station you are listening to canalso affect your radio's reception.You may temporarily hear bothstations, or hear only the station youare close to.

Radio signals, especially on the FMband, are deflected by large objectssuch as buildings and hills. Yourradio then receives both the directsignal from the station's transmitter,and the deflected signal. This causesthe sound to distort or flutter. This isa main cause of poor radio receptionin city driving.

Radio reception can be affected byatmospheric conditions such asthunderstorms, high humidity, andeven sunspots. You may be able toreceive a distant radio station oneday and not receive it the next daybecause of a change in conditions.

Electrical interference from passingvehicles and stationary sources cancause temporary reception problems.



Audio System

Operating the CD PlayerYou operate the CD player with thesame controls used for the radio.

With the system on, insert the discinto the CD slot Push the disc inhalfway, the drive will pull it in therest of the way and begin to play.The number of the track that isplaying is shown in the display.

You can also play 3-inch (8-cm) discswithout using an adapter ring.

When the system reaches the end ofthe disc, it will return to the begin-ning and play that disc again.

You can switch to the radio while aCD is playing by pressing the AM/FM1-2 button. Press the CD buttonto return to playing the CD. The CDwill begin playing where it left off.

AM/FM1-2BUTTON

CD SLOT CD INDICATOR

REPEAT/RANDOMPLAY BUTTON

CONTINUED


CD BUTTON

PWR/VOLKNOB

EJECT BUTTON


Audio System

If you turn the system off while a CDis playing, either with the PWR/VOLknob or by turning off the ignition,the disc will stay in the drive. Whenyou turn the system back on, the CDwill begin playing where it left off.

Press the eject button to remove thedisc from the drive.

If you eject the disc, but do notremove it from the slot, the systemwill automatically reload the discafter 15 seconds and put the CDplayer in pause mode. To beginplaying the disc, press the CD button.

You can use the TUNE and SEEKbars while a disc is playing to selectpassages and changes tracks.

To move rapidly within a track, pressand hold the TUNE bar. Press the

side to move forward, or theside to move backward.

Release the bar when the systemreaches the point you want.

Each time you press the side ofthe SEEK bar, the system skipsforward to the beginning of the nexttrack. Press the side to skipbackward to the beginning of thecurrent track. Press it again to skipto the beginning of the previoustrack.

REPEAT — To activate the Repeatfeature, press and release the Repeatbutton. You will see RPT in thedisplay. The system continuouslyreplays the current track. Press theRepeat button again to turn it off.

RANDOM PLAY — This feature,when activated, plays the tracks onthe CD in random order, rather thanin the order they are recorded on theCD. To activate Random Play, pressand hold the A. SEL/RPT buttonuntil you see A. SEL in the display.The system will then select and playtracks randomly. This continuesuntil you deactivate Random Play bypressing A. SEL/RPT again.

If the system is in Repeat mode, youmust turn it off by pressing A. SEL/RPT before you can select RandomPlay. Then press and hold the buttonagain until you see A. SEL displayed.



Audio System

Operating the CD Changer(Optional)A trunk-mounted Compact Discchanger is available for your car. Itholds up to six discs, providingseveral hours of continuousentertainment. You operate this CDchanger with the same controls usedfor the in-dash CD player.

Load the desired CD's in themagazine and load the magazine inthe changer according to theinstructions that came with the unit.

To select the CD changer, press theCD button. The disc and tracknumbers will be displayed. A "0" willflash for the track number as the CDis loaded, then it will change to anon-flashing "1 " .

To select a different disc, press theappropriate preset button (1—6). Ifyou select an empty slot in themagazine, the changer will, afterfinding that slot empty, try to loadthe CD in the next slot. Thiscontinues until it finds a CD to loadand play.

If you load a CD in the in-dash playerwhile the changer is playing a CD,the system will stop the changer andbegin playing the in-dash CD. Toselect the changer again, press theCD button. Play will begin where itleft off. Use the CD button to switchbetween the player and the changer.

If you eject the in-dash CD while it isplaying, the system will automaticallyswitch to the CD changer and beginplay where it left off. If there are noCDs in the changer, the display willflash. You will have to select anothermode (AM or FM) with the button.

When you switch back to CD mode,the system selects the same unit (in-dash or changer) that was playingwhen you switched out of CD mode.

To use the SKIP, REPEAT, andRANDOM functions, refer to the in-dash player operating instructions.



Audio System

Protecting Compact Discs

Handle a CD by its edges; nevertouch either surface. Contaminationfrom fingerprints, liquids, felt-tippens, and labels can cause the CD tonot play properly, or possibly jam inthe drive.

When a CD is not being played, storeit in its case to protect it from dustand other contamination. To preventwarpage, keep CDs out of directsunlight and extreme heat.

To clean a disc, use a clean soft cloth.Wipe across the disc from the centerto the outside edge.

A new CD may be rough on theinner and outer edges. The smallplastic pieces causing this roughnesscan flake off and fall on the re-cording surface of the disc, causingskipping or other problems. Removethese pieces by rubbing the innerand outer edges with the side of apencil or pen.

Never try to insert foreign objects inthe CD player or the magazine.



Audio System

CD Player Error IndicationsIf you see an error indication in thedisplay while operating the CDplayer, find the cause in the chart tothe right. If you cannot clear theerror indication, take the car to yourHonda dealer.



Audio System

CD Changer Error IndicationsIf you see an error indication in thedisplay while operating the CDchanger, find the cause in the chartto the right. If you cannot clear theerror indication, take the car to yourHonda dealer.



Audio System

Operating the Cassette Player(Optional)The cassette system features DolbyB* noise reduction, automaticsensing of chromium-dioxide (CrO2)tape, and autoreverse for continuousplay.

Make sure the tape opening on thecassette is facing to the right, theninsert the cassette most of the wayinto the slot. The system will pull itin the rest of the way, and begin toplay.

* Dolby noise reduction manufactured underlicense from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corpo-ration. "DOLBY" and the double-D symbol

are trademarks of Dolby LaboratoriesLicensing Corporation.

CONTINUED


FAST FORWARD/REWIND

T MS

PROG BUTTON DOLBY ON/OFFBUTTON

REPEAT BUTTON


Audio System

The tape direction indicator will lightto show you which side of thecassette is playing. The indicatesthe side you inserted facing upwardis now playing. If you want to playthe other side, press the PROGbutton.

Dolby B noise reduction turns onwhen you insert a cassette. If thetape was not recorded with Dolby Bnoise reduction, turn it off bypressing the NR button.

When the system reaches the end ofthe tape, it will automatically reversedirection and play the other side. Ifyou want to remove the cassettefrom the drive, press the EJECTbutton.

If you turn the system off while atape is playing, either with the PWR/VOL knob or by turning off theignition, the cassette will remain inthe drive. When you turn the systemback on, the tape will begin playingwhere it left off.

To switch to the radio or CD playerwhile a tape is playing, press theAM/FM1-2 or CD button. To changeback to the cassette player, push theCD button.

Tape Search FunctionsWith a cassette playing, you can usethe FF, REW, TMS, or REPEATfunction to find a desired program.

FF/REW — Fast Forward andRewind move the tape rapidly. Pressand release the side of theTUNE bar to fast forward the tape,or the side to rewind. You willsee FF or REW flashing in thedisplay. To stop fast forward orrewind, press the PLAY button. Ifthe system reaches the end of thetape while in fast forward or rewind,it automatically stops that function,reverses direction, and begins to play.



Audio System

TMS — The Tape Music Searchfunction allows you to find thebeginning of a song or passage. Toactivate TMS, press the SEEK bar.Press the side to advance to thebeginning of the next song orpassage, or the side to return tothe beginning of the current song orpassage. FF or REW will flash in thedisplay as the tape moves. When thesystem reaches the beginning of thenext song or passage (FF), or thebeginning of the current one (REW),it goes back to PLAY mode.

REPEAT — The Repeat functioncontinuously replays the currentsong or passage. Press the REPEATbutton to activate it; you will see RPTdisplayed as a reminder. When thesystem reaches the end of the songor passage currently playing, it willautomatically go into rewind.When it senses the beginning of thesame song or passage, the systemreturns to PLAY mode. It will

continue to repeat this sameprogram until you deactivateREPEAT by pressing the buttonagain.

The TMS and REPEAT functionsuse silent periods on the tape to findthe end of a song or passage. Thesefeatures may not work to yoursatisfaction if there is almost no gapbetween selections, a high noiselevel between selections, or a silentperiod in the middle of a selection.


PROG BUTTON DOLBY ON/OFFBUTTON

REPEAT BUTTON

FAST FORWARD/REWIND

TMS


Audio System

Caring for the Cassette PlayerThe cassette player picks up dirt andoxides from the tape. This contami-nation builds up over time andcauses the sound quality to degrade.To prevent this, you should clean theplayer after every 30 hours of use.Your dealer has a cleaning kitavailable.

If you do not clean the cassetteplayer regularly, it may eventuallybecome impossible to remove thecontamination with a normalcleaning kit.

The player automatically ejectscassettes that do not play properly. Ifit ejects a cassette before it begins toplay, it is probably defective andshould not be inserted again. Youmay have a cassette suddenly stopplaying, reverse directions once ortwice and then eject. This is normallyan indication the tape is woundunevenly. It should play after thetape is manually rewound.

Use 100-minute or shorter cassettes.Cassettes longer than that usethinner tape that may break or jamthe drive.

Look at the cassette before youinsert it. If the tape is loose, tightenit by turning a hub with a pencil oryour finger.If the label is peeling off, remove itfrom the cassette or it could causethe cassette to jam in the player.Never try to insert a warped ordamaged cassette in the player.

When they are not in use, storecassettes in their cases to protectthem from dust and moisture. Neverplace cassettes where they will beexposed to direct sunlight, high heat,or high humidity. If a cassette isexposed to extreme heat or cold, letit reach a moderate temperaturebefore inserting it in the player.

Never try to insert foreign objectsinto the cassette player.



Audio System

Theft ProtectionYour car's audio system will disableitself if it is disconnected fromelectrical power for any reason. Tomake it work again, the user mustenter a specific five-digit code in thePreset buttons. Because there arehundreds of number combinationspossible from five digits, making thesystem work without knowing theexact code is nearly impossible.

You should have received a card thatlists your audio system's codenumber and serial number. It is bestto store this card in a safe place athome. In addition, you should writethe audio system's serial number inthis Owner's Manual. If you shouldhappen to lose the card, you mustobtain the code number from yourHonda dealer. To do this, you willneed the system's serial number.

If your car's battery is disconnectedor goes dead, the audio system willdisable itself. If this happens, youwill see "Code" in the frequencydisplay the next time you turn on thesystem. Use the Preset buttons toenter the five-digit code. If it isentered correctly, the radio will startplaying.

If you make a mistake entering thecode, do not start over or try tocorrect your mistake. Complete thefive-digit sequence, then enter thecorrect code. You have three tries toenter the correct code. If you areunsuccessful in three attempts, youmust then leave the system on forone hour before trying again.

You will have to store your favoritestations in the Preset buttons afterthe system begins working. Youroriginal settings were lost whenpower was disconnected.



Before Driving

Before you begin driving your Honda,you should know what gasoline touse, and how to check the levels ofimportant fluids. You also need toknow how to properly store luggageor packages. The information in thissection will help you. If you plan toadd any accessories to your car,please read the information in thissection first.

Break-in Period................................ 98Gasoline............................................ 98

Oxygenated Fuels........................ 98Driving in Foreign Countries..... 99

Service Station Procedures.......... 100Filling the Fuel Tank................. 100Opening the Hood..................... 101

Oil Check................................ 102Engine Coolant Check.......... 103

Fuel Economy................................ 104Vehicle Condition...................... 104Driving Habits............................ 104

Accessories..................................... 105Loading Cargo................................ 106

Before Driving

Main Menu ▲ ▼

Break-in Period, Gasoline

Break-in PeriodHelp assure your car's futurereliability and performance by payingextra attention to how you driveduring the first 600 miles (1,000 km).During this period:

Avoid full-throttle starts and rapidacceleration.

Avoid hard braking. New brakesneed to be broken-in by moderateuse for the first 200 miles (300km).

You should follow these same re-commendations with an overhauledor exchanged engine, or when thebrakes are relined.

GasolineYour Honda is designed to operateon premium unleaded gasoline with apump octane number of 91 or higher.

If you are unable to find premiumunleaded gasoline, you may substi-tute an unleaded regular gasoline.The engine will compensate for thelower octane, but you may notice aslight decrease in power as a result.

We recommend gasolines containingdetergent additives that help preventfuel system and engine deposits.

Using gasoline containing lead willdamage your car's emission controls.This contributes to air pollution.

In Canada, some gasolines containan octane-enhancing additive calledMMT. If you use such gasolines,your emission control systemperformance may deteriorate andthe Malfunction Indicator Lamp onyour instrument panel may turn on.If this happens, contact yourauthorized Honda dealer for service.

Oxygenated FuelsSome conventional gasolines arebeing blended with alcohol or anether compound. These gasolinesare collectively referred to asoxygenated fuels. To meet clean airstandards, some areas of the UnitedStates and Canada use oxygenatedfuels to help reduce emissions.

If you use an oxygenated fuel, besure it is unleaded and meets theminimum octane rating requirement.

Before Driving


Gasoline

Before using an oxygenated fuel, tryto confirm the fuel's contents. Somestates/provinces require thisinformation to be posted on thepump.

The following are the EPA-approvedpercentages of oxygenates:

ETHANOL (ethyl or grain alcohol)You may use gasoline containing upto 10 percent ethanol by volume.Gasoline containing ethanol may bemarketed under the name "Gasohol."

MTBE (Methyl Tertiary ButylEther)You may use gasoline containing upto 15 percent MTBE by volume.

METHANOL (methyl or woodalcohol)You may use gasoline containing upto 5 percent methanol by volume aslong as it also contains cosolventsand corrosion inhibitors to protectthe fuel system. Gasoline containingmore than 5 percent methanol byvolume may cause starting and/orperformance problems. It may alsodamage metal, rubber and plasticparts of your fuel system.

If you notice any undesirableoperating symptoms, try anotherservice station or switch to anotherbrand of gasoline.

Fuel system damage or performanceproblems resulting from the use ofan oxygenated fuel containing morethan the percentages of oxygenatesgiven above are not covered underwarranty.

Driving in Foreign CountriesIf you are planning to take yourHonda outside the U.S. or Canada,contact the tourist bureaus in theareas you will be traveling in to findout about the availability of unleadedgasoline with the proper octanerating.If unleaded gasoline is not available,be aware that using leaded gasolinein your Honda will affect perform-ance and fuel mileage, and damageits emissions controls. It will nolonger comply with U.S. andCanadian emissions regulations, andwill be illegal to operate in NorthAmerica. To bring your car back intocompliance will require the replace-ment of several components, such asthe oxygen sensors and the threeway catalytic converter. Thesereplacements are not covered underwarranty.

Before Driving


Service Station Procedures

Filling the Fuel Tank

1. Because the fuel fill cap is on thedriver's side of the car, park withthat side closest to the servicestation pumps.

2. Open the fuel fill door by pullingon the handle to the left of thedriver's seat.

3. Remove the fuel fill cap slowly.You may hear a hissing sound aspressure inside the tank escapes.Place the cap in the holder on thefuel fill door.

4. Stop filling the tank after the fuelpump automatically clicks off. Donot try to "top off" the tank, leavesome room for the fuel to expandwith temperature changes.

5. Screw the fuel fill cap back on,tighten it until it clicks. If you donot properly tighten the cap, theMalfunction Indicator Lamp maycome on (see page 214).

6. Push the fuel fill door closed untilit latches.

Before Driving

Gasoline is highly flammableand explosive. You can beburned or seriously injuredwhen handling fuel.

Stop the engine and keepheat, sparks, and flame away.Handle fuel only outdoors.Wipe up spills immediately.

FUEL FILL CAP

Pull



Opening the Hood

1. Shift to Park or Neutral and setthe parking brake. Pull the hoodrelease handle located under thelower left corner of the dashboard.The hood will pop up slightly.

2. Standing in front of the car, putyour fingers under the front edgeof the hood to the right of center.Slide your hand to the left untilyou feel the hood latch handle.Push this handle to the left until itreleases the hood. Lift the hood.

3. Pull the support rod out of its clipand insert the end into the hole onthe left side of the hood.

To close the hood, lift it up slightly toremove the support rod from thehole. Put the support rod back intoits holding clip. Lower the hood toabout a foot above the fender, thenlet it drop.

Before Driving

LATCH

HOOD RELEASE HANDLE

SUPPORT ROD

CLIP

CONTINUED



Oil Check

Check the engine oil level every timeyou fill the car with fuel. Wait at leasttwo minutes after turning the engineoff before you check the oil.

1. Remove the dipstick (orangehandle).

2. Wipe the dipstick with a cleancloth or paper towel.

3. Insert it all the way back in its tube.

Before Driving

DIPSTICK



4. Remove the dipstick again andcheck the level. It should bebetween the upper and lowermarks.

If it is near or below the lower mark,see Adding Oil on page 146.

Engine Coolant Check

Look at the coolant level in theradiator reserve tank. Make sure it isbetween the MAX and MIN lines. Ifit is below the MIN line, see AddingEngine Coolant on page 150 forinformation on adding the propercoolant.

Refer to Owner MaintenanceChecks on page 144 for informationon checking other items in yourHonda.

Before Driving

RESERVE TANK

MAX

MIN

UPPER MARKLOWER MARK


Fuel Economy

The condition of your car and yourdriving habits are the two mostimportant things that affect the fuelmileage you get.

Vehicle ConditionAlways maintain your car accordingto the maintenance schedule. Thiswill keep it in top operating condition.

An important part of that mainte-nance is the Owner MaintenanceChecks (see page 144). Forexample, an underinflated tirecauses more "rolling resistance,"which uses fuel. It also wears outfaster, so check the tire pressure atleast monthly.

In winter, the build-up of snow onyour carz's underside adds weight androlling resistance. Frequent cleaninghelps your fuel mileage and reducesthe chance of corrosion.

Driving HabitsYou can improve fuel economy bydriving moderately. Rapid acceler-ation, abrupt cornering, and hardbraking use more fuel.

Always drive in the highest gear thatallows the engine to run and acceler-ate smoothly.

Depending on traffic conditions, tryto maintain a constant speed. Everytime you slow down and speed up,your car uses extra fuel. Use thecruise control, when appropriate, toincrease fuel economy.

A cold engine uses more fuel than awarm engine. It is not necessary to"warm-up" a cold engine by letting itidle for a long time. You can driveaway in about a minute, no matterhow cold it is outside. The enginewill warm up faster, and you getbetter fuel economy. To cut down onthe number of "cold starts," try tocombine several short trips into one.

The air conditioning puts an extraload on the engine which makes ituse more fuel. Turn off the A/C tocut down on air conditioning use.Use the flow-through ventilationwhen the outside air temperature ismoderate.

Before Driving


Accessories

Your Honda dealer has manyGenuine Honda Accessories thatallow you to personalize your car.These have all been approved forinstallation and use on your car, andare covered by warranty.

Some non-Honda accessories youcan buy in the "aftermarket" aredesigned for universal applications.Although they may fit your Honda,they may not be within factoryspecifications. For example, after-market wheels may not meet Honda'sspecifications for width and offset.They could cause suspensionproblems that would not be coveredby your warranty. Improperly-designed accessories can adverselyaffect your car's handling andstability.

Your car has several computer-controlled systems, including theSRS system, the engine's fuelinjection, and the Anti-lock brakesystem. Strong electronic inter-ference can affect their operation.

Electronic communications equip-ment, such as cellular telephonesand two-way radios are regulated bythe FCC (DOC in Canada) andshould not interfere with your car'ssystems. Improper installation, orusing electrical equipment not in-tended for mobile use may interferewith your car's operation. If you wantto install a cellular telephone, othermobile communications equipmentor even add-on stereo amplifiers,please discuss it first with yourHonda dealer.

In many cases, improper installationis the real cause of problems withaftermarket accessories. Have theseaccessories installed by qualifiedtechnicians who are familiar withyour Honda. If possible, have yourHonda dealer inspect the finalinstallation.

Before Driving


Loading Cargo

The maximum load you can carry inyour Honda is 700 Ibs (325 kg). Itincludes the total weight of allpassengers and their belongings, anyaccessories, and the tongue weightof a trailer. This 700 Ibs (325 kg)figure is shown as the VehicleCapacity Weight on the tire infor-mation label attached to the driver'sdoorjamb.

To figure out how much cargo youcan carry:

Figure the total "occupant weight"you will be transporting. To do this,multiply the number of people(driver and all passengers) by 150Ibs (70 kg).

Subtract this number from theVehicle Capacity Weight (700 Ibs/325 kg).

If you are towing a trailer, subtractthe tongue weight. See Towing aTrailer on page 128.

This final number is the total weightof cargo you can load in or on the car.With four occupants (driver andthree passengers), the maximumrecommended weight for cargo is100 Ibs (45 kg).

Where you store this cargo, and howwell you secure it, are just asimportant as how much it weighs.Make sure you load cargo so it willnot shift while driving. Items storedin the trunk should be stored as farforward as possible. You could storeadditional items on the floor behindthe front seats. Make sure theycannot roll under the front seat andinterfere with the pedals.

If you must carry large objects thatprevent you from closing the trunklid, be aware that exhaust gas canenter the interior. See CarbonMonoxide Hazard on page 25.

Never place items on the shelfbehind the back seat. Those itemscan fly forward and injure you oryour passengers if you brake hard orare involved in a collision.

Before Driving


Driving

This section gives you tips onstarting the engine under variousconditions, and how to operate the5-speed manual and automatictransmissions. It also includesimportant information on parkingyour car, the braking system, andfacts you need if you are planning totow a trailer.

Preparing to Drive......................... 108Starting the Engine........................ 109

Starting in Cold Weatherat High Altitude..................... 109

5-speed Manual Transmission..... 110Recommended Shift Points...... 111Maximum Speeds ..................... 111

Automatic Transmission............... 112Shift Lever Position Indicator.. 112Shift Lever Positions................. 113Maximum Speeds...................... 118Shift Lock Release..................... 119

Parking............................................ 120The Braking System...................... 121

Brake Wear Indicators.............. 121Brake System Design................ 122Anti-lock Brakes........................ 122

Important SafetyReminders.......................... 123

ABS Indicator......................... 124Active Torque Transfer System.. 125Driving in Bad Weather................ 126Towing a Trailer............................ 128

Driving

Main Menu ▲ ▼

Preparing to Drive

You should do the following checksand adjustments every day beforeyou drive your car.

1. Make sure all windows, mirrors,and outside lights are clean andunobstructed. Remove frost, snow,or ice.

2. Check that the hood and trunk arefully closed.

3. Visually check the tires. If a tirelooks low, use a gauge to check itspressure.

4. Check that any items you may becarrying with you inside are storedproperly or fastened downsecurely.

5. Check the adjustment of the seat(see page 53).

6. Check the adjustment of theinside and outside mirrors (seepage 61).

7. Check the adjustment of thesteering wheel (see page 42).

8. Make sure the doors are securelyclosed and locked.

9. Fasten your seat belt. Check thatyour passengers have fastenedtheir seat belts (see page 7) .

10.Turn the ignition ON (II). Checkthe indicator lights in the instru-ment panel.

11.Start the engine (see page 109).

12.Check the gauges and indicatorlights in the instrument panel (seepage 29).

Driving


Starting the Engine

1. Apply the parking brake.

2. In cold weather, turn off allelectrical accessories to reducethe drain on the battery.

3. Manual Transmission:Push the clutch pedal down all theway. START (III) does notfunction unless the clutch pedal isdepressed,

Automatic Transmission:Make sure the shift lever is inPark. Press on the brake pedal.

4. Without touching the acceleratorpedal, turn the ignition key to theSTART (III) position. If the enginedoes not start right away, do nothold the key in START (III) formore than 15 seconds at a time.Pause for at least 10 secondsbefore trying again.

5. If the engine does not start within15 seconds, or starts but stallsright away, repeat step 4 with theaccelerator pedal pressed half-waydown. If the engine starts, releasepressure on the accelerator pedalso the engine does not race.

6. If the engine still does not start,press the accelerator pedal all theway down and hold it there whilestarting in order to clear flooding.As before, keep the ignition key inthe START (III) position for nomore than 15 seconds. Return tostep 5 if the engine does not start.If it starts, lift your foot off theaccelerator pedal so the enginedoes not race.

Starting in Cold Weather at HighAltitude (Above 8,000 feet/2,400 meters)An engine is harder to start in coldweather. The thinner air found athigh altitude above 8,000 feet (2,400

meters) adds to the problem.Use the following procedure:

1. Turn off all electrical accessoriesto reduce the drain on the battery.

2. Push the accelerator pedal half-way to the floor and hold it therewhile starting the engine. Do nothold the ignition key in START(III) for more than 15 seconds.When the engine starts, releasethe accelerator pedal gradually asthe engine speeds up and smoothsout.

3. If the engine fails to start in step 2,push the accelerator pedal to thefloor and hold it there while youtry to start the engine for no morethan 15 seconds. If the enginedoes not start, return to step 2.

Driving


5-speed Manual Transmission

The manual transmission is syn-chronized in all forward gears forsmooth operation. It has a lockout soyou cannot shift directly from Fifthto Reverse. When shifting up ordown, make sure you push the clutchpedal down all the way, shift to thenext gear, and let the pedal upgradually. When you are not shifting,do not rest your foot on the clutchpedal. This can cause your clutch towear out faster.

Come to a full stop before you shiftinto Reverse. You can damage thetransmission by trying to shift intoReverse with the car moving. Pushdown the clutch pedal, and pause fora few seconds before shifting intoReverse, or shift into one of theforward gears for a moment. Thisstops the gears so they won't "grind".

When slowing down, you can getextra braking from the engine byshifting to a lower gear. This extrabraking can help you maintain a safespeed and prevent your brakes fromoverheating while going down asteep hill. Before downshifting,make sure engine speed will not gointo the tachometer's red zone in thelower gear. Refer to the MaximumSpeeds chart.

Driving

Rapid slowing or speeding-upcan cause loss of control onslippery surfaces. If you crash,you can be injured.

Use extra care when driving onslippery surfaces.



Recommended Shift PointsDrive in the highest gear that letsthe engine ran and acceleratesmoothly. This will give you the bestfuel economy and effective emis-sions control. The following shiftpoints are recommended:

Maximum SpeedsThe speeds in this table are themaximums for the given gears. Ifyou exceed these speeds, the enginespeed will enter into the tachometer'sred zone. If this occurs, you may feelthe engine cut in and out. This iscaused by a limiter in the engine'scomputer controls. The engine willrun normally when you reduce theRPM below the red zone.

Driving


Automatic Transmission

Your Honda's transmission has fourforward speeds, and is electronicallycontrolled for smoother shifting. Italso has a "lock-up" torque converterfor better fuel economy. You mayfeel what seems like another shiftwhen the converter locks.

Shift Lever Position Indicator

This indicator in the tachometershows which shift position the shiftlever is in. The illuminated numbernext to the "D4" indicator shows youthe gear you have selected in theSequential SportShift mode.

The "D4" indicator comes on for afew seconds when you turn theignition switch ON (II). If it flasheswhile driving (in any shift position),it indicates a possible problem in thetransmission. Avoid rapid acceler-ation and have the transmissionchecked by an authorized Hondadealer as soon as possible.

Driving



Shift Lever Positions

The shift lever has eight positions. Itmust be in Park or Neutral to startthe engine. When you are stopped inD4, D3, 2,1, N, R, or the SequentialSportShift mode, press firmly on thebrake pedal and keep your foot offthe accelerator pedal.

To select the Sequential SportShiftmode, slide the shift lever toward theleft from the "D4" position.In this mode the shift lever allowsyou to shift up and down manually.

Whenever you move the shift lever,slide it along the guide on theconsole.

You cannot shift out of Park with thebrake pedal depressed when theignition switch is in LOCK (0) orACCESSORY (I).

CONTINUED

SHIFT LEVER

SEQUENTIALSPORTSHIFTMODEPOSITION

Driving



Park (P) — This position mechani-cally locks the transmission. UsePark whenever you are turning off orstarting the engine. To shift out ofPark, you must press on the brakepedal and have your foot off theaccelerator pedal. Move the shiftlever to the right to shift out of thePark position.

If you have done all of the above andstill cannot move the lever out ofPark, see Shift Lock Release on page119.

To avoid transmission damage, cometo a complete stop before shiftinginto Park. The shift lever must be inPark before you can remove the keyfrom the ignition switch.

Reverse (R) — To shift to Reversefrom Park, see the explanation underPark. To shift to Reverse fromNeutral, come to a complete stop andthen shift.

Your car has a reverse lockout soyou cannot accidentally shift toReverse from Neutral or any otherdriving position when the vehiclespeed exceeds 7 — 9 mph (12 — 14km/h).

If you cannot shift to Reverse whenthe car is stopped, press the brakepedal and slowly shift to Neutralthen to Reverse.

If there is a problem in the reverselockout system, or your car's batteryis disconnected or goes dead, youcannot shift to Reverse. In this case,use the procedure of Shift LockRelease (see page 119).

Driving



Neutral (N) — Use Neutral if youneed to restart a stalled engine, or ifit is necessary to stop briefly withthe engine idling. Shift to Park posi-tion if you need to leave the car forany reason. Press on the brake pedalwhen you are moving the shift leverfrom Neutral to another gear.

Drive (D4) — Use this position foryour normal driving. The transmis-sion automatically selects a suitablegear for your speed and acceleration.You may notice the transmissionshifting up at higher speeds whenthe engine is cold. This helps theengine warm up faster.

Sequential SportShift Mode — Withthe shift lever in "D4" position, youcan select the Sequential SportShiftmode to use the shift lever to shiftgears; much like a manualtransmission, but without a clutchpedal.

To enter the Sequential SportShiftmode, slide the shift lever further tothe left. To return to "D4", slide theshift lever to the right.

In the Sequential SportShift mode,each time you push forward on theshift lever, the transmission will shiftto a higher gear. Pull back on thelever to downshift. The number ofthe gear selected is displayed next tothe "D4" indicator (see page 112).

If you slide the shift lever from "D4"to the Sequential SportShift mode,the display shows the selected gear.If you selected "4", you will see / 4 /next to "D4" in the display. The Shift

Lever Position Indicator will showthe gear you selected while in thesequential sportshift mode. If youselect the Sequential SportShiftwhile the car is stopped, thetransmission automatically selectsfirst gear and the display shows / 1 / .

CONTINUED

Driving

Upshift

Downshift



When you accelerate away from astop, the transmission will be in firstgear. The transmission will notautomatically upshift. Watch thetachometer and upshift manuallybefore the engine reaches redline.

The transmission remains in theselected gear (4,3,2, or 1). There isno automatic downshift when youpush the accelerator pedal to thefloor.

The transmission may automaticallydownshift from fourth gear to thirdgear under the following conditions:

The vehicle speeds drops below20 mph (32 km/h).

If you drive uphill between20—31 mph (32 — 50 km/h).

If you press the brake pedal as youdrive downhill.

Downshifting gives you more powerwhen climbing or provides enginebraking when going down a steep hill.

The transmission will also shiftautomatically as the car comes to acomplete stop. It will downshift tofirst gear when the vehicle speed isunder 6 mph (10 km/h).

If you try to manually downshift at aspeed that would cause the engine toexceed the redline in a lower gear,the transmission will not downshift.

If you try to downshift from fourthgear to third gear, the gear indicatorwill flash / 3 / several times, thenreturn to / 4 / ; if you try to downshiftfrom third gear to second gear, thegear indicator will flash / 2 / severaltimes, then return to third gear.

Driving



If the vehicle speeds slow to belowthe redline of the selected lower gearposition while the indicator isflashing, the transmissiondownshifts and the display showsthe selected lower gear.

If the transmission temperature isbelow 14°F (— 10°C), you may notbe able to use the SequentialSportShift mode.

The table shows the speed rangesfor upshifting and downshifting.

Drive (D3) —This position is similarto D4, except only the first threegears are selected. Use D3 whentowing a trailer in hilly terrain, or toprovide engine braking when goingdown a steep hill. D3 can also keepthe transmission from cyclingbetween third and fourth gears instop-and-go driving.

For faster acceleration when in D3 orD4, you can get the transmission toautomatically downshift by pushingthe accelerator pedal to the floor.The transmission will shift down oneor two gears, depending on yourspeed.

CONTINUED

Driving



Second (2) — This position locksthe transmission in second gear. Itdoes not downshift to first gearwhen you come to a stop. Secondgives you more power when climbing,and increased engine braking whengoing down steep hills. Use secondgear when starting out on a slipperysurface or in deep snow. It will helpreduce wheelspin.

Whenever you move the shift leverto a lower gear, the transmissiondownshifts only if the engine'sredline will not be exceeded in thelower gear.

First (1) — With the lever in thisposition, the transmission locks inFirst gear.

If you shift into First position whenthe vehicle speed exceeds 31 mph(50 km/h), the transmission shiftsinto Second gear first to avoid theapplication of the sudden enginebrake.

Maximum SpeedsThe speeds in this table are themaximums for the given position. Ifyou exceed these speeds, the enginespeed will enter into the tachometer'sred zone. If this occurs, you will feelthe engine cut in and out This iscaused by a limiter in the engine'scomputer controls. The engine willrun normally when you reduce theRPM below the red zone.

Driving



Shift Lock ReleaseThis allows you to move the shiftlever out of Park if the normalmethod of pushing on the brakepedal does not work. This procedurealso releases the Reverse Lockout.

1. Set the Parking brake.

2. Make sure the key is in theignition switch OFF (0) position.

To release the Reverse Lockout,make sure the key is in theACCESSORY (I) position.

3. Put a cloth on the edge of the shiftlock release slot cover next to theshift lever.Use a small flat-tipped screwdriveror small metal plate (neither areincluded in the tool kit) to removethe cover. Carefully pry off theedge of the cover.

4. Insert a screwdriver in the shiftlock release slot.

5. Push down on the screwdriver andmove the shift lever out of Park toNeutral.

To release the Reverse Lockout,move the shift lever from Neutralto Reverse, then Park.

6. Remove the screwdriver from theshift lock release slot, then installa new cover.Depress the brake pedal andrestart the engine.

If you need to use the Shift LockRelease, it means your car isdeveloping a problem. Have the carchecked by your Honda dealer.

Driving

COVER

SHIFT LOCKRELEASE SLOT


Parking

Always use the parking brake whenyou park your vehicle. The indicatoron the instrument panel shows thatthe parking brake is not fullyreleased; it does not indicate that theparking brake is firmly set. Makesure the parking brake is set firmlyor your vehicle may roll if it isparked on an incline.

If your vehicle has an automatictransmission, set the parking brakebefore you put the transmission inPark. This keeps the vehicle frommoving and putting pressure on theparking mechanism in thetransmission — making it easier tomove the shift lever put of Parkwhen you want to drive away.

If the vehicle is facing uphill, turnthe front wheels away from the curb.If you have a manual transmission,put it in first gear.

If the vehicle is facing downhill turnthe front wheels toward the curb. Ifyou have a manual transmission, putit in reverse gear.

Make sure the parking brake is fullyreleased before driving away.Driving with the parking brakepartially set can overheat or damagethe rear brakes.

Parking TipsMake sure the moonroof and thewindows are closed.

Turn off the lights.

Place any packages, valuables, etc.,in the trunk or take them with you.

Lock the doors.

Never park over dry leaves, tallgrass, or other flammablematerials. The three way catalyticconverter gets very hot, and couldcause these materials to catch onfire.

Driving


The Braking System

Your Honda is equipped with discbrakes at all four wheels. A powerassist helps reduce the effort neededon the brake pedal. The ABS helpsyou retain steering control whenbraking very hard.

Put your foot on the brake pedal onlywhen you intend to brake. Restingyour foot on the pedal keeps thebrakes applied lightly, causing themto build up heat. Heat build-up canreduce how well your brakes work. Italso keeps your brake lights on allthe time, confusing drivers behindyou.

Constant application of the brakeswhen going down a long hill buildsup heat and reduces their effective-ness. Use the engine to assist thebrakes by downshifting to a lowergear and taking your foot off theaccelerator pedal.

Check your brakes after drivingthrough deep water. Apply thebrakes moderately to see if they feelnormal. If not, apply them gently andfrequently until they do. Since alonger distance is needed to stopwith wet brakes, be extra cautiousand alert in your driving.

Brake Wear IndicatorsAll four brakes have audible brakewear indicators.When the brake pads need replacing,you will hear a distinctive metallic"screeching" sound when you applythe brakes. If you do not have thebrake pads replaced, they will beginscreeching all the time.

Your brakes may sometimes squealor squeak when you apply themlightly. Do not confuse this with thebrake wear indicators. They make avery audible "screeching".

Driving


The Braking System

Brake System DesignThe hydraulic system that operatesthe brakes has two separate circuits.Each circuit works diagonally acrossthe car (the left-front brake isconnected with the right-rear brake,etc.). If one circuit should develop aproblem, you will still have brakingat two wheels.

If this happens, you will immediatelynotice that the brake pedal goesdown much farther and you need topress on it much harder. A muchlonger distance will be needed tostop the car.

Slow the car by downshifting to alower gear and removing your footfrom the accelerator pedal. Pull tothe side of the road as soon as it issafe. Because of the longer stoppingdistance needed, brake systemfailure is very hazardous. You shouldhave your car towed, but if you mustdrive the car in this condition, beextremely cautious. Have your carrepaired as soon as possible.

Anti-lock BrakesYour car has an Anti-lock BrakeSystem (ABS) as standardequipment. ABS helps to prevent thewheels from locking up and skiddingduring hard braking, allowing you toretain steering control.

When the front tires skid, you losesteering control; the car continuesstraight ahead even though you turnthe steering wheel. The ABS helps toprevent lock-up and helps you retainsteering control by pumping thebrakes rapidly; much faster than aperson can do it.

Driving

Front


The Braking System

You should never pump thebrake pedal, this defeats thepurpose of the ABS. Let the ABSwork for you by always keeping firm,steady pressure on the brake pedalas you steer away from the hazard.This is sometimes referred to as"stomp and steer."

You will feel a pulsation in the brakepedal when the ABS activates, andyou may hear some noise. This isnormal, it is the ABS rapidlypumping the brakes.

Activation varies with the amount oftraction your tires have. On drypavement, you will need to press onthe brake pedal very hard before youactivate the ABS. However, you mayfeel the ABS activate immediately ifyou are trying to stop on snow or ice.

Important Safety RemindersABS does not reduce the time ordistance it takes to stop the car, itonly helps with steering controlduring braking. You should alwaysmaintain a safe following distancefrom other vehicles.

ABS will not prevent a skid thatresults from changing directionabruptly, such as trying to take acorner too fast or making a suddenlane change. Always drive at a safe,prudent speed for the road andweather conditions.

ABS cannot prevent a loss ofstability. Always steer moderatelywhen you are braking hard. Severeor sharp steering wheel movementcan still cause your vehicle to veerinto oncoming traffic or off the road.

A vehicle with ABS may require alonger distance to stop on loose oruneven surfaces, such as gravel orsnow, than a vehicle without anti-lock. Slow down and allow a greaterdistance between vehicles underthose conditions.

CONTINUED

Driving


The Braking System

ABS Indicator

The ABS is self-checking. It alsochecks itself whenever you use thebrakes.

If anything goes wrong, the ABSindicator on the instrument panelcomes on (see page 32). This meansthe anti-lock function of the brakingsystem has shut down. The brakesstill work like a conventional systemwithout anti-lock, providing normalstopping ability. You should have thedealer inspect your vehicle as soonas possible.

Driving

ABS INDICATOR*

* U.S. indicator shown


Active Torque Transfer System

Type SH onlyYour Honda is equipped with anActive Torque Transfer System(ATTS). Under certain drivingconditions, the ATTS enhances thecar's cornering performance bytransferring some torque betweenthe inside and outside front wheelsduring a turn.

Based on steering wheel turn angle,lateral acceleration, and enginepower, the ATTS regulates thedriving force to each drive wheelthrough an electronically-controlledhydraulic system and two sets ofclutches and gears.

Important Safety InformationThe ATTS cannot preventskidding if you enter a corner toofast. It has almost no effect onbraking and vehicle speed.It is still your responsibility to driveat reasonable speeds and to leave asufficient margin of safety.

ATTS Indicator

The Active Torque Transfer System(ATTS) is self-checking. If a problemis detected in the system, the ATTSindicator on the instrument panelcomes on.If this happens, take the car to yourdealer to have it checked. With theindicator on, your car will cornernormally, but you will not have activetorque transfer.

Driving

ATTS INDICATOR


Driving in Bad Weather

Rain, fog, and snow conditions re-quire a different driving techniquebecause of reduced traction andvisibility. Keep your car well-maintained and exercise greatercaution when you need to drive inbad weather. The cruise controlshould not be used in these condi-tions.

Driving Technique — Always driveslower than you would in dryweather. It takes your car longer toreact, even in conditions that mayseem just barely damp. Applysmooth, even pressure to all thecontrols. Abrupt steering wheelmovements or sudden, hard appli-cation of the brakes can cause loss ofcontrol in wet weather. Be extracautious for the first few miles(kilometers) of driving while youadjust to the change in drivingconditions. This is especially true insnow. A person can forget somesnow-driving techniques during thesummer months. Practice is neededto relearn those skills.

Exercise extra caution when drivingin rain after a long dry spell. Aftermonths of dry weather, the firstrains bring oil to the surface of theroadway, making it slippery.

Visibility — Being able to seeclearly in all directions and beingvisible to other drivers are importantin all weather conditions. This ismore difficult in bad weather. To beseen more clearly during daylighthours, turn on your headlights.

Inspect your windshield wipers andwashers frequently. Keep the wind-shield washer reservoir full of theproper fluid. Have the windshieldwiper blades replaced if they start tostreak the windshield or leave partsunwiped. Use the defrosters and airconditioning to keep the windowsfrom fogging up on the inside (seepage 76 ).

Driving


Driving in Bad Weather

Traction — Check your tiresfrequently for wear and properpressure. Both are important inpreventing "hydroplaning" (loss oftraction on a wet surface). In thewinter, mount snow tires on all fourwheels for the best handling.

Watch road conditions carefully,they can change from moment tomoment. Wet leaves can be as slip-pery as ice. "Clear" roads can havepatches of ice. Driving conditionscan be very hazardous when theoutside temperature is near freezing.The road surface can becomecovered with areas of water puddlesmixed with areas of ice, so yourtraction can change without warning.

Be careful when downshifting. Iftraction is low, you can lock up thedrive wheels for a moment and causea skid.

Be very cautious when passing, orbeing passed by, other vehicles. Thespray from large vehicles reducesyour visibility, and the wind buffetingcan cause you to lose control.

Driving


Towing a Trailer

Your Honda is designed primarily tocarry passengers and their cargo.You can use it to tow a trailer if youcarefully observe some general rules.

The total weight of the trailer andeverything loaded in it must notexceed 1,000 Ibs (450 kg).

The "tongue load" should neverexceed 110 Ibs (50 kg). This is theamount of weight the trailer putson the hitch when it is fully-loaded.As a rule of thumb, the tongueload should be 10 percent of thetotal trailer package. For example,if the trailer and its load weigh 500Ibs (225 kg), the tongue loadshould be 50 Ibs (22.5 kg). Adjustthe trailer's cargo to change thetongue load. Start by puttingapproximately 60 percent of thecargo toward the front and 40percent toward the rear. Neverload the trailer so the back isheavier than the front. This takesweight off your car's rear axle andreduces traction.

The combined weight of the car,all passengers and their luggage,and tongue load must not exceedthe Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.The GVWR is printed on theCertification label attached to thedriver's doorjamb (see page 224).

The combined weight of the car,all passengers and their luggage,and tongue load also must notexceed the Gross Axle WeightRating. The GAWR is also shownon the Certification label. It tellsyou the maximum load for thefront and rear axles. It is possiblethat your towing package does notexceed the GVWR but doesexceed the GAWR. Impropertrailer loading, and/or too muchluggage in the trunk can overloadthe rear axle. Redistribute the loadand check the axle weights again.

Driving


Towing a Trailer

The best way to confirm that yourtotal towing package is within thesespecifications is to get it weighed.Load the car and trailer as younormally would while towing, andtake them to a public scale. Havethem check the total weight and theweight at each axle, then comparethe weights to the specifications.

Trailer HitchesYour Honda dealer, or the HondaCustomer Relations Zone Office, cangive you advice on the proper hitchfor your car. Never use a hitch thatmounts only to the rear bumper. Thebumper is not designed to handlethat type of load. The hitch shouldbolt to the underbody of the car anddistribute the load over a wide area.Always have a trailer hitch installedby a qualified technician.

A trailer hitch that is not adequate forthe size of the trailer, or a hitch that isimproperly installed, can cause damageto the underside of your car.

Driving

NOTICE

Improperly loading your car andtrailer can seriously affect itssteering and brakingperformance, causing a crashin which you can be seriouslyinjured.

Check the loading of your carand trailer carefully beforestarting to drive.


Towing a Trailer

MirrorsMany states and provinces have lawsrequiring special outside mirrorswhen you are towing a trailer. Checkthe laws in your area. You may wantto install mirrors, even if they are notrequired. Hook up the trailer and seehow much it obscures your ability tosee behind you with the standardmirrors. If you cannot see directlybehind you, or have a large blindspot next to the trailer or the car,you should install mirrors intendedfor towing.

Connecting the TrailerMost trailers that have a grossweight of 1,000 Ibs (450 kg) do nothave their own braking system. Ifyou are thinking of getting a trailerthat does have brakes, make surethey are electrically-operated. Thereare no provisions in your car to tapinto its hydraulic braking system.Any attempt to attach the trailer'sbrakes to your car's hydraulicsystem, no matter how successful itmay seem, will lower brakingeffectiveness and create a potentialhazard.

Always use a safety chain whentowing a trailer. Connect the safetychain securely at both ends. Makesure the chain crosses under thetongue so it will catch the trailer if itbecomes unhitched. Leave enoughslack in the chain so it can't bind in asharp turn. Do not let it drag on theground.

Driving


Towing a Trailer

Your car has a trailer lighting connec-tor in the trunk by the left taillight.To use the connector, undo thefastener on the left side of the trunklining. Refer to the drawing abovefor the wiring color code and pur-pose of each connector pin.

Since the lighting and wiring can bedifferent for various brands oftrailers, have a technician who isfamiliar with your trailer modify itslighting plug. A converter may berequired between the car and trailerfor the lights to work correctly.

Before Starting OutAs you are preparing to tow yourtrailer, do the following:

Measure the trailer's tongue load.You can do this with a bathroomscale.Verify that the hitch and safetychain are securely fastened.Check the condition and airpressure of all tires on the trailerand your car. Low tire pressurecan seriously affect the handling.Also check the spare tire.With everything loaded and thetrailer connected, check that therear of the car is not sagging. If so,redistribute the load in the car.Check that all lights on the car andtrailer are working properly.

Driving

GROUND(BLACK)

BACK-UP LIGHT(GREEN/BLACK)

LEFT TURN SIGNAL(GREEN/BLUE)

TAILLIGHT(RED/BLACK)

BRAKE LIGHT(WHITE/BLACK)

RIGHT TURN SIGNAL(GREEN/YELLOW)


Towing a Trailer

Towing SafetyYour car will not stop as quickly witha trailer in tow. Leave extra distancebetween your car and other vehicles.Avoid braking or turning suddenly.This could cause the trailer tojackknife or possibly turn over.

Keep in mind that your total vehicleis now much longer. Leave moreroom when making turns. The trailertracks a smaller arc than the car andcan hit or run over something thatthe car misses. When passinganother vehicle, make sure thetrailer is clear before changing lanes.

The car/trailer combination is moreaffected by crosswinds and buffeting.When being passed by a largevehicle, keep a constant speed andsteer straight ahead. If there is toomuch wind buffeting, slow down toget out of the other vehicle's airturbulence.

Towing a trailer puts an extra loadon your car. You should have yourcar serviced according to the"Maintenance Schedule undersevere driving conditions" on page141.

This extra load is magnified whenyou are driving in hilly terrain.Watch the temperature gaugeclosely when climbing hills. If it getsnear the hot area, turn off the airconditioning (if it is on). If this doesnot reduce the heat, it may benecessary to pull to the side of theroad and wait for the engine to cool.If the automatic transmission shiftsfrequently between 3rd and 4thgears, put it in D3. This will helpprevent the transmission fromoverheating. Help keep the brakesfrom overheating by shifting to alower gear when going downhill.

If you have to stop while going uphill,do not hold the car in place bypressing on the accelerator. This cancause the automatic transmission tooverheat. Use the parking brake orfootbrake.

Driving


Towing a Trailer

When towing a trailer in theSequential SportShift mode, selectThird, Second, or First gear;depending on the vehicle speeds androad condition. Do not use Fourthgear. The recommended speedrange for each gear position isshown in the table.

When parking your car and trailer,especially on a hill, be sure to followall the normal precautions. Turnyour front wheels into the curb, setthe parking brake firmly, and put thetransmission in 1st or Reverse(manual) or Park (automatic). Inaddition, place wheel chocks at eachof the trailer's tires.

Backing up with a trailer is difficultand takes practice. Drive slowly,make small movements with thesteering wheel, and have someonestand outside to guide you. Grip thesteering wheel on the bottom (ratherthan the usual position near the top).Move your hand to the left to get thetrailer to move to the left, and rightto move the trailer right.

Driving


Maintenance

This section explains why it isimportant to keep your car wellmaintained and to follow basicmaintenance safety precautions.

This section also includesMaintenance Schedules for normaldriving and severe driving conditions,a Maintenance Record, and instruc-tions for simple maintenance tasksyou may want to take care ofyourself.

If you have the skills and tools to per-form more complex maintenancetasks on your Honda, you may wantto purchase the Service Manual. Seepage 241 for information on how toobtain a copy, or see your Hondadealer.

Maintenance Safety....................... 136Important Safety Precautions.. 137

Maintenance Schedule.................. 138Maintenance Record..................... 142Owner Maintenance Checks........ 144Fluid Locations............................... 145Engine Oil....................................... 146

Adding Oil................................... 146Recommended Oil..................... 146Synthetic Oil............................... 147Additives..................................... 147Changing the Oil and Filter...... 148

Cooling System.............................. 150Adding Engine Coolant............. 150Replacing Engine Coolant........ 152

Windshield Washers..................... 155Transmission Fluid........................ 156

AutomaticTransmission.......................... 156

5-speed ManualTransmission.......................... 157

Brake and Clutch Fluid................. 158Brake Fluid................................. 158Brake System............................. 158Clutch System............................ 159

Power Steering............................... 159

Air Cleaner Element...................... 160Spark Plugs..................................... 161

Replacement............................... 161Specifications............................. 163

Battery............................................ 163Windshield Wipers........................ 166Air Conditioning System............... 168Drive Belts...................................... 169Timing Belt..................................... 169Tires................................................ 170

Inflation....................................... 170Inspection................................... 171Maintenance............................... 172Tire Rotation.............................. 173Replacing Tires and Wheels.... 173Wheels and Tires....................... 174Winter Driving........................... 174

Snow Tires.............................. 175Tire Chains............................. 175

Lights.............................................. 176Headlight Aimimg..................... 176Replacing Bulbs......................... 178

Storing Your Car............................ 189

Maintenance

Main Menu ▲ ▼

Maintenance Safety

Regularly maintaining your car is thebest way to protect your investment.Proper maintenance is essential toyour safety and the safety of yourpassengers. It will also reward youwith more economical, trouble-freedriving and help reduce air pollution.

This section includes instructions forsimple maintenance tasks, such aschecking and adding oil. Any serviceitems not detailed in this sectionshould be performed by a Hondatechnician or other qualifiedmechanic.

Some of the most important safetyprecautions are given here. However,we cannot warn you of everyconceivable hazard that can arise inperforming maintenance. Only youcan decide whether or not youshould perform a given task.

Maintenance

Improperly maintaining this caror failing to correct a problembefore driving can cause acrash in which you can beseriously hurt or killed.

Always follow the inspectionand maintenancerecommendations andschedules in this owner'smanual.

Failure to properly followmaintenance instructions andprecautions can cause you tobe seriously hurt or killed.

Always follow the proceduresand precautions in this owner'smanual.


Maintenance Safety

Important Safety PrecautionsBefore you begin any maintenance,make sure your car is parked onlevel ground and that the parkingbrake is set. Also, be sure the engineis off. This will help to eliminateseveral potential hazards:

Carbon monoxide poisoningfrom engine exhaust. Be surethere is adequate ventilationwhenever you operate the engine.

Burns from hot parts. Let theengine and exhaust system coolbefore touching any parts.

Injury from moving parts. Donot run the engine unless in-structed to do so.

Read the instructions before youbegin, and make sure you have thetools and skills required.

To reduce the possibility of fire orexplosion, be careful when workingaround gasoline or batteries. Use anonflammable solvent, not gasoline,to clean parts. Keep cigarettes,sparks, and flames away from thebattery and all fuel-related parts.

You should wear eye protection andprotective clothing when workingnear the battery or when usingcompressed air.

Maintenance


Maintenance Schedule

The Maintenance Schedule specifieshow often you should have your carserviced and what things needattention. It is essential that you haveyour car serviced as scheduled toretain its high level of safety,dependability, and emission controlperformance.

The services and time or distanceintervals shown in the maintenanceschedule assume you will use yourcar as normal transportation forpassengers and their possessions.You should also follow theserecommendations:

Avoid exceeding your car's loadlimit. This puts excess stress onthe engine, brakes, and manyother parts of your car. The loadlimit is shown on the label on thedriver's doorjamb.

Operate your car on reasonableroads within the legal speed limit.

Drive your car regularly over adistance of several miles(kilometers).

Always use unleaded gasoline withthe proper octane rating (see page

98).

Which Schedule to Follow:Service your car according to thetime and mileage periods on one ofthe Maintenance Schedules on thefollowing pages. Select the schedulefor "Severe Conditions" if most ofyour driving is done under one ormore of the conditions listed on thatpage. Otherwise, follow the schedulefor "Normal Conditions."

Maintenance


Maintenance Schedule

Your authorized Honda dealerknows your car best and can providecompetent, efficient service.However, service at a dealer is notmandatory to keep your warrantiesin effect. Maintenance may be doneby any qualified service facility orperson who is skilled in this type ofautomotive service. Keep all thereceipts as proof of completion, andhave the person who does the workfill out the Maintenance Record.Check your warranty booklet formore information.

We recommend the use of GenuineHonda parts and fluids whenever youhave maintenance done. These aremanufactured to the same high-quality standards as the originalcomponents, so you can be confidentof their performance and durability.

U.S. Cars:Maintenance, replacement orrepair of emission control devicesand systems may be done by anyautomotive repair establishmentor individual using parts that are"certified" to EPA standards.

According to state and federalregulations, failure to performmaintenance on the items markedwith an asterisk (*) will not void youremissions warranties. However,Honda recommends that all mainte-nance services be performed at therecommended time or mileageperiod to ensure long-term reliability.

Maintenance


Maintenance Schedule (Normal Conditions)

Follow the Normal MaintenanceSchedule if the severe drivingconditions specified in theSevere Conditions MaintenanceSchedule on the next page donot apply.

NOTE: If you onlyOCCASIONALLY drive under a"severe" condition, you shouldfollow the Normal ConditionsMaintenance Schedule.

Maintenance


Maintenance Schedule (Severe Conditions)

Follow the Severe MaintenanceSchedule if you drive yourvehicle MAINLY under one ormore of the following condi-tions:

Driving less than 5 miles (8km) per trip or, in freezingtemperatures, driving lessthan 10 miles (16 km) per trip.Driving in hot [over 90°F(32°C)] conditions.Extensive idling or longperiods of stop-and-go driving.Trailer towing, driving with acar-top carrier, or driving inmountainous conditions.Driving on muddy, dusty, orde-iced roads.

For Canadian OwnersFollow the MaintenanceSchedule for Severe Conditions.

* 1 : Refer to page 169 for replacement

information under special driving

conditions.

Maintenance


Required Maintenance Record

Maintenance

Have your servicing dealer record all Required Maintenance below. Keep receipts for all work done on your car.


Non-Scheduled Maintenance Record

Maintenance

Record additional maintenance for severe driving conditions or non-scheduled maintenance on this page (see page 141).


Owner Maintenance Checks

You should check the followingitems at the specified intervals. Ifyou are unsure of how to performany check, turn to the page given.

Engine oil level — Check everytime you fill the fuel tank. Seepage 102.

Engine coolant level — Check theradiator reserve tank every timeyou fil l the fuel tank. See page 103.

Windshield washer fluid — Checkthe level in the reservoir monthly.If weather conditions cause you touse the washers frequently, checkthe reservoir each time you stopfor fuel. See page 155.

Automatic transmission — Checkthe fluid level monthly. See page156.

Brakes — Check the fluid levelmonthly. See page 158.

Tires — Check the tire pressuremonthly. Examine the tread forwear and foreign objects. See page170.

Lights — Check the operation ofthe headlights, parking lights,taillights, high-mount brake light,turn signals, brake lights, andlicense plate lights monthly. Seepage 176.

Maintenance


Fluid Locations

Maintenance

ENGINE OILFILL CAP

(5-speed ManualTransmission only)CLUTCH FLUID(Gray cap)

POWER STEERINGFLUID (Red cap)

WASHER FLUID(Blue cap)

ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK(Orange loop)

AUTOMATICTRANSMISSIONFLUID DIPSTICK(Yellow loop)

COOLANTRESERVOIR

BRAKE FLUID(Gray cap)


Engine Oil

Adding Oil

To add oil, unscrew and remove theengine oil fill cap on top of the valvecover. Pour in the oil, and replace theengine oil fill cap. Tighten it securely.Wait a few minutes and recheck theoil level. Do not fill above the uppermark; you could damage the engine.

Recommended OilOil is a major contributor to yourengine's performance and longevity.Always use a premium-grade deter-gent oil.

You can determine an oil's SAEviscosity and Service Classificationfrom the API Service label on the oilcontainer.

A fuel-efficient oil is recommendedfor your Honda. This is shown on theAPI Service label by the words"Energy Conserving " or"Energy Conserving II ." This oil isformulated to help your engine useless fuel.

The API Service label also tells youthe service classification of the oil.Always use an oil that is labeled "APIService SJ" or "API Service SH."This service rating may includeother classifications, such as CD.These additional classifications arenot a problem, as long as the labelalso carries the SJ or SH classifi-cation. An oil that is only classifiedSG is not recommended.

Maintenance

ENGINE OIL FILL CAP

API SERVICE LABEL


Engine Oil

The oil container may also displaythe API Certification seal. Make sureit says "For Gasoline Engines."

The SAE numbers tell you the oil'sviscosity or weight. Select the oil foryour car according to this chart.

An oil with a viscosity of 5W-30 ispreferred for improved fuel economyand year-round protection in yourHonda. You may use a 10W-30 oil ifthe temperature in your area nevergoes below 20°F (— 7°C).

Synthetic OilYou may use a synthetic motor oil ifit meets the same requirementsgiven for conventional motor oil;energy conserving, a serviceclassification of SJ or SH, and theproper weight as shown on the chart.When using synthetic oil, you mustfollow the oil and filter changeintervals given in the maintenanceschedule.

AdditivesYour Honda does not need any oiladditives. Purchasing additives forthe engine or transmission will notincrease your car's performance orlongevity. It only increases the costof operating your car.

Maintenance

API CERTIFICATION SEAL

Ambient Temperature


Engine Oil

Changing the Oil and FilterAlways change the oil and filteraccording to the time and distance(miles/kilometers) recommenda-tions in the maintenance schedule.The oil and filter collect contami-nants that can damage your engine ifthey are not removed regularly.

Changing the oil and filter requiresspecial tools and access fromunderneath the car. The car shouldbe raised on a service station-typehydraulic lift for this service. Unlessyou have the knowledge and properequipment, you should have thismaintenance done by a skilledmechanic.

1. Run the engine until it reachesnormal operating temperature,then shut it off.

2. Open the hood and remove theengine oil fill cap. Remove the oildrain bolt and washer from thebottom of the engine. Drain the oilinto an appropriate container.

3. Remove the oil filter and let theremaining oil drain. A specialwrench (available from yourHonda dealer) is required toremove the filter.

Maintenance

OIL DRAIN BOLT WASHER

Type SH OIL FILTER


Engine Oil

4. Install a new oil filter according toinstructions that come with it.

5. Put a new washer on the drain bolt,then reinstall the drain bolt.Tighten it to:33 Ibf.ft (4.5 kgf.m , 44 N.m)

6. Refill the engine with the recom-mended oil.Engine oil change capacity(including filter):5.1 US qt (4.8 , 4.2 Imp qt)

7. Replace the engine oil fill cap.Start the engine. The oil pressureindicator light should go out withinfive seconds. If it does not, turn offthe engine and reinspect yourwork.

8. Let the engine run for severalminutes and check the drain boltand oil filter for leaks.

9. Turn off the engine, let it sit forseveral minutes, then check the oillevel. If necessary, add oil to bringthe level to the upper mark on thedipstick.

NOTICE

Improper disposal of engine oil can beharmful to the environment. If youchange your own oil, please dispose ofthe used oil properly. Put it in a sealedcontainer and take it to a recyclingcenter. Do not discard it in a trash binor dump it on the ground.

Maintenance

OIL FILTER

Except Type SH


Cooling System

Adding Engine Coolant

If the coolant level in the reservetank is at or below the MIN line, addcoolant to bring it up to the MAX line.Inspect the cooling system for leaks.This coolant should always be amixture of 50 percent antifreeze and50 percent water. Never add straightantifreeze or plain water.

Always use Genuine Hondaantifreeze/coolant. If it is notavailable, you may use anothermajor-brand non-silicate coolant as atemporary replacement. Make sure itis a high-quality coolantrecommended for aluminum engines.However, continued use of any non-Honda coolant can result incorrosion, causing the coolingsystem to malfunction or fail. Havethe cooling system flushed andrefilled with Honda antifreeze/coolant as soon as possible.

If the reserve tank is completelyempty, you should also check thecoolant level in the radiator.

Removing the radiator capwhile the engine is hot cancause the coolant to spray out,seriously scalding you.

Always let the engine andradiator cool down beforeremoving the radiator cap.

Maintenance

RESERVE TANK


Cooling System

1. Make sure the engine andradiator are cool.

2. Turn the radiator cap counter-clockwise, without pressing downon it, until it stops. This relievesany pressure remaining in thecooling system.

3. Remove the radiator cap bypushing down and turningcounterclockwise.

4. The coolant level should be up tothe base of the filler neck. Addcoolant if it is low.

5. Put the radiator cap back on.Tighten it fully.

6. Pour coolant into the reserve tank.Fill it to halfway between the MAXand MIN marks. Put the cap backon the reserve tank.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

RADIATOR CAP

RESERVE TANK


Cooling System

Do not add any rust inhibitors orother additives to your car's coolingsystem. They may not be compatiblewith the coolant or engine compo-nents.

Replacing Engine CoolantThe cooling system should becompletely drained and refilled withnew coolant according to the timeand distance recommendations inthe maintenance schedule. Only useGenuine Honda antifreeze/coolant.

Draining the coolant requires accessto the underside of the car. Unlessyou have the tools and knowledge,you should have this maintenancedone by a skilled mechanic.

1. Slide the heater temperaturecontrol lever to maximum heat.Open the hood. Make sure theengine and radiator are cool to thetouch.

2. Remove the radiator cap.

3. Loosen the drain plug on thebottom of the radiator. Thecoolant will come out through thehole in the splash cover.

Maintenance

DRAIN PLUG

Type SH


Cooling System

Except Type SH onlyRemove the drain bolt and washerfrom the engine block.

4. Remove the reserve tank from itsholder by pulling it straight up.Drain the coolant, then put thetank back in its holder.

5. When the coolant stops draining,tighten the drain plug in thebottom of the radiator.

Except Type SH onlyApply non-hardening sealant to thedrain bolt threads, put a new washeron the drain bolt, and reinstall thebolt in the engine block. Tighten itsecurely.Tightening torque:61 lbf.ft(8.5 kgf.m , 83 N.m)

6. Mix the recommended antifreezewith an equal amount of purifiedor distilled water in a cleancontainer. The cooling systemcapacity is:

With 5-speed manual transmission:(Except Type SH)0.87 US gal (3.3 , 0.73 Imp gal)

(Type SH)0.85 US gal (3.2 , 0.70 Imp gal)

With automatic transmission:0.85 US gal (3.2 , 0.70 Imp gal)

Maintenance

RESERVE TANK RESERVETANK CAP

HOLDERDRAIN PLUGExceptType SH

DRAIN BOLT

CONTINUED


Cooling System

7. Pour coolant into the radiator upto the base of the filler neck.

8. Loosen the bleeder bolt on top ofthe engine. Tighten it again whencoolant comes out in a steadystream with no bubbles.

9. Refill the radiator to the base ofthe filler neck. Put the cap on theradiator, and tighten it only to thefirst stop. Start the engine and letit run until it warms up (theradiator cooling fan comes on atleast twice).

10. Turn off the engine. Check thelevel in the radiator, add coolant ifneeded. Install the radiator cap,and tighten it fully.

11. Fill the reserve tank to the MAXmark. Install the reserve tank cap.

Maintenance

Fill up to here

FILLER NECK

BLEEDER BOLT RESERVE TANK


Windshield Washers

Check the level in the windshieldwasher reservoir at least monthlyduring normal usage. In bad weather,when you use the washers often,check the level every time you stopfor fuel.

The windshield washer reservoir islocated behind the driver's sideheadlight. Check the reservoir's fluidlevel by removing the cap andlooking at the float. It should be upto the top of the neck. If the float isat the bottom of the neck, thereservoir is nearly empty.

Fill the reservoir with a good-qualitywindshield washer fluid. Thisincreases the cleaning capability andprevents freezing in cold weather.

Do not use engine antifreeze or avinegar/water solution in the wind-shield washer reservior.

Antifreeze can damage your car's paint,while a vinegar/water solution candamage the windshield washer pump.

Use only commercially-availablewindshield washer fluid.

Maintenance

NOTICEFLOAT


Transmission Fluid


Check the fluid level with the engineat normal operating temperature.

1. Park the car on level ground. Shutoff the engine.

2. Remove the dipstick (yellow loop)from the transmission and wipe itwith a clean cloth.

3. Insert the dipstick all the way intothe transmission securely asshown in the illustration.

4. Remove the dipstick and checkthe fluid level. It should bebetween the upper and lowermarks.

5. If the level is below the lowermark, add fluid into the filler holeto bring it to the upper mark.Always use Honda PremiumFormula Automatic TransmissionFluid (ATF). If it is not available,you may use a DEXRON® II Iautomatic transmission fluid as atemporary replacement. However,continued use can affect shiftquality. Have the transmissiondrained and refilled with HondaATF as soon as it is convenient.

6. Insert the dipstick all the way backinto the transmission securely asshown in the illustration.

The transmission should be drainedand refilled with new fluid accordingto the time and distance recommen-dations in the maintenance schedule.

Maintenance

UPPER MARKLOWER MARK

DIPSTICK


Transmission Fluid


Check the fluid level with thetransmission at normal operatingtemperature and the vehicle sittingon level ground. Remove thetransmission filler bolt and carefullyfeel inside the bolt hole with yourfinger. The fluid level should be upto the edge of the bolt hole. If it isnot, add Genuine Honda ManualTransmission Fluid (MTF) until itstarts to run out of the hole. Reinstallthe filler bolt and tighten it securely.

If Honda MTF is not available, youmay use an API service SG or SHgrade motor oil with a viscosity ofSAE 10W-30 or 10W-40 as atemporary replacement. However,motor oil does not contain the properadditives and continued use cancause stiffer shifting. Replace assoon as convenient.

The transmission should be drainedand refilled with new fluid accordingto the time and distance recommen-dations in the maintenance schedule.

Maintenance

FILLERBOLT

Correctlevel


Brake and Clutch Fluid

Check the fluid level in the reser-voirs monthly. There are one or tworeservoirs, depending on model.They are:

Brake fluid reservoir (all models)Clutch fluid reservoir(manual transmission only)

The brake fluid in the brake systemshould be replaced according to thetime and distance recommendationsin the maintenance schedule.

Brake FluidAlways use Genuine Honda DOT 3brake fluid. If it is not available, youshould use only DOT 3 or DOT 4fluid, from a sealed container, as atemporary replacement. However,the use of any non-Honda brake fluidcan cause corrosion and decreasethe life of the system. Have thebrake system flushed and refilledwith Honda DOT 3 brake fluid assoon as possible.

Brake fluid marked DOT 5 is notcompatible with your car's brakingsystem and can cause extensivedamage.

Brake System

The fluid level should be betweenthe MIN and MAX marks on the sideof the reservoir. If the level is at orbelow the MIN mark, your brakesystem needs attention. Have thebrake system inspected for leaks orworn brake pads.

Maintenance

MIN

MAX


Brake and Clutch Fluid, Power Steering

Clutch System

The fluid should be between theMIN and MAX marks on the side ofthe reservoir. If it is not, add brakefluid to bring it up to that level. Usethe same fluid specified for thebrake system.

Low fluid level can indicate a leak inthe clutch system. Have this systeminspected as soon as possible.

Power Steering

Check the level when the engine iscold. Look at the side of thereservoir. The fluid should bebetween the UPPER LEVEL andLOWER LEVEL. If it is below theLOWER LEVEL, add power steeringfluid to the UPPER LEVEL.

Always use Genuine Honda PowerSteering Fluid. If it is not available,you may use another power steeringfluid as an emergency replacement.However, continued use can causeincreased wear and poor steering incold weather. Have the powersteering system flushed and refilledwith Honda PSF as soon as possible.

A low power steering fluid level canindicate a leak in the system. Checkthe fluid level frequently and havethe system inspected as soon aspossible.

Turning the steering wheel to full leftor right lock and holding it there candamage the power steering pump.

Maintenance

MAX

MIN

UPPER LEVEL

LOWERLEVEL

NOTICE


Air Cleaner Element

The air cleaner element should becleaned or replaced according to thetime and distance recommendationsin the maintenance schedule.

Cleaning (Severe Conditions)Clean the air cleaner element byblowing compressed air through it inthe opposite direction to normal airflow. If you do not have access tocompressed air (such as a servicestation), ask your Honda dealer to dothis service.

Follow the replacement procedurefor removal and reinstallation.

Replacement

The air cleaner element is inside theair cleaner housing on the passenger'sside of the engine compartment.To replace it:

1. Unsnap the four hold-down clampsand remove the air cleanerhousing cover.

2. Remove the old air cleanerelement.Clean the inside of the air cleanerhousing with a damp rag.

3. Place the new air cleaner elementin the air cleaner housing.

4. Reinstall the air cleaner housingcover, snap the four hold-downclamps back into place.

Maintenance

CLAMPS

AIR CLEANERELEMENT


Spark Plugs

The spark plugs in your car are aspecial platinum-tipped design forlonger life. They only need to bereplaced every 7 years or 105,000miles (168,000 km), whichevercomes first.

Replacement

1. Remove the four nuts, thenremove the plug wire cover.

2. Clean up any dirt and oil aroundthe spark plug caps.

3. Remove the spark plug cap bypulling it straight out.

4. Remove the spark plug witha five-eighths inch (16 mm) sparkplug socket.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

NUTS NUTS SPARK PLUGCAP


Spark Plugs

5. Put the new spark plug into thesocket; then screw it into the hole.Screw it in by hand so you do notcrossthread it.

6. Torque the spark plug. (If you donot have a torque wrench, tightenthe spark plug two-thirds of a turnafter it contacts the cylinder head.)Tightening torque:13 lbf.ft (1.8 kgf.m , 18 N.m)

Tighten the spark plugs carefully. Aspark plug that is too loose canoverheat and damage the engine.Overtightening can cause damage tothe threads in the cylinder head.

7. Install the spark plug cap.

8. Repeat this procedure for theother three spark plugs.

Reinstall the plug wire cover andtighten the four nuts.

Maintenance

NOTICE


Spark Plugs, Battery

Specifications:NGK: PZFR6F-11DENSO: PKJ20CR-L11

Spark Plug Gap:0.043 in (1.1mm )

BatteryCheck the condition of your car'sbattery monthly. You should checkthe color of the test indicator window,and for corrosion on the terminals.

Check the battery condition bylooking at the test indicator windowon the battery.The label on the battery explains thetest indicator's colors.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

TEST INDICATOR WINDOW


Battery

Check the battery terminals forcorrosion (a white or yellowishpowder). To remove it, cover theterminals with a solution of bakingsoda and water. It will bubble up andturn brown. When this stops, wash itoff with plain water. Dry off thebattery with a cloth or paper towel.Coat the terminals with grease tohelp prevent future corrosion.

If the terminals are severely cor-roded, clean them with baking sodaand water. Then use a wrench toloosen and remove the cables fromthe terminals. Always disconnect thenegative (—) cable first and recon-nect it last. Clean the battery termi-nals with a terminal cleaning tool orwire brush. Reconnect and tightenthe cables, then coat the terminalswith grease.

If you need to connect the battery toa charger, disconnect both cables toprevent damage to the car's electri-cal system.

Maintenance

The battery gives off explosivehydrogen gas during normaloperation.

A spark or flame can cause thebattery to explode with enoughforce to kill or seriously hurt you.

Wear protective clothing and aface shield, or have a skilledmechanic do the batterymaintenance.


If your car's battery is disconnectedor goes dead, the audio system willdisable itself. The next time you turnon the radio you will see "Code" inthe frequency display. Use thePreset buttons to enter the five-digitcode (see page 95 ).

Charging the battery with the cablesconnected can seriously damage yourcar's electronic controls. Detach thebattery cables before connecting thebattery to a charger.

Battery

Maintenance

NOTICE


Windshield Wipers

Check the condition of the wind-shield wiper blades at least every sixmonths. Look for signs of crackingin the rubber, or areas that aregetting hard. Replace the blades ifyou find these signs, or they leavestreaks and unwiped areas whenused.

To replace the blade:

1. Raise the wiper arm off thewindshield.

2. Disconnect the blade assemblyfrom the wiper arm by pushing inthe lock tab. Hold it in while youpush the blade assembly towardthe base of the arm.

Maintenance

WIPER ARMS

LOCK TAB


Windshield Wipers

3. Remove the blade from its holderby grasping the tabbed end of theblade. Pull firmly until the tabscome out of the holder.

4. Examine the new wiper blades. Ifthey have no plastic or metal rein-forcement along the back edge,remove the metal reinforcementstrips from the old wiper blade andinstall them in the slots along theedge of the new blade.

5. Slide the new wiper blade into theholder until the tabs lock.

6. Slide the wiper blade assemblyonto the wiper arm. Make sure itlocks in place.

7. Lower the wiper arm down againstthe windshield.

Maintenance

BLADE BLADE

REINFORCEMENT


Air Conditioning System

Your car's air conditioning is a sealedsystem. Any major maintenance,such as recharging, should be doneby a qualified technician. You can doa couple of things to make sure theair conditioning works efficiently.

Periodically check the engine'sradiator and air conditioningcondenser for leaves, insects, anddirt stuck to the front surface. Theseblock the air flow and reduce coolingefficiency. Use a light spray from ahose or a soft brush to remove them.

The condenser and radiator fins bendeasily. Only use a low-pressure sprayor soft-bristle brush to clean them.

Run the air conditioning at least oncea week during the cold weathermonths. Run it for at least tenminutes while you are driving at asteady speed with the engine atnormal operating temperature. Thiscirculates the lubricating oil con-tained in the refrigerant.

If the air conditioning does not get ascold as before, have your dealercheck the system. Recharge thesystem with Refrigerant HFC-134a(R-134a). (See Specifications on page227.)

Whenever you have the air conditioningsystem serviced, make sure the servicefacility uses a refrigerant recyclingsystem. This system captures therefrigerant for reuse. Releasingrefrigerant into the atmosphere candamage the environment.

Maintenance

NOTICENOTICEAIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER


Drive Belts, Timing Belt

Drive Belts

Check the condition of the two drivebelts. Examine the edges of eachbelt for cracks or fraying.Check the tension of each belt bypushing on it with your thumbmidway between the pulleys.

The belts should have the following"play" or deflection.Alternator belt:

0.37— 0.49 in (9.5 — 12.5 mm)

Power steering belt:0.53 — 0.65 in (13.5 — 16.5 mm)

If you see signs of wear or looseness,have your dealer adjust or replacethe belts.

Timing BeltThe timing belt and balancer beltshould normally be replaced at theintervals shown in the maintenanceschedule.

Replace these belts at 60,000 miles(U.S.) or 100,000 km (Canada) if youregularly drive your car in one ormore of these conditions:

In very high temperatures(over 110°F, 43°C).In very low temperatures(under — 20°F, — 29°C).

Maintenance

ALTERNATOR BELT

POWER STEERING BELT


Tires

To safely operate your car, your tiresmust be the proper type and size, ingood condition with adequate tread,and correctly inflated. The followingpages give more detailed informationon how and when to check airpressure, how to inspect your tiresfor damage and wear, and what to dowhen your tires need to be replaced.

InflationKeeping the tires properly inflatedprovides the best combination ofhandling, tread life and ridingcomfort. Underinflated tires wearunevenly, adversely affect handlingand fuel economy, and are morelikely to fail from being overheated.Overinflated tires can make your carride more harshly, are more prone todamage from road hazards, and wearunevenly.

We recommend that you visuallycheck your tires every day. If youthink a tire might be low, check itimmediately with a tire gauge.

Use a gauge to measure the airpressure at least once a month. Eventires that are in good condition maylose one to two psi per month.Remember to check the spare tire atthe same time you check all theother tires.

Check the pressure in the tires whenthey are cold. This means the carhas been parked for at least threehours. If you have to drive the carbefore checking the tire pressure,the tires can still be considered"cold" if you drive less than 1 mile(1.6 km).

If you check the pressure when thetires are hot (the car has been drivenseveral miles), you will see readings4 to 6 psi (0.3 to 0.4 kgf/cm2,30 to 40kPa) higher than the cold reading.This is normal. Do not let air out tomatch the specified cold pressure.The tire will be underinflated.

You should get your own tirepressure gauge and use it wheneveryou check your tire pressures. Thiswill make it easier for you to tell if apressure loss is due to a tire problemand not due to a variation betweengauges.

Maintenance

Using tires that are excessivelyworn or improperly inflated cancause a crash in which you canbe seriously hurt or killed.

Follow all instructions in thisowner's manual regarding tireinflation and maintenance.


Tires

Recommended Tire Pressures forNormal DrivingThe following chart shows therecommended cold tire pressures formost normal driving conditions andspeeds. Tire pressures for highspeed driving are shown on page229.

The compact spare tire pressure is:60 psi (4.2 kgf/cm2,420 kPa)

These pressures are also given onthe tire information label on thedriver's doorjamb.

Tubeless tires have some ability toself-seal if they are punctured.However, because leakage is oftenvery slow, you should look closelyfor punctures if a tire starts losingpressure.

InspectionEvery time you check inflation, youshould also examine the tires fordamage, foreign objects, and wear.

You should look for:

Bumps or bulges in the tread orside of the tire. Replace the tire ifyou find either of these conditions.

Cuts, splits, or cracks in the sideof the tire. Replace the tire if youcan see fabric or cord.

Excessive tread wear.

CONTINUED

Maintenance


Tires

INDICATORLOCATIONMARKS

TREAD WEARINDICATORS

Your car's tires have wear indicatorsmolded into the tread. When thetread wears down to that point, youwill see a 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) wideband running across the tread. Thisshows there is less than 1/16 inch(1.6 mm) of tread left on the tire. Atire that is this worn gives very littletraction on wet roads. You shouldreplace the tire if you can see thetread wear indicator in three or moreplaces around the tire.

MaintenanceIn addition to proper inflation,correct wheel alignment helps todecrease tire wear. If you find a tireis worn unevenly, have your dealercheck the wheel alignment.

The tires were properly balanced bythe factory. They may need to berebalanced at some time before theyare worn out. Have your dealercheck the tires if you feel a consis-tent vibration while driving. A tireshould always be rebalanced if it isremoved from the wheel for repair.

Make sure the installer balances thewheels when you have new tiresinstalled. This increases ridingcomfort and tire life. Your car'soriginal tires were dynamic or "spin"balanced at the factory. For bestresults, have the installer perform adynamic balance.

NOTICE

Improper wheel weights can damageyour car's aluminum wheels. Use onlyGenuine Honda wheel weights forbalancing.

Maintenance


Tires

Tire Rotation When shopping for replacementtires, you may find that some tiresare "directional." This means theyare designed to rotate only in onedirection. If you use directionaltires, they should be rotated onlyfront-to-back.

Replacing Tires and WheelsThe tires that came with your carwere selected to match the perform-ance capabilities of the car whileproviding the best combination ofhandling, ride comfort, and long life.You should replace them with radialtires of the same size, load range,speed rating, and maximum cold tirepressure rating (as shown on thetire's sidewall). Mixing radial andbias-ply tires on your car can reduceits braking ability, traction, andsteering accuracy.

It is best to replace all four tires atthe same time. If that is not possibleor necessary, then replace the twofront tires or the two rear tires as apair. Replacing just one tire canseriously affect your car's handling.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

(For Non-directionalTires and Wheels)

(For DirectionalTires and Wheels)

Front Front Installing improper tires on yourcar can affect handling andstability. This can cause a crashin which you can be seriouslyhurt or killed.

Always use the size and type oftires recommended in thisowner's manual.

To help increase tire life anddistribute wear more evenly, youshould have the tires rotated every7,500 miles (12,000 km). Move thetires to the positions shown in thechart each time they are rotated.


Tires

The ABS works by comparing thespeed of the wheels. When replacingtires, use the same size originallysupplied with the car. Tire size andconstruction can affect wheel speedand may cause the system to work in-consistently.

If you ever need to replace a wheel,make sure the wheel's specificationsmatch those of the original wheelthat came on your car. Replacementwheels are available at your Hondadealer.

Wheels and TiresWheel:

16 x 6 1/2 JJ

Tire:205/50R16 87V

See Tire Information on page 228 foradditional information about tire andwheel size designations. See page229 for information about DOT TireQuality Grading.

Winter DrivingTires that are marked "M+S" or"All Season" on the sidewall have anall-weather tread design. Theyshould be suitable for most winterdriving conditions. Tires withoutthese markings are designed foroptimum traction in dry conditions.They may not provide adequateperformance in winter driving.For the best performance in snowyor icy conditions, you should installsnow tires or tire chains. They maybe required by local laws undercertain conditions.

Maintenance


Tires

Snow TiresIf you mount snow tires on yourHonda, make sure they are radialtires of the same size and load rangeas the original tires. Mount snowtires on all four wheels to balanceyour car's handling in all weatherconditions. Keep in mind the tractionprovided by snow tires on dry roadsmay not be as high as your car'soriginal equipment tires. You shoulddrive cautiously even when the roadsare clear. Check with the tire dealerfor maximum speed recommenda-tions.

Tire ChainsMount snow chains on your carwhen warranted by driving condi-tions or required by local laws. Makesure the chains are the correct sizefor your tires. Install them only onthe front tires. If metal chains areused, they must be SAE class "S".Cable type traction devices can alsobe used.

When installing chains, follow themanufacturer's instructions andmount them as tightly as you can.Drive slowly with chains installed. Ifyou hear the chains contacting thebody or chassis, stop and tightenthem. If they still make contact, slowdown until it stops. Remove thechains as soon as you begin drivingon cleared roads.

NOTICE

Chains of the wrong size or that areimproperly installed can damage yourcar's brake lines, suspension, body, andwheels. Stop driving if you hear thechains hitting any part of the car.

Maintenance


Lights

Check the operation of your car'sexterior lights at least once a month.A burned out bulb can create anunsafe condition by reducing yourcar's visibility and the ability tosignal your intentions to otherdrivers.Check the following:

Headlights (low and high beam)Parking lightsTaillightsBrake lightsHigh-mount brake lightTurn signalsBack-up lightsHazard light functionLicense plate lightSide marker lightsDaytime running lights(Canadian cars)

If you find any bulbs are burned out,replace them as soon as possible.Refer to the chart on page 227 todetermine what type of replacementbulb is needed.

Headlight AimingThe headlights were properly aimedwhen your car was new. You shouldcheck their aim if you regularly carryheavy items in the trunk or pull atrailer. Each headlight assembly hashorizontal and vertical adjustmentindicators. These are set to their "0"positions after the headlights areaimed at the factory.

To check these settings:

1. Make sure the fuel tank is full.Park the car on level ground.

2. The driver or someone whoweighs the same should be sittingin the driver's seat for all checksand adjustments.Load the trunk with the items younormally carry.

Maintenance


Lights

If you usually pull a trailer, load it asyou would normally and attach it tothe car. Push down on the front andrear bumpers several times to makesure the car is sitting normally.

3. Open the hood.

4. Check the horizontal angle gauge.The line on the adjustment screwindicator should line up with the"0" mark on the gauge.

VERTICAL ANGLE GAUGE

5. Check the vertical angle gauge.The bubble should be centeredunderneath the longest scribemark on the gauge.

HORIZONTAL ADJUSTMENT

6. If either indicator is not alignedwith its "0" mark as described, anadjustment can be made using aPhillips-head screwdriver torealign it with the "0" mark. Pleaserefer to the illustrations.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

BUBBLE

HORIZONTAL ANGLE GAUGE


Lights

7. If you cannot get an indicator toalign, have your Honda dealerinspect the car for body damage orsuspension problems.

Replacing a Headlight BulbYour car has two bulbs on each side,four in total. Make sure you arereplacing the bulb that is burned out.Your car uses halogen headlightbulbs. When replacing a bulb, handleit by its plastic case and protect theglass from contact with your skin orhard objects. If you touch the glass,clean it with denatured alcohol and aclean cloth.

The headlight bulbs in your car areH1 headlight bulbs for longer life.We recommend the use of GenuineHonda parts for replacing aheadlight bulb.

Halogen headlight bulbs get very hotwhen lit. Oil, perspiration, or a scratchon the glass can cause the bulb tooverheat and shatter.

Maintenance

NOTICEVERTICAL ADJUSTMENT


Lights

1. Open the hood.

2. Remove the electrical connectorfrom the bulb by squeezing theconnector on both sides to unlockthe tab. Pull the connector straightoff.

3. Remove the rubber weather sealby pulling on the tab.

4. Unclip the end of the hold-downwire from its slot. Pivot it out ofthe way and remove the bulb.

5. Insert the new bulb into the hole,making sure the tabs are in theirslots. Pivot the hold-down wireback in place and clip the end intothe slot.

6. Install the rubber seal over theback of the headlight assembly.Make sure it is right side up; it ismarked "TOP".

7. Push the electrical connector ontothe tabs of the new bulb. Makesure it locks in place.Turn on the headlights to test thenew bulb.

Maintenance

BULB

HOLD-DOWNWIRE WEATHER SEAL CONNECTOR


Lights

Replacing a Parking Light Bulb1. Open the hood. The front parking

light is next to the headlight bulb.

If you need to change a bulb onthe passenger's side, remove theradiator reserve tank by pulling itout of its holder.

2. Remove the socket from theheadlight assembly by turning itone-quarter turn counterclockwise.

3. Pull the bulb straight out of itssocket.Push the new bulb straight intothe socket until it bottoms.

4. Insert the socket back into theheadlight assembly. Turn itclockwise to lock it in place.

5. Turn on the parking lights tomake sure the new bulb works.

6. (Passenger's side)Reinstall the radiator reserve tank.

Maintenance


Lights

Replacing a Front Side MarkerLight Bulb

1. Use a Philips-head screwdriver toremove the side marker assembly'smounting screw.

2. Remove the side marker assemblyfrom the bumper.

3. Remove the socket from the sidemarker assembly by turning it one-quarter turn counterclockwise.


5. Insert the socket back into theside marker assembly. Turn itclockwise to lock it in place.

6. Test the side marker to make surethe new bulb is working.

7. Put the side marker assembly intothe bumper. Make sure the tab onthe side marker assembly fits intothe bumper slot. Tighten themounting screw.

Maintenance

SCREW

BULB SOCKET

FRONT SIDE MARKER ASSEMBLY


Lights

Replacing a Front Turn SignalLight Bulb

1. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver toloosen the turn signal assembly'smounting screw.

2. Remove the turn signal assemblyfrom the bumper.

3. Remove the socket from the turnsignal assembly by turning it one-quarter turn counterclockwise.


5. Insert the socket back into theturn signal assembly. Turn itclockwise to lock it in place.

6. Test the lights to make sure thenew bulb is working.

7. Put the turn signal assembly intothe bumper. Make sure the tab onthe turn signal assembly fits intothe bumper slot. Tighten themounting screw.

Maintenance

SCREW

TURN SIGNAL ASSEMBLY

BULB

SOCKET


Lights

Replacing Rear Bulbs

1. Open the trunk.

2. Undo the fastener on the side ofthe trunk lining by pushing on thecenter of the fastener's head untilit pops in. Pull the lining back.

3. Determine which of the five bulbsis burned out: stop/taillight, turnsignal light, side marker light,back-up light, or taillight.

4. Remove the socket by turning itone-quarter turn counterclockwise.


CONTINUED

Maintenance


Lights

6. Reinstall the socket into the lightassembly by turning it clockwiseuntil it locks.


8. Reinstall the trunk lining.

9. Reset the fastener by pushing onthe pointed end until it pops backalmost flush with the fingers onthe housing.

10. Put the fastener in the hole in theside of the trunk lining and pushon the center until it locks (thecenter is flush with the head).

Maintenance


Lights

Replacing a High-mount BrakeLight Bulb(Except Type SH model)

1. Remove the high-mount brakelight assembly by pushing itslightly toward the rear windshieldand sliding it out of the rear shelf.

2. Remove the socket from the lightassembly by turning it one-quarterturn counterclockwise.


4. Reinstall the socket. Turn itclockwise until it locks.


6. Reinstall the high-mount brakelight assembly on the rear shelf.Make sure the tabs on the high-mount brake light assembly fitinto the slots.

Maintenance

HiGH-MOUNT BRAKELIGHT ASSEMBLY


Lights

Replacing a Rear License Bulb

1. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver toremove the two screws holdingthe license plate light assembly tothe bracket. Pull the assemblyaway from the bracket.

2. Remove the socket from the lightassembly by turning it one-quarterturn counterclockwise.

3. Pull the bulb straight out of itssocket. Push the new bulb in untilit bottoms in the socket.

4. Turn on the parking lights andcheck that the new bulb isworking.

5. Put the license light assembly inplace. Reinstall the two screws andtighten them securely.

Maintenance


Lights

Replacing Bulbs in the InteriorCourtesy LightsThe courtesy lights in the doors androof come apart the same way. Theydo not all use the same bulb.The spotlight bulbs are in the ceilinglight housing.

1. Remove the lens by carefullyprying on the edge of the lens witha fingernail file or a small flat-tipscrewdriver. Do not pry on theedge of the housing around thelens.

Ceiling light:pry on the front edge of thelens in the middle.

On Type SHDoor light:

pry on the top middle of thelens.

2. Remove the bulb by pulling itstraight out of its metal tabs.

3. Push the new bulb into the metaltabs. Snap the lens back in place.

Maintenance

CEILING LIGHT DOOR LIGHT


Lights

Replacing the Trunk Light Bulb

1. Open the trunk. Pull down thetrunk light cover.

2. Remove the bulb by pulling itstraight out of its metal tabs.

3. Push the new bulb into the metaltabs.

4. Push the cover back in place.

Maintenance

TRUNK LIGHT


Storing Your Car

If you need to park your car for anextended period (more than onemonth), there are several things youshould do to prepare it for storage.Proper preparation helps preventdeterioration and makes it easier toget your car back on the road. Ifpossible, store your car indoors.

Fill the fuel tank.

Change the engine oil and filter(see page 148).

Wash and dry the exteriorcompletely.

Clean the interior. Make sure thecarpeting, floor mats, etc. arecompletely dry.

Leave the parking brake off. Putthe transmission in Reverse (5-speed manual) or Park(automatic).

Block the rear wheels.

If the car is to be stored for alonger period, it should besupported on jackstands so thetires are off the ground.

Leave one window open slightly (ifthe car is being stored indoors).

Disconnect the battery.

Support the front wiper bladearms with a folded towel or rag sothey do not touch the windshield.

To minimize sticking, apply asilicone spray lubricant to all doorand trunk seals. Also, apply a carbody wax to the painted surfacesthat mate with the door and trunkseals.

Cover the car with a "breathable"car cover, one made from a porousmaterial such as cotton.Nonporous materials, such asplastic sheeting, trap moisture,which can damage the paint.

If possible, run the engine for awhile periodically (preferably oncea month).

If you store your car for 12 monthsor longer, have your Honda dealerperform the inspections called for inthe 24 months/30,000 miles (48,000km) maintenance schedule (NormalConditions) as soon as you take itout of storage (see page 140). Thereplacements called for in themaintenance schedule are notneeded unless the car has actuallyreached that time or mileage.

Maintenance


Appearance Care

Regular cleaning and polishing ofyour Honda helps to keep it "new"looking. This section gives you hintson how to clean your car andpreserve its appearance: the paint,brightwork, wheels and interior. Alsoincluded are several things you cando to help prevent corrosion.

Exterior Care.................................. 192Washing...................................... 192Waxing........................................ 193Aluminum Wheels..................... 193Paint Touch-up........................... 193

Interior Care................................... 194Carpeting.................................... 194Fabric.......................................... 194Vinyl........................................... 194Seat Belts.................................... 195Windows..................................... 195Air Fresheners........................... 196

Corrosion Protection..................... 196Body Repairs.................................. 197

Appearance Care

Main Menu ▲ ▼

Exterior Care

WashingFrequent washing helps preserveyour car's beauty. Dirt and grit canscratch the paint, while tree sap andbird droppings can permanently ruinthe finish.

Wash your car in a shady area, not indirect sunlight. If the car is parked inthe sun, move it into the shade andlet the exterior cool down before youstart.

Only use the solvents and cleanersrecommended in this Owner'sManual.

Chemical solvents and strong cleanerscan damage the paint, metal, andplastic on your car.

Rinse the car thoroughly with coolwater to remove loose dirt.

Fill a bucket with cool water. Mixin a mild detergent, such asdishwashing liquid or a productmade especially for car washing.

Wash the car, using the water anddetergent solution and a soft-bristle brush, sponge, or soft cloth.Start at the top and work your waydown. Rinse frequently.

Check the body for road tar, treesap, etc. Remove these stains withtar remover or turpentine. Rinse itoff immediately so it does notharm the finish. Remember to re-wax these areas, even if the rest ofthe car does not need waxing.

When you have washed and rinsedthe whole exterior, dry it with achamois or soft towel. Letting itair-dry will cause dulling and waterspots.

As you dry the car, inspect it forchips and scratches that could allowcorrosion to start. Repair them withtouch-up paint (see page 193).

Appearance Care

NOTICE


Exterior Care

WaxingAlways wash and dry the whole carbefore waxing it You should waxyour car, including the metal trim,whenever water sits on the surfacein large patches. It should form intobeads or droplets after waxing.

You should use a quality liquid orpaste wax. Apply it according to theinstructions On the container. Ingeneral, there are two types ofproducts:

Waxes — A wax coats the finish andprotects it from damage by exposureto sunlight, air pollution, etc. Youshould use a wax on your Hondawhen it is new.

Polishes — Polishes and cleaner/waxes can restore the shine to paintthat has oxidized and lost some of itsshine. They normally contain mildabrasives and solvents that removethe top layer of the finish. You

should use a polish on your Honda ifthe finish does not have its originalshine after using a wax.

Cleaning tar, insects, etc. withremovers also takes off the wax.Remember to re-wax those areas,even if the rest of the car does notneed waxing.

Aluminum WheelsClean your Honda's aluminum alloywheels as you do the rest of theexterior. Wash them with the samesolution, and rinse them thoroughly.

The wheels have a protective clear-coat that keeps the aluminum fromcorroding and tarnishing. Usingharsh chemicals, including somecommercial wheel cleaners, or stiffbrushes can damage this clear-coat.Only use a mild detergent and softbrush or sponge to clean the wheels.

Paint Touch-upYour dealer has touch-up paint tomatch your car's color. The colorcode is printed on a sticker on thedriver's doorjamb. Take this code toyour dealer so you are sure to getthe correct color.

Inspect your car frequently for chipsor scratches in the paint. Repairthem right away to prevent corrosionof the metal underneath. Use thetouch-up paint only on small chipsand scratches. More extensive paintdamage should be repaired by aprofessional.

Appearance Care


Interior Care

CarpetingVacuum the carpeting frequently toremove dirt. Ground-in dirt will makethe carpet wear out faster.Periodically shampoo the carpet tokeep it looking new. Use one of thefoam-type carpet cleaners on themarket. Follow the instructions thatcome with the cleaner, applying itwith a sponge or soft brush. Keepthe carpeting as dry as possible bynot adding water to the foam.

FabricVacuum dirt and dust out of thematerial frequently. For generalcleaning, use a solution of mild soapand lukewarm water, letting it air dry.To clean off stubborn spots, use acommercially-available fabric cleaner.Test it on a hidden area of the fabricfirst, to make sure it does not bleachor stain the fabric. Follow theinstructions that come with thecleaner.

VinylRemove dirt and dust with a vacuumcleaner. Wipe the vinyl with a softcloth dampened in a solution of mildsoap and water. Use the samesolution with a soft-bristle brush onmore difficult spots. You can also usecommercially-available spray orfoam-type vinyl cleaners.

Appearance Care


Interior Care

Seat Belts

If your seat belts get dirty, you canuse a soft brush with a mixture ofmild soap and warm water to cleanthem. Do not use bleach, dye, orcleaning solvents. They can weakenthe belt material. Let the belts air-dry before you use the car.

Dirt build-up in the metal loops ofthe seat belt anchors can cause thebelts to retract slowly. Wipe theinsides of the loops with a clean clothdampened in mild soap and warmwater or isopropyl alcohol.

WindowsClean the windows, inside and out,with a commercially-available glasscleaner. You can also use a mixtureof one part white vinegar to ten partswater. This will remove the haze thatbuilds up on the inside of thewindows. Use a soft cloth or papertowels to clean all glass and clearplastic surfaces.

The rear window defogger andantenna wires are bonded to the insideof the glass. Wiping vigorously up-and-down can dislodge and break thesewires. When cleaning the rear window,use gentle pressure and wipe side-to-side.

Appearance Care

LOOP

NOTICE


Interior Care, Corrosion Protection

Air FreshenersIf you want to use an air freshener/deodorizer in the interior of your car,it is best to use a solid type. Someliquid air fresheners contain chemi-cals that may cause parts of theinterior trim and fabric to crack ordiscolor.

If you use a liquid air freshener,make sure you fasten it securely so itdoes not spill as you drive.

Corrosion ProtectionTwo factors normally contribute tocausing corrosion in your car:

1. Moisture trapped in body cavities.Dirt and road salt that collects inhollows on the underside of thecar stays damp, promotingcorrosion in that area.

2. Removal of paint and protectivecoatings from the exterior andunderside of the car.

Many corrosion-preventive measuresare built into your Honda. You canhelp keep your car from corrodingby performing some simple periodicmaintenance:

Repair chips and scratches in thepaint as soon as you discover them.

Inspect and clean out the drainholes in the bottom of the doorsand body.

Check the floor coverings fordampness. Carpeting and floormats may remain damp for a longtime, especially in winter. Thisdampness can eventually causethe floor panels to corrode.

Use a high-pressure spray to cleanthe underside of your car. This isespecially important in areas thatuse road salt in winter. It is also agood idea in humid climates andareas subject to salt air. Be carefulof the ABS wheel sensors andwiring at each wheel.

Have the corrosion-preventivecoatings on the underside of yourcar inspected and repairedperiodically.

Appearance Care


Body Repairs

Body repairs can affect your car'sresistance to corrosion. If your carneeds repairs after a collision, payclose attention to the parts used inthe repair and the quality of thework.

Make sure the repair facility usesGenuine Honda replacement bodyparts. Some companies make sheetmetal pieces that seem to duplicatethe original Honda body parts, butare actually inferior in fit, finish, andcorrosion resistance. Once installed,they do not give the same high-quality appearance.

When reporting your collision to theinsurance company, tell them youwant Genuine Honda parts used inthe repair. Although most insurersrecognize the quality of originalparts, some may try to specify thatthe repairs be done with otheravailable parts. You should investi-gate this before any repairs arebegun.

Take your car to your authorizedHonda dealer for inspection after therepairs are completed. He can makesure that quality materials were used,and that corrosion-preventivecoatings were applied to all repairedand replaced parts.

Appearance Care


Taking Care of the Unexpected

This section covers the more-common problems that motoristsexperience with their cars. It givesyou information about how to safelyevaluate the problem and what to doto correct it. If the problem hasstranded you on the side of the road,you may be able to get going again.If not, you will also find instructionson getting your car towed.

Compact Spare Tire....................... 200Changing a Flat Tire..................... 201If Your Engine Won't Start........... 206

Nothing Happens or theStarter Motor OperatesVery Slowly............................. 207

The Starter OperatesNormally................................. 208

Jump Starting................................. 208If Your Engine Overheats............. 210Low Oil Pressure Indicator.......... 212Charging System Indicator........... 213Malfunction Indicator Lamp........ 214Closing the Moonroof................... 215Fuses............................................... 216

Checking and Replacing........... 217Towing............................................ 221


Main Menu ▲ ▼

Compact Spare Tire

Your car has a compact spare tirethat takes up less space. Use thisspare tire as a temporary replace-ment only. Get your regular tirerepaired or replaced and put back onyour car as soon as you can.

Check the inflation pressure of thecompact spare tire every time youcheck the other tires. It should beinflated to:60 psi (4.2 kgf/cm 2 , 420 kPa )

Follow these precautions wheneveryou are using the compact spare tire:

Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)under any circumstances.

This tire gives a harsher ride andless traction on some road sur-faces than the regular tire. Usegreater caution while driving onthis tire.

Do not mount snow chains on thecompact spare.

The wheel of the compact sparetire is designed especially to fityour car. Do not use your sparetire on another car unless it is thesame make and model.

The compact spare tire has a shortertread life than a regular tire. Replaceit when you can see the tread wearindicator bars. The replacementshould be the same size and designtire, mounted on the same wheel.The compact spare tire is notdesigned to be mounted on a regularwheel, and the compact wheel is notdesigned for mounting a regular tire.


TREAD WEARINDICATORBAR

INDICATORLOCATIONMARK


Changing a Flat Tire

If you have a flat tire while driving,stop in a safe place to change it.Stopping in traffic or on the shoulderof a busy road is dangerous. Driveslowly along the shoulder until youget to an exit or an area to stop thatis far away from the traffic lanes.

1. Park the car on firm, level groundaway from traffic. Turn on thehazard warning lights and turn theignition to LOCK (0).

2. Put the transmission in Park(automatic) or Reverse (manual).Set the parking brake. Have all ofthe passengers get out of the carwhile you change the tire.

3. Open the trunk. Raise the trunkfloor by lifting up on the back edge.

4. Take the tool kit out of the trunk.

5. Unscrew the wing bolt and takethe spare tire out of its well.

CONTINUED


JACK TRUNKFLOOR

TOOL KIT

SPARETIRE

The car can easily roll off thejack, seriously injuring anyoneunderneath.

Follow the directions forchanging a tire exactly, andnever get under the car when itis supported only by the jack.



6. The jack is behind a cover in theleft fender. Remove the cover byturning the handle clockwise, thenpulling on the cover.

7. Turn the jack's end bracketcounterclockwise to loosen it, thenremove the jack.

8. Loosen the five wheel nuts 1/2turn with the wheel wrench.


HANDLE COVER

JACK

WHEEL WRENCH



9. Locate the jacking point nearestthe tire you need to change. It ispointed to by mark molded intothe underside of the body. Placethe jack under the jacking point.Turn the end bracket clockwiseuntil the top of the jack contactsthe jacking point. Make sure thejacking point tab is resting in thejack notch.

10.Use the extension and wheelwrench as shown to raise the caruntil the flat tire is off the ground.

11.Remove the wheel nuts and flattire. Temporarily place the flat tireon the ground with the outsidesurface of the wheel facing up.You could scratch the wheel if youput it face down.

CONTINUED


JACKINGPOINT

WHEELWRENCH EXTENSION



12.Before mounting the spare tire,wipe any dirt off the mountingsurface of the wheel and hub witha clean cloth.

13.Put on the spare tire. Put thewheel nuts back on finger-tight,then tighten them in a crisscrosspattern with the wheel wrenchuntil the wheel is firmly againstthe hub. Do not try to tightenthem fully.

14.Lower the car to the ground andremove the jack.


BRAKE HUB



15.Tighten the wheel nuts securely inthe same crisscross pattern. Havethe wheel nut torque checked atthe nearest automotive servicefacility.Tighten the wheel nuts to:80 lbf.ft (11 kgf.m ,108 N.m)

16.Remove the center cap beforestoring the flat tire in the trunkwell.

17.Place the flat tire face down in thespare tire well.

18.Remove the spacer cone from thewing bolt, turn it over, and put itback on the bolt.

CONTINUED


CENTER CAP

WING BOLTSPACERCONE


Changing a Flat Tire, If Your Engine Won't Start

19.Secure the flat tire by screwingthe wing bolt back into its hole.

20.Store the jack in its holder. Turnthe jack's end bracket to lock it inplace. Replace the cover. Store thetool kit.

21.Store the center cap in the trunk.Make sure it does not get scratch-ed or damaged.

22.Lower the trunk floor, then closethe trunk lid.

If Your Engine Won't StartDiagnosing why your engine won'tstart falls into two areas, dependingon what you hear when you turn thekey to START (III):

You hear nothing, or almostnothing. The engine's startermotor does not operate at all, oroperates very slowly.

You can hear the starter motoroperating normally, or the startermotor sounds like it is spinningfaster than normal, but the enginedoes not start up and run.


Loose items can fly around theinterior in a crash and couldseriously injure the occupants.

Store the wheel, jack and toolssecurely before driving.


If Your Engine Won't Start

Nothing Happens or the StarterMotor Operates Very SlowlyWhen you turn the ignition switch toSTART (III), you do not hear thenormal noise of the engine trying tostart. You may hear a clicking soundor series of clicks, or nothing at all.Check these things:

Your vehicle has the ImmobilizerSystem. You should use aproperly-coded master or valet keyto start the engine (see page 47).A key that is not properly codedwill cause the immobilizer systemindicator in the dash panel to blinkrapidly.

Check the transmission interlock.If you have a manual transmission,the clutch pedal must be pushedall the way to the floor or thestarter will not operate. With anautomatic transmission, it must bein Park or Neutral.

Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).Turn on the headlights and checktheir brightness. If the headlightsare very dim or don't light at all,the battery is discharged. SeeJump Starting on page 208.

Turn the ignition switch to START(III). If the headlights do not dim,check the condition of the fuses. Ifthe fuses are OK, there is proba-bly something wrong with theelectrical circuit for the ignitionswitch or starter motor. You willneed a qualified technician todetermine the problem. (SeeTowing on page 221.)

If the headlights dim noticeably orgo out when you try to start theengine, either the battery is dis-charged or the connections arecorroded. Check the condition ofthe battery and terminal connec-tions (see page 163). You canthen try jump starting the car froma booster battery (see page 208).



If Your Engine Won't Start, Jump Starting

The Starter Operates NormallyIn this case, the starter motor'sspeed sounds normal, or even fasterthan normal, when you turn theIgnition switch to START (III), butthe engine does not run.

Are you using the proper startingprocedure? Refer to Starting theEngine on page 109.

Do you have fuel? Turn theignition switch to ON (II) for aminute and watch the fuel gauge.The low fuel level warning lightmay not be working, so you werenot reminded to fill the tank.

There may be an electricalproblem, such as no power to thefuel pump. Check all the fuses(see page 216).

If you find nothing wrong, you willneed a qualified technician to findthe problem. See Towing on page221.

Jump StartingIf your car's battery has run down,you may be able to start the engineby using a booster battery. Althoughthis seems like a simple procedure,you should take several precautions.

You cannot start a Honda with anautomatic transmission by pushingor pulling it.

To jump start your car, follow thesedirections closely:

1. Open the hood and check thephysical condition of the battery(see page 163). In very coldweather, check the condition ofthe electrolyte. If it seems slushyor like ice, do not try jump startinguntil it thaws.

If a battery sits in extreme cold, theelectrolyte inside can freeze.Attempting to jump start with a frozenbattery can cause it to rupture.

2. Turn off all the electrical acces-sories: heater, A/C, stereo system, lights, etc.Put the transmission in Neutral orPark and set the parking brake.


NOTICE

A battery can explode if you donot follow the correct procedure,seriously injuring anyonenearby.

Keep all sparks, open flames,and smoking materials awayfrom the battery.


Jump Starting

3. Connect one jumper cable to thepositive (+ ) terminal on thebooster battery. Connect the otherend to the positive (+ ) terminalon your Honda's battery.

4. Connect the second jumper cableto the negative (—) terminal onthe booster battery. Connect theother end to the grounding strapas shown. Do not connect thisjumper cable to any other part ofthe engine.

5. If the booster battery is in anothercar, have an assistant start that carand run it at a fast idle.

6. Start your car. If the starter motorstill operates slowly, check thejumper cable connections to makesure they have good metal-to-metal contact.

7. Once your car is running, discon-nect the negative cable from yourcar, then from the booster battery.Disconnect the positive cable fromyour car, then the booster battery.


BOOSTER BATTERY


If Your Engine Overheats

The pointer of your car's tempera-ture gauge should stay in the mid-range under most conditions. It maygo higher if you are driving up a longsteep hill on a very hot day. If itclimbs to the red mark, you shoulddetermine the reason.

Driving with the temperature gaugepointer at the red mark can causeserious damage to your engine.

Your car can overheat for severalreasons, such as lack of coolant or amechanical problem. The onlyindication may be the temperaturegauge climbing to or above the redmark. Or you may see steam orspray coming from under the hood.In either case, you should takeimmediate action.

1. Safely pull to the side of the road.Put the transmission in Neutral orPark and set the parking brake.Turn off the heating and coolingsystem and all other accessories.Turn on the hazard warningindicators.

2. If you see steam and/or spraycoming from under the hood, turnoff the engine.

3. If you do not see steam or spray,leave the engine running andwatch the temperature gauge. Ifthe high heat is due to overloading(climbing a long, steep hill on ahot day with the A/C running, forexample), the engine should startto cool down almost immediately.If it does, wait until the tempera-ture gauge comes down to the mid-point then continue driving.

4. If the temperature gauge stays atthe red mark, turn off the engine.

5. Wait until you see no more signsof steam or spray, then open thehood.


NOTICE

Steam and spray from anoverheated engine canseriously scald you.

Do not open the hood if steamis coming out.


If Your Engine Overheats

6. Look for any obvious coolant leaks,such as a split radiator hose.Everything is still extremely hot,so use caution. If you find a leak, itmust be repaired before youcontinue driving (see Towing onpage 221).

7. If you don't find an obvious leak,check the coolant level in theradiator reserve tank (see page103). If the level is below the

MIN mark, add coolant to halfwaybetween the MIN and MAX marks.

8. If there was no coolant in thereserve tank, you may also have toadd coolant to the radiator. Let theengine cool down until the pointerreaches the middle of the tempera-ture gauge, or lower, before check-ing the radiator.

9. Using gloves or a large heavycloth, turn the radiator capcounterclockwise, without pushingdown, to the first stop. Thisreleases any remaining pressure inthe cooling system. After thepressure releases, push down onthe cap and turn it until it comesoff.

10.Start the engine and set thetemperature control lever tomaximum. Add coolant to theradiator up to the base of the fillerneck. If you do not have theproper coolant mixture available,you can add plain water.Remember to have the coolingsystem drained and refilled withthe proper mixture as soon as youcan.

11.Put the radiator cap back ontightly. Run the engine and watchthe temperature gauge. If it goesback to the red mark, the engineneeds repair. (See Towing onpage 221.)

12.If the temperature stays normal,check the coolant level in theradiator reserve tank. If it hasgone down, add coolant to theMAX mark. Put the cap back ontightly.


Removing the radiator capwhile the engine is hot cancause the coolant to spray out,seriously scalding you.

Always let the engine andradiator cool down beforeremoving the radiator cap.


Low Oil Pressure Indicator

This indicator should light when theignition is ON (II), and go out afterthe engine starts. It should nevercome on when the engine is running.If it starts flashing, it indicates thatthe oil pressure dropped very low fora moment, then recovered. If theindicator stays on with the enginerunning, it shows that the engine haslost oil pressure and serious enginedamage is possible. In either case,you should take immediate action.

Running the engine with low oilpressure can cause serious mechanicaldamage almost immediately. Turn offthe engine as soon as you can safely getthe car stopped.

1. Safely pull off the road and shutoff the engine. Turn on the hazardwarning indicators.

2. Let the car sit for a minute. Openthe hood and check the oil level(see page 102). Although oil leveland oil pressure are not directlyconnected, an engine that is verylow on oil can lose pressure duringcornering and other drivingmaneuvers.

3. If necessary, add oil to bring thelevel back to the full mark on thedipstick (see page 146).

4. Start the engine and watch the oilpressure indicator. If the lightdoes not go out within ten seconds,turn off the engine. There is amechanical problem that needs tobe repaired before you cancontinue driving. (See Towing onpage 221.)


LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR

NOTICE


Charging System Indicator

This indicator should come on whenthe ignition is ON (II), and go outafter the engine starts. If it comes onbrightly when the engine is running,it indicates that the charging systemhas stopped charging the battery.

Immediately turn off all electricalaccessories: radio, heater, A/C, reardefogger, cruise control, etc. Try notto use other electrically-operatedcontrols such as the power windows.Keep the engine running and takeextra care not to stall it. Starting theengine will discharge the batteryrapidly.

By eliminating as much of theelectrical load as possible, you candrive several miles before thebattery is too discharged to keep theengine running. Drive to a servicestation or garage where you can gettechnical assistance.


CHARGING SYSTEM INDICATOR


Malfunction Indicator Lamp

This indicator comes on for a fewseconds when you turn the ignitionswitch ON (II). If it comes on at anyother time, it indicates one of theengine's emissions control systemsmay have a problem. Even thoughyou may feel no difference in yourcar's performance, it can reduceyour fuel economy and cause yourcar to put out excessive emissions.Continued operation may causeserious damage.

If you have recently refueled yourvehicle, the cause of this indicatorcoming on could be a loose ormissing fuel fill cap. Check the capand tighten it until it clicks. Replacethe fuel fill cap if it is missing.Tightening the cap will not make theindicator turn off immediately; ittakes three driving trips.

If the indicator remains on past threedriving trips, or the fuel cap was notloose or missing, have the vehiclechecked by the dealer as soon aspossible. Drive moderately until thedealer has inspected the problem.Avoid full-throttle acceleration anddriving at high speed.

You should also have the dealerinspect your vehicle if this indicatorcomes on repeatedly, even though itmay turn off as you continue driving.

If you keep driving with the malfunc-tion indicator lamp on, you can damageyour car's emission controls and engine.Those repairs may not be covered byyour car's warranties.


MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP NOTICE


Closing the Moonroof

If the electric motor will not closethe moonroof, do the following:

1. Check the fuse for the moonroofmotor (see page 217). If the fuseis blown, replace it with one of thesame or lower rating.

2. Try closing the moonroof. If thenew fuse blows immediately or themoonroof motor still does notoperate, you can close themoonroof manually.

3. Get the tool out of the tool kit inthe trunk.

4. Use a screwdriver or coin toremove the round plug in thecenter of the headliner.

5. Insert the moonroof wrench intothe socket behind this plug. Turnthe wrench until the moonroof isfully closed.

6. Remove the wrench. Replace theround plug.


ROUND PLUG

SOCKET


Fuses

All the electrical circuits in your carhave fuses to protect them from ashort circuit or overload. Thesefuses are located in two fuse boxes.

The under-hood fuse box is locatedin the back of the engine compart-ment on the passenger's side. Toopen it, push the tab as shown.

The interior fuse box is underneaththe dashboard on the driver's side.To open it, turn the knob as shown.


UNDER-HOOD TAB INTERIOR

KNOB


Fuses

Checking and Replacing FusesIf something electrical in your carstops working, the first thing youshould check for is a blown fuse.Determine from the chart on pages219 and 220, or the diagram on thefuse box lid, which fuse or fusescontrol that component. Check thosefuses first, but check all the fusesbefore deciding that a blown fuse isnot the cause. Replace any blownfuses and check the component'soperation.

1. Turn the ignition switch to LOCK(0). Make sure the headlights andall other accessories are off,

2. Remove the cover from the fusebox.

3. Check each of the large fuses inthe under-hood fuse box bylooking through the top at the wireinside. Removing these fusesrequires a Phillips-head screw-driver.

4. Check the smaller fuses in theunder-hood fuse box and all thefuses in the interior fuse box bypulling out each fuse with the fusepuller provided in the interior fusebox.

CONTINUED


FUSE

BLOWN

FUSE PULLER


Fuses

5. Look for a burned wire inside thefuse. If it is burned, replace it withone of the spare fuses of the samerating or lower.

If you cannot drive the car withoutfixing the problem, and you do nothave a spare fuse, take a fuse of thesame rating or a lower rating fromone of the other circuits. Make sureyou can do without that circuittemporarily (such as the accessorysocket or radio).

If you replace the blown fuse with aspare fuse that has a lower rating, itmight blow out again. This does notindicate anything wrong. Replace thefuse with one of the correct rating assoon as you can.

Replacing a fuse with one that has ahigher rating greatly increases thechances of damaging the electricalsystem. If you do not have a replace-ment fuse with the proper rating for thecircuit, install one with a lower rating.

6. If the replacement fuse of thesame rating blows in a short time,there is probably a seriouselectrical problem in your car.Leave the blown fuse in thatcircuit and have your car checkedby a qualified technician.

If the radio fuse is removed, theaudio system will disable itself. Thenext time you turn on the radio youwill see "Code" in the frequencydisplay. Use the Preset buttons toenter the five-digit code (see page95 ).


BLOWNNOTICE


Fuses

INTERIOR FUSE BOX

*1 : On Type SH

* 2 : On Canadian cars

CONTINUED



Fuses

UNDER-HOOD FUSE BOX



Towing

If your car needs to be towed, call aprofessional towing service or, if youbelong to one, an organization thatprovides roadside assistance. Nevertow your car behind another car withjust a rope or chain. It is verydangerous.

Emergency TowingThere are three popular methods oftowing a car:

Flat-bed Equipment — The operatorloads your car on the back of a truck.This is the best way of trans-porting your Honda.

Wheel Lift Equipment — The towtruck uses two pivoting arms that gounder the tires (front or rear) and liftthem off the ground. The other twotires remain on the ground.

Sling-type Equipment — The towtruck uses metal cables with hookson the ends. These hooks go aroundparts of the frame or suspension andthe cables lift that end of the car offthe ground. Your car's suspensionand body can be seriously damagedif this method of towing is attempted.

If your Honda cannot be transportedby flat-bed, it should be towed withthe front wheels off the ground. Ifdue to damage, your car must betowed with the front wheels on theground, do the following:

5-speed Manual TransmissionRelease the parking brake.Shift the transmission to Neutral.

Automatic Transmission:Release the parking brake.Start the engine.Shift to D4, then to N.Turn off the engine.

Improper towing preparation willdamage the transmission. Follow theabove procedure exactly. If you cannotshift the transmission or start theengine (automatic transmission), yourcar must be transported on a flat-bed,

It is best to tow the car no fartherthan 50 miles (80 km), and keepthe speed below 35 mph (55km/h).

If your car is equipped with anoptional front air spoiler, remove itbefore towing so it is not damaged.

Trying to lift or tow your car by thebumpers will cause serious damage.The bumpers are not designed tosupport the car's weight.


NOTICE

NOTICE


Technical Information

The diagrams in this section giveyou the dimensions and capacities ofyour Honda, and the locations of theidentification numbers. The expla-nations of several electronic andmechanical systems on your Hondaare for the more technically-orientedowner.

Identification Numbers................. 224Specifications................................. 226Tire Information............................ 228

Tire Size Designation................ 228Wheel Size Designation............ 228Tire Speed Ratings.................... 228Tire Pressure Adjustment

For High Speed Driving........ 229DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 229

Treadwear.............................. 229Traction.................................. 230Temperature.......................... 230

Emission Controls......................... 231The Clean Air Act...................... 231Crankcase Emission Control

System..................................... 231Evaporative Emission Control

System..................................... 231Exhaust Emission Controls...... 232

PGM-FI System .................... 232Ignition Timing Control

System................................. 232Exhaust Gas Recirculation

(EGR) System.................... 232Three Way Catalytic

Converter............................ 232Replacement Parts..................... 232

Three Way Catalytic Converter... 233


Main Menu ▲ ▼

Identification Numbers

Your car has several identifyingnumbers located in various places.

The Vehicle Identification Number(VIN) is the 17-digit number yourHonda dealer uses to register yourcar for warranty purposes. It is alsonecessary for licensing and insuringyour car. The easiest place to findthe VIN is on a plate fastened to thetop of the dashboard. You can see itby looking through the windshieldon the driver's side. It is also on theCertification label attached to thedriver's doorjamb, and is stamped onthe engine compartment bulkhead.The VIN is also provided in bar codeon the Certification label.

VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

CERTIFICATION LABEL



Identification Numbers

The Engine Number is stamped intothe engine block.

The Transmission Number is on alabel on top of the transmission.

MANUAL TRANSMISSION NUMBER

ENGINE NUMBER


AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NUMBER


Specifications

* 1 : Including the coolant in the reserve tank and that remaining in theengine.Reserve tank capacity:0.16 US gal (0.6 ,0.13 Imp gal)

*2: Type SH

* 3 : Except Type SH

* 4 : Excluding the oil remaining in the engine.


page 163 .


Specifications

*1 : Except Type SH

*2 : Type SH


page 219

page 220

* 1 : Except high-mount brake light installed in rear spoiler*2 : Type SH * 1 : Except Type SH

* 2 : Type SH


Tire Information

Tire Size DesignationA tire's sidewall is marked with, a tiresize designation. You will need thisinformation when selecting replace-ment tires for your car. The follow-ing explains what the letters andnumbers in the tire size designationmean.

(Example tire size designation)205/50R16 87V

205 — Tire width in millimeters.

50 — Aspect ratio. The tire's sectionheight as a percentage of its width.

R — Tire construction code (Radial).

16 — Rim diameter in inches.

87 — Load Index, a numerical codeassociated with the maximum loadthe tire can carry.

V — Speed Rating Symbol. See thespeed rating chart in this section foradditional information.

Wheel Size DesignationWheels are also marked withimportant information that you needif you ever have to replace one. Thefollowing explains what the lettersand numbers in the wheel sizedesignation mean.

(Example wheel size designation)16 x 6-1/2 JJ

16 — Rim diameter in inches.

6-1/2 — Rim width in inches.

JJ — Rim contour designation.

Tire Speed RatingsThe chart below shows many of thedifferent speed ratings currentlybeing used for passenger car tires.The speed rating symbol is part ofthe tire size designation on thesidewall of the tire. This symbolcorresponds to that tire's designedmaximum safe operating speed.



Tire Information

Tire Pressure Adjustment ForHigh Speed DrivingHonda strongly recommends thatyou not drive faster than postedspeed limits and conditions allow. Ifyou decide it is safe to drive at highspeeds, be sure to adjust the cold tirepressures as shown below. If you donot adjust the tire pressure, exces-sive heat can build up and causesudden tire failure.

Be sure to readjust the pressure fornormal driving speeds. You shouldwait until the tires are cold beforeadjusting the tire pressure (see page171).

DOT Tire Quality Grading(U.S. Cars)The tires on your car meet all U.S.Federal Safety Requirements. Alltires are also graded for treadwear,traction, and temperature perform-ance according to Department ofTransportation (DOT) standards.The following explains thesegradings.

TreadwearThe treadwear grade is a compara-tive rating based on the wear rate ofthe tire when tested under controlledconditions on a specified governmenttest, course. For example, a tiregraded 150 would wear one and onehalf (1-1/2) times as well on thegovernment course as a tire graded100. The relative performance oftires depends upon the actual condi-tions of their use, however, and maydepart significantly from the normdue to variations in driving habits,service practices and differences inroad characteristics and climate.

CONTINUED



Tire Information

TractionThe traction grades, from highest tolowest, are A, B, and C, and theyrepresent the tire's ability to stop onwet pavement as measured undercontrolled conditions on specifiedgovernment test surfaces of asphaltand concrete. A tire marked C mayhave poor traction performance.

Warning: The traction grade as-signed to this tire is based on brak-ing (straight ahead) traction testsand does not include cornering(turning) traction.

TemperatureThe temperature grades are A (thehighest), B, and C, representing thetire's resistance to the generation ofheat and its ability to dissipate heatwhen tested under controlledconditions on a specified indoorlaboratory test wheel. Sustained hightemperature can cause the materialof the tire to degenerate and reducetire life, and excessive temperaturecan lead to sudden tire failure. Thegrade C corresponds to a level ofperformance which all passenger cartires must meet under the FederalMotor Vehicle Safety Standard No.109. Grades B and A representhigher levels of performance on thelaboratory test wheel than theminimum required by law.

Warning: The temperature grade forthis tire is established for a tire thatis properly inflated and not over-loaded. Excessive speed, underinfla-tion, or excessive loading eitherseparately or in combination, cancause heat build-up and possible tirefailure.



Emission Controls

The burning of gasoline in your car'sengine produces several byproducts.Some of these are carbon monoxide(CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOx) andhydrocarbons (HC). Gasolineevaporating from the tank alsoproduces hydrocarbons. Controllingthe production of NOx, CO, and HCis important to the environment.Under certain conditions of sunlightand climate, NOx and HC react toform photochemical "smog." Carbonmonoxide does not contribute tosmog creation, but it is a poisonousgas.

The Clean Air ActThe United States Clean Air Act*sets standards for automobileemissions. It also requires thatautomobile manufacturers explain toowners how their emission controlswork and what to do to maintainthem. This section summarizes howthe emission controls work.Scheduled maintenance is on page140.

* In Canada, Honda vehicles complywith the Canadian Motor VehicleSafety Standards (CMVSS) forEmissions valid at the time they aremanufactured.

Crankcase Emission ControlSystemYour car has a Positive CrankcaseVentilation System. This keepsgasses that build up in the engine'scrankcase from going into theatmosphere. The Positive CrankcaseVentilation valve routes them fromthe crankcase back to the intakemanifold. They are then drawn intothe engine and burned.

Evaporative Emission ControlSystemAs gasoline evaporates in the fueltank, an evaporative emission controlcanister filled with charcoal adsorbsthe vapor. It is stored in this canisterwhile the engine is off. After theengine is started and warmed up, thevapor is drawn into the engine andburned during driving.



Emission Controls

Exhaust Emission ControlsThe exhaust emission controlsinclude four systems: PGM-FI,Ignition Timing Control, ExhaustGas Recirculation and Three WayCatalytic Converter. These foursystems work together to control theengine's combustion and minimizethe amount of HC, CO, and NOx thatcomes out the tailpipe. The exhaustemission control systems areseparate from the crankcase andevaporative emission controlsystems.

PGM-FI SystemThe PGM-FI System uses sequentialmultiport fuel injection.It has three subsystems: Air Intake,Engine Control, and Fuel Control.The Engine Control Module (ECM)uses various sensors to determinehow much air is going into theengine. It then controls how muchfuel to inject under all operatingconditions.

Ignition Timing Control SystemThis system constantly adjusts theignition timing, reducing the amountof HC, CO and NOx produced.

Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR)SystemThe Exhaust Gas Recirculation(EGR) system takes some of theexhaust gas and routes it back intothe intake manifold. Adding exhaustgas to the air/fuel mixture reducesthe amount of NOx produced whenthe fuel is burned.

Three Way Catalytic ConverterThe three way catalytic converter isin the exhaust system. Throughchemical reactions, it converts HC,CO, and NOx in the engine's exhaustto carbon dioxide (CO2), dinitrogen(N2), and water vapor.

Replacement PartsThe emission control systems aredesigned and certified to work to-gether in reducing emissions tolevels that comply with the Clean AirAct. To make sure the emissionsremain low, you should use only newGenuine Honda replacement parts ortheir equivalent for repairs. Usinglower quality parts may increase theemissions from your car.

The emissions control systems arecovered by warranties separate fromthe rest of your car. Read yourwarranty manual for more informa-tion.



Three Way Catalytic Converter

The three way catalytic convertercontains precious metals that serveas catalysts, promoting chemicalreactions to convert the exhaustgasses without affecting the metals.The catalytic converter is referred toas a three-way catalyst, since it actson HC, CO, and NOx. A replacementunit must be an original Honda partor its equivalent.

The three way catalytic convertermust operate at a high temperaturefor the chemical reactions to takeplace. 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 catalyticconverter contributes to air pollution,and can impair your engine's per-formance. Follow these guidelines toprotect your car's three way catalyticconverter.

Always use unleaded gasoline.Even a small amount of leadedgasoline can contaminate thecatalyst metals, making the threeway catalytic converter ineffective.

Keep the engine tuned-up.

Have your car diagnosed andrepaired if it is misfiring, back-firing, stalling, or otherwise notrunning properly.


THREE WAY CATALYTIC CONVERTER


Warranty and Customer Relations

Customer RelationsInformation................................. 236

U.S. Zone Office Map.................... 237Canada Zone Office Map.............. 238Warranty Coverages..................... 239Reporting Safety Defects

(U.S. Cars).................................. 240Authorized Manuals...................... 241


Main Menu ▲ ▼

Customer Relations Information

Honda dealership personnel aretrained professionals. They shouldbe able to answer all your questions.If you encounter a problem that yourdealership does not solve to yoursatisfaction, please discuss it withthe dealership's management. TheService Manager or GeneralManager can help. Almost allproblems are solved in this way.

If you are dissatisfied with thedecision made by the dealership'smanagement, contact your HondaCustomer Relations Zone Office.Refer to the U.S. and Canadian ZoneOffice maps on the following pages.

When you call or write, please giveus this information:

Vehicle Identification Number(see page 224)Name and address of the dealerwho services your carDate of purchaseMileage on your carYour name, address, and tele-phone numberA detailed description of theproblemName of the dealer who sold thecar to you



U.S. Zone Office Map

The addresses and telephone numbers are subject to change. If you cannotreach your Zone office, ask your Honda dealer for the current information.

Western ZoneP.O. Box 2260

700 Van Ness AvenueTorrance, California90509-2260(310) 781-4565

Northwestern ZoneP.O. Box 20186

12439 N.E. Airport WayPortland, Oregon 97220(503) 256-0943(also includes Alaska andHawaii)

South Central Zone4529 Royal Lane

Irving, Texas 75063(214) 929-5481

Central Zone101 South Stanfield Road

Troy, Ohio 45373(513) 332-6250

Northeastern ZoneP.O. Box 337

Eastgate Industrial Park115 Gaither DriveMoorestown, New Jersey 08057(609) 235-5533

Includes: NYC Metro area andFairfield County, CT area

Mid-Atlantic Zone902 Wind River Ln., Suite 200

Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878(301) 990-2020

Southeastern Zone1500 Morrison Parkway

Alpharetta, Georgia 30201(770) 442-2045

North Centra! Zone601 Campus Drive, Suite A-9

Arlington Heights, lllinois 60004(847) 870-5600

New England Zone555 Old County Road

Windsor Locks, Connecticut 06096(203) 623-3310See Zone 5 for:NYC Metro area andFairfield County, CT area

West Central Zone1600 South Abilene Street, Suite D

Aurora, Colorado 80012(303) 696-3935

Puerto Rico and U.S. V.I.Bella International

P.O. Box 190816San Juan, PR 00919-0816(809) 250-8070



Canada Zone Office Map

Western ZoneHonda Canada Inc.13240 Worster CourtRichmond, B.C.V6V 2B8(604) 278-7121

Central ZoneHonda Canada Inc.715 Milner AvenueScarborough, OntarioM1B 2K8(416) 299-3400

Quebec ZoneHonda Canada Inc.1750 rue EiffelBoucherville, QuebecJ4B 7W1(514) 655-6161

Atlantic ZoneHonda Canada Inc.51 Raddal AvenueSuite 1Dartmouth, NSB3B 1L4(902) 468-4416



Warranty Coverages

U.S. OwnersYour new Honda is covered by thesewarranties:

New Car Limited Warranty — coversyour new car, except for the battery,emissions control systems andaccessories, against defects inmaterials and workmanship.

Emissions Control Systems DefectsWarranty and EmissionsPerformance Warranty — these twowarranties cover your car's emis-sions control systems. Time, mileage,and coverage are conditional. Pleaseread the warranty manual for exactinformation.

Original Equipment Battery LimitedWarranty — this warranty gives upto 100 percent credit toward areplacement battery.

Seat Belt Limited Warranty — a seatbelt that fails to function properly iscovered for the useful life of the car.

Rust Perforation Limited Warranty— all exterior body panels arecovered for rust-through from theinside for the specified time periodwith no mileage limit.

Accessory Limited Warranty —Genuine Honda Accessories arecovered under this warranty. Timeand mileage limits depend on thetype of accessory and other factors.Please read your warranty manualfor details.

Replacement Parts LimitedWarranty — covers all GenuineHonda replacement parts againstdefects in materials and workman-ship.

Replacement Battery LimitedWarranty — provides proratedcoverage for a replacement batterypurchased from a Honda dealer.

Replacement Muffler LifetimeLimited Warranty — providescoverage for as long as the pur-chaser of the muffler owns the car.

Restrictions and exclusions apply toall these warranties. Please read the1997 Honda Warranties booklet thatcame with your car for preciseinformation on warranty coverages.Your Honda's original tires arecovered by their manufacturer. Tirewarranty information is in a separatebooklet.

Canadian OwnersPlease refer to the 1997 WarrantyManual that came with your car.



Reporting Safely Defects (U.S. Cars)

If you believe that your vehicle has adefect which could cause a crash orcould cause injury or death, youshould immediately inform theNational Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration (NHTSA) in additionto notifying American Honda MotorCo., Inc.

If NHTSA receives similar com-plaints, it may open an investigation,and if it finds that a safety defectexists in a group of vehicles, it mayorder a recall and remedy campaign.However, NHTSA cannot becomeinvolved in individual problemsbetween you, your dealer, orAmerican Honda Motor Co., Inc.

To contact NHTSA, you may eithercall the Auto Safety Hotline toll-freeat 1-800-424-9393 (or 366-0123 inWashington D.C. area) or write to:NHTSA, U.S. Department ofTransportation, Washington,D.C. 20590. You can also obtainother information about motorvehicle safety from the Hotline.



Authorized Manuals

Purchasing Factory Authorized Manuals(U.S. only)The following publications covering the operation andservicing of your vehicle can be obtained from HelmIncorporated, either by filling out the attached form or,for credit card holders, calling the toll-free phone numberon the form. For manuals prior to the year shown below,contact Helm Incorporated, P.O. Box 07280, Detroit,Michigan 48207, or call 1-800-782-4356.

Valid only for sales within the U.S. Canadian owners shouldcontact their authorized Honda 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.

61S3000

61S3000EL

61S3030

31S30600


Authorized Manuals

These Publications cannot be returned for credit without receiving advance authorization within 14days of delivery. On returns, a restocking fee may be applied against the original order.

P.O. BOX 07280 DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48207 1-800-782-4356

Service Manual:This manual covers maintenance and recommendedprocedures for repair to engine and chassis components.It is written for the Journeyman mechanic, but is simpleenough for most mechanically-inclined owners to under-stand.

Electrical Troubleshooting Manual:This manual complements the Service Manual byproviding in-depth troubleshooting information for eachelectrical circuit in your car.

Body Repair Manual:This manual describes the procedures involved in thereplacement of damaged body parts.


Index

AccessoriesInstallation.................................. 105

ACCESSORY (Ignition KeyPosition)........................................ 49

Accessory Power Socket................ 66Active Torque Transfer System(ATTS)

Indicator................................ 32, 125Operation.................................... 125

AddingAutomatic Transmission

Fluid........................................ 156Brake Fluid................................. 158Clutch Fluid................................ 159Engine Coolant........................... 150Engine Oil................................... 146Manual Transmission Fluid..... 157Power Steering Fluid................. 159Windshield Washer Fluid......... 155

Additional Safety Information........ 16Door Locks................................... 17Driving with Pets......................... 17Head Restraint Position.............. 16Seat-back Position........................ 16

Storing Cargo Safely................... 17Additives, Engine Oil..................... 147Adjustments

Headlights.................................. 176Head Restraints........................... 55Mirrors.......................................... 61Seats.............................................. 53Steering Wheel............................ 42

Airbag (SRS).................................... 10Air Cleaner Element...................... 160Air Conditioning............................... 70

Maintenance............................... 168Usage............................................. 70

Air Outlets (Vents).......................... 72Air Pressure, Tires........................ 170

High Speed Driving................... 229Normal Driving.......................... 171

Alcohol and Drugs........................... 24Alcohol in Gasoline.......................... 98Antifreeze....................................... 150Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)

Indicator Light.................... 32, 124Operation.................................... 122

Anti-theft Steering ColumnLock............................................... 49

Appearance Care........................... 191

Ashtrays (Optional)......................... 67Audio System................................... 78Automatic Speed Control................ 43Automatic Transmission............... 112

Capacity, Fluid........................... 226Checking Fluid Level................ 156Sequential SportShift Mode..... 115Shifting........................................ 113Shift Lever Position Indicator.. 112Shift Lever Positions................. 113Shift Lock Release..................... 119

BatteryCharging System

Indicator............................ 31, 213Jump Starting............................. 208Maintenance............................... 163Specifications............................. 227

Before Driving................................. 97Belts, Seat........................................... 5Beverage Holder.............................. 64Body Repair.................................... 197

CONTINUED

Main Menu ▲ ▼

Index

BrakesAnti-lock System (ABS)............ 122Break-in, New Linings................. 98Fluid............................................ 158Light, Burned-out...................... 183Parking.......................................... 62System Indicator.......................... 31Wear Indicators......................... 121

Brakes, ABSOperation.................................... 122System Indicator................. 32, 124

Braking System.............................. 121Break-in, New Car........................... 98Brightness Control, Instruments... 39Brights, Headlights......................... 38Bulb Replacement

Back-up Lights........................... 183Brake Lights............................... 183Ceiling Lights............................. 187Courtesy Lights......................... 187Front Parking Lights................. 180Front Side Marker Lights......... 181Headlights.................................. 178High-mount Brake Light.......... 185License Plate Light.................... 186Rear Side Marker Lights.......... 183

Specifications............................. 227Trunk Light................................ 188Turn Signal Lights..................... 182

Bulbs, Halogen............................... 178

Cables, Jump Starting With.......... 208Capacities Chart............................. 226Carbon Monoxide Hazard.............. 25Cargo, Loading............................... 106Cassette Player

Care............................................... 94Operation...................................... 91

CAUTION, Explanation of............... iiCD Changer...................................... 87CD Player.......................................... 85Certification Label......................... 224Chains............................................. 175Change Oil

How to......................................... 148When to....................................... 140

Changing a Flat Tire..................... 201Changing Engine Coolant.............. 152Charging System Indicator.... 31, 213

CheckingAutomatic Transmission

Fluid........................................ 156Battery Condition...................... 163Brake Fluid................................. 158Clutch Fluid................................ 159Drive Belts.................................. 169Engine Coolant........................... 103Engine Oil................................... 102Fuses........................................... 217Manual Transmission Fluid..... 157Power Steering Fluid................. 159

Checklist, Before Driving............. 108Child Safety...................................... 18Cleaner, Air.................................... 160Cleaning

Aluminum Wheels..................... 193Carpeting.................................... 194Exterior....................................... 192Fabric.......................................... 194Interior........................................ 194Seat Belts.................................... 195Vinyl............................................ 194Windows..................................... 195

Clock, Setting the............................ 63Clutch Fluid.................................... 159

Main Menu ▲ ▼

Index

Coin Box........................................... 66CO in the Exhaust......................... 231Cold Weather, Starting in............. 109Compact Spare............................... 200Consumer Information*................ 236Controls, Instruments and.............. 27Coolant

Adding......................................... 150Checking..................................... 103Proper Solution.......................... 150Replacing.................................... 152Temperature Gauge.................... 35

Corrosion Protection..................... 196Courtesy Lights............................... 68Crankcase Emission Control

System......................................... 231Cruise Control Operation............... 43Customer Relations Office........... 236

DANGER, Explanation of................. iiDashboard........................................ 28Daytime Running Lights................. 38Dead Battery, What to Do............ 208Defects, Reporting Safety............. 240

Defog and Defrost........................... 76Defogger, Rear Window................. 41DEXRON® I I I Automatic

Transmission Fluid.................... 156Dimensions..................................... 226Dimming the Headlights................ 38Dipstick

Automatic Transmission........... 156Engine Oil................................... 102

Directional Signals........................... 39Disabled, Towing Your Car If...... 221Disc Brake Wear Indicators......... 121Disposal of Used Oil...................... 149Doors

Locking and Unlocking............... 50Power Door Locks....................... 50

DOT Tire Quality Grading........... 229Downshifting, 5-speed Manual

Transmission.............................. 110Drive Belts...................................... 169Driving............................................ 107

Economy..................................... 104In Bad Weather.......................... 126In Foreign Countries................... 99

Economy, Fuel............................... 104Emergencies on the Road............. 199

Battery, Jump Starting............. 208Changing a Flat Tire................. 201Charging System Indicator...... 213Checking the Fuses................... 216Low Oil Pressure Indicator...... 212Malfunction Indicator Lamp.... 214Manually Closing Moonroof.... 215Overheated Engine................... 210

Emergency Brake............................ 62Emergency Flashers....................... 41Emission Controls......................... 231Engine

Coolant Temperature Gauge..... 35Malfunction Indicator

Lamp................................ 31, 214Oil Pressure Indicator......... 31, 212Oil, What Kind to Use............... 146Overheating................................ 210Specifications............................. 226

Ethanol in Gasoline ......................... 99

CONTINUED

Main Menu ▲ ▼

Index

Evaporative Emission Controls.... 231Exhaust Fumes................................ 25Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat

Belts by........................................... 9Exterior, Cleaning the................... 192

Fabric, Cleaning............................. 194Fan, Interior...................................... 70Features, Comfort and

Convenience................................. 69Filling the Fuel Tank..................... 100Filters

Air................................................ 160Oil................................................ 148

First Gear, Shifting........................ 1185-speed Manual Transmission

Checking Fluid Level................ 157Shifting the................................. 110

Flashers, Hazard Warning.............. 41Flat Tire, Changing a.................... 201Fluids

Automatic Transmission........... 156Brake........................................... 158Clutch.......................................... 159

Manual Transmission............... 157Power Steering........................... 159Windshield Washer................... 155

FM Stereo RadioReception...................................... 83

Folding Rear Seat............................ 56Foreign Countries, Driving in........ 99Four-way Flashers........................... 41Front End, Towing by

Emergency Wrecker................. 221Fuel.................................................... 98

Fill Door and Cap....................... 100Gauge............................................ 35Octane Requirement................... 98Oxygenated.................................. 98Reserve Indicator......................... 33Tank, Filling the......................... 100

Fuses, Checking the...................... 216

Gas Mileage, Improving................ 104Gasohol............................................. 99Gasoline............................................ 98

Fuel Reserve Indicator................ 33Gauge............................................ 35

Octane Requirement................... 98Tank, Filling the......................... 100

Gas Station Procedures................. 100Gauges

Engine Coolant Temperature.... 35Fuel................................................ 35

Gearshift Lever PositionsAutomatic Transmission........... 1135-speed Manual

Transmission.......................... 110Glass Cleaning............................... 195Glove Box......................................... 52

Halogen Headlight Bulbs.............. 178Hazard Warning Flashers............... 41Headlights

Aiming......................................... 176Daytime Running Lights............. 38High Beam Indicator................... 33High Beams, Turning on............ 38Low Beams, Turning on............. 38Reminder Chime.......................... 38Replacing Halogen Bulbs......... 178Turning on ................................... 38

Main Menu ▲ ▼

Index

Head Restraints............................... 55Heating and Cooling........................ 70High Altitude, Starting at.............. 109High-Low Beam Switch.................. 38High-mount Brake Light............... 185Hood, Opening the........................ 101Horn................................................... 37Hot Coolant, Warning About........ 150Hydraulic Clutch............................ 159Hydroplaning.................................. 127

Identification Number, Vehicle.... 224If Your Car Has to be Towed....... 221Ignition

Keys............................................... 46Switch............................................ 48Timing Control System............. 232

Immobilizer System......................... 47Indicator Lights, Instrument

Panel.............................................. 29Infant Restraint................................ 18Inflation, Proper Tire .................... 170

High Speed Driving................... 229Normal Driving ......................... 171

Inside Mirror.................................... 61Inspection, Tire .............................. 171Instrument Panel............................. 28Instrument Panel Brightness......... 39Interior Cleaning............................ 194Interior Lights.................................. 67Introduction........................................ i

LightsBulb Replacement..................... 178Indicator........................................ 29Parking.......................................... 38Turn Signal................................... 39

Loading Cargo................................ 106LOCK (Ignition Key Position)....... 49Locks

Anti-theft Steering Column........ 49Fuel Fill Door............................. 100Glove Box..................................... 52Power Door.................................. 50Trunk............................................ 51

Low Coolant Level......................... 103Lower Gear, Downshifting to a.... 110Low Fuel Indicator.......................... 33Low Oil Pressure Indicator... 31, 212Lubricant Specifications

Chart........................................... 226Luggage.......................................... 106

CONTINUED

Jacking up the Car......................... 203Jack, Tire........................................ 202Jump Starting................................. 208

Keys................................................... 46

Label, Certification........................ 224Lane Change, Signaling.................. 39Lap/Shoulder Belts........................... 6Leaking of Exhaust into Car.......... 25Learning Key.................................... 47

Main Menu ▲ ▼

Index

Maintenance................................... 135Owner Maintenance Checks.... 144Record.................................. 142-143Required Indicator....................... 36Schedule.............................. 138-141

Malfunction Indicator Lamp.. 31, 214Manual Transmission.................... 110Manual Transmission Fluid......... 157Maximum Shift Speeds......... 111, 118Meters, Gauges................................ 34Methanol in Gasoline...................... 99Mirrors, Adjusting........................... 61Moonroof.......................................... 60

Closing Manually....................... 215Operation...................................... 60

Neutral Gear Position.................... 115New Vehicle Break-in ..................... 98Normal Shift Speeds...................... 111NOTICE, Explanation of.................... iNumbers, Identification................ 224

Occupant Protection System............ 4Octane Requirement, Gasoline...... 98Odometer.......................................... 34Odometer, Trip................................ 34Oil

Change, How to......................... 148Change, When to....................... 140Checking Engine....................... 102Pressure Indicator.............. 31, 212Selecting Proper Viscosity

Chart....................................... 147ON (Ignition Key Position)............ 49Opening the Hood......................... 101Opening the Trunk.......................... 51Operation in Foreign Countries..... 99Outside Mirrors............................... 61Overheating, Engine..................... 210

Panel Brightness Control............... 39Park Gear Position......................... 114Parking............................................ 120Parking Brake.................................. 62

Parking Lights.................................. 38Parking Over Things that Burn... 120PGM-FI System.............................. 232Polishing and Waxing................... 193Power

Door Locks................................... 50Mirrors.......................................... 61Steering....................................... 159Windows....................................... 58

Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts............ 9Proper Seat Belt Usage..................... 7

Radiator Overheating.................... 210Radio/CD Sound System................ 78Rear End Towing........................... 221Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement... 183Rear Seat Access ............................. 54Rear Seat, Folding........................... 56Rear View Mirror............................. 61Rear Window Defogger.................. 41Reclining the Seat Backs................ 53Recommended Shift Speeds........ 111Reminder Lights.............................. 29

Main Menu ▲ ▼

Index

Replacement InformationAir Cleaner Element.................. 160Coolant........................................ 152Engine Oil and Filter................. 148Fuses........................................... 216Light Bulbs................................. 178Schedule..................................... 140Spark Plugs................................. 161Timing Belt................................. 169Tires............................................ 173Wiper Blades.............................. 166

Replacing Seat Belts After aCrash............................................... 9

Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant .... 103Restraint, Child................................ 18Reverse Gear Position................... 114Rotation, Tire................................. 173

Safety Belts......................................... 5Safety Defects, Reporting*.......... 240Safety Labels, Location of.............. 26Safety Messages............................... iiSeat Belts............................................ 5

Advice for Pregnant Women........ 9

Child Seat Anchor Plate.............. 22Cleaning...................................... 195Frayed or Torn............................... 9Maintenance................................... 9Reminder Light and Beeper....... 30Replacement................................... 9System Components...................... 6Tether Attachment Points.......... 22Use During Pregnancy.................. 9Wearing a Lap/Shoulder Belt...... 7

Seats, Adjusting the......................... 53Sequential SportShift Mode......... 115Serial Number................................ 224Service Intervals............................ 140Service Manual*............................ 241Service Station Procedures.......... 100Setting the Clock............................. 63Shifting

The Automatic Transmission .. 113The 5-speed Manual

Transmission.......................... 110Shift Lever Position Indicator...... 112Shift Lock Release......................... 119Side Marker Lights, Bulb

Replacement in.......................... 181Signaling Turns................................ 39

Snow Tires...................................... 175Solvent-type Cleaners.................... 192Sound System................................... 78Spare Tire

Inflating....................................... 200Specifications............................. 227

Spark Plugs, Replacing................. 161Specifications Charts............ 226, 227Speed Control................................... 43Speedometer.................................... 34SRS Indicator............................. 14, 31START (Ignition Key Position)..... 49Starting the Engine........................ 109

In Cold Weather at HighAltitude................................... 109

With a Dead Battery................. 208Steam Coming from Engine......... 210Steering Wheel

Adjustment................................... 42Anti-theft Column Lock.............. 49

Stereo Sound System...................... 78Storing Your Car............................ 189

CONTINUED

Main Menu ▲ ▼

Index

Supplemental Restraint System,.... 10Service Precautions..................... 15Servicing....................................... 14SRS Indicator......................... 14, 31

Synthetic Oil................................... 147

Tachometer...................................... 34Taillights, Changing Bulbs in....... 183Taking Care of the

Unexpected................................ 199Tape Player....................................... 91Technical Descriptions

Emission Control Systems........ 231Three Way Catalytic

Converter................................ 233Tire Information........................ 228

Temperature Gauge........................ 35Tether Attachment Points.............. 22Three Way Catalytic Converter... 233Time, Setting the............................. 63Timing Belt..................................... 169Tire Chains..................................... 175Tire, How to Change a Flat.......... 201

Tires................................................ 170Air Pressure............................... 170Checking Wear.......................... 171Compact Spare........................... 200DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 229Inflation....................................... 170Inspection................................... 171Maintenance............................... 172Replacing.................................... 173Rotating....................................... 173Snow............................................ 175Specifications............................. 227Tire Chains................................. 175Technical Information.............. 228Winter Driving........................... 174

Tools, Tire Changing.................... 201Torn Seat Belts.................................. 9Towing

A Trailer...................................... 128Emergency Wrecker................. 221

TransmissionChecking Fluid Level,

Automatic............................... 156Checking Fluid Level,

Manual.................................... 157Fluid Selection............................ 156

Identification Number............... 225Shifting the Automatic.............. 112Shifting the Manual................... 110

Treadwear...................................... 229Trip Meter........................................ 34Trunk................................................. 51

Opening the..................................51Open Monitor Light.................... 33

Turn Signals..................................... 39

Underside, Cleaning...................... 196Unexpected, Taking Care

of the........................................... 199Uniform Tire Quality Grading..... 229Unleaded Gasoline........................... 98Upholstery Cleaning...................... 194Used Oil, How to Dispose of........ 149

Vehicle Capacity Load.................. 106Vehicle Dimensions....................... 226Vehicle Identification Number..... 224Vehicle Storage.............................. 189

Main Menu ▲ ▼

Index

Ventilation......................................... 73VIN.................................................. 224Vinyl Cleaning................................ 194Viscosity, Oil................................... 147

Warning BeepersHeadlights on............................... 38Key in Ignition.............................. 49Seat Belts...................................... 30

WARNING, Explanation of.............. iiWarning Labels, Location of.......... 26Warranty Coverages*................... 239Washer, Windshield

Checking the Fluid Level......... 155Operation...................................... 41

Washing.......................................... 192Waxing and Polishing................... 193Wheels

Adjusting the Steering................ 42Alignment and Balance............. 172Compact Spare........................... 200Wrench....................................... 202

WindowsCleaning...................................... 195

Operating the Power................... 58Rear, Defogger............................ 41

WindshieldCleaning........................................ 40Defroster...................................... 76

Wipers, WindshieldChanging Blades........................ 166Operation...................................... 40

Worn Tires..................................... 171Wrecker, Emergency Towing...... 221

* U.S. and Canada only

Main Menu ▲ ▼

Gas Station Information

Gasoline:Premium UNLEADEDPump octane number of 91 orhigher

Fuel Tank Capacity:15.9 US gal (60 l ,13.2 Imp gal)

Recommended Engine Oil:API SJ or SH grade"Energy Conserving" or"Energy Conserving I I" oilSAE 5W-30 viscosity

Tire Pressure (measured cold):Front/Rear:32 psi (2.2kgf/cm2, 220 kPa)

Spare Tire Pressure:60 psi (4.2 kgf /cm 2 , 420 kPa)

Automatic Transmission Fluid:Honda Premium Formula Auto-matic Transmission Fluid (ATF)

Main Menu ▲ ▼

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