The condition of your car and your
driving habits are the two most
important things
that affect the fuel
mileage you get.
Car Condition
Always maintain your car according
to the maintenance schedule. This
will keep it in top operating condition.
An important part of that mainte
nance is the
Owner Maintenance
Checks
(see page 155 ). For
example, an underinflated tire
causes more
"rolling resistance,"
which uses fuel. It also wears out
faster, so check the tire pressure
at
least monthly.
In winter, the build-up of snow on
your car's underside adds weight and
rolling resistance. Frequent cleaning
helps your fuel mileage and reduces
the chance of corrosion.
Driving Habits
You can improve fuel economy by
driving moderately. Rapid acceler
ation, abrupt cornering, and hard
braking use more fuel.
Always drive
in the highest gear that
allows the engine to run and acceler
ate smoothly.
Depending on traffic conditions, try
to maintain a constant speed. Every
time you slow down and speed up,
your car uses extra fuel.
Use the
cruise control, when appropriate, to
increase fuel economy.
A cold engine uses more fuel than a
warm engine.
It is not necessary to
"warm-up" a cold engine by letting it
idle for a long time. You can drive
away
in about a minute, no matter
how cold it is outside.
The engine
will warm up faster, and you get
better fuel economy. To cut down on
the number of
"cold starts," try to
Fuel Economy
combine several short trips into one.
The air conditioning puts an extra
load on the engine which makes it
use more fuel.
Turn off the A/C to
cut down on air conditioning use.
Use the flow-through ventilation
when the outside air temperature is
moderate.
Before Driving 121
Maintenance Schedule
The Maintenance Schedule specifies
how often you should have your
car
serviced and what things need
attention. It is essential that you have
your car serviced as scheduled to
retain its high level of safety,
dependability,
and emissions control
performance.
146 Maintenance
The services and time or distance
intervals shown in
the maintenance
schedule
assume you will use your
car as normal transportation for your
passenger and possessions. You
should also follow these
recommendations:
• Avoid exceeding your car's load
limit.
This puts excess stress on
the engine, brakes, and many
other parts of your car. The load
limit is shown on
the label on the
driver's doorjamb.
• Operate your car on reasonable
roads within
the legal speed limit.
• Drive your car regularly over a
distance of several miles
(kilometers).
• Always use unleaded gasoline with
the proper octane rating (see page
116 ).
Which Schedule to Follow:
Service your car according to the
time and mileage periods on one of
the Maintenance Schedules on the
following pages. Select the schedule
for
"Severe Conditions" if most of
your driving is done
under one or
more of the conditions listed on that
page. Otherwise, follow the schedule
for
"Normal Conditions."
Your authorized Honda dealer
knows your
car best and can provide
competent, efficient service.
However, service at a dealer is not
mandatory to keep your warranties
in effect. Maintenance may be done
by any qualified service facility or
person who is skilled in this type of
automotive service. Keep all the
receipts as proof of completion, and
have the person who does the work
fill out
the Maintenance Record.
Check your warranty booklet for
more information. We
recommend the use of Genuine
Honda parts and fluids whenever you
have maintenance done.
These are
manufactured to
the same high
quality standards as the original
components, so you can be confident
of their performance and durability.
U.S. Cars:
Maintenance, replacement or
repair of emissions control
devices and systems may be done
by any automotive repair
establishment or individual using
parts that are "certified" to EPA
standards.
Maintenance Schedule
According to state and federal
regulations, failure to perform
maintenance on the items marked
with
# will not void your emissions
warranties. However, Honda
recommends that all maintenance
services be performed
at the
recommended time or mileage
period to ensure long-term reliability.
Maintenance 14 7
Storing Your Car
If you need to park your car for an
extended period (more than one
month), there are several things you
should
do to prepare it for storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to
get your car back on the road.
If
possible, store your car indoors.
• Fill the fuel tank.
• Change the engine oil and filter
(see page 159).
• Wash and dry the exterior
completely.
• Clean the interior. Make sure the
carpeting, floor mats, etc. are
completely dry.
• Raise the convertible top cover.
• Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in Reverse.
202 Maintenance
• Block the rear wheels.
• If the car is to be stored for a
longer period, it should be
supported on jackstands so the
tires are off the ground.
• Leave one window open slightly (if
the car is being stored indoors).
• Disconnect the battery.
• Support the front wiper blade
arms with a folded towel or rag so
they
do not touch the windshield.
• To minimize sticking, apply a
silicone spray lubricant to
all door
and trunk seals. Also, apply a
vehicle body wax to the painted
surfaces that mate with the door
and trunk seals.
• Cover the car with a "breathable"
cover, one made from a porous
material such as cotton.
Nonporous materials, such as
plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage
the paint.
• If possible, run the engine for a
while periodically (preferably once
a month).
If you store your car for 12 months
or longer, have your Honda dealer
perform the inspections called for
in
the 24 months/30,000 miles (48,000
km) maintenance schedule as soon
as you take it out of storage (see
page
148 ). The replacements called
for
in the maintenance schedule are
not needed unless the car has
actually reached that time or mileage.
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
Customer Relations Information
Honda dealership personnel are
trained professionals.
They should
be able to answer
all your questions.
If you encounter a problem that your
dealership does not solve to your
satisfaction, please discuss it with
the dealership's management.
The
Service Manager or General
Manager can help. Almost
all
problems are solved in this way.
254 Warranty and Customer Relations
If you are dissatisfied with the
decision made by the dealership's
management, contact your Honda
Customer Relations Zone Office.
Refer to the U.S. and Canadian Zone
Office
maps on the following pages. When
you call or write, please give
us this information:
• Vehicle Identification Number
(see page 242)
• Name and address of the dealer
who services your car
• Date of purchase
• Mileage on your car
• Your name, address, and tele
phone number
• A detailed description of the
problem
• N arne of the dealer who sold the
car to you
U.S. Owners
Your new Honda is covered by these
warranties:
New Car Limited Warranty -covers
your new vehicle, except for the
battery, emissions control systems
and accessories, against defects
in
materials and workmanship.
Emissions Control Systems Defects
Warranty and Emissions
Performance Warranty-these two
warranties cover your car's emis
sions control systems. Time, mileage,
and coverage are conditional.
Please
read the warranty manual for exact
information.
Original Equipment Battery Limited
Warranty -this warranty gives up
to
100 percent credit toward a
replacement battery.
Seat Belt Limited Warranty -a seat
belt that fails to function properly is
covered for the useful life of
the
vehicle.
Rust Perforation Limited Warranty
-all exterior body panels are
covered for rust-through from the
inside for the specified time period
with no mileage limit.
Accessory Limited Warranty
Genuine Honda Accessories are
covered under this warranty. Time
and mileage limits depend on
the
type of accessory and other factors.
Please read your warranty manual
for details.
Replacement Parts Limited
Warranty -covers all Genuine
Honda replacement parts against
defects in materials and workman
ship.
Warranty Coverages
Replacement Battery Limited
Warranty-provides prorated
coverage for a replacement battery
purchased from a Honda dealer.
Replacement Muffler Lifetime
Limited Warranty -provides
coverage for as long as the pur
chaser of the muffler owns the car.
Restrictions and exclusions apply to
all these warranties. Please read the
2000 Honda Warranty Information
booklet that came with your car for
precise information on warranty
coverages. Your Honda's original
tires are covered by their
manufacturer. Tire warranty infor
mation is
in a separate booklet.
Canadian Owners
Please refer to the 2000 Warranty
Manual that came with your car.
Warranty and Customer Relations 25 7
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