Maintenance
This section explains why it is important to keep your car well
maintained and to follow basic
maintenance safety precautions.
This section also includes Maintenance Schedules for normaldriving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions for simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of
yourself.
If you have the skills and tools
required to perform more complex
maintenance tasks on your Honda,
you may want to purchase the Service Manual. See page 233 for
information on how to obtain a copy,or see your Honda dealer.
Maintenance Safety....................... 136
Important Safety Precautions.. 137
Maintenance Schedule.................. 138
Maintenance Record..................... 142
Periodic Checks............................. 144
Fluid Locations............................... 145
Engine Oil....................................... 146
Checking Engine Oil................. 146
Adding Oil................................... 146 Recommended Oil..................... 147
Synthetic Oil............................... 148
Additives..................................... 148
Oil and Filter Changes.............. 148
Cooling System.............................. 150
Checking the Engine Coolant
Level........................................ 150
Adding Engine Coolant............. 151 Replacing Engine Coolant........ 152
Windshield Washers..................... 154
Automatic Transmission Fluid..... 155
Brake Fluid..................................... 156
Brake System............................. 156
Anti-lock Brake System............ 157
Power Steering............................... 157
Air Cleaner..................................... 158 Spark Plugs..................................... 160
Replacement............................... 160
Specifications............................. 161
Battery............................................ 162
Windshield Wipers........................ 165
Air Conditioning............................. 168 Drive Belts...................................... 169
Tires................................................ 169 Inflation....................................... 170
Inspection................................... 171
Maintenance............................... 171
Tire Rotation.............................. 172 Replacing Tires and Wheels .... 172
Wheels and Tires....................... 173
Winter Driving........................... 173 Snow Tires.............................. 174
Tire Chains............................. 174
Lights.............................................. 175 Headlight Aiming...................... 175Replacing Bulbs......................... 177
Storing Your Car............................ 182
MaintenanceProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t
Lights
Check the operation of your car's
exterior lights at least once a month.
A burned out bulb can create an unsafe condition by reducing your car's visibility and the ability to
signal your intentions to other
drivers.
Check the following: Headlights (low and high beam)
Parking lights
Taillights
Brake lights
High-mount brake light
Turn signals
Back-up lights
Hazard light function
License plate light
Side marker lights
Daytime running lights
(Canadian cars)
If you find any bulbs are burned out,
replace them as soon as possible. Refer to the chart on page 219 todetermine what type of replacement
bulb is needed. Headlight Aiming
The headlights were properly aimed when your car was new. You should check their aim if you regularly carryheavy items in the cargo area or pulla trailer. Each headlight assembly
has horizontal and vertical adjust- ment indicators. These are set to
their "0" positions after the head-
lights are aimed at the factory.
To check these settings:
1. Make sure the fuel tank is full. Park the car on level ground.
2. The driver or someone who weighs the same should be sittingin the driver's seat for all checks and adjustments.
Load your car with the items you normally carry. HORIZONTAL ANGLE GAUGE
If you usually pull a trailer, load it as
you would normally and attach it to
the car. Push down on the front and rear bumpers several times to makesure the car is sitting normally.
3. Open the hood.
4. Check the horizontal angle gauge.
The line on the adjustment screwindicator should line up with the"0" mark on the gauge.
Maintenance
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Index
Fluids
Automatic Transmission........... 155
Brake........................................... 156
Power Steering........................... 157
Windshield Washer................... 154
FM Stereo Radio
Reception.................................... 97
Folding the Second Seats ............... 58
Folding the Third Seats.................. 60
Foreign Countries, Driving in...... 109
Four-way Flashers......................... 43
Front End, Towing by Emergency
Wrecker.................................... 213
Fuel.................................................. 108
Fill Door and Cap....................... 110
Gauge.......................................... 38
Octane Requirement................. 108
Oxygenated................................ 108
Tank, Filling the......................... 110
Fuses, Checking the...................... 209
Gas Mileage, Improving................ 114
Gasohol........................................... 108
Gasoline.......................................... 108
Gauge.......................................... 38
Octane Requirement................. 108
Tank, Filling the......................... 110
Gas Station Procedures................. 110
Gauges Engine Coolant Temperature .... 38
Fuel.............................................. 38
Gearshift Lever Positions............. 120 Glass Cleaning............................... 187
Glove Box......................................... 53
Halogen Headlight Bulbs.............. 177
Hazard Warning Flashers............. 43
Headlights....................................... 40
Aiming......................................... 175Daytime Running Lights............. 40
High Beam Indicator................... 36High Beams, Turning on............ 40
Low Beams, Turning on............. 40
Reminder Chime.......................... 40 Replacing Halogen Bulbs ......... 177
Turning on.................................. 40
Head Restraints............................... 56
Heating and Cooling........................ 74 High Altitude, Starting at............ 119
High-Low Beam Switch............... 40
Hood, Opening the ...................... 111
Horn............................................... 39
Hot Coolant, Warning about...... 151 Hydroplaning................................ 127
Identification Number, Vehicle.. 216
If Your Car Has to be Towed..... 213Ignition
Keys............................................. 49
Switch.......................................... 49
Timing Control System............. 225
Indicator Lights, Instrument
Panel............................................. 33
Infant Restraint............................... 22 Inflation, Proper Tire .................... 170
Inside Mirror................................... 64
Inspection, Tire.............................. 171
Instrument Panel............................. 33
Instrument Panel Brightness........ 41
Interior Cleaning............................ 186
Interior Lights................................. 70
Introduction...................................... iProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t
Index
Jacking up the Car......................... 195
Jack, Tire........................................ 193
Jump Starting................................. 200
Keys................................................... 49
Label, Certification........................ 216
Lane Change, Signaling.................. 41Lap Belt............................................... 7
Lap/Shoulder Belts........................... 6
Leaking of Exhaust into Car.......... 29
Lighter, Cigarette............................ 69
Lights Headlight Aiming...................... 175Bulb Replacement..................... 177
Indicator........................................ 33
Parking.......................................... 40
Turn Signal................................... 41
Loading Cargo................................ 116
LOCK (Ignition Key Position)....... 50 Locks
Anti-theft Steering Column........ 49
Fuel Fill Door............................. 110Glove Box..................................... 53
Power Door.................................. 50
Tailgate......................................... 52
Low Coolant Level......................... 150 Low Oil Pressure Indicator.... 34, 204
Lubricant Specifications Chart.... 218
Luggage.......................................... 116
Maintenance................................... 135 Periodic Items............................ 144
Record.................................. 142-143
Required Indicator....................... 38
Safety........................................... 136Schedule.............................. 138-141
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.. 34, 206 Maximum Speeds.......................... 123
Meters, Gauges................................ 37
Methanol in Gasoline.................... 109
Mirrors, Adjusting...........................
64
Neutral Gea r
Position.................... 122
New Vehicle Break-in ................... 108
NOTICE, Explanation of................... ii
Numbers, Identification................ 216
Occupant Protection System............ 4
Octane Requirement, Gasoline.... 108
Odometer.......................................... 37
Odometer, Trip................................ 37
Oil Change, How to......................... 148
Change, When to....................... 140
Checking Engine....................... 146
Pressure Indicator....................... 34
Selecting Proper Viscosity
Chart....................................... 148
ON (Ignition Key Position)............ 50
Opening the Hood......................... 111
Operation in Foreign Countries... 109
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