Drive
r an d Passenge r Safet y
This section gives you important information about how to protect
you and your passengers. It shows
how to use seat belts properly. It
explains the Supplemental
Restraint System. And it tells you how to properly restrain infantsand children in your vehicle.
Important Safety Precautions .. 4
Your Vehicle's Safety Features 5
Seat Belts ............... 6
Airbags ................ 7 Seats and Seat-Backs ...... 8
Head Restraints .......... 8
Door Locks ............. 9
Pre-Drive Safety Checklist . 9
Protecting Adults .......... 10 1. Close and Lock the Doors 10
2. Adjust the Front Seats . . 10 3. Adjust the Seat-Backs . . 11
4. Adjust the Head Restraints 12 5. Fasten and Position
the Seat Belts ......... 13
6. Adjust the Steering Wheel 15
7. Maintain a Proper Sitting Position ....... 16
Advice for Pregnant Women 16 Additional Safety Precautions 17
Protecting Children ........ 18 All Children MustBe Restrained .......... 18
Children Should Sit in the Back Seat .......... 19
The Passenger's Airbag Poses
Serious Risks to Children 19
If You Must Drive With Several Children ....... 20
If a Child Requires
Close Attention ........ 20
Additional Safety Precautions 21 General Guidelines for Using Child Seats ...... 21
Protecting Infants........ 25 Protecting Small Children . 29
Protecting Larger Children 33
Using Child Seats With Tethers ........... 36
Additional Information About Your Seat Belts ........... 38
Seat Belt SystemComponents ........... 38
Lap/Shoulder Belt ....... 38
Lap Belt ............... 39 Seat Belt Maintenance .... 39
Additional Information About Your SRS ............... 40
SRS Components ........ 40
How Your Airbags Work .. 41
How Your SRS IndicatorLight Works ........... 42
SRS Service ............ 43
Additional Safety Precautions 43
Carbon Monoxide Hazard ... 44
Safety Labels ............. 45
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y
If the light stays on after the
engine starts.
If the light comes on or flashes
on and off while you drive.
If you see any of these
indications, your airbags may not
deploy when you need them. See your Honda dealer as soon as
possible.
SR
S Servic e
Your Supplemental Restraint
System is virtually maintenance-
free, and there are no parts you
can safely service. However, you
must have your vehicle serviced if:
Your airbags ever inflate. The
airbags and control unit must
be replaced. Do not try to
remove or replace the airbags yourself. This must be done by
a Honda dealer or a
knowledgeable body shop.
The SRS indicator light alerts
you to a problem. Take your vehicle to an authorized Honda
dealer as soon as possible. If
you ignore this indication, the
airbags might not inflate when
you need them.
Additiona
l Safet y
Precaution s
Do not attempt to deactivate
your airbags. Together, airbags and seat belts provide the best
protection in a moderate to severe frontal collision.
Do not tamper with SRS components or wiring for any
reason. Tampering could cause
the airbags to deploy, possibly
causing very serious injury.
See page 170 for further information and precautions
relating to your SRS.
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y
Ignoring the SRS indicator light
can result in serious injury or
death if the airbags do not inflate when needed.
Have your vehicle checked by a
dealer as soon as possible if
the SRS light alerts you to a potential problem.
Indicato
r Light s
SEA T BEL T REMINDE R LIGH T Sea
t Bel t Reminde r
As a reminder to you and your
passengers, this light will come on for about six seconds each time
the key is turned to the "ON"
position.
The beeper will also operate for about six seconds after turning the
key to the "ON" position if the
driver's seat belt is not fastened.
Brake Syste m
The service braking system is a split system designed so that one
part will provide some braking action if there is a loss of
hydraulic pressure in the other
part of the system.
To serve as a reminder, the "BRAKE" system light is
designed to come on while the
parking brake is set and the key is turned to the "ON" position. Have
Instrument s an d Control s
BRAK
E
HIG
H BEA M INDICATOR LIGHT
BRAK E SYSTE M INDICATOR LIGHT
CHARGIN G SYSTE M INDICATOR LIGHT
Owne
r Safet y Check s
Promptly take any safety
problems to your Honda dealer for service advice.
Parkin g brak e — Park on a fairly
steep hill and hold the vehicle
with the parking brake only. This
checks its holding ability.
Starte r safet y switc h (automati c
transmission ) — Check the safety
switch by trying to start the
engine in each gear. The starter should work only with the shift
lever in the "P" (Park) or "N" (Neutral) position.
Starte r safet y switc h (manua l
transmission ) — To check the
safety switch, place the shift lever
in "Neutral," push the clutch
pedal halfway and try to start the engine. The starter should not
work. The starter should work only when the clutch pedal is fully
depressed.
Transmissio n shif t indicato r
(automati c transmission ) —
Check that the indicator points to
the gear chosen.
Steerin g — Be alert for any
changes in steering action. An inspection or service is needed
when the steering wheel is harder
to turn or has too much free play,
or if there are unusual sounds when turning or parking.
Whee l alignment , balanc e an d
tire s — Uneven or abnormal tire
wear, or pulling to the right or left
on a straight and level road may show the need for a wheel
alignment. A vibration of the
steering wheel or seat at normal
highway speeds means wheel balancing is needed. Check tire
pressures (including the spare) at
least monthly and whenever the
vehicle is serviced (see page 159).
Brake s — Watch for the
"BRAKE" light coming on. Other signs of possible brake trouble are
such things as repeated pulling to
one side when braking, unusual sounds when braking or between
brake applications, or increased
brake pedal travel. If you note one
of these conditions, have the system checked at once and
repaired if needed.
Car e an d Maintenanc e
Oil
Change
How to ............. 208
When to ..... 200, 201, 207
Checking Engine ........ 209
Front and Rear Axle .... 212
Pressure Indicator ........ 62
Selecting Proper Viscosity Chart ........ 209
ON (Ignition Key Position) ... 97
Opening the Hood ......... 105
Opening the Tailgate ....... 104
Opening the Windows ...... 103
Operation in Foreign Countries ........ 169
Ordering Service Parts ...... 228
Overheating, Engine ....... 186
Owner Assistance .......... 241
Owner Safety Checks ....... 204 Panel Brightness Control .... 71
Park Gear Position .......... 75
Parking Brake and Brake System Light .... 59, 84
Parking Over Things That Burn ............... 155
Polishing and Waxing ...... 220
Power
Brakes ................ 157
Door Locks ............ 100 Mirror Defogger ........ 72
Mirrors ................ 101Steering ............... 219
Windows .............. 103
Power Drive Indicator .... 67, 79
Power Outlets, Accessory .... 113 Power Steering Belt.
See Drive Belts
Pre-Drive Safety Checklist ..... 9
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts . . 16
Proper Seat Belt Usage ...... 13
Protecting Adults ............ 10 AdditionalSafety Precautions ........ 17
Adjust the Front Seat ...... 10 Adjust the Head Restraints . 12
Adjust the Scat-Backs ...... 11
Adjust the Steering Wheel .......... 15
Advice for Pregnant Woment 16 Close and Lock the Doors .. 10
Fasten and Position the Seat Belts .... 13
Safety Defects, Reporting ... 245
Safety Labels, Location of ... 45
Safety Messages ............ iv
Seat Belt
s ................ 4, 6
Additional Information ..... 38
Maintenance ......... 39
System Components ..... 38
Advice for Pregnant Women 16
Cleaning ............... 225
Fasten and Position ........ 13
Lap Belt ................. 39
Lap/Shoulder Belt ......... 38
Reminder Light ..... 6, 38, 59
Seats .................. 8, 87
Adjusting the ............ 88
Seat-Backs .......... 8, 89, 93
Self-Adjusting Brakes ...... 158 Serial Number ............ 228
Service
Intervals ..... 200, 201, 202, 203
Service Manual ........... 249
Service Station Information . . 193
Setting the Clock .......... 149
Shift Lever Position Indicator 74
Shift-on-the-Fly System ..... 216 Fluid Capacity .......... 235
Shifting The AutomaticTransmission ........... 74
The 5-Speed Transmission . 81
Side Marker Lights Bulb Replacement in ...... 239
Signaling Turns. See Lane Change, Signaling
Small Children, Protecting .... 29
Snow Chains ............. 164
Snow Tires ............... 164
Solvent-Type Cleaners . .
222, 223
Sound System ........ 121, 129
Spare Tire Inflating (Pressure)
.... 160, 235
Removal ................ 185 Specifications .......... 235
Spark Plugs Replacing .............. 219
Specifications .......... 231
Specifications Charts ....... 231
Speed Control ............ 143
Speedometer ............... 56
START (Ignition Key Position) 97
Starting the Engine ......... 153
With a Dead Battery ..... 180
Steam Coming From Engine . 186
Steering Column
Ignition Lock Switch ....... 97
Steering Wheel
Adjustment ............ 111
Anti-Theft Column Lock ... 98
Stereo Sound System ...
121, 129
Sun Visor ................ 110
Supplemental Restraint System .......... 7
Additional Information ..... 40
Additional
Safety Precautions ........ 43
Components ............. 40
Hazards .............. 4, 8
How the Airbag Works ... 41 How the SRS
Indicator Light Works ... 42
Service ................ 43
Tachometer ................ 56
Tailgate Operation ......... 104
Tape Player............... 124
Technical Descriptions, Emission Control Systems . . 245
Temperature Gauge ......... 58
Three-Way Catalytic Converter ....... 168
Tilt Steering Wheel ........ 111
Time, Setting the .......... 149
Tire Chains ............... 164
Tires .................... 159
Air Pressure ....
160, 194, 235
Checking Wear ......... 161
DOT Tire Quality Grading 247
How to Change a Flat .... 182
Inflation .......
160, 167, 194
Inspection ............. 161
Replacing .............. 162
Rotation ............... 162
Snow ................. 164 Spare ................. 185
Specifications .......... 235
Wear Indicators ......... 161
Tire Wrench .............. 184
Tools, Tire Changing ....... 184
Towing .................. 187 Emergency Wrecker(Tow Truck) .......... 188
Trailer ................ 174