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
Maintenance Schedule for Normal Conditions (listed by distance/time)
Service at the indicated distance or time, whichever comes first. Do the items in A, B, C as required for each distance/time interval. Follow this
schedule if the severe driving conditions described in the Severe Conditions Schedule on the next page do not apply.
Canadian owners: Follow the schedule for Severe Conditions.
# : See information on maintenance and emissions warranty, lastcolumn, page 161.
* : See Timing Belt on page 194 to determine need for replacement.
Maintenance
* 1 : U.S.: Si model, Canada: SiR model
page 198
page 181Main Menu Table of Contents s t
Maintenance Schedule for Severe Conditions (listed by distance/time)
Maintenance
*
1 : U.S.: Si model, Canada: SiR model
#: See information on maintenance and emissions warranty, last
column, page 261.
* : See Timing Belt on page 194 to determine need for replacement.Main Menu Table of Contents s t
Drive Belts, Timing Belt
Check the condition of the two or
three drive belts. Examine the edges
of each belt for cracks or fraying. Check the tension of each belt by
pushing on it with your thumb midway between the pulleys.
The belts should have the following
"play" or deflection.
Alternator belt:
(U.S.: DX, HX, EX, Canada: DX,
EX)
0.31 — 0.41 in (8.0 — 10.5 mm)
(U.S.: Si, Canada: SiR)
0.28 — 0.41 in (7.0 — 10.5 mm)
Power steering belt: (U.S.: DX, HX, EX, Canada: DX, EX)
0.41 — 0.55 in (10.5 — 14.0 mm)
(U.S.: Si, Canada: SiR)
0.30 — 0.43 in (7.5 — 11.0 mm)
On vehicles with Air Conditioning
System
Compressor belt: (U.S.: DX, HX, EX, Canada: DX,
EX)
0.30 — 0.37 in (7.5 — 9.5 mm)
(U.S.: Si, Canada: SiR)
0.24 — 0.37 in (6.0 — 9.5 mm)
If you see signs of wear or looseness,
have your dealer adjust or replace
the belts.
Timing Belt
The timing belt should normally be replaced at the intervals shown in
the maintenance schedule.
Replace this belt at 60,000 miles (U.S.)
or 100,000 km (Canada) if you
regularly drive your car in one or
more of these conditions:
In very high temperatures
(over 110°F,43°C).
In very low temperatures
(under — 20°F, — 29°C).
Maintenance
Drive Belts
POWER STEERING
BELT ALTERNATOR
BELT
COMPRESSOR BELTMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Index
Heating and Cooling........................ 88
High Altitude, Starting at.............. 137
High-Low Beam Switch.................. 61
High-mount Brake Light............... 209
Hood, Opening the........................ 126
Horn................................................... 60
Hot Coolant, Warning about........ 175
Hydraulic Clutch............................ 183
Hydroplaning.................................. 154
Identification Number, Vehicle.... 244
If Your Car Has to be Towed....... 241
Ignition
Keys............................................... 69
Switch............................................ 69
Timing Control System............. 255
Important Safety Precautions.......... 6
Indicator Lights, Instrument
Panel.............................................. 53
Infant Restraint................................ 29
Inflation, Proper Tire .................... 195
High Speed Driving................... 250
Normal Driving.......................... 195
Inside Mirror.................................... 81
Inspection, Tire.............................. 197
Instrument Panel............................. 52
Instrument Panel Brightness......... 62
Interior Cleaning............................ 216
Interior Light.................................... 86
Introduction......................................... i
Jacking up the Car......................... 221
Jack, Tire........................................ 221
Jump Starting................................. 227
Keys................................................... 69
Label, Certification........................ 244
Lane Change, Signaling.................. 62
Lap Belt............................................. 43
Lap/Shoulder Belts......................... 42
Leaking of Exhaust into Car.......... 49
Lights
Bulb Replacement..................... 204
Indicator........................................ 53
Parking.......................................... 64
Turn Signal................................... 62
LOCK (Ignition Key Position)....... 70
Locks
Anti-theft Steering Column........ 70Fuel Fill Door............................. 125
Power Door.................................. 71
Trunk............................................ 75
Low Coolant Level......................... 128 Low Fuel Indicator.......................... 58
Lower Gear, Downshifting to a.... 138
Low Oil Pressure Indicator.... 55, 231
Lubricant Specifications Chart.... 247
Luggage.......................................... 132
CONTINUED
Maintenance................................... 157
Owner Maintenance Checks.... 169
Record.................................. 167-168
Required Indicator....................... 59Main Menu 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
Index
SRS, Additional Information........... 45
Additional Safety Precautions.... 48
How Your Airbags Work............ 45
How Your SRS Indicator
Works........................................ 47
SRS Components......................... 45
SRS Service................................... 47
SRS Indicator.............................. 47, 54
START (Ignition Key Position)..... 70 Starting the Engine........................ 137 In Cold Weather at HighAltitude................................... 137
With a Dead Battery................. 227
Steam Coming from Engine......... 229
Steering Wheel
Adjustment................................... 65
Anti-theft Column Lock.............. 70
Stereo Sound System ...................... 96
Storing Your Car............................ 211
Supplemental Restraint System..... 45 Servicing....................................... 47
SRS Indicator.......................... 47, 54
System Components.................... 45
Synthetic Oil................................... 172 Tachometer...................................... 57
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in....... 206
Taking Care of the Unexpected .. 219
Tape Player..................................... 115
Technical Descriptions Driving In Foreign Countries... 253
Emissions Control Systems...... 254
Oxygenated Fuels...................... 252
Three Way Catalytic Converter................................ 256
Tire Information........................ 249
Temperature Gauge........................ 58
Tether Attachment Points.............. 40
Three Way Catalytic Converter... 256
Time, Setting the............................. 99
Timing Belt..................................... 194
Tire Chains..................................... 201
Tire, How to Change a Flat.......... 221 Tires................................................ 195 Air Pressure............................... 195Checking Wear.......................... 197
Compact Spare........................... 220
DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 250
Inflation....................................... 195 Inspection................................... 197
Maintenance............................... 197
Replacing.................................... 199
Rotating....................................... 198
Snow............................................ 200 Specifications............................. 248
Technical Information.............. 249
Technical Information................... 243 Tools,Tire Changing.................... 221
Towing A Trailer...................................... 155Emergency Wrecker................. 241
Transmission Checking Fluid Level,Automatic............................... 180
Checking Fluid Level,
Manual....................................182
Fluid Selection............................ 180
Identification Number............... 245
Shifting the Automatic..............140
Shifting the Manual................... 138
Treadwear...................................... 250
Trip Meter........................................ 57
Trunk................................................. 75
Opening......................................... 75
Open Monitor Light.................... 56Main Menu s t