
int
o th e buckle , an d tu g o n th e
bel t t o mak e sur e th e bel t i s
securel y  latched .
Positio n th e bel t a s lo w a s
possibl e  acros s you r hips . Thi s
let s  you r stron g pelvi c  bone s  tak e
th e forc e o f a  cras h  an d  reduce s
th e  chanc e  o f interna l injuries .
Pul l  o n th e  loos e  en d  o f th e bel t
fo r  a  snu g bu t comfortabl e fit . If
 a Seat Belt Doesn't Work
Properly
I f a   sea t bel t  doe s  no t  see m to
wor k a s i t should ,  i t ma y no t
protec t th e occupan t i n  a  crash .
No   one   should  sit  in  a  seat   with
a n   inoperative   seat belt.   Anyon e
usin g a   sea t bel t  tha t  i s  no t
workin g properl y  ca n  b e  seriousl y
injure d  o r killed .  Hav e  you r
Hond a  deale r  chec k  th e bel t  a s
soo n a s possible .
See   pag e 4 1   fo r  additiona l
informatio n  abou t  you r  sea t  bel t
syste m  an d  ho w  to  tak e  car e  o f
you r  belts .
 6
. Adjus t th e Steerin g Whee l
Adjus t  th e  steerin g wheel , i f
needed , s o tha t th e whee l point s
towar d you r chest ,  no t towar d
you r face .
Pointin g th e steerin g whee l
towar d you r  ches t provide s
optima l protectio n fro m th e
airbag .
See   pag e 11 5 fo r ho w to adjus t th e
steerin g wheel .
Drive r an d  Passenge r Safet y 

Infant
 Seat Installation   Tips
Fo r prope r protection ,  a n infan t
mus t rid e i n a  reclined , o r
semi-recline d position . T o
determin e  th e  prope r reclinin g
angle ,  chec k wit h  th e baby' s
doctor ,  o r follo w  th e  sea t  maker' s
recommendations .
T o  achiev e  th e  desire d reclinin g
angle ,  i t ma y  hel p t o pu t  a  rolled -
u p   towe l  unde r th e  to e  o f th e chil d
seat , a s shown .
 Protectin
g Smal l Childre n
Child  Seat TypeA  child  wh o  ca n  si t  u p  withou t
support ,  an d  wh o  fit s  withi n  th e
chil d  sea t  maker' s  weigh t  an d
heigh t  limits ,  shoul d  b e  restraine d
i n   a   forward-facing ,  uprigh t  chil d
seat .
 O
f th e  differen t  seat s  available ,
w e recommen d thos e tha t hav e  a
five-poin t harnes s syste m as
shown .
W e als o recommen d tha t a  smal l
chil d sta y i n th e chil d  sea t a s lon g
a s possible , unti l th e chil d reache s
th e weigh t o r heigh t limi t fo r  th e
seat.
Child  Seat Placement
I n  thi s vehicle ,  th e  bes t  plac e t o
instal l  a  forward-facin g chil d  sea t
i s   i n  on e  o f th e  seatin g position s
i n   th e  bac k seat.
Placing   a forward-facing   child
seat  in the front seat of a vehicle
equipped  with a passenger's
airbag  can be hazardous.  If th e
vehicl e seat   is  to o  fa r  forward ,  o r
th e  child' s head   is  throw n  forwar d
durin g  a   collision ,  a n  inflatin g
passenger's   airbag  ca n  strike   the
Drive r an d  Passenge r Safet y 

th
e syste m repaire d if th e ligh t
doe s no t com e o n whe n th e ke y i s
turne d t o th e "ON " positio n
withou t th e engin e runnin g o r
whe n th e parkin g brak e is set .
Thi s ligh t doe s no t eliminat e th e
nee d fo r brak e inspectio n an d
maintenance . Th e brak e flui d
leve l mus t b e checke d regularly .
Se e th e maintenanc e sectio n o f
thi s manua l fo r othe r brak e
checks .
I f th e ligh t remain s o n  afte r
engin e star t u p wit h th e parkin g
brak e released , o r come s o n
durin g operatio n o f th e vehicle , i t
ma y mea n tha t ther e is  somethin g
wron g wit h th e brak e system .
What  to do?
1 .  Chec k t o  se e if th e parkin g
brak e  ha s  bee n full y  released .
2
.  I f i t  has , pul l of f th e roa d  an d
sto p carefully .  Remembe r that :
Stoppin g distance s ma y b e
longer . Yo
u ma y  hav e t o  pus h
harde r o n th e pedal .
Th e peda l  ma y  g o dow n
farthe r tha n normal .
3 .  Hav e  th e vehicl e towe d t o  th e
neares t  Hond a  deale r fo r
repair .
D o  no t continu e t o driv e wit h  th e
brak e syste m ligh t on .  Ther e  ma y
b e a  seriou s proble m wit h th e
brakin g system . Drivin g unde r
thi s conditio n is hazardou s  an d
coul d lea d t o a n accident .
Th e brak e  syste m ligh t  doe s no t
indicat e  tha t  th e parkin g brak e  i s
full y  set .  Whe n applyin g th e
parkin g brake ,  alway s pul l i t u p a s
fa r a s possible .
 Hig
h Bea m
Th e headligh t hig h bea m indicato r
light s u p whe n th e headlight s ar e
o n hig h beam .
Chargin g Syste m
Thi s ligh t shoul d  com e  o n whe n
th e ke y i s turne d t o th e "ON "
positio n an d th e  alternato r i s  no t
charging .  Th e ligh t ma y  sta y o n a t
engin e idle ; however , i t shoul d g o
of f an d  sta y  of f  abov e  th e norma l
engin e idl e  speed .  I f th e ligh t
come s o n whil e driving ,  th e
chargin g syste m shoul d b e
checke d a t onc e s o th e batter y wil l
no t completel y discharge .  Sto p th e
engine ,  an d chec k fo r a  broke n
driv e  belt .  I f i t  i s broken ,  o r i f th e
driv e bel t i s  no t  responsibl e fo r
th e  trouble ,  hav e you r Hond a
deale r inspec t  an d correc t th e
fault .  I f th e  driv e  bel t i s broken ,
Instrument s an d Control s 

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.
Reduce d Powe r
Indicato r
Thi s ligh t  come s o n fo r a  fe w
seconds  when yo u tur n  th e  ke y t o
th e "ON " positio n
I f  i t  come s  o n  a t  an y  othe r time ,  i t
indicate s tha t ther e  is a  proble m in
th e  throttl e  "drive-by-wire "
system . Wit h th e ligh t on ,  you r
vehicl e goes  into "lim p  home "
mod e —  the  engin e  run s  o n  thre e
cylinders ,  an d th e  accelerato r
peda l  n o  longe r control s  engin e
speed .
 A
s soo n a s i t i s  safe , pul l of f th e
roa d an d tur n of f th e engine .
Restar t th e engin e to  rese t th e
system . I f th e ligh t remain s on , o r
come s o n agai n whil e driving ,
hav e th e vehicl e towe d to  you r
Hond a deale r fo r repair .
Tur n  Signa l
Indicator s
A  gree n ligh t flashin g o n th e
instrumen t pane l let s yo u kno w
tha t th e fron t an d rea r tur n signa l
light s  ar e working .  I f th e ligh t
stay s o n an d doe s no t  flash ,  chec k
fo r a  burne d ou t bulb . I f ther e is
n o  ligh t whe n th e leve r i s  moved ,
chec k th e fus e an d bulb .
Wheneve r th e Hazar d Warnin g
Flashe r Switc h is  on , bot h tur n
signal s wil l flash . Lo
w Fue l Indicato r
Thi s ligh t  come s o n whe n th e tan k
become s nearl y  empty . Fil l u p  th e
tan k a s soo n a s possible .
I f  th e  lo w  fue l  indicato r ligh t
come s o n whe n th e fue l tan k is
no t nearl y empty ,  hav e  th e fue l
tan k sensin g uni t  an d relate d
component s inspecte d  an d
repaire d b y  you r Hond a  dealer .
Drivin g o n a  roa d wit h man y
shar p curve s ma y  caus e  th e fue l
indicato r ligh t  t o blin k
intermittently . Thi s i s normal .
Lo w Oi l
Pressur e Indicato r
Thi s ligh t i s  designe d to  com e o n
t o  provid e a  "bul b check " whe n
th e ke y is  turne d to  th e "ON "
position , bu t shoul d g o ou t afte r
Instrument s an d  Control s
NOTIC
E
REDUCE D
POWE R 

Chec
k Automati c
Transmissio n Indicato r
Th e indicato r ligh t come s o n fo r a
fe w second s whe n th e ignitio n
switc h is  turne d to  th e "ON "
position .
I f th e  ligh t flashes , i t  mean s  th e
compute r  controllin g  th e
transmissio n ha s foun d a  problem .
Hav e  th e  automati c transmissio nchecke
d b y  you r Hond a  deale r  a s
soo n a s possible . Yo u ca n safel y
driv e  th e vehicl e whil e  th e  ligh t i s
flashing , bu t  th e  compute r  ma y
pu t  th e  transmissio n int o it s
"backu p  mode. "
I n   th e backu p mode ,  th e
transmissio n  ma y  no t  shif t
automatically .  I f th e  transmissio n
does   not  shif t automatically , yo u
mus t  mov e  th e shif t  leve r t o
chang e  gears.   This  char t show s
th e shif t  Sever  positio n an d th e
gear   rang e  tha t wil l  result . "L
"  positio n  Firs t  gea r "2
"  positio n  Thir d  gea r "3
"  positio n  Fourt h gea r "D
" positio n  Fourt h  gea r
 Whe
n th e transmissio n is  i n
backu p mod e an d doe s no t shif t
automatically , yo u shoul d mov e
th e  selecto r leve r t o  th e
appropriate  position fo r you r
drivin g needs , a s follows :
Select  "3" o r "D " fo r hig h spee d
drivin g (ove r 5 0 mph , 8 0 km/h) .
Selec t "2 " fo r moderat e speed
drivin g (betwee n 1 5 mp h [2 5
km/h ]  an d  5 0  mp h  [8 0  km/h]) .
Selec t "L " whe n startin g fro m a
stop , drivin g u p o r dow n a  stee p
hill ,  o r fo r  engin e brakin g whe n
towin g a  traile r downhill .
D o no t excee d 6 5 mp h (4 5 mp h if
towin g a  trailer) .
Instrument s  an d  Control s 

an
d th e forwar d drivin g ranges .
Th e shif t leve r ca n b e shifte d
freel y int o an y positio n  indicate d b
y th e arro w
  Th e leve r
canno t b e shifte d int o an y positio n
 indicate
d b y th e arro w
withou t pushin g th e butto n
locate d o n th e en d o f th e shif t
lever .
 I
n  this  4-spee d automati c
transmission , th e followin g thre e
mode s ca n b e selecte d b y pressin g
th e "POWER " o r "WINTER "
switc h o n th e floo r console , wit h
th e ke y switc h in  th e "ON "
position :
 NORMA
L mod e POWE
R mod e WINTE
R mod e
P  (Park ) —  Use d t o loc k th e
transmissio n whe n th e vehicl e is
parke d o r whil e startin g th e
engine . Neve r mov e th e shif t leve r
t o  Par k unti l you r vehicl e is full y
stopped . Us e this  positio n
togethe r wit h th e parkin g brake .
Th e shif t leve r ca n b e move d fro m
PAR K positio n if th e  regula r brak e
i s  applied .
Refe r t o  "Starting " i n  thi s section .
R (Reverse) — Used for backing
the vehicle . Brin g you r vehicl e t o
a  complet e sto p befor e shiftin g to
Reverse .
N   (Neutral ) —  Th e  out-of-gea r
position . Yo u ma y restar t a  stalle d
engin e whil e  th e vehicl e is stil l
movin g wit h th e  selecto r i n
Neutral . Refe r t o "Starting " i n  thi s
section . Thi s positio n is  als o use d
whe n towin g th e vehicle .  Se e "I n
Cas e  o f Emergency " fo r towin g
information .
D  (Drive ) (Firs t t o  Fourt h
Gear ) —  Thi s positio n is  fo r al l
norma l forwar d driving . Fo r
norma l driving , w e recommen d
tha t yo u pu t th e shif t leve r i n  th e
"D " range . Thi s wil l reduc e
vehicl e nois e an d improv e fue l
economy .
Instrument s an d  Control s 

1
.  Chec k tha t  th e parkin g brak e
i s  full y  applied .
2 .  Tur n  th e  ke y  switc h t o "ACC "
position .
3 .  Mov e  th e shif t  leve r fro m "P "
t o  "N " position ,  depres s  th e
brak e pedal ,  an d star t th e
engin e  again .
4 .  Operat e  th e  shif t  lever .
Hav e  th e  transmissio n  checke d b y
you r Hond a deale r  a s soo n  a s
possible .
 Drivin
g Tip s
Befor e goin g dow n a  stee p o r lon g
grade , reduc e spee d an d shif t th e
transmissio n int o  a  lowe r gea r o r
rang e t o contro l th e vehicle' s
speed . Thi s wil l provid e engin e
brakin g t o hel p slo w th e vehicle .
Tr y no t t o hol d th e brak e peda l
dow n to o lon g o r to o often . Thi s
coul d  caus e th e brake s t o ge t ho t
an d no t wor k properly .
Downshiftin g t o a  lowe r gea r i s
especiall y  importan t whe n towin g
a  traile r i n mountainou s terrain .
D o no t hol d th e vehicl e o n a  hil l
b y pressin g o n th e  accelerator .  D o
no t pres s o n th e  accelerato r peda l
an d brak e peda l a t th e sam e time .
Eithe r of  thes e  action s  ca n
overhea t th e  automati c
transmissio n an d caus e damage . Alway
s  kee p  you r foo t  of f th e
accelerato r peda l whe n shiftin g
fro m "P " o r "N " t o anothe r gear .
D o no t shif t t o "P " (Park ) whe n
th e vehicl e is moving ; yo u coul d
damag e th e automati c
transmission . Alway s com e t o a
complet e stop .
B e carefu l tha t yo u d o no t  excee d
th e followin g maximu m allowabl e
speed s whe n accelerating .
Instrument s an d Control s 

The
y  ar e  mos t effectiv e whe n yo u
adjus t  the m  s o  th e  bac k o f th e
occupant' s  hea d  rest s  agains t th e
cente r  o f th e  restraint .  A  talle r
perso n shoul d  adjus t  th e  restrain t
a s hig h a s possible . Pus
h  th e loc k kno b  t o unloc k th e
hea d restraint .  Mov e  th e  restrain t
u p  o r dow n a s required .
Adjus t  th e  hea d  restrain t befor e
yo u  star t driving . Tryin g t o  adjus t
i t  whil e  drivin g coul d  caus e  yo u
t o   los e  contro l  o f th e vehicle .
T o remov e  a  hea d restrain t fo r
cleanin g o r repair , pus h th e
releas e butto n an d pul l th e
restrain t  ou t  o f th e  seat-back .
 Rea
r  Sea t
Th e  rea r sea t ca n b e folde d
forwar d  t o provid e  additiona l
carg o  area .
Foldin g
1 .  Pul l  th e stra p towar d th e
outsid e  o f th e  sea t  an d fol d th e
sea t cushio n up .
Seat s
 Pul
l th e
strap .
Pus
h  t o
releas e
th e  lock .