
Hood Latch, Spark Plugs (4-cylinder Models)
Hood Latch
Clean the hood latch assembly with a
mild cleaner, then lubricate it with a
multipurpose grease. Lubricate all
the moving parts, including the pivot. Follow the time and distance
recommendations in the Maintenance Schedule. If you are
not sure how to clean and grease the
latch, contact your Honda dealer. Spark Plugs
The spark plugs in your car should be replaced according to the timeand distance recommendations in
the maintenance schedule.
Replacement
1. Clean up any dirt and oil around the spark plug caps.
2. Remove the spark plug cap by pulling it straight out.
3. Remove the spark plug with a five-eighths inch (16 mm) spark
plug socket.
Maintenance
LATCH ASSEMBLY
SPARK PLUG CAP

Spark Plugs (6-cylinder Models)
The spark plugs in your car should be replaced according to the timeand distance recommendations in
the maintenance schedule.
1. Loosen the two holding clips by turning the heads one-quarter turncounterclockwise with a flat-tippedscrewdriver. Remove the cover on
the front cylinder bank by pulling
it straight up. 2. Clean up any dirt and oil that have
collected around the ignition coils.
3. Disconnect the wire connector from the ignition coil by pushingon the lock tab and pulling on the
connector. Pull on the plastic connector, not the wires. 4. Use a wrench to remove the
hexagon socket head cap boltholding the ignition coil. Remove
the ignition coil by pulling it straight out.
5. Remove the spark plug with a five-eighths inch (16 mm) spark
plug socket.
Maintenance
Replacement
HEXAGON SOCKET HEAD CAP BOLT
HOLDING CLIP

Drive Belts, Timing Belt, Tires
6-cylinder models
Power steering belt:
0.51 — 0.65 in (13.0 — 16.5 mm)
If you see signs of wear or looseness,
have your dealer adjust or replace
the belts.
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 tires
must 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.
Maintenance
Using tires that are excessively
worn or improperly inflated can
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously hurt or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner's manual regarding tire
inflation and maintenance.

Storing Your Car
If you need to park your car for an
extended period (more than one
month), there are several things you should do to prepare it for storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to
get your car back on the road. If
possible, store your car indoors.
Fill the fuel tank.
Change the engine oil and filter(see page 235).
Wash and dry the exterior completely.
Clean the interior. Make sure the
carpeting, floor mats, etc. are
completely dry.
Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in Reverse (5-speed manual) or Park
(automatic).
Block the rear wheels.
If the car is to be stored for a
longer period, it should be supported on jackstands so the
tires are off the ground.
Leave one window open slightly (if
the car is being stored indoors).
Disconnect the battery.
Support the front wiper blade
arms with a folded towel or rag so
they do not touch the windshield.
To minimize sticking, apply a silicone spray lubricant to all door
and trunk seals. Also, apply a
vehicle body wax to the painted surfaces that mate with the door
and trunk seals. Cover the car with a "breathable"
cover, one made from a porous
material such as cotton.
Nonporous materials, such as
plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint.
If possible, run the engine for a
while periodically (preferably once a month).
If you store your car for 12 months
or longer, have your Honda dealer
perform the inspections called for in
the 24 months/30,000 miles (48,000
km) maintenance schedule as soon as you take it out of storage (see
page 224). The replacements called
for in the maintenance schedule are not needed unless the car hasactually reached that time or mileage.
Maintenance

Emissions Controls
The burning of gasoline in your car's engine produces several byproducts.
Some of these are carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and
hydrocarbons (HC). Gasoline evaporating from the tank also
produces hydrocarbons. Controlling
the production of NOx, CO, and HC is important to the environment.
Under certain conditions of sunlightand climate, NOx and HC react to
form photochemical "smog." Carbon monoxide does not contribute tosmog creation, but it is a poisonous
gas.
The Clean Air Act
The United States Clean Air Act*
sets standards for automobile
emissions. It also requires that
automobile manufacturers explain to
owners how their emissions controls
work and what to do to maintain
them. This section summarizes how
the emissions controls work.
Scheduled maintenance is on page
224.
* In Canada, Honda vehicles comply
with the Canadian Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards (CMVSS) for
Emissions valid at the time they are
manufactured.
Crankcase Emissions Control
System
Your car has a Positive Crankcase
Ventilation System. This keeps gasses that build up in the engine'scrankcase from going into the
atmosphere. The Positive Crankcase
Ventilation valve routes them from the crankcase back to the intake
manifold. They are then drawn into
the engine and burned.
Evaporative Emissions Control
System
As gasoline evaporates in the fuel tank, an evaporative emissions
control canister filled with charcoaladsorbs the vapor. It is stored in this
canister while the engine is off. After
the engine is started and warmed up,
the vapor is drawn into the engine and burned during driving.
Onboard Refueling Vapor
Recovery
The Onboard Refueling Vapor Recovery (ORVR) system captures
the fuel vapors during refueling. The
vapors are adsorbed in a canister filled with activated carbon. While driving, the fuel vapors are drawn
into the engine and burned off.
Technical Information

Index
Label, Certification........................ 324
Lane Change, Signaling.................. 64
Lap/Shoulder Belts......................... 40
Lights Bulb Replacement..................... 278
Indicator........................................ 53
Parking.......................................... 62
Turn Signal................................... 64
LOCK (Ignition Key Position)....... 73
Locks
Anti-theft Steering Column........ 73Fuel Fill Door............................. 178Glove Box..................................... 82
Power Door.................................. 75
Trunk............................................
80
Low Coolant Level......................... 184
Lower Gear, Downshifting to a.... 195
Low Oil Pressure Indicator.... 52, 309
Lubricant Specifications Chart.... 326
Luggage.......................................... 188
Maintenance................................... 219
Owner Maintenance Checks.... 231
Record......................................... 229
Required Indicator....................... 60
Safety...........................................220
Schedule............................
224 -
228
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.. 55, 311
Manual Transmission.................... 195
Manual Transmission Fluid ......... 249
Meters, Gauges................................ 57
Methanol in Gasoline.................... 331
Mirrors, Adjusting......................... 100
Moonroof.......................................... 88
Closing Manually....................... 314
Operation...................................... 98
Neutral Gear Position.................... 198
New Vehicle Break-in................... 178
Normal Shift Speeds...................... 196
NOTICE, Explanation of................... ii
Numbers, Identification................ 324
Octane Requirement, Gasoline.... 178
Odometer.......................................... 58
Odometer, Trip................................ 59
Oil Change, How to ......................... 235
Change, When to....................... 224
Checking Engine....................... 182
Pressure Indicator............... 54, 309
Selecting Proper Viscosity Chart....................................... 235
ON (Ignition Key Position) ............ 74
Operation in Foreign Countries... 332 Outside Mirrors............................... 99
Overheating, Engine..................... 306
Owner Maintenance Checks........ 231
Oxygenated Fuel........................... 331
Panel Brightness Control............... 63
Park Gear Position......................... 198
Parking............................................ 202
CONTINUED

Index
Parking Brake................................ 101
Parking Lights.................................. 63
Parking Over Things that Burn... 335
PGM-FI System.............................. 334
Polishing and Waxing................... 289
Pre-Drive Safety Checklist............. 11
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts.......... 17
Protecting Adults............................. 12 Additional Safety Precautions.... 18
Advice for Pregnant Women...... 17
Protecting Children......................... 19
Protecting Infants........................ 28
Protecting Larger Children........ 34
Protecting Small Children.......... 31Using Child Seats with
Tethers......................................37
Radiator Overheating.................... 309
Radio/Cassette Sound System.... 125
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement... 281
Rear Seat Armrest........................... 94
Rear Seat, Folding........................... 93
Rear View Mirror............................. 99 Rear Window Defogger.................. 66 Reclining the Seat Backs......... 88, 91
Recommended Shift Speeds ........
196
Reminder Lights.............................. 53
Remote Transmitter........................ 75
Replacement Information
Air Cleaner Element.................. 253Coolant........................................ 241
Engine Oil and Filter................. 235
Fuses...........................................318
Light Bulbs................................. 278
Schedule..................................... 224
Spark Plugs ....................... 256, 258
Tires............................................ 271 Wiper Blades.............................. 263
Replacing Seat Belts After a
Crash.............................................42
Reserve Tank, Coolant.................. 184
Restraint, Child................................
19
Reverse Gear Position................... 198
Rotation, Tire................................. 271
Safety Belts......................................... 8
Safety Defects, Reporting* .......... 344
Safety Features.................................. 7
Airbags............................................ 9Door Locks................................... 10
Head Restraints........................... 10
Seat Belts........................................ 8
Seats & Seat-Backs...................... 10
Safety Labels, Location of.............. 50
Safety Messages................................ ii
Seat Belts............................................ 8
Additional Information................ 40
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners................................ 41
Cleaning...................................... 292
Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 40
Maintenance................................. 42
Reminder Light and
Beeper................................. 40, 54
System Components.................... 40 Use During Pregnancy................ 17
Seats, Adjusting the......................... 88
Security System............................. 175
Serial Number................................ 324
Service Intervals............................ 224
Service Manual*............................ 345
Service Station Procedures .......... 178