Driving in Bad Weather
Visibility — Being able to see clearly in all directions and being
visible to other drivers are important in all weather conditions. This is
more difficult in bad weather. To beseen more clearly during daylight
hours, turn on your headlights.
Inspect your windshield wipers and
washers frequently. Keep the wind- shield washer reservoir full of the
proper fluid. Have the windshield
wiper blades replaced if they start to streak the windshield or leave parts
unwiped. Use the defrosters and air
conditioning to keep the windows
from fogging up on the inside (see
page 99).
Traction — Check your tires
frequently for wear and proper
pressure. Both are important in
preventing "hydroplaning" (loss of
traction on a wet surface). In the
winter, mount snow tires on all four
wheels for the best handling.
Watch road conditions carefully, they can change from moment to
moment. Wet leaves can be as slip-
pery as ice. "Clear" roads can have
patches of ice. Driving conditionscan be very hazardous when the
outside temperature is near freezing.
The road surface can become covered with areas of water puddles
mixed with areas of ice, so your
traction can change without warning.
Be careful when downshifting. If
traction is low, you can lock up the drive wheels for a moment and cause
a skid. Be very cautious when passing, or
being passed by other vehicles. The spray from large vehicles reduces
your visibility, and the wind buffeting can cause you to lose control.
DrivingProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Maintenance
This section explains why it is important to keep your vehicle 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 to obtain a copy, or see your Honda
dealer.
Maintenance Safety....................... 160
Important Safety Precautions.. 161
Maintenance Schedule.................. 162
Required Maintenance Record.... 169 Owner Maintenance Checks........ 171
Fluid Locations............................... 172
Engine Oil....................................... 173 Adding Oil................................... 173Recommended Oil..................... 173
Synthetic Oil............................... 174
Additives..................................... 175
Changing the Oil and Filter...... 175
Cooling System.............................. 177
Adding Engine Coolant............. 177Replacing Engine Coolant........ 179
Windshield Washers..................... 181
Automatic Transmission Fluid..... 182
Brake Fluid..................................... 183
Brake System............................. 183
Power Steering............................... 184
Air Cleaner Element...................... 185 Spark Plugs..................................... 187
Replacement............................... 187
Specifications............................. 188
Battery............................................ 189
Wiper Blades.................................. 191 Air Conditioning System............... 194
Drive Belts...................................... 195
Timing Belt..................................... 195
Tires................................................ 196 Inflation....................................... 196
Inspection................................... 198
Maintenance............................... 198
Tire Rotation.............................. 199
Replacing Tires and Wheels .... 199
Wheels and Tires....................... 200
Winter Driving........................... 200
Snow Tires.............................. 201
Tire Chains............................. 201
Lights.............................................. 202 Headlight Aiming...................... 204
Replacing Bulbs......................... 206
Storing Your Vehicle..................... 211
MaintenanceProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t
Wiper Blades
WIPER ARMS
Check the condition of the wiper
blades at least every six months. Look for signs of cracking in the
rubber, or areas that are getting
hard. Replace the blades if you find
these signs, or they leave streaks and unwiped areas when used.
To replace the front wiper blades:
1. Raise the wiper arm off the windshield. LOCK TAB
2. Disconnect the blade assembly from the wiper arm by pushing inthe lock tab. Hold it in while you
push the blade assembly toward
the base of the arm.
BLADE
3. Remove the blade from its holder by grasping the tabbed end of the
blade. Pull firmly until the tabscome out of the holder.
CONTINUED
MaintenanceProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Wiper Blades
4. Examine the new wiper blades. If they have no plastic or metal rein-
forcement along the back edge, remove the metal reinforcementstrips from the old wiper blade and
install them in the slots along the
edge of the new blade. 5. Slide the new wiper blade into the
holder until the tabs lock.
6. Slide the wiper blade assembly onto the wiper arm. Make sure it
locks in place.
7. Lower the wiper arm down against the windshield.
To replace the rear wiper blade:
1. Raise the wiper arm off the windshield.
2. Pull the lock tab up and slide the blade assembly off the wiper arm.
3. Pull one end of the blade out and down to remove it from the slot.
Maintenance
BLADE
REINFORCEMENTProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Wiper Blades
4. Slide the blade out of the holder.
5. Slide the new blade into the holder.
Make sure it is engaged in the slot
along its full length. 6. Insert both ends of the blade into
the holder slots. Make sure they
are secure.
7. Slide the wiper blade assembly onto the wiper arm. Make sure it
locks in place.
8. Lower the wiper arm.
MaintenanceProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
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
Index
Warning Beepers Key in Ignition.............................. 70
Seat Belts...................................... 52
WARNING, Explanation of.............. ii
Warning Labels, Location of.......... 48
Warranty Coverages*................... 263
Washer, Windshield Checking the Fluid Level......... 181
Operation...................................... 60
Washing.......................................... 214
Waxing and Polishing................... 215
Wheels
Adjusting the Steering................ 62
Alignment and Balance............. 198Compact Spare........................... 222
Wrench....................................... 225
Windows Cleaning...................................... 217Operating the Power................... 82
Rear, Defogger............................ 62
Windshield Cleaning........................................ 60
Defroster...................................... 99 Wipers, Windshield
Changing Blades........................ 191
Operation...................................... 60
Rear Windshield Wiper and Washer...................................... 61
Worn Tires..................................... 198
Wrecker, Emergency Towing...... 244
* : U.S. and Canada onlyProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t