Page 178 of 279

Engin
e Oi l
5. Put a new washer on the drain bolt,
then reinstall the drain bolt.
Tighten it to: 3 3 Ibf .
f t (4 4 N .
m , 4. 5 kgf .
m )
6. Refill the engine with the recom-
mended oil.
Engine oil change capacity
(including filter):
(SE, LS, GS)
4.
0 U S q t (3. 8
, 3.3 Im p qt )
(GS-R,Type-R)
4.
2 U S q t (4. 0
, 3.5 Im p qt ) 7. Replace the engine oil fill cap.
Start the engine. The oil pressure
indicator light should go out within
five seconds. If it does not, turn off
the engine and reinspect your
work.
8. Let the engine run for several
minutes and check the drain bolt
and oil filter for leaks.
9. Turn off the engine, let it sit for
several minutes, then check the oil
level. If necessary, add oil to bring
the level to the upper mark on the
dipstick.
Improper disposal of engine oil can be harmful to the environment. If you
change your own oil, please dispose of
the used oil properly. Put it in a sealed
container and take it to a recycling
center. Do not discard it in a trash bin
or dump it on the ground.
Maintenance
NOTIC
E
Page 179 of 279

Coolin
g Syste m
Addin g Engin e Coolan t
If the coolant level in the reserve
tank is at or below the MIN line, add coolant to bring it up to the MAX line.
Inspect the cooling system for leaks.
This coolant should always be a mixture of 50 percent antifreeze and50 percent water. Never add straight
antifreeze or plain water. Always use Genuine Honda
Antifreeze/Coolant. If it is not
available, you may use another
major-brand non-silicate coolant as a
temporary replacement. Make sure it is a high-quality coolant
recommended for aluminum engines.
However, continued use of any non-
Honda coolant can result in
corrosion, causing the coolingsystem to malfunction or fail. Have
the cooling system flushed and refilled with Honda antifreeze/
coolant as soon as possible. If the reserve tank is completely
empty, you should also check the
coolant level in the radiator.
Maintenanc e
Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.
MI
N
MAX
RESERV E TAN K
Page 183 of 279
Coolin
g Syste m
10.Fill the radiator with coolant up to
the base of the filler neck.
11.Fill the reserve tank to the MAX
mark. Install the reserve tank cap.
12.Install the radiator cap, and
tighten it to the first stop.
13.Start the engine and let it run until
the radiator cooling fan comes on at least twice. Then stop the
engine.
14.Remove the radiator cap. Fill the
radiator with coolant up to the
base of the filler neck.
15.Start the engine and hold it at
1,500 rpm until the radiator fan
comes on. Turn off the engine. Check the coolant level in the
radiator and add coolant if needed.
16.Install the radiator cap, and
tighten it fully.
17.If necessary, fill the reserve tank
to the MAX mark. Install thereserve tank cap.
Maintenanc e
Page 184 of 279

Windshiel
d Washer s
Check the level in the windshield
washer reservoir at least monthly during normal usage. In bad weather,
when you use the washers often, check the level every time you stop
for fuel. This reservoir supplies the
windshield and rear window washers.
The windshield washer reservoir islocated behind the driver's side
headlight. Check the reservoir's fluid
level by removing the cap and
looking at the level gauge attached
to the cap.
Fill the reservoir with a good-quality
windshield washer fluid. This increases the cleaning capability and
prevents freezing in cold weather. When you refill the reservoir, clean
the edges of the windshield wiper
blades with windshield washer fluidon a clean cloth. This will help to
condition the blade edges.
Do not use engine antifreeze or a vinegar/water solution in the
windshield washer reservoir.
Antifreeze can damage your car's paint, while a vinegar/water solution can
damage the windshield washer pump.
Use only commercially-available
windshield washer fluid.
Maintenance
NOTIC
E
WINDSHIEL
D WASHE R RESERVOI R
LEVE L GAUG E
Page 185 of 279

Transmissio
n Flui d
Automati c Transmissio n
Check the fluid level with the engine
at normal operating temperature. 1. Park the car on level ground. Shut
off the engine.
2. Remove the dipstick (yellow loop)
from the transmission and wipe it
with a clean cloth.
3. Insert the dipstick all the way into
the transmission securely asshown in the illustration.
4. Remove the dipstick and check
the fluid level. It should be
between the upper and lowermarks.
5. If the level is below the lower
mark, add fluid into the filler hole
to bring it to the upper mark.
Always use Honda Premium Formula Automatic Transmission
Fluid (ATF). If it is not available,
you may use a DEXRON
® III
automatic transmission fluid as a
temporary replacement. However, continued use can affect shift
quality. Have the transmission
drained and refilled with Honda
ATF as soon as it is convenient.
6. Insert the dipstick all the way back
into the transmission securely as
shown in the illustration.
The transmission should be drained
and refilled with new fluid according
to the time and distance recommen- dations in the maintenance schedule.
Maintenanc e
UPPE
R MAR K
LOWE R MAR K
DIPSTIC
K
Page 188 of 279
Powe
r Steerin g
Check the level when the engine is
cold. Look at the side of the
reservoir. The fluid should be
between the UPPER LEVEL and LOWER LEVEL. If it is below the
LOWER LEVEL, add power steering
fluid to the UPPER LEVEL. Always use Genuine Honda Power
Steering Fluid. If it is not available,
you may use another power steering
fluid as an emergency replacement. However, continued use can cause
increased wear and poor steering incold weather. Have the power
steering system flushed and refilled
with Honda PSF as soon as possible. A low power steering fluid level can
indicate a leak in the system. Check
the fluid level frequently and have
the system inspected as soon as
possible.
Turning the steering wheel to full left
or right lock and holding it there can
damage the power steering pump.
Maintenance
NOTIC
E
UPPE
R LEVE L
LOWE R LEVE L
Page 197 of 279

Ai
r Conditionin g Syste m
Optional for Type-R model
Your car's air conditioning is a sealed system. Any major maintenance,
such as recharging, should be done
by a qualified mechanic. You can do a couple of things to make sure theair conditioning works efficiently. Periodically check the engine's
radiator and air conditioning
condenser for leaves, insects, and
dirt stuck to the front surface. These
block the air flow and reduce cooling efficiency. Use a light spray from a
hose or a soft brush to remove them.
The condenser and radiator fins bend
easily. Only use a low-pressure spray
or soft-bristle brush to clean them.
Run the air conditioning at least once
a week during the cold weather
months. Run it for at least ten
minutes while you are driving at a steady speed with the engine at
normal operating temperature. This
circulates the lubricating oil con-
tained in the refrigerant. If the air conditioning does not get as
cold as before, have your dealer
check the system. Recharge the
system with Refrigerant HFC-134a (R-134a). (See Specifications on page 250.)
Whenever you have the air conditioning
system serviced, make sure the service
facility uses a refrigerant recycling
system. This system captures the
refrigerant for reuse. Releasing
refrigerant into the atmosphere can
damage the environment.
Maintenanc e
AI
R CONDITIONIN G
CONDENSE R
NOTIC
E NOTIC
E
Page 226 of 279

Takin
g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
This section covers the more- common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you information about how to safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again. If not, you will also find instructionson getting your car towed. Compact Spare Tire....................... 224
Changing a Flat Tire..................... 225
If Your Engine Won't Start........... 230 Nothing Happens or theStarter Motor OperatesVery Slowly............................. 230
The Starter Operates Normally................................. 231
Jump Starting................................. 231 If Your Engine Overheats............. 233
Low Oil Pressure Indicator.......... 235Charging System Indicator........... 236
Malfunction Indicator Lamp........ 237
Brake System Indicator................ 238 Closing the Moonroof................... 239
Fuses............................................... 240 Checking and Replacing........... 241
Emergency Towing....................... 245
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d