
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

Tires
It is best to replace all four tires at
the same time. If that is not possible
or necessary, then replace the two
front tires or the two rear tires as a
pair. Replacing just one tire can seriously affect your car's handling.
The ABS works by comparing the speed of the wheels. When replacing
tires, use the same size originally supplied with the car. Tire size and
construction can affect wheel speed
and may cause the system to work in-
consistently. If you ever need to replace a wheel,
make sure the wheel's specifications
match those of the original wheel
that came on your car. Replacement
wheels are available at your Honda
dealer.
Wheels and Tires Wheel: 15 x 6 JJ
Tire:
P205/65R15 92S
See Tire Information on page 222 for
additional information about tire and
wheel size designations. See page 223 for information about DOT Tire
Quality Grading.
Winter Driving
Tires that are marked "M + S" or "All Season" on the sidewall have an
all-weather tread design. They
should be suitable for most winterdriving conditions. Tires without
these markings are designed for optimum traction in dry conditions.
They may not provide adequate performance in winter driving.
For the best performance in snowyor icy conditions, you should install
snow tires or tire chains. They may
be required by local laws under certain conditions.
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Maintenance
Installing improper tires on your
car can affect handling and
stability. This can cause a crash in which you can be seriously
hurt or killed.
Always use the size and type of
tires recommended in this owner's manual.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Tires
Snow Tires
If you mount snow tires on your
Honda, make sure they are radial
tires of the same size and load range
as the original tires. Mount snow
tires on all four wheels to balance
your car's handling in all weather conditions. Keep in mind the traction
provided by snow tires on dry roads
may not be as high as your car's original equipment tires. You should
drive cautiously even when the roads
are clear. Check with the tire dealer
for maximum speed recommenda- tions. Tire Chains
Mount snow chains on your car
when warranted by driving condi- tions or required by local laws. Makesure the chains are the correct size
for your tires. Install them only on the front tires. If metal chains are
used, they must be SAE class "S".Cable type traction devices can also
be used.
When installing chains, follow the manufacturer's instructions and
mount them as tightly as you can.
Drive slowly with chains installed. If
you hear the chains contacting the
body or chassis, stop and tighten
them. If they still make contact, slow down until it stops. Remove the
chains as soon as you begin driving
on cleared roads.
Chains of the wrong size or that are
improperly installed can damage your
car's brake lines, suspension, body, and
wheels. Stop driving if you hear the
chains hitting any part of the car.
Maintenance
NOTICEProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Compact Spare Tire
Your car has a compact spare tire that takes up less space. Use thisspare tire as a temporary replace-
ment only. Get your regular tire
repaired or replaced and put back on
your car as soon as you can.
Check the inflation pressure of the
compact spare tire every time you
check the other tires. It should be
inflated to:
60 psi (420 kPa, 4.2 kgf/cm2) Follow these precautions whenever
you are using the compact spare tire:
Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)
under any circumstances.
This tire gives a harsher ride and less traction on some road sur-
faces than the regular tire. Use
greater caution while driving on
this tire.
Do not mount snow chains on the
compact spare.
The wheel of the compact spare tire is designed especially to fit
your car. Do not use your spare tire on another car unless it is the same make and model. The compact spare tire has a shorter
tread life than a regular tire. Replaceit when you can see the tread wear
indicator bars. The replacement should be the same size and design
tire, mounted on the same wheel.
The compact spare tire is not designed to be mounted on a regular
wheel, and the compact wheel is not designed for mounting a regular tire.
Taking Care of the Unexpected INDICATOR
LOCATION
MARK
TREAD WEARINDICATOR
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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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