Fuel Econom y
The condition of your car and your
driving habits are the two most
important things that affect the fuel
mileage you get.
Vehicl e Conditio n
Always maintain your car according to the maintenance schedule. This
will keep it in top operating condition.
An important part of that mainte- nance is the Owne r Maintenanc e
Check s (see page 179). For
example, an underinflated tire
causes more "rolling resistance,"
which uses fuel. It also wears out faster, so check the tire pressure at
least monthly.
In winter, the build-up of snow on
your car's underside adds weight and rolling resistance. Frequent cleaning
helps your fuel mileage and reduces
the chance of corrosion. Drivin
g Habit s
You can improve fuel economy by driving moderately. Rapid acceler-
ation, abrupt cornering, and hard
braking use more fuel.
Always drive in the highest gear that allows the engine to run and acceler-
ate smoothly.
Depending on traffic conditions, try
to maintain a constant speed. Every
time you slow down and speed up,
your car uses extra fuel. Use the cruise control, when appropriate, toincrease fuel economy. A cold engine uses more fuel than a
warm engine. It is not necessary to "warm-up" a cold engine by letting it
idle for a long time. You can drive
away in about a minute, no matter
how cold it is outside. The engine
will warm up faster, and you get
better fuel economy. To cut down on the number of "cold starts," try to
combine several short trips into one.
The air conditioning puts an extra load on the engine which makes ituse more fuel. Turn off the A/C to
cut down on air conditioning use.Use the flow-through ventilation
when the outside air temperature is moderate.
Befor e Drivin g
Tire
s
Your car's tires have wear indicators molded into the tread. When the
tread wears down to that point, you
will see a 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) wide band running across the tread. Thisshows there is less than 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) of tread left on the tire. A
tire that is this worn gives very little
traction on wet roads. You should
replace the tire if you can see the
tread wear indicator in three or more
places around the tire.
Maintenanc
e
In addition to proper inflation,
correct wheel alignment helps to decrease tire wear. If you find a tire
is worn unevenly, have your dealer
check the wheel alignment.
The tires were properly balanced by the factory. They may need to be
rebalanced at some time before theyare worn out. Have your dealer
check the tires if you feel a consis-
tent vibration while driving. A tire should always be rebalanced if it is
removed from the wheel for repair.
Make sure the installer balances the
wheels when you have new tires installed. This increases riding
comfort and tire life. Your car'soriginal tires were dynamic or "spin"
balanced at the factory. For best results, have the installer perform a
dynamic balance.
Improper wheel weights can damage
your car's aluminum wheels. Use only
Genuine Honda wheel weights for
balancing.
Maintenance
NOTIC
E
INDICATO
R
LOCATIO N
MARK S
TREA D WEA R
INDICATOR S
Changin
g a Fla t Tir e
If you have a flat tire while driving, stop in a safe place to change it.
Stopping in traffic or on the shoulder
of a busy road is dangerous. Drive
slowly along the shoulder until you
get to an exit or an area to stop that is far away from the traffic lanes.
1. Park the car on firm, level andnon-slippery ground away from
traffic. Put the transmission in Park (automatic) or Reverse (manual). Apply the parking brake.
2. Turn on the hazard warning lights and turn the ignition switch to
LOCK (0). Have all the
passengers get out of the car while
you change the tire.
3. Open the trunk. Raise the trunk
floor by lifting up on the back edge.
4. Take the tool kit out of the trunk.
5. Unscrew the wing bolt and take
the spare tire out of its well.
CONTINUED
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
JAC
K
TOO L KI T TRUN
K
FLOO R
SPAR E
TIR E
The car can easily roll off the
jack, seriously injuring anyone underneath.
Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and never get under the car when it
is supported only by the jack.
Changing a Fla t Tir e
15. Tighten the wheel nuts securely in
the same crisscross pattern. Hav
e
the wheel nut torque checked at the nearest automotive service
facility.
Tighten the wheel nuts to:
80 lbf.ft (108 N.m, 11 kgf.m)
16. Remove the center cap before storing the flat tire i n the trunk
well. 17. Place the flat tire face down in the
spare tire well.
18. Remove the spacer cone from the wing bolt, turn it over, and put itback on the bolt.
CONTINUED
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
WIN
G BOL T
SPACE R
CON E
CENTE R CA P
Changing a Fla t Tire , I f You r Engin e Won' t Star t
19. Secure the flat tire by screwing
the wing bolt back into its hole.
20. Store the jack in its holder. Turn the jack's end bracket to lock it in
place. Replace the cover. Store the tool kit. 21. Store the center cap in the trunk.
Make sure it does not get scratch-ed or damaged.
22. Lower the trunk floor, then close the trunk lid.
Type SH only
If you mount the compact spare on
either front or rear tire, it may cause
the ATTS indicator light in the instrument panel to come on due to
the difference in tire diameter. The
light will go out when the proper tire
is installed.
I f You r Engin e Won' t Star t
Diagnosing why your engine won't start falls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
key to START (III):
You hear nothing, or almost nothing. The engine's starter
motor does not operate at all, or operates very slowly.
You can hear the starter motor operating normally, or the starter
motor sounds like it is spinning
faster than normal, but the engine does not start up and run.
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
Loose items can fly around the
interior in a crash and could
seriously injure the occupants.
Store the wheel, jack and tools
securely before driving.
Inde
x
Battery Charging SystemIndicator............................ 55, 249
Jump Starting............................. 244 Maintenance............................... 198
Specifications............................. 265
Before Driving............................... 125
Belts, Seat........................................... 8
Beverage Holder.............................. 91
Body Repair.................................... 233
Brakes
Anti-lock System (ABS)............ 154
Break-in, New Linings .............. 126
Fluid............................................ 193
Light, Burned-out....................... 219
Parking..........................................89
System Indicator.......................... 55
Wear Indicators......................... 153
Brakes, ABS Operation.................................... 154
System Indicator.................. 56, 156
Braking System.............................. 153
Break-in, New Car......................... 126
Brightness Control, Instruments... 63 Brights, Headlights......................... 62
Bulb Replacement
Back-up Lights........................... 219
Brake Lights............................... 219
Ceiling Lights............................. 223
Courtesy Lights......................... 223
Front Parking Lights................. 216
Front Side Marker Lights......... 217
Headlights.................................. 214
High-mount Brake Light.......... 221
License Plate Light.................... 222
Rear Side Marker Lights.......... 219
Specifications............................. 265
Trunk Light................................ 224
Turn Signal Lights..................... 218
Bulbs, Halogen............................... 214
Cables, Jump Starting With.......... 244
Capacities Chart............................. 264
Carbon Monoxide Hazard.............. 49
Cargo, Loading............................... 135
Cassette Player
Care............................................. 122
Operation.................................... 119
CAUTION, Explanation of ............... ii
CD Changer.................................... 114
CD Player........................................ 112
Certification Label......................... 262
Chains............................................. 210
Change Oil How to......................................... 183
When to....................................... 172
Changing a Flat Tire..................... 237
Changing Engine Coolant............. 187
Charging System Indicator .... 55, 249
Checking Automatic Transmission
Fluid........................................ 191
Battery Condition...................... 198
Brake Fluid................................. 193 Clutch Fluid................................ 194
Drive Belts.................................. 204
Engine Coolant........................... 131
Engine Oil................................... 130
Fuses...........................................254
Manual Transmission Fluid ..... 192
Power Steering Fluid................. 194
Checklist, Before Driving............. 140
Child Safety...................................... 21
Cleaner, Air.................................... 195
Inde
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Cleaning
Aluminum Wheels..................... 229
Carpeting.................................... 230
Exterior....................................... 228
Fabric.......................................... 230
Interior........................................ 230
Seat Belts.................................... 23
1
Vinyl............................................ 230
Windows..................................... 231
Clock, Settin
g the ............................ 90
Clutch Fluid.................................... 194
Coin Box........................................... 93
CO in the Exhaust......................... 270
Cold Weather, Starting in.............
141
Compact Spare............................... 236
Consumer Information*................
274
Controls, Instruments and.............. 51
Coolant
Adding......................................... 185
Checking.....................................
131
Proper Solution.......................... 185
Replacing.................................... 187
Temperatur
e Gauge.................... 59
Corrosion Protection..................... 232
Courtesy Lights............................... 95 Crankcase Emission Control
System.........................................270
Cruise Control Operation............... 67
Customer Relations Office........... 274
DANGER, Explanation of.................
ii
Dashboard........................................ 52
Daytime Running Lights................
. 62
Dead Battery, What to Do............ 244
Defects, Reporting Safety............. 278 Defog and Defrost......................... 104
Defogger, Rear Window................. 65
DEXRON ®
III Automatic
Transmission Fluid.................... 19
1
Dimensions..................................... 264
Dimming the Headlights................
62
Dipstick Automatic Transmission........... 19
1
Engine Oil...................................130
Directional Signals...........................
63
Disabled, Towing Your Car If...... 258
Disc Brake Wear Indicators......... 153
Disposal of Used Oil...................... 184 Doors
Locking and Unlocking............... 7
4
Power Door Locks....................... 7
4
DOT Tire Quality Grading...........
266
Downshifting, 5-speed Manual
Transmission.............................. 14 2
Driv
e Belts...................................... 204
Driving............................................ 139
Economy..................................... 132
In Bad Weather.......................... 158
In Foreign Countries................. 269
Economy, Fuel............................... 132
Emergencies on the Road............. 235 Batteiy, Jump Starting.............. 244
Brake System Indicator............ 251Changing a Flat Tire................. 237
Charging System Indicator ...... 249
Checking the Fuses................... 254
Low Oil Pressure Indicator...... 248
Malfunction Indicator Lamp .... 250
Manually Closing Moonroof .... 252
Overheated Engine................... 246
CONTINUED
Inde
x
Halogen Headlight Bulbs..............
214
Hazard Warning Flashers...............
65
Headlights Aiming......................................... 213
Daytime Running Lights............
. 62
High Beam Indicator................... 62 High Beams, Turning on............ 62
Low Beams, Turning on............. 62
Reminder Chime.......................... 62
Replacing Halogen Bulbs......... 214
Turning on....................................
62
Head Restraints............................... 82
Heating and
Cooling........................ 98
High Altitude, Stalling at.............. 141
High-Low Beam Switch .................. 62
High-mount Brake Light............... 221
Hood Latch..................................... 196
Hood, Opening the........................ 128
Horn................................................... 61
Hot Coolant, Warning About........ 185
Hydraulic Clutch............................ 194
Hydroplaning.................................. 159
Identification Number, Vehicle.... 262
If Your Car Has to be Towed....... 258
Ignition
Keys............................................... 70
Switch............................................ 72
Timing Control System............. 27
1
Immobilizer System......................... 7
1
Indicator Lights. Instrument
Panel.............................................. 53
Infan
t Restraint................................ 29
Inflation, Proper Tire .................... 205 High Speed Driving................... 266Normal Driving.......................... 206
Inside Mirror.................................... 88
Inspection, Tire.............................. 206
Instrument Panel............................. 52
Instrument Panel Brightness......... 63
Interior Cleaning............................ 230
Interior Lights.................................. 94
Introduction.........................................
i
Jacking up the Car......................... 23
9
Jack, Tire........................................ 238
Jump Starting................................. 244
Keys................................................... 70
Label, Certification........................ 262
Lane Change, Signaling.................. 63
Lap/Shoulder Belts......................... 42
Leaking of Exhaust into Car.......... 49
Learning Key.................................... 7
1
Lights
Bulb Replacement..................... 214
Indicator........................................ 5
3
Parking.......................................... 62
Turn Signal................................... 63
Loading Cargo................................ 135
LOCK (Ignition Key Position)....... 73
CONTINUED