Indicato
r Light s
Lo w Oi l Pressur e
Indicato r
Th e engin e ca n b e severel y damage d
i f thi s ligh t flashe s o r stay s o n whe n
th e engin e is running . Fo r complet e
information , se e pag e 26 4 .
Chargin g Syste m
Indicato r
I f thi s ligh t conie s o n whe n th e
engin e is running , th e batter y is no t
bein g charged . Fo r complet e
information , se e pag e 26 5 .
Malfunctio n Indicato r
Lam p
Se e pag e 266 .
Parkin
g Brak e an d
Brak e Syste m
Indicato r
Thi s ligh t ha s tw o functions :
1 . I t light s a s a reminde r tha t yo u
hav e no t release d th e parkin g
brake . Drivin g wit h th e parkin g
brak e applie d ca n damag e th e
brake s an d tires , an d caus e th e
AB S to tur n of f (se e pag e 16 7 ) .
2 . I f i t remain s li t afte r yo u releas e
th e parkin g brak e whil e th e engin e
i s running , o r come s o n whil e
driving , i t ca n indicat e a proble m
i n th e brak e system . Fo r complet e
information , se e pag e 26 7 . Supplementa
l Restrain t
Syste m Indicato r
Thi s indicato r light s whe n yo u tur n
th e ignitio n switc h O N (II) . I f i t
come s o n a t an y othe r time , i t
indicate s a proble m in th e
supplementa l restrain t system . Fo r
complet e information , se e pag e 4 7 .
Sea t Bel t Reminde r Ligh t
Thi s indicato r light s whe n yo u tur n
th e ignitio n switc h O N (II) . I t i s a
reminder to yo u an d you r passenger s
t o protec t yourselve s b y fastenin g
th e sea t belts . A beepe r als o sound s
i f yo u hav e no t fastene d you r sea t
belt .
I f yo u d o no t faste n you r sea t belt ,
th e beepe r wil l sto p afte r a fe w
second s bu t th e ligh t stay s o n unti l
yo u do . Bot h th e ligh t an d th e beepe r
sta y of f i f yo u faste n you r sea t bel t
befor e turnin g o n th e ignition .
Instrument s an d Control s
U.S
.
Canad a
BRAK E
SRS
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
Towin
g a Traile r
Additional Trailer Equipment Man y state s an d Canadia n province s
requir e specia l outsid e mirror s whe n
towin g a trailer . Eve n if the y don't ,
yo u shoul d instal l specia l mirror s if
yo u canno t clearl y se e behin d you , o r
i f th e traile r create s a blin d spot .
As k you r traile r sale s o r renta l
agenc y if an y othe r item s ar e
recommende d o r require d fo r you r
towin g situation .
Pre-To
w Checklis t
Whe n preparin g to tow , an d befor e
drivin g away , b e sur e to chec k th e
following : Th
e vehicl e ha s bee n properl y
serviced , an d th e tires , brakes ,
suspension , an d coolin g syste m
ar e in goo d operatin g condition . Al
l weight s an d load s ar e withi n
limit s (se e page s 17 0 an d 171 ). Th
e hitch , safet y chain , an d an y
other attachment s ar e secure . Al
l item s o n an d in th e traile r ar e
properl y secure d an d canno t shif t
whil e yo u drive . Th
e light s an d brake s o n you r
vehicl e an d th e traile r ar e workin g
properly . You
r vehicl e tire s an d spar e ar e
properl y inflate d (se e pag e 22 2 ) ,
an d th e traile r tire s an d spar e ar e
inflate d a s recommende d b y th e
traile r maker .
Driving
Towin
g a Traile r
Handling Crosswinds and Buffeting
Crosswind s an d ai r turbulenc e
cause d b y passin g truck s ca n disrup t
you r steerin g an d caus e traile r
swaying . Whe n bein g passe d b y a
larg e vehicle , kee p a constan t spee d
an d stee r straigh t ahead . D o no t tr y
t o mak e quic k steerin g o r brakin g
corrections .
Backing Up
Alway s driv e slowl y an d hav e
someon e guid e yo u whe n backin g up .
Gri p th e bottom of th e steerin g
wheel ; the n tur n th e whee l t o th e lef t
t o ge t th e traile r t o mov e t o th e left ,
an d tur n th e whee l righ t t o mov e th e
traile r t o th e right . Parking
Follo w al l norma l precaution s whe n
parking , includin g firml y settin g th e
parkin g brak e an d puttin g th e
transmissio n in Par k (automatic ) o r
i n 1s t o r Revers e (manual) . Also ,
plac e whee l chock s a t eac h o f th e
trailer' s tires .
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
Off-Highwa
y Guideline s
Turning
Off-highway , th e basi c turning -
techniqu e is t o driv e a t lo w spee d
an d graduall y adjus t th e amoun t o f
steerin g to sui t th e surface .
Yo u shoul d hav e n o proble m makin g
shar p turn s a t lo w spee d o n leve l
ground . Bu t neve r mak e a n abrup t
tur n a t highe r speeds , o n o r of f
pavement . Wit h a highe r cente r o f
gravity , you r vehicl e ca n mor e easil y
ti p o r rol l over . Drivin
g o n Slope s
Befor e drivin g u p o r dow n a hill , sto p
an d asses s th e situation . I f yo u can' t
clearl y se e al l roa d condition s (goo d
traction , n o bumps , hole s o r othe r
obstacles , a saf e wa y out , etc. ) wal k
th e slop e befor e yo u driv e o n it . I f
yo u hav e an y doub t abou t whethe r
yo u ca n safel y driv e o n th e slope ,
don't do it. Fin d anothe r route .
I f yo u ar e drivin g u p a hil l an d fin d
tha t yo u canno t continu e (becaus e o f
th e steepness , a larg e obstacle , etc.) ,
d o not try to turn around. Your vehicl e
coul d rol l over . Slowl y bac k dow n th e
hill , followin g th e sam e rout e yo u
too k u p th e hill .
Avoidin
g Obstacle s
Bumps , holes , rocks , an d othe r
obstacle s ca n b e hazardous . Debri s
i n th e roa d ca n damag e you r
suspensio n o r othe r components .
Eve n smal l rock s ca n cu t you r tires .
Mor e important , becaus e you r
vehicl e ha s a hig h cente r o f gravity ,
drivin g ove r a larg e obstacle , o r
allowin g a whee l t o dro p int o a dee p
hole , ca n caus e you r vehicl e t o ti p o r
rol l over .
Driv e slo w enoug h t o observ e
obstacle s ahea d an d maneuve r
aroun d them . I f yo u can' t avoi d a
seriou s obstacle , tur n aroun d an d
loo k fo r a bette r route .
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
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