Page 224 of 333
Cooling System
Adding Engine Coolant
If the coolant level in the reserve
tank is at or below the MIN line, add
coolant to bring it up to the MAX line.
Inspect the cooling system for leaks.
This coolant should always be a mixture of 50 percent antifreeze and
50 percent water. Never add straight
antifreeze or plain water.
Always use Honda All Season
Antifreeze/Coolant Type 2. This coolant is pre-mixed with 50 percent
antifreeze and 50 percent water. It
does not require any additional
mixing.
If it is not available, you may use
another major-brand non-silicate
coolant as a temporary replacement.
Make sure it is a high-quality coolant
recommended for aluminum engines.
However, continued use of any non-
Honda coolant can result in
corrosion, causing the cooling system to malfunction or fail. Have
the cooling system flushed and
refilled with Honda antifreeze/ coolant as soon as possible.
If the reserve tank is completely
empty, you should also check the
coolant level in the radiator.
1. Make sure the engine and radiator
are cool.
CONTINUED
Maintenance
RESERVE TANK
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.
Page 225 of 333
Cooling System
2. Turn the radiator rap counter-
clockwise, without pressing down
on it, until it stops. This relieves
any pressure remaining in the
cooling system.
3. Remove the radiator cap by pushing down and turning
counterclockwise. 4. The coolant level should be up to
the base of the filler neck. Add
coolant if it is low.
5. Put the radiator cap back on.
Tighten it fully.
6. Pour coolant into the reserve tank.
Fill it to halfway between the MAX
and MIN marks. Put the cap back
on the reserve tank.
Do not add any rust inhibitors or
other additives to your car's coolingsystem. They may not be compatible
with the coolant or engine compo- nents.
Maintenance RADIATOR CAP
RESERVE TANK
Page 226 of 333
Cooling System
Replacing Engine Coolant
The cooling system should be completely drained and refilled with
new coolant according to the time
and distance recommendations in
the maintenance schedule. Only use Honda All Season Antifreeze/Coolant Type 2. Use of any non-
Honda coolant or plain water can
result in corrosion and deposits in
the cooling system.
Draining the coolant requires access
to the underside of the car. Unless
you have the tools and knowledge,
you should have this maintenance done by a skilled mechanic.
1. Turn the ignition ON (II). Turn
the heater temperature control
dial to maximum heat (climate
control to 90°F/32°C). Turn off
the ignition. Open the hood. Make
sure the engine and radiator are
cool to the touch.
2. Remove the radiator cap.
3. Loosen the drain plug on the
bottom of the radiator. The
coolant will come out through the
hole in the splash cover.
CONTINUED
Maintenance
DRAIN PLUG
Page 227 of 333
Cooling System
4. On the right side of the engine
block, remove the clip with a plier, and then remove the drain cap.
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 the drain cap back in place
tightly, then reinstall the clip on
the drain cap securely.
Maintenance
CLIP
DRAIN CAP RESERVE TANK CAP
RESERVE TANK
HOLDER
Page 228 of 333
Cooling System
7. Remove the two bolts and the
three nuts with a 7/16 in (10 mm)
wrench, then remove the engine
cover.
8. Loosen the bleeder bolt on top of
the engine.
9. Pour Honda All Season
Antifreeze/Coolant Type 2 into the radiator up to the base of the
filler neck. This coolant is a
mixture of 50 percent antifreeze
and 50 percent water. Pre-mixing
is not required.
The cooling system capacity is:
1.61 US gal (6.1 , 1.34 Imp gal)
10.Tighten the bleeder bolt when
coolant comes out in a steady
stream with no bubbles.
CONTINUED
Maintenance
BOLTS
NUTS
BLEEDER BOLT
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Cooling System
11.Fill the reserve tank to the MAX
mark. Install the reserve tank cap.
12.Check the level in the radiator,
add coolant if needed.
13.Install the engine cover. First
tighten the two bolts on the front of the engine cover, then tighten
the three nuts on the engine cover.
Tightening torque:
7 lbf .
ft (10 N .
m , 1.0 kgf .
m)
14.Install the radiator cap, and
tighten it to the first stop.
15.Start the engine and let it run until
the radiator cooling fan comes on
at least twice. Then stop the
engine.
16.Remove the radiator cap. Pour
coolant into the. radiator up to the base of the filler neck and into the
reserve tank up to the MAX mark.
17.Start the engine and hold it at
1,500 rpm until the cooling fan comes on. Turn off the engine.
Check the coolant level in the
radiator and add coolant if needed.
18.Install the radiator cap, and
tighten it fully.
19.If necessary, fill the reserve tank
to the MAX mark. Install the
reserve tank cap.
Maintenance
Fill up to here
FILLER NECK
RESERVE TANK
Page 241 of 333
Battery
If your car's battery is disconnected
or goes dead, the engine's computer
needs to "relearn" the idle control.
After replacing or recharging the
battery:
1. Make sure the climate control sys-
tem is off.
2. Start the engine and let it run until
it warms up (the radiator cooling
fan comes on at least twice), and
let it idle for five more minutes.
Your audio system will also disable it-
self when the battery is disconnected
or goes dead. The next time you turn
on the radio you will see "Code" in
the frequency display. Use the Pre- set buttons to enter the five-digit
code (see page 164 ).
Charging the battery with the cables
connected can seriously damage your
car's electronic controls. Detach the
battery cables before connecting the
battery to a charger.
Maintenance
NOTICE
Page 244 of 333
Air Conditioning System
Your car's air conditioning is a sealed system. Any major maintenance,such as recharging, should be done
by a qualified mechanic. You can do a couple of things to make sure the
air conditioning works efficiently.
Periodically check the engine's
radiator and air conditioning
condenser for leaves, insects, anddirt stuck to the front surface. These
block the air flow and reduce cooling efficiency. Use a light spray from a
hose or a soft brush to remove them.
The condenser and radiator fins bend
easily. Only use a low-pressure spray
or soft-bristle brush to clean them.
Run the air conditioning at least once
a week during the cold weather
months. Run it for at least ten
minutes while you are driving at asteady speed with the engine at
normal operating temperature. This
circulates the lubricating oil con-
tained in the refrigerant. If the air conditioning does not get as
cold as before, have your dealer
check the system. Recharge the
system with Refrigerant HFC-134a (R-134a). (See Specifications on page 302.)
Whenever you have the air conditioning
system serviced, make sure the service
facility uses a refrigerant recycling
system. This system captures the
refrigerant for reuse. Releasingrefrigerant into the atmosphere can
damage the environment.
Maintenance
NOTICE
NOTICE
AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER
