I
f You r Engin e Overheat s
The pointer of your car's tempera- ture gauge should stay in the mid-range under most conditions. It may
go higher if you are driving up a longsteep hill on a very hot day. If it
climbs to the red mark, you should determine the reason.
Driving with the temperature gauge
pointer at the red mark can cause serious damage to your engine.
Your car can overheat for several
reasons, such as lack of coolant or a
mechanical problem. The only
indication may be the temperature
gauge climbing to or above the red
mark. Or you may see steam or spray coming from under the hood.
In either case, you should take
immediate action.
1. Safely pull to the side of the road. Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park and set the parking brake.
Turn off the heating and cooling system and all other accessories.
Turn on the hazard warning indicators. 2. If you see steam and/or spray
coming from under the hood, turnoff the engine.
3. If you do not see steam or spray, leave the engine running and
watch the temperature gauge. If the high heat is due to overloading (climbing a long, steep hill on a
hot day with the A/C running, for example), the engine should start
to cool down almost immediately. If it does, wait until the tempera-
ture gauge comes down to the mid-
point then continue driving.
4. If the temperature gauge stays at the red mark, turn off the engine.
5. Wait until you see no more signs of steam or spray, then open the
hood.
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
Steam and spray from an
overheated engine can
seriously scald you.
Do not open the hood if steam
is coming out.
NOTIC
E
I
f You r Engin e Overheat s
6. Look for any obvious coolant leaks, such as a split radiator hose.
Everything is still extremely hot, so use caution. If you find a leak, it
must be repaired before you
continue driving (see Emergenc y
Towin g on page 248).
7. If you don't find an obvious leak, check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank (see page128). If the level is below the
MIN mark, add coolant to halfway
between the MIN and MAX marks.
8. If there was no coolant in the reserve tank, you may also have toadd coolant to the radiator. Let the
engine cool down until the pointer
reaches the middle of the tempera-
ture gauge, or lower, before check-
ing the radiator.
9. Using gloves or a large heavy
cloth, turn the radiator capcounterclockwise, without pushingdown, to the first stop. This
releases any remaining pressure in
the cooling system. After the
pressure releases, push down on
the cap and turn it until it comes off.
10. Start the engine and set the
temperature control lever tomaximum. Add coolant to the
radiator up to the base of the filler
neck. If you do not have the
proper coolant mixture available,
you can add plain water.
Remember to have the cooling
system drained and refilled with
the proper mixture as soon as you
can.
11. Put the radiator cap back on tightly. Run the engine and watch
the temperature gauge. If it goes
back to the red mark, the engine
needs repair. (See Emergenc y
Towin g on page 248.)
12. If the temperature stays normal, check the coolant level in theradiator reserve tank. If it has
gone down, add coolant to the
MAX mark. Put the cap back on
tightly.
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.
Specifications
Technical Informatio n
*
1
: Including the coolant in the reserve tank and that remaining in the
engine.
Reserve tank capacity: 0.16 US gal (0.6 ,0.13 Imp gal)
* 2: SE, LS,GS
* 3: GS-R,Type-R
* 4: Excluding the oil remaining in the engine.
*
1 : SE, LS, GS
* 2: GS-R, Type-R
* 3 : GS-R
* 4: Type-R
*
1 : SE, LS, GS, GS-R
* 2 : Type-R
page191 .
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Capacities Chart.................... 254, 255
Carbon Monoxide Hazard.............. 49
Cargo Area Cover............................ 83
Carrying Cargo.............................. 132
Cassette Player
Care............................................. 118
Operation.................................... 115
CAUTION, Explanation of............... ii
CD Changer.................................... 111
CD Player........................................ 109
Certification Label......................... 252
Chains............................................. 204
Changing Oil
How to......................................... 175
When to....................................... 162
Changing a Flat Tire..................... 227
Changing Engine Coolant............. 180
Charging System Indicator.... 55, 239
Checklist, Before Driving............. 136
Child Safety...................................... 21
Child Seats........................................ 26
Tether Anchorage Points........... 41
Cleaner Element, Air..................... 188
Cleaning
Aluminum Wheels..................... 219
Antenna....................................... 218Carpeting.................................... 220
Exterior....................................... 218
Fabric.......................................... 221
Interior........................................ 220
Leather........................................ 221
Seat Belts.................................... 221
Vinyl............................................221
Windows..................................... 222
Clock, Setting the............................ 88
Clutch Fluid.................................... 185
Code, Audio System...................... 119
CO in the Exhaust......................... 260 Cold Weather, Starting in............. 137
Compact Spare............................... 226
Console Compartment.................... 90
Consumer Information*................ 266
Controls, Instruments and.............. 51
Coolant
Adding......................................... 178
Checking..................................... 128
Proper Solution.......................... 178
Replacing.................................... 180
Temperature Gauge.................... 59
Corrosion Protection..................... 223
Crankcase Emissions Control
System......................................... 260
Cruise Control Operation............... 67
Customer Relations Office........... 266
DANGER, Explanation of................. ii
Dashboard.................................... 2, 52
Daytime Running Lights................. 62
Defects, Reporting Safety............. 269
Defog and Defrost......................... 100
Defogger, Rear Window................. 65
Dimensions..................................... 254 Dimming the Headlights................ 62
Dipstick Automatic Transmission........... 183
Engine Oil................................... 127
Directional Signals........................... 63
Disc Brake Wear Indicators......... 145
Disposal of Used Oil...................... 177
Doors Locking and Unlocking............... 75
Power Door Locks....................... 75
DOT Tire Quality Grading........... 256
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Downshifting, 5-speed Manual Transmission.............................. 138
Drive Belts...................................... 197
Driver and Passenger Safety............ 5
Driving............................................ 135 Economy..................................... 129
In Bad Weather.......................... 149
In Foreign Countries................. 259
Economy, Fuel............................... 129
Emergencies on the Road............. 225 Battery, Jump Starting.............. 233
Brake System Indicator............ 241
Changing a Flat Tire................. 227
Charging System Indicator...... 239
Checking the Fuses................... 244
Low Oil Pressure Indicator...... 238
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.... 240
Manually Closing Moonroof.... 242 Overheated Engine................... 236
Emergency Brake............................ 87
Emergency Flashers....................... 65
Emergency Towing....................... 248
Emissions Controls........................ 260 Emissions Testing, State.............. 263
Engine
Coolant Temperature Gauge..... 59
Drive Belts.................................. 197
Malfunction Indicator Lamp................................. 55, 240
Oil Pressure Indicator......... 55, 238
Oil, What Kind to Use............... 173
Overheating................................ 236
Specifications............................. 254
Starting........................................ 137
Ethanol in Gasoline....................... 258
Evaporative Emissions Controls.. 260
Exhaust Fumes................................
49
Expectant Mothers
, Use of Seat
Belts by......................................... 19
Exterior, Cleaning the................... 218
Fabric, Cleaning............................. 221
Fan, Interior...................................... 94
Features, Comfort and
Convenience................................. 93
Filling the Fuel Tank..................... 124
Filters
Air Cleaner................................. 188
Oil................................................ 175
5-speed Manual Transmission
Checking Fluid Level................ 185
Shifting the................................. 138
Flashers, Hazard Warning.............. 65
Flat Tire, Changing a.................... 227
Fluids Automatic Transmission........... 183Brake........................................... 185
Clutch.......................................... 185
Manual Transmission............... 185
Power Steering........................... 187
Windshield Washer................... 182
FM Stereo Radio Reception.................................... 103
Folding Rear Seat............................ 83
Foreign Countries, Driving in...... 259
Four-way Flashers........................... 65
CONTINUED
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Fuel.................................................. 123
Fill Door and Cap....................... 124
Gauge............................................ 59
Octane Requirement................. 123
Oxygenated................................ 258
Reserve Indicator......................... 54
Tank, Filling the......................... 124
Fuses, Checking the...................... 243
Gas Mileage, Improving................ 129
Gasohol........................................... 258
Gasoline.......................................... 123
Fuel Reserve Indicator................ 54
Gauge............................................ 59
Octane Requirement................. 123
Tank, Filling the......................... 124
Gas Station Procedures................. 124
Gauges
Engine Coolant Temperature.... 59
Fuel................................................ 59
Speedometer................................ 58
Tachometer.................................. 58
Gearshift Lever Positions
Automatic Transmission........... 140
5-speed Manual
Transmission.......................... 138
Glass Cleaning............................... 222
Glove Box......................................... 78
Halogen Headlight Bulbs.............. 209
Hatch................................................. 76
Opening the.................................. 76
Open Monitor Light.................... 56
Hazard Warning Flashers............... 65
Headlights
Aiming......................................... 207
Daytime Running Lights............. 62High Beam Indicator................... 57
Reminder Chime.......................... 62
Replacing Halogen Bulbs......... 209
Turning on....................................
62
Head Restraints..............................
. 82
Heating and Cooling........................ 94
High Altitude, Starting at.............. 137
High-Low Beam Switch.................. 62
High-mount Brake Light............... 211
Hood Latch..................................... 189
Hood, Opening the........................ 125
Horn................................................... 61
Hydraulic Clutch............................ 186
Hydroplaning.................................. 150
Identification Number, Vehicle.... 252
Ignition Keys............................................... 71
Switch............................................ 73
Timing Control System............. 261
Immobilizer System......................... 72
Important Safety Precautions.......... 6
Indicators, Instrument
Panel.............................................. 53
Infant Restraint................................ 21
Infant Seats....................................... 30
Tether Anchorage Points........... 41
Inflation, Proper Tire.................... 198
Inside Mirror.................................... 86
Inspection, Tire.............................. 199 Instrument Panel......................... 2, 52
Instrument Panel Brightness......... 63
Interior Cleaning............................ 220
Interior Lights.................................. 92
Introduction......................................... i
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Jacking up the Car......................... 228
Jack, Tire........................................ 228
Jump Starting................................. 233
Keys................................................... 71
Label, Certification........................ 252Lane Change, Signaling.................. 63
Lap/Shoulder Belts.................. 16, 42
Leather, Cleaning.........................
. 221
Lighter, Cigarette............................ 90
Lights Bulb Replacement..................... 209
Indicator........................................ 53
Parking.......................................... 62
Turn Signal................................... 63
Limited Slip Differential............... 148
Load Limit...................................... 133 LOCK (Ignition Key Position)....... 74
Locks
Anti-theft Steering Column........ 74
Fuel Fill Door............................. 124Glove Box..................................... 78
Hatch............................................. 76
Power Door and Hatch............... 75
Low Coolant Level......................... 128
Lower Gear, Downshifting to a.... 138 Low Fuel Indicator.......................... 54
Low Oil Pressure Indicator... 55,
238
Lubricant Specification
s
Chart................................... 254, 255
Luggage.......................................... 132 Maintenance................................... 159
Owner Maintenance Checks.... 171
Record.................................. 169-170
Required Indicator....................... 60
Schedule.............................. 164-168
Malfunction Indicator Lamp. 55, 240
Manual Transmission.................... 138
Manual Transmission Fluid......... 185
Meters, Gauges................................ 58
Methanol in Gasoline.................... 258
Mirrors, Adjusting........................... 86
Moonroof.......................................... 85
Closing Manually....................... 242
Operation...................................... 85
Neutral Gear Position.................... 141 New Vehicle Break-in................... 123
Normal Shift Speeds...................... 139
NOTICE, Explanation of.................... i
Numbers, Identification................ 252
Octane Requirement, Gasoline.... 123
Odometer.......................................... 58
Odometer, Trip................................ 58
CONTINUED
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Oil Change, How to......................... 175
Change, When to....................... 164
Checking Engine....................... 127
Pressure Indicator.............. 55, 238
Selecting Proper Viscosity Chart....................................... 174
ON (Ignition Key Position)............ 74
Onboard Refueling Vapor
Recovery..................................... 261
Operation in Foreign Countries... 259
Outside Mirrors............................... 86
Overheating, Engine..................... 236
Oxygenated Fuels.......................... 258
Owner Maintenance Checks........ 171
Paint Touch-up...............................219
Panel Brightness Control............... 63
Park Gear Position......................... 141
Parking............................................ 144
Parking Brake.................................. 87
Parking Lights.................................. 62
Parking Over Things that Burn... 144
PGM-FI System..............................
261
Polishing an
d Waxing................... 219
Pre-Drive Safety Checklist.............
11
Pregnancy, Usin
g Seat Belts.......... 19
Protecting Adults............................. 12
Additional Safety Precautions.... 19
Advice for Pregnant Women...... 19
Protecting Children......................... 21
Protecting Infants........................ 30
Protecting Larger Children........
38
Protecting Smal
l Children.......... 34
Using Child Seats with Tethers...................................... 41
Radiator Overheating.................... 236
Radio/CD Sound System.............. 102
Readiness Codes............................ 263
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement... 212
Rear Seat Access............................. 81
Rear Seat, Folding........................... 83
Rear View Mirror............................. 86
Rear Window Defogger.................. 65
Rear Window Washer..................... 65
Rear Window Wiper........................ 65
Reclining the Seat Backs................ 79 Recommended Shift Speeds........ 139
Reminder Lights.............................. 53
Replacement Information
Air Cleaner Element.................. 188
Coolant........................................ 180
Engine Oil and Filter................. 175
Fuses........................................... 243
Light Bulbs................................. 209
Schedule..................................... 164
Spark Plugs................................. 189
Timing Belt................................. 197
Tires............................................ 202
Wiper Blades.............................. 194
Replacing Seat Belts After a
Crash............................................. 43
Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant.... 178
Restraint, Child................................ 21
Reverse Gear Position................... 141
Rotation, Tire................................. 201
Safety Belts...................................8, 42
Safety Features.................................. 7
Airbags............................................9
Door Locks................................... 10