Driving in Bad Weather
Rain, fog, and snow conditions re-quire a different driving technique
because of reduced traction and
visibility. Keep your vehicle well- maintained and exercise greater
caution when you need to drive in
bad weather. The cruise control should not be used in these condi-
tions.
Driving Technique — Always drive
slower than you would in dry
weather. It takes your vehicle longer to react, even in conditions that mayseem just barely damp. Applysmooth, even pressure to all the
controls. Abrupt steering wheel
movements or sudden, hard appli-
cation of the brakes can cause loss of control in wet weather. Be extra
cautious for the first few miles (kilometers) of driving while you
adjust to the change in driving
conditions. This is especially true in snow. A person can forget some
snow-driving techniques during the
summer months. Practice is needed
to relearn those skills.
Exercise extra caution when driving
in rain after a long dry spell. After
months of dry weather, the first
rains bring oil to the surface of the
roadway, making it slippery. Visibility — Being able to see
clearly in all directions and being
visible to other drivers are important in all weather conditions. This ismore 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 defroster and air conditioning to keep the windows
from fogging up on the inside (see
pages 135 and 144 ).
DrivingProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Owner Maintenance Checks
You should check the following items at the specified intervals. If
you are unsure of how to perform any check, turn to the page given. Engine oil level — Check every
time you fill the fuel tank. See
page 186.
Engine coolant level — Check the
radiator reserve tank every time
you fill the fuel tank. See page 187 .
Windshield washer fluid — Check the level in the reservoir monthly.
If weather conditions cause you to
use the washers frequently, check
the reservoir each time you stop
for fuel. See page 242 .
Automatic transmission — Check the fluid level monthly. See page 243.
Brakes — Check the fluid level
monthly. See page 244. Tires — Check the tire pressure
monthly. Examine the tread for
wear and foreign objects. See page
257.
Lights — Check the operation of
the headlights, parking lights,
taillights, high-mount brake light,
turn signals, brake lights, and
license plate light monthly. See
page 264.
MaintenanceProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Lights
STOP/TAILLIGHTS/
SIDE MARKER LIGHTS
TAILLIGHT
HIGH-MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT
TURN SIGNAL LIGHT
BACK-UP LIGHT
LICENSE PLATE LIGHT
Check the following: Headlights (low and high beam)
Parking lights
Taillights Brake lights High-mount brake light
Turn signals
Back-up lights
Hazard light function
License plate light
Side marker lights
Daytime running lights
(Canadian models)
If you find any bulbs are burned out,
replace them as soon as possible. Refer to the chart on page 317 to
determine what type of replacement
bulb is needed.
MaintenanceProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Lights
Headlight Aiming
The headlights were properly aimed when your vehicle was new. If youregularly carry heavy items in thecargo area or pull a trailer,
readjustment may be required.
Adjustment of the headlights should be performed by a Honda technicianor other qualified mechanic. Replacing a Headlight Bulb
Your vehicle has halogen headlight bulbs, one on each side. When
replacing a bulb, handle it by its steel
base and protect the glass fromcontact with your skin or hard
objects. If you touch the glass, clean
it with denatured alcohol and a clean cloth.
Halogen headlight bulbs get very hot when lit. Oil, perspiration, or a scratch
on the glass can cause the bulb to
overheat and shatter.
1. Open the hood. If you need to change the head-
light bulb on the driver's side, remove the air intake cover (see
page 246). HOLD-DOWN WIRE
WEATHER
SEAL
BULB
CONNECTOR
2. Remove the electrical connector from the bulb by pulling theconnector straight back.
3. Remove the rubber weather seal by pulling on the tab.
4. Unclip the end of the hold-down wire from its slot. Pivot it out ofthe way and remove the bulb.
Maintenance
NOTICEProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Lights
5. Insert the new bulb into the hole, making sure the tabs are in theirslots. Pivot the hold-down wire
back in place and clip the end into
the slot.
6. Install the rubber seal over the back of the headlight assembly.
Make sure it is right side up; it is
marked "TOP."
7. Push the electrical connector onto the new bulb.
Turn on the headlights to test the new bulb.
8. (Driver's side) Reinstall the air intake cover. Replacing the Front Side Marker/
Turn Signal and Parking Light Bulb
HOLDING CLIP
1. If you are changing the bulb on the driver's side, start the engine,turn the steering wheel all the way
to the right, and turn off theengine. If you are changing the
bulb on the passenger's side, turn
the steering wheel to the left. 2. Use a flat-tipped screwdriver to
remove the two holding clips fromthe inner fender.
3. Pull the inner fender away from the fender and bumper.
CONTINUED
MaintenanceProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
If Your Engine Won't Start
Diagnosing why your engine won't
start falls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
key to START (III): You hear nothing, or almost
nothing. The engine's starter
motor does not operate at all, oroperates very slowly. You can hear the starter motor
operating normally, or the starter
motor sounds like it is spinning
faster than normal, but the engine does not start up and run.
Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
When you turn the ignition switch to START (III), you do not hear the
normal noise of the engine trying tostart. You may hear a clicking sound
or series of clicks, or nothing at all. Check these things: Check the transmission interlock.
The transmission must be in Park or Neutral or the starter will not
operate.
Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
Turn on the headlights and check
their brightness. If the headlightsare very dim or don't light at all,
the battery is discharged. See
Jump Starting on page 297.
Turn the ignition switch to START
(III). If the headlights do not dim,
check the condition of the fuses. If
the fuses are OK, there is proba-
bly something wrong with the electrical circuit for the ignitionswitch or starter motor. You will
need a qualified technician to determine the problem. (See
Emergency Towing on page 311.)
If the headlights dim noticeably or
go out when you try to start the
engine, either the battery is dis-
charged or the connections are
corroded. Check the condition of
the battery and terminal connec-
tions (see page 251). You can then try jump starting the vehicle
from a booster battery (see page 297).
The Starter Operates Normally In this case, the starter motor'sspeed sounds normal, or even faster
than normal, when you turn the
ignition switch to START (III), but
the engine does not run. Are you using the proper starting
procedure? Refer to Starting the
Engine on page 197.
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Fuses
UNDER-HOOD
The primary under-hood fuse box is located in the back of the engine
compartment on the passenger's side.
To open it, push the tabs as shown.
UNDER-HOOD
The secondary fuse box is in the engine compartment next to the
battery.
Checking and Replacing Fuses
If something electrical in your
vehicle stops working, the first thing you should check for is a blown fuse.Determine from the chart on pages 309 and 310, or the diagram on the
fuse box lid (the diagram for the driver's side interior fuse box is on
the kick panel below the fuse box),
which fuse or fuses control that component. Check those fuses first,
but check all the fuses before deciding that a blown fuse is not the
cause. Replace any blown fuses and
check the component's operation.
1. Turn the ignition switch to LOCK (0). Make sure the headlights and
all other accessories are off.
2. Remove the cover from the fuse box.
Taking Care of the UnexpectedProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Index
Battery
Charging SystemIndicator............................ 58, 302
Jump Starting............................. 297 Maintenance............................... 251
Specifications............................. 317
Before Driving............................... 181
Belts, Seat..................................... 8, 45
Beverage Holder............................ 118
Body Repair.................................... 283
Brakes Anti-lock System (ABS)............ 205Break-in, New Linings .............. 182
Fluid............................................ 244
Light, Burned-out...................... 268
Parking........................................ 116
System Indicator.................. 58, 304
Wear Indicators......................... 204
Brakes, ABS Operation.................................... 205
System Indicator.................. 59, 206
Braking System.............................. 204
Break-in, New Vehicle .................. 182
Brightness Control, Instruments... 67 Brights, Headlights......................... 66
Bulb Replacement
Back-up Lights........................... 269
Brake Lights............................... 268Cargo Area Light....................... 272
Front Parking Lights................. 267
Front Side Marker Lights......... 267 Headlights.................................. 266
High-mount Brake Light.......... 270
Individual Map Lights............... 272 License Plate Light.................... 271
Rear Bulbs.......................... 268, 269
Specifications............................. 317
Turn Signal Lights..................... 267
Bulbs, Halogen............................... 266
Cables, Jump Starting With.......... 298
Cancel Button................................... 75
Capacities Chart............................. 316
Carbon Monoxide Hazard.............. 53
Cargo Area Light........................... 127
Cargo Net....................................... 194
Carrying Cargo.............................. 191
Cassette Player
Care............................................. 178
Operation........................... 154, 175
CAUTION, Explanation of.............. ii
CD Changer...........................157, 171 CD Player ...............................157, 169
Center Pocket................................ 122
Center Table................................... 117
Certification Label......................... 314
Chains............................................. 263 Change Oil How to.........................................235
When to....................................... 224
Changing a Flat Tire..................... 287
Changing Engine Coolant............. 239
Charging System Indicator .... 58, 302
Checking Automatic Transmission
Fluid........................................ 243
Battery Condition...................... 251
Brake Fluid................................. 244Drive Belts.................................. 256
Engine Coolant........................... 187
Engine Oil................................... 186
Fuses........................................... 306
Power Steering Fluid................. 245ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t