Tires
Snow Tires
If you mount snow tires on your
Honda, make sure they are radial
tires of the same size and load range as the original tires. Mount snow
tires on all four wheels to balance
your vehicle's handling in all weather conditions. Keep in mind the traction
provided by snow tires on dry roads
may not be as high as your vehicle's
original equipment tires. You should
drive cautiously even when the roads
are clear. Check with the tire dealer
for maximum speed recommenda-
tions.
Tire Chains
Because your Honda has limited tire
clearance, mount only SAE Class "S"
cable-type traction devices on the
front tires. Use traction devices only
when required by driving conditions or local laws. Make sure they are the
correct size for your tires.
Metal link-type "chains" should not
be used. No matter how tight they seem to be installed, they can come
into contact with the body and suspension, causing serious damage.
When installing cables, follow the manufacturer's instructions and
mount them as tightly as you can.Drive slowly with them installed. If
you hear them coming in contact
with the body or chassis, stop and investigate. Make sure the cables are
installed tightly, and that they are
not contacting the brake lines or
suspension.
Remove them as soon as you begin driving on cleared roads.
Traction devices that are the wrong
size or improperly installed can
damage your vehicle's brake lines,
suspension, body, and wheels. Stop driving if they are hitting any part of
the vehicle.
Maintenanc e
NOTICE
Storing You r Vehicl e
If you need to park your vehicle for
an extended period (more than one
month), there are several things you
should do to prepare it for storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to
get your vehicle back on the road. If
possible, store your vehicle indoors.
Fill the fuel tank.Change the engine oil and filter
(see page 241).
Wash and dry the exterior
completely.
Clean the interior. Make sure the
carpeting, floor mats, etc. are
completely dry.
Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in Park.
Block the rear wheels.
If the vehicle is to be stored for a
longer period, it should be
supported on jackstands so the
tires are off the ground. Leave one window open slightly (if
the vehicle is being stored
indoors).
Disconnect the battery.
Support the front and rear wiper
blade arms with a folded towel or rag so they do not touch the
windshield.
To minimize sticking, apply a silicone spray lubricant to all door
and tailgate seals. Also, apply a
vehicle body wax to the painted surfaces that mate with the door
and tailgate seals.
Cover the vehicle with a
"breathable" cover, one made
from a porous material such as cotton. Nonporous materials, such
as plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint.
If possible, run the engine for a
while periodically (preferably once a month).
If you store your vehicle for 12
months or longer, have your Honda
dealer perform the inspections called
for in the 24 months/30,000 miles (48,000 km) maintenance schedule
(Normal Conditions) as soon as you
take it out of storage (see page 230).
The replacements called for in the maintenance schedule are not
needed unless the vehicle hasactually reached that time or mileage.
Maintenanc e
Compact Spar e Tir e
Your vehicle has a compact spare
tire that takes up less space. Use thisspare tire as a temporary replace-
ment only. Get your regular tire
repaired or replaced and put back on
your vehicle as soon as you can.
Check the inflation pressure of the
compact spare tire every time you
check the other tires. It should be
inflated to: 60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm
2)
Follow these precautions whenever
you are using the compact spare tire:
Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)
under any circumstances.
This tire gives a harsher ride and less traction on some road sur-
faces than the regular tire. Use
greater caution while driving on
this tire. Do not mount snow chains on the
compact spare.
Do not use the compact spare tire
if you are towing a trailer.
The wheel of the compact spare
tire is designed especially to fit
your vehicle. Do not use your
spare tire on another vehicle
unless it is the same make and
model.
On EX model
Turn off the Traction ControlSystem (see page 213 ). Driving
with the compact spare tire may
activate the TCS.
The compact spare tire has a shorter
tread life than a regular tire. Replace
it when you can see the tread wear
indicator bars. The replacement
should be the same size and design
tire, mounted on the same wheel.
The compact spare tire is not
designed to be mounted on a regular
wheel, and the compact wheel is not
designed for mounting a regular tire.
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
INDICATOR LOCATIO N MAR K
TREA D WEA R INDICATO R BA R
Emergenc
y Towin g
If your vehicle needs to be towed, call a professional towing service or,
if you belong to one, an organization
that provides roadside assistance. Never tow your vehicle behind
another vehicle with just a rope or
chain. It is very dangerous.
There are three popular types of professional towing equipment:
Flat-bed Equipment — The operator
loads your vehicle on the back of a truck. Thi s i s th e bes t wa y t o trans -
por t you r Honda .
Wheel-Lift Equipment — The tow
truck uses two pivoting arms that go under the tires (front or rear) and lift
them off the ground. The other two
tires remain on the ground. Thi s i s
a n acceptabl e wa y t o to w you r
Honda .
Sling-type Equipment — The tow
truck uses metal cables with hooks on the ends. These hooks go around
parts of the frame or suspension and the cables lift that end of the vehicleoff the ground. Your vehicle's sus-
pension and body can be seriously damaged. Thi s metho d o f towin g
i s unacceptable .
If your Honda cannot be transported
by flat-bed, it should be towed by
wheel-lift equipment with the front
wheels off the ground. If, due to damage, your vehicle must be towed
with the front wheels on the ground, do the following.
Release the parking brake.
Start the engine.
Shift to D4, then to N.
Turn off the engine.
Improper towing preparation will
damage the transmission. Follow the
above procedure exactly. If you cannot
shift the transmission or start the
engine, your vehicle must be trans-
ported with the front wheels off the
ground.
With the front wheels on the ground,it is best to tow the vehicle no farther
than 50 miles (80 km), and keep the speed below 35 mph (55 km/h).
CONTINUED
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
NOTIC
E
DOT Tir e Qualit y Gradin g (U.S . Vehicles )
The tires on your vehicle meet all
U.S. Federal Safety Requirements.
All tires are also graded for
treadwear, traction, and temperature
performance according to
Department of Transportation (DOT) standards. The following
explains these gradings.
Unifor m Tir e Qualit y Gradin g
Quality grades can be found where applicable on the tire sidewall
between the tread shoulder and the maximum section width. For
example:
Treadwea r 20 0
Tractio n A A
Temperatur e ATreadwea r
The treadwear grade is a compara-
tive rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified government
test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and one
half (1-1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100. The relative performance of
tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may depart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits,
service practices, and differences in
road characteristics and climate. Tractio
n
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. Those
grades represent the tire's ability tostop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on
specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on straight-ahead
braking traction tests, and does notinclude acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.
Technica l Informatio n
DO
T Tir e Qualit y Gradin g (U.S . Vehicles )
Temperatur e
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, representing thetire's resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlledconditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high
temperature can cause the materialof the tire to degenerate and reduce
tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger car
tires must meet under the FederalMotor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent
higher levels of performance on the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law. Warning: The temperature grade for
this tire is established for a tire that
is properly inflated and not over-
loaded. Excessive speed, underinfla-
tion, or excessive loading eitherseparately or in combination, can
cause heat build-up and possible tire
failure.
Technical Informatio n
Warranty Coverage s
U.S. Owner s
Your new Honda is covered by these
warranties:
New Car Limited Warranty — covers
your new vehicle, except for the
battery, emissions control systems
and accessories, against defects in
materials and workmanship.
Emissions Control Systems Defects
Warranty and Emissions
Performance Warranty — these two
warranties cover your vehicle's emis- sions control systems. Time, mileage,
and coverage are conditional. Please
read the warranty manual for exact
information.
Original Equipment Battery Limited
Warranty — this warranty gives up
to 100 percent credit toward a
replacement battery.
Seat Belt Limited Warranty — a seat
belt that fails to function properly is covered for the useful life of the
vehicle.
Rust Perforation Limited Warranty
— all exterior body panels are
covered for rust-through from the
inside for the specified time period
with no mileage limit.
Accessory Limited Warranty —
Genuine Honda Accessories are
covered under this warranty. Time
and mileage limits depend on the
type of accessory and other factors. Please read your warranty manual
for details.
Replacement Parts Limited
Warranty — covers all Genuine
Honda replacement parts against
defects in materials and workman-
ship.
Replacement Battery Limited
Warranty — provides prorated
coverage for a replacement battery
purchased from a Honda dealer.
Replacement Muffler Lifetime
Limited Warranty — provides
coverage for as long as the pur-
chaser of the muffler owns the
vehicle.
Restrictions and exclusions apply to
all these warranties. Please read the
2000 Honda Warranty Information
booklet that came with your car for
precise information on warranty coverages. Your Honda's original
tires are covered by their manufacturer. Tire warranty infor-
mation is in a separate booklet.
Canadia n Owner s
Please refer to the 2000 Warranty
Manual that came with your car.
Warrant y an d Custome r Relation s
Index
Accessories and Modifications.... 195
Accessories................................. 195
Additional Safety Precaution.... 196
Modifications............................. 196
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key Position)........................................ 79
Accessory Power Sockets............. 124
Adding Automatic Transmission
Fluid........................................ 249
Brake Fluid................................. 250
Engine Coolant........................... 243
Engine Oil.................................. 239
Power Steering Fluid................. 251
Windshield Washer Fluid......... 248
Additional Information About
Your Seat Belts........................ 45
Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 45
Seat Belt Maintenance................ 47
Seat Belt System Components... 45
Additional Information About
Your SRS ................................
48
Additional Safet
y Precautions.... 52
How the Automatic Seat Belt
Tensioners Work..................... 50
How the SRS Indicator
Works........................................ 50
How Your Airbags Work............ 48
SRS Components......................... 48
Additives, Engine Oil..................... 24 1
Adjustments Head Restraints......................... 104
Mirrors........................................ 115
Seats............................................ 100
Steering Wheel............................ 72
Airbag (SRS)............................... 9, 4 9
Air Cleaner Element...................... 252
Air Conditioning Filter.................. 262
Air Conditioning System....... 130, 138
Maintenance............................... 261
Rear A/C Control...................... 152
Usage................................. 130, 138
Air Outlets (Vents)............... 132, 138
Air Pressure, Tires........................ 263
Alcohol in Gasoline........................ 326
Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning........ 285
Antifreeze....................................... 243
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
Indicator Light..................... 59 , 212Operation.................................... 211
Anti-theft, Audio System............... 186
Anti-theft Steering Column Lock.. 78
Appearance Care........................... 283
Armrests........................................ . 103
Audio Controls, Remote................ 185
Audio System........................ 155, 167
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners.... 50
Automatic Lighting Off Feature.... 67
Automatic Speed Control................ 73
Automatic Transmission............... 204
Capacity, Fluid........................... 322
Checking Fluid Level................ 249
Shifting........................................ 205
Shift Lever Position Indicator.. 204
Shift Lever Positions................. 205
Shift Lock Release..................... 208CONTINUED