If you have the skills and tools to per-
f orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your Acura, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your Acura
dealer. This section also includes
Maintenance Schedules f or normal
driving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions f or simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of
yourself . This section explains why it is
important to keep your car well
maintained and to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.......................
Maintenance Saf ety . 204
.
Important Safety Precautions . 205
.................
Maintenance Schedule . 206
...
Required Maintenance Record . 213
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 215
..............................
Fluid Locations . 216
......................................
Engine Oil . 217
..................................
Adding Oil . 217
....................
Recommended Oil . 217
..............................
Synthetic Oil . 218
....................................
Additives . 218
.....
Changing the Oil and Filter . 219
.............................
Cooling System . 221
............
Adding Engine Coolant . 221
.......
Replacing Engine Coolant . 223
....................
Windshield Washers . 227
....
Automatic Transmission Fluid . 228
....................................
Brake Fluid . 229
............................
Brake System . 229
..............................
Power Steering . 230
....................................
Hood Latch . 231
.....................
Air Cleaner Element . 231
....................................
Spark Plugs . 233
..............................
Replacement . 233
............................
Specif ications . 235
...........................................
Battery . 236.................................
Wiper Blades . 239
..............
Air Conditioning System . 241
.................
Air Conditioning Filter . 242
.....................................
Drive Belts . 242
....................................
Timing Belt . 243
...............................................
Tires . 243
......................................
Inf lation . 243
..................................
Inspection . 245
..............................
Maintenance . 246
.............................
Tire Rotation . 246
...
Replacing Tires and Wheels . 247
......................
Wheels and Tires . 248
..........................
Winter Driving . 248
.............................
Snow Tires . 249
............................
Tire Chains . 249
.............................................
Lights . 250
........................
Replacing Bulbs . 252
...........................
Storing Your Car . 261
315
Maintenance
Maint enance203
Some of the most important saf ety
precautions are given here. However,
we cannot warn you of every
conceivable hazard that can arise in
perf orming maintenance. Only you
can decide whether or not you
should perf orm a given task.
This section includes instructions f or
simple maintenance tasks, such as
checking and adding oil. Any service
items not detailed in this section
should be perf ormed by an Acura
technician or other qualif ied
mechanic.
Regularly maintaining your car is the
best way to protect your investment.
Proper maintenance is essential to
your saf ety and the saf ety of your
passengers. It will also reward you
with more economical, trouble-f ree
driving and help reduce air pollution.
Maintenance Saf ety
Maint enance204
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.
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.
CONT INUED
...
Accessories and Modif ications . 167
................................
Accessories . 167
.
Additional Safety Precautions . 168
............................
Modif ications . 168
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key .......................................
Position) . 80
............
Accessory Power Sockets . 117
Adding
Automatic Transmission .......................................
Fluid . 228
................................
Brake Fluid . 229
..........................
Engine Coolant . 221
..................................
Engine Oil . 217
................
Power Steering Fluid . 230
........
Windshield Washer Fluid . 227
Additional Inf ormation About ...........................
Your Airbags . 48
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 48
.............................
Airbag Service . 48
Additional Inf ormation About ................
Your Front Airbags . 43
..
How the SRS Indicator Works . 45
How Your Front Airbags
.........................................
Work . 43........................
SRS Components . 43
Additional Inf ormation About .......................
Your Seat Belts . 40
Automatic Seat Belt ...............................
Tensioners . 41
......................
Lap/Shoulder Belt . 40
...............
Seat Belt Maintenance . 42
..
Seat Belt System Components . 40
Additional Inf ormation About ...................
Your Side Airbags . 46
How The Side Airbag Indicator ............................
Light Works . 47
...
How Your Side Airbags Work . 46
....................
Additives, Engine Oil . 218
Adjustments
..........................
Head Restraints . 98
.......................................
Mirrors . 101
.............................................
Seats . 94
...........................
Steering Wheel . 71
.........................
Airbag (SRS) . 9, 43, 46
.....................
Air Cleaner Element . 231
.................
Air Conditioning Filter . 242
..............
Air Conditioning System . 122
..............................
Maintenance . 241
.................................
Usage . 124, 129
.......................
Air Outlets (Vents) . 122.......................
Air Pressure, Tires . 244
...........................
Alarm, Anti-theft . 157
.......................
Alcohol in Gasoline . 304
.......
Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning . 265
......................................
Antif reeze . 221
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) ....................
Indicator Light . 55, 187
...................................
Operation . 186
..............
Anti-thef t, Audio System . 157
Anti-thef t Steering Column
..............................................
Lock . 80
..........................
Anti-thef t System . 158
..........................
Appearance Care . 263
............................................
Armrest . 99
...............
Audio Controls, Remote . 156
................................
Audio System . 135
Automatic Climate Control ........................................
System . 122
...
Automatic Lighting Off Feature . 66
Automatic Seat Belt
...................................
Tensioners . 41
...............
Automatic Speed Control . 73
Index
A
I
Î
CONT INUED
.................................
Drive Belts . 242
..........................
Engine Coolant . 165
..................................
Engine Oil . 163
..........................................
Fuses . 290
................
Power Steering Fluid . 230
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving . 174
...................................
Cleaner, Air . 231
Cleaning ....................
Aluminum Wheels . 265
...................................
Carpeting . 266
......................................
Exterior . 264
.........................................
Fabric . 267
.......................................
Interior . 266
.......................................
Leather . 267
...................................
Seat Belts . 267
...........................................
Vinyl . 267
....................................
Windows . 268
................................
Wood Trim . 268
...............
Climate Control System . 122
.........................
Clock, Setting the . 110
......................................
Coat Hook . 115
.....................
Code, Audio System . 157
........................
CO in the Exhaust . 306
........................................
Coin Box . 113
............
Cold Weather, Starting in . 175
..............................
Compact Spare . 272.................
Console Compartment . 113
.............................
Console Pocket . 114
...............
Consumer Inf ormation . 310
.............
Controls, Instruments and . 51
Coolant
........................................
Adding . 221
....................................
Checking . 165
.........................
Proper Solution . 221
...................................
Replacing . 223
...................
Temperature Gauge . 62
....................
Corrosion Protection . 269
............................
Courtesy Lights . 119
Crankcase Emissions Control ........................................
System . 306
..............
Cruise Control Operation . 73
..........
Customer Relations Of f ice . 310
................
DANGER, Explanation of . ii
...................................
Dashboard . 2, 52
................
Daytime Running Lights . 67
...........
Dead Battery, What to Do . 280
............
Defects, Reporting Safety . 313
................
Def ogger, Rear Window . 70
......
Def rosting the Windows . 128, 133 DEXRONIII Automatic
...................
Transmission Fluid . 228
....................................
Dimensions . 300
...............
Dimming the Headlights . 65
Dipstick
..........
Automatic Transmission . 228
..................................
Engine Oil . 163
..........................
Directional Signals . 67
.....
Disabled, Towing Your Car If . 295
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators . 185
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil . 220
Doors ....................
Lockout Prevention . 82
..............................
Monitor Light . 58
......................
Power Door Locks . 81
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 302
.....................................
Drive Belts . 242
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety . 5
...........................................
Driving . 173
....................................
Economy . 166
.........................
In Bad Weather . 194
................
In Foreign Countries . 305
Driving Position Memory ........................................
System . 103
Index
D
III