Periodically check the engine’s
radiator and air conditioning
condenser f or leaves, insects, and
dirt stuck to the f ront surf ace. These
block the air f low and reduce cooling
ef f iciency. Use a light spray f rom a
hose or a sof t brush to remove them.If the air conditioning does not get as
cold as before, have your dealer
check the system. Recharge the
system with Ref rigerant HFC-134a
(R-134a). (See Specif ications on page
.)
Run the air conditioning at least once
a week during the cold weather
months. Run it f or at least ten
minutes while you are driving at a
steady speed with the engine at
normal operating temperature. This
circulates the lubricating oil con-
tained in the ref rigerant.
Your car’s air conditioning is a sealed
system. Any major maintenance,
such as recharging, should be done
by a qualif ied mechanic. You can do
a couple of things to make sure the
air conditioning works ef f iciently.
243
Maint enance
Air Conditioning System (Optional)
188
A AI
IRR C
COON NDDI
ITT I
IOON NIINNG G C
COON NDDE
EN
NS SEER
R
Whenever you have the air conditioning
system serviced, make sure the service
f acility uses a ref rigerant recycling
system. This system captures the
ref rigerant f or reuse. Releasing
ref rigerant into the atmosphere can
damage the environment.
The condenser and radiator f ins bend
easily. Only use a low-pressure spray
or sof t-bristle brush to clean them.
This section covers the more-
common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you inf ormation about how to
safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has
stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again.
If not, you will also f ind instructions
on getting your car towed.......................
Compact Spare Tire .214
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .215
..........
If Your Engine Won’t Start . 221
Nothing Happens or the Starter Motor Operates ............................
Very Slowly .221
The Starter Operates ................................
Normally .222
................................
Jump Starting .222
............
If Your Engine Overheats . 224
.........
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 226
..........
Charging System Indicator . 227
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 228
...............
Brake System Indicator . 230
..............................................
Fuses .231
..........
Checking and Replacing . 232
......................
Emergency Towing .237
Taking Care of the Unexpected
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed213
This indicator should light when the
ignition switch is ON (II), and go out
af ter the engine starts. It should
never come on when the engine is
running. If it starts f lashing, it
indicates that the oil pressure
dropped very low f or a moment, then
recovered. If the indicator stays on
with the engine running, it shows
that the engine has lost oil pressure
and serious engine damage is
possible. In either case, you should
take immediate action.Saf ely pull of f the road and shut
of f the engine. Turn on the hazard
warning indicators.
If necessary, add oil to bring the
level back to the full mark on the
dipstick (see page ). Letthecarsitforaminute.Open
the hood and check the oil level
(see page ). Although oil level
and oil pressure are not directly
connected, an engine that is very
low on oil can lose pressure during
cornering and other driving
maneuvers.Start the engine and watch the oil
pressure indicator. If the light
does not go out within ten seconds,
turn of f the engine. There is a
mechanical problem that needs to
be repaired bef ore you can
continue driving. (See
on page .)
The engine running generates the
oil pressure.
When the auto idle stop is
activated, the engine is stopped.
But the low oil pressure indicator
does not light.
1.
2.
3. 4.
122 165 237
Emergency
Towing
L ow Oil Pressure Indicator
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed226
L LO OW W O
OIILL P
PR
RE ES
SS SUUR REE I
INND DI
ICCA A T
TO
OR R
Running the engine with low oil
pressure can cause serious mechanical
damage almost immediately. Turn of f
the engine as soon as you can saf ely get
the car stopped.
CONT INUED
...
Accessories and Modif ications . 126
................................
Accessories .126
...
Additional Safety Precaution . 127
............................
Modif ications .127
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key .......................................
Position) .70
...............
Accessory Power Socket . 81
....................
Additives, Engine Oil . 166
...............................
Airbag (SRS) .9, 47
................
Air Conditioning System . 90
..............................
Maintenance .188
............................................
Usage .90
.........................
Air Outlets (Vents) .90
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires .190
.........................
Normal Driving .191
.......................
Alcohol in Gasoline .246
......................................
Antif reeze .169
Anti-thef t Steering Column ..............................................
Lock .69
..........................
Appearance Care .205
..................................
Audio System .98
........................
Auto Idle Stop .135, 143
..............
Automatic Transmission . 138
..........................
Capacity, Fluid .242 ...............
Checking Fluid Level . 176
.......................................
Shif ting .138
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 138
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 138
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 142
Battery Charging System ...........................
Indicator .56, 227
............................
Jump Starting .223
..............................
Maintenance .183
............................
Specif ications .243
..............................
Bef ore Driving .117
..........................................
Belts, Seat .8
.............................
Beverage Holder .80
.................................
Body Repairs .211
Brakes .............
Break-in, New Linings . 118
...........................................
Fluid .179
....................
Bulb Replacement .201
.........................................
Parking .79
.................
System Indicator . 46,230
........................
Wear Indicators .146
.............................
Braking System .147 ........................
Break-in, New Car .118
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 62
........................
Brights, Headlights .61
Bulb Replacement ..........................
Back-up Lights .201
...............................
Brake Light .201
................
Front Parking Lights . 199
........
Front Side Marker Lights . 199
.................................
Headlights .198
.............................
Interior Light .203
.................
License Plate Lights . 202
............................
Specif ications .243
....................
Turn Signal Lights . 199
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen .198
............................
Capacities Chart .242
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 40
.............................
Carrying Cargo .128
Cassette Player ............................................
Care .115
...................................
Operation .104
..............
CAUTION, Explanation of . ii
Index
A
B
C
I
Î.......................................
CD Player .108
........................
Certif ication Label .240
............................................
Chains .195
....................
Charge/Assist Gauge .57
Changing Oil ........................................
How to .167
......................................
When to .156
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .215
............
Changing Engine Coolant . 171
............
Charging System Indicator . 56
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving . 117
.....................................
Child Saf ety .19
Child Seats ..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 33
....................
Cleaner Element, Air . 181
Cleaning ......................................
Exterior .206
.......................................
Interior .209
...................................
Seat Belts .209
...........................................
Vinyl .209
....................................
Windows .210
.........................
Clock, Setting the .103
...................................
Clutch Fluid .179
........................
CO in the Exhaust .248
............
Cold Weather, Starting in . 133
..............................
Compact Spare .214 ...............
Consumer Inf ormation . 254
.............
Controls, Instruments and . 60
Coolant ........................................
Adding .169
....................................
Checking .123
.........................
Proper Solution .173
...................................
Replacing .171
...................
Temperature Gauge . 58
....................
Corrosion Protection .210
Crankcase Emissions Control ........................................
System .248
.....................
Current Fuel Mileage .55
..........
Customer Relations Of f ice . 254
................
DANGER, Explanation of . ii
...................................
Dashboard .2, 44
................
Daytime Running Lights . 62
............
Defects, Reporting Safety . 258
..........................
Def og and Def rost .84
................
Def ogger, Rear Window . 65
................
Defrosting the Windows . 84
....................................
Dimensions .242
...............
Dimming the Headlights . 61Dipstick
..................................
Engine Oil .122
..........................
Directional Signals .63
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators . 146
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil .168
..................
Display Change Button . 50
Doors ..............
Locking and Unlocking . 71
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 244
Downshif ting, 5-speed Manual .............................
Transmission .134
.....................................
Drive Belts .189
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety . 5
...........................................
Driving .131
....................................
Economy .124
.........................
In Bad Weather .149
................
In Foreign Countries . 247
..................
DustandPollenFilter . 189
..............................
Economy, Fuel .124
............
Emergencies on the Road . 213
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 222
...........
Brake System Indicator . 230
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 215
Index
D
E
II
CONT INUED
.....
Charging System Indicator . 227
..................
Checking the Fuses . 232
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 226
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 228
..................
Overheated Engine . 224
...........................
Emergency Brake .79
......................
Emergency Flashers .65
......................
Emergency Towing .237
.......................
Emissions Controls .248
Engine ............................................
Belts .189
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 58
Malf unction Indicator ................................
Lamp .48, 228
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 165
...............................
Overheating .224
............................
Specif ications .242
.......................................
Starting .133
..........
Engine Speed Limiter . 137,141
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline .246
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 248
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .40
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat ........................................
Belts by .17
..................
Exterior, Cleaning the . 206 ...............
Gas Mileage, Improving . 124
..........................................
Gasohol .246
.........................................
Gasoline .118
...............
Fuel Reserve Indicator . 48
...........................................
Gauge .50
................
Octane Requirement . 118
........................
Tank, Filling the .119
................
Gas Station Procedures . 119
............................
Fabric, Cleaning .209
.....................................
Fan, Interior .84
Features, Comfort and ................................
Convenience .83
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 119
Filter .........................
Dust and Pollen .189
...............................................
Oil .165
5-speed Manual Transmission ...............
Checking Fluid Level . 178
................................
Shif ting the .134
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 65
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 215
Fluids Automatic Transmission .....................................
(CVT) .176
..........................................
Brake .179
.........................................
Clutch .180
..............
Manual Transmission . 178
..................
Windshield Washer . 175
FM Stereo Radio ...................................
Reception .112
.....
Foreign Countries, Driving in . 247
..........................
Four-way Flashers .65 .................................................
Fuel .124
......................
Fill Door and Cap .119
...........................................
Gauge .58
................
Octane Requirement . 118
...............................
Oxygenated .246
........................
Reserve Indicator .58
........................
Tank, Filling the .119
.....................
Fuses, Checking the .232
Index
F
G
III
CONT INUED
.....................................
Load Limit .129
......
LOCK (Ignition Key Position) . 69
Locks ............................
Fuel Fill Door .119
............................................
Hatch .71
........................
Low Coolant Level .123
.........................
Low Fuel Indicator .58
...
Lower Gear, Downshif ting to a . 137
...
Lubricant Specif ications Chart . 243
.........................................
Luggage .128
..................................
Maintenance .151
...
Owner Maintenance Checks . 163
........................................
Record .161
......................
Required Indicator .59
..........................................
Saf ety .152
....................................
Schedule .154
.
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 48,228
...................
Manual Transmission . 134
........
Manual Transmission Fluid . 178
...............................
Meters, Gauges .50
...................
Methanol in Gasoline . 246
..........................
Mirrors, Adjusting .78 ..................
New Vehicle Break-in . 118
..................
NOTICE, Explanation of . ii
...............
Numbers, Identif ication . 240
...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline . 118
.........................................
Odometer .50
...............................
Odometer, Trip .51
Oil ........................
Change, How to .167
......................
Change, When to .156
......................
Checking Engine .122
Selecting Proper Viscosity ......................................
Chart .166
...........
ON (Ignition Key Position) . 70
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor ....................................
Recovery .248
.........................
Opening the Hatch .71
..
Operation in Foreign Countries . 247
..............................
Outside Mirrors .78
....................
Overheating, Engine .224
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 163
.........................
Oxygenated Fuels .246 ..............................
Paint Touch-up .208
..............
Panel Brightness Control . 62
...........................................
Parking .145
.................................
Parking Brake .79
Parking Brake and Brake .................
System Indicator . 46,230
..
Parking Over Things that Burn . 250
.............................
PGM-FI System .249
..................
Polishing and Waxing . 208
............
Pre-Drive Saf ety Checklist . 11
.........
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts . 17
............................
Protecting Adults .12
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 18
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 17
........................
Protecting Children .19
.......
Protecting Larger Children . 29
.........
Protecting Small Children . 26
Using Child Seats with .....................................
Tethers .33
Index
M N
O
P
V
CONT INUED
........
Steam Coming f rom Engine . 224
Steering Wheel .............
Anti-theft Column Lock . 69
.....................
Stereo Sound System .98
...........................
Storing Your Car .204
Supplemental Restraint ..................................
System .9,36
......................................
Servicing .39
.........................
SRS Indicator .34 ,46
...................
System Components . 36
..................................
Synthetic Oil .166
.....................................
Tachometer .58
......
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in . 201
Taking Care of the ...............................
Unexpected .213
....................................
Tape Player .104
Technical Descriptions ......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 244
.....
Emissions Control Systems . 248
.....................
Oxygenated Fuels .246
Three Way Catalytic ...............................
Converter .250
.......................
Temperature Gauge .58 ..............
Tether Anchorage Points . 33
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter . 250
..........................
Time, Setting the .103
....................................
Tire Chains .195
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat . 193
...............................................
Tires .190
..............................
Air Pressure .191
.........................
Checking Wear .192
..........................
Compact Spare .214
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 244
......................................
Inf lation .190
..................................
Inspection .192
...................................
Replacing .193
......................................
Rotating .193
...........................................
Snow .195
............................
Specif ications .243
................................
Tire Chains .195
...................
Tools, Tire Changing . 215
Towing .....................................
A Trailer .150
................
Emergency Wrecker . 236
Transmission Checking Fluid Level, ..................
Automatic (CVT) . 176
Checking Fluid Level, ...................................
Manual .178 ...........................
Fluid Selection .178
..............
Identif ication Number . 241
..................
Shif ting the Manual . 134
.....................................
Treadwear .244
.....................................
Trip Meters .53
....................................
Trip Mileage .54
....................................
Turn Signals .63
.....................
Underside, Cleaning .206
Unexpected, Taking Care ..........................................
of the .213
....
Unif orm Tire Quality Grading . 244
........................
Unleaded Gasoline .118
.....................
Upholstery Cleaning .209
.......
Used Oil, How to Dispose of . 168
.................
Vehicle Capacity Load . 129
......................
Vehicle Dimensions .242
....
Vehicle Identif ication Number . 240
.............................
Vehicle Storage .204
Index
T U
V
VII