
Liquid crystal  is used in the  meter 
panel.  You may feel the indicators 
appear  slowly 
in the low temperature. 
Speedometer 
This  shows  your speed  in miles  per 
hour  (mph)  or kilometers  per hour 
(km/h).  Select 
Button 
The Select button  switches  the 
speedometer  reading between  miles 
per  hour  and kilometer  per hour. 
It 
also  changes  the odometer  and trip 
meters  to read  in miles  or kilometers 
correspondingly.  To change  the 
readings,  push the Select  button  and 
hold  it until  you 
hear a beep. 
Gauges 
Tachometer 
The tachometer  shows the engine 
speed 
in revolutions  per minute 
(rpm).  To protect  the engine  from 
damage,  never drive with the 
tachometer  reading in the  red  zone. 
Temperature  Gauge 
This  shows  the temperature  of the 
engine's  coolant. During normal 
operation,  the reading  should be 
in 
the middle  of the  gauge.  In severe 
driving  conditions,  such as very  hot 
weather  or a long  period  of uphill 
driving,  the reading  may reach  near 
the  red  mark. 
If it reaches  the red 
mark,  pull safely  to the  side  of the 
road. 
Turn to  page 223 for 
instructions  and precautions  on 
checking 
the engine's  cooling 
system. 
Instruments and Controls 4 7  

Heating and Cooling 
Vent Controls 
You can adjust  the direction  of the 
air  coming  from the vents  on both 
sides  of the  instrument  panel and at 
the  corner  of the  dashboard  on the 
passenger's  side. 
To adjust the air 
flow  up and  down,  move the tab 
in 
the  center  of each  vent up and  down. 
To  adjust  it left  and  right,  turn the 
dial  under  each vent left and right. 
88 Comfort and Convenience Features 
You can  shut  off the  air flow  from 
each  vent by turning  the dial 
all the 
way  toward  the 
t>UO mark until it 
clicks.  How 
to Use the System 
This 
section  covers how to set  up the 
system  controls  for ventilation, 
heating,  cooling, dehumidifying,  and 
defrosting. 
The engine  must be running  for the 
heater  and air conditioning  to 
generate  hot and  cold  air. 
The heater 
uses  engine  coolant  to warm  the air. 
If the engine  is cold,  it will be several 
minutes  before you feel  warm  air 
coming  from the system. 
The air conditioning  does not rely  on 
engine  temperature.  

Heating and Cooling 
To Cool  with A/C 
1. Turn on the AI C by pressing  the 
button. 
The light in the  button 
should  come on when  a fan  speed 
is  selected. 
2. Make  sure the temperature 
control  dial is 
all the way  to the  left. 
3. Select ;,; . 
4. If the  outside  air is humid,  select 
Recirculation  mode. 
If the outside 
air  is dry,  select  Fresh Air mode. 
Set 
the fan  to the  desired  speed. 
If the interior  is very  warm  from 
being  parked 
in the sun,  you can cool 
it  down  more rapidly  by setting  up 
the  controls  this way: 
1. Start  the engine. 
2. Turn on the A/C by pressing  the 
button.  Make sure the tempera
ture  control  dial is 
all the way  to 
the  left. 
3. Set the fan  to maximum  speed. 
4. Open the windows  partially. Select 
;,; and Recirculation  mode. 
90 Comfort and Convenience Features 
When the interior  has cooled  down 
to  a more  comfortable  temperature, 
close  the windows  and set the 
controls  as described  for normal 
cooling.  Air 
conditioning  places an extra  load 
on  the  engine.  Watch the engine 
coolant  temperature  gauge (see page 
47) when  driving in stop-and-go 
traffic  or climbing  a long,  steep  hill. 
If it moves  near the red mark,  turn 
off  the 
A/ C until  the reading  returns 
to  normal.  

These settings direct all the air flow 
to  the  defroster  vents at the  base  of 
the  windshield  and the side  window 
defroster  vents. 
The air flow  will get 
warmer  and clear  the windows  faster 
as  the  engine  warms  up. You  can 
close  the side  vents  with the dial 
beside  each vent. 
This will send 
more  warm  air to the  windshield 
defroster  vents. 
For  safety,  make sure you have  a 
clear  view through  all the  windows 
before  driving  away. 
To Tum Everything Off 
To shut off the  system  temporarily, 
turn  off the  fan  (no lights 
illuminated). 
You  should  shut the system 
completely  off only  for the  first  few 
minutes  of driving  in cold  weather, 
until  the engine  coolant  warms up 
enough  to operate  the heater.  Keep 
the  fan  on at 
all other  times  so stale 
air  does  not build  up 
in the interior. 
Heating and Cooling 
Comfort and Convenience Features 93  

Before you begin  driving  your Honda, 
you  should  know what gasoline  to 
use,  and how  to check 
the levels  of 
important  fluids. You also need  to 
know  how to properly  store luggage 
or  packages. 
The information  in this 
section  will help  you. 
If you plan  to 
add  any accessories  to your  vehicle, 
· 
please  read the information  in this 
section  first. 
Before Driving 
Break-in Period ..............................  116 
Gasoline  ..........................................  116 
Service  Station Procedures  .......... 
117 
Filling the Fuel Tank ................. 117 
Opening the Hood  ..................... 118 
Oil Check  ................................ 119 
Engine  Coolant  Check .......... 120 
Fuel Economy  ................................ 121 
Car Condition  ............................. 121 
Driving Habits ............................ 121 
Accessories  and Modifications .... 122 
Accessories  ................................. 122 
Modifications  ............................. 123 
Additional Safety Precaution .... 123 
Carrying  Cargo .............................. 124 
General  Precautions  ...................... 127 
Before Driving 115  

Service Station Procedures 
3. Insert it all the way  back in its tube. 4. Remove  the dipstick  again and 
check  the level. 
It should  be 
between  the upper  and lower 
marks. 
120 Before Driving 
If it  is  near  or below  the lower  mark, 
see 
Adding Oil on  page  157. 
Engine  Coolant Check 
Look at the  coolant  level in the 
radiator  reserve tank. Make  sure it is 
between 
the MAX and  MIN  lines. If 
it is  below  the MIN  line, see Adding 
Engine  Coolant 
on page 161 for 
information  on adding  the proper 
coolant. 
Refer  to 
Owner Maintenance 
Checks 
on  page 155 for  information 
on  checking  other items 
in your 
Honda.  

This section explains  why it is 
important  to keep  your car well 
maintained  and to follow  basic 
maintenance  safety precautions. 
This section  also includes 
Maintenance  Schedules for normal 
driving  and severe  driving  conditions, 
a  Maintenance  Record, and instruc
tions  for simple  maintenance  tasks 
you  may  want  to take  care  of 
yourself. 
If you  have the skills  and tools  to per
form  more  complex  maintenance 
tasks  on your  Honda,  you may  want 
to  purchase 
the Service Manual. See 
page 259 for  information  on how  to 
obtain  a copy, 
or see  your  Honda 
dealer.  Maintenance 
Safety ....................... 
144 
Important 
Safety Precautions .. 145 
Maintenance Schedule ..................  146 
Required  Maintenance  Record 
.... 153 
Owner Maintenance Checks ........ 155 
Fluid Locations  ............................... 156 
Engine Oil ....................................... 157 
Adding Oil... ................................ 157 
Recommended Oil .....................  157 
Synthetic 
Oil ............................... 158 
Additives  .....................................  158 
Changing the Oil and Filter.. .... 159 
Cooling  System .............................. 161 
Adding Engine Coolant ............. 161 
Replacing  Engine Coolant ........ 163 
Windshield  Washers ..................... 167 
6-speed Manual Transmission 
Fluid  ............................................ 
168 
Differential  Fluid ........................... 169 
Brake  and Clutch Fluid ................. 170 
Brake  Fluid ................................. 170 
Brake System ............................. 170 
Clutch  System ............................ 171 
Air Cleaner Element..  .................... 172 
Hood Latch  ..................................... 174 
Maintenance 
Spark Plugs ..................................... 174 
Replacement  ............................... 17 4 
Specifications  .............................  176 
Battery  ............................................ 
177 
Wiper Blades  .................................. 180 
Air Conditioning  System ............... 182 
Air Conditioning Filter, ................. 183 
Drive Belt ........................................ 184 
Tires  ................................................ 185 
Inflation  ....................................... 185 
Inspection  ................................... 187 
Maintenance  ............................... 188 
Tire Rotation  .............................. 188 
Tire Wear .................................... 188 
Replacing  Tires and Wheels .... 189 
Wheels  and Tires  ....................... 190 
Winter  Driving  ........................... 190 
Snow 
Tires  .............................. 191 
Tire Chains ............................. 191 
Lights  .............................................. 192 
Replacing  Bulbs ......................... 194 
Storing Your Car ............................ 202 
Maintenance 143  

Service at the  indicated miles x 1,000 15 30 45 60 75 90 105 
distance ortime -whichever kmx 1,000 24 48 72 96 120 144  168 
comes  first. 
months 12 24 36 48 60 72 84 
Replace engine oil  Replace every 7,500 
miles  (12,000 km) or 12 months 
Replace engine oil filter • • 
• • • • • Check  engine oil and coolant Check oil and coolant at each fuel stop 
Replace air cleaner  element • • • Inspect valve clearance Adjust only if noisy • Replace spark plugs • Inspect drive belt • • • Inspect  idle speed • Replace engine coolant • • • Replace transmission fluid • Replace rear differential  fluid • • • Inspect front and rear  brakes • • • • • • 
• Replace brake fluid • • Check  parking  brake adjustment • • • • 
• • • Replace air conditioning filter • • • Check  tire inflation and condition  Every 7,500 
miles  (12,000 km) 
Visually inspect the following items: 
Tie rod  ends,  steering  gear box, and boots 
Suspension  components 
Driveshaft  boots 
Brake  hoses  and 
lines (including ABS) • • • • • • • All fluid levels and condition of fluids 
Cooling 
system  hoses and connections 
Exhaust system• 
Fuel lines and  connections• 
148 Maintenance 
120 192 
96 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
U.S. Owners 
Follow  the Normal  Conditions 
Maintenance  Schedule 
if the 
severe driving  conditions 
specified  in 
the Severe 
Conditions  Maintenance 
Schedule  do not  apply. 
NOTE: If you  only 
OCCASIONALLY drive  under  a 
"severe" condition,  you should 
follow 
the Normal  Conditions 
Maintenance  Schedule. 
Canadian Owners 
Follow the Maintenance 
Schedule  for Severe  Conditions. 
#: See information on maintenance  and 
emissions  warranty, 
last column, page  147.