Air Conditioning
Your car's air conditioning is a sealed system. Any major maintenance,
such as recharging, should be done
by
a qualified technician. There are a
couple of things you can do to make sure the air conditioning 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. Run the air conditioning 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 engin
e at
normal operating temperature. This
circulates
the lubricating oil con-
tained in the refrigerant.
If th
e air conditioning does not get as
cold
as before, have your dealer
chec
k the system. Recharge the
syste
m with Refrigerant HFC-134a
(R-134a). (See Specifications on page
218.)
Whenever you have the air conditioning
system. This system captures the
refrigerant for reuse. Releasing
refrigerant into the atmosphere can
damage the environment.
Maintenance
AIR CONDITIONING
CONDENSER
The condenser and radiator fins bend
easily. Only use a low-pressure spray
or soft-bristle brush to clean them.
NOTICE NOTICE
system serviced, make sure the service
facility uses a refrigerant recycling
ProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
If Your Engine Overheats
4. If the temperature gauge stays at the red mark, turn off the engine.
5. Wait until you see no more signs of steam or spray, then open the
hood.
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, it
must be repaired before you
continue driving (see Towing on
page 213).
7. If you don't find an obvious leak, check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank (see page 150). If the level is below the
MIN mark, add coolant to half-way
between the MIN and MAX marks.
8. If there was no coolant in the reserve tank, you may also have to
add coolant to the radiator. Let the
engine cool down until the pointer reaches the middle of the tempera-
ture gauge, or lower, before check-
ing the radiator.
9. Using gloves or a large heavy cloth, turn the radiator cap
counterclockwise, without pushing
down, to the first stop. This
releases any remaining pressure in
the cooling system. After the
pressure releases, push down on
the cap and turn it until it comes
off.
10.Start the engine and set the
temperature control lever to
maximum. Add coolant to the
radiator up to the base of the filler
neck. If you do not have the proper coolant mixture available,
you can add plain water. Remember to have the coolingsystem drained and refilled with
the proper mixture as soon as you
can.
11. Put the radiator cap back on tightly. Run the engine and watch
the temperature gauge. If it goes
back to the red mark, the engine needs repair. (See Towing on
page 213.)
12.If the temperature stays normal, check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. If it has
gone down, add coolant to the MAX mark. Put the cap back on
tightly.
Taking Care of the Unexpected
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
removing the radiator cap.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents 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
