Page 192 of 372

Carrying Cargo
Load Limit
The maximum load for your car is 850
lbs
(395 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 850 Ibs (395 kg).
The final number is the total weight of cargo you can carry. Carrying Items in the Passenger
Compartment Store or secure all items that could
be thrown around and hurtsomeone during a crash.
Do not put any items on top of the
rear shelf. They can block your
view and be thrown around the car 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 Driving
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 193 of 372
Carrying Cargo
Carrying Cargo in the Trunk or on a Roof Rack
Distribute cargo evenly on the
floor of the trunk, placing the
heaviest items on the bottom and as far forward as possible.
If you fold down the back seat, tiedown items that could be thrown
about the car during a crash or
sudden stop.
If you carry large items that
prevent you from closing the trunk
lid, exhaust gas can enter the
passenger area. To avoid the possibility of carbon monoxide
poisoning, follow the instructions on page 49. If you can cany any items on a
roof rack, be sure the total weightof the rack and the items does not
exceed the maximum allowable
weight. Please contact your Honda dealer for further information.
Before Driving
Page 214 of 372
Towing a Trailer
Your Honda has been designed primarily to carry passengers and
their cargo. You can use it to tow a
trailer if you carefully observe the
load limits, use the proper equipment, and follow the guidelines in this
section.
Load Limits Total Trailer Weight: The total
weight of the trailer and everything loaded in it must not
exceed 1,000 Ibs (450 kg). Towing
a load that is too heavy can
seriously affect your vehicle's
handling and performance. It can also damage the engine and
drivetrain. Tongue Load: The weight that
the tongue of a fully-loaded trailer
puts on the hitch should beapproximately 10 percent of the
trailer weight. Too little tongue
load can make the trailer unstable and cause it to sway. Too much
tongue load reduces front-tire traction and steering control.
Driving
Page 215 of 372

Towing a Trailer
To achieve a proper tongue load, start by loading 60 percent of the
load toward the front of the trailer and 40 percent toward the rear, then
re-adjust the load as needed.
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR):
The total weight of the vehicle, all occupants, all cargo, and the
tongue load must not exceed:
4-cylinder models:
(DX, LX)
4,035 Ibs (1,830 kg)
(EX)
4,080 Ibs (1,850 kg)
6-cylinder models:
4,255 Ibs (1,930 kg)
Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR):
The total weight of the vehicle, all occupants, all cargo, and the
tongue load must not exceed:
4-cylinder models:
(DX, LX) 2,180 Ibs (990 kg)
on the front axle1,920 Ibs (870 kg)
on the rear axle
(EX)
2,205 Ibs (1000 kg)on the front axle 1,940 Ibs (880 kg)
on the rear axle
6-cylinder models: 2,315 Ibs (1,050 kg)
on the front axle1,960 Ibs (890
kg)
on the rear axle
Checking Loads
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.
Driving
Exceeding load limits or
improperly loading your vehicle
and trailer can cause a crash in
which you can be seriously injured or killed.
Check the loading of your
vehicle and trailer carefully before starting to drive.
Page 216 of 372

Towing a Trailer
Towing Equipment and
Accessories 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 local regulations. 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 trailerand 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.
Trailer Brakes
Honda recommends that any trailer
having a total weight of 1,000 Ibs (450 kg) or more be equipped with
its own electric or surge-type brakes. If you choose electric brakes, be
sure they are electronically actuated.
Do not attempt to tap into your
vehicle's hydraulic system. No matter how successful it may seem,any attempt to attach trailer brakes
to your vehicle's hydraulic system
will lower braking effectiveness and create a potential hazard.
Driving
Page 218 of 372

Towing a Trailer
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-Tow Checklist
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 211 and 212). The hitch, safety chain, 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 269),and the trailer tires and spare are
inflated as recommended by the
trailer maker.
Driving
Page 219 of 372

Towing a Trailer
Driving Safely With a Trailer
The added weight, length, and height of a trailer will affect your
vehicle's handling and performance, so driving with a trailer requiressome special driving skills and
techniques.
For your safety and the safety ofothers, take time to practice driving
maneuvers before heading for theopen road, and follow the guidelines
discussed below.
Towing Speeds and Gears
Drive slower than normal in all
driving situations, and obey posted
speed limits for vehicles with trailers.
If you have an automatic
transmission, use D4 position when
towing a trailer on level roads. D3 is
the proper shift lever position to use
when towing a trailer in hilly terrain. (See "Driving on Hills" in the next
column for additional gear
information.)
Making Turns and Braking
Make turns more slowly and wider
than normal. The trailer tracks a smaller arc than your vehicle, and it
can hit or run over something the
vehicle misses. Allow more time and distance for braking. Do not brake or
turn suddenly as this could cause the
trailer to jackknife or turn over.
Driving on Hills
When climbing hills, closely watch your temperature gauge. If it nearsthe red (Hot) mark, turn the airconditioning off, reduce speed and, if
necessary, pull to the side of the
road to let the engine cool.
If the automatic transmission shifts
frequently between 3rd and 4th
gears while going up a hill, shift to
D3.
If you must stop when facing uphill,
use the foot brake or parking brake.
Do not try to hold the vehicle in
place by pressing on the accelerator, as this can cause the automatic
transmission to overheat.
When driving down hills, reduce your speed and shift down to 2nd
gear. Do not "ride" the brakes, andremember it will take longer to slowdown and stop when towing a trailer.
Driving
Page 238 of 372

Engine Oil
Recommended Oil Oil is a major contributor to your
engine's performance and longevity.
Always use a premium-grade 5W-20 detergent oil displaying the API
Certification Seal. This seal indicates
the oil is energy conserving, and that
it meets the American Petroleum
Institute's latest requirements.
Genuine Honda Motor Oil is the
preferred 5W-20 lubricant for your
vehicle. It is highly recommended that you use Genuine Honda MotorOil in your vehicle for optimum
engine protection. Make sure the API Certification Seal
says "For Gasoline Engines."
The SAE number tells you the oil's
viscosity or weight. Select the oil for
your vehicle according to this chart. 5W-20 oil is formulated for year-
round protection of your Honda, to
improve cold weather starting, and
to help your engine use less fuel.
If 5W-20 oil is not available, a 5W-30 oil may be used. However, it should
be replaced with 5W-20 at the next oil change.
Synthetic Oil
You may use a synthetic motor oil if it meets the same requirements
given for a conventional motor oil: it displays the API Certification Seal,
and it is the proper weight as shownon the chart. When using synthetic
oil, you must follow the oil and filter
change intervals given in the
maintenance schedule.
Additives Your Honda does not require any oiladditives. Additives may adversely
affect your engine's or transmission's
performance and durability.
Maintenance
API CERTIFICATION SEAL
Ambient Temperature