Page 118 of 294
115Interior Features
Assist Grip
An assist grip is located above
each window.
Horn Button
To sound the horn, press the
center of the steering wheel
airbag.
HORN AREA
Tilt Steering Wheel
See page 15 for important
information about how to properly
position the steering wheel.
The release lever for the tilt
steering wheel is on the left side
of the steering column.
To adjust the height of the
steering wheel, push up on the
lever. The steering wheel has six
Page 124 of 294

121Comfort and Convenience Features
Fan Control Lever
The fan control lever
(
OFF–1–2–3–4) provides speed
control of the blower fan in all Air
Selector Lever positions.
Temperature Control Knob
The temperature control knob
regulates the temperature of the air
entering the passenger
compartment in all air selector
lever positions.
Air-Source Selector Lever
The intake of outside air and the
circulation of inside air is
controlled by sliding this lever left
or right.
Circulating only inside air for
an extended period with the air
conditioning “
OFF” may cause
windshield clouding. For effective
ventilation, switch to outside air as
soon as possible.
Air Selector Knob
The air selector knob regulates air
flow from the upper, floor and
defroster outlets.
Face — Air is
conditioned as it passes
through the system and is
discharged from the upper outlets.
This position is used for most air
conditioning situations.
Bi-level — Air is
conditioned and
discharged from the upper outlets
and the floor outlets. The air from
the floor outlets is warmer than
the air from the upper outlets in
this position. However, when the
temperature control knob is
moved to either the full “
HOT” or
the full “
COLD” position, the air
from the floor outlets and the air
from the upper outlets will be the same temperature. This position
gives cool upper level air and
warm floor level air when the
temperature control is adjusted
between
COLD and HOT.
This is useful in cool weather with
bright sunlight conditions.
Foot — Air is
delivered from the floor
outlets with a small amount from
the windshield defroster outlets
and the side window defroster
outlets.
Page 125 of 294

122Comfort and Convenience FeaturesFoot/Defrost — Air
comes from the floor
outlets, windshield defroster
outlets and side window defroster
outlets. When you select
Foot/Defrost, the A/C turns on (if
it is not already on), and outside
air is selected automatically.
Because of the automatic
operation, you will not see the
light in the A/C button. The
system goes back to your former
settings when you move the knob
to any other position.
When the windshield glass and
door glass are foggy or frosty, use
this Foot/Defrost mode to clear
off the glass while maintaining the
heating performance.
Defrost — Air is
conditioned and
delivered from the windshield
defroster outlets with a small amount delivered from the side
window defroster outlets. This
position is recommended for
conditions of severe fogging and
icing only. When you select
Defrost, the A/C turns on (if it is
not already on), and outside air is
selected automatically. Because of
the automatic operation, you will
not see the light in the A/C button.
The system goes back to your
former settings when you move
the knob to any other position.
Operating Tips – Use the heater
with the air-source selector lever
at the outside air position. This
will minimize windshield
clouding while quickly warming
the interior of the vehicle. For
best results, engage the A/C
compressor to minimize
windshield clouding. Your vehicle has a flow-through
ventilation system that provides
a supply of outside air into the
vehicle when it is moving and the
air-source selector lever is in the
outside air position. When the
vehicle is not in motion, you can
get a steady flow of outside air
with the heater or air conditioning
blower running.
With the side windows closed and
the air-source selector lever in the
outside air position, the flow-
through ventilation system
provides outside air flow into the
front air inlet grilles, through the
vehicle and out the rear air
exhaust outlet.
Ventilation
Page 159 of 294

156 Driving Tips
Driving Guidelines
Your Honda has higher ground
clearance than a passenger car
designed for use only on
pavement. Higher ground
clearance has many advantages
for off-road driving. It allows you
to travel over bumps, obstacles,
and rough terrain. It also provides
good visibility so you can
anticipate problems earlier.
These advantages come at some
cost. Because your vehicle is
taller and rides higher off the
ground, it has a high center of
gravity. This means that your
vehicle can tip or roll over if you
make abrupt turns. Utility
vehicles have a significantly
higher rollover rate than other
types of vehicles. To prevent rollover or loss of
control:
•
Take corners at slower speeds
than you would with a
passenger car.
• Avoid sharp turns and abrupt
maneuvers whenever possible.
• Do not modify your vehicle in
any way that would raise the
center of gravity (see page 174).
•Do not carry heavy cargo on
the roof (see page 177).
For off-road driving guidelines,
see the Off-Road Driving
Information booklet that came
with your vehicle.
Before Entering the Vehicle
1. Check that the windows, mirrors, lights and reflectors
are clean and unobstructed. 2. Check the tires to see if they
are low or flat. You will need
a pressure gauge to tell if tires
are properly inflated.
3. Check that all lights work.
4. Check for fluid leaks.
5. Be sure everything is properly stowed.
6. Check the area behind the vehicle if you are about to
back up.
Before Driving the Vehicle
1. Lock all doors.
2. Adjust the seat and anymovable head restraints.
3. Adjust the inside and outside mirrors.
4. Check that all the indicator lights work when the key
Before Driving
Page 161 of 294

158Driving Tips
You may drive your new vehicle
from its very first mile/kilometer
without following a formal
“break-in” schedule. However,
there are things you can do during
the first few hundred miles/
kilometers of driving that will add
to the future performance and
economy of your vehicle.
It is recommended that your speed
during the first 500 miles (800
kilometers) be limited to a
maximum of 55 mph (90 km/h)
and that you do not drive for long
periods at any one constant speed,
either fast or slow. During this
period, avoid full-throttle starts
and, if possible, avoid hard stops;
especially during the first 200
miles (320 kilometers) of driving.
Always drive at moderate speed
until the engine has completely
warmed up.
When leaving your vehicle
unattended:
•Set the parking brake.
•Place the shift lever in
“P”
(Park) position for automatic
transmission.
•When parking a vehicle equipped
with a manual transmission on an
upward slope, or on a level
surface, place the shift lever in
the “1st” position.
•When parking a vehicle
equipped with a manual
transmission on a downward
slope, place the shift lever in
the “
R” (Reverse) position.
•Turn the key to the “LOCK”
position.
•Remove the key. The beeper
will remind you.
•Close all windows and lock all
doors.
•Check to make certain the
lights are turned off. The
beeper will remind you.
•If your vehicle is equipped with
a transfer case (4
WD), make
sure the shift lever is in 4
H or
4
L.
Parking Tips
•Never drive the vehicle with
the parking brake set. This can
overheat the rear brakes,
reducing their effectiveness and
causing excessive wear or
damage.
•Always apply the parking brake
whenever you leave the vehicle,
whether it is equipped with a
manual or automatic transmission.
New Vehicle Break-InParking
Page 224 of 294

221Care and Maintenance
Hood Latch and Hinges
Lubricate the hood latch assembly
and hood hinge assembly as
follows:
1. Wipe off any accumulation ofdirt or contamination on the
latch parts.
2. Apply multipurpose-type grease (
NLGI No. 1 or 2) to
the hood latch pin cam.
3. Apply light engine oil to all pivot points in the release
mechanism.
4. Lubricate hood hinges with multipurpose-type grease
(
NLGI No. 1 or 2).
5. Check the hood hinges and latch mechanism to assure
they are working correctly.
Air Conditioning
Periodically have your Honda
dealer check your air conditioning
system to be sure there has been
no loss in cooling output. See
your Honda dealer if you suspect
that the system is not performing
as it should.
Body Lubrication
Normal use of a vehicle causes
metal-to-metal movement at certain
points in the body. Noise, wear and
improper operation at these points
will result when a protective film
of lubricant is not provided.
For exposed surfaces such as door
checks, door lock bolts, lock
striker plates, etc., apply a thin
film of light engine oil.
Any lubricant should be used
sparingly. After application, all excess lubricant should be
carefully wiped off.
The seat adjusters and seat track
should be lubricated with water-
resistant
EP chassis lubricant.
There are other points on the
vehicle body which may
occasionally require lubrication.
Window regulators and controls
are confined in the space between
the upholstery and the outside
door panel. Easy access to the
working parts may be made by
removing the trim. Door
weatherstrips and rubber hood
bumpers should be lightly coated
with a rubber lubricant.
Page 233 of 294
230Care and Maintenance
Cleaning Glass Surfaces
Glass surfaces should be cleaned
on a regular basis. Use of glass
cleaner will remove normal
tobacco smoke and dust films
sometimes caused by ingredients
used in vinyls and interior
plastics.
Never use abrasive cleaners to
clean the glass. They may cause
scratches or damage the defogger
wires in the rear window.Tinted Glass
Tinted, heat-reflecting glass has a
metal coating on the interior side.
Always clean this metal coating
with plain water or a neutral
detergent, not harsh chemicals.
Wipe with a clean, soft cloth or a
paper towel.
Page 244 of 294
Technical Data241
Fuse Box: Instrument Panel
AmperageApplicability
120AAccessory power sockets
2––––
315ACigarette lighter
415ADash/parking lights
510AInterior lights
615ABrake lights, cruise control
720APower door locks
810AMirror defoggers
915ARear window defogger
1015ARear window defogger
1115AGauges, indicators
1215ACharging system, fuel injection
1315AIgnition system
1415ATurn signals, backup lights
1515AABS, 4WD, cruise control
1620AWindshield wiper/washer
1710ARear wiper/washer
1810ASecurity & keyless entry
1915AAudio system
2020AStarter
2130APower windows, moonroof
2210ASRS
23––––