Page 86 of 285

Foldin
g Rea r Seat , Carg o Are a Cove r
Foldin g Rea r Sea t
The back of the rear seat folds down to give you more cargo space. Eachside folds down separately. With only
half the seat folded, you can still carry a passenger in the back seat.
To unlatch either side of the seat- back, pull up on the release tab.Move the seat belt out of the way
and fold the seat-back down. To lock the seat-back upright, push
the seat-back firmly against its latch.
Tug on the seat-back to make sure it
is latched.
Do not put any heavy items on theseat-back when it is folded.
Make sure all items in the cargo area are secured. Loose items can fly
forward and cause injury if you have to brake hard. See Carryin g Carg o
on page 132. Carg
o Are a Cove r
The cargo area cover may be removed to give you more cargo
height. Place your hands, palms up, under the cover near the outside
edges. Lift it straight up.
To install the cover, line up the mounting rods with the slots, then
push down on the cover until it clips
into place. Make sure it is securely
latched so it will not come loose
while you are driving.
Instrument s an d Control s
RELEAS
E
TA B
MOUNTIN
G RO D
Page 129 of 285
Servic
e Statio n Procedure s
If you can open the hood without
lifting the hood latch handle, or the
hood latch handle moves stiffly or does not spring back as before, the
mechanism should be cleaned and
lubricated (see page 189).
SUPPOR
T RO D
CLIP
3. Pull the support rod out of its clip and insert the end into the hole on
the left side of the hood. To close the hood, lift it up slightly to
remove the support rod from the
hole. Put the support rod back into its holding clip. Lower the hood to
about a foot (30 cm) above the
fender, then let it drop.
After closing the hood, make sure it is securely latched.
Befor e Drivin g
Page 136 of 285

Carryin
g Carg o
Loa d Limi t
The maximum load for your car is
700 lbs (325 kg).
This figure includes the total weight of all occupants, cargo, accessories,
and the tongue weight if you are
towing a trailer.
To figure out how much cargo you can carry: Add up the weight of all occupants.
If you are towing a trailer, add the
tongue weight to the number
above.
Subtract the total from 700 Ibs
(325 kg).
The final number is the total weight
of cargo you can carry.
Carryin
g Item s i n th e Passenge r
Compartmen t Store or secure all items that could
be thrown around and hurt someone during a crash. Be sure items placed on the floor
behind the front seats cannot roll
under the seats and interfere with
the driver's ability to operate the
pedals, or with the proper operation of the seats. Keep the glove box closed while
driving. If the lid is open, a
passenger could injure their knees during a crash or sudden stop.
Before Drivin g
Overloading or improper
loading can affect handling and
stability and cause a crash in
which you can be hurt or killed.
Follow all load limits and other
loading guidelines in this
manual.
Page 139 of 285

Preparin
g to Driv e
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 hatch are fully closed.
3. Visually check the tires. If a tire looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure.
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 79 ).
6. Check the adjustment of the inside and outside mirrors (see
page 86 ).
7. Check the adjustment of the steering wheel (see page 66 ).
8. Make sure the doors and hatch
are securely closed and locked.
9. Fasten your seat belt. Check that
your passengers have fastened
their seat belts (see page 16 ). 10. Turn the ignition switch ON (II).
Check the indicator lights in the
instrument panel.
11. Start the engine (see page 137).
12. Check the gauges and indicator lights in the instrument panel (see
page 53).
Drivin g
Page 156 of 285

Towin
g a Traile r
Checkin g Load s
The best way to confirm that vehicle and trailer weights are within limits
is to have them checked at a public
scale.
Using a suitable scale or a special
tongue load gauge, check the tongue
load the first time you set up a
towing combination (a fully-loaded
vehicle and trailer), then recheck the tongue load whenever the conditions
change.
Towin
g Equipmen t an d
Accessorie s
Towing can require a variety of equipment, depending on the size of
your trailer, how it will be used, and how much load you are towing.
Discuss your needs with your trailersales or rental agency, and follow the
guidelines in the rest of this section.
Also make sure that all equipment is properly installed and that it meets
federal, state, province, and localregulations. Hitches
Any hitch used on your vehicle must be properly bolted to the underbody.
Safety Chains
Always use safety chains. Make sure they are secured to both the trailer and hitch, and that they cross under
the tongue so they can catch the
trailer if it becomes unhitched. Leave enough slack to allow the
trailer to turn corners easily, but do
not let the chains drag on the ground.
CONTINUED
Drivin g
Page 158 of 285

Towin
g a Traile r
Additional Trailer Equipment
Many states and Canadian provinces
require special outside mirrors when
towing a trailer. Even if they don't,
you should install special mirrors if
you cannot clearly see behind you, or if the trailer creates a blind spot.
Ask your trailer sales or rental agency if any other items are
recommended or required for your
towing situation.
Pre-To
w Checklis t
When preparing to tow, and before driving away, be sure to check the
following: The vehicle has been properly
serviced, and the tires, brakes,
suspension, and cooling system
are in good operating condition. All weights and loads are within
limits (see pages 151 and 152). The hitch, safety chains, and any
other attachments are secure. All items on and in the trailer are
properly secured and cannot shift
while you drive. The lights and brakes on your
vehicle and the trailer are workingproperly. Your vehicle tires and spare are
properly inflated (see page 255),and the trailer tires and spare are
inflated as recommended by the
trailer maker.
Driving
Page 176 of 285

Engin
e Oi l
Addin g Oi l
To add oil, unscrew and remove the engine oil fill cap on top of the valve
cover. Pour in the oil, and install the engine oil fill cap. Tighten it securely.
Wait a few minutes and recheck the oil level. Do not fill above the upper
mark; you could damage the engine. Recommende
d Oi l
Oil is a major contributor to your
engine's performance and longevity.
Always use a premium-grade deter- gent oil. It is highly recommended
that you use Honda Motor Oil in
your vehicle for as long as you own it.
You can determine an oil's SAE
viscosity and Service Classification from the API Service label on the oil container.
A fuel-efficient oil is recommended for your Acura. This is shown on the
API Service label by the words "Energy Conserving." This oil is
formulated to help your engine use
less fuel. The API Service label also tells you
the service classification of the oil.
Always use an oil that is labeled "API Service SJ." This service rating may
include other classifications, such as CD. These additional classifications
are not a problem, as long as the
label also carries the SJ classification.
API SERVIC E LABE L
CONTINUED
Maintenanc e
ENGIN
E OI L FIL L CA P
Page 184 of 285
Coolin
g Syste m
5. Remove the reserve tank from its holder by pulling it straight up.Drain the coolant, then put the
tank back in its holder. 6. When the coolant stops draining,
tighten the drain plug at the
bottom of the radiator. Put a new
washer on the drain bolt, thenreinstall the drain bolt in the engine block. Tighten it securely.
Tightening torque:
58 Ibf.ft (78 N.m , 8.0 kgf.m)
7. Pou
r Honda All Season
Antifreeze/Coolant Type 2 into the radiator up to the base of the
filler neck. This coolant is amixture of 50 percent antifreeze
and 50 percent water. Pre-mixing
is not required. The cooling system capacity is:
With 5-speed manual transmission:
(SE,
LS,
GS)
1.16 US gal (4.4 , 0.97 Imp gal)
(GS-R, Type-R
)
1.24 US gal (4.7 , 1.03 Imp gal)
With automatic transmission:
1.24 US gal (4.7 , 1.03 Imp gal)
Maintenanc
e
CONTINUED
Fil
l u p
t
o her e
RESERV
E
TAN K CA P
HOLDE R
RESERV
E TAN K
FILLE
R NEC K