
Gauge
s
Tri p Mete r
Thi s mete r show s th e numbe r o f
mile s  (U.S. )  o r kilometer s  (Canada )
drive n sinc e yo u las t rese t it .
Ther e ar e tw o tri p meters : Tri p A
an d Tri p B . Switc h betwee n thes e
display s b y pressin g th e Select /
Rese t butto n repeatedly . Eac h tri p
mete r work s independently , s o yo u
ca n kee p trac k o f tw o differen t
distances .
T o rese t a  tri p meter ,  displa y i t an d
the n pres s an d hol d th e Select/Rese t
butto n unti l th e numbe r reset s t o
"0.0" . Bot h tri p meter s wil l rese t i f
th e vehicle' s batter y goe s dea d o r i s
disconnected .
 Temperatur
e Gaug e
Thi s show s th e temperatur e o f th e
engine' s coolant . Durin g norma l
operation , th e pointe r shoul d ris e
fro m th e botto m whit e mar k t o  abou t
th e middl e o f th e gauge . I n sever e
drivin g conditions , suc h a s ver y ho t
weathe r o r a  lon g perio d o f uphil l
driving , th e pointe r ma y ris e t o nea r
th e uppe r gre y zone . I f i t reache s th e
re d (Hot ) mark , pul l safel y t o  th e
sid e o f th e road . Tur n to  pag e 28 1 fo r
instruction s an d precaution s o n
checkin g th e engine' s coolin g
system .
 Fue
l Gaug e
Thi s show s ho w muc h fue l yo u have .
I t i s mos t accurat e whe n th e ca r i s o n
leve l ground . I t ma y sho w slightl y
mor e o r les s tha n th e  actua l amount
whe n yo u ar e drivin g o n curv y o r
hill y roads .
4-cylinder   models
Th e gaug e stay s a t th e sam e fue l
leve l readin g afte r yo u tur n of f th e
ignition . Whe n yo u ad d fuel , th e
gaug e slowl y change s t o  th e ne w
readin g afte r yo u tur n th e ignitio n
switc h bac k O N  (II).
6-cylinder   models
Th e  needl e return s t o th e botto m
afte r yo u tur n of f th e ignition . Th e
gaug e  show s th e fue l leve l readin g
immediatel y afte r yo u tur n  th e
ignitio n switc h bac k O N  (II) .
Instrument s an d Control s 

Servic
e Statio n Procedure s
4 .  Remov e th e dipstic k agai n an d
chec k th e level . I t shoul d b e
betwee n th e uppe r an d lowe r
marks .
I f i t i s  nea r o r belo w th e lowe r mark ,
se e Addin g Oi l o n pag e 20 8 .
 Engine
  Coolant   Check
Loo k a t th e coolan t leve l i n  th e
radiato r reserv e tank . Mak e sur e it i s
betwee n th e MA X an d MI N lines . I f
i t  i s  belo w th e MI N line ,  se e Addin g
Engin e Coolan t o n pag e 21 3 fo r
informatio n o n addin g th e prope r
coolant .
 Refe
r t o  Owne r Maintenanc e
Check s o n pag e 20 5 fo r informatio n
o n checkin g othe r item s i n  you r
Honda .
Befor e Drivin g
UPPE
R MAR K
LOWE R  MAR K
 RESERV
E TAN K
MAX MA
X
 RESERV
E TAN K
4-cylinde r  model s
 MI
N
 6-cylinde
r  model s
MIN 

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
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 t o 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 .
CONTINUED
Maintenanc e
4-cylinde
r  model sRESERV E TAN K
6-cylinder  model sRESERV
E TAN K 

Coolin
g Syste m
6 . Pou r coolan t int o th e reserv e tank .
Fil l i t t o halfwa y betwee n th e MA X
an d MI N marks . Pu t th e ca p bac k
o n th e reserv e tank . D
o no t ad d an y rus t inhibitor s o r
othe r additive s t o you r car' s coolin g
system . The y ma y no t b e compatibl e
wit h th e coolan t o r engin e compo -
nents .
 Replacin
g Engin e Coolan t
Th e coolin g syste m shoul d b e
completel y draine d an d refille d wit h
ne w coolan t accordin g to  th e tim e
an d distanc e recommendation s i n
th e maintenanc e schedule . Onl y us e
Genuin e Hond a Antifreeze/Coolant .
Drainin g th e coolan t require s acces s
t o  th e undersid e o f th e car . Unles s
yo u hav e th e tool s an d knowledge ,
yo u shoul d hav e thi s maintenanc e
don e b y a  skille d mechanic .
CONTINUED
Maintenanc e
4-cylinde
r  model s
RESERV E TAN K 6-cylinde
r  model s
RESERV E TAN K 

Coolin
g Syste m
6-cylinder   models
3 .  Loosen  the drai n plu g o n th e
botto m  o f th e radiator.  The
coolant  
wil l  drai n throug h  th e
splas h guard .  Loosen  the 
 drain
bolt . 4
.  Remove  the 
 reserv
e tan k fro m its
holde r b y pullin g it straigh t up .
Drain  the coolant,  then pu t th e
tan k bac k i n  it s holder .
 6-cylinder
  models
Whe n removin g th e reserv e tank ,
firs t remov e th e cruis e contro l cabl e
an d th e groun d cabl e fro m thei r clips .
Afte r installin g th e tan k bac k i n
place , pu t th e cable s bac k in  thei r
clips .
CONTINUED
Maintenanc e
DRAI
N PLU G
6-cylinde r  model s
DRAI
N  BOL T
 RESERV
E TAN KRESERV
E TAN K CA P
6-cylinde r  model s
4-cylinde r  model s
 HOLDER 

Specification
s*  1  :  Including the coolant in  the reserve tank and that remaining in  the
engine. Reserv
e tan k capacity :  0.1 6  U S ga l  (0, 6  ,0.1 3  Im p gal )
*  2  :  Excluding the oil  remaining in  the engine.
*  3  :  6-cylinder models
Technica l  Informatio n
*  :  6-cylinder  models
*    :  6-cylinder models 

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