
Starting the Engine
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. In cold weather, turn off all electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery.
3. Make sure the shift lever is in Park. Press on the brake pedal.
4. Without touching the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition key to theSTART (III) position. If the enginedoes not start right away, do not
hold the key in START (III) for
more than 15 seconds at a time.
Pause for at least 10 seconds
before trying again.
5. If the engine does not start within 15 seconds, or starts but stalls
right away, repeat step 4 with the accelerator pedal pressed half-way
down. If the engine starts, release
pressure on the accelerator pedal so the engine does not race. 6. If the engine still does not start,
press the accelerator pedal all the
way down and hold it there while starting in order to clear flooding.
As before, keep the ignition key in the START (III) position for nomore than 15 seconds. Return tostep 5 if the engine does not start.
If it starts, lift your foot off the
accelerator pedal so the engine
does not race.
Starting in Cold Weather at High
Altitude (Above 2,400 meters/ 8,000 feet)
An engine is harder to start in cold weather. The thinner air found athigh altitude above 2,400 meters (8,000 feet) adds to the problem.
Use the following procedure:
1. Turn off all electrical accessories to reduce the drain on the battery. 2. Push the accelerator pedal half-
way to the floor and hold it there
while starting the engine. Do nothold the ignition key in START (III) for more than 15 seconds.
When the engine starts, release the accelerator pedal gradually as
the engine speeds up and smoothsout.
3. If the engine fails to start in step 2, push the accelerator pedal to the
floor and hold it there while youtry to start the engine for no more
than 15 seconds. If the engine does not start, return to step 2.
DrivingProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Automatic Transmission
Park (P) — This position mechani-
cally locks the transmission. Use
Park whenever you are turning off or starting the engine. To shift out of
Park, you must press on the brake pedal and have your foot off the
accelerator pedal. Pull the shift lever
towards you, then move it out of Park.
If you have done all of the above andstill cannot move the lever out of
Park, see Shift Lock Release on page
123.
You must also pull the shift lever towards you to shift into Park. Toavoid transmission damage, come to
a complete stop before shifting into
Park. The shift lever must be in Park
before you can remove the key from the ignition switch. Reverse (R) — To shift to Reverse
from Park, see the explanation under
Park. To shift to Reverse from
Neutral, come to a complete stop and
then shift. Pull the shift lever towards you before shifting into
Reverse from Neutral.
CONTINUED
DrivingProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Automatic Transmission
Maximum Speeds
The speeds in this table are the maximums for the given position. If
you exceed these speeds, you will feel the engine cut in and out. This iscaused by a limiter in the engine's
computer controls. The engine will
run normally when you reduce speed or shift. Shift Lock Release
This allows you to move the shift lever out of Park if the normal
method of pushing on the brake
pedal and pulling the shift lever does
not work.
1. Set the Parking brake.
2. Remove the key from the ignition
switch.
3. Insert the key in the Shift Lock Release slot on the steering
column.
4. Push down on the key while you pull the shift lever towards youand move the shift lever out of
Park to Neutral. 5. Remove the key from the Shift
Lock Release slot. Depress the
brake pedal and restart the engine.
If you need to use the Shift Lock
Release, it could mean your car is developing a problem. Have the car
checked by your Honda dealer.
Driving
SHIFT LOCK RELEASE SLOTProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

If Your Engine Won't Start
Diagnosing why your engine won't
start falls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
key to START (III):
You hear nothing, or almostnothing. The engine's starter
motor does not operate at all, or operates very slowly.
You can hear the starter motor operating normally, but the engine
does not start up and run. Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
When you turn the ignition switch to START (III), you do not hear the
normal noise of the engine trying to start. You may hear a clicking sound
or series of clicks, or nothing at all.
Check these things:
Check the transmission interlock.
The transmission must be in Park or Neutral or the starter will not
operate.
Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
Turn on the headlights and check their brightness. If the headlights
are very dim or don't light at all,
the battery is discharged. See
Jump Starting on page 200 .
Turn the ignition switch to START
(III). If the headlights do not dim,
check the condition of the fuses. If
the fuses are OK, there is proba-
bly something wrong with the electrical circuit for the ignition
switch or starter motor. You will
need a qualified technician to determine the problem. (See
Towing on page 213 .)
If the headlights dim noticeably or
go out when you try to start the engine, either the battery is dis-
charged or the connections are
corroded. Check the condition of
the battery and terminal connec-
tions (see page 162 ). You can
then try jump starting the car from a booster battery (see page 200 ).
Taking Care of the UnexpectedProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Index
Accessories
Installation.................................. 115
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key
Position)....................................... 52
Adding Automatic Transmission
Fluid........................................ 155
Brake Fluid................................. 156
Engine Coolant........................... 150
Engine Oil................................... 146
Power Steering Fluid................. 157
Windshield Washer Fluid......... 154
Additional Safety Information........ 18 Door Locks................................... 19
Driving with Pets......................... 19
Head Restraint Position.............. 18
Seat-back Position........................ 18
Storing Cargo Safely................... 19
Additives, Engine Oil..................... 148
Adjustments
Mirrors.......................................... 67
Head Restraints........................... 58
Seats.............................................. 56
Steering Wheel............................ 46
Airbag (SRS) .................................... 12
Air Cleaner..................................... 157
Air Conditioning............................... 76
Maintenance............................... 168
Usage............................................. 78
Air Outlets (Vents).......................... 76
Air Pressure, Tires........................ 170
Alcohol and Drugs........................... 28
Alcohol in Gasoline........................ 109
Antifreeze....................................... 150
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
Description................................. 220
Indicator Light..................... 37, 125
Operation.................................... 125
Anti-theft Steering Column Lock .. 52
Appearance Care........................... 183
Ashtray.............................................. 72
Audio System................................... 84
Automatic Speed Control................ 48
Automatic Transmission............... 120
Capacity, Fluid........................... 218
Checking Fluid Level................ 155
Shifting........................................ 120
Shift Lever Positions................. 120
Shift Lock Release..................... 123
Battery
Charging System Light............... 36
Jump Starting............................. 200 Maintenance............................... 162
Specifications............................. 219
Before Driving............................... 107
Belts, Seat........................................... 5
Beverage Holder.............................. 69
Body Repair.................................... 190
Brakes
Anti-lock System (ABS)............ 125Break-in, New Linings .............. 108
Fluid............................................ 156
Light, Burned-out...................... 179
Parking.......................................... 68
System Indicator.......................... 36
Wear Indicators......................... 124
Brakes, ABS Description................................. 220
Operation.................................... 125
System Indicator................. 37, 125
Braking System.............................. 124
CONTINUEDProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t Main Menu s t

Index
Flashers, Hazard Warning.............. 45
Flat Tire, Changing a.................... 193
Fluids Automatic Transmission........... 155
Brake........................................... 156
Power Steering........................... 157
Windshield Washer................... 154
FM Stereo Radio Reception...................................... 87
Folding the Second Seats ............... 60
Folding the Third Seats.................. 62
Foreign Countries, Driving in...... 109
Four-way Flashers........................... 45
Front End, Towing by Emergency Wrecker................. 213
Fuel.................................................. 108
Fill Door and Cap....................... 110
Gauge............................................ 40Octane Requirement................. 108
Oxygenated................................ 108
Tank, Filling the......................... 110
Fuses, Checking the...................... 209 Gas Mileage, Improving................ 114
Gasohol........................................... 108
Gasoline.......................................... 108
Gauge............................................ 40
Octane Requirement................. 108
Tank, Filling the......................... 110
Gas Station Procedures................. 110
Gauges
Engine Coolant Temperature .... 40
Fuel................................................ 40
Gearshift Lever Positions............. 120
Glass Cleaning............................... 188
Glove Box......................................... 55
Halogen Headlight Bulbs.............. 177
Hazard Warning Flashers............... 45
Headlights......................................... 42 Aiming......................................... 175
Daytime Running Lights............. 42
High Beam Indicator................... 38
High Beams, Turning on............ 42
Low Beams, Turning on ............. 42
Reminder Chime.......................... 42
Replacing Halogen Bulbs ......... 177
Turning on.................................... 42
Head Restraints............................... 58
Heating and Cooling........................ 76
High Altitude, Starting at.............. 119
High-Low Beam Switch .................. 42
Hood, Opening the ........................ 111
Horn.................................................. 51
Hot Coolant, Warning about........ 151
Hydroplaning.................................. 127
Identification Number, Vehicle.... 216
If Your Car Has to be Towed....... 213
Ignition
Keys............................................... 51
Switch............................................ 52
Timing Control System............. 225
Indicator Lights, Instrument
Panel.............................................. 35
Infant Restraint................................ 22
Inflation, Proper Tire .................... 170
Inside Mirror.................................... 66
Inspection, Tire.............................. 171ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t Main Menu s t

Index
Instrument Panel............................. 34
Instrument Panel Brightness......... 43 Interior Cleaning............................ 187
Interior Lights.................................. 73
Introduction....................................... i
Jacking up the Car......................... 195
Jack, Tire........................................ 193
Jump Starting................................. 200
Keys................................................... 51
Label, Certification........................ 216
Lane Change, Signaling.................. 43
Lap Belt............................................... 7
Lap/Shoulder Belts........................... 6
Leaking of Exhaust into Car.......... 29
Lighter, Cigarette............................ 72
Lights Headlight Aiming...................... 175 Bulb Replacement..................... 177
Indicator........................................ 35
Parking.......................................... 42
Turn Signal................................... 43
Loading Cargo................................ 116
LOCK (Ignition Key Position)....... 52
Locks Anti-theft Steering Column........ 52
Fuel Fill Door............................. 110
Glove Box..................................... 55
Power Door.................................. 53
Tailgate......................................... 55
Low Coolant Level......................... 150
Low Oil Pressure Indicator.... 36, 204
Lubricant Specifications Chart.... 218
Luggage.......................................... 116
Maximum Speeds.......................... 123
Meters, Gauges................................ 39
Methanol in Gasoline.................... 109
Mirrors, Adjusting........................... 66
Neutral Gear Position.................... 122
New Vehicle Break-in ................... 108
NOTICE, Explanation of................... ii
Numbers, Identification................ 216
Occupant Protection System............ 4
Octane Requirement, Gasoline.... 108
Odometer.......................................... 39
Odometer, Trip................................ 39
Oil
Change, How to ......................... 148
Change, When to....................... 140
Checking Engine....................... 146
Pressure Indicator....................... 36
CONTINUED
Maintenance................................... 135
Periodic Items............................ 144
Record.................................142 - 143
Required Indicator....................... 40
Safety........................................... 136
Schedule............................ 138 - 141
Malfunction Indicator Lamp .. 37, 206ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Index
Oil
Selecting Proper Viscosity Chart....................................... 148
ON (Ignition Key Position)............ 52
Opening the Hood ......................... 111
Operation in Foreign Countries... 109
Outside Mirrors............................... 66 Overheating, Engine..................... 202
Panel Brightness Control............... 43
Park Gear Position......................... 121
Parking Brake.................................. 68
Parking Lights.................................. 42
Parking Over Things that Burn... 226
PGM-FI System.............................. 225
Polishing and Waxing................... 185
Power
Door Locks................................... 53
Mirrors.......................................... 67
Steering....................................... 157
Windows....................................... 64
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts.......... 10
Proper Seat Belt Usage..................... 7
Radiator Overheating.................... 202
Radio/Cassette Sound System....... 84
Rear End Towing........................... 213
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement... 179 Rear View Mirror............................. 66
Rear Window Defogger.................. 45
Rear Window Wiper and Washer.. 45
Reclining the Seat Backs................ 57
Redining the Second Seats............. 61
Reminder Lights.............................. 35
Remote Transmitter........................ 54
Removing the Second Seats........... 59
Replacement Information Air Cleaner................................. 158
Coolant........................................ 152
Engine Oil and Filter................. 148
Fuses........................................... 209
Light Bulbs................................. 177
Schedule..................................... 138
Spark Plugs................................. 160
Tires............................................ 172 Wiper Blades.............................. 165
Replacing Seat Belts After a
Crash............................................. 11
Reserve Tank, Coolant.................. 150
Restraint, Child................................ 20
Reverse Gear Position................... 121
Rotation, Tire................................. 172
Safely Belts......................................... 5
Safety Defects, Reporting............... 30
Safety Labels, Location of.............. 31
Safety Messages................................ ii
Seat Belts............................................ 5 Advice for Pregnant Women...... 10Cleaning...................................... 188
Frayed or Torn............................. 11
Maintenance................................. 11
Reminder Light and Beeper....... 36
Replacement................................. 11
System Components...................... 6
Tether Attachment Points.......... 26 Use During Pregnancy................ 10
Wearing a Lap/Shoulder Belt...... 7
Wearing the Lap Belt.................... 9
Seats.................................................. 56
Adjustments................................. 56ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t