Drivin
g in Ba d Weathe r
Rain , fog , an d sno w condition s
requir e a differen t drivin g techniqu e
becaus e o f reduce d tractio n an d
visibility . Kee p you r ca r well -
maintaine d an d exercis e greate r
cautio n whe n yo u nee d to driv e in
ba d weather . Th e cruis e contro l
shoul d no t b e use d in thes e
conditions .
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 ca r 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 th e
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 i n 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 th e
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 i f 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 t o kee p th e window s
fro m foggin g u p o n th e insid e (se e
pag e 9 1).
Drivin g
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
Windshiel
d Washer s
RESERVOI R CA P
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 .
Th e windshiel d washe r reservoi r i s
locate d in th e rea r o f th e engin e
compartmen t o n th e passenger' s side .
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 to 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 .
Whe n yo u refil l th e reservoir , clea n
th e edge s o f th e windshiel d wipe r
blade s wit h windshiel d washe r flui d
o n a clea n cloth . Thi s wil l hel p to
conditio n th e blad e edges .
Do not use engine antifreeze or a
vinegar/water solution in the
windshield washer reservoir.
Antifreeze can damage your car's paint,
while a vinegar/water solution can
damage the windshield washer pump.
Use only commercially-available
windshield washer fluid.
Maintenanc e
NOTIC
E
Inde
x
Closin g th e Convertibl e Top... . 23 3
Lo w Oi l Pressur e Indicator..... . 22 8
Malfunctio n Indicato r Lam p ... . 23 0
Overheate d Engine.................. . 22 5
Emergenc y Brake........................... . 8 1
Emergenc y Flashers...................... . 8 0
Emergenc y Trun k Opener............ . 6 7
Emission s Controls....................... . 25 2
Emission s Testing , Stat e ............. . 25 5
Engin e
Chec k Engin e Light........... .45 , 23 0
Compartment , Checkin g
i n the....................................... 118
Coolant....................................... . 12 0
Coolan t Temperatur e Gaug e .... . 4 7
Driv e Belt................................... . 18 4
Malfunctio n Indicato r
Lamp................................ 45, 23 0
Oi l Pressur e Indicator........ . 44 , 22 8
Oil , Wha t Kin d t o Use.............. . 15 7
Overheating............................... . 22 5
Specifications............................ . 24 6
Spee d Limiter............................ . 13 4
Starting....................................... . 13 1
Engin e Cover , Openin g the......... . 11 8
Ethano l i n Gasolin e ...................... . 25 0 Evaporativ
e Emissio n Controls... . 25 2
Exhaus t Fumes............................... . 3 9
Expectan t Mothers , Us e o f Sea t
Belt s by........................................ . 1 7
Exterior , Cleanin g the.................. . 20 4
Fabric , Cleaning............................ . 20 8
Fan , Interior..................................... . 8 6
Features , Comfor t an d
Convenience................................ . 8 5
Fillin g th e Fue l Tank.................... . 11 7
Filter s
Oil................................................ 159
Flashers , Hazar d Warning............. . 8 0
Fla t Tire , Changin g a................... . 21 5
Fluid s
Brake........................................... 170
Clutch.......................................... 171
Manua l Transmission.............. . 16 8
Windshiel d Washer.................. . 16 7
F M Stere o Radi o Reception........ . 10 3
Foreig n Countries , Drivin g in..... . 25 1
Four-wa y Flashers.......................... . 8 0
Fuel..................................................
116
Fil l Doo r an d Cap...................... . 11 7
Gauge........................................... . 4 8
Octan e Requirement................ . 11 6
Oxygenated............................... . 25 0
Reserv e Indicator........................ . 4 6
Tank , Fillin g the........................ . 11 7
Fue l Mileage , Improving.............. . 12 1
Fue l Statio n Procedure s .............. . 11 7
Fuses , Checkin g the..................... . 23 5
Gasohol.......................................... . 25 0
Gasoline......................................... . 11 6
Fue l Reserv e Indicator............... . 4 6
Gauge........................................... . 4 8
Octan e Requirement................ . 11 6
Oxygenate d Fuels..................... . 25 0
Tank , Fillin g the........................ . 11 7
CONTINUED