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Towing a Trailer
When towing a trailer in the Sequential SportShift mode, select
Third, Second, or First gear; depending on the vehicle speeds and
road condition. Do not use Fourth
gear. The recommended speed
range for each gear position is shown in the table. When parking your vehicle and
trailer, especially on a hill, be sure to
follow all the normal precautions.
Turn your front wheels into the curb, set the parking brake firmly, and put
the transmission in 1st or Reverse (manual) or Park (automatic). In
addition, place wheel chocks at each
of the trailer's tires.
Backing up with a trailer is difficult and takes practice. Drive slowly,
make small movements with thesteering wheel, and have someone
stand outside to guide you. Grip the
steering wheel on the bottom (rather
than the usual position near the top). Move your hand to the left to get the
trailer to move to the left, and right
to move the trailer right.
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Exterior Care
Washing
Frequent washing helps preserve
your vehicle's beauty. Dirt and grit can scratch the paint, while tree sap
and bird droppings can permanently
ruin the finish.
Wash your vehicle in a shady area, not in direct sunlight. If the vehicle is
parked in the sun, move it into the shade and let the exterior cool down
before you start.
Only use the solvents and cleaners
recommended in this Owner's
Manual.
Chemical solvents and strong cleaners
can damage the paint, metal, and
plastic on your vehicle.
Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with
cool water to remove loose dirt. Fill a bucket with cool water. Mix
in a mild detergent, such as
dishwashing liquid or a product
made especially for vehicle
washing.
Wash the vehicle using the water and detergent solution and a soft-
bristle brush, sponge, or soft cloth. Start at the top and work your waydown. Rinse frequently.
Check the body for road tar, tree sap, etc. Remove these stains with
tar remover or turpentine. Rinse it off immediately so it does not
harm the finish. Remember to re-
wax these areas, even if the rest of the vehicle does not need waxing. When you have washed and rinsed
the whole exterior, dry it with achamois or soft towel. Letting it
air-dry will cause dulling and water
spots.
As you dry the vehicle, inspect it for chips and scratches that could allow
corrosion to start. Repair them with
touch-up paint (see page 221).
Appearance Care
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Interior Care, Corrosion Protection
Air Fresheners If you want to use an air freshener/
deodorizer in the interior of your
vehicle, it is best to use a solid type. Some liquid air fresheners contain
chemicals that may cause parts of
the interior trim and fabric to crack or discolor.
If you use a liquid air freshener,
make sure you fasten it securely so it does not spill as you drive. Corrosion Protection
Two factors normally contribute to causing corrosion in your vehicle:
1. Moisture trapped in body cavities. Dirt and road salt that collects in
hollows on the underside of the
vehicle stays damp, promoting corrosion in that area.
2. Removal of paint and protective coatings from the exterior and
underside of the vehicle.
Many corrosion-preventive measures
are built into your Honda. You can
help keep your vehicle from corroding by performing somesimple periodic maintenance: Repair chips and scratches in the
paint as soon as you discover them.Inspect and clean out the drain
holes in the bottom of the doors and body.
Check the floor coverings for
dampness. Carpeting and floor
mats may remain damp for a long
time, especially in winter. This dampness can eventually cause
the floor panels to corrode.
Use a high-pressure spray to clean
the underside of your vehicle. This is especially important in areas
that use road salt in winter. It isalso a good idea in humid climates
and areas subject to salt air. Be
careful of the ABS wheel sensors
and wiring at each wheel.
Have the corrosion-preventive
coatings on the underside of your
vehicle inspected and repaired periodically.
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Compact Spare Tire
Your vehicle 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 vehicle 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 vehicle. Do not use your
spare tire on another vehicle
unless it is the same make and
model.
The compact spare tire has a shorter
tread life than a regular tire. Replace
it 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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Tire Information
Tire Size Designation
A tire's sidewall is marked with a tire size designation. You will need this
information when selecting replace-
ment tires for your vehicle. The
following explains what the letters and numbers in the tire size
designation mean.
(Example tire size designation)
205/50R16 87V
205 — Tire width in millimeters.
50 — Aspect ratio. The tire's section
height as a percentage of its width.
R — Tire construction code (Radial).
16 Rim diameter in inches.
87 — Load Index, a numerical code
associated with the maximum load
the tire can carry.
V — Speed Symbol. See the speed
rating chart in this section for
additional information.
Wheel Size Designation
Wheels are also marked with important information that you need
if you ever have to replace one. The
following explains what the letters and numbers in the wheel size
designation mean.
(Example wheel size designation)
16
x 6-1/2 JJ
16 — Rim diameter in inches.
6-1/2 — Rim width in inches.
JJ — Rim contour designation.
Tire Speed Ratings
The chart below shows many of the
different speed ratings currently
being used for passenger vehicle
tires. The speed symbol is part of the
tire size designation on the sidewall
of the tire. This symbol corresponds
to that tire's designed maximum safe
operating speed.
Technical Information
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Tire Information
Traction
The traction grades, from highest tolowest, are A, B, and C, and theyrepresent the tire's ability to stop on
wet pavement as measured under controlled conditions on specified
government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may
have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade as- signed to this tire is based on brak-
ing (straight ahead) traction tests and does not include cornering (turning) traction.
Temperature
The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B, and C, representing the
tire's resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the materialof the tire to degenerate and reduce
tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger car
tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent
higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by law. Warning: The temperature grade for
this tire is established for a tire thatis properly inflated and not over-
loaded. Excessive speed, underinfla-
tion, or excessive loading either separately or in combination, can
cause heat build-up and possible tire
failure.
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