Page 17 of 240

Supplemental Restraint System
The passenger's airbag is stored near the top of the dashboard, under
a lid marked SRS. Do not place any
objects on top of this lid. If the airbag
inflates, those objects can be
propelled inside the car and possibly
hurt someone.
How the SRS Indicator
Light Works
The purpose of the SRS light on your instrument panel is to alert you of a
potential problem with your supple- mental restraint system.
Have the system checked if: The light does not come on when
you turn the ignition ON (II).
The light stays on after the engine
starts.
The light comes on or flashes while you are driving.
System Service
Your supplemental restraint system is virtually maintenance-free. Thereare no parts you can safely service.
You must have the system serviced by an authorized Honda dealer:
If your airbags ever inflate, the
airbags and control unit must be
replaced. Do not try to remove or discard the airbags by yourself.
This must be done by a Honda
dealer.
If the SRS indicator light alerts
you of a problem. Have the supplemental restraint system
checked as soon as possible.Otherwise, your airbags might not
inflate when you need them.
When the car is ten years old. Have the dealer inspect thesystem. The production date is on
the driver's doorjamb for your
convenience.
Driver and Passenger Safety
SRS
ProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Page 35 of 240
Indicator Lights
The instrument panel has many indicators to give you important
information about your car.
Lamp Check
Many of the indicator lights come on
when you turn the ignition switch ON (II), allowing you to see that they
are working. The instrument panel should look like the illustration. If an
indicator does not light during this
test, it cannot alert you if that system develops a problem. Have the dealer
check your car for burned-out bulbs
or other problems.
* The U.S. instrument panel is
shown. Differences for the Canadian
model are noted in the text.
Instruments and Controls
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP/
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT* PARKING BRAKE AND
BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR*
CRUISE CONTROLINDICATOR
DOOR AND BRAKE
LAMP MONITOR
HIGH BEAM
INDICATOR
LOW FUEL
INDICATOR
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM INDICATOR LOW OIL PRESSURE
INDICATOR
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE
SYSTEM INDICATOR* CHARGING
SYSTEM
INDICATOR SEAT BELT
REMINDER
LIGHTProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Page 36 of 240

Indicator Lights
Seat Belt Reminder Light
This indicator lights when you turn the ignition ON (II). It is a reminder
to you and your passengers to
protect yourselves by fastening theseat belts. A beeper also sounds if
you have not fastened your seat belt.
If you do not fasten your seat belt,
the beeper will stop after a few seconds but the light stays on until
you do. Both the light and the beeper stay off if you fasten your seat belt
before turning on the ignition. Low Oil Pressure
Indicator
This indicator lights when the oil pressure in the engine drops lowenough to cause damage. It should
light when the ignition is ON (II) and
go out after the engine starts. If this
light flashes or stays on when the engine is running, there is a possi-
bility of serious engine damage. Safely pull to the side of the road andshut off the engine as soon as you
can. Turn to page 204 for in- structions and precautions on
checking the engine.
Charging System
Indicator
This light indicates the battery is not being charged. It should come on
when the ignition is ON (II), and goout after the engine starts. If this
light comes on while driving, the
battery is not being charged. Turn to
page 205 for information about what
to do. Parking Brake
and Brake
System
Indicator
This light has two functions:
1. It lights as a reminder that you have set the parking brake.Driving with the parking brake set
can damage the brakes and tires,
and cause the Anti-lock brakesystem to turn off (see page 125).
2. It can indicate the brake fluid level is low if it remains lit after you
release the parking brake orcomes on while driving. This is
normally due to worn brake pads.
Have your dealer check the
braking system for worn pads or
fluid leaks.
Instruments and Controls
BRAKE
US
CanadaProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Page 37 of 240

Indicator Lights
Supplemental Restraint
System Indicator
The SRS light normally comes on for a few seconds when you turn the
ignition ON (II). If it doesn't, or it stays on after the engine starts,
something is wrong with the
Supplemental Restraint System. It
may also flash on and off to indicate
a problem.
If you see any of these indications,
the airbag may not work when
needed in an accident. Take the car
to your dealer promptly for diagnosis
and service.
Anti-lock Brake System(ABS) Indicator
Only on cars equipped with ABS (see
page 125)
This light normally comes on when you turn the ignition ON (II) and goes off after the engine starts. If if
comes on at any other time, there is
a problem in the ABS. If this happens,
fake the car to your dealer to have it
checked. With the light on, your car
still has normal braking ability but no
anti-lock.
Malfunction IndicatorLamp
Check Engine Light
This light comes on for a few seconds when you turn the ignition
switch ON (II). If it comes on at any
other time, it indicates one of the
engine's emission control systems
may have a problem. Turn to page 206 for information about what to do. Door and Brake Lamp Monitor
The appropriate light comes on in this display if the tailgate or any door
is not closed tightly. If a brake lightdoes not work, the BRAKE LAMP
indicator comes on when you push
the brake pedal with the ignition switch ON (II).
A burned out brake light is a hazard when drivers behind you cannot tell
you are braking. Have your brake lights repaired right away.
All the lights in the monitor display come on for a few seconds when you
turn the ignition switch ON (II).
Instruments and Controls
Canada
ABS
Canada
US
SR
S
US
ProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Page 40 of 240

Gauges
Temperature Gauge This shows the temperature of the engine's coolant. During normal
operation, the pointer should rise
from the bottom white mark to about
the middle of the gauge. In severe driving conditions, such as very hot
weather or a long period of uphill driving, the pointer may rise to the
upper white mark. If it reaches the
red "H" (Hot) mark, pull safely to
the side of the road. Turn to page
202 for instructions and precautions on checking the engine's cooling
system.
Fuel Gauge
This shows how much fuel you have. It is most accurate when the car is on
level ground. It may show slightly more or less than the actual amount
when you are driving on curvy or hilly roads.
The gauge stays at the same fuel level reading after you turn off the
ignition. When you add fuel, the
gauge slowly changes to the new
reading after you turn the ignition
back ON (II). Maintenance Required Indicator
The indicator reminds you when it is time for scheduled maintenance.
When it nears 12,000 km (7,500 miles) since the last maintenance,
the indicator will turn yellow. If you exceed 12,000 km (7,500 miles), the
indicator will turn red. Your dealer
will reset the indicator when he performs the scheduled maintenance.If someone else performs the
maintenance, reset the indicator by
inserting your key in the slot beside
the indicator.
Instruments and Controls
INDICATOR
SLOTProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Page 112 of 240
Service Station Procedures
Oil Check
Check the engine oil level every time
you fill the car with fuel. Wait at least two minutes after turning the engineoff before you check the oil.
1. Remove the dipstick (orange handle). 2. Wipe the dipstick with a clean
cloth or paper towel. 3. Insert it all the way back in its tube.
Before Driving
DIPSTICKProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Page 113 of 240
Service Station Procedures
4. Remove it again and check the level. It should be between the
upper and lower marks.
If it is near or below the lower mark,
see page 146 for information on the
proper oil and how to add it. Look at the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. Make sure it is
between the MAX and MIN lines. If
it is below the MIN line, see Adding
Engine Coolant on page 151 for
information on adding the proper
coolant.Refer to Periodic Checks on page
144 for information on checking
other items in your Honda.
Before Driving
UPPER MARK
Engine Coolant Check
RESERVE TANK
MAX MIN
LOWER MARKProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Page 114 of 240

Fuel Economy
The condition of your car and your driving habits are the two most
important things that affect the fuel
mileage you get.
Vehicle Condition Always maintain your car according to the maintenance schedule. This
will keep it in top operating condition.
An important part of that mainte- nance is the Periodic Checks (see
page 144). For example an under-inflated tire causes more "rolling
resistance," which uses fuel. It also
wears out faster, so check the tire
pressure at least monthly. In winter,
the build-up of snow on your car's
underside adds weight and rolling
resistance. Frequent cleaning helps
your fuel mileage and reduces the chance of corrosion. Driving Habits
You can improve fuel economy by driving moderately. Rapid acceler-
ation, abrupt cornering, and hard
braking use more fuel.
Always drive in the highest gear that allows the engine to run and acceler-
ate smoothly.
Depending on traffic conditions, try
to maintain a constant speed. Every
time you slow down and speed up,
your car uses extra fuel. Use the cruise control, when appropriate, to
increase fuel economy. A cold engine uses more fuel than a
warm engine. It is not necessary to "warm-up" a cold engine by letting it
idle for a long time. You can drive away in about a minute, no matter
how cold it is outside. The engine
will warm up faster, and you get better fuel economy. To cut down on
the number of "cold starts," try tocombine several short trips into one.
The air conditioning puts an extra load on the engine which makes ituse more fuel. Turn off the A/C to
cut down on air conditioning use.Use the flow-through ventilation
when the outside air temperature is moderate.
Before DrivingProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t