Heatin
g
Thes e setting s direc t al l th e ai r flo w
t o th e defroste r vent s a t th e bas e o f
th e windshiel d an d th e sid e windo w
defroste r vents . Th e ai r flo w wil l ge t
warme r an d clea r th e window s faste r
a s th e engin e warm s up . Yo u ca n
clos e th e sid e vent s wit h th e dia l
underneat h eac h vent . Thi s wil l sen d
mor e war m ai r t o th e windshiel d
defroste r vents .
Fo r safety , mak e sur e yo u hav e a
clea r vie w throug h al l th e window s
befor e drivin g away . T
o Tur n Everythin g Of f
T o shu t of f th e syste m temporarily ,
sto p th e fa n an d tur n th e
temperatur e contro l dia l al l th e wa y
t o th e left .
Yo u shoul d shu t th e syste m
completel y of f onl y fo r th e firs t fe w
minute s o f drivin g i n cold weather ,
unti l th e engin e coolan t warm s u p
enoug h t o operat e th e heater . Kee p
th e fa n o n a t al l othe r time s s o stal e
ai r doe s no t buil d u p in th e interior .
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s
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 car .
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 hatc h 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 dow n
securely . 5
. Chec k th e adjustmen t o f th e sea t
(se e pag e 7 4 ) .
6 . Chec k th e adjustmen t o f th e
insid e an d outsid e mirror s (se e
pag e 7 6 ) .
7 . Mak e sur e th e door s ar e securel y
close d an d locked .
8 . Faste n you r sea t belt . Chec k tha t
you r passenge r ha s fastene d hi s
sea t bel t (se e pag e 15 ). 9
. 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 .
10 . Star t th e engin e (se e pag e 13 3 ) .
11 . Chec k th e gauge s an d indicato r
light s i n th e instrumen t pane l (se e
pag e 45 ).
Drivin g
Parkin
g
Alway s us e th e parkin g brak e whe n
yo u par k you r car . Th e indicato r o n
th e instrumen t pane l show s tha t th e
parkin g brak e is no t full y released ; i t
doe s no t indicat e tha t th e parkin g
brak e is firml y set . Mak e sur e th e
parkin g brak e is se t firml y o r you r
ca r ma y rol l i f i t i s parke d o n a n
incline . I
f th e ca r i s facin g uphill , tur n th e
fron t wheel s awa y fro m th e cur b an d
pu t th e transmissio n in firs t gear .
I f th e ca r i s facin g downhill , tur n th e
fron t wheel s towar d th e cur b an d pu t
th e transmissio n in revers e gear .
Mak e sur e th e parkin g brak e is full y
release d befor e drivin g away .
Drivin g wit h th e parkin g brak e
partiall y se t ca n overhea t o r damag e
th e rea r brakes . Parkin
g Tip s Mak
e sur e th e window s ar e closed .
Tur n of f th e lights .
Plac e an y packages , valuables , etc. ,
i n th e storag e bo x o r tak e the m
wit h you .
Loc k th e doors .
Neve r par k ove r dr y leaves , tal l
grass , o r othe r flammabl e
materials . Th e thre e wa y catalyti c
converte r get s ver y hot , an d coul d
caus e thes e material s t o catc h o n
fire .
Drivin g
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
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 .
TES
T INDICATO R WINDO W
Chec k 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
Appearanc
e Car e
Regula r cleanin g an d polishin g o f
you r Hond a help s t o kee p i t "new "
looking . Thi s sectio n give s yo u hint s
o n ho w to clea n you r ca r an d
preserv e it s appearance : th e paint ,
brightwork , wheel s an d interior . Als o
include d ar e severa l thing s yo u ca n
d o t o hel p preven t corrosion . Exterio
r Care................................. . 19 8
Roo f Antenna............................ . 19 8
Rea r Whee l Skirt...................... . 19 8
Washing..................................... . 19 9
Waxing....................................... . 20 0
Pain t Touch-up.......................... . 20 0
Interio r Care.................................. . 20 1
Carpeting................................... . 20 1
Fabric......................................... . 20 1
Vinyl........................................... . 20
1
Sea t Belts................................... . 20 1
Windows.................................... .
20
2
Ai r Fresheners.......................... . 20 2
Corrosio n Protection.................... . 20 2
Bod y Repairs................................. . 20 3
Appearanc e Car e
Interio
r Care , Corrosio n Protectio n
Window s
Clea n th e windows , insid e an d out ,
wit h a commercially-availabl e glas s
cleaner . Yo u ca n als o us e a mixtur e
o f on e par t whit e vinega r t o te n part s
water . Thi s wil l remov e th e haz e tha t
build s u p o n th e insid e o f th e
windows . Us e a sof t clot h o r pape r
towel s t o clea n al l glas s an d clea r
plasti c surfaces .
The rear window defogger wires are
bonded to the inside of the glass.
Wiping vigorously up-and-down can
dislodge and break the defogger wires.
When cleaning the rear window, use
gentle pressure and wipe side-to-side. Ai
r Freshener s
I f yo u wan t t o us e a n ai r freshener /
deodorize r i n th e interio r o f you r car ,
i t i s bes t t o us e a soli d type . Som e
liqui d ai r freshener s contai n chemi -
cal s tha t ma y caus e part s o f th e
interio r tri m an d fabri c t o crac k o r
discolor .
I f yo u us e a liqui d ai r freshener ,
mak e sur e yo u faste n it securel y s o it
doe s no t spil l a s yo u drive .
Corrosio
n Protectio n
Tw o factor s normall y contribut e t o
causin g corrosio n in you r car :
1 . Moistur e trappe d in bod y cavities .
Dir t an d roa d sal t tha t collect s i n
hollow s o n th e undersid e o f th e
ca r stay s damp , promotin g
corrosio n in tha t area .
2 . Remova l o f pain t an d protectiv e
coating s fro m th e exterio r an d
undersid e o f th e car .
Man y corrosion-preventiv e measure s
ar e buil t int o you r Honda . Yo u ca n
hel p kee p you r ca r fro m corrodin g
b y performin g som e simpl e periodi c
maintenance :
Repai r chip s an d scratche s i n th e
pain t a s soo n a s yo u discove r them .
Appearanc e Car e
NOTIC
E
Inde
x
Bul b Replacemen t
Interio r Light............................. . 19 5
Licens e Plat e Lights................. . 19 4
Specifications............................ . 23 5
Tur n Signa l Lights.................... . 19 1
Bulbs , Halogen.............................. . 19 6
Cables , Jum p Startin g With......... . 21 4
Capacitie s Chart............................ . 23 4
Carbo n Monoxid e Hazard............. . 4 0
Carryin g Cargo............................. . 12 8
Cassett e Playe r
Care............................................ . 11 6
Operation................................... . 10
2
CAUTION , Explanatio n
of..............
. i i
C D Changer................................... . 11 2
C D Player....................................... . 10 6
Certificatio n Label........................ . 23 2
Chains............................................ . 18 7
Charge/Assis t Gauge.................... . 5 5
Chang e Oi l
Ho w to........................................ . 16 1
Whe n to...................................... . 15 0
Changin g a Fla t Tire.................... . 18
5
Changin g Engin e
Coolant............
. 16 5
Chargin g Syste m Indicator... . 54 , 21 9
Checkin g
Batter y Condition..................... . 17 5
Brak e Fluid................................ . 17 1
Clutc h Fluid............................... . 17 1
Driv e Belts................................. . 18 1
Engin e Coolant.......................... . 12 3
Engin e Oil.................................. . 12 2
Fuses.......................................... . 22 2
Manua l Transmissio n Fluid.... . 17 0
Checklist , Befor e Driving............ . 11 7
Chil d Safety..................................... . 1 9
Cleane r Element , Air.................... . 17 3
Cleanin g
Exterior...................................... . 19 8
Interior....................................... . 20 1
Sea t Belts................................... . 20 1
Vinyl........................................... . 20 1
Windows.................................... . 20 2
Clock , Settin g the......................... . 10 1
Clutc h Fluid................................... . 17 1
C O in th e Exhaust........................ . 24 0
Col d Weather , Startin g in............ . 13 3
Compac t Spare.............................. . 20 6
Consume r Information*............... . 24 4 Controls
, Instrument s and............. . 5 8
Coolan t
Adding........................................ . 16 3
Checking.................................... . 12
3
Prope r Solution......................... .
16
3
Replacing...................................
. 16 5
Temperatur e
Gauge...................
. 5 6
Corrosio n Protection.................... . 20 2
Crankcas e Emission s Contro l
System........................................ . 24 0
Curren t Fue l Mileage..................... . 5 3
Custome r Relation s Office.......... . 24 4
DANGER , Explanatio n of................ .
ii
Dashboard................................... . 2 ,
4
4
Daytim e Runnin g Lights................ . 6 0
Dea d Battery , Wha t t o Do........... . 21 4
Defects , Reportin g Safety............ . 24 8
Defo g an d Defrost.......................... . 8 2
Defogger , Rea r Window................ . 6 3
Defrostin g th e Windows................ . 8 2
Dimensions.................................... . 23 4
Dimmin g th e Headlights............... . 5 9