Tire
s
Snow Tires
I f yo u moun t sno w tire s o n you r
Honda , mak e sur e the y ar e radia l
tire s o f th e sam e siz e an d loa d rang e
a s th e origina l tires . Moun t sno w
tire s o n al l fou r wheel s t o balanc e
you r vehicle' s handlin g in al l weathe r
conditions . Kee p i n min d th e tractio n
provide d b y sno w tire s o n dr y road s
ma y no t b e a s hig h a s you r vehicle' s
origina l equipmen t tires . Yo u shoul d
driv e cautiousl y eve n whe n th e road s
ar e clear . Chec k wit h th e tir e deale r
fo r maximu m spee d recommenda -
tions .
Tire Chains
Becaus e you r Hond a ha s limite d tir e
clearance , moun t onl y SA E Clas s "S "
cable-typ e tractio n device s o n th e
rea r tires . Us e tractio n device s onl y
whe n require d b y drivin g condition s
o r loca l laws . Mak e sur e the y ar e th e
correc t siz e fo r you r tires .
Meta l link-typ e "chains " shoul d no t
b e used . N o matte r ho w tigh t the y
see m to b e installed , the y ca n com e
int o contac t wit h th e bod y an d
suspension , causin g seriou s damage .
Whe n installin g cables , follo w th e
manufacturer' s instruction s an d
moun t the m as tightl y a s yo u can .
Driv e slowl y wit h the m installed . I f
yo u hea r the m comin g in contac t
wit h th e bod y o r chassis , sto p an d
investigate . Mak e sur e th e cable s ar e
installe d tightly , an d tha t the y ar e
no t contactin g th e brak e line s o r
suspension .
Remov e the m as soo n a s yo u begi n drivin
g o n cleare d roads .
Cables that are the wrong size or
improperly installed can damage your
car's brake lines, suspension, body, and
wheels. Stop driving if they are hitting
any part of the car.
Maintenanc e
NOTIC
E
Storin
g You r Ca r
I f yo u nee d t o par k you r ca r fo r a n
extende d perio d (mor e tha n on e
month) , ther e ar e severa l thing s yo u
shoul d d o t o prepar e i t fo r storage .
Prope r preparatio n help s preven t
deterioratio n an d make s i t easie r t o
ge t you r ca r bac k o n th e road . I f
possible , stor e you r ca r indoors . Fil
l th e fue l tank . Chang
e th e engin e oi l an d filte r
(se e pag e 159 ).
Was h an d dr y th e exterio r
completely .
Clea n th e interior . Mak e sur e th e
carpeting , floo r mats , etc . ar e
completel y dry . Rais
e th e convertibl e to p cover . Leav
e th e parkin g brak e off . Pu t
th e transmissio n i n Reverse . Bloc
k th e rea r wheels .
I f th e ca r i s t o b e store d fo r a
longe r period , i t shoul d b e
supporte d o n jackstand s s o th e
tire s ar e of f th e ground . Leav
e on e windo w ope n slightl y (i f
th e ca r i s bein g store d indoors) . Disconnec
t th e battery .
Suppor t th e fron t wipe r blad e
arm s wit h a folde d towe l o r ra g s o
the y d o no t touc h th e windshield . T
o minimiz e sticking , appl y a
silicon e spra y lubrican t t o al l doo r
an d trun k seals . Also , appl y a
vehicl e bod y wa x t o th e painte d
surface s tha t mat e wit h th e doo r
an d trun k seals . Cove
r th e ca r wit h a "breathable "
cover , on e mad e fro m a porou s
materia l suc h a s cotton .
Nonporou s materials , suc h a s
plasti c sheeting , tra p moisture ,
whic h ca n damag e th e paint . I
f possible , ru n th e engin e fo r a
whil e periodicall y (preferabl y onc e
a month) .
I f yo u stor e you r ca r fo r 1 2 month s
o r longer , hav e you r Hond a deale r
perfor m th e inspection s calle d fo r i n
th e 2 4 months/30,00 0 mile s (48,00 0
km ) maintenanc e schedul e a s soo n
a s yo u tak e it ou t o f storag e (se e
pag e 14 8). Th e replacement s calle d
fo r i n th e maintenanc e schedul e ar e
no t neede d unles s th e ca r ha s
actuall y reache d tha t tim e o r mileage .
Maintenanc e
Appearanc
e Car e
Regula r cleanin g an d polishin g o f
you r Hond a help s t o kee p it "new "
looking . Thi s sectio n give s yo u hint s
o n ho w to clea n you r ca r an d
preserv e it s appearance : th e paint ,
brightwork , wheel s an d interior . Als o
include d ar e severa l thing s yo u ca n
d o to hel p preven t corrosion . Exterio
r Care................................. . 20 4
Washing..................................... . 20 4
Waxing....................................... 205
Aluminu m Wheels.................... . 20 6
Pain t Touch-up.......................... . 20 6
Interio r Care.................................. . 20
7
Carpeting................................... . 20
7
Floo r Mats................................. .
20
7
Fabric.........................................
208
Vinyl...........................................
20 8
Leather.......................................
208
Rea r Window.............................
208
Sea t Belts...................................
20
8
Windows.................................... .
209
Ai r Fresheners.......................... .
209
Corrosio n Protection.................... .
209
Bod y Repairs................................. .
211
Appearanc e Car e
Exterio
r Car e
Aluminu m Wheel s
Clea n you r Acura' s aluminu m allo y
wheel s a s yo u d o th e res t o f th e
exterior . Was h the m wit h th e sam e
solution , an d rins e the m thoroughly .
Th e wheel s hav e a protectiv e clear -
coa t tha t keep s th e aluminu m fro m
corrodin g an d tarnishing . Usin g
hars h chemicals , includin g som e
commercia l whee l cleaners , o r stif f
brushe s ca n damag e thi s clear-coat .
Onl y us e a mil d detergen t an d sof t
brus h o r spong e to clea n th e wheels .
Pain
t Touch-u p
You r deale r ha s touch-u p pain t t o
matc h you r car' s color . Th e colo r
cod e is printe d o n a sticke r o n th e
driver' s doorjamb . Tak e thi s cod e t o
you r deale r so yo u ar e sur e to ge t
th e correc t color . Inspec
t you r ca r frequentl y fo r chip s
o r scratche s i n th e paint . Repai r
the m righ t awa y t o preven t corrosio n
o f th e meta l underneath . Us e th e
touch-u p pain t onl y o n smal l chip s
an d scratches . Mor e extensiv e pain t
damag e shoul d b e repaire d b y a
professional .
Appearanc e Car e
Corrosio
n Protectio n
Man y corrosion-preventiv e measure s
ar e buil t int o you r Honda . Yo u ca n
hel p kee p you r ca r fro m corrodin g
b y performin g som e simpl e periodi c
maintenance :
Repai r chip s an d scratche s in th e
pain t a s soo n a s yo u discove r them . Inspec
t an d clea n ou t th e drai n
hole s i n th e botto m o f th e door s
an d body . Chec
k th e floo r covering s fo r
dampness . Carpetin g an d floo r
mat s ma y remai n dam p fo r a lon g
time , especiall y in winter . Thi s
dampnes s ca n eventuall y caus e
th e floo r panel s t o corrode . Us
e a high-pressur e spra y t o clea n
th e undersid e o f you r car . Thi s i s
especiall y importan t i n area s tha t
us e roa d sal t i n winter . I t i s als o a
goo d ide a in humi d climate s an d
area s subjec t t o sal t air . B e carefu l
o f th e AB S whee l sensor s an d
wirin g a t eac h wheel . Hav
e th e corrosion-preventiv e
coating s o n th e undersid e o f you r
ca r inspecte d an d repaire d
periodically .
Appearanc e Car e
Compac
t Spar e Tir e
You r ca r ha s a compac t spar e tir e
tha t take s u p les s space . Us e thi s
spar e tir e a s a temporar y replace -
men t only . Ge t you r regula r tir e
repaire d o r replace d an d pu t i t bac k
o n you r ca r a s soo n a s yo u can .
Chec k th e inflatio n pressur e o f th e
compac t spar e tir e ever y tim e yo u
chec k th e othe r tires . I t shoul d b e
inflate d to :60 ps i (42 0 kP a , 4. 2 kgf/cm 2)
Follo w thes e precaution s wheneve r
yo u ar e usin g th e compac t spar e tire : D
o no t excee d 5 0 mp h (8 0 km/h )
unde r an y circumstances . Thi
s tir e give s a harshe r rid e an d
les s tractio n o n som e roa d sur -
face s tha n th e regula r tire . Us e
greate r cautio n whil e drivin g o n
thi s tire . D
o no t moun t sno w chain s o n th e
compac t spare . Th
e whee l o f th e compac t spar e
tir e i s designe d especiall y t o fi t
you r car . D o no t us e you r spar e
tir e o n anothe r vehicl e unles s i t i s
th e sam e mak e an d model . INDICATO
R LOCATIO N MAR K
Th e compac t spar e tir e ha s a shorte r
trea d lif e tha n a regula r tire . Replac e
i t whe n yo u ca n se e th e trea d wea r
indicato r bars . Th e replacemen t
shoul d b e th e sam e siz e an d desig n
tire , mounte d o n th e sam e wheel .
Th e compac t spar e tir e is no t
designe d to b e mounte d o n a regula r
wheel , an d th e compac t whee l i s no t
designe d fo r mountin g a regula r tire .
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d TREA
D WEA R INDICATO R BA R
Brak
e Syste m Indicato r
Th e Brak e Syste m Indicato r
normall y come s o n whe n yo u tur n
th e ignitio n switc h O N (II) . I t i s a
reminde r t o chec k th e parkin g brake .
I t come s o n an d stay s li t i f yo u d o no t
full y releas e th e parkin g brake . I
f i t come s o n a t an y othe r time , i t
indicate s a proble m wit h th e car' s
brak e system . I n mos t cases , th e
proble m is a lo w flui d leve l i n th e
brak e flui d reservoir . Pres s lightl y o n
th e brak e peda l t o se e if i t feel s
normal . I f i t does , chec k th e brak e
flui d leve l th e nex t tim e yo u sto p a t a
servic e statio n (se e pag e 17 0). I f th e
flui d leve l i s low , tak e th e ca r t o you r
deale r an d hav e th e brak e syste m
inspecte d fo r leak s o r wor n brak e
pads .
However , i f th e brak e peda l doe s no t
fee l normal , yo u shoul d tak e
immediat e action . Becaus e o f th e
brak e system' s dual-circui t design , a
proble m in on e par t o f th e syste m
wil l stil l giv e yo u brakin g a t tw o
wheels . Yo u wil l fee l th e brak e peda l
g o clow n muc h farthe r befor e th e ca r
begin s t o slo w clown , an d yo u wil l
hav e t o pres s harde r o n th e pedal .
Th e distanc e neede d to sto p wil l b e
muc h longer . Slo
w dow n b y shiftin g to a lowe r
gear , an d pul l t o th e sid e o f th e roa d
whe n it i s safe . Becaus e o f th e
longe r distanc e neede d to stop , i t i s
hazardou s t o driv e th e car . Yo u
shoul d hav e it towed , an d repaire d a s
soo n a s possible .
I f yo u mus t driv e th e ca r a shor t
distanc e in thi s condition , driv e
slowl y an d cautiously .
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
BRAK
E SYSTE M INDICATO R
Emergenc
y Towin g
I f you r ca r need s t o b e towed , cal l a
professiona l towin g servic e or , i f yo u
belon g to one , a n organizatio n tha t
provide s roadsid e assistance . Neve r
to w you r ca r behin d anothe r vehicl e
wit h jus t a rop e o r chain . I t i s ver y
dangerous .
Ther e ar e thre e popula r type s o f
professiona l towin g equipment .Flat-bed Equipment — Th
e operato r
load s you r vehicl e o n th e bac k o f a
truck . Thi s i s th e onl y wa y you r
S200 0 shoul d b e transported .
Whe n yo u contac t th e towin g agency ,
infor m the m tha t yo u hav e a n S200 0
an d tha t a flat-be d is required . Wheel Lift Equipment — Th
e to w
truc k use s tw o pivotin g arm s tha t g o
unde r th e tire s (fron t o r rear ) an d lif t
the m of f th e ground . Th e othe r tw o
tire s remai n o n th e ground . Becaus e
th e S200 0 sit s s o low , th e bod y coul d
com e i n contac t wit h th e groun d an d
b e damaged . Thi s metho d o f
towin g is unacceptable .
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d