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198Care and Maintenance
Fuel Recommendation
Use only unleaded gasoline. For
additional information see “Fuel
Requirements” in this section.
Fuel Tank Capacity
19.5 U.S. gallons (75 liters)
Engine Oil Recommendation
Use only SJ quality oil.
The chart shown under “Engine
Oil and Filter” in this section will
serve as a guide for choosing the
proper viscosity oil.
Windshield Washer
Check the reservoir fluid level
regularly. Use a commercially
available windshield washer fluid.
The windshield washer reservoir
is located on the front right side of
the engine compartment.
Tire Inflation Pressures
Check at least monthly, including
the spare. Keep inflated to the
pressure shown on the tire placard
on the driver’s doorjamb.
LABEL
Battery
Your new vehicle has a low
maintenance battery.
CHARGE TEST INDICATOR
UPPER LEVEL
LOWER LEVEL CHARGING
NECESSARY
OK
BLUE COLORLESS
You will never have to add water.
The hydrometer (test indicator) in
the top of the battery provides
information for testing purposes
only.
WARNING : Battery posts,
terminals and related accessories
contain lead and lead compounds.
Wash hands after handling.
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199Care and Maintenance
Hood Release
The hood release lever is on the
left side of the instrument panel.
To Open
1. Pull the lever to release thehood lock.
2. Lift the under-hood leverwhile lifting the hood slightly.3. Raise the hood, and hold itopen with the hood support
rod in the hole on the right
side of the hood.
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200 Care and Maintenance
To Close
1.
Lift the hood slightly to remove
tension from the support rod.
2. Place the support rod in its
retaining clip and lower the
hood.
Always make sure the hood is
securely latched before you begin
driving.
Engine Oil Dipstick
Check the oil level when the
engine is off and the oil is warm,
such as during a fuel stop. See
page 213. Your Honda operates most
effectively 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.
We recommend gasolines containing
detergent additives that help prevent
fuel system and engine deposits.
Using gasoline containing lead will
damage your vehicle
’s emission
controls. This contributes to air
pollution and can void certain parts
of your warranty.
Oxygenated Fuels
Some conventional gasolines are
being blended with alcohol or an
ether compound. These gasolines
are collectively referred to as
oxygenated fuels. To meet clean air
Fuel Requirements
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201Care and Maintenance
standards, some areas of the United
States and Canada use oxygenated
fuels to help reduce emissions.
If you use an oxygenated fuel, be
sure it is unleaded and meets the
minimum octane rating requirement.
Before using an oxygenated fuel,
try to confirm the fuel’
s contents.
Some states/provinces require this
information to be posted on the
pump.
The following are the EPA-approved
percentages of oxygenates:
ETHANOL (ethyl or grain alcohol).
You may use gasoline containing up
to 10% ethanol by volume. Gasoline
containing ethanol may be marketed
under the name “Gasohol.”
MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl
Ether). You may use gasoline
containing up to 15%
MTBE by
volume.
METHANOL (methyl or wood
alcohol). Your vehicle was not
designed to use fuel that contains
methanol. Methanol can corrode
metal parts in the fuel system, and
also damage plastic and rubber
components. This damage would not
be covered by your warranties.
If you notice any undesirable
operating symptoms, try another
service station or switch to another
brand of gasoline.
Fuel system damage or performance
problems resulting from the use of
an oxygenated fuel containing
more than the percentages of
oxygenates given above are not
covered under warranty. Regularly maintaining your
vehicle is the best way to protect
your investment. Proper
maintenance is essential to your
safety and the safety of your
passengers. It will also reward
you with more economical,
trouble-free driving and help
reduce air pollution.
Improperly maintaining this
vehicle or failing to correct a
problem before driving can
cause a crash in which you
can be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the inspection
and maintenance
recommendations and
schedules in this owner’s
manual.
Maintenance Safety
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202Care and Maintenance
This section includes instructions
for simple maintenance tasks,
such as checking and adding oil.
Any service items not detailed in
this section should be performed
by a Honda technician or other
qualified mechanic.
Some of the most important safety
precautions are given below.
However, we cannot warn you of
every conceivable hazard that can
arise in performing maintenance.
Only you can decide whether or
not you should perform a given
task.
Failure to properly follow
maintenance instructions and
precautions can cause you to
be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the procedures
and precautions in this owner
’s
manual.
Important Safety Precautions
Before you begin any
maintenance, make sure your
vehicle is parked on level ground
and that the parking brake is on.
Also, be sure the engine is off.
This will help to eliminate several
potential hazards:
•Carbon monoxide poisoning
from engine exhaust.
Be sure
there is adequate ventilation
whenever you operate the engine.
•Burns from hot parts. Let the
engine and exhaust system cool
before touching any parts.
•Injury from moving parts. Do
not run the engine unless
instructed to do so.
Read the instructions before you
begin, and make sure you have
the tools and skills required.
To reduce the possibility of fire or
explosion, be careful when
working around gasoline or
batteries. Use a commercially
available degreaser or parts
cleaner, not gasoline, to clean
parts. Keep cigarettes, sparks, and
flames away from the battery and
all fuel-related parts.
You should wear eye protection
and protective clothing when
working near the battery or when
using compressed air.
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203Care and Maintenance
The Maintenance Schedule
specifies how often you should
have your vehicle serviced and
what things need attention. It is
essential that you have your
vehicle serviced as scheduled to
retain its high level of safety,
dependability, and emission
control performance.
The services and time or distance
intervals shown in the
maintenance schedule assume you
will use your vehicle as normal
transportation. You should:
•
Avoid exceeding your vehicle’s
load limit. This puts excess
stress on the engine, brakes, and
many other parts of your vehicle.
The load limit is shown on the
label on the driver’s doorjamb.
• Operate your vehicle on
reasonable roads within the
legal speed limit.
• Drive your vehicle regularly over
a distance of several miles
(kilometers).
• Always use unleaded gasoline
with the proper octane rating
(see page 200).
Your authorized Honda dealer
knows your vehicle best and can
provide competent, efficient
service. However, service at a
dealer is not mandatory to keep
your warranties in effect.
Maintenance may be done by any
qualified service facility or person
who is skilled in this type of
automotive service. Keep all the
receipts as proof of completion,
and have the person who does the
work fill out the Maintenance Record. Check your warranty
booklet for more information.
We recommend the use of
Genuine Honda parts and fluids
whenever you have maintenance
done. These are manufactured to
the same high-quality standards as
the original components, so you
can be confident of their
performance and durability.
U.S. Vehicles:
Maintenance, replacement or repair
of emission control devices and
systems may be done by any
automotive repair establishment or
individual using parts that are
“certified” to EPA standards.
Maintenance Schedule
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•
* 1
* 2Under severe driving conditions, service these items more often. –These fluids: brake, clutch, P/S, battery, ATF,
Using SAE 10W-40 oil, or any viscosity other than those recommended, may reduce engin\
e life and affect the warranty. windshield washer
This service is recommended only. – Tire pressure
204 Care and Maintenance
R – Replace L – Lube I – Inspect After inspection, clean, adjust, repair or replace if necessary.Service at the interval listed x1 000 il ( k ) ft th tx 1,000 miles7.51522.53037.54552.56067.57582.59097.5105Service at the interval listed x1,000 miles (or km) or after thatnumber of months whicheverx 1,000 km1224364860728496108120132144156168number of months, whichever
comes first.months612182430364248546066727884
Engine and TransmissionAir cleaner elementRRR
Fuel tank, cap, pipes, hoses and connectionsI
Spark plugsR
•Engine oil and oil filter * 1RRRRRRRRRRRRRREngine drive beltIII
Cooling system, heater hoses, and connectionsIIIIIII•Engine coolantRRR
Timing beltR*
2
Exhaust systemIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Starter safety switchIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Auto cruise control linkage and hoseIIIIIII
Radiator core and A/C condenserI
Manual transmission oil and transfer case oilRRRRAutomatic transmissionSee page 216.
Shift-on-the-fly systemIIIIValve clearanceAdjust only if noisy.
Check oil and coolant level at each fuel stop.Inspect monthly:
Maintenance Schedule
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•
•Repeated short trips in cold weather
• Driving in dusty areas •
Frequent idling and/or frequent low-speed operation
• Towing a trailer Change engine oil and filter
–Every 3,750 miles (6,000 km)
or 3 months
Change rear axle oil –Every 15,000 miles (24,000 km)
205Care and Maintenance
R – Replace L – Lube I – Inspect After inspection, clean, adjust, repair or replace if necessary.
Service at the interval listed x1 000 il ( k ) ft th tx 1,000 miles7.51522.53037.54552.56067.57582.59097.5105Service at the interval listed x1,000 miles (or km) or after thatnumber of months whicheverx 1,000 km1224364860728496108120132144156168number of months, whichever
comes first.months612182430364248546066727884
Steering and suspension, miscellaneousFront and rear axle oilRRRRPropeller shaft flange torqueIIIIIII
Front and rear propeller shaftsLLLLLLLLLL
Body and chassisLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
Front wheel bearingsRepack bearings when replacing front brake pads.Power steering fluidRRR
Tires (inspect and rotate)IIIIIIIIIIIIII
Suspension and steeringIIIIIIIIIIIIIIBrakes/ClutchBrake discs; calipers and padsIIIIIII
Brake drums, wheel cylinders and liningsIIIIIIIBrake lines and hosesIIIIIIIIIIIIIIParking brakeIIIIIIIBrake pedal playIIIIIIIClutch pedal playIIIIIIIClutch pedal spring, bushing and clevis pinLLLLLLL
Clutch lines and hosesIII
Check oil and coolant level at each fuel stop.
Under severe driving conditions, service these items more often. These c\
onditions are: Service for severe driving conditions