Important Safet y Precaution s
You'll find many safety
recommendations throughout this
section, and throughout this manual.
The recommendations on this page are the ones we consider to be themost important.
Alway s Wea r You r Sea t Bel t
A seat belt is your best protection in
all types of collisions. Airbagssupplement seat belts, but airbags
are designed to inflate only in a
moderate to severe frontal collision.
So even though your vehicle is
equipped with airbags, make sure
you and your passengers always
wear your seat belts, and wear them properly. (See page 15.)
Restrai n Al l Childre n
Children are safest when they are
properly restrained in a back seat,
not the front seat. A child who is too small for a seat belt must be properly
restrained in a child safety seat. (See
page 22.) B
e Awar e o f Airba g Hazard s
While airbags can save lives, they can cause serious or fatal injuries to
occupants who sit too close to them,
or are not properly restrained.
Infants, young children, and short adults are at the greatest risk. Be
sure to follow all instructions and
warnings in this manual. (See page 9.)
Don' t Drin k an d Driv e
Alcohol and driving don't mix. Even
one drink can reduce your ability to
respond to changing conditions, and
your reaction time gets worse with every additional drink. So don't drink
and drive, and don't let your friends
drink and drive, either. Contro
l You r Spee d
Excessive speed is a major factor in
crash injuries and deaths. Generally,
the higher the speed the greater the
risk, but serious accidents can also occur at lower speeds. Never drive
faster than is safe for current conditions, regardless of the
maximum speed posted.
Kee p You r Vehicl e i n Saf e
Conditio n
Having a tire blowout or a
mechanical failure can be extremely
hazardous. To reduce the possibility of such problems, check your tire
pressures and condition frequently, and perform all regularly scheduled
maintenance. (See page 230.)
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y
Timing Belt , Tire s
Timin g Bel t
The timing belt should normally be replaced at the intervals shown in
the maintenance schedule.
Replace the belt at 60,000 miles (U.S.)
or 100,000 km (Canada) if you regu-
larly drive your vehicle in one or more of these conditions:
In very high temperatures
(over 110°F,43°C).
In very low temperatures
(under — 20°F, — 29°C).
Tire s
To safely operate your vehicle, your tires must be the proper type andsize, in good condition with adequate
tread, and correctly inflated. The
following pages give more detailed information on how and when tocheck air pressure, how to inspect
your tires for damage and wear, and
what to do when your tires need to be replaced.Inflatio n
Keeping the tires properly inflated
provides the best combination of
handling, tread life and riding comfort. Underinflated tires wear
unevenly, adversely affect handlingand fuel economy, and are more
likely to fail from being overheated. Overinflated tires can make your
vehicle ride more harshly, are more prone to damage from road hazards,and wear unevenly.
We recommend that you visually check your tires every day. If you
think a tire might be low, check it immediately with a tire gauge.
CONTINUED
Maintenanc e
Using tires that are excessively
worn or improperly inflated can
cause a crash in which you can be seriously hurt or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner's manual regarding tire inflation and maintenance.
Tires
When shopping for replacement
tires, you may find that some tires
are "directional." This means they
are designed to rotate only in one direction. If you use directional tires,
they should be rotated only front-to-
back. Replacin
g Tire s an d Wheel s
The tires that came with your
vehicle were selected to match the performance capabilities of the
vehicle while providing the best combination of handling, ride
comfort, and long life. You should
replace them with radial tires of thesame size, load range, speed rating,
and maximum cold tire pressure
rating (as shown on the tire's sidewall). Mixing radial and bias-ply
tires on your vehicle can reduce its
braking ability, traction, and steering
accuracy.It is best to replace all four tires at
the same time. If that is not possible or necessary, then replace the two
front tires or the two rear tires as a pair. Replacing just one tire can
seriously affect your vehicle's han-
dling.
CONTINUED
Maintenanc e
Installing improper tires on your
vehicle can affect handling and stability. This can cause a crashin which you can be seriously
hurt or killed.
Always use the size and type of
tires recommended in this
owner's manual.
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
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
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
Safety Labels, Location of.............. 54
Safety Messages................................ ii
Seat Belt, Additional Information.. 45 Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 45Seat Belt Maintenance................ 47
Seat Belt System Components... 45
Seat Belts..................................... . 8, 45
Cleaning...................................... 286
Maintenance................................ . 47
Reminder Light and Beeper................................. 45, 57
System Components.................... 45
Tether Attachment Points.......... 43 Use During Pregnancy................ 20
Wearing a Lap/Shoulder Belt.... 15
Seats................................................. 99
Adjustments............................... 100
Folding the Third Seat .............. 109
Head Restraints ........................ 104
Passenger Seating....................... 99
Reclining the Second Seat ....... 101
Reclining the Third Seat ........... 101
Removing the Second
Seats........................................ 108
Third Seat Access ...................... 105
Serial Number................................ 320
Service Intervals............................ 230
Service Manual*............................ 337
Service Station Procedures .......... 189
Setting the Clock .......................... 117
Shifting the Automatic Transmission.............................. 205
Shift Lever Position Indicator...... 204 Shift Lock Release......................... 20 7
Side Marker Lights, Bulb
Replacement in.......................... 273
Signaling Turns................................ 68
Sliding Doors.................................... 88
Snow Tires...................................... 269
Solvent-type Cleaners.................... 284
Sound System........................ 155, 16 7
Spare Tire Inflating...................................... . 292
Specifications............................. 323
Spark Plugs..................................... 254
Specifications Charts..................... 322
Speed Control................................... 7 3
Speedometer.................................... 62
SRS, Additional Information........... 48 Additional Safety Precautions.... 52How the Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners Work..................... 50
How the SRS Indicator
Works........................................ 50
How Your Airbags Work............ 48
SRS Components ....................... . 48
SRS Service ................................. 51
SRS Indicator ............................. 50, 58
START (Ignition Key Position)..... 79
Starting the Engine........................ 203 In Cold Weather at High
Altitude.................................. . 203
With a Dead Battery................. 303
Steam Coming from Engine......... 305
Steering Wheel Adjustment.................................. . 72
Anti-theft Column Lock.............. 78
Stereo Sound System........... 155, 167
Storing Your Vehicle.................... 28 1
Storage Box.................................... 123
Sunglasses Holder......................... 120
Sun Visor......................................... 121
Supplemental Restraint System Servicing...................................... . 51
SRS Indicator......................... 50, 58
System Components.................... 48
Synthetic Oil................................... 240