Audi
o Syste m
Carin g fo r th e Cassett e Playe r
Th e cassett e playe r pick s u p dir t an d
oxide s fro m th e tape . Thi s contami -
natio n build s u p ove r tim e an d
cause s th e soun d qualit y t o degrade .
T o preven t this , yo u shoul d clea n th e
playe r afte r ever y 3 0 hour s o f use .
You r deale r ha s a cleanin g ki t
available .
I f yo u d o no t clea n th e cassett e
playe r regularly , i t ma y eventuall y
becom e impossibl e t o remov e th e
contaminatio n wit h a norma l
cleanin g kit .
Us e 100-minut e o r shorte r cassettes .
Cassette s longe r tha n tha t us e
thinne r tap e tha t ma y brea k o r ja m
th e drive .
Loo
k a t th e cassett e befor e yo u
inser t it . I f th e tap e is loose , tighte n
i t b y turnin g a hu b wit h a penci l o r
you r finger .
I f th e labe l i s peelin g off , remov e it
fro m th e cassett e o r i t coul d caus e
th e cassett e to ja m in th e player .
Neve r tr y t o inser t a warpe d o r
damage d cassett e in th e player .
Whe n the y ar e no t i n use , stor e
cassette s i n thei r case s t o protec t
the m fro m dus t an d moisture . Neve r
plac e cassette s wher e the y wil l b e
expose d to direc t sunlight , hig h heat ,
o r hig h humidity . I f a cassett e is
expose d to extrem e hea t o r cold , le t
i t reac h a moderat e temperatur e
befor e insertin g it i n th e player .
Neve r tr y t o inser t foreig n object s
int o th e cassett e player .
I
f yo u se e th e erro r indicatio n o
n th e display , pres s th e
EJEC T butto n an d remov e th e
cassett e fro m th e unit . Mak e sur e
th e tap e is no t damaged . I f th e
cassett e wil l no t ejec t o r th e erro r
indicatio n stay s o n afte r th e cassett e
ejects , tak e th e vehicl e t o you r
Hond a dealer .
I f a proble m develop s i n th e connec -
tio n betwee n th e cassett e playe r an d th
e radio , yo u wil l se e i n
th e display . Tak e th e vehicl e t o you r
Hond a dealer .
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s
Securit
y Syste m
Standard on EX and EX-V6 models Optional on LX and LX-V6 models
Th e securit y syste m help s t o protec t
you r ca r an d valuable s fro m theft .
Th e hor n sound s an d a combinatio n
o f headlights , parkin g lights , sid e
marke r light s an d taillight s flashe s i f
someon e attempt s t o brea k int o you r
ca r o r remov e th e radio . Thi s alar m
continue s fo r tw o minutes , the n th e
syste m resets . T o rese t a n alarmin g
syste m befor e th e tw o minute s hav e
elapsed , unloc k eithe r doo r wit h th e
ke y o r th e remot e transmitter .
Th e securit y syste m set s auto -
maticall y fiftee n second s afte r yo u
loc k th e doors , hood , an d trunk . Fo r
th e syste m to activate , yo u mus t loc k
th e door s fro m th e outsid e wit h th e
key , loc k tab , doo r loc k switch , o r
remot e transmitter . Th e securit y
syste m ligh t nex t t o th e driver' s doo r
loc k start s blinkin g immediatel y t o
sho w yo u th e syste m is settin g itself .Onc
e th e securit y syste m is set ,
openin g eithe r doo r (withou t usin g
th e ke y o r th e remot e transmitter) ,
o r th e hood , wil l caus e it t o alarm . I t
als o alarm s i f th e radio is remove d
fro m th e dashboar d o r th e wirin g is
cut . Wit
h th e syste m set , yo u ca n stil l
ope n th e trun k wit h th e maste r ke y
o r th e remot e transmitte r (i f th e
transmitte r i s equippe d wit h a trun k
opener ) withou t triggerin g th e alarm .
Th e alar m wil l soun d i f th e trun k
loc k i s forced , o r th e trun k i s opene d
wit h th e trun k releas e handle .
Th e securit y syste m wil l no t se t i f
th e hood , trunk , o r eithe r doo r i s no t
full y closed . I f th e syste m wil l no t set ,
chec k th e Doo r an d Brak e Lam p
Monito r o n th e instrumen t pane l
(se e pag e 56 ), t o se e if th e door s
an d trun k ar e full y closed . Sinc e it i s
no t par t o f th e monito r display ,
manuall y chec k th e hood .
D o no t attemp t t o alte r thi s syste m
o r ad d othe r device s t o it .
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s
SECURIT
Y SYSTE M LIGH T
Break-i
n Period , Gasolin e
Break-i n Perio d
Hel p assur e you r car' s futur e
reliabilit y an d performanc e b y payin g
extr a attentio n to ho w yo u driv e
durin g th e firs t 60 0 mile s (1,00 0 km) .
Durin g thi s period : Avoi
d full-throttl e start s an d rapi d
acceleration .
Avoi
d har d braking . Ne w brake s
nee d to b e broken-i n b y moderat e
us e fo r th e firs t 20 0 mile s (30 0
km) .
Yo u shoul d follo w thes e sam e re -
commendation s wit h a n overhaule d
o r exchange d engine , o r whe n th e
brake s ar e relined .
Gasolin
e
You r Hond a is designe d t o operat e
o n unleade d gasolin e wit h a pum p
octan e numbe r o f 8 6 o r higher . Us e
o f a lowe r octan e gasolin e ca n caus e
a persistent , heav y metalli c rappin g
nois e in th e engin e tha t ca n lea d to
mechanica l damage .
W e recommen d gasoline s containin g
detergen t additive s tha t hel p preven t
fue l syste m an d engin e deposits .
Usin g gasolin e containin g lea d wil l
damag e you r car' s emission s
controls . Thi s contribute s t o ai r
pollution .
I
n Canada , som e gasoline s contai n
a n octane-enhancin g additiv e calle d
MMT . I f yo u us e suc h gasolines ,
you r emissio n contro l syste m
performanc e ma y deteriorat e an d
th e Malfunctio n Indicato r Lam p o n
you r instrumen t pane l ma y tur n on .
I f thi s happens , contac t you r
authorize d Hond a deale r fo r service .
Befor e Drivin g
Fue
l Econom y
Th e conditio n o f you r ca r an d you r
drivin g habit s ar e th e tw o mos t
importan t thing s tha t affec t th e fue l
mileag e yo u get .
Vehicl e Conditio n
Alway s maintai n you r ca r accordin g
t o th e maintenanc e schedule . Thi s
wil l kee p it i n to p operatin g condition .
A n importan t par t o f tha t mainte -
nanc e is th e Owne r Maintenanc e
Check s (se e pag e 20 9 ) . Fo r
example , a n underinflate d tir e
cause s mor e "rollin g resistance, "
whic h use s fuel . I t als o wear s ou t
faster , s o chec k th e tir e pressur e a t
leas t monthly .
I n winter , th e build-u p o f sno w o n
you r car' s undersid e add s weigh t an d
rollin g resistance . Frequen t cleanin g
help s you r fue l mileag e an d reduce s
th e chanc e o f corrosion . Drivin
g Habit s
Yo u ca n improv e fue l econom y b y
drivin g moderately . Rapi d acceler -
ation , abrup t cornering , an d har d
brakin g us e mor e fuel .
Alway s driv e i n th e highes t gea r tha t
allow s th e engin e t o ru n an d acceler -
at e smoothly .
Dependin g o n traffi c conditions , tr y
t o maintai n a constan t speed . Ever y
tim e yo u slo w dow n an d spee d up ,
you r ca r use s extr a fuel . Us e th e
cruis e control , whe n appropriate , t o
increas e fue l economy . A
col d engin e use s mor e fue l tha n a
war m engine . I t i s no t necessar y t o
"warm-up " a col d engin e b y lettin g it
idl e fo r a lon g time . Yo u ca n driv e
awa y in abou t a minute , n o matte r
ho w col d i t i s outside . Th e engin e
wil l war m u p faster , an d yo u ge t
bette r fue l economy . T o cu t dow n o n
th e numbe r o f "col d starts, " tr y t o
combin e severa l shor t trip s int o one .
Th e ai r conditionin g put s a n extr a
loa d o n th e engin e whic h make s i t
us e mor e fuel . Tur n of f th e A/ C to
cu t dow n o n ai r conditionin g use .
Us e th e flow-throug h ventilatio n
whe n th e outsid e ai r temperatur e i s
moderate .
Before 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
Engin
e Oi l
Addin g Oi l
T o ad d oil , unscre w an d remov e th e
engin e oi l fil l ca p o n to p o f th e valv e
cover . Pou r i n th e oil , an d instal l th e
engin e oi l fil l cap . Tighte n it securely .
Wai t a fe w minute s an d rechec k th e
oi l level . D o no t fil l abov e th e uppe r
mark ; yo u coul d damag e th e engine .ENGIN
E OI L FIL L CA P
6-cylinde r model s Recommende
d Oi l
Oi l i s a majo r contributo r t o you r
engine' s performanc e an d longevity .
Alway s us e a premium-grad e deter -
gen t oil . I t i s highl y recommende d
tha t yo u us e Genuin e Hond a Moto r
oi l i n you r vehicl e fo r a s lon g a s yo u
ow n it .
Yo u ca n determin e a n oil' s SA E
viscosit y an d Servic e Classificatio n
fro m th e AP I Servic e labe l o n th e oi l
container .
A fuel-efficien t oi l i s recommende d
fo r you r Honda . Thi s i s show n o n th e
AP I Servic e labe l b y th e word s
"Energ y Conserving. " Thi s oi l i s
formulate d t o hel p you r engin e us e
les s fuel .
Maintenanc e
4-cylinde
r model s
ENGIN
E OI L FIL L GA P
Engin
e Oi l
Syntheti c Oi l
Yo u ma y us e a syntheti c moto r oi l i f
i t meet s th e sam e requirement s
give n fo r conventiona l moto r oil :
energ y conserving , a servic e
classificatio n o f SJ , an d th e prope r
weigh t a s show n o n th e chart . Whe n
usin g syntheti c oil , yo u mus t follo w
th e oi l an d filte r chang e interval s
give n in th e maintenanc e schedule .
Additive s
You r Hond a doe s no t nee d an y oi l
additives . Purchasin g additive s fo r
th e engin e o r transmissio n wil l no t
increas e you r car' s performanc e o r
longevity . I t onl y increase s th e cos t
o f operatin g you r car . Changin
g th e Oi l an d Filte r
Alway s chang e th e oi l an d filte r
accordin g t o th e tim e an d distanc e
(miles/kilometers ) recommenda -
tion s i n th e maintenanc e schedule .
Th e oi l an d filte r collec t contami -
nant s tha t ca n damag e you r engin e i f
the y ar e no t remove d regularly .
Changin g th e oi l an d filte r require s
specia l tool s an d acces s fro m
underneat h th e car . Th e ca r shoul d
b e raise d o n a servic e station-typ e
hydrauli c lif t fo r thi s service . Unles s
yo u hav e th e knowledg e an d prope r
equipment , yo u shoul d hav e thi s
maintenanc e don e b y a skille d
mechanic .
1 . Ru n th e engin e unti l i t reache s
norma l operatin g temperature ,
the n shu t i t off . 2
. Ope n th e hoo d an d remov e th e
engin e oi l fil l cap . Remov e th e oi l
drai n bol t an d washe r fro m th e
botto m o f th e engine . Drai n th e oi l
int o a n appropriat e container .
Maintenanc e
WASHE
R
DRAI
N BOL T
4-cylinde r model s
Coolin
g Syste m
Addin g Engin e Coolan t
I f th e coolan t leve l i n th e reserv e
tan k is a t o r belo w th e MI N line , ad d
coolan t t o brin g it u p to th e MA X line .
Inspec t th e coolin g syste m fo r leaks .
Thi s coolan t shoul d alway s b e a
mixtur e o f 5 0 percen t antifreez e an d
5 0 percen t water . Neve r ad d straigh t
antifreez e o r plai n water . Alway
s us e Genuin e Hond a
Antifreeze/Coolant . I f i t i s no t
available , yo u ma y us e anothe r
major-bran d non-silicat e coolan t a s a
temporar y replacement . Mak e sur e it
i s a high-qualit y coolan t
recommende d fo r aluminu m engines .
However , continue d us e o f an y non -
Hond a coolan t ca n resul t i n
corrosion , causin g th e coolin g
syste m to malfunctio n o r fail . Hav e
th e coolin g syste m flushe d an d refille
d wit h Hond a antifreeze /
coolan t a s soo n a s possible .
I f th e reserv e tan k i s completel y
empty , yo u shoul d als o chec k th e
coolan t leve l i n th e radiator .
1 . Mak e sur e th e engin e an d radiato r
ar e cool .
CONTINUED
Maintenanc e
4-cylinde
r model s
RESERV E TAN K
Removin
g th e radiato r ca p
whil e th e engin e is ho t ca n
caus e th e coolan t t o spra y out ,
seriousl y scaldin g you .
Alway s le t th e engin e an d
radiato r coo l dow n befor e
removin g th e radiato r cap .
6-cylinde
r model s
RESERV E TAN K