
Steerin
g Whee l Controls , Key s an d Lock s
Remot e Audi o Control s
On EX-V6 model
Thes e button s le t yo u contro l som e
function s o f th e audi o syste m with -
ou t removin g you r hand s fro m th e
wheel . Refe r t o pag e 15 5 fo r a com -
plet e explanation .
You
r ca r come s wit h tw o maste r
key s an d a vale t key .
Th e maste r ke y fit s al l th e lock s o n
you r car :
Ignitio n
Door s
Trun k
Trun k releas e handl e
Rea r sea t trun k acces s Glov
e bo x
Th
e vale t ke y work s onl y i n th e
ignitio n an d th e doo r locks . Yo u ca n
kee p th e trunk , trun k releas e handle ,
rea r sea t trun k acces s an d th e glov e
bo x locke d whe n yo u leav e you r ca r
an d th e vale t ke y a t a parkin g facility .
Yo u shoul d hav e receive d a ke y
numbe r plat e wit h you r keys . Yo u
wil l nee d thi s ke y numbe r i f yo u eve r
hav e t o ge t a los t ke y replaced . Kee p
th e plat e store d in a saf e place . I f yo u
nee d to replac e a key , us e onl y
Honda-approve d ke y blanks .
Instrument s an d Control s
Key
s
KE Y
NUMBE R
PLAT E
MASTE
R
KE Y
(BLACK )
VALE
T
KE Y
(GREY )

Key
s an d Lock s
Ignitio n Switc h
Th e ignitio n switc h is o n th e righ t
sid e o f th e steerin g column . I t ha s
fou r positions :
LOC K (0 )
ACCESSOR Y (I )
O N (II ) STAR
T (III ) LOC
K (0 ) — Yo u ca n inser t o r
remov e th e ke y onl y in thi s position .
T o switc h fro m ACCESSORY to
LOCK , yo u mus t pus h th e ke y in
slightl y a s yo u tur n it . I f you r ca r ha s
a n automati c transmission , th e shif t
leve r mus t als o b e in Park . Th e anti -
thef t loc k wil l loc k th e steerin g
colum n whe n yo u remov e th e key .
I f th e fron t wheel s ar e turned , th e
anti-thef t loc k ma y sometime s mak e
i t difficul t t o tur n th e ke y fro m
LOC K to ACCESSORY . Firml y tur n
th e steerin g whee l t o th e lef t o r t o
th e righ t a s yo u tur n th e key .
CONTINUED
Instrument s an d Control s
Removin
g th e ke y fro m th e
ignitio n switc h whil e drivin g
lock s th e steering . Thi s ca n
caus e yo u to los e control .
Remov e th e ke y fro m th e
ignitio n switc h onl y whe n
parked .

Audi
o Syste m
Remot e Audi o Control s
On EX-V6 model
Tw o control s fo r th e audi o syste m
ar e mounte d in th e steerin g whee l
hub . Thes e le t yo u contro l basi c
function s withou t removin g you r
han d fro m th e wheel . Th
e to p an d botto m button s adjus t th
e volum e u p o r dow n
Pres s th e prope r butto n an d hol d it
unti l th e desire d volum e is reached ,
the n releas e it .
Th e AUDIO/C H butto n ha s thre e
functions , dependin g o n whethe r yo u
ar e listenin g to th e radio , o r playin g a
cassett e o r CD .
I f yo u ar e listenin g to th e radio , us e
th e AUDIO/C H butto n to chang e
stations . Eac h tim e yo u pres s thi s
button , th e syste m advance s t o th e
nex t prese t statio n o n th e ban d yo u
ar e listenin g to . Yo u wil l se e th e
numbe r o f th e selecte d Prese t butto n
i n th e display . T o chang e bands ,
pres s th e A M o r F M butto n o n th e
audi o system' s fron t panel . I
f yo u ar e playin g a cassette , us e th e
AUDIO/C H butto n t o advanc e t o th e
nex t selection . Yo u wil l se e "FF "
blinkin g in th e displa y whe n yo u
pres s th e AUDIO/C H button . Th e
syste m fas t forward s unti l i t sense s a
silen t period , the n goe s bac k t o
PLAY .
I f yo u ar e playin g a CD , th e syste m
skip s t o th e beginnin g o f th e nex t
trac k eac h tim e yo u pus h th e
AUDIO/C H button . Yo u wil l se e th e
dis c an d trac k numbe r i n th e display .
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s
AUDIO/C
H
BUTTO N

Accessorie
s an d Modification s
Modification s
D o no t remov e an y origina l
equipmen t o r modif y you r ca r i n an y
wa y tha t woul d alte r it s desig n o r
operation . Thi s coul d mak e you r ca r
unsaf e an d illega l t o drive .
Fo r example , d o no t mak e an y
modification s tha t woul d chang e th e
rid e heigh t o f you r car , o r instal l
wheel s an d tire s wit h a differen t
overal l diameter .
Suc h modification s ca n adversel y
affec t handling , an d interfer e wit h
th e operatio n o f th e car' s anti-loc k
brake s an d othe r systems . I
n addition , an y modification s tha t
decreas e groun d clearanc e increas e
th e chanc e o f undercarriag e part s
strikin g a curb , spee d bump , o r othe r
raise d object , whic h coul d caus e
you r airbag s t o deploy .
D o no t modif y you r steerin g whee l
o r an y othe r par t o f you r
Supplementa l Restrain t System .
Modification s coul d mak e th e
syste m ineffective .
Additiona l Safet y Precautio n
D o no t attac h o r plac e object s o n
th e airba g covers . An y objec t
attache d t o o r place d o n th e cover s
marke d "SR S AIRBAG, " i n th e
cente r o f th e steerin g whee l an d
o n to p o f th e dashboard , coul d
interfer e wit h th e prope r operatio n
o f th e airbags . Or , i f th e airbag s
inflate , th e object s coul d b e
propelle d insid e th e ca r an d hur t
someone .
Only on models equipped with side
airbags
Do not attach hard objects on or
near a front door. I f a sid e airba g
inflates , a cu p holde r o r othe r har d
objec t attache d o n o r nea r th e
doo r coul d b e propelle d insid e th e
ca r an d hur t someone .
Do not place any objects over the
outside edge of a front seat-back.
Covering th e outsid e edg e o f a
fron t seat-back , wit h a non-Hond a
sea t cove r fo r example , coul d
prevent the airba g fro m inflatin g
properly .
Before Drivin g

Automati
c Transmissio n
Neutra l (N ) — Us e Neutra l i f yo u
nee d to restar t a stalle d engine , o r i f
i t i s necessar y t o sto p briefl y wit h
th e engin e idling . Shif t t o Par k posi -
tio n if yo u nee d t o leav e th e ca r fo r
an y reason . Pres s o n th e brak e peda l
whe n yo u ar e movin g th e shif t leve r
fro m Neutra l t o anothe r gear .
Driv e (D 4) — Us e thi s positio n fo r
you r norma l driving . Th e transmis -
sio n automaticall y select s a suitabl e
gea r fo r you r spee d an d acceleration .
Yo u ma y notic e th e transmissio n
shiftin g u p a t highe r speed s whe n
th e engin e is cold . Thi s help s th e
engin e war m up faster . Driv
e (D 3) — Thi s positio n is similar
t o D 4, excep t onl y th e firs t thre e
gear s ar e selected . Us e D 3 whe n
towin g a traile r i n hill y terrain , o r t o
provid e engin e brakin g whe n goin g
dow n a stee p hill . D 3 ca n als o kee p
th e transmissio n fro m cyclin g
betwee n thir d an d fourt h gear s i n
stop-and-g o driving .
Fo r faste r acceleratio n whe n i n D 3 o r
D 4, yo u ca n ge t th e transmissio n t o
automaticall y downshif t b y pushin g
th e accelerato r peda l t o th e floor .
Th e transmissio n wil l shif t dow n on e
o r tw o gears , dependin g o n you r
speed .
Secon
d (2 ) — To shif t t o Second ,
pres s th e releas e butto n o n th e sid e
o f th e shif t lever . Thi s positio n lock s
th e transmissio n in secon d gear . I t
doe s no t downshif t t o firs t gea r
whe n yo u com e to a stop . Secon d
give s yo u mor e powe r whe n climbing ,
an d increase d engin e brakin g whe n
goin g dow n stee p hills . Us e secon d
gea r whe n startin g ou t o n a slipper y
surfac e o r i n dee p snow . I t wil l hel p
reduc e wheelspin .
CONTINUED
Drivin g

Parkin
g
Alway s us e th e parkin g brak e whe n
yo u par k you r car . Th e indicato r o n
th e instrumen t pane l show s tha t th e
parkin g brak e is no t full y released ; i t
doe s no t indicat e tha t th e parkin g
brak e is firml y set . Mak e sur e th e
parkin g brak e is se t firml y o r you r
ca r ma y rol l i f i t i s parke d o n a n
incline .
I f you r ca r ha s a n automati c
transmission , se t th e parkin g brak e
befor e yo u pu t th e transmissio n in
Park . Thi s keep s th e ca r fro m
movin g an d puttin g pressur e o n th e
parkin g mechanis m in th e
transmissio n — makin g it easie r t o
mov e th e shif t leve r ou t o f Par k
whe n yo u wan t t o driv e away . I
f th e ca r i s facin g uphill , tur n th e
fron t wheel s awa y fro m th e curb . I f
yo u hav e a manua l transmission , pu t
i t i n firs t gear .
I f th e ca r i s facin g downhill , tur n th e
fron t wheel s towar d th e curb . I f yo u
hav e a manua l transmission , pu t i t i n
revers e gear .
Mak e sur e th e parkin g brake is full y
release d befor e drivin g away .
Drivin g wit h th e parkin g brake
partiall y se t ca n overhea t o r damag e
th e rea r brakes . Parkin
g Tip s Mak
e sur e th e moonroo f an d th e
window s ar e closed . Tur
n of f th e lights . Plac
e an y packages , valuables , etc. ,
i n th e trun k o r tak e the m wit h you . Loc
k th e doors .
On EX and EX-V6 models
Loc k th e door s wit h th e ke y o r th e
remot e transmitter . Chec k th e
indicato r o n th e driver' s doo r t o
verif y tha t th e securit y syste m is
set .
Neve
r par k ove r dr y leaves , tal l
grass , o r othe r flammabl e
materials . Th e thre e wa y catalyti c
converte r get s ver y hot , an d coul d
caus e thes e material s to catc h o n
fire .
Drivin g

Th
e Brakin g Syste m
You r Hond a is equippe d wit h fron t
dis c brakes . Th e brake s o n th e rea r
wheel s ma y b e dis c o r drum ,
dependin g o n model . A powe r assis t
help s reduc e th e effor t neede d o n
th e brak e pedal . Th e AB S help s yo u
retai n steerin g contro l whe n brakin g
ver y hard .
Pu t you r foo t o n th e brak e peda l onl y
whe n yo u inten d to brake . Restin g
you r foo t o n th e peda l keep s th e
brake s applie d lightly , causin g the m
t o buil d u p heat . Hea t build-u p ca n
reduc e ho w wel l you r brake s work . I t
als o keep s you r brak e light s o n al l
th e time , confusin g driver s behin d
you .
Constan
t applicatio n o f th e brake s
whe n goin g dow n a lon g hil l build s
u p hea t an d reduce s thei r effective -
ness . Us e th e engin e to assis t th e
brake s b y downshiftin g to a lowe r
gea r an d takin g you r foo t of f th e
accelerato r pedal .
Chec k you r brake s afte r drivin g
throug h dee p water . Appl y th e
brake s moderatel y t o se e if the y fee l
normal . I f not , appl y the m gentl y an d
frequentl y unti l the y do . Sinc e a
longe r distanc e is neede d to sto p
wit h we t brakes , b e extr a cautiou s
an d aler t i n you r driving . Brak
e Wea r Indicator s
Th e fron t dis c brake s o n al l model s
hav e audibl e brak e wea r indicators .
The y ar e als o o n th e rea r brake s o f
car s equippe d wit h AB S a s standar d
equipment .
Whe n th e brak e pad s nee d replacing ,
yo u wil l hea r a distinctiv e metalli c
"screeching " soun d whe n yo u appl y
th e brakes . I f yo u d o no t hav e th e
brak e pad s replaced , the y wil l begi n
screechin g al l th e time .
You r brake s ma y sometime s squea l
o r squea k whe n yo u appl y the m
lightly . D o no t confus e thi s wit h th e
brak e wea r indicators . The y mak e a
ver y audibl e "screeching. "
Drivin g

Th
e Brakin g Syste m
Brak e Syste m Desig n
Th e hydrauli c syste m tha t operate s
th e brake s ha s tw o separat e circuits .
Eac h circui t work s diagonall y acros s
th e vehicl e (th e left-fron t brak e is
connecte d wit h th e right-rea r brake ,
etc.) . I f on e circui t shoul d develo p a
problem , yo u wil l stil l hav e brakin g
a t tw o wheels .
Anti-loc
k Brake s
Th e EX , LX-V 6 an d EX-V 6 model s
hav e a n Anti-loc k Brak e Syste m
(ABS ) a s standar d equipment . I t i s
optiona l o n th e U.S . L X model .
AB S help s t o preven t th e wheel s
fro m lockin g u p an d skiddin g durin g
har d braking , allowin g yo u to retai n
steerin g control .
Whe n th e fron t tire s skid , yo u los e
steerin g control ; th e ca r continue s
straigh t ahea d eve n thoug h yo u tur n
th e steerin g wheel . Th e AB S help s t o
preven t lock-u p an d help s yo u retai n
steerin g contro l b y pumpin g th e
brake s rapidly ; muc h faste r tha n a
perso n ca n d o it . Yo
u shoul d neve r pum p th e
brak e pedal , thi s defeat s th e
purpos e o f th e ABS . Le t th e AB S
wor k fo r yo u b y alway s keepin g firm ,
stead y pressur e o n th e brak e peda l
a s yo u stee r awa y fro m th e hazard .
Thi s is sometime s referre d to a s
"stomp and steer."
Yo u wil l fee l a pulsatio n in th e brak e
peda l whe n th e AB S activates , an d
yo u ma y hea r som e noise . Thi s is
normal , i t i s th e AB S rapidl y
pumpin g th e brakes .
Activatio n varie s wit h th e amoun t o f
tractio n you r tire s have . O n dr y
pavement , yo u wil l nee d to pres s o n
th e brak e peda l ver y har d befor e yo u
activat e th e ABS . However , yo u ma y
fee l th e AB S activat e immediatel y i f
yo u ar e tryin g to sto p o n sno w o r ice .
Drivin g
Fron
t