This section gives inf ormation about
the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your Honda. All the essential
controls are within easy reach............................
Control Locations . 54
...............................
Indicator Lights . 55
.............................................
Gauges . 60
...............................
Speedometer . 60
.................................
Tachometer . 60
.....................................
Odometer . 60
...................................
Trip Meter . 61
...................
Temperature Gauge . 61
..................................
Fuel Gauge . 61
Maintenance Required
...................................
Indicator . 62
Controls Near the Steering .......................................
Wheel . 63
...................................
Headlights . 64 Automatic Lighting Off
.....................................
Feature . 65
............
Daytime Running Lights . 65
....
Instrument Panel Brightness . 65
................................
Turn Signals . 66
.....................
Windshield Wipers . 66
..................
Windshield Washers . 68
..........................
Hazard Warning . 68
.............
Rear Window Def ogger . 68
......
Steering Wheel Adjustment . 69
...............................
Keys and Locks . 70
..............................................
Keys . 70
....................
Immobilizer System . 71
............................
Ignition Switch . 72
..................................
Door Locks . 73
......................
Power Door Locks . 74
...................
Remote Transmitter . 75
..............
Childproof Door Locks . 79
...........................................
Trunk . 79
........
Emergency Trunk Opener . 80
....................................
Glove Box . 81
............................
Seat Adjustments . 82
.............
Front Seat Adjustments . 82
Driver’s Seat Manual Height
..............................
Adjustment . 83 Driver’s Seat Power Height
..............................
Adjustment . 83
Driver’s Seat Full Power ............................
Adjustments . 84
...........
Driver’s Lumbar Support . 85
Front Passenger’s Seat
............................
Adjustments . 86
..........................
Head Restraints . 86
.......................
Folding Rear Seat . 87
......................
Rear Seat Armrest . 88
....................................
Seat Heaters . 90
..............................
Power Windows . 91
.........................................
Moonroof . 92
.............................................
Mirrors . 93
....
Adjusting the Power Mirrors . 94
.................................
Parking Brake . 95
....................................
Digital Clock . 96
...................
Console Compartment . 97
..........................................
Coin Box . 97
.............................
Beverage Holder . 98
..........................................
Sun Visor . 99
..................................
Vanity Mirror . 99
........................
Sunglasses Holder . 100
.............
Accessory Power Socket . 100
...............................
Interior Lights . 101
Instruments and Controls
Inst rument s and Cont rols53
The knob on the instrument panel
controls the brightness of the instru-
ment panel lights. Turn the knob to
adjust the brightness.
The headlights revert to normal
operation when you turn them on
with the switch.
With the headlight switch off, the
high beam headlights come on with
reduced brightness when you turn
the ignition switch to ON (II) and
release the parking brake. They
remain on until you turn the ignition
of f , even if you set the parking brake.
The lights will turn on again when
you unlock or open the driver’s door.
If you unlock the door, but do not
open it within 15 seconds, the lights will go off. With the driver’s door
open, you will hear a lights-on
reminder chime.
This feature activates if you leave
the headlight switch in the ‘‘ ’’
or ‘‘ ’’ position, remove the key,
open, then close the driver’s door.
If you remove the key f rom the
ignition switch with the headlight
switch on, but do not open the door
and get out, the lights will turn of f
af ter ten minutes.
The Automatic Lighting Of f f eature
turns of f the headlights, parking
lights, taillights, side marker lights,
license plate lights and instrument
panel lights within 15 seconds of
removing the key from the ignition
switch and closing the driver’s door.
On U.S. SE and EX models, Canada EX-
L model, and all EX V-6 models
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Automatic Lighting Of f Feature Instrument Panel Brightness
(Canadian Models)
Daytime Running L ights
65
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.
Once the security system is set,
opening any door (without using the
key or the remote transmitter), or
the hood, will cause it to alarm. It
also alarms if the radio is removed
f rom the dashboard or the wiring is
cut.
The security system sets auto-
matically fifteen seconds after you
lock the doors, hood, and trunk. For
the system to activate, you must lock
the doors f rom the outside with the
key, lock tab, door lock switch, or
remote transmitter. The security
system light next to the driver’s door
lock starts blinking immediately to
show you the system is setting itself . With the system set, you can still
open the trunk with the master key
or the remote transmitter without
triggering the alarm. The alarm will
sound if the trunk lock is f orced, or
the trunk is opened with the trunk
release handle.
The security system will not set if
the hood, trunk, or any door is not
f ully closed. If the system will not set,
check the Door and Brake Lamp
Monitor on the instrument panel
(see page ), to see if the doors
and trunk are f ully closed. Since it is
notpartofthemonitordisplay,
manually check the hood.
The security system helps to protect
your car and valuables f rom thef t.
The horn sounds and a combination
of headlights, parking lights, side
marker lights and taillights f lashes if
someone attempts to break into your
carorremovetheradio.Thisalarm
continues f or two minutes, then the
system resets. To reset an alarming
system bef ore the two minutes have
elapsed, unlock either f ront door
with the key or the remote
transmitter.
Do not attempt to alter this system
or add other devices to it.58
On EX, SE, and EX V-6 models
Security System
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures184
SSEECCUURRIITTYYSSYYSSTTEEMMLLIIGGHHTT
Shift to Park or Neutral and set
the parking brake. Pull the hood
release handle located under the
lower lef t corner of the dashboard.
The hood will pop up slightly.Standing in f ront of the car, put
your f ingers under the f ront edge
of the hood to the right of center.
Slide your hand to the lef t until
you f eel the hood latch handle.
Push this handle up until it
releases the hood. Lif t the hood.If you can open the hood without
lifting the hood latch handle, or the
hood latch handle moves stif f ly or
does not spring back as bef ore, the
mechanism should be cleaned and
lubricated (see page ).
1. 2. 272
Opening the Hood
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving196
HHOOOODDRREELLEEAASSEEHHAANNDDLLEELLAATTCCHH
Be sure electronic accessories do
not overload electrical circuits
(see page ).
Have the installer contact your
Honda dealer f or assistance bef ore
installing any electronic accessory.
If possible, have your dealer inspect
the f inal installation.
Bef ore installing any accessory:
Modif ying your car, or installing
some non-Honda accessories, can
make your car unsaf e. Bef ore you
make any modif ications or add any
accessories,besuretoreadthe
f ollowing inf ormation.
Your dealer has Genuine Honda
accessories that allow you to
personalize your car. These
accessories have been designed and
approved f or your car, and are
covered by warranty.
Non-Honda accessories are usually
designed f or universal applications.
Although aftermarket accessories
may f it on your car, they may not
meet f actory specif ications, and
could adversely af f ect your car’s
handling and stability. (See
‘‘Modif ications’’ on page f or
additional information.)
However, if electronic accessories
are improperly installed, or exceed
your car’s electrical system capacity,
they can interfere with the operationof your car, or even cause the
airbags to deploy.
Make sure the accessory does not
obscure any lights, or interf ere
with proper car operation or
perf ormance.
When properly installed, cellular
phones, alarms, two-way radios, and
low-powered audio systems should
not interf ere with your car’s
computer-controlled systems, such
as the SRS and anti-lock brake
system. 331
203
A ccessories
A ccessories and Modif ications
Bef ore Driving202
Improper accessories or
modifications can affect your
car’s handling, stability and
performance, and cause a
crash in which you can be hurt
or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner’s manual regarding
accessories and modifications.
µMake sure the moonroof and the
windows are closed.
Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the trunk or take them with you.
Turn of f the lights.
Make sure the parking brake is f ully
released bef ore driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or damage
the rear brakes. Lockthedoorswiththekeyorthe
remote transmitter.
Check the indicator on the driver’s
door to verify that the security
system is set.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other f lammable
materials. The three way catalytic
converter gets very hot, and could
cause these materials to catch on
fire.
Always use the parking brake when
you park your car. The indicator on
the instrument panel shows that the
parking brake is not f ully released; it
does not indicate that the parking
brakeisfirmlyset.Makesurethe
parking brake is set f irmly or your
car may roll if it is parked on an
incline.
If your car has an automatic
transmission, set the parking brake
bef ore you put the transmission in
Park.Thiskeepsthecarfrom
moving and putting pressure on the
parking mechanism in the
transmission making it easier to
move the shift lever out of Park
when you want to drive away.
If the car is f acing uphill, turn the
f ront wheels away f rom the curb. If
you have a manual transmission, put
it in f irst gear.
If the car is f acing downhill, turn the
f ront wheels toward the curb. If you
have a manual transmission, put it in
reverse gear.
On EX, SE, and EX V-6 models
Parking T ips
Driving
Parking
218
Your Honda is equipped with f ront
disc brakes. The brakes on the rear
wheels may be disc or drum,
depending on the model. A power
assist helps reduce the ef f ort needed
on the brake pedal.
Put your f oot on the brake pedal only
when you intend to brake. Resting
your f oot on the pedal keeps the
brakes applied lightly, causing them
to build up heat. Heat build-up can
reduce how well your brakes work. It
also keeps your brake lights on all
the time, conf using drivers behind
you.Your brakes may sometimes squeal
or squeak when you apply them
lightly. Do not conf use this with the
brakewearindicators.Theymakea
very audible ‘‘screeching.’’
Constant application of the brakes
when going down a long hill builds
up heat and reduces their ef f ective-
ness. Use the engine to assist the
brakes by downshif ting to a lower
gear and taking your f oot of f the
accelerator pedal.
Check your brakes af ter driving
through deep water. Apply the
brakes moderately to see if they f eel
normal. If not, apply them gently and
f requently until they do. Since a
longer distance is needed to stop
with wet brakes, be extra cautious
and alert in your driving.
The f ront disc brakes on all models
have audible brake wear indicators.
They are also on the rear brakes of
cars equipped with ABS as standard
equipment.
When the brake pads need replacing,
you will hear a distinctive metallic
‘‘screeching’’ sound when you apply
the brakes. If you do not have the
brake pads replaced, they will begin
screeching all the time.
Brake Wear Indicators
The Braking System
Driving219