
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
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 tosignal your intentions to other
drivers.
Check the following:
Headlights (low and high beam)
Parking lights
Taillights Brake lightsHigh-mount brake light
Turn signals
Back-up lights
Hazard light function
License plate light
Side marker lights
Daytime running lights (Canadian models)
If you find any bulbs are burned out,
replace them as soon as possible. Refer to the chart on page 221 to
determine 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 carry
heavy items in the cargo area or pull a 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 make
sure 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........... 157
Brake........................................... 158
Power Steering........................... 159
Windshield Washer................... 156
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...................................... 215
Fuel.................................................. 108
Fill Door and Cap....................... 110
Gauge............................................ 38
Octane Requirement................. 108
Oxygenated................................ 108
Tank, Filling the......................... 110
Fuses, Checking the...................... 211
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............................... 189
Glove Box......................................... 53
Halogen Headlight Bulbs.............. 179 Hazard Warning Flashers............... 43
Headlights......................................... 40 Aiming......................................... 177
Daytime Running Lights............. 40
High Beam Indicator................... 36
High Beams, Turning on............ 40Low Beams, Turning on............. 40
Reminder Chime.......................... 40
Replacing Halogen Bulbs ......... 179
Turning on....................................
40
Head Restraints...............................
56Heating and Cooling........................ 74
High Altitude, Starting at.............. 119
High-Low Beam Switch .................. 40
Hood, Opening the ........................ 111
Horn................................................... 39
Hot Coolant, Warning about........ 152
Hydroplaning.................................. 129
Identification Number, Vehicle.... 218
If Your Car Has to be Towed....... 215
Ignition
Keys............................................... 49
Switch............................................ 49
Timing Control System............. 226
Indicator Lights, Instrument
Panel..............................................33
Infant Restraint................................ 22
Inflation, Proper Tire .................... 171
Inside Mirror.................................... 64
Inspection, Tire.............................. 173
Instrument Panel............................. 33
Instrument Panel Brightness......... 41
Interior Cleaning............................ 188
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Index
Introduction......................................... i
Jacking up the Car......................... 197
Jack, Tire........................................ 195
Jump Starting................................. 202
Keys................................................... 49
Label, Certification........................ 218
Lane Change, Signaling.................. 41
Lap Belt............................................... 7 Lap/Shoulder Belts........................... 6
Leaking of Exhaust into Car.......... 29
Lighter, Cigarette............................ 69
Lights Headlight Aiming...................... 177
Bulb Replacement..................... 179
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......................... 152
Low Oil Pressure Indicator.... 34, 206
Lubricant Specifications Chart.... 220
Luggage.......................................... 116
Maintenance................................... 137
Owner Maintenance Checks.... 146
Record.................................. 144-145
Required Indicator....................... 38
Safety........................................... 138
Schedule.............................. 140 - 143
Malfunction Indicator Lamp .. 34, 208
Maximum Speeds.......................... 123
Meters, Gauges................................ 37
Methanol in Gasoline.................... 109
Mirrors, Adjusting........................... 64
Neutral Gear Position.................... 122
New Vehicle Break-in ................... 108
NOTICE, Explanation of................... ii
Numbers, Identification................ 218
Occupant Protection System............ 4
Octane Requirement, Gasoline.... 108
Odometer.......................................... 37
Odometer, Trip................................ 37
Oil Change, How to ......................... 150
Change, When to....................... 142
Checking Engine....................... 112
Pressure Indicator............... 34, 206
Selecting Proper Viscosity Chart....................................... 149
ON (Ignition Key Position)............ 50
Opening the Hood ......................... 111
Operation in Foreign Countries... 109
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