If Your Engine Won't Start, Jump Starting
The Starter Operates Normally In this case, the starter motor's
speed sounds normal, or even faster
than normal, when you turn the
ignition switch to START (III), but
the engine does not run.
Are you using the proper startingprocedure? Refer to Starting the
Engine on page 193 .Do you have fuel? Turn the
ignition switch to ON (II) for a
minute and watch the fuel gauge.
The low fuel level warning light may not be working, so you werenot reminded to fill the tank.
There may be an electrical problem, such as no power to the
fuel pump. Check all the fuses (see page 315).
If you find nothing wrong, you will
need a qualified technician to find
the problem. See Emergency
Towing on page 320 . Jump Starting
If your car's battery has run down,
you may be able to start the engine
by using a booster battery. Although
this seems like a simple procedure,
you should take several precautions.
You cannot start a Honda with an automatic transmission by pushing
or pulling it. To jump start your car, follow these
directions closely:
1. Open the hood and check the physical condition of the battery(see page 260). In very cold
weather, check the condition of the electrolyte. If it seems slushy
or like ice, do not try jump starting
until it thaws.
If a battery sits in extreme cold, the electrolyte inside can freeze.
Attempting to jump start with a frozen battery can cause it to rupture.
2. Turn off all the electrical acces- sories: climate control, stereo
system, lights, etc.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park and set the parking brake.
Taking Care of the Unexpected
A battery can explode if you do
not follow the correct procedure,
seriously injuring anyone nearby.
Keep all sparks, open flames,
and smoking materials away
from the battery.
NOTICE
If Your Engine Overheats
The pointer of your car's tempera- ture gauge should stay in the mid-range under most conditions. It may
go higher if you are driving up a long steep hill on a very hot day. If it
climbs to the red mark, you should
determine the reason.
Driving with the temperature gauge
pointer at the red mark can cause serious damage to your engine.
Your car can overheat for several
reasons, such as lack of coolant or a
mechanical problem. The only
indication may be the temperature
gauge climbing to or above the red mark. Or you may see steam or
spray coming from under the hood.
In either case, you should take
immediate action.
1. Safely pull to the side of the road.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park and set the parking brake.
Turn off the heating and cooling system and all other accessories.
Turn on the hazard warning indicators.
2. If you see steam and/or spray coming from under the hood, turn
off the engine.
3. If you do not see steam or spray, leave the engine running and
watch the temperature gauge. If the high heat is due to overloading (climbing a long, steep hill on a
hot day with the A/C running, for example), the engine should start
to cool down almost immediately.
If it does, wait until the tempera-
ture gauge comes down to the mid-
point then continue driving.
CONTINUED
Taking Care of the Unexpected
Steam and spray from an
overheated engine can
seriously scald you.
Do not open the hood if steam
is coming out.
NOTICE
Low Oil Pressure Indicator
LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR
This indicator should light when the ignition switch is ON (II), and go out
after the engine starts. It should
never come on when the engine is
running. If it starts flashing, it
indicates that the oil pressure dropped very low for a moment, then
recovered. If the indicator stays on
with the engine running, it shows that the engine has lost oil pressure
and serious engine damage is
possible. In either case, you should
take immediate action.
Running the engine with low oil
pressure can cause serious mechanical damage almost immediately. Turn offthe engine as soon as you can safely get
the car stopped.
1. Safely pull off the road and shut off the engine. Turn on the hazard
warning indicators.
2. Let the car sit for a minute. Open the hood and check the oil level(see page 182). Although oil level
and oil pressure are not directly
connected, an engine that is very
low on oil can lose pressure during
cornering and other driving
maneuvers.
3. If necessary, add oil to bring the level back to the full mark on thedipstick (see page 234). 4. Start the engine and watch the oil
pressure indicator. If the lightdoes not go out within ten seconds,
turn off the engine. There is a mechanical problem that needs to
be repaired before you can continue driving. (See Emergency
Towing on page 320.)
Taking Care of the Unexpected
NOTICE
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
The tires on your car meet all U.S. Federal Safety Requirements. All
tires are also graded for treadwear,
traction, and temperature perform- ance according to Department of
Transportation (DOT) standards.
The following explains these
gradings.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading Quality grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall
between the tread shoulder and the maximum section width. For
example:
Treadwear 200Traction AA
Temperature A
All passenger car tires must conform to Federal Safety Requirements inaddition to these grades.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a compara-
tive rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlledconditions on a specified government
test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and one-
half (11/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100. The relative performance of
tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may depart significantly from the normdue to variations in driving habits,
service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate. Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. Those
grades represent the tire's ability tostop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces
of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction
performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based onstraight-ahead braking traction tests,
and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak
traction characteristics.
Technical Information
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
Temperature
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, representing the
tire's resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high
temperature can cause the material of the tire to degenerate and reduce
tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of performance which all passenger car
tires must meet under the FederalMotor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent
higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for
this tire is established for a tire that
is properly inflated and not over-
loaded. Excessive speed, underinfla-
tion, or excessive loading, either
separately or in combination, can
cause heat buildup and possible tire
failure.
Technical Information
Index
Driving............................................ 191 Economy..................................... 185
In Bad Weather.......................... 209
In Foreign Countries................. 332
Economy, Fuel............................... 185
Emergencies on the Road............. 295 Battery, Jump Starting.............. 304
Brake System Indicator............ 313Changing a Flat Tire................. 297
Charging System Indicator...... 310
Checking the Fuses................... 316
Low Oil Pressure Indicator...... 309
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.... 311 Manually Closing Moonroof.... 314
Overheated Engine................... 307
Emergency Brake.......................... 101
Emergency Flashers....................... 66
Emergency Towing....................... 320
Emissions Controls........................ 333
Engine
Belts.............................................266
Coolant Temperature Gauge ..... 59 Malfunction Indicator
Lamp................................. 55, 311
Oil Pressure Indicator......... 54, 309 Oil, What Kind to Use............... 234
Overheating................................ 307
Specifications............................. 327
Speed Limiter..................... 196, 200
Starting........................................ 193
Engine Speed Limiter........... 196, 200
Ethanol in Gasoline ....................... 331
Evaporative Emissions Controls.. 333
Exhaust Fumes................................ 49
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat Belts by......................................... 17
Exterior, Cleaning the................... 290
Fabric, Cleaning............................. 291
Fan, Interior.................................... 110
Features, Comfort and Convenience............................... 109
Filling the Fuel Tank..................... 178
Filter
Air Conditioning........................ 266
Oil................................................ 234 5-speed Manual Transmission
Checking Fluid Level................ 249
5-speed Manual Transmission Shifting the................................. 195
Flashers, Hazard Warning.............. 66
Flat Tire, Changing a.................... 297
Fluids Automatic Transmission .. 247, 248
Brake...........................................251
Clutch.......................................... 252
Manual Transmission............... 249 Power Steering........................... 252
Windshield Washer................... 246
FM Stereo Radio Reception.................................... 158
Folding Rear Seat............................ 92
Foreign Countries, Driving in...... 332
Four-way Flashers........................... 66
Fuel.................................................. 178 Fill Door and Cap....................... 178Gauge............................................ 58
Octane Requirement................. 178
Oxygenated................................ 331
Tank, Filling the......................... 178
Fuses, Checking the...................... 316
CONTINUED
Index
Headlights......................................... 62Aiming......................................... 276
Automatic Lighting Off............... 63Daytime Running Lights............. 63
Lights On Indicator..................... 53
Low Beams, Turning on............. 62
Reminder Chime.......................... 62
Replacing Halogen Bulbs ......... 278
Turning on.................................... 62
Head Restraints............................... 92
Heating and Cooling...................... 110
High Altitude, Starting at.............. 194
HomeLink Universal Transmitter.................................. 83
Hood, Opening the ........................ 180
Hydraulic Clutch............................ 252
Hydroplaning.................................. 210
Identification Number, Vehicle.... 326
Ignition
Keys............................................... 71
Switch............................................ 73
Timing Control System............. 336
Immobilizer System......................... 72
Important Safety Precautions.......... 6
Indicators, Instrument Panel.......... 53
Infant Restraint................................ 28
Infant Seats....................................... 28
Tether Anchorage Points........... 39
Inflation, Proper Tire .................... 268
Inside Mirror.................................... 98
Inspection, Tire.............................. 270
Instrument Panel............................. 53
Instrument Panel Brightness......... 63 Interior Cleaning............................ 290
Interior Lights................................ 106
Introduction......................................... i
Jacking up the Car......................... 209
Jack, Tire........................................ 298
Jump Starting................................. 304
Keys................................................... 71
Gas Mileage, Improving................ 185
Gasohol........................................... 331
Gasoline.......................................... 178
Gauge............................................ 58
Octane Requirement................. 178
Tank, Filling the......................... 178
Gas Station Procedures................. 178
Gauges
Engine Coolant Temperature .... 59
Fuel................................................59
Speedometer................................ 58
Tachometer.................................. 58
Gearshift Lever Positions Automatic Transmission........... 1975-speed Manual Transmission.......................... 195
Glass Cleaning............................... 292
Glove Box......................................... 82
Halogen Headlight Bulbs.............. 278
Hazard Warning Flashers............... 66
Index
Tires................................................ 267 Air Pressure............................... 268
Checking Wear.......................... 270
Compact Spare........................... 298
DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 331 Inflation....................................... 268
Inspection................................... 270Replacing.................................... 271
Rotating....................................... 271
Snow............................................273
Specifications............................. 328
Tools, Tire Changing.................... 297
Towing
ATrailer......................................211
Emergency Wrecker................. 320
Traction Control System (TCS) Indicator...............................
56, 207
Operation................................... 207
Transmission Checking Fluid Level,Automatic...................... 247, 248
Checking Fluid Level,
Manual.................................... 248
Fluid Selection .................. 247, 248
Identification Number............... 319
Shifting the Automatic.............. 196
Shifting the Manual................... 195
Treadwear...................................... 329
Trip Meter........................................ 59
Trunk................................................. 80
Opening the..................................
80
Open Monitor Light.................... 56
Turn Signals..................................... 64
Underside, Cleaning...................... 293
Unexpected, Taking Care
of the........................................... 295
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..... 329
Unleaded Gasoline......................... 178
Upholstery Cleaning...................... 292
Used Oil, How to Dispose of........ 238
Vanity Mirror................................. 105
Vehicle Capacity Load .................. 189
Vehicle Dimensions....................... 326
Vehicle Identification Number..... 324
Vehicle Storage.............................. 287
VIN.................................................. 324
Vinyl Cleaning................................ 293
Viscosity, Oil................................... 235
WARNING, Explanation of.............. ii
Warning Labels, Location of.......... 50
Warranty Coverages*................... 341
Washer, Windshield Checking the Fluid Level......... 246Operation...................................... 65
Washing.......................................... 290
Waxing and Polishing................... 289
Wheels Adjusting the Steering................ 66
Alignment and Balance............. 270Compact Spare........................... 296
Wrench....................................... 298
Windows
Cleaning......................................292
Operating the Power................... 97
Rear, Defogger............................ 66
Windshield Cleaning........................................ 64
Washers........................................ 66