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 vehicle .
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 tailgat e
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 to 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 clow n
securely .
5
. Chec k th e adjustmen t o f th e sea t
(se e pag e 7 7 ) .
6 . Chec k th e adjustmen t o f th e
insid e an d outsid e mirror s (se e
pag e 8 5 ) .
7 . Chec k th e adjustmen t o f th e
steerin g whee l (se e pag e 64 ).
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 l belt s (se e pag e 1 5 ) .
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 15 4 ) .
12.Chec k the gauge s an d indicato r
light s in th e instrumen t pane l (se e
pag e 5 3 ).
Driving
Drivin
g in Ba d Weathe r
Tractio n — Chec k you r (ire s
frequentl y fo r wea r an d prope r
pressure . Bot h ar e importan t i n
preventin g "hydroplaning " (los s o f
tractio n o n a we t surface) . I n th e
winter , moun t sno w tire s o n al l fou r
wheel s fo r th e bes t handling .
Watc h roa d condition s carefully ,
the y ca n chang e fro m momen t t o
moment . We t leave s ca n b e a s slip -
per y a s ice . "Clear " road s ca n hav e
patche s o f ice . Drivin g condition s
ca n b e ver y hazardou s whe n th e
outsid e temperatur e is nea r freezing .
Th e roa d surfac e ca n becom e
covere d wit h area s o f wate r puddle s
mixe d wit h area s o f ice , s o you r
tractio n ca n chang e withou t warning .
B e carefu l whe n downshifting . I f
tractio n is low , yo u ca n loc k u p th e
driv e wheel s fo r a momen t an d caus e
a skid .
B
e ver y cautiou s whe n passing , o r
whe n bein g passe d b y othe r vehicles .
Th e spra y fro m larg e vehicle s
reduce s you r visibility , an d th e win d
buffetin g ca n caus e yo u to los e
control .
Driving
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
Timin
g Belt , Tire s
Timin g Bel t
Th e timin g bel t shoul d normall y b e
replace d a t th e interval s show n in
th e maintenanc e schedule .
Replac e th e bel t a t 60,00 0 mile s (U.S. )
o r 100,00 0 k m (Canada ) i f yo u regu -
larl y driv e you r vehicl e in on e o r
mor e o f thes e conditions :
I n ver y hig h temperature s
(ove r 110°F , 43°C) .
I n ver y lo w temperature s
(unde r — 20°F , — 29°C) .
Tire
s
T o safel y operat e you r vehicle , you r
tire s mus t b e th e prope r typ e an d
size , i n goo d conditio n wit h adequat e
tread , an d correctl y inflated . Th e
followin g page s giv e mor e detaile d
informatio n o n ho w an d whe n to
chec k ai r pressure , ho w to inspec t
you r tire s fo r damag e an d wear , an d
wha t t o d o whe n you r tire s nee d t o
b e replaced .
Inflatio
n
Keepin g th e tire s properl y inflate d
provide s th e bes t combinatio n o f
handling , trea d lif e an d ridin g
comfort . Underinflate d tire s wea r
unevenly , adversel y affec t handlin g
an d fue l economy , an d ar e mor e
likel y t o fai l fro m bein g overheated .
Overinflate d tire s ca n mak e you r
vehicl e rid e mor e harshly , ar e mor e
pron e to damag e fro m roa d hazards ,
an d wea r unevenly .
W e recommen d tha t yo u visuall y
chec k you r tire s ever y day . I f yo u
thin k a tir e migh t b e low , chec k i t
immediatel y wit h a tir e gauge .
CONTINUED
Maintenanc e
Usin
g tire s tha t ar e excessivel y
wor n o r improperl y inflate d ca n
caus e a cras h in whic h yo u ca n
b e seriousl y hur t o r killed .
Follo w al l instruction s in thi s
owner' s manua l regardin g tir e
inflatio n an d maintenance .
Tire
s
Us e a gaug e t o measur e th e ai r
pressur e a t leas t onc e a month . Eve n
tire s tha t ar e i n goo d conditio n ma y
los e on e to tw o ps i (1 0 to 2 0 kPa , 0. 1
t o 0. 2 kgf/cm 2) pe r month .
Remembe r t o chec k th e spar e tir e a t
th e sam e tim e yo u chec k al l th e
othe r tires .
Chec k th e pressur e i n th e tire s whe n
the y ar e cold . Thi s mean s th e vehicl e
ha s bee n parke d fo r a t leas t thre e
hours . I f yo u hav e t o driv e th e
vehicl e befor e checking the tir e
pressure , th e tire s ca n stil l b e
considere d "cold " i f yo u driv e les s
tha n 1 mil e (1.6km) . I
f yo u chec k th e pressur e whe n th e
tire s ar e ho t (th e vehicl e ha s bee n
drive n severa l miles) , yo u wil l se e
reading s 4 to 6 ps i (3 0 to 4 0 kPa , 0. 3
t o 0. 4 kgf/cm 2) highe r tha n th e col d
reading . Thi s is normal . D o no t le t
ai r ou t t o matc h th e specifie d col d
pressure . Th e tir e wil l b e
underinflated .
Yo u shoul d ge t you r ow n tir e
pressur e gaug e an d us e it wheneve r
yo u chec k you r tir e pressures . Thi s
wil l mak e it easie r fo r yo u t o tel l i f a
pressur e los s is du e to a tir e proble m
an d no t du e to a variatio n betwee n
gauges .
Recommended Tire Pressures for
Normal Driving
Th e followin g char t show s th e
recommende d col d tir e pressure s fo r
mos t norma l drivin g condition s an d
speeds . Tir e pressure s fo r hig h
spee d drivin g ar e th e sam e a s fo r
norma l driving .
Thes e pressure s ar e als o give n o n
th e tir e informatio n labe l o n th e
driver' s doorjamb .
Tubeles s tire s hav e som e abilit y t o
self-sea l i f the y ar e punctured .
However , becaus e leakag e is ofte n
ver y slow , yo u shoul d loo k closel y
fo r puncture s i f a tir e start s losin g
pressure .
Maintenanc 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