Preparing to Drive
You should do the following checks
and adjustments every day before
you drive
your car.
1. Make sure all windows, mirrors,
and outside lights
are clean and
unobstructed. Remove frost, snow,
or ice.
2. Check that the hood and trunk are
fully closed.
3. Visually check the tires. If a tire
looks low,
use a gauge to check its
pressure.
130 Driving
4. Check that any items you may be
carrying with you inside are stored
properly or fastened down
securely.
5. Check the adjustment of the seat
(see page 68 ) .
6. Check the adjustment of the
inside and outside mirrors (see
page
79 ).
7. Make sure the doors are securely
closed and locked.
8. Fasten your seat belt. Check that
your passenger has fastened his
seat belt (see page 15 ) .
9. Turn the ignition switch ON (II).
Check
the indicator lights in the
instrument panel.
10.Start
the engine (see page 131 ) .
1l.Check the gauges and indicator
lights in
the instrument panel (see
page
43 ).
The Braking System
Your Honda is equipped with disc
brakes at
all four wheels. A power
assist helps reduce the effort needed
on the brake pedal.
The ABS helps
you retain steering control when
braking very hard.
Put your foot on the brake pedal only
when you intend to brake. Resting
your foot on the pedal keeps the
brakes applied lightly, causing them
to build up heat. Heat build-up can
reduce how well your brakes work.
It
also keeps your brake lights on all
the time, confusing drivers behind
you.
136 Driving
Constant application of the brakes
when going down a long hill builds
up heat and reduces their effective
ness.
Use the engine to assist the
brakes by downshifting to a lower
gear and taking your foot off the
accelerator pedal.
Check your brakes after driving
through deep water. Apply the
brakes moderately to see
if they feel
normal.
If not, apply them gently and
frequently until they
do. Since a
longer distance is needed to stop
with wet brakes, be extra cautious
and alert in your driving.
Brake Wear Indicators
All four brakes have audible brake
wear indicators.
When the brake pads need replacing,
you will
hear a distinctive metallic
"screeching" sound when you apply
the brakes.
If you do not have the
brake pads replaced, they will begin
screeching
all the time.
Your brakes may sometimes squeal
or squeak when you apply
them
lightly. Do not confuse this with the
brake wear indicators.
They make a
very audible
"screeching."
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.
Service at the indicated distance or time, whichever comes first. Do the items in A, B, Cas required for each distance/time interval. Follow this schedule if the severe driving conditions described in the Severe Conditions Schedule on the next page do not apply. Canadian owners: Follow the schedule for Severe Conditions.
7,500 mi/12,000
km/- Do items in A. 15,000 m i/24,000 km/1 yr Do items in A, B. 22,500 mi/36,000 km/-
Do items in A. 30,000 mi/48,000 km/2 yrs Do items in A, B, C. 37,500 mi/60,000 km/- Do items in A. 45,000 mi/72,000 km/3 yrs DReplace coolant. DReplace brake fluid. Do items in A, B. 52,500 mi/84,000 km/- Do items in A. 60,000 mi/96,000 km/4 yrs Do items in A, B, C. 67,500 mi/108,000 km/- Do items in A. 75,000 mi/120,000 km/5 yrs DReplace coolant. Do items in A, B. 82,500 mi/132,000 km/- Do items in A. 90,000 mi/144,000 km/6 yrs DReplace brake fluid. DReplace transmission fluid. Do items in A, B, C. 97,500 mi/156,000 km/- Do items in A. 1 05,000 m i/168,000 km/7 yrs Inspect valve clearance. DReplace coolant. Dlnspect idle speed. DReplace spark plugs. Do items in A, B. 112,500 mi/180,000 km/-Do items in A. 120,000 mi/192,000 km/8 yrs Do items in A, B, C.
Note: • Check engine oil and coolant at each fuel stop. • Check and adjust valve clearance, cold engine, if noisy.
A DReplace engine oil. DCheck tire inflation and condition. B DReplace engine oil filter. Dlnspect front and rear brakes. CCheck parking brake adjustment. Dlnspect tie rod ends, steering gear box and boots. Dlnspect suspension components. Dlnspect driveshaft boots. Dlnspect brake hoses and lines (including ABS). DC heck all fluid levels, condition of fluids, and check for leaks. Dlnspect cooling system hoses and connections. D"lnspect exhaust system. D"lnspect fuel lines and connections. c DReplace air cleaner element. DReplace rear differential fluid. DReplace air conditioning filter. Dlnspect drive belt. # : See information on maintenance and emissions warranty, last
column, page 147.
Maintenance 149
Service at the indicated miles x 1,000 15 30 45 60 75 90 105 120 distance or time -whichever km x 1,000 24 48 72 96 120 144 168 192 --~-~ comes first. months 12 24
36 48 60 72 84
96 Replace engine oil and oil filter Replace every 3,750 miles (6,000 km) or 6 months
Check engine oil and coolant Check oil and coolant at each fuel stop Replace air cleaner element • • r-·-. . . ·~ • • Use normal schedule except in dusty
conditions Inspect valve clearance Adjust only if noisy • Replace spark plugs • -·~-~-·-· ~~-~ f-----Inspect drive belt •
• • • Inspect idle speed I • --Replace engine coolant • • • -----Replace transmission fluid • •
• • Replace rear differential fluid • • • •
• •
• • Inspect front and rear brakes Inspect every 7,500 miles. (12,000 km) or 6 months
Replace brake fluid • -+-• Check parking brake adjustment • •
• • • • • • Replace air conditioning filter 1
" 1 •
•
• • i -~I-Lubricate al_~!lir1J:JeS, locks and latches • • • • • • • • 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 Every 7,500 miles (12,000 km) or 6 months Suspension components, Drives haft boots -----r----~~ Brake hoses and lines (including ABS)
All fluid levels and condition of fluids
Cooling system hoses and connections • • • • • • • • Exhaust system", Fuel lines and connections'
1 Lights and controls, Vehicle underbody
* 1: Refer to page183 for replacement information under special driving conditions.
150 Maintenance
U.S. Owners
Follow the Severe Conditions
Maintenance Schedule if you
drive your vehicle
MAINLY
under one or more of the
following conditions:
• Driving less than 5 miles (8
km) per trip or, in freezing
temperatures, driving less
than
10 miles (16 km) per trip.
• Driving in extremely hot
[over
90° F (32° C)] conditions.
• Extensive idling or long
periods of stop-and-go driving.
• Driving in mountainous
conditions.
• Driving on muddy, dusty, or
de-iced roads.
Canadian Owners
Follow the Maintenance
Schedule for Severe Conditions.
#: See information on maintenance and
emissions warranty, last column, page 147.
Use this schedule if your vehicle is MAINLY driven in any of the following Severe Conditions, or normally driven in Canada; otherwise use the Normal Schedule. Service at the indicated distance or time, whichever comes first. Do the items in A, B, C, D as required for each distance/time.
3,750 mi/6,000 km/6 mos Do items in A. 7,500 mi/12,000 km/- Do items in A, B. 11,250 mi/18,000 km/-
Do items in A. 15,000 mi/24,000 km/1 yr Do items in A, B, C. 18,750 mi/30,000 km/- Do items in A. 22,500 mi/36,000 km/1% yrs Do items_in_A,Jt .. ~--------· ---~~---26,250 mi/42,000 km/-Do items in A. 30,000 mi/48,000 km/2 vrs Do items in A, B, C, D. 33,750 mi/54,000 km/-
Do items in A. 37,500 mi/60,000 km/2'/z vrs
Do items in A, B. 41,250 mi/66,000 km/-
Do items in A. 45,000 mi/72,000 km/3 yrs DReplace brake fluid. DReplace coolant. Do items in A, B, C. 48,750 mi/78,000 km/- Do items in A. 52,500 mi/84,000 km/3'/z vrs Do items in A, B. 56,250 mi/90,000 km/-
Do items in A. 60,000 mi/96,000 km/4 vrs _Do items in A, B, C, D. 63,750 mi/102,000 km/-
Do items in A. 67,500 mi/108,000 km/41!2 yrs Do items in A, B. 71,250 mi/114,000 km/-
Do items in A. 75,000 mi/120,000 km/5 yrs ']Replace coolant. Do itefY!S_lll_ A,_B_,_(:, -~--~--78,750 mi/126,000 km/-
Do items in A.
Note: • Check engine oil and coolant at each fuel stop. • Check and adjust valve clearance, cold engine, if noisy.
·--~
··-
Severe Conditions:
A
B
c
Driving less than 5 mi (8 km) per trip or, in freezing
temperatures, driving less than 10 mi (16 km) per trip.
Driving in extremely hot (over 90°F/32°C) conditions.
Extensive idling or long periods of stop-and-go driving. Driving in mountainous conditions.
Drivin_gon muddy, dusty, or de-iced roads.
[]Replace enqine oil and filter. Dlnspect front and rear brakes. DC heck tire inflation and condition. Dlnspect tie rod ends, steering gear box and boots. Dlnspect suspension components. Dlnspect driveshaft boots. ORe place air cleaner element. ']Check parking brake adjustment. ']Lubricate all hinges, locks and latches. ']Replace rear differential fluid.
CONTINUED
Maintenance 151
You should check the following
items at the specified intervals.
If
you are unsure of how to perform
any check, turn to the page given.
• Engine oil level -Check every
time you
fill the fuel tank. See
page 119.
• Engine coolant level -Check the
radiator reserve tank every time
you
fill the fuel tank. See page 120 .
• Windshield washer fluid -Check
the level in the reservoir monthly.
If weather conditions cause you to
use the washers frequently, check
the reservoir each time you stop
forfuel. See page 167.
• Brakes and clutch -Check the
fluid level monthly. See page
170 .
Owner Maintenance Checks
• Tires -Check the tire pressure
monthly. Examine the tread for
wear and foreign objects. See page
186.
• Lights -Check the operation of
the headlights, parking lights,
taillights, high-mount brake light,
turn signals, brake lights, and
license plate lights monthly. See
page 192.
Maintenance 155