
Key
s an d Lock s
Replacing the Battery
Whe n th e remot e transmitter' s
batter y begin s t o  ge t weak , i t ma y
tak e severa l pushe s o n th e butto n to
loc k o r unloc k th e doors , an d th e
LE D wil l ge t dim . Replac e th e
batter y a s soo n a s possible .
Batter y type : CR202 5 T
o  replac e th e battery ,  remov e th e
roun d cove r o n th e bac k o f th e trans -
mitte r b y turnin g  i t  counterclockwis e
wit h a  coin .
Remov e th e ol d batter y an d not e th e
polarity.   Make  sur e th e polarit y o f
th e  ne w batter y i s th e  sam e  ( +  sid e
facin g up) , the n inser t i t i n  th e
transmitter . Reinstal
l th e cushio n ring . Alig n th e
mar k o n th e cove r wit h th e
mar k o n th e transmitter ,
the n se t th e cove r i n  plac e an d tur n it
clockwise .
Afte r th e batter y is  changed , th e
transmitte r mus t b e synchronize d
wit h th e mai n unit . Wit h th e door s
an d trun k li d closed,  press eithe r th e
LOC K o r UNLOC K butto n si x times .
Instrument s an d Control s
Ope
n
Clos e
 ROUN
D
COVE R
CUSHIO N
RIN G
BATTER Y 

Audi
o Syste m
AM/FM/C D Audi o Syste m
On U.S. DX Value Package and EX
models
You r Honda' s audi o syste m provide s
clea r receptio n o n bot h A M  an d F M
bands , whil e th e prese t button s allo w
yo u to  easil y selec t you r favorit e
stations .
Th e anti-thef t featur e wil l disabl e th e
syste m if i t i s disconnecte d fro m th e
car' s battery . T o ge t th e syste m
workin g again , yo u mus t ente r a
cod e numbe r  (se e pag e 139 ).
Comfort an d Convenienc e Feature s 

Startin
g th e Engin e
1 . Appl y th e parkin g brake .
2 . I n  col d weather , tur n of f al l
electrica l accessorie s t o  reduc e
th e drai n o n th e battery .
3 . Manual Transmission:
Pus h th e clutc h peda l dow n al l th e
way . STAR T (III )  doe s no t
functio n unles s th e clutc h peda l i s
depressed .
Automatic Transmission:
 Mak e sur e th e shif t leve r i s  in
Park . Pres s o n th e brak e pedal .
4 . Withou t touchin g th e accelerato r
pedal , tur n th e ignitio n ke y to  th e
STAR T (III ) position . I f th e engin e
doe s no t star t righ t away , d o no t
hol d th e ke y in  STAR T (III ) fo r
mor e tha n 1 5 second s a t a  time .
Paus e fo r a t leas t 1 0 second s
befor e tryin g again .
 5
. I f th e engin e doe s no t star t withi n
1 5  seconds , o r start s bu t stall s
righ t away , repea t ste p 4  wit h th e
accelerato r peda l presse d half-wa y
down . I f th e engin e starts , releas e
pressur e o n th e accelerato r peda l
s o  th e engin e doe s no t race .
6 . I f th e engin e stil l doe s no t start ,
pres s th e accelerato r peda l al l th e
wa y dow n an d hol d it ther e whil e
startin g in  orde r t o  clea r flooding .
A s before , kee p th e ignitio n ke y in
th e STAR T (III )  positio n fo r n o
mor e tha n 1 5 seconds . Retur n to
ste p 5  if th e engin e doe s no t start .
I f i t  starts , lif t you r foo t  of f th e
accelerato r peda l s o th e engin e
doe s no t race .
Startin g in  Col d Weathe r a t Hig h
Altitude (Above 8,000 feet/
2,40 0 meters )
A n 
 engin
e is  harde r t o  star t i n  col d
weather . Th e thinne r ai r foun d a t
hig h altitud e abov e 8,00 0 fee t (2,40 0 meters
)  add s t o  th e problem .
Us e th e followin g procedure :
1 . Tur n of f al l electrica l accessorie s
t o  reduc e th e drai n o n th e battery .
2 . Pus h th e accelerato r peda l half -
wa y t o  th e floo r an d hol d it ther e
whil e startin g th e engine . D o no t
hol d th e ignitio n ke y in  STAR T
(III ) fo r mor e tha n 1 5 seconds .
Whe n th e engin e starts , releas e
th e accelerato r peda l graduall y a s
th e engin e speed s u p an d smooth s
out .
3 . I f th e engin e fail s t o  star t i n  ste p 2 ,
pus h th e accelerato r peda l t o  th e
floo r an d hol d it ther e whil e yo u
tr y t o  star t th e engin e fo r n o mor e
tha n 1 5 seconds . I f th e engin e
doe s no t start , retur n to  ste p 2 .
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 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 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 27 9 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...................... .  17 4
Importan t Safet y Precautions. .  17 5
Maintenanc e Schedule................. . 17 6
Maintenanc e Record.................... . 18 3
Owne r Maintenanc e Checks....... .  18 5
Flui d Locations.............................. . 18 6
Engin e Oil...................................... . 18 7
Addin g Oil.................................. . 18 7
Recommende d Oil.................... .  18 7
Syntheti c Oil.............................. . 18 8
Additives.................................... . 18 8
Changin g th e Oi l an d Filter..... .  18 9
Coolin g System............................. . 19 1
Addin g Engin e Coolant............ .  19 1
Replacin g Engin e Coolant....... .  19 3
Windshiel d Washers.................... . 19 6
Transmissio n Fluid....................... .  19 7
Automati c
Transmission......................... . 19 7
5-spee d Manua l
Transmission......................... . 19 8
Brak e an d Clutc h Fluid................ . 19 8
Brak e System............................ . 19 9
Clutc h System........................... . 19 9
Powe r Steering.............................. . 20 0
Ai r Cleane r Element..................... .  20 1 Hoo
d Latch.................................... .  20 2
Spar k  Plugs.................................... .  20 3
Replacement.............................. . 20 3
Specifications............................ .  20 4
Battery........................................... . 20 5
Wipe r  Blades................................. .  20 7
Ai r  Conditionin g  System.............. .  20 9
Driv e  Belts..................................... .  21 0
Timin g Belt.................................... . 21 0
Tires............................................... .  21 1
Inflation...................................... .  21 1
Recommende d Tir e Pressure s
fo r Norma l Driving........... .  21 2
Tir e Pressur e Adjustmen t fo r
Hig h Spee d Driving.......... .  21 2
Inspection.................................. .  21 3
Maintenance.............................. .  21 3
Tir e  Rotation............................. .  21 4
Replacin g Tire s an d Wheels... . 21 5
Wheel s  an d Tires...................... .  21 6
Winte r Driving.......................... .  21 6
Sno w Tires............................. . 21 6
Tir e  Chains............................ .  21 7
Lights............................................. .  21 8
Replacin g Bulbs........................ .  22 0
Storin g You r Car........................... . 22 9
Maintenanc e 

Batter
y
Chec k th e conditio n o f you r car' s
batter y monthly . Yo u shoul d chec k
th e colo r o f th e tes t indicato r window ,
an d fo r corrosio n o n th e terminals .
Check th e batter y conditio n b y
lookin g a t th e tes t indicato r windo w
o n th e battery .
Th e labe l o n th e batter y explain s th e
tes t indicator' s colors . Chec
k th e batter y terminal s fo r
corrosio n  ( a whit e o r yellowis h
powder) . T o remov e it , cove r th e
terminal s wit h a  solutio n o f bakin g
sod a an d water . I t wil l bubbl e u p an d
tur n brown . Whe n thi s stops , was h it
of f wit h plai n water . Dr y of f th e
batter y wit h a  clot h o r pape r towel .
Coa t th e terminal s wit h greas e t o
hel p preven t futur e corrosion .
CONTINUED
Maintenanc e
TES
T  INDICATO R  WINDO W 

Batter
y
I f th e terminal s  ar e  severel y cor -
roded , clea n the m wit h bakin g sod a
an d water . The n us e a  wrenc h to
loose n an d remov e th e cable s fro m
th e terminals . Alway s  disconnec t th e
negativ e  (— )  cabl e firs t  an d recon -
nec t i t last .  Clea n th e batter y termi -
nal s wit h a  termina l cleanin g too l o r
wir e brush .  Reconnec t an d tighte n
th e cables , the n coa t th e terminal s
wit h grease . I
f yo u nee d t o connec t th e batter y t o
a  charger , disconnec t bot h cable s t o
preven t damag e t o th e car' s
electrica l system .
 Charging the battery with the cables
connected can seriously damage your
car's electronic controls. Detach the
battery cables before connecting the
 battery to a charger.
On U.S. DX Value Package and EX
models
I f you r  car' s  batter y  i s  disconnecte d
o r  goe s  dead , th e  audi o  syste m wil l
disabl e  itself . Th e  nex t tim e  yo u  tur n o
n th e radi o yo u wil l  se e  "   "
i n  th e  frequenc y  display .  Us e  th e
Prese t  button s  t o  ente r  th e  five-digi t
cod e  (se e  pag e 13 9  ) .
Maintenanc e
 Th
e  batter y give s  of f explosiv e
hydroge n ga s durin g norma l
operation .
A  spar k o r flam e ca n caus e th e
batter y t o explod e wit h enoug h
forc e t o kil l o r seriousl y hur t you .
Wea r protectiv e clothin g an d  a
fac e shield , o r hav e a  skille d
mechani c d o th e  batter y
maintenance .
 NOTIC
E 

Storin
g You r Ca r
I f yo u  nee d t o  par k you r  ca r fo r  a n
extende d perio d  (mor e tha n  on e
month) ,  ther e  ar e  severa l thing s yo u
shoul d  d o t o  prepar e  i t fo r  storage .
Prope r  preparatio n  help s  preven t
deterioratio n  an d  make s  i t  easie r  t o
ge t you r  ca r bac k  o n  th e  road .  I f
possible ,  stor e you r  ca r  indoors .
Fil l th e fue l tank .
Chang e th e  engin e  oi l  an d filte r
(se e  pag e 189 ).
Was h  an d  dr y th e  exterio r
completely .
Clea n th e interior .  Mak e  sur e  th e
carpeting , floo r mats ,  etc .  ar e
completel y  dry .
Leav e  th e  parkin g brak e  off .  Pu t th
e  transmissio n  i n  Revers e  (5 -
spee d  manual )  o r  Par k
(automatic) . Bloc
k th e rea r wheels .
I f th e ca r i s t o b e store d fo r a
longe r period , i t shoul d b e
supporte d o n jackstand s s o th e
tire s ar e of f th e ground .
Leav e on e windo w ope n slightl y  (i f
th e ca r i s bein g store d indoors) .
Disconnec t th e battery .
Suppor t th e fron t wipe r blad e
arm s wit h a  folde d towe l o r ra g s o
the y d o no t touc h th e windshield . T
o minimiz e sticking ,  appl y a
silicon e  spra y lubrican t t o al l doo r
an d trun k seals . Also , appl y a
vehicl e bod y wa x t o th e painte d
surface s tha t mat e wit h th e doo r
an d trun k seals . Cove
r th e ca r wit h a  "breathable "
cover , on e mad e fro m a porou s
materia l suc h a s cotton .
Nonporou s materials , suc h a s
plasti c sheeting , tra p moisture ,
whic h ca n damag e th e paint . I
f possible , ru n th e engin e fo r a
whil e periodicall y  (preferabl y onc e
a  month) .
I f yo u stor e you r ca r fo r 1 2 month s
o r longer , hav e you r Hond a deale r
perfor m th e inspection s calle d fo r i n
th e 2 4 months/30,00 0 mile s  (48,00 0
km )  maintenanc e schedul e (Norma l
Conditions ) a s soo n a s yo u tak e it
ou t o f storag e  (se e pag e 178 ). Th e
replacement s calle d fo r i n  th e
maintenanc e schedul e ar e no t
neede d unles s th e ca r ha s actuall y
reache d tha t tim e o r mileage .
Maintenanc e 

I
f  You r Engin e Won' t Start , Jum p Startin g
Th e Starte r Operate s Normall y
I n  thi s case , th e starte r motor' s
spee d sound s normal , o r eve n faste r
tha n normal , whe n yo u tur n th e
ignitio n switc h t o STAR T (III) , bu t
th e engin e doe s no t run . Ar
e yo u usin g th e prope r startin g
procedure ? Refe r t o Startin g th e
Engin e o n pag e 157 . D
o yo u hav e fuel ? Tur n th e
ignitio n switc h t o O N  (II ) fo r a
minut e an d watc h th e fue l gauge .
Th e lo w fue l leve l warnin g ligh t
ma y no t b e working , s o yo u wer e
no t reminde d t o fil l th e tank . Ther
e ma y b e a n electrica l
problem , suc h a s n o powe r t o  th e
fue l pump .  Chec k al l th e fuse s
(se e pag e 255 ).
I f yo u fin d nothin g wrong , yo u wil l
nee d a  qualifie d technicia n to  fin d
th e problem .  Se e Emergenc y
Towin g o n pag e 25 9 . Jum
p Startin g
I f you r car' s batter y ha s ru n down ,
yo u ma y b e abl e to  star t th e engin e
b y usin g a  booste r battery . Althoug h
thi s seem s lik e a  simpl e procedure ,
yo u shoul d tak e severa l precautions .
Yo u canno t star t a  Hond a wit h a n
automati c transmissio n b y pushin g
o r pullin g it . T
o jum p  star t you r  car ,  follo w thes e
direction s  closely :
1 .  Ope n th e hoo d an d chec k th e
physica l  conditio n  o f th e  batter y
(se e  pag e 205 ).  I n ver y col d
weather ,  chec k th e  conditio n  o f
th e  electrolyte .  I f i t  seem s  slush y
o r lik e ice ,  d o no t tr y jum p startin g
unti l i t  thaws .
If a battery sits in extreme cold, the
 electrolyte inside can freeze.
Attempting to jump start with a frozen
 battery can cause it to rupture.
2. Tur n  of f al l th e electrica l  acces -
sories :  heater , A/C ,  stere o  system ,
lights ,  etc .
Pu t th e transmissio n in  Neutra l o r
Par k  an d  se t th e parkin g brake .
CONTINUED
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
A
 batter y ca n  explod e  i f yo u  d o
no t follo w th e correc t procedure ,
seriousl y injurin g anyon e
nearby .
Kee p ai l sparks , ope n flames ,
an d smokin g material s awa y
fro m th e battery .
 NOTIC
E