Maintenance
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 normal
driving 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. See
page 319 for information on how to obtain a copy, or see your Acura
dealer.
Maintenance Safety....................... 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............. 221Replacing Engine Coolant........ 223
Windshield Washers..................... 227
Automatic Transmission Fluid..... 228 Differential Oil.............................. 229
Brake Fluid.................................... 230
Brake System............................. 230
Power Steering............................... 230
Hood Latch.................................... 231
Air Cleaner Element...................... 231 Spark Plugs..................................... 233
Replacement.............................. 233
Specifications............................ 236
Battery............................................ 236
Wiper Blades.................................. 239
Air Conditioning System............... 241
Air Conditioning Filter.................. 242
Drive Belts...................................... 242
Timing Belt..................................... 243
Tires................................................ 243
Inflation..................................... 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
Maintenance
U.S. Owners
Follow the Severe Conditions
Maintenance Schedule if youdrive your car MAINLY under
one or more of the following
conditions:
Driving less than 5 miles (8
km) per trip or, in freezing
temperatures, driving less than 10 miles (16 km) per trip.
Driving in extremely hot [over 90°F (32°C) ] conditions.
Extensive idling or long
periods of stop-and-go driving.
Trailer towing, driving with a roof rack, or driving in
mountainous conditions.
Driving on muddy, dusty, orde-iced roads.
Canadian Owners
Follow the Maintenance
Schedule for Severe Conditions.
# :
See information on maintenance and emissions warranty, last column, page 207 .
* 1 : See Timing Belt on page 243 for replacement information under special driving conditions.
* 2 : See Air Conditioning Filter on page 242 for replacement information under special driving conditions.
Maintenance
Service at the indicated distance or time, whichever comes first. Do the items in A, B, C, D, E as required for each distance/time.
U.S. Owners — Refer to page 210 to determine which schedule to use.
Canadian Owners — Use the Maintenance Schedule for Severe Conditions.
* 1 : See Timing Belt on page 243 for replacement information under special driving conditions.
* 2 : See Air Conditioning Filter on page 242 for replacement information under special driving
conditions.
# : See information on maintenance and emissions warranty, last column, page 207 .
NOTE :
Check engine oil and coolant at each fuel stop.
Maintenance
CONTINUED
page 246
*
1 : See Timing Belt on page 243 for replacement information under
special driving conditions.
* 2 : See Air Conditioning Filter on page 242 for replacement
information under special driving conditions.
# : See information on maintenance and emissions warranty, last column, page 207.
NOTE:
Check engine oil and coolant at each fuel stop.
Maintenance
Timing Belt, Tires
Timing Belt
The timing belt and balancer belt should normally be replaced at the
intervals shown in the maintenance
schedule.
Replace these belts at 60,000 miles (U.S.) or 100,000 km (Canada) if you
regularly drive your car in one or
more of these conditions:
In very high temperatures
(over 110°F, 43°C).
In very low temperatures
(under — 20°F, — 29°C).
Tires
To safely operate your car, your tiresmust be the proper type and size, in
good condition with adequate tread, and correctly inflated. The following
pages give more detailed information on how and when to check air
pressure, how to inspect your tires
for damage and wear, and what to do
when your tires need to be replaced.
Inflation
Keeping the tires properly inflated
provides the best combination of
handling, tread life and riding comfort. Underinflated tires wear
unevenly, adversely affect handling
and fuel economy, and are more
likely to fail from being overheated. Overinflated tires can make your car
ride more harshly, are more prone to damage from road hazards, and wear
unevenly.
We recommend that you visually check your tires every day. If you
think a tire might be low, check it immediately with a tire gauge.
CONTINUED
Maintenance
Using tires that are excessively
worn or improperly inflated can
cause a crash in which you canbe seriously hurt or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner's manual regarding tire
inflation and maintenance.
Index
Identification Number, Vehicle.... 300
Ignition
Keys............................................... 77
Switch............................................ 80
Timing Control System............. 309
Immobilizer System......................... 78
Important Safety Precautions.......... 6
Indicators, Instrument
Panel.............................................. 53
Infant Restraint................................ 28
Infant Seats....................................... 28
Tether Anchorage Points........... 39
Inflation, Proper Tire .................... 243
Inside Mirror.................................... 99
Inspection. Tire.............................. 245
Instrument Panel............................. 53
Instrument Panel Brightness......... 66
Interior Cleaning............................ 267
Introduction......................................... i
Jacking up the Car......................... 274
Jack, Tire........................................ 274
Jump Starting................................. 280
Keys................................................... 77
Label, Certification........................ 300Lane Change. Signaling.................. 66
Lap/Shoulder Belt........................... 40
Learning Key.................................... 78
Leather, Cleaning.......................... 266
Lights On Indicator......................... 55
Lighter, Cigarette.......................... 116
Lights Bulb Replacement..................... 252
Ceiling......................................... 118
Courtesy...................................... 119
Indicator........................................ 53
Parking.......................................... 63
Turn Signal................................... 66
Load Limit...................................... 177
LOCK (Ignition Key Position)....... 80
Locks Anti-theft Steering Column........ 80 Childproof Door........................... 85
Fuel Fill Door............................. 169 Glove Box..................................... 88
Power Door.................................. 81
Trunk............................................ 86
Trunk Pass-through Cover......... 98
Low Coolant Level......................... 172
Low Fuel Indicator.......................... 57
Low Oil Pressure Indicator.... 54, 285 Lubricant Specifications Chart........................................... 302
Luggage.......................................... 176
Maintenance................................... 203
Owner Maintenance Checks.... 215
Record................................. 213 - 214
Required Indicator....................... 61 Safety........................................... 204
Schedule.............................. 208 - 212
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.. 55, 287
Memory, Driving Position............ 101
Meters, Gauges................................ 58
CONTINUED
Index
SRS, Additional Information........... 43 Additional Safety Precautions.... 48
Automatic Seal Belt
Tensioners...................................41
How the SRS indicator Works... 46
How Your Airbags Work...... 43, 45
SRS Components......................... 43
SRS
Service.................................. .
48
SRS Indicator.............................. 46, 55
START (Ignition Key Position)..... 80 Starting the Engine........................ 181 In Cold Weather at HighAltitude................................... 181
With a Dead Battery................. 280
State Emissions Testing........... 311
Steam Coming from Engine......... 283
Steering Wheel Adjustments................................. 71
Anti-theft Column Lock.............. 80
Position Memory....................... 101
Stereo Sound System .................... 136
Storing Your Car............................ 261
Sun Visor......................................... 114
Sunglasses Holder......................... 114
Supplemental Restraint
System............................. 9, 43, 45
Service Precautions..................... 48
Servicing....................................... 48
SRS Indicator.......................... 46, 55
System Components.................... 43
Tensioners, Seat Belts................ 41
Synthetic Oil................................... 218
Tachometer...................................... 58
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in....... 256
Taking Care of the Unexpected ..271
Tape Player............................ 141, 156
Technical Descriptions DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 304
Emissions Control Systems...... 308
Oxygenated Fuels...................... 306
Three Way Catalytic
Converter................................ 310
Temperature Gauge........................ 60
Tensioners, Seat
Belts................... .... 41
Tether Anchorage Points............... 39
Theft Deterrent System................ 165
Theft Protection............................. 164 Three Way Catalytic Converter... 310
Time, Setting the........................... 109
Timing Belt..................................... 243
Tire Chains..................................... 249
Tire, How to Change a Flat.......... 273
Tires................................................ 243
Air Pressure............................... 244Balancing.................................... 246
Checking Wear.......................... 245
Compact Spare........................... 272
DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 304
Inflation....................................... 243
Inspection................................... 245
Maintenance............................... 246
Replacing.................................... 247
Rotating....................................... 246
Snow............................................ 249
Specifications............................. 303
Tools,Tire Changing.................... 273
Tom Seat Belts................................ 42
Towing
A Trailer...................................... 196
By Emergency Wrecker ...........296
Transmission Checking Fluid Level,Automatic............................... 228