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 333 for information on how toobtain a copy, or see your Honda
dealer.
Maintenance Safety.......................
220
Important Safet
y
Precautions ..
221
Maintenance Schedule.................
.
222
Required Maintenance Record.... 229
Owner Maintenance Checks........ 231
Fluid Locations............................... 232
Engine Oil....................................... 233
Adding Oil................................... 233
Recommended Oil..................... 233
Synthetic Oil............................... 234
Additives..................................... 235
Changing the Oil and Filter...... 235
Cooling System.............................. 237
Adding Engine Coolant............. 237Replacing Engine Coolant........ 239
Windshield Washers..................... 242
Automatic Transmission Fluid..... 243
Brake Fluid..................................... 244
Brake System............................. 244
Power Steering............................... 245
Air Cleaner Element...................... 246
Hood Latch..................................... 248
Spark Plugs..................................... 248
Replacement............................... 248
Specifications............................. 250
Battery............................................ 251
Wiper Blades.................................. 253
Air Conditioning System............... 255
Air Conditioning Filter.................. 256
Drive Belts...................................... 256
Timing Belt..................................... 257
Tires................................................ 257 Inflation....................................... 257
Inspection................................... 259Maintenance............................... 260
Tire Rotation.............................. 260
Replacing Tires and Wheels.... 261
Wheels and Tires....................... 262 Winter Driving........................... 262
Snow Tires.............................. 263
Tire Chains............................. 263
Lights..............................................264
Headlight Aiming...................... 266
Replacing Bulbs......................... 266
Storing Your Vehicle..................... 275
MaintenanceProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t
Tires
The ABS works by comparing the speed of the wheels. When replacing
tires, use the same size originally supplied with the vehicle. Tire size
and construction can affect wheel speed and may cause the system to
work inconsistently.
If you ever need to replace a wheel,make sure the wheel's specifications
match those of the original wheel
that came on your vehicle. Re-
placement wheels are available at
your Honda dealer. Wheels and Tires
Wheel:16 x 6 1/2 JJ
Tire:
P215/65R16 96T
See Tire Information
on page 318 for
additional information about tire and
wheel size designations. See page 319 for information about DOT Tire
Quality Grading.
Winter Driving
Tires that are marked "M + S" or
"All Season" on the sidewall have an
all-weather tread design. They
should be suitable for most winter
driving conditions. Tires without
these markings are designed for optimum traction in dry conditions.
They may not provide adequate performance in winter driving.For the best performance in snowy
or icy conditions, you should install
snow tires or tire chains. They may
be required by local laws under certain conditions.
MaintenanceProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Tires
Snow Tires
If you mount snow tires on your
Honda, make sure they are radial
tires of the same size and load range
as the original tires. Mount snow
tires on all four wheels to balance
your vehicle's handling in all weather conditions. Keep in mind the traction
provided by snow tires on dry roads
may not be as high as your vehicle'soriginal equipment tires. You should
drive cautiously even when the roads
are clear. Check with the tire dealer
for maximum speed recommenda-
tions.
Tire Chains
Mount snow chains on your vehicle
when warranted by driving condi- tions or required by local laws. Youshould use only SAE class "S" cable-
type traction devices on your vehicle, mounted on the front wheels. Make
sure they are the correct size for
your tires.
Metal link-type "chains" should not
be used. No matter how tight they seem to be installed, they can come
into contact with the body and suspension, causing serious damage.
When installing chains, follow the manufacturer's instructions andmount them as tightly as you can.
Drive slowly with chains installed. If
you hear the chains contacting the
body or chassis, stop and investigate. Make sure the chains are installed
tightly, and that they are not contacting the brake lines or
suspension. Remove the chains as
soon as you begin driving on cleared
roads.
Traction devices that are the wrong
size or improperly installed can
damage your vehicle's brake lines,
suspension, body, and wheels. Stop
driving if they are hitting any part of the vehicle.
Maintenance
NOTICEProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
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.
Do not use the compact spare tire
if you are towing a trailer. 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.
On EX model
Turn off the Traction Control
System (see page 207 ). Driving
with the compact spare tire may activate the TCS.
INDICATOR LOCATION MARK
TREAD WEAR INDICATOR BAR
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 UnexpectedProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Index
Tachometer...................................... 62
Tailgate............................................. 85
Opening the.................................. 85
Open Monitor Light.................... 60
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in....... 269
Taking Care of the Unexpected .. 285
Tape Player ........................... 154, 175
Technical Descriptions Driving in Foreign Countries... 322
Emissions Control Systems...... 323
Oxygenated Fuels...................... 321
Three Way Catalytic
Converter................................ 325
Tire Information........................ 318
Temperature Gauge........................ 63
Tensioners, Seat Belts .................... 50
Tether Attachment Points.............. 43
Theft Protection............................. 180 Three Way Catalytic Converter... 325
Time, Setting the........................... 117
Timing Belt..................................... 257
Tire Chains..................................... 263
Tire, How to Change a Flat.......... 287 Tires................................................ 257
Air Pressure............................... 257Balancing.................................... 260Checking Wear.......................... 259
Compact Spare........................... 286
DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 319
Inflation....................................... 257
Inspection................................... 259
Replacing.................................... 261
Rotating....................................... 260
Snow............................................ 263 Specifications............................. 317
Tire Chains................................. 263
Technical Information.............. 318
Towing
ATrailer..................................... 212
Emergency Wrecker.................
311
Traction Contro l
System (TCS)... 207
Transmission
Checking Fluid Level................ 243
Fluid Selection............................ 243
Identification Number............... 315
Shifting the Automatic..............199
Treadwear...................................... 319
Trip Meter........................................ 63
Turn Signals..................................... 68
Tools, Tire Changing.................... 287
Underside, Cleaning...................... 282
Unexpected, Taking Care
of the........................................... 285
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..... 319
Unleaded Gasoline......................... 182
Upholstery Cleaning...................... 280
Used Oil, How to Dispose of........ 236
Vanity Mirror................................. 121
Vehicle Capacity Load......... 192, 212
Vehicle Dimensions....................... 316
Vehicle Identification Number..... 314
Vehicle Storage.............................. 275
Ventilation............................. 133, 138
VIN.................................................. 314
Vinyl Cleaning................................ 280
Viscosity, Oil................................... 234
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