Maintenanc
e
This section explains why it is important to keep your car 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 Acura, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See
page 265 for information on how to obtain a copy, or see your Acura
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..................... 171
Synthetic Oil............................... 173
Additives..................................... 173
Changing the Oil and Filter...... 173
Cooling System.............................. 176
Adding Engine Coolant............. 176Replacing Engine Coolant........ 178
Windshield Washers..................... 181
Transmission Fluid........................ 182 AutomaticTransmission.......................... 182
5-speed Manual Transmission.......................... 183
Brake and Clutch Fluid................. 183 Brake System............................. 184
Clutch System............................ 184
Power Steering............................... 185
Air Cleaner Element...................... 186
Hood Latch..................................... 187
Spark Plugs..................................... 187 Replacement............................... 187
Specifications............................. 189
Battery............................................ 189
Wiper Blades.................................. 192
Air Conditioning System............... 194
Drive Belts...................................... 195
Timing Belt..................................... 195
Tires................................................ 196 Inflation....................................... 196
Inspection................................... 197
Maintenance............................... 198
Tire Rotation.............................. 199
Tire Wear.................................... 199
Replacing Tires and Wheels.... 200
Wheels and Tires....................... 201
Winter Driving........................... 201
Snow Tires.............................. 202
Tire Chains............................. 202
Lights.............................................. 203 Headlight Aiming...................... 205
Replacing Bulbs......................... 207
Storing Your Car............................ 214
Maintenance
*
: See Timing Belt on page 195 to determine need for replacement.
NOTE:
Check engine oil and coolant at each fuel stop.
Maintenanc e
Driv
e Belts , Timin g Bel t
Driv e Belt s
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:
0.35 — 0.43 in (9.0 — 11.0 mm)
Power steering belt:
0.45 — 0.53 in (11.5 — 13.5 mm)
Compressor belt
(On cars with A/C):
0.30 — 0.37 in (7.5 — 9.5 mm)
If you see signs of wear or looseness,
have your dealer adjust or replace
the belts. Timin
g Bel t
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
ALTERNATO
R BEL T
POWER
STEERIN G
BEL T
COMPRESSO
R BEL T
Inde
x
Halogen Headlight Bulbs.............. 207
Hatch................................................. 76
Opening the................................. 76
Open Monitor Light.................... 56
Hazard Warning Flashers.............. 65
Headlights
Aiming......................................... 205Daytime Running Lights............. 62
High Beam Indicator................... 57
High Beams, Turning on............ 62
Low Beams, Turning on............. 62
Reminder Chime.......................... 62
Replacing Halogen Bulbs......... 207
Turning on................................... 62
Head Restraints...............................
82
Heating and Cooling........................ 94
High Altitude, Starting at.............. 137
High-Low Beam Switch.................. 62
High-mount Brake Light............... 209
Hood Latch.....................................
187
Hood, Opening the........................
125
Horn..................................................
61
Hot Coolant, Warning About........
176
Hydraulic Clutch............................ 184
Hydroplaning.................................. 150
Identification Number, Vehicle.... 248
If Your Car Has to be Towed....... 245
Ignition Keys............................................... 71
Switch............................................ 71
Timing Control System............. 257
Immobilizer System......................... 72
Important Safety Precautions.......... 6
Indicator Lights, Instrument
Panel.............................................. 53
Infant Restraint................................ 21
Inflation, Proper Tire .................... 196
Inside Mirror.................................... 86
Inspection, Tire.............................. 197
Instrument Panel......................... 2, 52
Instrument Panel Brightness......... 63
Interior Cleaning............................ 218
Interior Lights.................................. 92
Introduction......................................... i
Jacking up the Car......................... 226
Jack, Tire....................................... 226
Jump Starting................................. 231
Keys................................................... 71
Label, Certification........................ 248
Lane Change, Signaling.................. 63
Lap/Shoulder Belts......................... 42
Leaking of Exhaust into Car.......... 49
Leather, Cleaning.......................... 218
Lighter, Cigarette............................ 90
Lights Bulb Replacement..................... 207
Indicator........................................ 53
Parking.......................................... 62
Turn Signal................................... 63
Limited Slip Differential............... 148
LOCK (Ignition Key Position)....... 74
CONTINUED
Inde
x
Windows....................................... 84
Pre-Drive Safety Checklist............. 11
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts.......... 19
Protecting Adults............................. 12
Additional Safety Precautions.... 19
Advice for Pregnant Women...... 19
Protecting Children......................... 21
Protecting Infants........................ 29Protecting Larger Children........ 37
Protecting Small Children.......... 33
Using Child Seats with
Tethers...................................... 40
Radiator Overheating.................... 233
Radio/CD Sound System.............. 102
Rear End Towing........................... 245
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement... 210
Rear Seat Access............................. 81
Rear Seat, Folding........................... 83
Rear View Mirror............................. 86
Rear Window Defogger.................. 65
Rear Window Washer..................... 65
Rear Window Wiper........................ 65
Reclining the Seat Backs................ 79 Recommended Shift Speeds........ 139
Reminder Lights.............................. 53
Replacement Information Air Cleaner Element.................. 186
Coolant........................................ 178
Engine Oil and Filter................. 173
Fuses........................................... 240
Light Bulbs................................. 207
Schedule..................................... 162
Spark Plugs................................. 187
Timing Belt................................. 195
Tires............................................ 200
Wiper Blades.............................. 192
Replacing Seat Belts After a
Crash............................................. 43
Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant.... 176
Restraint, Child................................ 21
Reverse Gear Position................... 141
Rotation, Tire................................. 199
Safety Belts................................... 8, 42
Safety Features.................................. 7
Airbags............................................9
Door Locks................................... 10 Head Restraints........................... 10
Seat Belts........................................ 8
Seats & Seat-Backs...................... 10
Safety Labels, Location of.............. 50
Safety Messages................................ ii
Seat Belt
, Additional Information.. 42
Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 42
Seat Belt Maintenance................ 43
Seat Belt System Components... 42
Seat Belts..................................... 8, 42
Cleaning...................................... 218
Maintenance................................. 43
Reminder Light and
Beeper................................. 42, 54
System Components.................... 42
Tether Attachment Points.......... 40 Use During Pregnancy................ 19
Wearing a Lap/Shoulder Belt.... 16
Seats, Adjusting the.................. 13, 79
Serial Number................................ 248
Service Intervals............................ 162 Service Manual*............................ 265
Service Station Procedures.......... 124
Setting the Clock............................. 88
CONTINUED
Inde
x
Shifting The Automatic Transmission.. 140
The 5-speed Manual Transmission.......................... 138
Shift Lever Position Indicator...... 140
Shift Lock Release......................... 143 Side Marker Lights, Bulb
Replacement in.......................... 208
Signaling Turns................................ 63
Snow Tires...................................... 202
Solvent-type Cleaners.................... 216
Sound System................................. 102
Spare Tire Inflating....................................... 224
Specifications............................. 251
Spark Plugs, Replacing................. 187
Specifications Charts..................... 250
Speed Control................................... 67
Speedometer.................................... 58
Spotlights.......................................... 92
SRS, Additional Information........... 45
Additional Safety Precautions.... 48
How Your Airbags Work............ 45
How the SRS Indicator Light
Works........................................ 47
SRS Components......................... 45
SRS Service................................... 47
SRS Indicator.............................. 47, 54
START (Ignition Key Position)..... 74
Starting the Engine........................ 137
In Cold Weather at HighAltitude................................... 137
With a Dead Battery................. 231
Steam Coming from Engine......... 233
Steering Wheel
Adjustment................................... 66
Anti-theft Column Lock.............. 74
Stereo Sound System.................... 102
Storing Your Car............................ 214
Supplemental Restraint System...................................
9, 45
Servicing....................................... 47
SRS Indicator.......................... 47, 54
Synthetic Oil................................... 173
Tachometer...................................... 58
Tafflights, Changing Bulbs in....... 210 Taking Care of the Unexpected................................ 213
Tape Player..................................... 115 Technical Descriptions................. 247
Driving in Foreign Countries... 255
Emissions Control Systems...... 256
Oxygenated Fuels...................... 254
Three Way Catalytic
Converter................................ 258
Temperature Gauge........................ 59
Tether Attachment Points.............. 40
Three Way Catalytic Converter... 258
Time, Setting the............................. 88
Timing Belt..................................... 195
Tire Chains..................................... 202
Tire, How to Change a Flat.......... 225
Tires................................................ 196 Air Pressure............................... 196Checking Wear.......................... 197
Compact Spare........................... 224
DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 252
Inflation....................................... 196
Inspection................................... 197
Maintenance............................... 198
Replacing.................................... 200
Rotating....................................... 199
Snow............................................ 202
Specifications............................. 251
Tire Chains................................. 202