Towin
g a Traile r
Drivin g Safel y Wit h a Traile r
Th e adde d weight , length , an d
heigh t o f a traile r wil l affec t you r
vehicle' s handlin g an d performance ,
s o drivin g wit h a traile r require s
som e specia l drivin g skill s an d
techniques .
Fo r you r safet y an d th e safet y o f
others , tak e tim e t o practic e drivin g
maneuver s befor e headin g fo r th e
ope n road , an d follo w th e guideline s
discusse d below .
Towing Speeds and Gears
Driv e slowe r tha n norma l i n al l
drivin g situations , an d obe y poste d
spee d limit s fo r vehicle s wit h trailers .
I f yo u hav e a n automati c
transmission , us e th e D 4 positio n
whe n towin g a traile r o n leve l roads .
D 3 i s th e prope r shif t leve r positio n
t o us e whe n towin g a traile r i n hill y
terrain . (Se e "Driving on Hills" i n th e
nex t colum n fo r additiona l gea r
information. )
Making Turns and Braking
Mak
e turn s mor e slowl y an d wide r
tha n normal . Th e traile r track s a
smalle r ar c tha n you r vehicle , an d i t
ca n hi t o r ru n ove r somethin g th e
vehicl e misses . Allo w mor e tim e an d
distanc e fo r braking . D o no t brak e o r
tur n suddenl y a s thi s coul d caus e th e
traile r t o jackknif e o r tur n over .
Driving on Hills
Whe n climbin g hills , closel y watc h
you r temperatur e gauge . I f i t near s
th e re d (Hot ) mark , tur n th e ai r
conditionin g off , reduc e spee d and , i f
necessary , pul l t o th e sid e o f th e
roa d to le t th e engin e cool .
I f th e automati c transmissio n shift s
frequentl y betwee n 3r d an d 4t h
gear s whil e goin g u p a hill , shif t t o
D 3.
I
f yo u mus t sto p whe n facin g uphill ,
us e th e foo t brak e o r parkin g brake .
D o no t tr y t o hol d th e vehicl e in
plac e b y pressin g o n th e accelerator ,
a s thi s ca n caus e th e automati c
transmissio n to overheat .
Whe n drivin g dow n hills , reduc e
you r spee d an d shif t dow n to 2n d
gear . D o no t "ride " th e brakes , an d
remembe r i t wil l tak e longe r t o slo w
dow n an d sto p whe n towin g a trailer .
CONTINUED
Drivin g
Maintenanc
e
Thi s sectio n explain s wh y i t i s
importan t t o kee p you r ca r wel l
maintaine d an d to follo w basi c
maintenanc e safet y precautions .
Thi s sectio n als o include s
Maintenanc e Schedule s fo r norma l
drivin g an d sever e drivin g conditions ,
a Maintenanc e Record , an d instruc -
tion s fo r simpl e maintenanc e task s
yo u ma y wan t t o tak e car e o f
yourself .
I f yo u hav e th e skill s an d tool s t o per -
for m mor e comple x maintenanc e
task s o n you r Honda , yo u ma y wan t
t o purchas e th e Servic e Manual . Se e
pag e 32 3 fo r informatio n o n ho w to
obtai n a copy , o r se e you r Hond a
dealer .
Maintenanc e Safety...................... . 19 8
Importan t Safet y Precautions. . 19 9
Maintenanc e Schedule................. . 20 0
Maintenanc e Record.................... . 20 7
Owne
r Maintenanc e Checks....... . 20 9
Flui d Locations.............................. . 21 0
Engin e Oil...................................... . 21 2
Addin g Oil.................................. . 21 2
Recommende d Oil.................... . 21 2
Syntheti c Oil.............................. . 21 4
Additives.................................... . 21 4
Changin g th e Oi l an d Filter..... . 21 4
Coolin g System............................. . 21 7
Addin g Engin e Coolant............ . 21 7
Replacin g Engin e Coolant........ 219
Windshiel d Washers.................... . 22 4
Transmissio n Fluid....................... . 22 5
Automati c
Transmission......................... . 22 5
5-spee d Manua l
Transmission......................... . 22 7
Brak e an d Clutc h Fluid................ . 22 8
Brak e System............................ . 22 8
Clutc h System........................... . 22 9
Powe r Steering.............................. . 23 0
Ai r Cleane r Element..................... . 23 1
Hoo d Latch.................................... . 23 3
Spar k Plug s
(4-cylinde r Models).............. . 23 3
Replacement.............................. . 23 3
Specifications............................
. 23 4
Spar k Plug s
(6-cylinde r Models).............. . 23 5
Replacement.............................. . 23 5
Specifications............................ . 23 7
Battery........................................... . 23 8
Wipe r Blades................................. . 24 1
Ai r Conditionin g System.............. . 24 3
Ai r Conditionin g Filter................. . 24 4
Driv e Belts..................................... . 24 4
Timin g Belt.................................... . 24 5
Tires............................................... . 24 6
Inflation...................................... . 24 6
Inspection.................................. . 24 7
Maintenance.............................. . 24 8
Tir e Rotation............................. . 24 9
Replacin g Tire s an d Wheels... . 24 9
Wheel s an d Tires...................... . 25 0
Winte r Driving.......................... . 25 0
Sno w Tires............................. . 25 1
Tir e Chains............................ . 25 1
Lights............................................. . 25 2
Headligh t Aiming..................... . 25 4
Replacin g Bulbs........................ . 25 5
Storin g You r Car........................... . 26 6
Maintenanc e
Coolin
g Syste m
5 . Whe n th e coolan t stop s draining ,
tighte n th e drai n plu g a t th e
botto m o f th e radiator .
6 . 4-cylinder models
Pu t a ne w washe r o n th e drai n bolt ,
the n reinstal l th e drai n bol t i n th e
engin e block . Tighte n it securely .
Tightenin g torque :
6 1 lbf.ft(83N .
m,8.5kgf.m )
6-cylinder models
Tighte n th e drai n bol t a t th e rea r
o f th e engin e cylinde r bloc k
securely .
Tightenin g torque :
7 lbf.f t (1 0 N .
m , 1. 0 kgf.m )
7
. Mi x th e recommende d antifreez e
wit h a n equa l amoun t o f purifie d
o r distille d wate r i n a clea n
container . Th e coolin g syste m
capacit y is :
4-cylinder models
With 5-speed manual transmission:
1.4
5 U S ga l (5. 5 ,1.2 1 Im p gal )
With automatic transmission:
1.4
3 U S ga l (5. 4 ,1.1 9 Im p gal )
6-cylinder models
1.4
8 U S ga l (5. 6 ,1.2 3 Im p gal )
8.
4-cylinder models
Loose n th e bleede r bol t o n to p o f
th e engine .
Pou r coolan t int o th e radiator .
Tighte n th e bleede r bol t whe n
coolan t come s ou t i n a stead y
strea m wit h n o bubbles .
Maintenanc e
BLEEDE
R BOL T
I
f You r Engin e Won' t Star t
Diagnosin g wh y you r engin e won' t
star t fall s int o tw o areas , dependin g
o n wha t yo u hea r whe n yo u tur n th e
ke y t o STAR T (III) :
Yo u hea r nothing , o r almos t
nothing . Th e engine' s starte r
moto r doe s no t operat e a t all , o r
operate s ver y slowly .
Yo u ca n hea r th e starte r moto r
operatin g normally , o r th e starte r
moto r sound s lik e it i s spinnin g
faste r tha n normal , bu t th e engin e
doe s no t star t u p an d run . Nothin
g Happen s o r th e Starte r
Moto r Operate s Ver y Slowl y
Whe n yo u tur n th e ignitio n switc h t o
STAR T (III) , yo u d o no t hea r th e
norma l nois e o f th e engin e tryin g to
start . Yo u ma y hea r a clickin g soun d
o r serie s o f clicks , o r nothin g a t all .
Chec k thes e things :
You r ca r ha s th e Immobilize r
System . Yo u shoul d us e a
properly-code d maste r o r vale t ke y
t o star t th e engin e (se e pag e 7 3 ) .
A ke y tha t i s no t properl y code d
wil l caus e th e immobilize r syste m
indicato r i n th e das h pane l t o blin k
rapidly . Chec
k th e transmissio n interlock .
I f yo u hav e a manua l transmission ,
th e clutc h peda l mus t b e pushe d
al l th e wa y t o th e floo r o r th e
starte r wil l no t operate . Wit h a n
automati c transmission , i t mus t b e
i n Par k o r Neutral .
Tur n th e ignitio n switc h t o O N (II) .
Tur n o n th e headlight s an d chec k
thei r brightness . I f th e headlight s
ar e ver y di m o r don' t ligh t a t all ,
th e batter y is discharged . Se e
Jum p Startin g o n pag e 28 5 .
CONTINUED
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
Emergenc
y Towin g
I f you r ca r need s t o b e towed , cal l a
professiona l towin g servic e or , i f yo u
belon g to one , a n organizatio n tha t
provide s roadsid e assistance . Neve r
to w you r ca r behin d anothe r vehicl e
wit h jus t a rop e o r chain . I t i s ver y
dangerous .
Ther e ar e thre e popula r type s o f
professiona l towin g equipment .
Flat-bed Equipment — Th e operato r
load s you r ca r o n th e bac k o f a truck .
Thi s i s th e bes t wa y t o transpor t
you r Honda .
Wheel-Lift Equipment — Th e to w
truc k use s tw o pivotin g arm s tha t g o
unde r th e tire s (fron t o r rear ) an d lif t
the m of f th e ground . Th e othe r tw o
tire s remai n o n th e ground . Thi s is
a n acceptabl e wa y t o to w you r
Honda .
Sling-type Equipment — Th
e to w
truc k use s meta l cable s wit h hook s
o n th e ends . Thes e hook s g o aroun d
part s o f th e fram e o r suspensio n an d
th e cable s lif t tha t en d o f th e ca r of f
th e ground . You r car' s suspensio n
an d bod y ca n b e seriousl y damaged .
Thi s metho d o f towin g is
unacceptable .
I f you r Hond a canno t b e transporte d
b y flat-bed , i t shoul d b e towe d b y
wheel-lif t equipmen t wit h th e fron t
wheel s of f th e ground . I f du e t o
damage , you r ca r mus t b e towe d
wit h th e fron t wheel s o n th e ground ,
d o th e following :
5-speed Manual Transmission Releas e th e parkin g brake .
Shif t th e transmissio n to Neutral .
Automatic Transmission:
Releas e th e parkin g brake .
Star t th e engine .
Shif t t o D4 , the n to N .
Tur n of f th e engine .
Improper towing preparation will
damage the transmission. Follow the
above procedure exactly. If you cannot
shift the transmission or start the
engine (automatic transmission), your
car must be transported with the front
wheels off the ground.
Wit h th e fron t wheel s o n th e ground ,
i t i s bes t t o to w th e ca r n o farthe r
tha n 5 0 mile s (8 0 km) , an d kee p th e
spee d belo w 3 5 mp h (5 5 km/h) .
CONTINUED
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
NOTIC
E
Identificatio
n Number s
Th e Engin e Numbe r i s stampe d int o
th e engin e block . I t i s o n th e front .
Th e Transmissio n Numbe r i s o n a
labe l o n to p o f th e transmission .
Technical Informatio n
4
cylinde r Model s
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIO N NUMBE R
ENGIN E NUMBE R
6-cylinde r Model s
ENGINE NUMBE R
MANUA
L
TRANSMISSIO N
NUMBE R
AUTOMATI C TRANSMISSIO N NUMBE R
Inde
x
Accessorie s an d Modifications... . 16 8
Accessories................................ . 16 8
Additiona l Safet y Precaution... . 16 9
Modifications............................ . 16 9
ACCESSOR Y (Ignitio n Ke y
Position)....................................... 76
Accessor y Powe r Socket............. . 10 5
Addin g
Automati c Transmissio n
Fluid....................................... . 22 5
Brak e Fluid................................ . 22 8
Clutc h Fluid............................... . 22 9
Engin e Coolant.......................... . 21 7
Engin e Oil.................................. . 21 2
Manua l Transmissio n Flui d .... . 22 7
Powe r Steerin g Fluid................ . 23 0
Windshiel d Washe r Fluid........ . 22 4
Additiona l Informatio n Abou t
You r Airbags........................... . 4 8
Additiona l Safet y Precautions... . 4 8
Airba g Service............................. . 4 8
Additiona
l Informatio n Abou t
You r Fron t Airbags................ . 4 3
Ho w You r Fron t Airbag s
Work......................................... 43
Ho w You r SR S Indicato r Ligh t
Works....................................... . 4 5
SR S Components........................ . 4 3
Additiona l Informatio n Abou t
You r Sea t Belts....................... . 4 0
Lap/Shoulde r Belts.................... . 4 0
Sea t Bel t Maintenance............... . 4 2
Sea t Bel t Syste m Components.. . 4 0
Additiona l Informatio n Abou t
You r Sid e Airbags................... . 4 6
Ho w th e Sid e Airba g Indicato r
Ligh t Works............................ . 4 7
Ho w You r Sid e Airbag s Work... . 4 6
Additives , Engin e Oil.................... . 21 4
Adjustment s
Headlights................................. . 25 4
Hea d Restraints.......................... . 9 2
Mirrors......................................... .
99
Seats............................................. . 8 7
Steerin g
Wheel...........................
. 6 8
Airba g (SRS)............................... 9, 43
Ai r Cleane r Element..................... . 23 1 Ai
r Conditionin g Filter................. . 24 4
Ai r Conditionin g System...... .110 , 11 7
Maintenance.............................. . 24 3
Usage................................. 113, 11 9
Ai r Outlet s (Vents)............... 112, 11 7
Ai r Pressure , Tires....................... . 24 6
Alcoho l i n Gasoline....................... . 31 2
Antifreeze...................................... 217
Anti-loc k Brake s (ABS )
Indicato r Light.................... 55, 18 7
Operation................................... . 18 6
Anti-thef t Steerin g Colum n Loc k . . 7 5
Appearanc e Care.......................... . 26 7
Audi o System........................ 125, 13 7
Automati c Lightin g Of f Feature... . 6 3
Automati c Spee d Control............... . 6 9
Automati c Transmission.............. . 17 8
Capacity , Fluid.................. 306, 30 8
Checkin g Flui d Level............... . 22 5
Shifting....................................... . 17 9
Shif t Leve r Positio n Indicator. . 17 9
Shif t Leve r Positions................ . 17 9
Shif t Loc k Release.................... . 18 2
CONTINUED
Inde
x
Checklist , Befor e Driving............ . 17 4
Chil d Safety..................................... . 2 0
Cleane r Element , Air.................... . 23 1
Cleanin g
Aluminu m Wheels.................... . 26 9
Carpeting................................... . 27 0
Exterior...................................... . 26 2
Fabric......................................... . 27 0
Interior....................................... . 27 0
Leather....................................... . 27 0
Sea t Belts................................... . 27 1
Vinyl.......................................... . 27 0
Windows.................................... . 27 1
Climat e Contro l System............... . 11 7
Clock , Settin g the......................... . 10 1
Clutc h Fluid................................... . 22 9
Coi n Box........................................ . 10 5
C O in th e Exhaust........................ . 31 4
Col d Weather , Startin g in............ . 17 6
Compac t Spare.............................. . 27 6
Consol e Compartment................ . 10 3
Consume r Information*........ . 31 8
Controls , Instrument s and........
51
Coolan t
Adding....................... .. 217
Checking....................... . 166
Prope
r Solution......................... . 21 7
Replacing................................... . 21 9
Temperatur e
Gauge.............
. 5 9
Corrosio n Protection................... . 27 2
Courtes y Lights............................ . 10 7
Crankcas e Emission s Contro l
System.................... . 314
Cruis e Contro l Operation.............. . 6 9
Custome r Relation s Office..... . 31 9
DANGER , Explanatio n of................ . ii
Dashboard................................... 2 , 5 2
Daytim e Runnin g Lights............ . 6 3
Dea d Battery , Wha t t o Do........... . 28 5
Defects , Reportin g Safety...... . 32 2
Defogger , Rea r Window.......... . 6 7
Defrostin g th e Windows... .115, 12 3
DEXRON ® II I Automati c
Transmissio n Fluid................... . 22 6
Dimensions............. . 306, 30 8
Dimmin g th e Headlights............... . 6 2
Dipstic k
Automati c Transmission........ . 22 5
Engin e Oil.................................. . 16 4
Directiona
l Signals............. 64
Disabled , Towin g You r
Ca r If.......................................... . 30 1
Dis c Brak e Wea r Indicators... . 18 5
Disposa l o f Use d Oil..................... . 21 6
Door s
Lockin g an d Unlocking......... . 7 6
Monito r Light.................... . 56
Powe r Doo r Locks...................... . 7 6
DO T Tir e Qualit y Grading....... . 31 0
Downshifting , 5-spee d Manua l
Transmission................ . 176
Driv e Belts.................................... . 24 4
Drive r an d Passenge r Safety.... 5
Driving........................................... . 17 3
Economy.................. . 167
I n Ba d Weather............. . 188
I n Foreig n Countries........ . 313
Economy , Fuel............... . 167
Emergencie s o n th e Road........ . 27 5
Battery , Jum p Starting...... . 285
CONTINUED