If Your Engine Overheats
Your car's temperature gauge
should register in the midrange
under most conditions. It may register higher if you are driving
up a long steep hill on a very hot
day. If it illuminates the red
marker at the right end of the
gauge, you should determine the
reason.
Driving with the temperature
gauge's red marker lit can cause serious damage to your engine. Your car can overheat for several
reasons, such as lack of coolant or a
mechanical problem. The only
indication may be the temperature
gauge illuminating the red marker. Or you may see steam or spray
coming from under the hood. In
either case, you should take
immediate action.
1. Safely pull to the side of the road.
Put the transmission in neutral
or Park and set the parking
brake. Turn off the climate control and all other accessories.
Turn on the hazard warning indicators.
2. I f
you see steam and/or spray
coming from under the hood,
turn off the engine.
3. If you do not see steam or spray,
leave the engine running and
watch the temperature gauge. If
the high heat is due to overload- ing (climbing a long, steep hill on
a hot day with the A/C running,
for example), the engine should
start to cool down almost immedi-
ately. If it does, wait until the
temperature gauge comes down
to the midpoint then continue
driving.
4. If
the temperature gauge
continues to display the red
marker, turn off
the
engine.
5. Wait until you see no more signs
of steam or spray, then open the
hood.
Taking Care of the Unexpected
NOTICE
Steam and spray from an over-
heated engine can seriously
scald you.
Do not open the hood if steam
is coming out.
CONTINUEDProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Towing
If your car needs to be towed, call a
professional towing service or, if
you belong to one, an organization
that provides roadside assistance.
Never tow your car behind another car with just a rope or chain. It is
very dangerous.
Emergency Towing
There are three popular methods of
towing a car:
Flat-bed Equipment — The
operator loads your car on the back
of a truck. This is the best way
of transporting your Honda.
Wheel Lift Equipment — The tow
truck uses two pivoting arms that
go under the tires (front or rear)
and lift them off the ground. The
other two wheels remain on the
ground.
Sling-type Equipment — The tow
truck uses metal cables with hooks
on th
e
ends. These hooks go around
parts of the frame or suspension
and the cables lift that end of the
car off the ground. Your car's sus-
pension and body can be seriously
damaged if this method
of towing
is attempted.
If your Honda cannot be trans-
ported by flat-bed, it should be
towed with the front wheels off the
ground. If due to damage, your car
must be towed with the front
wheels on the ground, do the
following:
5-Speed Transmission
Release 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 will
damage the transmission. Follow
the above procedure exactly. If you
cannot shift the transmission or
start the engine (automatic trans-
mission), your car must be trans-
ported on a flat-bed. It is best to tow the car no far-
ther than 80 km (50 miles), and
keep the speed below 35 mph (55
km/h).
Trying to lift or tow your car by
the bumpers will cause serious
damage. The bumpers are not
designed to support the car's
weight.
Taking Care
of the Unexpected NOTICE
NOTICEProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Index
Accessories
Installation................................. 105
ACCESSORY
(Ignition Key Position).............. 48
Adding
Automatic Transmission
Fluid........................................ 144
Brake Fluid............................... 146 Clutch Fluid.............................. 147
Engine Oil...:.............................. 135
Manual Transmission Fluid... 145
Power Steering Fluid.............. 148
Radiator Coolant...................... 139
Windshield Washer fluid ........ 143
Additional Safety Information .... 16
Door Locks.................................. 16
Driving with Pets....................... 17
Seat-back Position..................... 16
Storing Cargo Safely................. 17
Additives, Engine Oil................... 136
Adjustments
Mirrors....................................... .
59
Seats............................................. 51
Steering Wheel..........................
43
Airbag (SRS).................................. 1
0
Air Conditioning............................. 68
Maintenance..............................
157
Usage............................................ 6 8
Ai
r Filter........................................
149
Air Outlet
s
(Vents)......................... 68
Air Pressure, Tires ......................
159
Alcohol an d
Drugs.......................... 24
Alcohol in Gasoline........................ 98
Antifreeze......................................
139
Anti-lock Brake s
(ABS)
Description................................
208
Indicator Light.................. .
34,
118
Operation................................... 117
Anti-theft Steerin
g
Column
Lock.............................................. 48
Appearance Care..........................
175
Ashtray............................................. 65
Audio System................................. .
75
Automatic Speed Control............. 44
Automatic Transmission............ 112
Capacity, Fluid........................
.
206
Checking Fluid Level.............. 144
Shifting
...................................... 113
Shift Leve r
Positions...............
112
Shift Lock Release................... 115
Battery
Charging System Light............. 33
Jump Starting............................ 191
Maintenance.............................. 152
Specifications............................ 207
Before Driving
................................ 97
Belts, Seat ......................................... 4
Body Repair
...................................
181
Brakes
Anti-lock Syste
m (ABS)..........
117
Break-in, Ne
w
Linings.............. 98
Fluid............................................
146
Light, Burned-out................... .
169
Parking......................................... 61
System Light.............................. .
33
Wear Indicators.....................
116
Brakes, AB S
Description...............................
.
208
Operation................................... 117
System Indicator...............
.
34,
118
Braking System...........................
.
116
Break-in, Ne
w
Car ......................... 98
CONTINUEDProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t
Index
Brightness Control, Instruments................................. 41
Brights, Headlights........................ 40
Bulb Replacement Back-up Lights......................... 169
Brake Lights.............................
169
Front Parking
Lights ..............
165
Front Side
Marker Lights......
166
Headlights................................. 164
High-mount Brake
Light........
168
License Plate
Lights................
171
Rear Sid
e
Marker Lights........
170
Specifications............................ 207
Turn Signa
l
Lights ..................
167
Bulbs, Halogen.............................
.
164
Cables, Jum
p
Starting With........
191
Capacities Chart...........................
206
Carbo
n Monoxide Hazard ............ 25
Cargo, Loading.............................
106
Cassette Playe r
Care..............................................
. 94
Operation.............................. 81,
91
Catalytic Converter.................... .
213
CAUTION, Explanatio
n
of............ ii
Center Console Compartment..... 64
Certification Label....................... 204
Chains............................................. 163
Change Oil
How to........................................ 137
When to...................................... 129
Changing a Flat Tire................... 185
Changing Engine Coolant........... 140
Charging System Light........ 33, 196
Check Engine Light............. 34, 197
Checking
Automatic Transmission
Fluid........................................
144
Battery Condition.................... .
152
Brake Flui
d
...............................
146
Clutch Fluid.............................
.
147
Engine Belts.............................
.
158
Engine Oil.................................
.
135
Fuses........................................... 199
Manual Transmissio
n
Fluid...
145
Power Steerin
g
Fluid..............
148
Radiator Coolant.....................
.
139
Checklist, Befor
e
Driving...........
108
Child Safety....................................
.
18
Cigarette Lighter........................... 65
Cleaner, Air...................................
149
Cleaning
Exterior......................................
176
Interior....................................... 179
Seat Belts...................................
179
Vinyl........................................... 179
CLEAN Light................................
.
94
Clock, Setting the.......................... 63
Clutch Fluid..................................
147
CO i n
the Exhaust........................
211
Cold Weather
,
Starting in...........
110
Compact Spare.............................
.
184
Consumer Information................
217
Controls, Instruments
and............ 29
Coolant
Adding........................................ 139
Checking.................................... 139
Proper Solution......................... 139
Temperature Gauge.................. 38
Corrosion Protection................... 180
Crankcase Emission Control
System........................................ 211
Cruise Control Operation ............. 44
Customer Relations Office......... 217ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t
Index
Octane Requirement, Gasoline.... 98
Odometer......................................... 37
Odometer, Trip............................... 37
Oil Change, How to........................ 137
Change, When
to ......................
129
Checking Engine......................
135
Pressure Light............................
33
Selecting Proper Viscosity
Chart.......................................
136
ON (Ignitio n
Key Position)........... 47
Opening the Hood.........................
101
Opening th e
Trunk ........................ 50
Operation in Foreign Countries... 99
Outside Mirrors.............................. 60
Overheating, Engine....................
193
Panel Brightnes s
Control.............. 41
Park Gear Position.......................
113
Parking Brake................................ .
61
Parking Lights................................ 40
Parking Over Things that
Burn............................................ 213
PGM-FI System............................ 212
Polishing and Waxing..................
177
Power
Door Locks.................................
. 48
Mirrors......................................... 60
Steering...................................... 148
Windows.......................................
57
Pregnancy, Usin g
Seat Belts......... 8
Proper Seat Belt Usage................... 6
Radiator Overheating..................
193
Radio/Cassette Sound System
..... 75
Rear En d
Towing.........................
202
Rear Lights, Bulb
Replacement.............................. 169
Rear Seat, Folding ......................... 55
Rear Vie w
Mirror .......................... 59
Rear Window Defogger ................ 56
Reclining the Seat Backs.............. 52
Recommended Shift Speeds....... 111
Reminder Lights............................
.
31
Replacement Information
Air Filter...................................
.
149
Coolant....................................... 140
Engine Oil and Filter............... 137 Fuel Filter..................................
150
Fuses...........................................
200
Ligh
t Bulbs................................ 164
Schedule..................................... 129
Spark Plugs............................... 150
Tires............................................ 161
Wiper Blades............................. 155
Replacing Seat Belts After a Crash................................. 9
Reserve Tank, Coolant...............
139
Restraint, Child.............................. .
18
Reverse Gear Position..................
114
Rotation, Tire............................... ..
160
Safety Belts......................................
.
5
Safety Defects, Reporting............ 26
Safety Labels, Location of............ 27
Safety Messages............................... ii
Seat Belts........................................... 5
Advice for Pregnant Women..... 8Child Seat Anchor Plate ........... 21
Cleaning.....................................
179
Frayed o r
Torn............................. 9
Maintenance.................................. 9ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t