
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 ,
use the D 4 position when towing a
traile r o n leve l roads . D 3 i s th e prope r
shif t leve r positio n to us e whe n towin g
a traile r i n hill y terrain . (Se e "Driving
o n Hills " in 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 it
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 t o 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 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 .
Drivin g
CONTINUED

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 t o 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 to tak e car e of
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 31 5 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 4
Importan t Safet y Precautions. . 19 5
Maintenanc e Schedule................. . 19 6
Maintenanc e Record.................... . 20 3
Owne r Maintenanc e Checks....... . 20 5
Flui d Locations.............................. . 20 6
Engin e Oil...................................... . 20 8
Addin g Oil.................................. . 20 8
Recommende d Oil.................... . 20 8
Syntheti c Oil.............................. . 21 0
Additives.................................... . 21 0
Changin g th e Oi l an d Filter..... . 21 0
Coolin g System............................. . 21 3
Addin g Engin e Coolant............ . 21 3
Replacin g Engin e Coolant....... . 21 5
Windshiel d Washers.................... . 22 0
Transmissio n Fluid....................... . 22 1
Automati c
Transmission......................... . 22 1
5-spee d Manua l
Transmission......................... . 22 3
Brak e an d Clutc h Fluid................ . 22 4
Brak e System............................ . 22 4
Clutc h System........................... . 22 5
Powe r Steering.............................. . 22 5
Ai r Cleane r Element..................... . 22 6 Hoo
d Latch.................................... . 22 9
Spar k Plugs.................................... . 22 9
Replacement.............................. . 22 9
Specifications............................ . 23 0
Battery........................................... . 23 3
Wipe r Blades................................. . 23 6
Ai r Conditionin g System.............. . 23 8
Ai r Conditionin g Filter................. . 23 9
Driv e Belts..................................... . 23 9
Timin g Belt.................................... . 24 0
Tires............................................... . 24 0
Inflation...................................... . 24 1
Inspection.................................. . 24 3
Maintenance.............................. . 24 3
Tir e Rotation............................. . 24 4
Replacin g Tire s an d Wheels... . 24 4
Wheel s an d Tires...................... . 24 5
Winte r Driving.......................... . 24 6
Sno w Tires............................. . 24 6
Tir e Chains............................ . 24 6
Lights............................................. . 24 7
Replacin g Bulbs........................ . 25 1
Storin g You r Car........................... . 26 0
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 of 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 :
61 lbf.ft (83 N.m,8.5 kgf.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.ft (10 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 :
With
5-speed manual transmission:
1.45 US gal (5.5 ,1.21 Imp gal)
With automatic transmission:
1.43 US gal (5.4 ,1.19 Imp gal)
6-cylinder models
1.48 US gal (5.6 ,1.23 Imp gal)
Maintenanc e
RESERV
E TAN K
RESERV E
TAN
K CA P FILLE
R NEC K
FILLER NEC K
6-cylinde r model s
Fill u p to her e
4-cylinde
r model sFill u p t o her e
HOLDE R
6-cylinde r model s

I
f You r Engin e Won' t Star t
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 55 ).
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 to 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 278 .
Tur
n th e ignitio n switc h t o STAR T
(III) . I f th e headlight s d o no t dim ,
chec k th e conditio n o f th e fuses . I f
th e fuse s ar e OK , ther e is proba -
bl y somethin g wron g wit h th e
electrica l circui t fo r th e ignitio n
switc h o r starte r motor . Yo u wil l
nee d a qualifie d technicia n to
determin e th e problem . (Se e
Emergenc y Towin g o n pag e 29 3 . )
I f th e headlight s di m noticeabl y o r
g o ou t whe n yo u tr y t o star t th e
engine , eithe r th e batter y is dis -
charge d o r th e connection s ar e
corroded . Chec k th e conditio n o f
th e batter y an d termina l connec -
tion s (se e pag e 23 3 ) . Yo u ca n
the n tr y jum p startin g th e ca r fro m
a booste r batter y (se e pag e 278 ).
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 method s o f
towin g a vehicle :
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 i s
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 D 4, 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 .4-cylinde
r Model s
Technical Informatio n
AUTOMATI
C TRANSMISSIO N NUMBE R ENGINE NUMBE R
ENGIN E NUMBE R
AUTOMATI C TRANSMISSIO N NUMBE R
MANUA
L
TRANSMISSIO N
NUMBE R
6-cylinde
r Model s

Inde
x
Accessorie s an d Modifications.... 164
Accessories................................ . 16 4
Additiona l Safet y Precaution... . 16 5
Modifications............................ . 16 5
ACCESSOR Y (Ignitio n Ke y
Position)...................................... . 72
Accessor y Powe r Socket............. . 102
Addin g
Automati c Transmissio n
Fluid............................... 221, 222
Brak e Fluid................................ . 224
Clutc h Fluid............................... . 22 5
Engine Coolant.......................... . 21 3
Engin e Oil.................................. . 208
Manua l Transmissio n Fluid.... . 22 3
Powe r Steerin g Fluid................ . 225
Windshiel d Washe r Fluid........ . 220
Additiona l Informatio n Abou t
You r Airbags........................... . 4 6
Additiona l Safet y Precautions... . 4 6
Airba g Service............................. . 4 6
Additiona
l Informatio n Abou t
You r Fron t Airbags................ . 4 1
Ho w You r Fron t Airbag s
Work......................................... . 4 1
Ho w You r SRS Indicato r Ligh t
Works ....................................... 4 3
SRS Components........................ . 4 1
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 1
Sea t Bel t Syste m Components.. . 4 0
Additiona l Informatio n Abou t
You r Sid e Airbags................... . 4 4
Ho w Th e Sid e Airba g Indicato r
Ligh t Works............................ . 4 5
Ho w You r Sid e Airbag s Work... . 4 4
Additives , Engin e Oil.................... . 21 0
Adjustment s
Mirrors. ...................................... . 9 5
Hea d Restraints.......................... . 8 8
Seats............................................. . 8 4
Steerin g Wheel........................... . 65
Airba g (SRS)...................................... 9
Ai r Cleane r Element..................... . 22 6
Ai
r Conditioning............................ . 106
Maintenance.............................. . 238
Usage......................................... . 106
Ai r Conditionin g Filter................. . 239
Ai r Pressure , Tires....................... . 24 1
Alcoho l i n Gasoline....................... . 30 3
Antifreeze...................................... . 21 3
Anti-loc k Brake s (ABS )
Description................................ . 18 2
Indicato r Light.................... 53 , 18 3
Operation................................... . 18 2
Anti-thef t Steerin g Colum n Loc k . . 7 1
Appearanc e Care.......................... . 261
Audi o System........................ . 121 , 133
Automati c Spee d Control............... . 6 6
Automatic Transmission ................ 174
Capacity , Fluid.......................... . 298
Checking Flui d Level....... . 221 , 22 2
Shifting ....................................... . 17 4
Shif t Leve r Positio n Indicator. . 17 5
Shif t Leve r Positions................ . 17 5
Shif t Loc k Release.................... . 17 8
CONTINUED

Inde
x
Cleanin g
Aluminu m Wheels................... 263
Carpeting .................................. . 264
Exterior....................................... . 262
Fabric......................................... 264
Interior...................................... . 264
Sea t Belts................................... 265
Vinyl........................................... 264
Window...................................... 265
Climat e Contro l System............... . 113
Clock , Settin g th e ............................ 98
Clutc h Fluid.................................. . 225
C O in th e Exhaust........................ . 305
Coi n Box.......................................... . 99
Col d Weather , Startin g in............ . 172
Compac t Spare.............................. . 270
Consol e Compartment................... . 99
Consume r Information*............... . 310
Controls , Instrument s and............. . 49
Coolan t
Adding........................................ . 213
Checking.................................... . 162
Prope r Solution......................... . 213
Temperatur e Gauge................... . 57
Corrosio n Protection.................... . 266
Crankcas
e Emission s Contro l
System........................................ . 30 5
Cruis e Contro l Operation.............. . 6 6
Custome r Relation s Office.......... . 31 0
DANGER , Explanatio n of................ . ii
Dashboard....................................... . 5 0
Daytim e Runnin g Lights................ . 6 1
Dea d Battery , Wha t t o Do........... . 27 8
Defects , Reportin g Safety............ . 31 4
DEXRON ®
II I Automati c
Transmissio n Fluid................... . 22 1
Dimensions.................................... . 29 8
Dimmin g th e Headlights............... . 6 0
Dipstic k
Automati c Transmission. . 221 , 22 2
Engine Oil.................................. . 16 0
Directiona l Signals.......................... . 6 2
Disabled , Towin g You r Ca r If..... . 29 3
Dis c Brak e Wea r Indicators........ . 18 1
Disposa l o f Use d Oil..................... . 21 2
Door s
Lockin g an d Unlocking.............. . 7 2
Powe r Doo r Locks...................... . 7 2 DO
T Tir e Quality Grading ........... 30 1
Downshifting , 5-spee d Manua l
Transmission............................. . 173
Driv e Belts..................................... . 23 9
Drive r an d Passenge r Safety........... . 5
Driving........................................... . 16 9
Economy.................................... . 16 3
I n Ba d Weather......................... . 18 4
I n Foreig n Countries................ . 30 4
Economy , Fuel.............................. . 16 3
Emergencie s o n th e Road............ . 26 9
Battery , Jum p Starting............. . 27 8
Brak e Syste m Indicator........... . 28 6
Changin g a Fla t Tire................ . 27 1
Chargin g Syste m Indicator..... . 28 4
Checkin g th e Fuses.................. . 28 9
Lo w Oi l Pressur e Indicator..... . 28 3
Malfunctio n Indicato r Lamp... . 28 5
Manuall y Closin g Moonroof... . 28 7
Overheate d Engine.................. . 28 1
Emergenc y Brake........................... . 9 7
CONTINUED