Page 145 of 262

Drivin
g in Ba d Weathe r
Rain , fog , an d sno w condition s re -
quir e a differen t drivin g techniqu e
becaus e o f reduce d tractio n an d
visibility . Kee p you r ca r well -
maintaine d an d exercis e greate r
cautio n whe n yo u nee d t o driv e in
ba d weather . Drivin
g Techniqu e — Alway s driv e
slowe r tha n yo u woul d i n dr y
weather . I t take s you r ca r longe r t o
react , eve n in condition s tha t ma y
see m jus t barel y damp . Appl y
smooth , eve n pressur e to al l th e
controls . Abrup t steerin g whee l
movement s o r sudden , har d appli -
catio n o f th e brake s ca n caus e los s o f
contro l i n we t weather . B e extr a
cautiou s fo r th e firs t fe w mile s
(kilometers ) o f drivin g whil e yo u
adjus t t o th e chang e in drivin g
conditions . Thi s i s especiall y tru e in
snow . A perso n ca n forge t som e
snow-drivin g technique s durin g th e
summe r months . Practic e is neede d
t o relear n thos e skills .
Exercis e extr a cautio n whe n drivin g
i n rai n afte r a lon g dr y spell . Afte r
month s o f dr y weather , th e firs t
rain s brin g oi l t o th e surfac e o f th e
roadway , makin g it slippery . Visibilit
y — Bein g abl e t o se e
clearl y i n al l direction s an d being -
visibl e t o othe r driver s ar e importan t
i n al l weathe r conditions . Thi s i s
mor e difficul t i n ba d weather . T o b e
see n mor e clearl y durin g dayligh t
hours , tur n o n you r headlights .
Inspec t you r windshiel d wiper s an d
washer s frequently . Kee p th e wind -
shiel d washe r reservoi r ful l o f th e
prope r fluid . Hav e th e windshiel d
wipe r blade s replace d i f the y star t t o
strea k th e windshiel d o r leav e part s
unwiped . Us e th e defroster s an d ai r
conditionin g t o kee p th e window s
fro m foggin g u p o n th e insid e (se e
pag e 86 ) .
Drivin g
Page 146 of 262

Drivin
g in Ba d Weather , Towin g a Traile r
Tractio n — Chec k you r tire 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 .
Towin
g a Traile r
You r vehicl e is no t designe d to to w a
trailer . Attemptin g to d o s o ca n voi d
you r warranties .
Driving
Page 147 of 262
Page 148 of 262

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 to 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 24 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...................... . 14 6
Importan t Safet y Precautions. . 14 7
Maintenanc e Schedule................. . 14 8
Maintenanc e Record.................... . 15 5
Owne r Maintenanc e Checks....... . 15 7
Flui d Locations.............................. . 15 8
Engin e Oil...................................... . 15 9
Addin g Oil.................................. . 15 9
Recommende d Oil.................... . 15 9
Syntheti c Oil.............................. . 16 0
Additives.................................... . 16 0
Changin g th e Oi l an d Filter..... . 16 1
Coolin g System............................. . 16 3
Addin g Engin e Coolant............ . 16 3
Replacin g Engin e Coolant....... . 16 5
Windshiel d Washers.................... . 16 9
Transmissio n Fluid....................... . 17 0
Brak e an d Clutc h Fluid................ . 17 1
Brak e System............................ . 17 1
Clutc h System........................... . 17 2
Ai r Cleane r Element..................... . 17 3
Hoo d Latch.................................... . 17 4
Battery........................................... . 17 5
Wipe r Blades................................. . 17 7
Ai r Conditionin g System.............. . 18 0
Ai r Conditionin g Filter................. . 18 1 Driv
e Belts..................................... .
181
Tires............................................... . 18
2
Inflation...................................... . 18
2
Recommende d Tir e
Pressure s
fo
r Norma l
Driving............................... . 18
3
Inspection.................................. . 18 4
Maintenance.............................. .
18
4
Tir e Rotation............................. . 18 5
Replacin g Tire s an d Wheels... . 18 5
Wheel s an d Tires...................... . 18 6
Winte r Driving.......................... . 18 6
Sno w Tires............................. . 18 7
Tir e Chains............................ . 18 7
Lights............................................. . 18 8
Replacin g Bulbs........................ . 19 0
Storin g You r Car........................... . 19 6
Maintenanc e
Page 149 of 262

Maintenanc
e Safet y
Regularl y maintainin g you r ca r i s th e
bes t wa y t o protec t you r investment .
Prope r maintenanc e i s essentia l t o
you r safel y an d th e safet y o f you r
passengers . I t wil l als o rewar d yo u
wit h mor e economical , trouble-fre e
drivin g an d hel p reduc e ai r pollution .Thi
s sectio n include s instruction s fo r
simpl e maintenanc e tasks , suc h a s
checkin g an d addin g oil . An y servic e
item s no t detaile d in thi s sectio n
shoul d b e performe d b y a Hond a
technicia n o r othe r qualifie d
mechanic . Som
e o f th e mos t importan t safety
precaution s ar e give n here . However ,
w e canno t war n yo u o f ever y
conceivabl e hazar d tha t ca n aris e in
performin g maintenance . Onl y yo u
ca n decid e whethe r o r no t yo u
shoul d perfor m a give n task .
Maintenanc e
Improperl
y maintainin g thi s ca r
o r failin g t o correc t a proble m
befor e drivin g ca n caus e a
cras h i n whic h yo u ca n b e
seriousl y hur t o r killed .
Alway s follo w th e inspectio n
an d maintenanc e
recommendation s an d
schedule s i n thi s owner' s
manual . Failur
e t o properl y follo w
maintenanc e instruction s an d
precaution s ca n caus e yo u t o
b e seriousl y hur t o r killed .
Alway s follo w th e procedure s
an d precaution s i n thi s owner' s
manual .
Page 150 of 262

Maintenanc
e Safet y
Importan t Safet y Precaution s
Befor e yo u begi n an y maintenance ,
mak e sur e you r ca r i s parke d o n
leve l groun d an d tha t th e parkin g
brak e is set . Also , b e sur e th e engin e
i s off . Thi s wil l hel p t o eliminat e
severa l potentia l hazards :
Carbo n monoxid e poisonin g
fro m engin e exhaust . B e sur e
ther e is adequat e ventilatio n
wheneve r yo u operat e th e engine .
Burn s fro m ho t parts . Le t th e
engin e an d exhaus t syste m coo l
befor e touchin g an y parts .
Injur y fro m movin g parts . D o
no t ru n th e engin e unles s in -
structe d to d o so . Rea
d th e instruction s befor e yo u
begin , an d mak e sur e yo u hav e th e
tool s an d skill s required .
T o reduc e th e possibilit y o f fir e o r
explosion , b e carefu l whe n workin g
aroun d gasolin e o r batteries . Us e a
commerciall y availabl e degrease r o r
part s cleaner , no t gasoline , t o clea n
parts . Kee p cigarettes , sparks , an d
flame s awa y fro m th e batter y an d al l
fuel-relate d parts .
Yo u shoul d wea r ey e protectio n an d
protectiv e clothin g whe n workin g
nea r th e batter y o r whe n usin g
compresse d air .
Maintenance
Page 151 of 262

Maintenanc
e Schedul e
Th e Maintenanc e Schedul e specifie s
ho w ofte n yo u shoul d hav e you r ca r
service d an d wha t thing s nee d
attention . I t i s essentia l tha t yo u hav e
you r ca r service d a s schedule d to
retai n it s hig h leve l o f safety ,
dependability , an d emission s contro l
performance .
Th
e service s an d tim e o r distanc e
interval s show n in th e maintenanc e
schedul e assum e yo u wil l us e you r
ca r a s norma l transportatio n fo r
passenger s an d thei r possessions .
Yo u shoul d als o follo w thes e
recommendations :
Avoi d exceedin g you r car' s loa d
limit . Thi s put s exces s stres s o n
th e engine , brakes , an d man y
othe r part s o f you r car . Th e loa d
limi t i s show n o n th e labe l o n th e
driver' s doorjamb .
Operat e you r ca r o n reasonabl e
road s withi n th e lega l spee d limit .
Driv e you r ca r regularl y ove r a
distanc e o f severa l mile s
(kilometers) .
Alway s us e unleade d gasolin e wit h
th e prope r octan e ratin g (se e pag e
118 ). Whic
h Schedul e t o Follow :
Servic e you r ca r accordin g to th e
tim e an d mileag e period s o n on e o f
th e Maintenanc e Schedule s o n th e
followin g pages . Selec t th e schedul e
fo r "Sever e Conditions " i f mos t o f
you r drivin g is don e unde r on e o r
mor e o f th e condition s liste d o n tha t
page . Otherwise , follo w th e schedul e
fo r "Norma l Conditions. "
Maintenanc e
Page 152 of 262

Maintenanc
e Schedul e
You r authorize d Hond a deale r
know s you r ca r bes t an d ca n provid e
competent , efficien t service .
However , servic e a t a deale r i s no t
mandator y t o kee p you r warrantie s
i n effect . Maintenanc e ma y b e don e
b y an y qualifie d servic e facilit y o r
perso n wh o is skille d in thi s typ e o f
automotiv e service . Kee p al l th e
receipt s a s proo f o f completion , an d
hav e th e perso n wh o doe s th e wor k
fil l ou t th e Maintenanc e Record .
Chec k you r warrant y bookle t fo r
mor e information . W
e recommen d th e us e o f Genuin e
Hond a part s an d fluid s wheneve r yo u
hav e maintenanc e done . Thes e ar e
manufacture d to th e sam e high -
qualit y standard s a s th e origina l
components , s o yo u ca n b e confiden t
o f thei r performanc e an d durability .
U.S . Vehicles :
Maintenance , replacemen t o r
repai r o f emission s contro l
device s an d system s ma y b e don e
b y an y automotiv e repai r
establishmen t o r individua l usin g
part s tha t ar e "certified " t o EP A
standards . Accordin
g to stat e an d federa l
regulations , failur e t o perfor m
maintenanc e o n th e item s marke d
wit h # wil l no t voi d you r emission s
warranties . However , Hond a
recommend s tha t al l maintenanc e
service s b e performe d a t th e
recommende d tim e o r mileag e
perio d t o ensur e long-ter m reliability .
Maintenanc e