Page 197 of 293
Coolin
g Syste m
4 . Remov e th e reserv e tan k fro m it s
holde r b y pullin g it straigh t up .
Drai n th e coolant , the n pu t th e
tan k bac k i n it s holder . 5
. Whe n th e coolan t stop s draining ,
tighte n th e drai n plu g a t th e
botto m o f th e radiator .
6 . 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:
0.8
2 U S ga l (3. 1 , 0.6 8 Im p gal )
With automatic transmission:
(U.S. : DX , D X Valu e Package , LX ,
Canada : LX , SE , EX ) 0.7
9 U S ga l (3. 0 ,0.6 6 Im p gal )
(U.S. : EX ) 0.8
5 U S ga l (3. 2 ,0.7 0 Im p gal ) 7
. Pou r coolan t int o th e radiato r u p
t o th e bas e o f th e fille r neck . Star t
th e engin e an d le t i t ru n fo r abou t
3 0 seconds . The n tur n of f th e
engine .
Maintenanc e
RESERV
E
TAN K
RESERV
E
TAN K CA P
HOLDE R
FILLE
R NEC K
Fil l u p to her e
Page 198 of 293
Coolin
g Syste m
8 . Chec k th e leve l i n th e radiator ,
ad d coolan t i f needed .
9 . Fil l th e reserv e tan k t o th e MA X
mark . Instal l th e reserv e tan k cap .
10.Instal l th e radiato r cap , an d
tighte n it t o th e firs t stop .
11.Start th e engin e an d le t i t ru n unti l
th e radiato r fa n come s o n tw o
times . The n sto p th e engine .
12.Remov e th e radiato r cap . Fil l th e
radiato r wit h coolan t u p t o th e
bas e o f th e fille r neck . 13.Star
t th e engin e an d hol d it a t
1,50 0 rp m unti l th e radiato r fa n
come s on . Tur n of f th e engine .
Chec k th e coolan t leve l i n th e
radiato r an d ad d coolan t i f needed .
14.Instal l th e radiato r cap , an d
tighte n i t fully .
15.I f necessary , fil l th e reserv e tan k
t o th e MA X mark . Instal l th e
reserv e tan k cap .
Maintenanc e
RESERV
E TAN K
Page 199 of 293

Windshiel
d Washer s
Chec k th e leve l i n th e windshiel d
washe r reservoi r a t leas t monthl y
durin g norma l usage . I n ba d weather ,
whe n yo u us e th e washer s often ,
chec k th e leve l ever y tim e yo u sto p
fo r fuel .
Th e windshiel d washe r reservoi r i s
locate d behin d th e driver' s sid e
headlight . Chec k th e reservoir' s flui d
leve l b y removin g th e ca p an d
lookin g a t th e leve l gaug e attache d
t o th e cap .
On Canadian models
Th e lo w washe r leve l indicato r wil l
ligh t whe n th e leve l i s lo w (se e pag e
56 ).
Fil
l th e reservoi r wit h a good-qualit y
windshiel d washe r fluid . Thi s
increase s th e cleanin g capabilit y an d
prevent s freezin g i n col d weather .Whe
n yo u refil l th e reservoir , clea n
th e edge s o f th e windshiel d wipe r
blade s wit h windshiel d washe r flui d
o n a clea n cloth . Thi s wil l hel p to
conditio n th e blad e edges .
Do not use engine antifreeze or a
vinegar/water solution in the windshield washer reservoir.
Antifreeze can damage your car's paint, while a vinegar/water solution can
damage the windshield washer pump.
Use only commercially-available
windshield washer fluid.
Maintenanc e
LEVE
L GAUG E
NOTICE
Page 200 of 293

Transmissio
n Flui d
Chec k th e flui d leve l wit h th e engin e
a t norma l operatin g temperature .
1 . Par k th e ca r o n leve l ground . Shu t
of f th e engine .
2 . Remov e th e dipstic k (yello w loop )
fro m th e transmissio n an d wip e it
wit h a clea n cloth . 3
. Inser t th e dipstic k al l th e wa y int o
th e transmissio n securel y a s
show n in th e illustration .
4 . Remov e th e dipstic k an d chec k
th e flui d level . I t shoul d b e
betwee n th e uppe r an d lowe r
marks .
5
. I f th e leve l i s belo w th e lowe r
mark , ad d flui d int o th e fille r hol e
t o brin g it t o th e uppe r mark .
Alway s us e Hond a Premiu m
Formul a Automati c Transmissio n
Flui d (ATF) . I f i t i s no t available ,
yo u ma y us e a DEXRON ® II I
automati c transmissio n flui d a s a
temporar y replacement . However ,
continue d us e ca n affec t shif t
quality . Hav e th e transmissio n
draine d an d refille d wit h Hond a
AT F a s soo n a s it i s convenient .
6 . Inser t th e dipstic k al l th e wa y bac k
int o th e transmissio n securel y a s
show n in th e illustration .
Th e transmissio n shoul d b e draine d
an d refille d wit h ne w flui d accordin g
t o th e tim e an d distanc e recommen -
dation s i n th e maintenanc e schedule .
Maintenanc e
Automati
c Transmissio n
DIPSTIC K
UPPER
MAR K
LOWE R
MAR K
Page 207 of 293
Spar
k Plug s
5 . Torqu e th e spar k plug . (I f yo u d o
no t hav e a torqu e wrench , tighte n
th e spar k plu g two-third s o f a tur n
afte r i t contact s th e cylinde r head. )
Tightenin g torque :
1 3 lbf·f t (1 8 N·m,1. 8 kgf·m )
Tighten the spark plugs carefully. A
spark plug that is too loose can
overheat and damage the engine. Overtightening can cause damage to
the threads in the cylinder head.
6 . Instal l th e spar k plu g cap .
7 . Repea t thi s procedur e fo r th e
othe r thre e spar k plugs . Specifications
:
NGK :
DENSO :
ZFR5F-1
1
KJ16CR-L1 1
Spar k Plu g Gap :
0.0 4 in
(1. 1
mm )
Maintenanc e
NOTIC
E
Page 212 of 293

Ai
r Conditionin g Syste m
Optional for U.S. DX, and Canadian LX,
EX models
You r car' s ai r conditionin g is a seale d
system . An y majo r maintenance ,
suc h a s recharging , shoul d b e don e
b y a qualifie d mechanic . Yo u ca n d o
a coupl e o f thing s t o mak e sur e th e
ai r conditionin g work s efficiently .
AI R CONDITIONIN G
CONDENSE R Periodicall
y chec k th e engine' s
radiato r an d ai r conditionin g
condense r fo r leaves , insects , an d
dir t stuc k t o th e fron t surface . Thes e
bloc k th e ai r flo w an d reduc e coolin g
efficiency . Us e a ligh t spra y fro m a
hos e o r a sof t brus h to remov e them .
The condenser and radiator fins bend
easily. Only use a low-pressure spray or soft-bristle brush to clean them.
Ru n th e ai r conditionin g a t leas t onc e
a wee k durin g th e col d weathe r
months . Ru n it fo r a t leas t te n
minute s whil e yo u ar e drivin g a t a
stead y spee d wit h th e engin e a t
norma l operatin g temperature . Thi s
circulate s th e lubricatin g oi l con -
taine d in th e refrigerant . I
f th e ai r conditionin g doe s no t ge t a s
col d a s before , hav e you r deale r
chec k th e system . Recharg e th e
syste m wit h Refrigeran t HFC-134 a
(R-134a) . (Se e Specification s o n pag e
265 .)
Whenever you have the air conditioning
system serviced, make sure the service
facility uses a refrigerant recycling
system. This system captures the
refrigerant for reuse. Releasing
refrigerant into the atmosphere can
damage the environment.
Maintenance
NOTIC
E
NOTIC E
Page 224 of 293

Light
s
3 . Remov e th e rubbe r weathe r sea l
b y pullin g o n th e tab .
4 . Uncli p th e en d o f th e hold-dow n
wir e fro m its slot . Pivo t i t ou t o f
th e wa y an d remov e th e bulb .
5 . Inser t th e ne w bul b int o th e hole ,
makin g sur e th e tab s ar e in thei r
slots . Pivo t th e hold-dow n wir e
bac k in plac e an d cli p th e en d int o
th e slot .
6 . Instal l th e rubbe r sea l ove r th e
bac k o f th e headligh t assembly .
Mak e sur e it i s righ t sid e up ; i t i s
marke d "TOP. "
Replacin
g th e Fron t Sid e Marker /
Tur n Signa l an d Parkin g Ligh t
Bul b
1 . I f yo u ar e changin g th e bul b o n
th e driver' s side , star t th e engine ,
tur n th e steerin g whee l al l th e wa y
t o th e right , an d tur n of f th e
engine . I f yo u ar e changin g th e
bul b o n th e passenger' s side , tur n
th e steerin g whee l t o th e left .
CONTINUED
Maintenanc e
7
. Pus h th e electrica l connecto r ont o
th e tab s o f th e ne w bulb . Mak e
sur e it lock s i n place .
Tur n o n th e headlight s t o tes t th e
ne w bulb .
8 . (Driver' s side )
Reinstal l th e powe r steerin g
reservoir .
Page 247 of 293

I
f You r Engin e Won' t Star t
Diagnosin g wh y you r engin e won' t
star t fall s int o tw o areas , dependin g
o n wha t yo u hea r whe n yo u tur n th e
ke y t o STAR T (III) :
Yo u hea r nothing , o r almos t
nothing . Th e engine' s starte r
moto r doe s no t operat e a t all , o r
operate s ver y slowly .
Yo u ca n hea r th e starte r moto r
operatin g normally , o r th e starte r
moto r sound s lik e it i s spinnin g
faste r tha n normal , bu t th e engin e
doe s no t star t u p an d run . 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 to
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 :
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 t o 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 24 5 .
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 259 .)
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 205 ). 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 245 ).
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d