Maintenance
This section explains why it is important to keep your car wellmaintained and to follow basic
maintenance safety precautions.
This section also includes Maintenance Schedules for normal
driving 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 263 for information on how to obtain a copy, or see your Honda
dealer.
Maintenance Safety....................... 158
Important Safety Precautions.. 159
Maintenance Schedule.................. 160
Maintenance Record..................... 167 Owner Maintenance Checks........ 169
Fluid Locations............................... 170
Engine Oil....................................... 171
Adding Oil................................... 171
Recommended Oil..................... 171Synthetic Oil............................... 172
Additives..................................... 172
Changing the Oil and Filter...... 173
Cooling System.............................. 175
Adding Engine Coolant............. 175Replacing Engine Coolant........ 177
Windshield Washers..................... 180
Transmission Fluid........................ 180
Automatic
Transmission.......................... 180
5-speed Manual
Transmission.......................... 182
Brake and Clutch Fluid................. 182
Brake System............................. 183
Clutch System............................ 183
Power Steering............................... 184
Air Cleaner Element...................... 185 Hood Latch..................................... 186
Spark Plugs..................................... 187
Replacement............................... 187
Specifications............................. 188
Battery............................................ 189
Wiper Blades.................................. 191
Air Conditioning System............... 193 Drive Belts...................................... 194
Timing Belt..................................... 194
Tires................................................ 195 Inflation....................................... 195
Recommended Tire Pressures
for Normal Driving............ 196
Inspection................................... 197
Maintenance............................... 197
Tire Rotation.............................. 198
Replacing Tires and Wheels .... 199
Wheels and Tires....................... 200
Winter Driving........................... 200
Snow Tires.............................. 200
Tire Chains............................. 201
Lights.............................................. 202 Replacing Bulbs......................... 204
Storing Your Car............................ 212
MaintenanceMain Menu s t
Engine Oil
Adding Oil
To add oil, unscrew and remove the engine oil fill cap on top of the valve
cover. Pour in the oil, and install the
engine oil fill cap. Tighten it securely.
Wait a few minutes and recheck the oil level. Do not fill above the upper
mark; you could damage the engine. Recommended Oil
Oil is a major contributor to your
engine's performance and longevity.
Always use a premium-grade deter- gent oil.
You can determine an oil's SAE
viscosity and Service Classification from the API Service label on the oilcontainer.
A fuel-efficient oil is recommended for your Honda. This is shown on the
API Service label by the words "Energy Conserving." This oil is
formulated to help your engine use
less fuel. The API Service label also tells you
the service classification of the oil.
Always use an oil that is labeled "API Service SJ." This service rating mayinclude other classifications, such asCD. These additional classifications
are not a problem, as long as the
label also carries the SJ classification.
API SERVICE LABEL
CONTINUED
Maintenance
ENGINE OIL
FILL CAPMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Index
Reclining the Seat Backs................ 76 Recommended Shift Speeds ........ 138
Reminder Lights.............................. 53
Remote Transmitter........................ 72
Replacement Information Air Cleaner Element.................. 185Coolant........................................ 177
Engine Oil and Filter................. 173
Fuses........................................... 236
Light Bulbs................................. 202
Schedule..................................... 160
Spark Plugs................................. 187
Timing Belt................................. 194
Tires............................................ 195
Wiper Blades.............................. 191
Replacing Seat Belts After a Crash............................................. 44
Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant.... 128
Restraint Child................................ 21
Reverse Gear Position................... 143
Rotation, Tire................................. 198
Safety Belts......................................... 8
Safety Defects, Reporting* .......... 262
Safety Features.................................. 7
Airbags............................................ 9Door Locks................................... 11
Head Restraints........................... 10
Seat Belts........................................ 8
Seats & Seat-Backs...................... 10
Safety Labels, Location of.............. 50
Safety Messages................................ii
Seat Belt, Additional Information.. 42 Lap Belt.........................................43
Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 42
Seat Belt Maintenance................ 44
Seat Belt System Components... 42
Seat Belts............................................ 8
Cleaning...................................... 216
Maintenance................................. 44
Reminder Light and Beeper....... 54
System Components.................... 42
Tether Attachment Points.......... 40 Use During Pregnancy................ 19
Seats, Adjusting the......................... 76
Serial Number................................ 244
Service Intervals............................ 160
Service Manual* ............................ 263
Service Station Procedures.......... 125
Setting the Clock............................. 99 Shifting
The Automatic Transmission .. 140
The 5-speed Manual Transmission.......................... 138
Shift Lever Position Indicator...... 140
Shift Lock Release......................... 144
Side Marker Lights, Bulb
Replacement in.......................... 205
Signaling Turns................................ 62
Snow Tires...................................... 200
Solvent-type Cleaners.................... 214
Sound System................................... 96
Spare Tire Inflating....................................... 195Specifications............................. 248
Spark Plugs, Replacing................. 187
Specifications Charts..................... 246
Speed Control................................... 66
Speedometer.................................... 57
CONTINUEDMain Menu s t
Service Information Summary
Gasoline:
U.S.: EX, DX, HX, Canada: DX, Si
Unleaded gasoline, pump octane
number of 86 or higher.
U.S.: Si, Canada: SiR
Premium unleaded gasoline,
pump octane number of 91 or
higher.
Fuel Tank Capacity:
11.9 US gal (45 l,9.9 Imp gal)
Recommended Engine Oil:
API Service SJ "Energy Conserving" oil, SAE 5W-30
viscosity (see page 155 ).
DX: 3.8 US qt (3.6 l,3.2 Imp qt)
U.S.:HX, EX, Canada: Si
3.5 US qt (3.3 l,2.9 Imp qt)
U.S.: Si, Canada: SiR 4.2 US qt (4.0 l,3.5 Imp qt) Automatic Transmission Fluid:
Honda Premium Formula Auto-
matic Transmission Fluid (ATF)
HX model (CVT) only:
Use Honda CVT Fluid only
5-speed Manual Transmission
Fluid:
Honda Manual TransmissionFluid preferred, or an API service
SG, SH or SJ, SAE 10W-30 or
10W-40 motor oil as a temporary
replacement (see page 166).
Capacity (including differential): U.S.: DX, EX and HX, Canada: DX
and Si
1.9 US qt (1.8 l,1.6 Imp qt)
U.S.: Si, Canada: SiR
2.3 US qt (2.2 l,1.9 lmp qt)
Power Steering Fluid:
Genuine Honda Power Steering Fluid preferred, or another brand
of power steering fluid as a
temporary replacement. Do not
use ATF (see page 184).
Brake Fluid:
Genuine Honda DOT 3 Brake Fluidpreferred, or a DOT 3 or DOT 4
brake fluid as a temporary
replacement (see page 183).
Tire Pressure (measured cold): U.S.: DX, EX and HX, Canada: DX
and Si
Front:
30 psi (210 kPa, 2.1 kgf/cm2)
Rear:
29 psi (200 kPa , 2.0 kgf/cm2)
U.S.: Si, Canada: SiR
Front:
35 psi (240 kPa , 2.4 kgf/cm2)
Rear:
33 psi (230 kPa , 2.3 kgf/cm2)
Spare Tire Pressure:
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm2)Main Menu s t