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
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
Windshiel
d Washer s
Chec k th e leve l i n th e windshiel d
washe r reservoi r a t leas t monthl y
durin g norma l usage . I n ba d weather ,
whe n yo u us e th e washer s often ,
chec k th e leve l ever y tim e yo u sto p
fo r fuel . Thi s reservoi r supplie s th e
windshiel d an d rea r windo w washers .
LEVE
L GAUG E
Th e windshiel d washe r reservoi r i s
locate d behin d th e passenger' s sid e
headlight . Chec k th e reservoir' s flui d
leve l b y removin g th e ca p an d
lookin g a t th e leve l gaug e attache d
t o th e
cap . Fil
l th e reservoi r wit h a good-qualit y
windshiel d washe r fluid . Thi s
increase s th e cleanin g capabilit y an d
prevent s freezin g in col d weather .
Whe n yo u refil l th e reservoir , clea n
th e edge s o f th e windshiel d wipe r
blade s wit h windshiel d washe r flui d
o n a clea n cloth . Thi s wil l hel p to
conditio n th e blad e edges .
Do not use engine antifreeze or a
vinegar/water solution in the
windshield washer reservoir.
Antifreeze can damage your car's paint,
while a vinegar/water solution can
damage the windshield washer pump.
Use only commercially-available
windshield washer fluid.
Maintenanc e
NOTIC
E
Inde
x
Dipstic k
Engin e Oil.................................. . 12
2
Directiona l Signals.......................... .
6
1
Disabled , Towin g You r Ca r If..... . 22 8
Dis c Brak e Wea r Indicators........ . 13 9
Disposa l o f Use d Oil..................... . 16 2
Displa y Chang e Button.................. . 4 9
Door s
Lockin g an d Unlocking.............. . 6 9
DO T Tir e Qualit y Grading.......... . 23 6
Downshifting , 5-spee d Manua l
Transmission............................. . 13 6
Driv e Belts..................................... . 18 1
Drive r an d Passenge r Safety........... . 5
Driving........................................... . 13 1
Economy.................................... . 12 4
I n Ba d Weather......................... . 14 2
I n Foreig n Countries................ . 23 9
Economy , Fuel.............................. . 12 4
Emergencie s o n th e Road............ . 20 5
Battery , Jum p Starting............. . 21 4
Brak e Syste m Indicator........... . 22 1
Changin g a Fla t Tire................ . 20
7
Chargin g Syste m
Indicator.....
. 21 9
Checkin g th e Fuses.................. . 22 3
Lo w Oi l Pressur e Indicator..... . 21 8
Malfunctio n Indicato r Lamp... . 22 0
Overheate d Engine.................. . 21 7
Emergenc y Brake........................... . 7 7
Emergenc y Flashers...................... . 6 3
Emergenc y Towing...................... . 22 8
Emission s Controls....................... . 24 0
Engin e
Belts............................................ . 18 1
Coolan t Temperatur e Gaug e .... . 5 6
Malfunctio n Indicato r
Lamp................................ . 47 , 22 0
Oil , Wha t Kin d to Use.............. . 15 9
Overheating............................... . 21 7
Specifications............................ . 23 4
Engin e Spee d Limiter................... . 13 7
Ethanoli n Gasoline...................... . 23 8
Evaporativ e Emission s Controls. . 24 0
Exhaus t Fumes............................... . 4 0
Expectan t Mothers , Us e o f Sea t
Belt s by........................................ . 1 7
Exterior , Cleanin g the.................. . 19 8 Fabric
, Cleaning............................ . 20 1
Fan , Interior..................................... . 8 2
Features , Comfor t an d
Convenience................................ . 8 1
Fillin g th e Fuel Tank.................... . 11 9
Filte r
Ai r Conditioning....................... . 18 1
Oil............................................... . 16 1
5-spee d Manua l Transmissio n
Checkin g Flui d Level............... . 17 0
Shiftin g the................................ . 13 6
Flashers , Hazar d Warning............. . 6 3
Fla t Tire , Changin g a................... . 18 5
Fluid s
Brake.......................................... . 17 1
Clutch......................................... . 17 1
Manua l Transmission.............. . 17 0
Windshiel d Washer.................. . 16 9
F M Stere o Radi o
Reception................................... . 11 0
Foreig n Countries , Drivin g in..... . 23 9
Four-wa y Flashers.......................... . 6 3
CONTINUED