Page 136 of 225

Engine Oil
4. Install a new oil filter according to instructions that come with it.
5. Put a new washer on the drain bolt, then reinstall the drain bolt.
Tighten it to:
40 N .
m (4.0 kg-m , 29 Ib-ft) 6. Refill the engine with the recom-
mended oil.
Engine oil capacity
(including filter):
(US: S, Canada: S)
3.8
(4.0 US qt, 3.3 Imp qt)
(US: Si, Si 4WS, Canada: SR, SR 4WS)
4.3
(4.5 US qt, 3.8 Imp qt)
7. Replace the oil filler cap. Start the engine. The oil pressure
indicator light should go out
within five seconds. If it does not, turn off the engine and reinspect
your work.
8. Let the engine run for several minutes and check the drain bolt
and oil filter for leaks.
9. Turn off the engine, let it sit for several minutes, then check the
oil level. If necessary, add oil to
bring the level to the upper mark
on the dipstick. If you change your own oil, please
dispose of the used oil properly. Put
it in a sealed container and take it
to a recycling center. Do not
discard it in a trash bin or dump it
on the ground.
The oil and filter should be chang-
ed every 6 months or 12,000 km
(7,500 miles), whichever comes first.
Under severe driving conditions,
they should be changed every 3
months or 6,000 km (3,750 miles).
See page 130 for a description of
severe driving conditions.
Maintenance
NOTICE
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Page 137 of 225

Cooling System
Checking the Coolant Level
Check the level of the engine
coolant by looking at the radiator
reserve tank next to the battery. If
the level is at or below the MIN line, add coolant to bring it up to the
MAX line. This coolant should
always be a mixture of 50%
antifreeze and 50% water. Never
add straight antifreeze or plain
water. Always use Genuine Honda Anti-
freeze/Coolant. The cooling system contains many aluminum compo-
nents which can corrode if an
improper antifreeze is used. Some
antifreeze, even though labeled as
safe for aluminum parts, may not
provide adequate protection.
Adding Radiator Coolant
If the reserve tank is completely
empty, you should also check the
coolant level in the radiator.
1. Make sure the engine and radiator are cool.
CONTINUED
Maintenance
RESERVE TANK
MAX
MIN
Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and
radiator cool down before
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Page 141 of 225

Cooling System, Windshield Washers
10.Turn off the engine. Check the
level in the radiator, add coolant
if needed. Install the radiator cap,
tighten it fully.
11.Fill the
reserve tank to the MAX
mark. Install the reserve tank
cap.
Windshield Washers
Chec
k the level in the windshield
washer reservoir at least monthly
during normal usage. In bad
weather, when you use the washers often, check the level every time
you stop for gas.
The windshield washer reservoir is
located behind the left headlight.
Check the reservoir's fluid level by
removing the cap and looking at the float. It should be up to the top of the neck. If the float is at the
bottom of the neck, the reservoir is
nearly empty.
Fill the reservoir with a good- quality windshield washer fluid.
This increases the cleaning
capability and prevents freezing in cold weather.
Do not use engine antifreeze or a
vinegar/water solution in the
windshield washer reservoir.
Antifreeze can damage your car's paint, while a vinegar/water
solution can damage the windshield
washer pump.
Use only commercially-available
windshield washer fluid.
Maintenance
NOTICE
RESERVE TANK
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Page 142 of 225
Transmission Oil
Automatic Transmission
Check the fluid level with the
engine at normal operating tempe-
rature.
1. Park the car on level ground. Shut off the engine.
2. Remove the dipstick (yellow loop) from the transmission and
wipe it with a clean cloth. 3. Insert the dipstick into the
transmission.
4. Remove the dipstick and check the fluid level. It should be
between the upper and lower
marks.
5. If the level is below the lower
mark, add fluid into the tube to
bring it to the upper mark. Use
Honda Premium Formula
Automatic Transmission Fluid or an equivalent DEXRON ®
II
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) only.
6. Insert the dipstick back in the transmission.
The transmission should be drained
and refilled with new fluid every 24
months or 48,000 km (30,000 miles),
whichever comes first.
Maintenance
DIPSTICK
UPPER MARK
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Page 143 of 225
Transmission Oil
5-Speed Transmission
Check the oil level a couple of mi-
nutes after shutting off the engine.
Make sure the car is on level
ground. Remove the transmission
filler bolt. The oil level should be
up to the edge of the bolt hole. Feel
inside the bolt hole with your finger.
If you do not feel any oil, slowly
add oil until it starts to run out of
the hole. Reinstall the filler bolt
and tighten it securely. Only use an SF or SG grade motor
oil with a weight of 10W-30 or
10W-40.
The transmission should be drained and refilled with new oil every 24
months or 48,000 km (30,000 miles),
whichever comes first.
Maintenance
Correct
level
FILLER
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Page 146 of 225
Power Steering
You should check the fluid level in
the power steering reservoir
monthly. Check the level when the
engine is cold. Look at the side of
the reservoir. The fluid should be
between the UPPER LEVEL and LOWER LEVEL. If it is below the
LOWER LEVEL, add power
steering fluid to the UPPER
LEVEL.
Using automatic transmission fluid
or another brand of power steering
fluid will damage the system. Use
only genuine Honda power steering
fluid.
A low power steering fluid levelcan indicate a leak in the system.
Check the fluid level frequently
and have the system inspected as
soon as possible.
Maintenance
UPPER
LEVEL
LOWER
LEVEL
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Air Conditioner
Optional for S model
Your car's air conditioner is a
sealed system. Any major mainte-
nance, such as recharging, should
be done by a qualified technician. There are a couple of things you
can do to make sure the air condi-
tioner works efficiently. Periodically check the engine's
radiator and air conditioning
condenser for leaves, insects, and
dirt stuck to the front surface.
These block the air flow and
reduce cooling efficiency. Use a light spray from a hose or a soft
brush to remove them.
The condenser and radiator fins
bend easily. Only use a low- pressure spray or soft-bristle brush
to clean them.
Run the air conditioner at least
once a week during the cold
weather months. Run it for at least ten minutes while you are driving
at a steady speed with the engine at
normal operating temperature.
This circulates the lubricating oil contained in the refrigerant. If the air conditioner does not get
as cold as before, it is probably
because some of the refrigerant has
leaked from the system. Have your dealer check the system for leaks
and recharge the system with
Refrigerant 12 (R-12).
Charging quantity: 750 — 800 g (26.5 — 28.3 oz)
Whenever you have the air condi-
tioning system serviced, make sure
the service facility uses a refrige-
rant recycling system. This system captures the refrigerant for reuse.
Releasing refrigerant into the at-
mosphere can damage the environ-
ment.
Maintenance
AIR CONDITIONING
CONDENSER
NOTICE
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Page 156 of 225

Engine Belts, Tires
Engine Belts
Check the condition of the two
engine belts. Examine the edges of
each belt for cracks or fraying.
Check the tension of each belt by pushing on it with your thumb
midway between the pulleys.
The belts should have the following "play" or deflection.
Alternator belt:
10.0 — 12.0 mm (0.39 — 0.47 in)
Power steering belt:
13.5 — 16.5
mm
(0.53
—
0.65 in)
If you see signs of wear or loose-
ness, have your dealer adjust or
replace the belts. Your dealer will
check these belts as part of the
normal scheduled maintenance.
Tires
Check the inflation and condition
of your car's tires at least once a
month.
Inflation
Check the pressure in the tires
when they are cold. This means the car has been parked for at least
three hours. If you have to drive
the car before checking the tire
pressure, the tires can still be
considered "cold" if you drive less than one mile.
If you check the pressure when the
tires are hot (the car has been
driven several miles), you will see
readings 28 to 41 kPa (0.3 to 0.4
kg/cm2, 4 to 6 psi) higher than the
cold reading. This is normal. Do not
let air out to match the specified
cold pressure. The tire will be
underinflated.
Maintenance
POWER STEERING BELT
ALTERNATOR
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