
Maintenanc
e Safet y
Importan t Safet y Precaution s
Befor e yo u begi n an y maintenance ,
mak e sur e you r vehicl e is parke d o n
leve l groun d an d tha t th e parkin g
brak e is set . Also , b e sur e th e engin e
i s off . Thi s wil l hel p t o eliminat e
severa l potentia l hazards :
Carbo
n monoxid e poisonin g
fro m engin e exhaust . B e sur e
ther e is adequat e ventilatio n
wheneve r yo u operat e th e engine . Burn
s fro m ho t parts . Le t th e
engin e an d exhaus t syste m coo l
befor e touchin g an y parts . Injur
y fro m movin g parts . D o
no t ru n
th
e engin e unles s in -
structe d to d o so . Rea
d th e instruction s befor e yo u
begin , an d mak e sur e yo u hav e th e
tool s an d skill s required .
T o reduc e th e possibilit y o f fir e o r
explosion , b e carefu l whe n workin g
aroun d gasolin e o r batteries . Us e a
commerciall y availabl e degrease r o r
part s cleaner , no t gasoline , t o clea n
parts . Kee p cigarettes , sparks , an d
flame s awa y fro m th e batter y an d al l
fuel-relate d parts .
Yo u shoul d wea r ey e protectio n an d
protectiv e clothin g whe n workin g
nea r th e batter y o r whe n usin g
compresse d air .
Maintenance

Owne
r Maintenanc e Check s
Yo u shoul d chec k th e followin g
item s a t th e specifie d intervals . I f
yo u ar e unsur e o f ho w to perfor m
an y check , tur n to th e pag e given . Engin
e oi l leve l — Chec k ever y
tim e yo u fil l th e fue l tank . Se e
pag e 155 . Engin
e coolan t leve l — Chec k th e
radiato r reserv e tan k ever y tim e
yo u fil l th e fue l tank . Se e pag e 15 6. Windshiel
d washe r flui d — Chec k
th e leve l i n th e reservoi r monthly .
I f weathe r condition s caus e yo u t o
us e th e washer s frequently , chec k
th e reservoi r eac h tim e yo u sto p
fo r fuel . Se e pag e 22 0. Automati
c transmissio n — Chec k
th e flui d leve l monthly . Se e pag e
221 .
Brake
s an d clutc h — Chec k th e
flui d leve l monthly . Se e pag e 22 4. Tire
s — Chec k th e tir e pressur e
monthly . Examin e th e trea d fo r
wea r an d foreig n objects . Se e pag e
235 . Light
s — Chec k th e operatio n o f
th e headlights , parkin g lights ,
taillights , high-moun t brak e light ,
tur n signals , brak e lights , an d
licens e plat e light s monthly . Se e
pag e 242 .
Maintenanc e

Windshiel
d Washer s
Chec k th e leve l i n th e windshiel d
washe r reservoi r a t leas t monthl y
durin g norma l usage . I n ba d weather ,
whe n yo u us e th e washer s often ,
chec k th e leve l ever y tim e yo u sto p
fo r fuel .
LEVE
L GAUG E
Th e windshiel d washe r reservoi r i s
locate d behin d th e driver' s sid e
headlight . Chec k th e reservoir' s flui d
leve l b y removin g th e ca p an d
lookin g a t th e leve l gaug e attache d
t o
th e cap .
Fil l th e reservoi r wit h a good-qualit y
windshiel d washe r fluid . Thi s
increase s th e cleanin g capabilit y an d
prevent s freezin g in col d weather .
Do
not use engine antifreeze or a
vinegar/water solution in the
windshield washer reservoir.
Antifreeze can damage your vehicle's
paint, while a vinegar/water solution
can damage the windshield washer
pump.
Use only commercially-availabl e
windshield washer fluid.
Maintenanc e
NOTIC
E

I
f You r Engin e Won' t Star t
I f th e headlight s di m noticeabl y o r
g o ou t whe n yo u tr y t o star t th e
engine , eithe r th e batter y is dis -
charge d o r th e connection s ar e
corroded . Chec k th e conditio n o f th e
batter y an d termina l connection s
(se e pag e 229 ). Yo u ca n the n tr y
jum p startin g th e vehicl e fro m a
booste r batter y (se e pag e 27 7). Th
e Starte r Operate s Normall y
I n thi s case , th e starte r motor' s
spee d sound s normal , o r eve n faste r
tha n normal , whe n yo u tur n th e
ignitio n switc h t o STAR T (III) , bu t
th e engin e doe s no t run . Ar
e yo u usin g th e prope r startin g
procedure ? Refe r t o Startin g th e
Engin e o n pag e 16 6. D
o yo u hav e fuel ? Tur n th e
ignitio n switc h t o O N (II ) fo r a
minut e an d watc h th e fue l gauge .
Th e lo w fue l leve l warnin g ligh t
ma y no t b e working , s o yo u wer e
no t reminde d t o fil l th e tank . Ther
e ma y b e a n electrica l
problem , suc h a s n o powe r t o th e
fue l pump . Chec k al l th e fuse s
(se e pag e 286 ).
I f yo u fin d nothin g wrong , yo u wil l
nee d a qualifie d technicia n to fin d
th e problem . Se e Emergenc y
Towin g o n pag e 29 0.
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

Malfunctio
n Indicato r Lam p
Thi s indicato r come s o n fo r a fe w
second s whe n yo u tur n th e ignitio n
switc h O N (II) . I f i t come s o n a t an y
othe r time , i t indicate s on e o f th e
engine' s emission s contro l system s
ma y hav e a problem . Eve n thoug h
yo u ma y fee l n o differenc e i n you r
vehicle' s performance , i t ca n reduc e
you r fue l econom y an d caus e you r
vehicl e t o pu t ou t excessiv e
emissions . Continue d operatio n ma y
caus e seriou s damage .
I
f yo u hav e recentl y refuele d you r
vehicle , th e caus e o f thi s indicato r
comin g o n coul d b e a loos e o r
missin g fue l fil l cap . Chec k th e ca p
an d tighte n it unti l i t click s severa l
times . Replac e th e fue l fil l ca p if i t i s
missing . Tightenin g th e ca p wil l no t
mak e th e indicato r tur n of f
immediately ; i t take s thre e drivin g
trips .
I f th e indicato r remain s o n pas t thre e
drivin g trips , o r th e fue l ca p wa s no t
loos e o r missing , hav e th e vehicl e
checke d b y th e deale r a s soo n a s
possible . Driv e moderatel y unti l th e
deale r ha s inspecte d th e problem .
Avoi d full-throttl e acceleratio n an d
drivin g a t hig h speed .
Yo u shoul d als o hav e th e deale r
inspec t you r vehicl e if thi s indicato r
come s o n repeatedly , eve n thoug h it
ma y tur n of f a s yo u continu e driving .
If you keep driving with the
malfunction indicator lamp on, you can
damage your vehicle's emissions
controls and engine. Those repairs may
not be covered by your vehicle's
warranties.
Takin g Car e
o
f th e Unexpecte d
NOTIC
E
MALFUNCTIO N INDICATO R LAM P

Technica
l Informatio n
Th e diagram s in thi s sectio n giv e
yo u th e dimension s an d capacitie s o f
you r Honda , an d th e location s o f th e
identificatio n numbers . I t als o
include s informatio n yo u shoul d
kno w abou t you r vehicle' s tire s an d
emission s contro l systems .
Identificatio
n Numbers................ . 29 2
Specifications................................ . 29 4
DO T Tir e Qualit y Grading.......... . 29 6
Unifor m Tir e Qualit y
Grading.................................. . 29 6
DO T Qualit y Grades................ . 29 6
Treadwear................................. . 29 6
Traction...................................... . 29 6
Temperature............................. . 29 7
Oxygenate d Fuels......................... . 29 8
Drivin g in Foreig n Countries...... . 29 9 Emission
s Controls....................... . 30 0
Th e Clea n Ai r Act..................... . 30 0
Crankcas e Emission s Contro l
System.................................... . 30 0
Evaporativ e Emission s Contro l
System.................................... . 30 0
Exhaus t Emission s Controls... . 30 1
PGM-F I System.................... . 30 1
Ignitio n Timin g Contro l
System................................ . 30 1
Thre e Wa y Catalyti c
Converter........................... . 30 1
Replacemen t Parts.................... . 30 1
Thre e Wa y Catalyti c Converter.. . 30 2
Stat e Emission s Testing.............. . 30 3
Technica l Informatio n

Oxygenate
d Fuel s
Som e conventiona l gasoline s ar e
bein g blende d wit h alcoho l o r a n
ethe r compound . Thes e gasoline s
ar e collectivel y referre d to a s
oxygenate d fuels . T o mee t clea n ai r
standards , som e area s o f th e Unite d
State s an d Canad a us e oxygenate d
fuel s t o hel p reduc e emissions .
I f yo u us e a n oxygenate d fuel , b e
sur e it i s unleade d an d meet s th e
minimu m octan e ratin g requirement .
Befor e usin g a n oxygenate d fuel , tr y
t o confir m th e fuel' s contents . Som e
states/province s requir e thi s
informatio n to b e poste d o n th e
pump .
Th
e followin g ar e th e U.S . EP A an d
Canadia n CGS B approve d
percentage s o f oxygenates :
ETHANO L (ethy l o r grai n alcohol )
Yo u ma y us e gasolin e containin g u p
t o 1 0 percen t ethano l b y volume .
Gasolin e containin g ethano l ma y b e
markete d unde r th e nam e "Gasohol. "
MTB E (Methy l Tertiar y Buty l
Ether )
Yo u ma y us e gasolin e containin g u p
t o 1 5 percen t MTB E b y volume .
METHANO L (methy l o r woo d
alcohol )
You r vehicl e wa s no t designe d to us e
fue l tha t contain s methanol .
Methano l ca n corrod e meta l part s in
th e fue l system , an d als o damag e
plasti c an d rubbe r components . Thi s
damag e woul d no t b e covere d b y
you r warranties . I
f yo u notic e an y undesirabl e
operatin g symptoms , tr y anothe r
servic e statio n o r switc h to anothe r
bran d o f gasoline .
Fue l syste m damag e o r performanc e
problem s resultin g fro m th e us e o f
a n oxygenate d fue l containin g mor e
tha n th e percentage s o f oxygenate s
give n abov e ar e no t covere d unde r
warranty .
Technica l Informatio n

Inde
x
Disposa l o f Use d Oil..................... . 214
Door s
Lockin g an d Unlocking.............. . 70
Powe r Doo r Locks...................... . 71
DO T Tir e Qualit y Grading.......... . 296
Downshifting , 5-spee d Manua l
Transmission............................. . 168
Driv e Belts..................................... . 234
Driving........................................... . 163
Economy.................................... . 157
I n Ba d Weather......................... . 180
I n Foreig n Countries................ . 299
Drivin g Guidelines........................ . 164
Economy , Fuel.............................. . 157
Emergencie s o n th e Road............ . 265
Battery , Jum p Starting............. . 276
Brak e Syste m Indicator........... . 284
Changin g a Fla t Tire................ . 266
Chargin g Syste m Indicator..... . 282
Checkin g th e Fuses.................. . 286
Lo w Oi l Pressur e Indicator..... . 281
Malfunctio n Indicato r Lamp... . 283
Overheate d Engine.................. . 279 Emergenc
y Brake........................... . 86
Emergenc y Flashers...................... . 63
Emergenc y Towing...................... . 290
Emissio n Controls........................ . 300
Engin e
Coolan t Temperatur e Gauge ..... 57
Malfunctio n Indicato r
Lamp .................................... 54,
282
Oil Pressur e
Indicator........
. 54 ,
281
Oil , Wha t
Kin
d t o Use.............. . 211
Overheating............................... . 279
Specifications............................ . 294
Starting....................................... . 166
Ethano l i n Gasolin e ...................... . 298
Evaporativ e Emissio n Controls... . 300
Exhaus t Fumes............................... . 49
Expectan t Mothers , Us e o f Sea t
Belt s by........................................ . 19
Exterior , Cleanin g the.................. . 256
Fabric , Cleaning............................ . 260
Fan , Interior..................................... . 98
Features , Comfor t an d
Convenience................................ . 97 Fillin
g th e Fue l Tank.................... . 157
Filter s
Air............................................... . 226
Ai r Conditioning....................... .
234
Oil............................................... . 213
5-spee d Manua l
Transmissio
n
Checkin g Flui d Level............... . 222
Shiftin g the................................ . 169
Flashers , Hazard Warning............. . 63
Fla t Tire , Changin g a................... . 213
Fluid s
Automati c Transmission ...........
221
Brake.......................................... . 224
Clutch......................................... . 224
Manua l Transmission.............. . 222
Powe r
Steering..........................
. 225
Rea r Differential....................... . 223
Windshiel d Washer.................. . 220
F M Stere o Radi o
Reception................................... . 125
Foldin g Rea r Seat........................... . 82
Foreig n Countries , Drivin g in..... . 299
Four-wa y Flashers.......................... . 63
CONTINUED