Page 137 of 240

Maintenance Schedule
The Maintenance Schedule specifies how often you should have your carserviced and what things need
attention. It is essential that you have
your car serviced as scheduled to retain its high level of safety,dependability, and emission control
performance. The services and time or distance
intervals shown in the maintenanceschedule assume you will use your
car as normal transportation. You
should:
Avoid exceeding your car's loadlimit. This puts excess stress on
the engine, brakes, and manyother parts of your car. The load
limit is shown on the label on the driver's doorjamb.
Operate your car on reasonable
roads within the legal speed limit. Drive your car regularly over a
distance of several kilometers
(miles).
Always use unleaded gasoline with
the proper octane (see page 108). Which Schedule to Follow:
Service your car according to the
time and mileage periods on one of
the Maintenance Schedules on pages 140 and 141. Select the schedule for
"Severe Conditions" if most of your
driving is done under one or more of
the conditions listed on that page. Otherwise, follow the schedule for
"Normal Conditions."
MaintenanceProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Page 138 of 240

Maintenance Schedule
Your authorized Honda dealer knows your car best and can providecompetent, efficient service.
However, service at a dealer is not
mandatory to keep your warranties
in effect. Maintenance may be done
by any qualified service facility or
person who is skilled in this type of automotive service. Keep all the
receipts as proof of completion, and
have the person who does the work
fill out the Maintenance Record. Check your warranty booklet for
more information. We recommend the use of Genuine
Honda parts and fluids whenever you
have maintenance done. These are
manufactured to the same high-
quality standards as the original
components, so you can be confident of their perfomance and durability.
U.S. Cars:
Maintenance, replacement or
repair of emission control devices
and systems may be done by any
automotive repair establishment
or individual using parts that are
"certified" to EPA standards. According to state and federal
regulations, failure to performmaintenance on the items marked
with an asterisk (*) will not void your emissions warranties. However,
Honda recommends that all mainte- nance services be performed at the
recommended time or mileage
period to ensure long-term reliability.
MaintenanceProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Page 146 of 240

Engine Oil
Recommended Oil Oil is a major contributor to your
engine's performance and longevity.
Always use a premium-grade deter- gent oil.
You can determine an oil's SAE
viscosity and Service Classification
from the API Service label on the oil container.
A fuel-efficient oil is recommended for your Honda. This is shown on the
API Service label by the words "Energy Conserving II." This oil is
formulated to help your engine use
less fuel. The API Service label also tells you
the service classification of the oil.
Always use an oil that says "API Service SG or SH." This service
rating may also include other
designations, such as CD. These
additional classifications are not a
problem, as long as the label also carries the SG or SH classification.
An oil that is only classified SF is not
recommended.
* * : SG or SH The oil container may also display
the API Certification mark shown
below. Make sure it says "For Gasoline Engines."
API CERTIFICATION MARK
CONTINUED
Maintenance
API SERVICE LABELProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Page 147 of 240

Engine Oil
The SAE numbers tell you the oil's viscosity or weight. Select the oil for
your car according to this chart.
Ambient Temperature
An oil with a viscosity of 5W-30 is
preferred for improved fuel economy and year-round protection in your
Honda. You may use a 10W-30 oil if
the temperature in your area never
goes below 20° F ( —
7° C).
Additives
Your Honda does not need any oil
additives. Purchasing additives for
the engine or transmission will not
increase your car's performance or
longevity. It only increases the cost of operating your car. Oil and Filter Changes
Always change the oil and filter according to the time and distance
recommendations in 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.
MaintenanceProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Page 157 of 240
Air Cleaner
The air cleaner element should be replaced every 2 years or 48,000 km (30,000 miles), whichever comes
first. Under severe driving condi-
tions, it should also be cleaned every 12 months or 24,000 km (15,000
miles), whichever comes first. Cleaning (Severe Conditions)
Clean the air cleaner element by
blowing compressed air through it in the opposite direction to normal air
flow. If you do not have access to compressed air (such as a gas
station), ask your Honda dealer to do
this service.
Follow the replacement procedure
for removal and reinstallation.
The air cleaner element is inside thebox on the passenger's side of theengine compartment.
To replace it:
1. Remove the two pins holding the air intake cover by pulling the
head on each pin. Remove the air intake cover.
2. Remove the air duct from the air cleaner housing cover.
MaintenanceProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Page 167 of 240

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
Page 196 of 240
Changing a Flat Tire
15.Lower the car to the ground and
remove the jack.
16.Tighten the wheel nuts securely in
the same crisscross pattern. Have
the wheel nut torque checked at
the nearest automotive service
facility.
Tighten the wheel nuts to:
110 N .
m (11 kg-m,80 Ib-ft)
17.Put the
flat tire in the supplied
vinyl bag.
CONTINUED
Taking Care of the UnexpectedProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Page 204 of 240
Charging System Indication
The charging system indicator should go out after the engine starts.If it comes on brightly with the
engine running, the alternator is no
longer charging the battery. Immediately turn off all electrical
accessories: radio, heater, A/C, rear defogger, cruise control, etc. Try not
to use other electrically-operated controls such as the power windows.
Keep the engine running and take
extra care not to stall it. Starting theengine will discharge the battery
rapidly. By eliminating as much of the
electrical load as possible, you can
drive several miles before the
battery is too discharged to keep the
engine running. Drive to a service station or garage where you can get
technical assistance.
Taking Care of the Unexpected
CHARGING SYSTEM INDICATORProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t