Page 38 of 273

SRS Components
Your Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS) includes:
• Two front airbags. The driver's
airbag is stored
in the center of
the steering wheel; the front
passenger's airbag is stored
in the
dashboard. Both are marked
"SRS
AIRBAG."
•
Automatic seat belt tensioners
that tighten
the front seat belts
during a moderate to severe
frontal collision.
• Sensors that can detect a
moderate to severe frontal
collision.
• A sophisticated electronic system
that continually monitors the
sensors, control unit, the airbag
activators, and all related wiring
when the ignition is
ON (II).
Additional Information About Your SRS
• An indicator light on the How Your Airbags Work
instrument panel that alerts you to
a possible problem with the
system (see page
37).
• Emergency backup power in case
your car's electrical system
is
disconnected in a crash.
If you ever have a moderate to
severe frontal collision, the sensors
will detect rapid deceleration and
signal the control unit to instantly
inflate the airbags and activate the
automatic seat belt tensioners.
CON11NUED
Driver and Passenger Safety 35
Page 39 of 273

Additional Information About Your SRS
During a crash, your seat belt helps
restrain your lower body and torso,
while the tensioner tightens and
locks
the seat belt to help keep you
in place.
Your air bag provides a
cushion to help restrain and protect
your head and chest.
Since both airbags use the same
sensors, both airbags normally
inflate at the same time. However, it
is possible for only one air bag to
inflate.
This can occur when the severity of
a collision is at the margin, or
threshold, that determines whether
or not the airbags will deploy. In
such cases, the seat belt will provide
sufficient protection, and the
supplemental protection offered by
the air bag would be minimal.
36 Driver and Passenger Safety
Mter inflating, the airbags
immediately deflate, so they won't
interfere with the driver's visibility,
or the ability to
steer or operate
other controls.
The total time for inflation and
deflation is approximately one-tenth
of a second, so fast
that most
occupants are not aware that the
airbags deployed until they see
them
lying in their laps.
Mter a crash, you may see what
looks like smoke. This is actually
powder from the airbag's surface.
Although the powder is not harmful,
people with respiratory problems
may experience some temporary
discomfort.
If this occurs, get out of
the car as soon as it is safe to
do so.
U.S. Owners
For additional information on how
your airbags work, see the booklet
titled
SRS· What You Need to Know
About Airbags that came with your
owner's manual.
Canadian Owners
For additional information on how
your airbags work, ask your dealer
for a copy of the booklet titled
SRS:
What
You Need to Know About Airbags.
Page 212 of 273
Many corrosion-preventive measures
are built into your Honda.
You can
help keep your car from corroding
by performing some simple periodic
maintenance:
• Repair chips and scratches in the
paint as soon as you discover them.
• Inspect and clean out the drain
holes
in the bottom of the doors
and body.
• Check the floor coverings for
dampness. Carpeting and floor
mats may remain damp for a long
time, especially
in winter. This
dampness can eventually cause
the floor panels to corrode.
• Use a high-pressure spray to clean
the underside of your car. This is
especially important
in areas that
use road salt
in winter. It is also a
good idea
in humid climates and
areas subject to salt air. Be careful
of the
ABS wheel sensors and
wiring
at each wheel.
• Have the corrosion-preventive
coatings on the underside of your
car inspected and repaired
periodically.
Corrosion Protection
Appearance Care 209
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 254 of 273

Exhaust Emissions Controls
The exhaust emissions controls
include four systems:
PGM-FI,
Ignition Timing Control, Secondary
Air Injection System and
Three Way
Catalytic Converter. These four
systems work together to control the
engine's combustion and minimize
the amount of
HC, CO, and NOx that
comes out the tailpipe.
The exhaust
emissions control systems are
separate from the crankcase and
evaporative emissions control
systems.
PGM-FI System
The PGM-FI System uses sequential
multiport fuel injection.
It has three subsystems: Air Intake,
Engine
Control, and Fuel Control.
The Engine Control Module (ECM)
uses various sensors to determine
how much air is going into the
engine.
It then controls how much
fuel to inject under all operating
conditions.
Ignition Timing Control System
This system constantly adjusts the
ignition timing, reducing the amount
of
HC, CO and NOx produced.
Secondazy Air Injection System
During engine warm-up, air is
pumped into the exhaust to reduce
emissions when
the engine is cold.
Three Way Catalytic Converter
The three way catalytic converter is
in the exhaust system. Through
chemical reactions, it converts
HC,
CO, and NOx in the engine's exhaust
to carbon dioxide
(COz), dinitrogen
(Nz), and water vapor.
Emissions Controls
Replacement Parts
The emissions control systems are
designed and certified to work
to
gether in reducing emissions to
levels that comply with the
Clean Air
Act. To make sure the emissions
remain
low, you should use only new
Genuine Honda replacement parts or
their equivalent for repairs. Using
lower quality parts may increase the
emissions from your car.
The emissions control systems are
covered by warranties separate from
the rest of your car. Read your
warranty manual for more informa
tion.
Technical Information 251