Maintenance
Regularly maintaining your Honda
is the best way to protect your investment. You will be rewarded
with safer, more economical,
trouble-free driving. This section
lists items that need to be checked
regularly and explains how to check them. It also details some
simple maintenance tasks you can
do yourself. The maintenance
schedules for normal and severe
driving conditions show you when
these things need to be done.
If you are interested in how to per-
form more complex maintenance
on your Honda, you can purchase
the Service Manual. See page 221 for information on how to
obtain a copy, or see your Honda
dealer.
Maintenance Schedule................ 128
Maintenance Record................ 131
Periodic Checks............................ 133
Fluid Locations............................. 134
Engine Oil...................................... 135
Checking Engine Oil................ 135
Adding........................................ 135
Recommended Oil.................... 136
Additives.................................... 136 Oil and Filter Changes ............ 137
Cooling System............................. 139 Checking the Coolant Level... 139
Adding Radiator Coolant........ 139
Replacing Coolant.................... 140
Windshield Washers.................... 143
Transmission Oil.......................... 144
Automatic Transmission........ 144
5-speed Transmission.............. 145
Brake and Clutch Fluid............... 146
Brake System............................ 146
Anti-lock Brake System ......... 147 Clutch System........................... 147
Power Steering............................. 148
Air Filter....................................... 149
Fuel Filter..................................... 150
Spark Plugs.................................. .
150
Replacement.............................. 150
Specification.............................. 152
Battery............................................ 152
Windshield Wipers....................... 155
Air Conditioner............................. 157 Engine Belts.................................. 158
Tires................................................ 158 Inflation...................................... 158
Inspection................................... 159
Maintenance.............................. 160
Tire Rotation............................ 160
Replacing Tires ........................ 161
Wheels and Tires...................... 161
DOT Tire Quality Grading..... 161 Treadwear............................. 161
Traction................................. 162
Temperature......................... 162
Winter Driving.......................... 163 Snow Tires............................ 163
Tire Chains............................ 163
Lights.............................................. 164
Replacing Bulbs........................ 164
Storing Your Car.......................... 173
MaintenanceProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t
Maintenance Schedule
R — Replace I — Inspect After inspection, clean, adjust, repair or replace if necessary.
Severe Driving Conditions Items with an or in the chart will need service
more often, if you drive in some servere conditions.
The conditions are:
A. Repeated short distance driving.B. Dusty conditions.
C. Severe cold weather.
D. Areas with road salt or other corrosive materials.
E. Rough or muddy roads.
F. Towing a trailer.
The services are:
— Clean the air cleaner element every 24,000 km (15,000 miles) or 12 months and replace every 48,000 km (30,000 miles) or 24 months under condition B or E.
— Replace engine oil and oil filter every 6,000 km (3,750 miles) o r 3 months under condition A,
B or F
.
— Replace transmission oil every 24,000 km (15,000 miles) or 12 months under condition F.
— Inspect front brake discs and calipers, and rear brake discs, calipers and pads every 12,000 km (7,500 miles) or 6 months under condition A, B, D, E or F.
— Inspect the power steering system every 12,000 km (7,500 miles) o
r 6 months under
condition B, C or E.
Maintenance
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Engine Oil
Oil and Filter Changes
Always change the oil and filter according to the time and mileage
recommendations on the mainte-
nance schedule. The oil and filter collect contaminants that can dam-
age your engine if they are not
removed regularly. Changing the oil and filter requires
special tools and access from
underneath the car. The car should
be raised on a service station-type
hydraulic lift for this service. Unless you have the knowledge
and proper equipment, you should
have this maintenance done by a
skilled mechanic. 1. Run the engine until it reaches
normal operating temperature,
then shut it off. 2. Open the hood and remove the oil
filler cap. Remove the oil drain
bolt from the bottom of the
engine. Drain the oil into an
appropriate container.
3. Remove the oil filter and let the remaining oil drain. A special
wrench (available from your Honda dealer) is required to
remove the filter.
Maintenance
CONTINUED
The oil, engine components
and the exhaust system are
hot and can burn you.
Use caution and wear protec-
tive clothing while working in
the engine compartment.
Repeated, prolonged exposure
to used motor oil may cause
skin cancer.
Wash your hands thoroughly
with strong soap as soon as possible after handling used oil. OIL FILTER
OIL DRAIN BOLTProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
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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Fuel Filter, Spark Plugs
Fuel Filter
The fuel filter should be replaced
every 4 years or 96,000 km (60,000
miles), whichever comes first.
Have a qualified technician change
the fuel filter. Since the fuel system is under pressure, gasoline can
spray out and create a hazard if all
fuel line connections are not han- dled correctly.
The filter may require replacement sooner if you happen to buy one ormore tankfuls of contaminated
gasoline. Have the filter tested or
replaced if you suspect it has been
clogged by contaminants.
Spark Plugs
The original spark plugs in your
car need to be replaced every 2
years or 48,000 km (30,000 miles),
whichever comes first.
Replacement
1. Clean up any dirt and oil that have collected around the spark
plug caps.
2. Remove the spark plug cap by pulling it straight out.
3. Remove the spark plug, using a 16 mm (5/8 inch) spark plug
socket.
Maintenance
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Storing Your Car
If you need to park your car for an
extended period (more than 1
month), there are several things
you should do to prepare it for
storage. Proper preparation helps
prevent deterioration and makes it
easier to get your car back on the
road. It is best to store your car indoors if at all possible. Fill the gas tank.
Change the engine oil and filter
(see page 137).
Wash and dry the exterior
completely.
Clean the interior. Make sure the
carpeting, floor mats, etc. are
completely dry.
Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in Reverse (5-
speed) or Park (automatic). Block the rear wheels.
If the car is to be stored for a
longer period, it should be
supported on jackstands so the
tires are off the ground.
Leave one window open slightly
(if the car is being stored indoors).
Disconnect the battery.
Cover the car with a "breathable" car cover, one made
from a porous material such as
cotton. Nonporous materials,
such as plastic sheeting, trap
moisture which can damage the
paint. If possible, run the engine for a
while periodically (preferably once a month). If you store your car for 12 months
or longer, have your Honda dealer
perform the inspections called for
in the 24 months/48,000 km (30,000
miles) maintenance schedule as
soon as you take it out of storage
(see page 133). The replacements
called for in the maintenance
schedule are not needed unless the
car has actually reached that time or mileage.
MaintenanceProCarManuals.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
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Index
DANGER, Explanation of.............. ii
Dashboard........................................ 30
Daytime Running Lights.............. 40
Dead Battery, What to Do........... 191
Defects, Reporting Safety ............ 26
Defogger, Rear Window ............... 56
Defrosting the Windows............... 74
DEXRON ®
II Automatic
Transmission Fluid.................. 144
Dimensions.................................... 206
Dimming the Headlight
s .............. 40
Dipstick Automatic Transmission........
144
Engine Oil................................. .
135
Directional Signals........................
.
41
Disabled, Towing Your Car If ... 202
Disc Brake Wear Indicators.......
116
Disposal o f
Used Oil.....................
138
Doors
Locking an
d Unlocking ............ 48
Power Door Locks ..................... 48
DOT Tire Quality Grading......... 161
Downshifting,
5-speed Transmission.............. 111
Driving .......................................... .
107
Economy.................................... 104
In Bad Weather......................... 119
In Foreign Countries................. 99
Economy, Fuel.............................. 104
Emergencies on the Road........... 183 Battery, Jump Starting............ 191
Changing a Flat Tire............... 185
Charging System Light........... 196
Check Engine Light................. 197
Checking the Fuses.................
200
Low Oi l
Pressure Light........... 195
Manually Closing Sunroof...... 198
Overheated Engine.................. 193
Emergency Brake ......................... 61
Emergency Flashers...................... 56
Emission Controls......................... 211
Engine Check Light....................... 34, 197
Coolant Temperature Gauge... 38
Oil Pressure Light............. 33, 195
Oil, What Kind to Use .............
135
Overheating............................... 193
Specifications........................... 206
Ethano l
in Gasoline........................ 98
Evaporative Emission Controls......................................
211
Exhaust Fumes.............................. .
25
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat Belts by.................................. 8
Exterior, Cleaning the.................
176
Fabric, Cleaning........................... 179
Fan, Interior.................................... 68
Fan, Radiator.................................. 27
Features, Comfort
and Convenience........................ 67
Filling the Gas Tank.................... 100
Filters
Air
............................................... 149
Fuel............................................. 150
Oil ............................................... 137
First Gear, Shifting...................... 111
5-Speed Transmissio n
Checkin
g Fluid Level..............
145
CONTINUED
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