Maintenanc
e
Thi s sectio n explain s wh y i t i s
importan t t o kee p you r ca r wel l
maintaine d an d to 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 26 3 fo r informatio n o n ho w to
obtai n a copy , o r se e you r Hond a
dealer .
Maintenanc
e Safety...................... . 14 4
Importan t Safet y Precautions. . 14 5
Maintenanc e Schedule................. . 14 6
Require d Maintenanc e Record... . 15 3
Owne r Maintenanc e Checks....... . 15 5
Flui d Locations.............................. . 15 6
Engin e Oil...................................... . 15 7
Addin g Oil.................................. . 15 7
Recommende d Oil.................... . 15 7
Syntheti c Oil.............................. . 15 8
Additives.................................... . 15 8
Changin g th e Oi l an d Filter..... . 15 9
Cooling System............................. . 16 1
Addin g Engin e Coolant............ . 16 1
Replacin g Engin e Coolant....... . 16 3
Windshiel d Washers.................... . 16 7
6-spee d Manua l Transmissio n
Fluid........................................... . 16 8
Differentia l Fluid.......................... . 16 9
Brak e an d Clutc h Fluid................ . 17 0
Brak e Fluid................................. 170
Brak e System............................ . 17 0
Clutc h System........................... . 17 1
Ai r Cleane r Element..................... . 17 2
Hoo d Latch.................................... . 17 4 Spar
k Plugs.................................... . 17 4
Replacement.............................. . 17 4
Specifications............................ . 17 6
Battery........................................... . 17 7
Wipe r Blades................................. . 18 0
Ai r Conditionin g System.............. . 18 2
Ai r Conditionin g Filter................. . 18 3
Driv e Belt....................................... . 18 4
Tires............................................... . 18 5
Inflation....................................... 185
Inspection.................................. . 18 7
Maintenance.............................. . 18 8
Tir e Rotation............................. . 18 8
Tir e Wear................................... . 18 8
Replacin g Tire s an d Wheel s ... . 18 9
Wheel s an d Tires...................... . 19 0
Winte r Driving.......................... . 19 0
Sno w Tires............................. . 19 1
Tir e Chains............................ . 19 1
Lights............................................. . 19 2
Replacin g Bulbs........................ . 19 4
Storin g You r Car........................... . 20 2
Maintenanc 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
Warrant
y Coverage s
U.S . Owner s
You r ne w Hond a is covere d b y thes e
warranties :
New Car Limited Warranty — covers
you r ne w vehicle , excep t fo r th e
battery , emission s contro l system s
an d accessories , agains t defect s in
material s an d workmanship .
Emissions Control Systems Defects
Warranty and Emissions
Performance Warranty — these tw o
warrantie s cove r you r car' s emis -
sion s contro l systems . Time , mileage ,
an d coverag e ar e conditional . Pleas e
rea d th e warrant y manua l fo r exac t
information .
Original Equipment Battery Limited
Warranty — this warrant y give s u p
t o 10 0 percen t credi t towar d a
replacemen t battery .
Seat Belt Limited Warranty —
a sea t
bel t tha t fail s t o functio n properl y i s
covere d fo r th e usefu l lif e o f th e
vehicle .
Rust Perforation Limited Warranty
— al l exterio r bod y panel s ar e
covere d fo r rust-throug h fro m th e
insid e fo r th e specifie d tim e perio d
wit h n o mileag e limit .
Accessory Limited Warranty —
Genuin e Hond a Accessorie s ar e
covere d unde r thi s warranty . Tim e
an d mileag e limit s depen d o n th e
typ e o f accessor y an d othe r factors .
Pleas e rea d you r warrant y manua l
fo r details .
Replacement Parts Limited
Warranty — covers al l genuin e
Hond a replacemen t part s agains t
defect s i n material s an d workman -
ship .
Replacement Battery Limited
Warranty — provides prorate d
coverag e fo r a replacemen t batter y
purchase d fro m a Hond a dealer .
Replacement Muffler Lifetime Limited Warranty — provides
coverag e fo r a s lon g a s th e pur -
chase r o f th e muffle r own s th e car .
Restriction s an d exclusion s appl y t o
al l thes e warranties . Pleas e rea d th e
200 1 Hond a Warrant y Informatio n
bookle t tha t cam e wit h you r ca r fo r
precis e informatio n o n warrant y
coverages . You r Honda' s origina l
tire s ar e covere d b y thei r
manufacturer . Tir e warrant y
informatio n i s i n a separat e booklet .
Canadia n Owner s
Pleas e refe r t o th e 200 1 Warrant y
Manua l tha t cam e wit h you r car .
Warrant y an d Custome r Relation s