Break-in Period, Gasoline
Break-in Period
Help assure your car's future
reliability and performance by paying
extra attention to how you drive
during the first
600 miles (1,000 km).
During this period:
• Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid
acceleration.
Do not exceed 5,500 rpm for the
first
600 miles (1,000 km) of
operation.
• Avoid hard braking. New brakes
need to be broken-in by moderate
use for the first
200 miles (300
km).
You should follow these same re
commendations with an overhauled
or exchanged engine, or when the
brakes are relined.
116 Before Driving
Gasoline
Your Honda is designed to operate
on premium unleaded gasoline with a
pump octane number of
91 or higher.
If you are unable to find premium
unleaded gasoline, you may substi
tute an unleaded regular gasoline.
The engine will compensate for the
lower octane, but you may notice a
slight decrease in power as a result.
We recommend gasolines containing
detergent additives
that help prevent
fuel system and engine deposits.
Using gasoline containing lead will
damage your car's emissions
controls. This contributes to air
pollution. In
Canada, some
gasolines contain
an octane-enhancing additive called
MMT.
If you use such gasolines,
your emission control system
performance may deteriorate and
the Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
your instrument panel may turn on.
If this happens, contact your
authorized Honda dealer for service.
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 ).
Always use the parking brake when
you park your car.
The indicator on
the instrument panel shows that the
parking brake is not fully released; it
does not indicate that the parking
brake is firmly set. Make sure the
parking brake is set firmly or your
car may roll
if it is parked on an
incline. If
the car is facing uphill, turn the
front wheels away from the curb and
put
the transmission in first gear.
If the car is facing downhill, turn the
front wheels toward the curb and put
the transmission
in reverse gear.
Make sure the parking brake is fully
released before driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or damage
the rear brakes.
Parking
Parking Tips
• Make sure the convertible top and
the windows are closed.
• Turn off the lights.
• Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the trunk or take them with you.
• Lock the doors with the key or the
remote transmitter.
• Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other flammable
materials.
The three way catalytic
converter gets very hot, and could
cause these materials to catch on
fire.
Driving 135
ABS Indicator
The ABS is self-checking. If anything
goes wrong,
the ABS indicator on
the instrument panel comes on (see
page
45 ) . This means the anti-lock
function of the braking system has
shut down. The brakes still work like
a conventional system without anti
lock, providing normal stopping
ability. You should have the dealer
inspect your car as soon as possible.
The Braking System
Driving 139
Index
Filters
Oil ................................................ 159
Flashers, Hazard Warning .............. 79
Flat Tire, Changing a .................... 213
Fluids
Brake ...........................................
170
Clutch
.......................................... 171
Manual Transmission ............... 168
Windshield Washer ................... 167
FM Stereo Radio Reception ......... 100
Foreign Countries, Driving in ...... 249
Four-way Flashers ........................... 79
Front End, Towing by Emergency
W reeker ......................................
238
Fuel .................................................. 116
Fill Door and
Cap ....................... 117
Gauge ............................................ 48
Octane Requirement.. ............... 116
Oxygenated ................................ 248
Reserve Indicator .........................
46
Tank, Filling the ......................... 117
Fuel Mileage, Improving ............... 121
Fuel Station Procedures ............... 117
Fuses, Checking the ...................... 232
IV
G
Gasohol ........................................... 248
Gasoline .......................................... 116
Fuel Reserve Indicator. ...............
46
Gauge ............................................ 48
Octane Requirement ................. 116
Oxygenated Fuels ...................... 248
Tank, Filling the .........................
117
Gauges .............................................. 47
Engine Coolant Temperature .... 47
Fuel ................................................ 48
Gearshift Lever Positions
6-speed Manual
Transmission ..........................
133
Glass Cleaning ............................... 208
IH
Halogen Headlight Bulbs .............. 194
Hazard Warning Flashers ............... 79
Headlights
Daytime Running Lights .............
52
High Beam Indicator ................... 46
High Beams, Turning on ............ 51
Low Beams, Turning on ............. 51
Reminder Tone ............................ 51
Replacing Halogen Bulbs ......... 195
Turning on .................................... 51
Heating and Cooling System .......... 86
High Altitude, Starting at.. ............ 132
High-Low Beam Switch .................. 51
High Speed, Shifting at ................. 134
Hood Latch ..................................... 17 4
Hood, Opening
the ........................ 118
Hot Coolant, Warning about ........ 161
Hydraulic Clutch ............................ 171
Hydroplaning .................................. 141
I
Identification Number,
Vehicle ........................................
242
If Your Car has to be Towed ........ 238
Ignition
Keys ...............................................
58
Switch ............................................ 60
Timing Control System ............. 251
Indicator Lights, Instrument
Panel .............................................. 43
Inflation, Proper Tire .................... 185
Inside Mirror .................................... 79
Index
Inspection, Tire .............................. 187 Indicator ........................................ 43 Meters, Gauges ................................ 4 7
Instrument
Panel ............................. 42 Parking ........................................ 198 Methanol in Gasoline .................... 248
Instrument Panel Brightness ......... 52 Turn Signal.. ............................... 196 Mirrors, Adjusting ........................... 79
Interior Cleaning ............................ 207 Loading Cargo ................................ 124
Interior Lights .................................. 83 LOCK (Ignition Key Position) ....... 60 N
Introduction ......................................... i Locks
Anti-theft Steering
Column ........ 60 New Vehicle Break-in ................... 116
J Fuel Fill Door ............................. 117 Normal Shift Speeds ...................... 134
Power Door .................................. 62 NOTICE, Explanation of ................... ii
Jacking Up the Car ........................ 213 Trunk ............................................ 66 Numbers, Identification ................ 242
Jack, Tire ........................................ 213
Low Coolant Level.. ....................... 120
Jump Starting ................................. 220 Lower Gear, Downshifting to a .... 134 0
Low Fuel Indicator .......................... 46
IK Low Oil Pressure Indicator .... 44, 226 Octane Requirement, Gasoline .... 116
Lubricant Specifications
Chart .... 244
Odometer .......................................... 48
Keys ................................................... 58 Luggage .......................................... 124
Odometer, Trip ................................ 48
Oil
L IM Change, How to ......................... 159
Change, When to ....................... 146
Label,
Certification ........................ 242
Maintenance ................................... 143 Checking Engine ....................... 119
Lane Change, Signaling .................. 53 Owner Maintenance Checks .... 155 Pressure Indicator ............... 44, 226
Lap/Shoulder Belts .........................
33 Record ......................................... 153 Selecting Proper Viscosity
Leaking of Exhaust into
Car .......... 39 Schedule ..................................... 146 Chart ....................................... 157
Leather, Cleaning .......................... 207 Malfunction Indicator Lamp .. 45, 228 ON (Ignition Key Position) ............ 61
Lights
Manual Transmission .................... 133
Bulb Replacement ..................... 194 Manual Transmission Fluid ......... 168 CONTINUED
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