
Taking Care of the Unexpected
This section covers the more- common problems that motorists
experience with their cars. It gives
you information about how to safely evaluate the problem and what to do
to correct it. If the problem has stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again. If not, you will also find instructions
on getting your car towed. Compact Spare Tire....................... 192
Changing a Flat Tire..................... 193
If Your Engine Won't Start........... 199 Nothing Happens....................... 199
The Starter Operates
Normally................................ 200
Jump Starting................................. 200 If Your Engine Overheats............. 202Low Oil Pressure........................... 204
Charging System Indication......... 205
Malfunction Indicator Lamp/ Check Engine Light.................. 206
Closing the Sunroof....................... 207
Fuses............................................... 208
Checking and Replacing........... 209
Towing............................................ 213
Taking Care of the UnexpectedProCarManuals.comMain Menu 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

If Your Engine Won't Start, Jump Starting
The Starter Operates Normally In this case, the starter motorsounds normal when you turn the
ignition switch to START (III), but
the engine does not run.
Are you using the proper startingprocedure? Refer to Starting the
Engine on page 119 .
Do you have fuel? Turn the
ignition switch to ON (II) for a
minute and watch the fuel gauge.
The low fuel level warning light may not be working, so you were
not reminded to fill the tank.
There may be an electrical problem, such as no power to the
fuel pump. Check all the fuses (see page 208 ).
If you find nothing wrong, you will
need a qualified technician to find
the problem. See Towing on page 213. Jump Starting
If your car's battery has run clown,
you may be able to start the engine by using a booster battery. Although
this seems like a simple procedure,
there are several precautions youshould take. Follow the directions
closely.
You cannot start a Honda by pushing or pulling it. To jump start your car:
1. Open the hood and check the physical condition of the battery(see page 162 ). In very cold
weather, check the condition of
the electrolyte. If it seems slushy or like ice, do not try jump starting
until it thaws.
Taking Care of the Unexpected
If a battery sits in extreme cold, the
electrolyte inside can freeze.
Attempting to lump start with a frozen battery can cause it to rupture or
explode.
2. Turn off all the electrical acces- sories: heater, A/C, stereo system,
lights, etc.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park and set the parking brake.
A battery can explode if you do
not follow the correct procedure,
seriously injuring anyone nearby.
Keep all sparks, open flames,
and smoking materials away
from the battery.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Jump Starting
3. Connect one juniper cable to the positive ( + ) terminal on the
booster battery. Connect the otherend to the positive (+) terminal
on your Honda's battery. 4. Connect the second juniper cable
to the negative (—) terminal on
the booster battery. Connect the
other end to the grounding strapas shown. Do not connect this
jumper cable to any other part of the engine.
5. If the booster battery is in another car, have an assistant start that car
and run it at a fast idle. 6. Start your car. If the starter motor
still operates slowly, check the
jumper cable connections to make sure they have good metal-to-
metal contact.
7. Once your car is running, discon- nect the negative cable from your
car, then from the booster battery.
Disconnect the positive cable from
your car, then the booster battery.
Taking Care of the Unexpected
BOOSTER
BATTERYProCarManuals.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
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Index
Break-in, New Car......................... 108
Brightness Control, Instruments... 43
Brights, Headlights......................... 42
Bulb Replacement
Back-up Lights........................... 179
Brake Lights............................... 179
Ceiling Light............................... 181
Front Parking Lights................. 178
Front Side Marker Lights......... 178
Headlights.................................. 177
License Plate Lights.................. 180
Specifications............................. 219
Turn Signal Lights..................... 178
Bulbs, Halogen............................... 177
Cables, Jump Starting With.......... 200
Capacities Chart............................. 218
Carbon Monoxide Hazard.............. 29
Cargo, Loading............................... 116
Cassette Player Care............................................. 105
Operation................................ 89, 98
CAUTION, Explanation of............... ii
CD Player........................................101 Center Pocket.................................. 71
Certification Label......................... 216
Chains............................................. 174
Change Oil
How to......................................... 148
When to....................................... 140
Changing a Flat Tire ..................... 193 Changing Engine Coolant............. 152
Charging System Indicator .... 36, 205
Check Engine Light........................ 37
Checking Automatic Transmission
Fluid........................................ 155
Battery Condition...................... 162 Brake Fluid................................. 156
Drive Belts.................................. 169
Engine Coolant........................... 150
Engine Oil................................... 146
Fuses........................................... 209
Power Steering Fluid................. 157
Checklist, Before Driving............. 118
Child Safety...................................... 20
Childproof Door Locks................... 54
Cigarette Lighter............................. 72
Cleaner, Air.................................... 158
Cleaning
Aluminum Wheels..................... 185
Carpeting.................................... 187
Exterior....................................... 184
Fabric.......................................... 187
Interior........................................ 187
Seat Belts....................................188
Vinyl............................................ 187
Window....................................... 188
CLEAN Light................................. 105
Clock, Setting the ............................ 68
Coin Box........................................... 71
CO in the Exhaust......................... 224 Cold Weather, Starting in............. 119
Compact Spare............................... 192
Consumer Information.................. 227
Controls, Instruments and.............. 33
Coolant
Adding......................................... 151
Checking..................................... 150
Proper Solution.......................... 150
Temperature Gauge.................... 40
Corrosion Protection..................... 189
Crankcase Emission Control System......................................... 224
Cruise Control Operation ............... 48ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t Main Menu s t

Index
Customer Relations Office........... 229
DANGER, Explanation of................. ii
Dashboard........................................ 34
Dashboard Compartment............... 70
Daytime Running Lights................. 42
Dead Battery, What to Do............ 216
Defects, Reporting Safety............... 30
Defogger, Rear Window................. 45
Defrosting the Windows................. 82
DEXRON® II Automatic Transmission Fluid.................... 155
Dimensions..................................... 218
Dimming the Headlights ................ 42
Dipstick Automatic Transmission........... 155
Engine Oil................................... 146
Directional Signals........................... 43
Disabled, Towing Your Car If...... 213
Disc Brake Wear Indicators......... 124
Disposal of Used Oil...................... 150
Doors Locking and Unlocking............... 53
Power Door Locks....................... 53 DOT Tire Quality Grading........... 222
Drive Belts...................................... 169
Driving............................................ 117
Economy..................................... 114
In Bad Weather.......................... 126
In Foreign Countries................. 109
Economy, Fuel............................... 114
Emergencies on the Road............. 191 Battery, Jump Starting.............. 200
Changing a Flat Tire................. 193
Charging System Indicator...... 205
Check Engine Light.................. 206 Checking the Fuses................... 209
Low Oil Pressure Indicator...... 204
Malfunction Indicator Lamp .... 206 Manually Closing Sunroof........ 207Overheated Engine................... 202
Emergency Brake............................ 68
Emergency Flashers....................... 43
Emission Controls......................... 224
Engine Belts............................................. 169
Check Light.......................... 37, 206 Coolant Temperature Gauge ..... 40
Malfunction Indicator
Lamp................................ 37, 206
Oil Pressure Indicator......... 36, 204
Oil, What Kind to Use............... 147
Overheating................................ 202
Specifications............................. 219
Ethanol in Gasoline ....................... 109
Evaporative Emission Controls.... 224
Exhaust Fumes................................ 29
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat Belts by.........................................10
Exterior, Cleaning the................... 184
Fabric, Cleaning............................. 187
Fan, Interior...................................... 78
Features, Comfort and
Convenience................................. 75
Filling the Fuel Tank..................... 110
Filter Air............................................... 158
Oil................................................ 148
First Gear Position......................... 122
CONTINUEDProCarManuals.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