Page 184 of 273

Brak
e an d Clutc h Fluid , Powe r Steerin g
Clutc h Syste m
The fluid should be between the MIN and MAX marks on the side of
the reservoir. If it is not, add brake
fluid to bring it up to that level. Use
the same fluid specified for the
brake system.
Low fluid level can indicate a leak in
the clutch system. Have this system inspected as soon as possible. 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 in cold weather. Have the powersteering 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
MI
N MA
X UPPE
R LEVE L
LOWE R LEVE L
Page 200 of 273

Tire
s
Snow Tires
If you mount snow tires on your
Acura, make sure they are radial tires of the same size and load range
as the original tires. Mount snowtires on all four wheels to balance
your car'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 car's original equipment tires. You should
drive cautiously even when the roads
are clear. Check with the tire dealer
for maximum speed recommen-
dations.
Tire Chains
Mount traction devices (link-type or
cable-type) only when required by
driving conditions or local laws.
Make sure they are the correct size
for your tires. Install them only on
the front tires.
Because your Acura has limited tire clearance, mount only SAE class "S"
cable-type traction devices.
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 traction devices,
follow the manufacturer'sinstructions and mount them as
tightly as you can. Drive slowly with
them installed. If you hear them coming in contact with the body or
chassis, stop and investigate. Make
sure the traction devices are
installed tightly, and that they are
not contacting the brakes or
suspension.
Remove them as soon as you start
driving on cleared roads.
Traction devices that are the wrong
size or improperly installed can
damage your car's brake lines,
suspension, body, and wheels. Stop
driving if they are hitting any part of
the car.
Maintenance
NOTIC
E
Page 202 of 273
Light
s
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
If you find any bulbs are burned out,
replace them as soon as possible.
Refer to the chart on page 247 to determine what type of replacement
bulb is needed.
Maintenance
TAILLIGH
T
INNE R TAILLIGH T
LICENS E PLAT E LIGHT S
Page 213 of 273

Storin
g You r Ca r
If you need to park your car for an extended period (more than one
month), there are several things you should do to prepare it for storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent deterioration and makes it easier to
get your car back on the road. If
possible, store your car indoors. Fill the fuel tank.
Change the engine oil and filter
(see page 170).
Wash and dry the exterior
completely.
Clean the interior. Make sure the
carpeting, floor mats, etc. are
completely dry.
Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in Reverse (5- speed manual) or Park
(automatic).
Block the rear wheels. If the car is to be stored for a
longer period, it should be
supported on jackstands so the
tires are off the ground.
Leave one window open slightly (if
the car is being stored indoors).
Disconnect the battery.
Support the front wiper blade
arms with a folded towel or rag so
they do not touch the windshield. To minimize sticking, apply a
silicone spray lubricant to all door
and trunk seals. Also, apply a
vehicle body wax to the painted surfaces that mate with the door
and trunk seals. Cover the car with a "breathable"
cover, one made from a porous
material such as cotton.
Nonporous materials, such as
plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint. If possible, run the engine for a
while periodically (preferably once a month).
If you store your car for 12 months
or longer, have your Acura dealer perform the inspections called for in
the 24 months/30,000 miles (48,000 km) maintenance schedule (NormalConditions) as soon as you take it
out of storage (see page 158). The
replacements called for in the
maintenance schedule are not
needed unless the car has actually
reached that time or mileage.
Maintenanc e
Page 222 of 273

Takin
g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
This section covers the more- common problems that motoristsexperience 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....................... 220
Changing a Flat Tire..................... 221
If Your Engine Won't Start........... 226
Nothing Happens or theStarter Motor OperatesVery Slowly......................... 226
The Starter Operates Normally................................. 227
Jump Starting................................. 227
If Your Engine Overheats............. 229Low Oil Pressure Indicator.......... 231
Charging System Indicator........... 232
Malfunction Indicator Lamp........ 233
Brake System Indicator................ 234
Closing the Moonroof................... 235
Fuses............................................... 236 Checking and Replacing........... 237
Emergency Towing...................... 241
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
Page 224 of 273

Changin
g a Fla t Tir e
If you have a flat tire while driving,
stop in a safe place to change it.
Stopping in traffic or on the shoulder
of a busy road is dangerous. Drive slowly along the shoulder until you
get to an exit or an area to stop that is far away from the traffic lanes.
1. Park the car on firm, level, non-slippery ground away from traffic.
Put the transmission in Park.
Apply the parking brake.
2. Turn on the hazard warning lights and turn the ignition switch to
LOCK (0). Have all the
passengers get out of the car while
you change the tire. 3. Open the trunk. Raise the trunk
floor by lifting up on the back edge.
4. Take the tool kit out of the trunk.
5. Unscrew the wing bolt and take the spare tire out of the trunk.
CONTINUED
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
TOO
L KI T
SPAR E TIR E
JAC
K
The car can easily roll off the
jack, seriously injuring anyone
underneath.
Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and
never get under the car when it
is supported only by the jack.
Page 230 of 273

I
f You r Engin e Won' t Start , Jum p Startin g
Th e Starte r Operate s Normall y
In this case, the starter motor's speed 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 Startin g th e
Engin e on page 133 . Do you have fuel? Turn the
ignition switch to ON (II) for a
minute and watch the fuel gauge.
The low fuel level warning light may not be working, so you were
not reminded to fill the tank. There may be an electrical
problem, such as no power to the
fuel pump. Check all the fuses (see page 237).
If you find nothing wrong, you will
need a qualified technician to find
the problem. See Emergenc y
Towin g on page 241. Jum
p Startin g
If your car's battery has run down,
you may be able to start the engine
by using a booster battery. Although this seems like a simple procedure,
you should take several precautions.
You cannot start an Acura with an automatic transmission by pushing
or pulling it. To jump start your car, follow these
directions closely:
1. Open the hood and check the physical condition of the battery
(see page 187). In very cold weather, check the condition of the electrolyte. If it seems slushyor like ice, do not try jump starting
until it thaws.
If a battery sits in extreme cold, the
electrolyte inside can freeze.
Attempting to jump start with a frozen
battery can cause it to rupture.
2. Turn off all the electrical acces- sories: heater, A/C, stereo system,
lights, etc.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park and set the parking brake.
CONTINUED
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
A battery can explode if you do
not follow the correct procedure,
seriously injuring anyone
nearby.
Keep all sparks, open flames,
and smoking materials away
from the battery.
NOTIC
E
Page 232 of 273

I
f You r Engin e Overheat s
The pointer of your car's tempera- ture gauge should stay in the mid-
range under most conditions. It may
go higher if you are driving up a longsteep hill on a very hot day. If it
climbs to the red mark, you should
determine the reason.
Driving with the temperature gauge
pointer at the red mark can cause
serious damage to your engine.
Your car can overheat for several
reasons, such as lack of coolant or amechanical problem. The only
indication may be the temperature
gauge climbing to or above the red
mark. Or you may see steam or spray coming from under the hood.
In either case, you should take immediate action.
1. Safely pull to the side of the road. Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park and set the parking brake. Turn off the heating and cooling
system and all other accessories. Turn on the hazard warning
indicators. 2. If you see steam and/or spray
coming from under the hood, turn
off the engine.
3. If you do not see steam or spray, leave the engine running and
watch the temperature gauge. If
the high heat is due to overloading(climbing a long, steep hill on a
hot day with the A/C running, for
example), the engine should start
to cool down almost immediately. If it does, wait until the tempera-
ture gauge comes down to the mid-
point then continue driving.
4. If the temperature gauge stays at the red mark, turn off the engine.
5. Wait until you see no more signs of steam or spray, then open the
hood.
CONTINUED
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
Steam and spray from an
overheated engine can
seriously scald you.
Do not open the hood if steam
is coming out.
NOTIC
E