Page 153 of 329

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 i s 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 i t
fro m th e cassett e o r i t coul d caus e
th e cassett e t o ja m in th e player .
Neve r tr y t o inser t a warpe d o r
damage d cassett e i n 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 .
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s
Page 156 of 329

Securit
y Syste m
On SE, EX and EX- 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 fron t 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 . SECURIT
Y SYSTE M LIGH T
Onc e th e securit y syste m is set ,
openin g an y 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 radi o 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 withou t
triggerin g th e alarm . Th e alar m wil l
soun d if th e trun k loc k is forced , o r
th e trun k is 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 an y 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 53 ), 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
Page 161 of 329
Servic
e Statio n Procedure s
Openin g th e Hoo d
1 . Shif t t o Par k o r Neutra l an d se t
th e parkin g brake . Pul l th e hoo d
releas e handl e locate d unde r th e
lowe r lef t corne r o f th e dashboard .
Th e hoo d wil l po p u p slightly . 2
. Standin g in fron t o f th e car , pu t
you r finger s unde r th e fron t edg e
o f th e hoo d t o th e righ t o f center .
Slid e you r han d t o th e lef t unti l
yo u fee l th e hoo d latc h handle .
Pus h thi s handl e u p unti l i t
release s th e hood . Lif t th e hood . I
f yo u ca n ope n th e hoo d withou t
liftin g th e hoo d latc h handle , o r th e
hoo d latc h handl e move s stiffl y o r
doe s no t sprin g bac k a s before , th e
mechanis m shoul d b e cleane d an d
lubricate d (se e pag e 22 9 ) .
Befor e Drivin g
HOO
D RELEAS E HANDL E
LATC
H
Page 162 of 329
Servic
e Statio n Procedure s
SUPPOR T RO D
4-cylinder models
3 . Pul l th e suppor t ro d ou t o f it s cli p
an d inser t th e en d int o th e hol e o n
th e fron t o f th e hoo d aroun d th e
center .
T
o clos e th e hood , lif t i t u p slightl y t o
remov e th e suppor t ro d fro m th e
hole . Pu t th e suppor t ro d bac k int o
it s holdin g clip . Lowe r th e hoo d t o
abou t a foo t (3 0 cm ) abov e th e
fender , the n le t i t drop .
Afte r closin g th e hood , mak e sur e it
i s securel y latched .
6-cylinder models
3 . Lif t th e hoo d u p mos t o f th e way .
Th e hydrauli c support s wil l lif t i t
u p th e res t o f th e wa y an d hol d it
up .
CONTINUED
Befor e Drivin g
Page 167 of 329

Accessorie
s an d Modification s
Modifyin g you r car , o r installin g
som e non-Hond a accessories , ca n
mak e you r ca r unsafe . Befor e yo u
mak e an y modification s o r ad d an y
accessories , b e sur e t o rea d th e
followin g information .
Accessorie s
You r deale r ha s Genuin e Hond a
accessorie s tha t allo w yo u t o
personaliz e you r car . Thes e
accessorie s hav e bee n designe d an d
approve d fo r you r car , an d ar e
covere d b y warranty .
Non-Hond a accessorie s ar e usuall y
designe d fo r universa l applications .
Althoug h aftermarke t accessorie s
ma y fi t o n you r car , the y ma y no t
mee t factor y specifications , an d
coul d adversel y affec t you r car' s
handlin g an d stability . (Se e
"Modifications " o n th e pag e 16 5 fo r
additiona l information. ) Whe
n properl y installed , cellula r
phones , alarms , two-wa y radios , an d
low-powere d audi o system s shoul d
no t interfer e wit h you r car' s
computer-controlle d systems , suc h
a s th e SR S an d anti-loc k brak e
system .
However , i f electroni c accessorie s
ar e improperl y installed , o r excee d
you r car' s electrica l syste m capacity ,
the y ca n interfer e wit h th e operatio no
f you r car , o r eve n caus e th e
airbag s t o deploy .
Befor e installin g an y accessory :
Mak e sur e th e accessor y doe s no t
obscur e an y lights , o r interfer e
wit h prope r ca r operatio n o r
performance .
B e sur e electroni c accessorie s d o
no t overloa d electrica l circuit s
(se e pag e 288 ).
Hav e th e installe r contac t you r
Hond a deale r fo r assistanc e befor e
installin g an y electroni c accessory .
I f possible , hav e you r deale r inspect
th e fina l installation .
Befor e Drivin g
Imprope
r accessorie s o r
modification s ca n affec t you r
car' s handling , stabilit y an d
performance , an d caus e a
cras h i n whic h yo u ca n b e hur t
o r killed .
Follo w al l instruction s i n thi s
owner' s manua l regardin g
accessorie s an d modifications .
Page 169 of 329
Carryin
g Carg o
CONSOL E COMPARTMEN T
TRUN K
SEAT-BACK POCKE T
GLOVE BO X
You
r ca r ha s severa l convenien t
storag e area s s o yo u ca n sto w carg o
safely .
Th e glov e box , an d th e pocket s in
th e fron t door s an d seat-backs , ar e
designe d fo r small , lightweigh t items .
Th e trun k i s intende d fo r larger ,
heavie r items . I n addition , th e bac k
sea t ca n b e folde d dow n to allo w yo u
t o carr y mor e carg o o r longe r items .
However , carryin g to o muc h cargo ,
o r improperl y storin g it , ca n affec t
you r car' s handling , stabilit y an d
operatio n an d mak e it unsafe . Befor e
carryin g an y typ e o f cargo , b e sur e to
rea d th e followin g pages .
Befor e Drivin g
FRON
T DOO R POCKE T
Page 173 of 329

Preparin
g to Driv e
Yo u shoul d d o th e followin g check s
an d adjustment s ever y da y befor e
yo u driv e you r car .
1 . Mak e sur e al l windows , mirrors ,
an d outsid e light s ar e clea n an d
unobstructed . Remov e frost , snow ,
o r ice .
2 . Chec k tha t th e hoo d an d trun k ar e
full y closed .
3 . Visuall y chec k th e tires . I f a tir e
look s low , us e a gaug e t o chec k it s
pressure .
4 . Chec k tha t an y item s yo u ma y b e
carryin g wit h yo u insid e ar e store d
properl y o r fastene d dow n
securely .
5
. Chec k th e adjustmen t o f th e sea t
(se e pag e 8 4).
6 . Chec k th e adjustmen t o f th e
insid e an d outsid e mirror s (se e
pag e 9 5).
7 . Chec k th e adjustmen t o f th e
steerin g whee l (se e pag e 65 ).
8 . Mak e sur e th e door s ar e securel y
close d an d locked .
9 . Faste n you r sea t belt . Chec k tha t
you r passenger s hav e fastene d
thei r sea t belt s (se e pag e 14 ). 10.Tur
n th e ignitio n switc h O N (II) .
Chec k th e indicato r light s i n th e
instrumen t panel .
11.Star t th e engin e (se e pag e 171 ).
12 . Chec k th e gauge s an d indicato r
light s i n th e instrumen t pane l (se e
pag e 51 ).
Drivin g
Page 183 of 329

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 brak e
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 door s wit h th e ke y o r th e
remot e transmitter .
On SE, EX and EX-V6 models
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 t o catc h o n
fire .
Drivin g