Drivin
g i n Ba d Weathe r
Rain , fog , an d sno w condition s re -
quir e a differen t drivin g techniqu e
becaus e o f reduce d tractio n an d
visibility . Kee p you r vehicl e well -
maintaine d an d exercis e greate r
cautio n whe n yo u nee d t o driv e in
ba d weather . Th e cruis e contro l
shoul d no t b e use d in thes e condi -
tions .
Drivin
g Techniqu e — Alway s driv e
slowe r tha n yo u woul d in dr y
weather . I t take s you r vehicl e longe r
t o react , eve n in condition s tha t ma y
see m jus t barel y damp . Appl y
smooth , eve n pressur e to al l the
controls . Abrup t steerin g whee l
movement s o r sudden , har d appli -
catio n o f th e brake s ca n caus e los s o f
contro l i n we t weather . B e extr a
cautiou s fo r th e firs t fe w mile s
(kilometers ) o f drivin g whil e yo u
adjus t t o th e chang e in drivin g
conditions . Thi s i s especiall y tru e in
snow . A perso n ca n forge t som e
snow-drivin g technique s durin g th e
summe r months . Practic e is neede d
t o relear n thos e skills .
Exercis e extr a cautio n whe n drivin g
i n rai n afte r a lon g dr y spell . Afte r
month s o f dr y weather , th e firs t
rain s brin g oi l t o th e surfac e o f the
roadway , makin g it slippery . Visibilit
y — Bein g abl e to se e
clearl y in al l direction s an d bein g
visibl e t o othe r driver s ar e importan t
i n al l weathe r conditions . Thi s i s
mor e difficul t i n ba d weather . T o b e
see n mor e clearl y durin g dayligh t
hours , tur n o n you r headlights .
Inspec t you r windshiel d wiper s an d
washer s frequently . Kee p th e wind -
shiel d washe r reservoi r ful l o f th e
prope r fluid . Hav e th e windshiel d
wipe r blade s replace d if the y star t t o
strea k th e windshiel d o r leav e part s
unwiped . Us e th e defroster s an d ai r
conditionin g to kee p th e window s
fro m foggin g u p o n th e insid e (se e
pag e 103 ).
Drivin g
Maintenanc
e
Thi s sectio n explain s wh y i t i s
importan t t o kee p you r vehicl e wel l
maintaine d an d t o follo w basi c
maintenanc e safet y precautions .
Thi s sectio n als o include s
Maintenanc e Schedule s fo r norma l
drivin g an d sever e drivin g conditions ,
a Maintenanc e Record , an d instruc -
tion s fo r simpl e maintenanc e task s
yo u ma y wan t t o tak e car e o f
yourself .
I f yo u hav e th e skill s an d tool s t o per -
for m mor e comple x maintenanc e
task s o n you r Honda , yo u ma y wan t
t o purchas e th e Servic e Manual . Se e
pag e 309 for informatio n o n ho w to
obtai n a copy , o r se e you r Hond a
dealer .
Maintenanc e Safety...................... . 198
Importan t Safet y Precautions. . 199
Maintenanc e Schedule................. . 200
Require
d Maintenanc e Record... . 207
Owne r Maintenanc e Checks....... . 209
Flui d Locations.............................. . 210
Engin e Oil...................................... . 211
Addin g Oil.................................. . 211
Recommende d Oil.................... . 211
Syntheti c Oil.............................. . 212
Additives.................................... . 212
Changin g th e Oi l an d Filter..... . 213
Coolin g System............................. . 215
Addin g Engin e Coolant............ . 215
Replacin g Engin e Coolant....... . 217
Windshiel d Washers.................... . 220
Transmissio n Fluid....................... . 221
Automati c Transmission.......... . 221
5-spee d Manua l
Transmission......................... . 222
Rea r Differentia l Fluid................. . 223
Brak e an d Clutc h Fluid................ . 224
Brak e System............................ . 224
Clutc h System........................... . 225
Powe r Steering.............................. . 225
Ai r Cleane r Element..................... . 226
Hoo d Latch.................................... . 227
Spar k Plugs.................................... . 227
Replacement.............................. . 227
Specifications............................
. 228
Battery........................................... . 229
Wipe r Blades................................. . 231
Ai r Conditionin g System.............. . 233
Ai r Conditionin g Filter................. . 234
Driv e Belts..................................... . 234
Timin g Belt.................................... . 235
Tires............................................... . 235
Inflation...................................... . 235
Recommende d Tir e
Pressure s fo r Norma l
Driving........................... . 236
Inspection.................................. . 237
Maintenance.............................. . 237
Tir e Rotation............................. . 238
Replacin g Tire s an d Wheel s ... . 239
Wheel s an d Tires...................... . 240
Winte r Driving.......................... . 240
Sno w Tires............................. . 240
Tir e Chains............................ . 241
Lights............................................. . 242
Headligh t Aiming..................... . 244
Replacin g Bulbs........................ . 246
Storin g You r Vehicle.................... . 253
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
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
Inde
x
Par k Gear Position........................ .
171
Parking........................................... .
175
Parkin g Brake................................. .
86
Parkin
g Lights................................. .
60
Parkin g Ove r
Thing
s tha t Burn.. . 175
PGM-F I System............................. .
304
Polishin g an d
Waxing..................
.
257
Pre-Driv e Safet y
Checklist............
. 11
Pregnancy , Usin g Sea t Belts......... . 19
Protectin g Adults............................ . 12
Additiona l Safet y Precautions... . 1 9
Advic e fo r Pregnan t Women..... . 1 9
Protectin g Children........................ . 2 1
Protectin g Infants....................... . 2 9
Protectin g Large r Children....... . 3 7
Protectin g Smal l Children......... . 3 3
Usin g Chil d Seat s wit h
Tethers..................................... . 4 0
Radiato r Overheating................... . 279
Radio/Cassett e Soun d Syste m ... . 106
Rea r Differentia l Fluid................. . 223
Rea r Lights ,
Bul b Replacement.. . 248
Rea r Seat ,
Folding.......................... . 82
Rea
r Vie w
Mirror............................
. 85
Rea r Windo w Defogger................. . 63
Rea r Windo w Wipe r an d Washer. . 63
Reclinin g th e Sea t Backs............... . 81
Recommende d Shif t Speed s ....... . 169
Reminde r Lights............................. . 53
Remot e Transmitter....................... . 72
Replacemen t Informatio n
Ai r Cleane r Element................. . 226
Ai r Conditionin g Filter............. . 234
Coolant....................................... . 217
Engin e Oi l an d Filter................ . 213
Fuses.......................................... . 285
Ligh t Bulbs................................ . 246
Schedule.................................... . 202
Spar k Plugs................................ . 227
Timin g Belt................................ . 235
Tires........................................... . 239
Wipe r Blades............................. . 231
Replacin g Sea t Belt s Afte r a
Crash............................................ . 43
Reserv e Tank , Engin e Coolant... . 156
Restraint , Child............................... . 21
Revers e Gea r Position.................. . 172
Rotation , Tire................................ . 238
Safet
y Belts........................................ . 8
Safet y Defects , Reporting * ......... . 310
Safet y Checklist , Pre-Drive........... . 11
Safet y Features................................. . 7
Airbags........................................... . 8
Doo r Locks.................................. . 10
Hea d Restraints.......................... . 10
Sea t Belts....................................... . 8
Seat s & Seat-Backs..................... . 10
Safet y Labels , Locatio n of............. . 50
Safet y Messages...............................
ii
Sea t Belts........................................... .
8
Additiona l Information............... . 42
Advic e fo r Pregnan t Women..... . 19
Automati c Sea t Bel t
Tensioners............................... . 47
Chil d Sea t Ancho r Plate............. . 40
Cleaning..................................... . 261
Fraye d o r Torn............................ . 43
Lap/Shoulde r Belt...................... . 42
Maintenance................................ 43
Reminde r Ligh t an d
Beeper................................ . 42 , 54
Replacement................................ . 43