Off-Highwa
y Guideline s
Drivin g Tip s
Th e followin g page s contai n practica l
tip s o n basi c off-highwa y operation .
Check Out Your Vehicle
Drivin g off-highwa y ca n b e har d o n a
vehicle . Befor e yo u leav e th e
pavement , b e sur e al l schedule d
maintenanc e an d servic e ha s bee n
done , an d tha t yo u hav e inspecte d
you r vehicle . Pa y specia l attentio n to
th e conditio n o f th e tires , an d us e a
gaug e t o chec k th e tir e pressures .
Afte r yo u retur n t o th e pavement ,
carefull y inspec t you r vehicl e t o
mak e sur e ther e is n o damag e tha t
coul d mak e drivin g it unsafe . Chec k
th e tire s fo r damag e an d fo r prope r
pressure .
Controlling Speed
Off-highway , th e genera l rul e i s t o
kee p you r spee d low . O f course ,
you'l l nee d enoug h spee d t o kee p
movin g forward . Bu t a t highe r
speeds , yo u hav e les s tim e to asses s
condition s an d mak e goo d decisions .
There' s als o a greate r chanc e o f
slidin g if yo u brak e o r tur n to o
quickl y o n we t soil , gravel , o r ice . I n
an y situation , neve r g o faste r tha n
condition s allow .
Accelerating and Braking
Fo r bette r tractio n o n al l surfaces ,
accelerat e slowl y an d graduall y buil d
u p speed . I f yo u tr y t o star t to o fas t
o n we t soil , mud , snow , o r ice , yo u
migh t no t hav e enoug h tractio n t o
ge t underway . Yo u ma y eve n di g
yoursel f int o a hole .
Generally , th e bes t off-pavemen t
brakin g techniqu e is t o gentl y
depres s th e brak e pedal , the n
increas e pressur e a s mor e brakin g is
needed . Avoi d har d braking . Kee p in
min d tha t yo u wil l usuall y nee d mor e
tim e an d distanc e t o brak e t o a sto p
o n unpave d surfaces .
Tes t you r brake s fro m tim e t o tim e
t o mak e sur e the y ar e operatin g
properly . Thi s wil l als o giv e yo u a
fee l fo r ho w muc h tractio n yo u hav e
o n a give n surface .
Drivin g
Maintenanc
e
Thi s sectio n explain s wh y i t i s
importan t t o kee p you r vehicl e 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 29 3 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...................... . 18 4
Importan t Safet y Precautions. . 18 5
Maintenanc e Schedule................. . 18 6 Require
d Maintenanc e Record... . 19 3
Owne r Maintenanc e Checks....... . 19 5
Flui d Locations.............................. . 19 6
Engin e Oil...................................... . 19 7
Addin g Oil.................................. . 19 7
Recommende d Oil.................... . 19 7
Syntheti c Oil.............................. . 19 8
Additives.................................... . 19 8
Changin g th e Oi l an d Filter..... . 19 9
Coolin g System............................. . 20 1
Addin g Engin e Coolant............ . 20 1
Replacin g Engin e Coolant....... . 20 3
Windshiel d Washers.................... . 20 6
Transmissio n Fluid....................... . 20 7
Automati c Transmission.......... . 20 7
5-spee d Manua l
Transmission......................... . 20 8
Rea r Differentia l Fluid................. . 20 9
Brak e an d Clutc h Fluid................ . 21 0
Brak e System............................ . 21 0
Clutc h System........................... . 21 1
Powe r Steering.............................. . 21 1
Ai r Cleane r Element..................... . 21 2
Hoo d Latch.................................... . 21 3
Spar k Plugs.................................... . 21 3
Replacement.............................. . 21 3
Specifications............................
. 21 4
Battery........................................... . 21 5
Wipe r Blades................................. . 21 7
Ai r Conditionin g System.............. . 21 9
Ai r Conditionin g Filter................. . 22 0
Driv e Belts..................................... . 22 0
Timin g Belt.................................... . 22 1
Tires............................................... . 22 1
Inflation...................................... . 22 1
Recommende d Tir e
Pressure s fo r Norma l
Driving........................... . 22 2
Inspection.................................. . 22 3
Maintenance.............................. . 22 3
Tir e Rotation............................. . 22 4
Replacin g Tire s an d Wheels... . 22 5
Wheel s an d Tires...................... . 22 6
Winte r Driving.......................... . 22 6
Sno w Tires............................. . 22 6
Tir e Chains............................ . 22 7
Lights............................................. . 22 8
Headligh t Aiming..................... . 23 0
Replacin g Bulbs........................ . 23 2
Storin g You r Vehicle.................... . 23 9
Maintenanc e
Lo
w Oi l Pressur e Indicato r
LO W OI L PRESSUR E INDICATO R
Thi s indicato r shoul d ligh t whe n th e
ignitio n switc h is O N (II) , an d g o ou t
afte r th e engin e starts . I t shoul d
neve r com e o n whe n th e engin e is
running . I f i t start s flashing , i t
indicate s tha t th e oi l pressur e
droppe d ver y lo w fo r a moment , the n
recovered . I f th e indicato r stay s o n
wit h th e engin e running , i t show s
tha t th e engin e ha s los t oi l pressur e
an d seriou s engin e damag e is
possible . I n eithe r case , yo u shoul d
tak e immediat e action . Running
the engine with low oil
pressure can cause serious mechanicl
damage almost immediately. Turn off
the engine as soon as you can safely get
the vehicle .stopped.
1 . Safel y pul l of f th e roa d an d shu t
of f th e engine . Tur n o n th e hazar d
warnin g indicators .
2 . Le t th e vehicl e si t fo r a minute .
Ope n th e hoo d an d chec k th e oi l
leve l (se e pag e 143 ). Althoug h oi l
leve l an d oi l pressur e ar e no t
directl y connected , a n engin e tha t
i s ver y lo w o n oi l ca n los e pressur e
durin g cornerin g an d othe r drivin g
maneuvers .
3
. I f necessary , ad d oi l t o brin g th e
leve l bac k t o th e ful l mar k o n th e
dipstic k (se e pag e 197 ).
4 . Star t th e engin e an d watc h th e oi l
pressur e indicator . I f th e ligh t
doe s no t g o ou t withi n te n seconds ,
tur n of f th e engine . Ther e is a
mechanica l proble m tha t need s t o
b e repaire d befor e yo u ca n
continu e driving . (Se e Emergenc y
Towin g o n pag e 27 3 .)
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
NOTIC
E
Inde
x
Accessorie s an d Modifications... . 14 6
Accessories................................ . 14 0
Additiona l Safel y Precautions. . 14 7
Modifications............................ . 14 7
ACCESSOR Y (Ignitio n Ke y
Position)....................................... . 7 0
Accessor y Powe r Socket............... . 9 2
Addin g
Automati c Transmissio n
Fluid....................................... . 20 7
Drak e Fluid................................ . 21 0
Clutc h Fluid............................... . 21 1
Engin e Coolant.......................... . 20 1
Engin e Oil.................................. . 19 7
Manua l Transmissio n Fluid.... . 20 8
Powe r Steerin g Fluid................ . 21 1
Rea r Differentia l Fluid............. . 20 9
Windshiel d Washe r Fluid........ . 20 0
Additiona l Informatio n Abou t
You r Sea t Belts....................... . 4 2
La p Belt........................................ . 4 3
Lap/Shoulde r Belt...................... . 4 2
Sca t Bel t Maintenance............... . 4 3
Sea t Bel t Syste m Components.. . 4 2 Additiona
l Informatio n Abou t
You r SR S .......................... . 4 5
Additiona l Safet y Precautions... . 4 8
Ho w th e Automati c Sea t Bel t
Tensioner s Work.................... . 4 7
Ho w th e SR S Indicato r Ligh t
Works....................................... . 4 7
Ho w You r Airbag s Work........... . 4 5
SR S Components........................ . 4 5
Additives , Engin e Oil.................... . 19 8
Adjustment s
Headlights................................. . 23 0
Hea d Restraints.......................... . 7 9
Mirrors......................................... . 8 6
Seats............................................. . 7 7
Steerin g Wheel........................... . 6 4
Airba g (SRS)..................................... . 9
Ai r Cleane r Element..................... . 21 2
Ai r Conditioning.............................. . 9 8
Maintenance.............................. . 21 9
Usage............................................ . 9 8
Ai r Conditionin g Filter................. . 22 0
Ai r Outlet s (Vents)....................... . 10 0
Ai r Pressure , Tires....................... . 22 1
Norma l Driving......................... . 22 2
Alcoho l i n Gasoline....................... . 28 2 Antifreeze......................................
. 20 1
Anti-loc k Brake s (ABS )
Indicato r Light.................... 55, 167
Operation................................... . 16 5
Anti-thef t Steerin g Colum n
Lock.............................................. . 7 0
Appearanc e Care.......................... . 24 1
Ashtrays........................................... . 9 4
Audi o System................................ . 10 6
Automati c Spee d Control............... . 6 6
Automati c Transmission............... 158
Capacity , Fluid.......................... . 27 8
Checkin g Flui d Level............... . 20 7
Shifting....................................... . 15 8
Shif t Leve r Positio n Indicator. . 15 8
Shif t Leve r Positions................ . 15 8
Shif t Loc k Release.................... . 16 2
CONTINUED
Inde
x
Tire , Ho w to Chang e a Flat......... . 25 0
Tires............................................... . 22 1
Ai r Pressure.............................. . 22 1
Checkin g Wear......................... . 22 3
DO T Tir e Qualit y Grading...... . 28 0
Inflation...................................... . 22 1
Inspection.................................. . 22 3
Maintenance.............................. . 22 3
Replacing................................... . 22 5
Rotating...................................... . 22 4
Snow........................................... . 22 6
Specifications............................ . 27 9
Technica l Information.................. . 27 5
Emissio n Controls.................... . 28 4
Identificatio n Numbers............ . 27 6
Specifications............................ . 27 8
Thre e Wa y Catalyti c
Converter............................... . 28 6
Tools,Tir e Changing................... . 25 0
To m Sea t Belt s .............................. . 4 3
Towin g
A Trailer..................................... . 17 0
Behin d a Motorhome............... . 17 6
Emergency................................ . 27 3
Transmissio
n
Checkin g Flui d Level ,
Automatic.............................. . 20 7
Checkin g Flui d Level ,
Manual................................... . 20 8
Flui d Selection.................. 207, 208
Identificatio n Number.............. . 27 6
Shiftin g th e Automatic............. . 15 8
Shiftin g th e Manual.................. . 15 6
Treadwear..................................... . 28 0
Tri p Meter....................................... . 5 6
Tur n Signals.................................... . 6 1
Underside , Cleaning..................... . 24 7
Unexpected , Takin g Car e
o f the.......................................... . 24 9
Unifor m Tir e Qualit y Grading.... . 28 0
Unleade d Gasoline........................ . 14 0
Upholster y Cleaning..................... . 24 5
Use d Oil , Ho w to Dispos e of....... . 20 0
Vehicl e Capacit y Loa d ................. . 14 9 Vehicl
e Dimensions...................... . 27 8
Vehicl e Identificatio n Number.... . 27 6
Vehicl e Storage............................. . 23 9
Ventilation..................................... . 10 1
VIN................................................. . 27 6
Viny l Cleaning............................... . 24 5
Viscosity , OiL............................... . 19 8
Warnin g Beeper s
Headlight s on.............................. . 6 0
Ke y in Ignition............................. . 7 0
Sea t Belts..................................... . 5 4
WARNING , Explanatio n of............. . i i
Warnin g Labels , Locatio n of......... . 5 0
Warrant y Coverages*.................. . 29 1
Washer , Windshiel d
Checkin g th e Flui d Level........ . 20 6
Operation..................................... . 6 2
Washing......................................... . 24 2
Waxin g an d Polishing.................. . 24 3
CONTINUED