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.
Maintenance Safety
Regularly maintaining your car is the
best way to protect your investment.
Proper maintenance is essential to
your safety and the safety of your
passengers.
It will also reward you
with more economical, trouble-free
driving and help reduce air pollution.
Improperly maintaining this car
or
failing to correct a problem
before driving can cause a
crash
in which you can be
seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow
the inspection
and maintenance
recommendations and
schedules in this owner's
manual.
144 Maintenance
This section includes instructions for
simple maintenance tasks, such as
checking and adding
oil. Any service
items not detailed in this section
should be performed by a Honda
technician or other qualified
mechanic. Some
of
the most important safety
precautions are given here. However,
we cannot warn you of every
conceivable hazard
that can arise in
performing maintenance.
Only you
can decide whether or not you
should perform a given task.
Failure to properly follow
maintenance instructions and
precautions can cause you to
be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow
the procedures
and precautions
in this owner's
manual.
Taking Care of the Unexpected
This section covers the more
common problems
that motorists
experience with their vehicles.
It
gives you information about how to
safely evaluate the problem and what
to
do to correct it. If the problem has
stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again.
If not, you will also find instructions
on getting your car towed. Compact
Spare Tire .......................
212
Changing a Flat Tire ..................... 213
If Your Engine Won't Start ........... 218
Nothing Happens or the
Starter Motor
Operates
Very
Slowly ......................... 218
The Starter Operates
Normally ................................. 219
Jump Starting ................................. 220
If Your Engine Overheats ............. 223
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .......... 226
Charging System Indicator.. .........
227
Malfunction Indicator Lamp ........ 228
Brake System Indicator ................ 229
Closing the Convertible Top ........ 230
Fuses ............................................... 231
Checking and Replacing ........... 232
If Your Car Gets Stuck. ................. 236
Emergency Towing ....................... 238
Taking Care of the Unexpected 211
Index
Brakes,ABS Certification Label ......................... 242
Vinyl ............................................ 207
Operation
.................................... 137 Chains ............................................. 191 Windows ..................................... 208
System
Indicator .................. 44, 139 Change Oil Climate Control System .................. 86
Braking System .............................. 136 Howto ......................................... 159 Clutch Fluid .................................... 171
Break-in, New Car ......................... 116 When to ....................................... 146 CO in the Exhaust ......................... 250
Brightness Control, Instruments ... 52 Changing a Flat Tire ..................... 213 Cold Weather, Starting in ............. 132
Brights, Headlights ......................... 51 Changing Engine Coolant.. ........... 163 Compact Spare Tire ....................... 212
Bulb Replacement... ....................... 192 Charging System Indicator .... 44, 227 Controls, Instruments and .............. 41
Back-up Lights ........................... 198 Check Engine Light ................ 45, 228
Covertible Top ................................. 71
Brake Lights ............................... 198 Checking
Closing the Convertible Top ...... 7 4
Headlights ..................................
195 Battery Condition ...................... 177 Convertible Top Cover. ............... 76
License Plate Lights .................. 200 Brake Fluid ................................. 170 Maintenance ................................. 77
Parking Lights ........................... 196 Clutch Fluid ................................ 171 Opening the Covertible Top ....... 71
Side Marker Lights ................... 198
Drive Belt.. .................................. 184 Coolant
Specifications .............................
245 Engine Coolant.. ......................... 120 Adding ......................................... 161
Turn Signal Lights ..................... 196 Engine Oil.. ................................. 119 Checking ..................................... 120
Bulbs, Halogen ............................... 194 Fuses ........................................... 232 Proper Solution .......................... 161
Manual Transmission Fluid ..... 168 Temperature Gauge .................... 47
c Checklist, Before Driving ............. 115 Corrosion Protection ..................... 208
Cleaner, Air .................................... 172 Crankcase Emission Control
Cables, Jump Starting With ..........
220 Cleaning .......................................... 203 System ......................................... 250
Capacities Chart. ............................ 244
Aluminum Wheels ..................... 206 Cruise Control Operation ............... 55
Carbon Monoxide Hazard .............. 39 Exterior ....................................... 204 Customer Relations
Cargo, Carrying .............................
124 Interior ........................................ 207 Information ................................. 254
CAUTION, Explanation of ............... ii Leather ........................................ 207
CD Changer. ................................... 107 Seat Belts .................................... 207
II
Index
D In Bad Weather. ......................... 140 Malfunction Indicator
In Foreign Countries .................
249 Lamp ................................. 45, 228
DANGER, Explanation of.. ............... ii Oil Pressure Indicator ......... 44, 226
Dashboard ........................................
42 E Oil, What Kind to Use ............... 157
Daytime Running Lights ................. 52 Overheating ................................ 223
Dead Battery, What to Do ............ 220 Economy, Fuel ............................... 121 Specifications ............................. 244
Defects, Reporting
Safety ............. 258 Emergencies on the Road ............. 211 Engine Cover, Opening the .......... 118
Defrosting
the Windows ................. 91 Battery, Jump Starting .............. 220 Ethanol in Gasoline ....................... 248
Dimensions ..................................... 244 Changing
a Flat Tire .................
213 Evaporative Emission Controls .... 250
Dimming the Headlights ................ 51 Charging System Indicator ...... 227 Exhaust Fumes ................................ 39
Dipstick Checking the Fuses ................... 232 Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
Engine Oil.. ................................. 119 Closing the Convertible Top .... 230 Belts by ......................................... 17
Directional Signals ........................... 53 Low Oil Pressure Indicator ...... 226 Exterior,
Cleaning the ................... 204
Disabled, Towing Your Car If ...... 238 Malfunction Indicator Lamp .... 228
Disc Brake
Wear Indicators ......... 136 Overheated Engine ................... 223 F
Disposal of Used Oil.. .................... 160 Emergency Brake ............................ 80
Do Not Tow a Trailer .................... 141 Emergency Flashers ....................... 79 Fabric, Cleaning ............................. 207
Doors Emission
Controls ......................... 250 Fan, Interior ...................................... 86
Locking and Unlocking ............... 62 Engine Features, Comfort and
Monitor Light.. .............................
45 Check Engine Light ............ 45, 228 Convenience
................................. 85
Power Door Locks ....................... 62 Compartment, Checking Filling the Fuel Tank ..................... 117
DOT Tire Quality Grading ........... 246
in the ....................................... 118
Downshifting, 6-speed Manual Coolant ........................................ 120
Transmission .............................. 134 Coolant Temperature Gauge ..... 4 7
Driving ............................................
129 Drive Belt. ................................... 184
Economy ..................................... 121 CONTINUED
Ill
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
v
Index
Towing Used Oil, How to Dispose of ........ 160 Wheels ............................................ 190
A Trailer, Do Not.. ..................... 141 Alignment and Balance ............. 188
Emergency Wrecker ................. 238
v Cleaning Aluminum Alloys ....... 206
Trailer, Do Not Tow a ................... 141 Wrench ....................................... 213
Transmission Vehicle Dimensions ....................... 244 Windows
Checking Fluid Level, 6-speed
Vehicle Identification Number ..... 242 Cleaning ...................................... 208
Manual Transmission ........... 168 Vehicle Storage .............................. 202 Operating the Power ................... 69
Fluid Selection ............................ 168 Ventilation ......................................... 88 Windshield
Identification Number.. .............
242 VIN .................................................. 242 Cleaning ...................................... 208
Shifting the 6-speed Manual Vinyl Cleaning ................................ 207 Defroster ...................................... 91
Transmission .......................... 133 Viscosity, Oil... ................................ 158 Wipers, Windshield
Treadwear ...................................... 246
Trip Meter ........................................
48 lw
Changing Blades ........................ 180
Operation ...................................... 53
Trunk ................................................. 66 Worn Tires ..................................... 187
Opening the .................................. 66 Warning Beepers Wrecker, Emergency Towing ...... 238
Open Monitor Light ....................
45 Headlights on ............................... 51
Turn Signals ..................................... 53 Key in Ignition .............................. 61
Seat Belts ...................................... 44
u WARNING, Explanation of .............. ii
Warning Labels, Location of .......... 40
Underside, Cleaning ...................... 208 Warranty Coverages ..................... 257
Unexpected, Taking Care Washer, Windshield
of the ...........................................
211 Checking the Fluid Level ......... 167
Uniform Tire Quality Grading ..... 276 Operation ...................................... 54
Unleaded Gasoline ......................... 116 Washing ....... : .................................. 204
Upholstery Cleaning ...................... 207 Waxing and Polishing ................... 205
VIII