Page 50 of 223
µ
µ
µ In this position,
you can operate the audio system
and the accessory power socket.
Each door has a lock tab on the top.
Push the tab down to lock the door
and pull it up to unlock.
This is the normal key
position when driving. All f eatures
and accessories on the car are usable.
Several of the lights on the instru-
ment panel come on as a test when
you turn the ignition switch f rom
ACCESSORY to ON.
Use this position
only to start the engine. The switch
returns to ON (II) when you let go of
the key. You will hear a reminder beeper if
you leave the key in the ignition
switch in the LOCK (0) or
ACCESSORY (I) position and open
thedriver’sdoor.Removethekeyto
turn of f the beeper.
The engine will not start if the
Immobilizer System does not
recognize the key’s coding (see page
).
71
CONT INUED
A CCESSORY (I) Door L ocks
ON (II)
ST A RT (III)
Keys and Locks
Inst rument s and Cont rols73
LLOOCCKKTTAABB
Page 63 of 223

Both f ront seats are equipped with
seat heaters. The ignition must be
ON (II) to use them. Push the right
side of the switch, HI, to rapidly heat
up the seat. After the seat reaches a
comf ortable temperature, select LO
by pushing the lef t side of the switch.
This will keep the seat warm.The HI or LO indicator lights and
remains lit until you turn it of f by
pushing the opposite side of the
switch lightly. The indicator will turn
off.
In HI, the heater turns of f when the
seat gets warm, and turns back on
after the seat’s temperature drops. It
continues to cycle as long as you
leave it set on HI. The HI indicator
remains lit as a reminder that you
have the heater on.
In LO, the heater runs continuously.
It does not cycle with temperature
changes.
Do not use the seat heaters, even
on the LO setting, if the engine is
lef t idling f or an extended period.
They can weaken the battery,
causing hard starting.
Use the HI setting only to heat the
seats quickly. Select the LO
setting when the seats f eel warm.
The HI setting draws large
amounts of current f rom the
battery.
Follow these precautions whenever
you use the seat heaters:
Because of the sensors f or the side
airbag system, there is no heater in
the passenger’s seat-back.
On Canadian SE, EX V-6 models and EX
model with leather interior
Seat Heaters
Inst rument s and Cont rols90
Page 68 of 223
To apply the parking brake, pull the
lever up f ully. To release it, pull up
slightly, push the button, and lower
the lever. The parking brake light on
the instrument panel should go out
when the parking brake is f ully
released with the engine running
(see page ).
The outside mirrors are heated to re-
move fog and frost. With the ignition
switchON(II),turnontheheaters
by pressing the button. The light in
the button comes on as a reminder.
Press the button again to turn the
heaters of f .
57On all Canadian models
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Mirrors, Parking Brake
Parking Brake
95
PPAARRKKIINNGGBBRRAAKKEELLEEVVEERR
HHEEAATTEEDDMMIIRRRROORRBBUUTTTTOONNDriving the car with the parking brake
applied can damage the rear brakes
and axles.
Page 77 of 223

CONT INUED
The f low-through ventilation system
draws in outside air, circulates it
through the interior, then exhausts it
through vents near the rear window.Turn the temperature control dial
all the way to the lef t.
Make sure the A/C is of f .
Select and Fresh Air mode.
Set the f an to the desired speed.
The outside air intakes f or the
heating and cooling system are at
the base of the windshield. Keep
these clear of leaves and other
debris.
This section covers how to set up the
system controls f or ventilation,
heating, cooling, dehumidif ying, and
def rosting.
The engine must be running f or the
heater and air conditioning to
generate hot and cold air. The heater
uses engine coolant to warm the air.
If the engine is cold, it will be several
minutes bef ore you f eel warm air
coming from the system.
It is best to leave the system in Fresh
Air mode under almost all conditions.
Keeping the system in Recirculation
mode, particularly with the A/C of f ,
can cause the windows to fog up.
Switch to Recirculation mode when
you are driving through smoky or
dusty conditions, then switch back to
Fresh Air mode when the condition
clears.
The air conditioning does not rely on
engine temperature.
1. 2. 3.
Heating and Cooling
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Vent ilat ion
How to Use the System
107
TTEEMMPPEERRAATTUURREECCOONNTTRROOLLDDIIAALLFFAANNCCOONNTTRROOLLDDIIAALL
AAIIRRCCOONNDDIITTIIOONNIINNGGBBUUTTTTOONN
MMOODDEEBBUUTTTTOONNSS
RREECCIIRRCCUULLAATTIIOONNBBUUTTTTOONN
Page 78 of 223

For saf ety, make sure you have a
clear view through all the windows
bef ore driving away.To shut of f the system temporarily,
turn the fan speed and temperature
control dials all the way to the lef t.
You should shut the system
completely of f only f or the f irst f ew
minutes of driving in cold weather,
until the engine coolant warms up
enough to operate the heater. Keep
the fan on at all other times so stale
air does not build up in the interior.
Start the engine.
Select .
When you select , the
system automatically switches to
Fresh Air mode and turns on the
A/C.
Switch the fan and temperature
controls to maximum.
To rapidly remove exterior f rost or
ice f rom the windshield (on very cold
days), f irst select the Recirculation
mode. Once the windshield is clear,
select the Fresh Air mode to avoid
f ogging the windows. These settings direct all the air f low
to the defroster vents at the base of
the windshield and the side window
def roster vents. The air f low will get
warmer and clear the windows faster
as the engine warms up. You can
close the side vents with the dial
underneath each vent. This will send
more warm air to the windshield
defroster vents.
To remove exterior f rost or ice f rom
the windshield and side windows
after the car has been sitting out in
cold weather: 1. 2. 3.
Heating and Cooling
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
To Turn Everything Of f
110
Page 79 of 223

The automatic climate control
system in your Honda picks the
proper combination of air condi-
tioning, heating, and ventilation to
maintain the interior temperature
you select. The system also adjusts
the fan speed and air flow levels.
The direction of air f low f rom the
vents in the center and each side of
the dashboard is adjustable.To adjust the air f low f rom the
center vent, move the tab up-and-
down and side-to-side.
The climate control system draws air
through the exterior vents at the
bottom of the windshield. Keep
these vents clear of leaves and other
debris.
For the climate control system to
provide heating and cooling, the
engine must be running. On the driver’s-side vent, move the
vent up-and-down and move the tab
side-to-side. On the passenger’s-side
vent, move the tab up-and-down and
move the vent side-to-side.
Thesideventscanbeopenedand
closed with the dials underneath
them.
CONT INUED
Only on EX V-6 model
Climat e Cont rol Syst em
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures111
CCEENNTTEERRVVEENNTTSSDDRRIIVVEERR’’SS--SSIIDDEEVVEENNTT
Page 125 of 223
Bef ore you begin driving your Honda,
youshouldknowwhatgasolineto
use, and how to check the levels of
important f luids. You also need to
know how to properly store luggage
or packages. The inf ormation in this
section will help you. If you plan to
add any accessories to your car,
please read the inf ormation in this
section f irst..............................
Break-in Period . 194
.........................................
Gasoline . 194
.........
Service Station Procedures . 194
................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 194
....................
Opening the Hood . 196
...............................
Oil Check . 198
.........
Engine Coolant Check . 200
...............................
Fuel Economy . 201
.....................
Vehicle Condition . 201
...........................
Driving Habits . 201
...
Accessories and Modif ications . 202
.............................
Carrying Cargo . 204
Bef ore Driving
Bef ore Driving193
Page 126 of 223

During this period:Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid
acceleration. We recommend gasolines containing
detergent additives that help prevent
f uel system and engine deposits.
Avoidhardbraking.Newbrakes
need to be broken-in by moderate
use f or the f irst 200 miles (300
km). Your Honda is designed to operate
on unleaded gasoline with a pump
octane number of 86 or higher. Use
of a lower octane gasoline can cause
a persistent, heavy metallic rapping
noise in the engine that can lead to
mechanical damage.
Open the f uel f ill door by pushing
onthehandletotheleftof the
driver’s seat.
Help assure your car’s f uture
reliability and perf ormance by paying
extra attention to how you drive
during the f irst 600 miles (1,000 km).
Because the f uel f ill cap is on the
driver’s side of the car, park with
that side closest to the service
station pumps.
In Canada, some gasolines contain
an octane-enhancing additive called
MMT. If you use such gasolines,
your emission control system
perf ormance may deteriorate and
the Malf unction Indicator Lamp on
your instrument panel may turn on.
If this happens, contact your
authorized Honda dealer f or service.
Using gasoline containing lead will
damage your car’s emissions
controls. This contributes to air
pollution.
Youshouldfollowthesesamere-
commendations with an overhauled
or exchanged engine, or when the
brakes are relined. Do not change the oil until the
recommended time or mileage
intervalshowninthemaintenance
schedule.
1. 2.
Bef ore Driving
Break-in Period Gasoline Filling the Fuel Tank
Break-in Period, Gasoline, Service Station Procedures
194