Page 222 of 273

If the headlights dim noticeably or
go out when you try to start the
engine, either the battery is
dis
charged or the connections are
corroded.
Check the condition of the
battery and terminal connections
(see page 177). You can then try
jump starting the car from a booster
battery (see page 220).
The Starter Operates Normally
In this case, the starter motor's
speed sounds normal, or even faster
than normal, when you press the
ENGINE START button, but the
engine does not run.
• Are you using the proper starting
procedure? Refer to
Starting the
Engine on page 131 .
• Do you have fuel? Turn the
ignition switch to
ON (ID for a
minute and watch the fuel gauge.
The low fuel level warning light
may not be working, so you were
not reminded to
fill the tank.
If Your Engine Won't Start
• There may be an electrical
problem, such as
no power to the
fuel pump.
Check all the fuses
(see page
231 ) .
If you find nothing wrong, you will
need a qualified technician to find
the problem. See
Emergency
Towing on page 238.
Taking Care of the Unexpected 219
Page 231 of 273

Malfunction Indicator Lamp
This indicator comes on for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition
switch
ON (II). If it comes on at any
other time, it indicates one of the
engine's emissions control systems
may have a problem. Even though
you may feel
no difference in your
car's performance, it can reduce
your fuel economy and cause your
car to put out excessive emissions.
Continued operation may cause
serious damage.
228 Taking Care of the Unexpected
If you have recently refueled your
car, the cause of this indicator
coming on could be a loose or
missing fuel
fill cap. Check the cap
and tighten it until it clicks at least
three times. Replace the fuel
fill cap
if it is missing. Tightening the cap
will not make the indicator turn off
immediately; it takes three driving
trips.
If the indicator remains on past three
driving trips, or the fuel cap was not
loose or missing, have the car
checked by the dealer as soon as
possible. Drive moderately until the
dealer has inspected the problem.
Avoid full-throttle acceleration and
driving at high speed.
You should also have the dealer
inspect your car
if this indicator
comes on repeatedly, even though it
may turn off as you continue driving.
NOTICE
If you keep driving with the
malfunction indicator lamp on, you can
damage your car's emissions controls
and engine. Those repairs may not be
covered by your car's warranties.
Page 237 of 273
Fuses
INTERIOR FUSE BOX
No: Amps. Circuits Protected No. Amps. Circuits Protected
1 7.5A Windshield Wiper, 14 lOA Daytime Running Lights*
Auto
Stop Signal 15 lOA Keyless Entry
2
15A Washer Motor 16 7.5A Back-up
3
-Not used 17 7.5A Interior Light
4
-Not used 18 lOA Small Lights
5
lOA Accessory Socket 19 15A Radio
6
20A Windshield Wiper 20 7.5A Starter Signal
7 7.5A Tum Light 21 7.5A Heater Control,
8 15A ACG Cooling Fan
Relay
9
7.5A Instrument Light, Back·up 22 7.5A Power Mirrors
Lights
23 20A Right Power Window
10 15A Ignition Coil 24 20A Left Power Window
11 7.5A Engine Start 25 -Not used
12 15A Fuel Pump, SRS 26 -Not used
13 lOA SRS 27 -Not used
* : Canadian Model
234 Taking Care of the Unexpected
Page 244 of 273

The diagrams in this section give
you the dimensions and capacities
of
your Honda, and the locations of the
identification numbers.
The expla
nations of several electronic and
mechanical systems on your Honda
are for the more technically-oriented
owner. Identification
Numbers .................
242
Specifications ................................. 244
DOT Tire Quality Grading
(U.S. Vehicles) ....................... 246
Treadwear .................................. 246
Traction ....................................... 246
Temperature .............................. 247
Technical Information
Oxygenated Fuels .......................... 248
Driving in Foreign Countries ....... 249
Emissions Controls ........................ 250
The Clean Air Act.. .................... 250
Crankcase Emissions Control
System .....................................
250
Evaporative Emissions Control
System .....................................
250
Exhaust Emissions Controls .... 251
PGM-FI System ..................... 251
Ignition Timing Control
System .................................
251
Secondary Air Injection
System .................................
251
Three Way Catalytic
Converter.. ..........................
251
Replacement Parts ..................... 251
Three Way Catalytic Converter ... 252
Technical Information 241
Page 247 of 273

Specifications
Dimensions
Length
Width Height
Wheelbase Track Front
Rear
Engine
Type
Bore x Stroke
Displacement
Compression ratio
Spark plugs
244 Technical Information
162.0in(4,115mm) 68.9 in (1,750 mm)
50.6 in (1,285 mm) 94.5 in (2,400 mm)
57.9 in (1,470 mm)
59.4 in (1,510 mm)
See the certification label attached to the driver's door"amb.
Water cooled 4-stroke DOHC
VTEC 4-cylinder l=)asoline engine
3.43 x 3.31 in (87.0 x 84.0 mm)
121.8 cu-in (1,997 cm3
)
11.0 : 1 See spark plug maintenance
section page
174.
c apac1t1es
Fuel tank 13.2 US
aal (50 ll, 11.0 Imp qal)
Engine coolant
Change*'
1.72 US aal (6.51\, 1.43 Imp qal)
Total 2.01 US l=)al (7.61\, 1.67 Imp gal)
Engine oil Change*'
Including filter 5.1 US qt (4.81\, 4.2 Imp qt)
Without
filter 4.8 USgt (4.51\, 4.0 Imp qt)
Total 5.9 US qt (5.61\, 4.9 Imp qt)
Manual Chanl=)e 1.6 US_g_t (1.51\, 1.31mp qt)
transmission Total 1.7 US qt (1.61\, 1.41mp qt) fluid
Differential Chan_g_e 0.78 US qt (0.741\, 0.65 Imp qt)
oil Total 0.81 US qt (0.77 ll, 0.68 Imp at)
Windshield U.S. Cars 2.7 US qt (2.61\, 2.3 ImP at)
washer Canadian Cars 4.4 US qt (4.21\, 3.7 Imp qt)
reservoir
* 1 : Including the coolant in the reserve tank and that remaining in the
engine. Reserve tank capacity:
0.16 US gal (0.61\, 0.131mp gal)
* 2: Excluding the oil remaining in the engine.
Page 251 of 273

Oxygenated Fuels
Some conventional gasolines are
being blended with alcohol
or an
ether compound. These gasolines
are collectively referred to as
oxygenated fuels.
To meet clean air
standards, some areas of the United
States and
Canada use oxygenated
fuels to help reduce emissions.
If you use an oxygenated fuel, be
sure it is unleaded and meets the
minimum octane rating requirement.
Before using an oxygenated fuel, try
to confirm the fuel's contents. Some
states/provinces require this
information to be posted on the
pump.
248 Technical Information
The following are the U.S. EPA and
Canadian CGSB approved
percentages of oxygenates:
EfHANOL (ethyl or grain alcohol)
You may use gasoline containing up
to
10 percent ethanol by volume.
Gasoline containing ethanol may be
marketed under
the name "Gasohol."
MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl
Ether)
You may use gasoline containing up
to
15 percent MTBE by volume.
MEfHANOL (methyl or wood
alcohol)
You may use gasoline containing up
to 5 percent methanol by volume as
long as it also contains cosolvents
and corrosion inhibitors to protect
the fuel system. Gasoline containing
more than 5 percent methanol by
volume may cause starting
and/ or
performance problems.
It may also
damage metal, rubber and plastic
parts of your fuel system.
If you notice any undesirable
operating symptoms, try another
service station or switch to another
brand
of gasoline.
Fuel system damage
or performance
problems resulting from
the use of
an oxygenated fuel containing more
than the percentages of oxygenates
given above are not covered under
warranty.
Page 252 of 273
If you are planning to take your
Honda outside the
U.S. or Canada,
contact the tourist bureaus in the
areas you
will be traveling in to find
out about the availability of unleaded
gasoline with the proper octane
rating.
If unleaded gasoline is not available,
be aware
that using leaded gasoline
in your Honda will affect perfor
mance and fuel mileage, and damage
its emissions controls.
It will no
longer comply with
U.S. and
Canadian emissions regulations, and
will be illegal to operate in North
America.
To bring your car back into
compliance will require
the replace
ment of several components, such as
the oxygen sensors and the three
way catalytic converter.
These re
placements are not covered under
warranty.
Driving in Foreign Countries
Technical Information 249
Page 253 of 273

Emissions Controls
The burning of gasoline in your car's
engine produces several byproducts.
Some
of these are carbon monoxide
(CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and
hydrocarbons (HC). Gasoline
evaporating from the tank also
produces hydrocarbons. Controlling
the production of
NOx, CO, and HC
is important to the environment.
Under certain conditions of sunlight
and climate,
NOx and HC react to
form photochemical
"smog." Carbon
monoxide does not contribute to
smog creation, but it
is a poisonous
gas.
250 Technical Information
The Clean Air Act
The United States Clean Air Act*
sets standards for automobile
emissions.
It also requires that
automobile manufacturers explain to
owners how their emissions controls
work and what to
do to maintain
them. This section summarizes how
the emissions controls work.
Scheduled maintenance is on page
148.
* In Canada, Honda vehicles comply
with the
Canadian Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards
(CMVSS) for
Emissions valid at the time they are
manufactured.
Crankcase Emissions Control
System
Your car has a Positive Crankcase
Ventilation System. This keeps
gasses that build up in
the engine's
crankcase from going into the
atmosphere.
The Positive Crankcase
Ventilation valve routes them from the
crankcase back to the intake
manifold.
They are then drawn into
the engine and burned.
Evaporative Emissions Control
System
As gasoline evaporates in the fuel
tank, an evaporative emissions
control canister filled with charcoal
adsorbs the vapor.
It is stored in this
canister while the engine is
off. After
the engine is started and warmed up,
the vapor is drawn into the engine
and burned during driving.