
positions
. Mov e th e steerin g
whee l t o th e desire d position , the n
releas e th e lever . Tr y t o mov e th e
steerin g whee l u p an d dow n t o
mak e sur e i t i s locke d i n position .
Mak e sur e th e steerin g whee l doe s
no t bloc k you r vie w o f an y o f th e
instrumen t pane l gauges or
indicators .
Cigarett
e Lighte r
Th e cigarett e lighte r i s o n th e
instrumen t panel . Th e ignitio n
switc h mus t b e i n ACCESSOR Y
o r O N fo r th e cigarett e lighte r t o
work . T o operate , pus h it in .
Whe n i t heats , i t automaticall y
pop s ou t read y fo r use . Avoi d
holdin g th e lighte r i n b y han d
whil e it i s heating , a s damag e t o
th e heatin g elemen t ma y result .
Ashtray
s
T o ope n eithe r ashtray , pul l i t out .
T o remov e th e fron t ashtra y fo r
cleaning , ope n it , the n remov e th e
inne r par t o f th e ashtra y b y liftin g
u p o n bot h side s nea r th e front .
Interio r Feature s
Adjustin
g th e steerin g whee l
positio n whil e drivin g ma y
caus e yo u t o los e contro l o f
th e vehicl e an d b e seriousl y
injure d in a crash .
Adjus t th e steerin g whee l onl y
whe n th e vehicl e i s stopped .

(Standard
on the EX model)
Yo u ca n loc k an d unloc k you r
vehicl e wit h th e remot e
transmitter . Whe n yo u pus h th e
LOC K button , al l th e door s an d
th e tailgat e lock . Th e parkin g
lights , taillights , an d licens e plat e
ligh t wil l flas h once . I f yo u pres s
th e LOC K butto n a secon d time ,
th e hor n wil l hon k t o confir m tha t
everythin g locked .
Whe
n yo u pus h th e UNLOC K
butto n once , onl y th e driver' s
doo r unlocks . Pus h th e butto n a
second time , withi n thre e seconds,
t o unloc k th e remainin g door s an d
th e tailgate . Th e parkin g lights ,
taillights , an d licens e plat e ligh t
wil l flas h twic e whe n yo u pus h
th e UNLOC K butto n the firs t
time .
Th e dom e ligh t wil l com e o n (i f
th e dom e ligh t switc h is i n th e
cente r position ) whe n yo u pres s
th e UNLOC K button . I f yo u d o
no t ope n an y o f th e door s o r th e
hatc h glass , the ligh t wil l g o ou t i n
abou t 3 0 seconds , th e door s an d
tailgat e automaticall y relock , an d
th e anti-thef t syste m sets .
Yo u canno t loc k o r unloc k th e
vehicl e wit h th e remot e transmitte
r i f an y door , th e
tailgate , o r th e hoo d is no t full y
closed , o r th e ke y is in th e ignitio n
switch . Whe n yo u pus h th e LOC K
button , th e hor n wil l bee p si x
time s t o notif y yo u tha t somethin g
i s ajar .
Yo u canno t loc k o r unloc k th e
vehicl e wit h th e remot e
transmitte r i f th e ke y i s i n th e
ignitio n switch .
Pani c Mod e
Pani c mod e allow s yo u to
remotel y soun d th e vehicle' s hor n
t o attrac t attention . T o activat e
thi s mode , pres s an d hol d th e
PANI C butto n fo r abou t on e
second . You r vehicle' s hor n wil l
soun d fo r abou t 3 0 seconds .
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s
Keyles
s Entr y
LOC K
UNLOC K
PANI C

T
o cance l pani c mod e befor e 3 0
seconds , pres s an y butto n o n th e
remot e transmitter . Yo u ca n also
tur n th e ignitio n switc h t o
ACCESSORY .
Th
e anti-thef t syste m is designe d
t o protec t you r vehicl e an d it s
contents fro m theft . An y attemp t
t o forcibl y ope n an y door , th e
tailgate , o r th e hoo d withou t usin g
th e ke y o r th e remot e transmitte r
wil l caus e th e syste m to alarm .
Th e hor n sound s an d th e
headlight s flas h fo r approximatel y
thre e minutes . Th e starte r moto r
circui t i s disable d s o th e engin e
canno t b e started . Afte r thre e
minutes , th e syste m resets .
Activatin
g th e Syste m
Th e syste m activate s
automaticall y whe n al l th e doors ,
th e tailgate , an d th e hoo d ar e full y
close d an d locked .
Loc k th e door s wit h th e key , th e
remot e transmitter , o r th e doo r
loc k button/knob . Th e anti-thef t
syste m indicato r wil l com e o n t o
sho w tha t i t i s activating . Afte r
abou t 1 0 seconds , th e ligh t wil l
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s
Anti-Thef
t Syste m

begi
n blinkin g rapidl y t o indicat e
th e syste m is active .
Deactivatin g th e Syste m
Unlockin g th e doors o r the
tailgat e wit h th e ke y o r the remote
transmitte r turn s of f th e system .
Yo u ca n als o tur n th e ignitio n
switc h to the ACCESSOR Y
position .
Doin g any o f the above wil l als o
rese t a n alarmin g syste m befor e
th e thre e minute s hav e elapsed. Th
e digita l cloc k display s th e tim e
a t al l times , regardles s o f ignitio n
switc h position . T
o se t th e time :
Press an d hol d th e H butto n t o
se t th e hours . Th e number s wil l
advanc e rapidly . Release th e
butto n whe n th e desire d tim e i s
reached .
Press an d hol d th e M butto n t o
se t th e minutes . Th e number s
wil l advanc e rapidly . Release
th e butto n whe n th e desire d
tim e i s reached .
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s
Digita
l Cloc k
HOUR
MINUT
E

Yo
u ma y driv e you r ne w vehicl e
fro m its ver y firs t mile/kilomete r
withou t followin g a forma l
"break-in " schedule. However ,
ther e ar e thing s yo u ca n d o durin g
th e firs t fe w hundre d miles /
kilometer s o f drivin g tha t wil l ad d
t o th e futur e performanc e an d
econom y o f you r vehicle.
I t i s recommende d tha t you r speed
durin g th e firs t 50 0 mile s (80 0
kilometers ) b e limite d to a
maximu m o f 5 5 mp h (9 0 km/h )
an d tha t yo u d o no t driv e fo r lon g
period s a t an y one constant speed,
eithe r fas t o r slow . Durin g thi s
period , avoi d full-throttl e start s
and , i f possible , avoi d har d stops ;
especiall y durin g th e firs t 20 0
mile s (32 0 kilometers ) o f driving .
Alway s driv e a t moderate speed
unti l th e engin e ha s completel y
warme d up .
Parkin
g
Whe n leavin g you r vehicl e
unattended :
Set
th e parkin g brake . Place
th e shif t leve r i n "P "
(Park ) positio n fo r automati c
transmission .
Whe
n parkin g a vehicl e equippe d
wit h a manua l transmissio n o n a n
upwar d slope , o r o n a leve l
surface , plac e th e shif t leve r i n
th e "1st " position . Whe
n parkin g a vehicl e
equippe d wit h a manua l
transmissio n o n a downwar d
slope , plac e the shif t leve r i n
th e "R " (Reverse ) position . Tur
n the ke y t o th e "LOCK "
position .
Remov
e th e key . Th e beeper
wil l remin d you . Clos
e al l window s an d loc k al l
doors .
Chec
k to mak e certai n th e
light s ar e turne d off . Th e
beeper wil l remin d you . I
f you r vehicl e is equippe d wit h
a transfe r case (4WD) , mak e
sur e th e shif t leve r i s in 4 H o r
4L .
Parkin g Tip s
Neve
r driv e th e vehicl e wit h
th e parkin g brak e set . Thi s ca n
overhea t th e rea r brakes ,
reducin g thei r effectivenes s an d
causin g excessiv e wea r o r
damage .
Alway
s appl y th e parkin g brak e
wheneve r yo u leav e th e vehicle ,
whethe r i t i s equippe d wit h a
manua l o r automati c transmission .
Drivin g Tip s
Ne
w Vehicl e Break-I n

I
f you r vehicl e i s equippe d wit h
a n automati c transmission , se t
th e parkin g brak e befor e yo u
leav e th e driver' s seat . I f th e
vehicl e is parke d o n a grad e
an d th e transmissio n shif t leve r
i s place d in "P " (Park ) positio n
befor e yo u se t th e parkin g
brake , th e weigh t o f th e vehicl e
ma y exer t s o muc h forc e o n th e
transmissio n tha t yo u ma y hav e
difficult y movin g th e shif t
leve r ou t o f "P " (Park )
position . T o preven t this , appl y
th e parkin g brak e BEFOR E
movin g th e shif t leve r t o "P "
(Park) . Whe n yo u wan t t o driv e
away , mov e th e shif t leve r ou t
o f th e "P " (Park ) positio n
BEFOR E releasin g th e parkin g
brake . I t i s goo d drivin g
practic e t o se t th e parkin g
brak e first , the n plac e th e
transmissio n i n "PARK " position
, eve n o n leve l
surfaces .
I
f th e parkin g brak e doe s no t
see m to hol d th e vehicl e a s
wel l a s before , hav e th e vehicl e
service d b y you r Hond a dealer .
D o no t par k you r vehicl e ove r
hig h grass , dr y leave s o r othe r
combustibl e materials . Th e
catalyti c converte r get s ver y
ho t an d coul d se t fir e to thes e
materials .
Anti-Loc
k Brake s
You r vehicl e ha s a n Anti-loc k
Brak e Syste m (ABS ) a s standar d
equipment . AB S help s t o preven t
th e wheel s fro m lockin g u p an d
skiddin g durin g har d braking ,
allowin g yo u t o retai n steerin g
control .
Whe n th e fron t tire s skid , yo u
los e steerin g control ; th e vehicl e
continue s straigh t ahea d eve n
thoug h yo u tur n th e steerin g
wheel . Th e AB S help s t o preven t
lock-u p an d retai n steerin g contro l
b y pumpin g th e brake s rapidly ;
muc h faste r tha n a perso n ca n d o it .
Yo u shoul d neve r pum p th e
brak e pedal , thi s defeat s th e
purpos e o f th e ABS . Le t th e AB S
wor k fo r yo u b y alway s keepin g
firm , stead y pressur e o n th e brak e
peda l a s yo u stee r awa y fro m th e
Drivin g Tip s
Brake
s

hazard
. Thi s is sometime s referre d
t o a s "stomp and steer."
Yo u wil l fee l a pulsatio n in th e
brak e peda l whe n th e AB S
activates , an d yo u ma y hea r som e
noise . Thi s i s normal , i t i s th e
AB S rapidl y pumpin g th e brakes .
Activatio n varie s wit h th e amount
o f tractio n you r tire s have . O n dr y
pavement , yo u wil l nee d to pres s
o n th e brak e peda l ver y har d
befor e yo u activat e th e ABS .
However , yo u ma y fee l th e AB S
activat e immediatel y i f yo u ar e
tryin g t o sto p o n sno w o r ice .
Important Safety Reminders
AB S doe s no t reduc e th e tim e
o r distanc e i t take s t o sto p th e
vehicle , i t onl y help s wit h steerin g
contro l durin g braking . Yo u
shoul d alway s maintai n a saf e followin
g distanc e fro m othe r
vehicles .
AB S wil l no t preven t a ski d tha t
result s fro m changin g directio n
abruptly , suc h a s tryin g to tak e a
corne r to o fas t o r makin g a
sudde n lan e change . Alway s driv e
a t a safe , pruden t spee d fo r th e
roa d an d weathe r conditions .
AB S canno t preven t a los s o f
stability . Alway s stee r moderatel y
whe n yo u ar e brakin g hard .
Sever e o r shar p steerin g whee l
movemen t ca n stil l caus e you r
vehicl e t o vee r int o oncomin g
traffi c o r of f th e road .
A vehicl e wit h AB S ma y requir e
a longe r distanc e t o sto p o n
loos e o r uneve n surfaces , suc h a s
grave l o r snow , tha n a vehicl e
withou t anti-lock . Slo w dow n an d allo
w a greate r distanc e betwee n
vehicle s unde r thos e conditions .
AB S Indicato r
Th e AB S is self-checking . Yo u
ma y fee l a sligh t movemen t o f th e
brak e peda l jus t afte r yo u star t th e
engine . Thi s i s th e AB S performin g
a check . I t als o check s itsel f
wheneve r yo u us e th e brakes .
Drivin g Tip s

I
f anythin g goe s wrong , th e AB S
indicato r o n th e instrumen t pane l
come s o n (se e pag e 67 ). Thi s
mean s th e anti-loc k functio n of
th e brakin g syste m ha s shu t down .
Th e brake s stil l wor k lik e a
conventiona l syste m withou t
anti-lock , providin g norma l
stoppin g ability . Yo u shoul d hav e
th e deale r inspec t you r vehicl e a s
soo n a s possibl e i f thi s ligh t stay s
o n afte r yo u star t th e engine , o r
come s o n whil e driving .
Drivin
g Wit h We t Brake s
Drivin g throug h dee p wate r ma y
ge t th e brake s we t an d reduc e
thei r effectiveness . A s a result , th e
vehicl e ma y no t slo w dow n
normall y o r ma y pul l i n on e
directio n o r th e other .
I f yo u driv e throug h dee p water ,
appl y th e brake s lightl y t o se e i f
th e wate r ha s affecte d them . T o
dr y th e brake s quickly , pres s
lightl y o n th e brak e peda l whil e
maintainin g th e sam e spee d wit h
th e accelerato r pedal . Continu e
thi s unti l th e brake s operat e
normally .
Powe
r Brake s
Th e brakin g syste m use s engin e
vacuu m to provid e powe r assist . I f
th e powe r assis t fail s becaus e o f a
stalle d engin e o r othe r reason , th e
reserv e vacuu m in th e syste m wil l
usuall y allo w yo u t o appl y th e
brake s a t leas t on e time .
Th e reserv e vacuu m is partl y use d
u p eac h tim e th e brak e peda l i s
applie d an d released . D o no t
pum p th e brake s whe n th e powe r
assis t ha s bee n lost , excep t whe n
neede d t o maintai n steerin g
contro l o n slipper y surfaces .
Yo u ca n stil l sto p th e vehicl e
withou t th e powe r assis t b y pushin g
harde r o n th e brak e pedal .
However , th e stoppin g distanc e
ma y b e longer , eve n thoug h th e
brake s themselve s remai n full y
operational .
Drivin g Tip s