
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 normaldriving 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 Honda, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See page 345 for information on how toobtain a copy, or see your Honda
dealer.
Maintenance Safety....................... 220
Important Safety Precautions ..221
Maintenance Schedule.................. 222
Maintenance Record..................... 229
Owner Maintenance Checks........ 231
Fluid Locations............................... 232
Engine Oil....................................... 234
Adding Oil................................... 234Recommended Oil..................... 235
Synthetic Oil............................... 235
Additives..................................... 235
Changing the Oil and Filter...... 236
Cooling System.............................. 239
Adding Engine Coolant............. 239Replacing Engine Coolant........ 241
Windshield Washers..................... 246
Transmission Fluid........................ 247
Automatic
Transmission.......................... 247
5-speed Manual
Transmission.......................... 249
Brake and Clutch Fluid................. 251
Brake System............................. 251
Clutch System............................ 252
Power Steering............................... 252
Air Cleaner Element...................... 253
Hood Latch..................................... 256
Spark Plugs..................................... 256
Replacement............................... 256
Specifications............................. 257
Battery............................................ 260
Wiper Blades.................................. 263
Air Conditioning System............... 265
Air Conditioning Filter.................. 266 Drive Belts...................................... 266
Timing Belt..................................... 267
Tires................................................ 267
Inflation...................................... 268
Inspection................................... 270
Maintenance............................... 270
Tire Rotation.............................. 271 Replacing Tires and Wheels .... 271
Wheels and Tires....................... 272 Winter Driving........................... 273
Snow Tires.............................. 273
Tire Chains............................. 273
Lights.............................................. 274 Replacing Bulbs......................... 276
Storing Your Car............................ 285
Maintenance

U.S. Owners
Follow the Normal ConditionsMaintenance Schedule if the
severe driving conditions
specified in the Severe
Conditions Maintenance
Schedule do not apply.
NOTE: If you only OCCASIONALLY drive under a
"severe" condition, you should
follow the Normal Conditions Maintenance Schedule.
Canadian Owners
Follow the Maintenance
Schedule for Severe Conditions.
# : See information on maintenance and emissions warranty, last column, page 223.
* 1 : See timing belt on page 267 to determine need for replacement.
* 2 : Balancer belt applies to 4-cylinder models only.
Maintenance

U.S. Owners
Follow the Severe Conditions
Maintenance Schedule if you
drive your vehicle 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 car top carrier, or driving in
mountainous conditions.Driving on muddy, dusty, or
de-iced roads.
Canadian Owners
Follow the Maintenance
Schedule for Severe Conditions.
# : See information on maintenance and emissions warranty, last column, page 223.
* 1 : See timing belt on page 267 to determine need for replacement.
* 2 : Balancer belt applies to 4-cylinder models only.
*3 : See air conditioning filter on page 266 for replacement information under special driving conditions.
Maintenance

Maintenance
# : See information on maintenance and emissions warranty, last
column, page 223.
* 1 : See timing belt on page 267 to determine need for replacement.
* 2 : Balancer belt applies to 4-cylinder models only.
* 3 : See air conditioning filter on page 266 for replacement information
under special driving conditions.
NOTE:
Check engine oil and coolant at each fuel stop.
Check and adjust valve clearance, cold engine, only if noisy.

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.

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