
Safety Labels
These labels are in the locations shown. They warn you of potential
hazards that could cause serious injury. Read these labels carefully
and don't remove them.
If a label comes off or becomes hard
to read, contact your Honda dealer
for a replacement.
Driver and Passenger Safety
RADIATOR CAP
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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 to per-
form more complex maintenance
tasks on your Honda, you may want to purchase the Service Manual. See
page 235 for information on how toobtain a copy, or see your Honda
dealer.
Maintenance Safety....................... 138
Important Safety Precautions.. 139
Maintenance Schedule.................. 140
Maintenance Record..................... 144
Owner Maintenance Checks........ 146
Fluid Locations............................... 147
Engine Oil....................................... 148
Adding Oil................................... 148Recommended Oil..................... 148
Synthetic Oil............................... 149
Additives..................................... 150
Changing the Oil and Filter...... 150
Cooling System.............................. 152
Adding Engine Coolant............. 152Replacing Engine Coolant........ 154
Windshield Washers..................... 156
Automatic Transmission Fluid..... 157
Brake Fluid..................................... 158
Brake System............................. 158
Anti-lock Brake System............ 159
Power Steering............................... 159
Air Cleaner Element...................... 160
Spark Plugs..................................... 162
Replacement............................... 162
Specifications............................. 163
Battery............................................ 164
Windshield Wipers........................ 166
Air Conditioning System............... 169
Drive Belts...................................... 170
Timing Belt..................................... 170
Tires................................................ 171 Inflation....................................... 171
Inspection................................... 173
Maintenance............................... 173
Tire Rotation.............................. 174 Replacing Tires and Wheels .... 174
Wheels and Tires....................... 175
Winter Driving........................... 175 Snow Tires.............................. 176
Tire Chains............................. 176
Lights.............................................. 177
Headlight Aiming...................... 177
Replacing Bulbs......................... 179
Storing Your Car............................ 184
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Storing Your Car
If you need to park your car for an
extended period (more than one
month), there are several things you should do to prepare it for storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent deterioration and makes it easier to
get your car back on the road. If
possible, store your car indoors.
Fill the fuel tank.Change the engine oil and filter (see page 150).
Wash and dry the exterior completely.
Clean the interior. Make sure the
carpeting, floor mats, etc. are
completely dry.
Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in Park. Block the rear wheels.
If the car is to be stored for a
longer period, it should be supported on jackstands so the
tires are off the ground.
Leave one window open slightly (if
the car is being stored indoors).
Disconnect the battery.
Support the front and rear wiper
blade arms with a folded towel or
rag so they do not touch the
windshield.
To minimize sticking, apply a silicone spray lubricant to all door
and trunk seals. Also, apply a car
body wax to the painted surfaces
that mate with the door and trunk
seals.
Cover the car with a "breathable"
car cover, one made from a porous
material such as cotton.
Nonporous materials, such as
plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint.
If possible, run the engine for a
while periodically (preferably once a month).
If you store your car for 12 months
or longer, have your Honda dealer
perform the inspections called for in the 24 months/30,000 miles (48,000
km) maintenance schedule (Normal Conditions) as soon as you take it
out of storage (see page 142). The
replacements called for in the maintenance schedule are not
needed unless the car has actually
reached that time or mileage.
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Warranty Coverages
U.S. Owners
Your new Honda is covered by these
warranties:
New Car Limited Warranty — covers
your new car, except for the battery, emissions control systems and
accessories, against defects in
materials and workmanship.
Emissions Control Systems Defects
Warranty and Emissions
Performance Warranty — these two
warranties cover your car's emis- sions control systems. Time, mileage,
and coverage are conditional. Please
read the warranty manual for exact information.
Original Equipment Battery Limited
Warranty — this warranty gives up
to 100 percent credit toward a
replacement battery.
Seat Belt Limited Warranty — a seat
belt that fails to function properly is
covered for the useful life of the car.
Rust Perforation Limited Warranty
— all exterior body panels are
covered for rust-through from the
inside for the specified time period
with no mileage limit.
Accessory Limited Warranty —
Genuine Honda Accessories are
covered under this warranty. Time
and mileage limits depend on the
type of accessory and other factors. Please read your warranty manual
for details.
Replacement Parts Limited
Warranty — covers all Genuine
Honda replacement parts against defects in materials and workman-
ship.
Replacement Battery Limited
Warranty — provides prorated
coverage for a replacement battery
purchased from a Honda dealer.
Replacement Muffler Lifetime
Limited Warranty — provides
coverage for as long as the pur-
chaser of the muffler owns the car.
Restrictions and exclusions apply to
all these warranties. Please read the 1997 Honda Warranties booklet that
came with your car for precise
information on warranty coverages.
Your Honda's original tires are covered by their manufacturer. Tire
warranty information is in a separate
booklet.
Canadian Owners
Please refer to the 1997 Warranty
Manual that came with your car.
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Index
Break-in, New Car......................... 108
Brightness Control, Instruments... 41
Brights, Headlights......................... 40
Bulb Replacement Back-up Lights........................... 181
Brake Lights............................... 181
Ceiling Light............................... 183
Front Parking Lights................. 180
Front Side Marker Lights......... 180
Headlights.................................. 179
License Plate Lights.................. 182
Specifications............................. 221
Turn Signal Lights..................... 180
Bulbs, Halogen............................... 179
Cables, Jump Starting With.......... 203
Capacities Chart............................. 220
Carbon Monoxide Hazard.............. 29
Cargo, Loading............................... 116
Cassette Player
Care............................................. 101
Operation................................ 87, 99
CAUTION, Explanation of............... ii
CD Player ................................. 90, 102 Center Pocket.................................. 68
Certification Label......................... 218
Chains............................................. 176
Change Oil
How to......................................... 150
When to....................................... 142
Changing a Flat Tire..................... 195
Changing Engine Coolant............. 154
Charging System Indicator.... 34, 207
Checking Automatic Transmission
Fluid........................................ 157
Battery Condition...................... 164
Brake Fluid................................. 158
Drive Belts.................................. 170
Engine Coolant........................... 113
Engine Oil................................... 112
Fuses........................................... 211
Power Steering Fluid................. 159
Checklist, Before Driving............. 118
Child Safety...................................... 20
Childproof Door Locks................... 52
Cigarette Lighter............................. 69
Cleaner, Air.................................... 160
Cleaning
Aluminum Wheels..................... 187 Carpeting.................................... 188
Exterior....................................... 186
Fabric.......................................... 188
Interior........................................ 188
Seat Belts.................................... 189
Vinyl............................................ 188
Window....................................... 189
CLEAN Light................................. 101
Clock, Setting the ............................ 66
CO in the Exhaust......................... 225
Cold Weather, Starting in............. 119
Compact Spare............................... 194
Consumer Information*................ 230
Controls, Instruments and.............. 33
Coolant
Adding.........................................152
Checking..................................... 113
Proper Solution.......................... 152
Temperature Gauge.................... 38
Corrosion Protection..................... 190
Crankcase Emission Control
System......................................... 225
Cruise Control Operation............... 46
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Index
Seats
Folding the Third Seats.............. 60
Head Restraints........................... 56
Passenger Seating....................... 54
Reclining the Second Seat.......... 59
Removing the Second Seats....... 57
Third Seat Access........................ 56
Serial Number................................ 218
Service Intervals*.......................... 142
Service Manual.............................. 235
Service Station Procedures .......... 110
Setting the Clock............................. 66
Shifting the Automatic
Transmission.............................. 120
Shift Lever Position Indicator...... 120
Shift Lever Positions..................... 120
Side Marker Lights, Bulb
Replacement in.......................... 180
Signaling Turns................................ 41
Snow Tires...................................... 176
Solvent-type Cleaners.................... 186
Sound System................................... 83
Spare Tire
Inflating....................................... 194
Specifications............................. 221
Spark Plugs, Replacing................. 162 Specifications Charts..................... 220
Speed Control................................... 46
Speedometer.................................... 37
SRS Indicator.............................. 16, 34
START (Ignition Key Position)..... 50
Starting the Engine........................ 119 In Cold Weather at HighAltitude................................... 119
With a Dead Battery................. 202
Steam Coming from Engine......... 204
Steering Wheel
Adjustment................................... 44
Anti-theft Column Lock.............. 49
Stereo Sound System...................... 83
Storing Your Car............................ 184
Sunroof.............................................. 63
Closing Manually....................... 209
Operation...................................... 63
Supplemental Restraint System Service Precautions..................... 17
Servicing....................................... 16
SRS Indicator.......................... 16, 34
System Components.................... 12
Synthetic Oil................................... 149 Tailgate............................................. 52
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in....... 181
Taking Care of the Unexpected .. 193
Tape Player................................. 87, 99
Technical Descriptions Emission Control Systems........ 225
Three Way Catalytic Converter................................ 227
Tire Information........................ 222
Temperature Gauge........................ 38
Tether Attachment Points.............. 26 Three Way Catalytic Converter... 227
Time, Setting the............................. 66
Timing Belt..................................... 170
Tire Chains..................................... 176
Tire, How to Change a Flat.......... 195
Tires................................................ 171 Air Pressure............................... 171
Checking Wear.......................... 173
Compact Spare........................... 194
DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 223
Inflation....................................... 171
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