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. Seepage 259 for information on how to
obtain a copy, or see your Acura
dealer.
Maintenance Safety....................... 154
Important Safety Precautions.. 155
Maintenance Schedule.................. 156
Maintenance Record..................... 163
Owner Maintenance Checks........ 165
Fluid Locations............................... 166
Engine Oil......................................
. 167
Adding Oil................................... 167
Recommended Oil..................... 167
Synthetic Oil............................... 169
Additives..................................... 169
Changing the Oil and Filter...... 170
Cooling System.............................. 172 Adding Engine Coolant............. 172Replacing Engine Coolant........ 174
Windshield Washers..................... 177
Transmission Fluid........................ 178 AutomaticTransmission.......................... 178
5-speed Manual
Transmission.......................... 179
Brake and Clutch Fluid................. 179 Brake System............................. 180Clutch System............................
181
Power Steering..............................
. 181
Air Cleaner Element....................... 182 Hood Latch..................................... 183
Spark Plugs..................................... 183 Replacement............................... 183
Specifications............................. 185
Battery............................................ 186
Wiper Blades.................................. 188
Air Conditioning System............... 190
Drive Belts...................................... 191
Timing Belt..................................... 191
Tires................................................ 192 Inflation....................................... 192
Inspection...................................
194
Maintenance............................... 194
Tire Rotation.............................. 195 Replacing Tires and Wheels.... 195
Wheels and Tires....................... 196 Winter Driving........................... 196
Snow Tires.............................. 197
Tire Chains............................. 197
Lights.............................................. 198
Headlight Aiming.....................
. 200
Replacing Bulbs......................... 202
Storing Your Car............................ 210
Maintenance
Service at the indicated distance or time, whichever comes first. Do the items in A
, B , C as required for each distance/time interval Follow this
schedule if the severe driving conditions described in the Severe Conditions Schedule on the next page do not apply.
#: See information on maintenance and emissions warranty, lastcolumn, page 157.*: See Timing Belt on page 191 to determine need for replacement.
Maintenance
page 195 ).
*: See Timing Belt on page 191 to determine need for replacement.
Maintenanc e
Driv
e Belts , Timin g Bel t
Driv e Belt s
Check the condition of the 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: 0,3 5 — 0.4 3 in (9. 0 — 11. 0 mm )
Power steering belt:
0.4 5 — 0.5 3 in (11. 5 — 13. 5 mm )
Compressor belt
(On cars with A/C):
0.3 0 — 0.3 7 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
Rear Window Defogger.................. 64
Reclining the Seat
Backs............... .
76
Recommended Shift Speeds........ 135
Reminder Lights.............................. 53
Replacement Information
Air Cleaner Element.................. 182
Coolant........................................ 174
Engine Oil and Filter................. 170
Fuses........................................... 237
Light Bulbs................................. 202
Schedule..................................... 156
Spark Plugs................................. 183
Timing Belt................................. 191
Tires............................................ 195
Wiper Blades.............................. 188
Replacing Seat Belts After a
Crash............................................. 44
Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant.... 123
Restraint, Child................................ 21
Reverse Gear Position................... 137
Rotation, Tire................................. 195
Safety Belts......................................... 8
Safety Defects, Reporting*.......... 258
Safety Features.................................. 7
Airbags............................................ 9
Door Locks................................... 11
Head Restraints........................... 10
Seat Belts........................................ 8
Seats & Seat-Backs...................... 10
Safety Labels, Location of.............. 50
Safety Messages................................ ii
Seat Belt, Additional Information.. 42 Lap Belt......................................... 43
Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 42
Seat Belt Maintenance................ 44
Seat Belt System Components... 42
Seat Belts............................................ 8
Cleaning...................................... 214
Maintenance................................. 44
Reminder Light and Beeper....... 54
System Components.................... 42
Tether Attachment Points.......... 40 Use During Pregnancy................ 19
Seats, Adjusting the......................... 75
Serial Number................................ 244
Service Intervals............................ 158
Service Manual*............................ 259
Service Station Procedures .......... 119
Setting the Clock............................. 83 Shifting
The Automatic Transmission.. 136
The 5-speed Manual
Transmission.......................... 134
Shift Lever Position Indicator...... 136
Shift Lock Release......................... 139
Side Marker Lights, Bulb
Replacement in.......................... 203
Signaling Turns................................ 62
Snow Tires...................................... 197
Solvent-type Cleaners.................... 212
Sound System................................... 98
Spare Tire
Inflating....................................... 220
Specifications............................. 247
Spark Plugs, Replacing................. 183
Specifications Charts..................... 246
Speed Control................................... 66
Speedometer....................................
57
SRS, Additiona
l Information........... 45
Additional Safety Precautions.... 48 How the SRS Indicator
Works........................................ 47
How Your Airbags Work............ 45
CONTINUED
Inde
x
SRS, Additional Information
SRS Components......................... 45
SRS Service................................... 47
SRS Indicator............................. 47, 55
START (Ignition Key Position) ..... 71
Starting the Engine........................ 133 In Cold Weather at HighAltitude................................... 133
With a Dead Battery................. 227
Steam Coming from Engine......... 229
Steering Wheel
Adjustment................................... 65
Anti-theft Column Lock.............. 71
Stereo Sound System...................... 98
Storing Your Car............................ 210
Supplemental Restraint System..... 45 Servicing....................................... 47
SRS Indicator......................... 47, 55
System Components.................... 45
Synthetic Oil................................... 169
Tachometer...................................... 57
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in....... 204 Taking Care of the Unexpected.. 219
Tape Player..................................... 111
Technical Descriptions
Driving In Foreign Countries... 251
Emissions Control Systems...... 252
Oxygenated Fuels...................... 250
Three Way Catalytic Converter................................ 254
Technical Information................... 243
Temperature Gauge........................ 58
Tether Attachment Points.............. 40
Three Way Catalytic Converter... 254
Time, Setting the............................. 83
Timing Belt..................................... 191
Tire Chains..................................... 197 Tire, How to Change a Flat.......... 221
Tires................................................ 192 Air Pressure............................... 192
Checking Wear.......................... 194Compact Spare........................... 220
DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 248
Inflation....................................... 192
Inspection................................... 194
Maintenance............................... 194
Replacing.................................... 195
Rotating....................................... 195
Snow............................................ 197
Specifications............................. 247
Tools, Tire Changing.................... 221
Towing
A Trailer...................................... 147
Emergency Wrecker................. 241
Transmission
Checking Fluid Level,
Automatic............................... 178
Checking Fluid Level, Manual.................................... 179
Fluid Selection............................ 178
Identification Number............... 244
Shifting the Automatic..............136
Shifting the Manual................... 134
Treadwear...................................... 248
Trip Meter........................................ 57
Trunk................................................. 73
Opening......................................... 73
Open Monitor Light.................... 55
Turn Signals..................................... 62
Underside, Cleaning...................... 216
Unexpected, Taking Care of the........................................... 219