Maintenanc
e
This section explains why it is important to keep your car well
maintained and to follow basic
maintenance safety precautions.
This section also includes Maintenance Schedules for normaldriving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions for simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of
yourself.
If you have the skills and tools to per-
form more complex maintenance
tasks on your Acura, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. Seepage 271 for information on how toobtain a copy, or see your Acura
dealer.
Maintenance Safety....................... 160
Important Safety Precautions.. 161
Maintenance Schedule.................. 162
Maintenance Record..................... 169
Owner Maintenance Checks........ 171
Fluid Locations............................... 172
Engine Oil....................................... 173 Adding Oil................................... 173
Recommended Oil..................... 173
Synthetic Oil............................... 175
Additives..................................... 175
Changing the Oil and Filter...... 175
Cooling System.............................. 178
Adding Engine Coolant............. 178Replacing Engine Coolant........ 180
Windshield Washers..................... 182
Transmission Fluid........................ 183 AutomaticTransmission.......................... 183
5-speed Manual Transmission.......................... 185
Brake and Clutch Fluid................. 185 Brake System............................. 186Clutch System............................ 186
Power Steering............................... 187
Air Cleaner Element...................... 188
Hood Latch..................................... 189
Spark Plugs..................................... 189
Replacement............................... 189
Specifications............................. 191
Battery............................................ 191
Wiper Blades.................................. 194
Air Conditioning System............... 196
Drive Belts...................................... 197
Timing Belt..................................... 197
Tires................................................ 198
Inflation....................................... 198
Inspection................................... 199 Maintenance............................... 200
Tire Rotation.............................. 201
Tire Wear.................................... 201
Replacing Tires and Wheels.... 202
Wheels and Tires....................... 203
Winter Driving........................... 203
Snow Tires.............................. 204
Tire Chains............................. 204
Lights.............................................. 205 Headlight Aiming...................... 207
Replacing Bulbs......................... 209
Storing Your Car............................ 216
Maintenance
Powe
r Steerin g
Check the level when the engine is
cold. Look at the side of the
reservoir. The fluid should be
between the UPPER LEVEL and LOWER LEVEL. If it is below the
LOWER LEVEL, add power steering
fluid to the UPPER LEVEL. Always use Honda Power Steering
Fluid. If it is not available, you may
use another power steering fluid as
an emergency replacement.
However, continued use can cause
increased wear and poor steering in
cold weather. Have the powersteering system flushed and refilled
with Honda PSF as soon as possible. A low power steering fluid level can
indicate a leak in the system. Check
the fluid level frequently and have
the system inspected as soon as
possible.
Turning the steering wheel to full left
or right lock and holding it there can
damage the power steering pump.
Maintenance
NOTIC
E
LOWE R LEVE L
UPPE
R LEVE L
Inde
x
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
Inde
x
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
Servic
e Informatio n Summar y
Gasoline :
(SE,
LS, GS) Unleaded gasoline, pump octane
number of 86 or higher.
(GS-R, Type-R)
Premium unleaded gasoline,
pump octane number of 91 or
higher.
Fue l Tan k Capacity :13.2 US gal (50 ,11.0 Imp gal)
Recommende d Engin e Oil :
API Service SJ "Energy Conserving" oil, SAE 5W-30
viscosity (see page 173 ).
Oil change capacity (including
filter):
(SE,
LS,
GS) 4.0 US qt (3.8 , 3.3 Imp qt)
(GS-R, Type-R)
4.2 US qt (4.0 ,3.5 Imp qt) Automati
c Transmissio n Fluid :
Honda ATF-Z1 (Automatic
Transmission Fluid) preferred, or
a DEXRON ®
III ATF as a
temporary replacement (see page 184).
5-spee d Manua l Transmissio n
Fluid :
Honda Manual Transmission
Fluid preferred, or an API service
SG, SH or SJ, SAE 10W-30 or
10W-40 motor oil as a temporary
replacement (see page 185).
Capacity (including differential):
(SE,
LS,
GS,
GS-R)
2.3 US qt (2.2 ,1.9lmpqt)
(Type-R)
2.2 US qt (2.1 ,1.8lmpqt)
Powe
r Steerin g Fluid :
Honda Power Steering Fluid
preferred, or another brand of
power steering fluid as a
temporary replacement. Do not
use ATF (see page 187).
Brak e Fluid :
Honda Heavy Duty Brake Fluid
DOT 3 preferred, or a DOT 3 or
DOT 4 brake fluid as a temporary
replacement (see page 186).
Tir e Pressur e (measure d cold) :
(SE)
Front/Rear:
29 psi (200 kPa , 2.0 kgf/cm2)
(LS, GS, GS-R, Type-R)
Front:
35 psi (240 kPa , 2.4 kgf/cm2)
Rear:
33 psi (230 kPa , 2.3 kgf/cm2)