Page 193 of 272

Air Conditioning System
Your vehicle's air conditioning is a sealed system. Any major mainte-
nance, such as recharging, should be done by a qualified mechanic. You
can do a couple of things to make sure the air conditioning works
efficiently.
Periodically check the engine's
radiator and air conditioning condenser for leaves, insects, and
dirt stuck to the front surface. These
block the air flow and reduce cooling efficiency. Use a light spray from a
hose or a soft brush to remove them.
The condenser and radiator fins bend
easily. Only use a low-pressure spray
or soft-bristle brush to clean them.
AIR CONDITIONING
CONDENSER
Run the air conditioning at least once a week during the cold weather
months. Run it for at least ten
minutes while you are driving at asteady speed with the engine at
normal operating temperature. This
circulates the lubricating oil con-
tained in the refrigerant. If the air conditioning does not get as
cold as before, have your dealer
check the system. Recharge the
system with Refrigerant HFC-134a (R-134a). (See Specifications on page 248.
)
Whenever you
have the air conditioning
system serviced, make sure the service
facility uses a refrigerant recycling
system. This system captures the
refrigerant for reuse. Releasing
refrigerant into the atmosphere can
damage the environment.
Maintenance
NOTICE
NOTICEProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Page 230 of 272

If Your Engine Overheats
4. If the temperature gauge stays at the red mark, turn off the engine.
5. Wait until you see no more signs of steam or spray, then open the
hood.
6. Look for any obvious coolant leaks, such as a split radiator hose.
Everything is still extremely hot,
so use caution. If you find a leak, it
must be repaired before you
continue driving (see Towing on
page 244).
7. If you don't find an obvious leak, check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank (see page 132). If the level is below the
MIN mark, add coolant to halfway
between the MIN and MAX marks.
8. If there was no coolant in the reserve tank, you may also have to
add coolant to the radiator. Let the
engine cool down until the pointer reaches the middle of the tempera-
ture gauge, or lower, before check- ing the radiator.
9. Using gloves or a large heavy cloth, turn the radiator cap
counterclockwise, without pushingdown, to the first stop. This
releases any remaining pressure in
the cooling system. After the
pressure releases, push down on
the cap and turn it until it comes
off.
10.Start the engine and set the
temperature control lever tomaximum. Add coolant to the
radiator up to the base of the filler
neck. If you do not have the
proper coolant mixture available,
you can add plain water. Remember to have the cooling
system drained and refilled with
the proper mixture as soon as you
can.
11. Put the radiator cap back on tightly. Run the engine and watch
the temperature gauge. If it goes
back to the red mark, the engine
needs repair. (See Towing on
page 244.)
12.If the temperature stays normal, check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. If it has
gone down, add coolant to the MAX mark. Put the cap back on
tightly.
Taking Care of the Unexpected
Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Page 268 of 272

Index
Octane Requirement, Gasoline.... 128
Odometer.......................................... 55
Odometer, Trip................................ 54
Oil Change, How to ......................... 175
Change, When to....................... 164
Checking Engine....................... 131
Pressure Indicator............... 52, 234
Selecting Proper Viscosity
Chart....................................... 174
ON (Ignition Key Position)............ 70
Opening the Hood......................... 130
Operation in Foreign Countries... 254
Outside Mirrors............................... 84
Overheating, Engine..................... 232
Owner Maintenance Checks........ 171
Panel Brightness Control............... 59
Park Gear Position......................... 143
Parking............................................ 146
Parking Brake.................................. 85
Parking Lights.................................. 58
Parking Over Things that Burn... 257
PGM-FI System.............................. 256
Polishing and Waxing................... 215
Power
Door Locks................................... 70
Mirrors.......................................... 84
Steering....................................... 184
Windows....................................... 82
Pre-Drive Safety Checklist............... 9
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts.......... 17
Protecting Adults............................. 10
Additional Safety Precautions.... 17
Advice for Pregnant Women...... 17
Protecting Children......................... 19 Protecting Infants........................ 27
Protecting Larger Children........ 35
Protecting Small Children.......... 31
Using Child Seats withTethers...................................... 38
Radiator Overheating.................... 232
Radio/Cassette Sound System .... 103
Rear A/C Unit................................ 102
Rear End Towing........................... 244
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement... 208
Rear View Mirror............................. 84
Rear Window Defogger.................. 62
Rear Window Wiper and Washer.. 61
Reclining the Seat Backs................ 75
Reclining the Second Seats............ 79 Reminder Lights.............................. 51
Remote Transmitter........................ 71 Removing the Second Seats........... 78
Replacement Information Air Cleaner Element.................. 185
Coolant........................................ 179
Engine Oil and Filter................. 175
Fuses........................................... 240
Light Bulbs................................. 206
Schedule..................................... 162
Spark Plugs................................. 187
Timing Belt................................. 195
Tires............................................ 199
Wiper Blades.............................. 191
Replacing Seat Belts After a Crash............................................. 43
Reserve Tank, Coolant.................. 132 Restraint, Child................................ 19
Reverse Gear Position................... 143
Rotation, Tire................................. 199ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t