Parking
Always use the parking brake when you park your car. The indicator onthe instrument panel shows that the
parking brake is not fully released; itdoes not indicate that the parking
brake is firmly set. Make sure the
parking brake is set firmly or your car may roll if it is parked on an
incline.
If your car has an automatic
transmission, set the parking brake before you put the transmission in
Park. This keeps the car from
moving and putting pressure on the
parking mechanism in the
transmission — making it easier to
move the shift lever out of Park
when you want to drive away. If the car is facing uphill, turn the
front wheels away from the curb. If
you have a manual transmission, put it in first gear.
If the car is facing downhill, turn the
front wheels toward the curb. If you have a manual transmission, put it in
reverse gear.
Make sure the parking brake is fully
released before driving away. Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or damage
the rear brakes. Parking Tips
Make sure the moonroof and the
windows are closed.
Turn off the lights. Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the trunk or take them with you.
Lock the doors with the key or the
remote transmitter.
On EX and EX-V6 models
Check the indicator on the driver's
door to verify that the security
system is set.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other flammable materials. The three way catalytic
converter gets very hot, and could
cause these materials to catch on
fire.
Driving
Technical Information
The diagrams in this section give you the dimensions and capacities of
your Honda, and the locations of the identification numbers. It also
includes information you should
know about your vehicle's tires and
emissions control systems.
Identification Numbers................. 324
Specifications................................. 326
DOT Tire Quality Grading........... 329
Treadwear.................................. 329
Traction....................................... 329
Temperature.............................. 330 Oxygenated Fuels.......................... 331
Driving in Foreign Countries....... 332
Emissions Controls........................ 333 The Clean Air Act...................... 333Crankcase Emissions Control System..................................... 333
Evaporative Emissions Control System..................................... 333
Onboard Refueling Vapor Recovery................................. 333
Exhaust Emissions Controls.... 334 PGM-FI System..................... 334
Ignition Timing Control
System.................................334
Three Way Catalytic
Converter............................ 334
Replacement Parts..................... 334
Three Way Catalytic Converter... 335 State Emissions Testing............... 336
Technical Information
Driving in Foreign Countries
If you are planning to take yourHonda outside the U.S. or Canada,
contact the tourist bureaus in the
areas you will be traveling in to find
out about the availability of unleaded
gasoline with the proper octane
rating.
If unleaded gasoline is not available,
be aware that using leaded gasoline in your Honda will affect perfor-mance and fuel mileage, and damage
its emissions controls. It will no
longer comply with U.S. andCanadian emissions regulations, and
will be illegal to operate in North America. To bring your car back into compliance will require the replace-
ment of several components, such as
the oxygen sensors and the three
way catalytic converter. These re- placements are not covered under
warranty.
Technical Information
Emissions Controls
Exhaust Emissions Controls
The exhaust emissions controls include three systems: PGM-FI,Ignition Timing Control and Three
Way Catalytic Converter. These three systems work together tocontrol the engine's combustion and
minimize the amount of HC, CO, and
NOx that comes out the tailpipe. The
exhaust emissions control systemsare separate from the crankcase and
evaporative emissions control
systems.
PGM-FI System
The PGM-FI System uses sequential multiport fuel injection.
It has three subsystems: Air Intake,
Engine Control, and Fuel Control.
The Engine Control Module (ECM) or the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) uses various sensors to
determine how much air is going
into the engine. It then controls how
much fuel to inject under all operat-
ing conditions.
Ignition Timing Control System
This system constantly adjusts the ignition timing, reducing the amountof HC, CO and NOx produced.
Three Way Catalytic Converter
The three way catalytic converter is in the exhaust system. Through
chemical reactions, it converts HC,CO, and NOx in the engine's exhaust
to carbon dioxide (CO 2), dinitrogen
(N2), and water vapor. Replacement Parts
The emissions control systems are
designed and certified to work to-
gether in reducing emissions to
levels that comply with the Clean Air
Act. To make sure the emissions
remain low, you should use only newGenuine Honda replacement parts or
their equivalent for repairs. Using
lower quality parts may increase the emissions from your car.
The emissions control systems are
covered by warranties separate from
the rest of your car. Read your
warranty manual for more informa-
tion.
Technical Information
Three Way Catalytic Converter
The three way catalytic converter contains precious metals that serveas catalysts, promoting chemical
reactions to convert the exhaust
gasses without affecting the metals.
The catalytic converter is referred to as a three-way catalyst, since it acts
on HC, CO, and NOx. A replacement
unit must be an original Honda part
or its equivalent.
The three way catalytic converter must operate at a high temperature
for the chemical reactions to take
place. It can set on fire any com-
bustible materials that come near it. Park your car away from high grass,dry leaves, or other flammables. A defective three way catalytic
converter contributes to air pollution,
and can impair your engine's per-
formance. Follow these guidelines to
protect your car's three way catalyticconverter.
Always use unleaded gasoline.Even a small amount of leaded
gasoline can contaminate the catalyst metals, making the three
way catalytic converter ineffective. Keep the engine tuned-up.
Have your car diagnosed and
repaired if it is misfiring, back-
firing, stalling, or otherwise not running properly.
Technical Information
THREE WAY CATALYTIC CONVERTER
Index
Setting the Clock........................... 101 The 5-speed Manual Transmission.......................... 195
Shift Lever Position Indicator...... 197
Shift Lock Release......................... 200
Side Airbags..................................... 45
How Your Side Airbags Work.... 45
How The Side Airbag IndicatorLight Works............................. 46
Side Marker Lights, Bulb Replacement............................... 279
Signaling Turns................................ 64
Snow Tires...................................... 273
Solvent-type Cleaners.................... 288
Sound System........................ 125, 153
Spare Tire
Inflating....................................... 297
Specifications............................. 330
Spark Plugs, Replacing........ 256, 258
Specifications Charts..................... 328
Speed Control...................................
68
Speed Limiter........................ 196, 200
Speedometer....................................
58
SRS, Additional Information........... 43
Additional Safety Precautions.... 23How Your Airbags Work..... 43, 45
How Your SRS Indicator
Works........................................43
SRS Components......................... 43
SRS Service................................... 48
SRS Indicator............................. 43, 55
START (Ignition Key Position) ..... 74
Starting the Engine........................
193
In Cold Weather at High
Altitude...................................
194
With a Dead Battery................. 306
Steam Coming from Engine......... 308
Steering Wheel Adjustment................................... 67
Anti-theft Column Lock.............. 73
Stereo Sound System........... 125,
153
Storing Your Car.............................
287
Sun Visor......................................... 105
Sunglasses Holder......................... 106
Supplemental Restraint System Servicing....................................... 48
SRS Indicator......................... 43, 55
System Components.................... 43
Synthetic Oil................................... 235 Tachometer...................................... 58
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in....... 281
Taking Care of the Unexpected .. 295
Tape Player ........................... 130, 160
Technical Descriptions DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 329
Emissions Control Systems...... 332
Oxygenated Fuels...................... 331
Three Way Catalytic Converter................................ 335
Temperature Gauge........................ 59
Tether Attachment Points.............. 37
Three Way Catalytic Converter... 335 Time, Setting the...........................
101
Timing Belt..................................... 267
Tire Chains..................................... 273
Tire, How to Change a Flat.......... 297
CONTINUED