
11 9Comfort and Convenience Features
The heating and air conditioning
system in your vehicle provides a
comfortable driving environment
in all weather conditions.
The audio system has many
features. This section describes
those features and how to use
them.
Heating and Cooling 120
. . . . . .
Ventilation 122 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Audio System125 . . . . . . . . . . . .
AM/FM/Cassette Stereo
Audio System (LX, EX)125 Operating the Radio 125 . .
Adjusting the Sound 127 . .
Operating the
Cassette Player 128 . . . . .
Caring for the
Cassette Player 130 . . . . .
Operating the Optional
CD Changer131 . . . . . . . .
AM/FM/Cassette/
CD Changer Stereo
Audio System (EX-L)133 . .
Operating the Radio 133 . .
Adjusting the Sound 135 . .
Radio Frequencies 136 . . .
Operating the
Cassette Player 138 . . . . .
Caring for the
Cassette Player 141 . . . . . Operating the
CD Changer142
. . . . . . . .
Protecting
Compact Discs146 . . . . . .
Cruise Control 147 . . . . . . . . . . .
Keyless Entry 151 . . . . . . . . . . .
Anti-Theft System 152 . . . . . . . .
Digital Clock 153 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Comfort and Convenience Features

FACEFOOT
DEFROST
FOOT/DEFROST
AIR SELECTOR KNOB
BI-LEVEL
AIR-SOURCE
OUTSIDE AIR
FAN CONTROL LEVER
AIR CONDITIONING BUTTON
TEMPERATURE
SELECTOR LEVER
USE BI-LEVEL IN THIS
RANGE FOR COOL
UPPER LEVEL AIR AND
WARM FLOOR LEVEL AIR
CONTROL KNOB
RECIRCULATED AIR
120Comfort and Convenience Features This system combines heating and
cooling capabilities for comfort in
all weather conditions.
During air conditioning operation,
slight increases and decreases in
engine speed/power may be
noticed. This is normal, as the
system is designed to cycle the
compressor
ON and OFF to
maintain desired cooling. The
reduced compressor operation
should benefit fuel economy.
Air Conditioning Switch
Push this switch to operate the air
conditioning system. The light-
emitting diode in this switch lights
to show the system is operating.
To turn off the air conditioning,
push this switch in again.
Air conditioning will not operate
without the fan control lever in
one of the “
ON” positions.
Heating and Cooling

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.

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

171Driving Tips
air cleaner, so it’
s important to
replace the air cleaner filter at
required intervals. See “Care and
Maintenance.” A dirty air cleaner
filter reduces engine performance
and can waste fuel.
Air Conditioning
Turn off the air conditioning when
it is not needed. The air
conditioning compressor is not on
in this position and the reduced
engine load can improve fuel
economy.
Tuned Engine
An engine that is properly
maintained will provide better
fuel economy than one that is not.
One misfiring spark plug will cut
fuel economy significantly, and
will make a difference in the
amount of pollution emitted from
your vehicle. Excessive Weight
Fuel economy is related to the
work the engine must do. The
heavier the load, the more fuel it
takes to run your vehicle. Keep
weight to a minimum by removing
unnecessary luggage or cargo.
Tire Inflation
Underinflation not only causes
needless tire wear but can also
waste fuel. It’
s a good idea to
check tire pressure often and keep
your tires inflated to the pressures
shown on the tire placard located
on the driver ’s doorjamb. Wheel Alignment
Improper alignment will cause the
front tires to roll at an angle that
will result in faster tire wear. It
takes power to overcome this
improper alignment, which, in
turn, wastes fuel.
Use of 4-Wheel Drive
In normal driving, put the
4WD-2WD switch in the 2WD
position.

185In Case of Emergency
If a battery sits in extreme cold,
the electrolyte inside can freeze.
Attempting to jump start a frozen
battery can cause it to rupture.
4. Jumper Cable Connection Instructions:
Make connections
in numerical order.
DISCHARGED
VEHICLE CHARGED
VEHICLE
1
st CABLE
2
ndCABLE
Make last connection
on engine away from
the battery. Do not allow the
vehicles to touch.2
3
14
•12
and Connect the first
jumper cable from the
positive “+” (red) terminal
on one battery to the
positive “+” (red) terminal
on the other battery. Never
connect “+” (red) to “–”
(black) or “–” to “+.”
•3 Next, connect one end
of the second cable to the
grounded negative “–”
(black) terminal of the good
(charged) battery.
•4 Lastly, connect the other
end of the second, grounded
jumper cable to a solid,
stationary, metallic point on
the engine of the vehicle
with the discharged battery but at a point at least 18
inches (45 cm) away from
the battery. Do not connect
it to pulleys, fans, or other
parts that move. Beware of
touching hot manifolds that
can cause burns. (The
mounting brackets for the
alternator or air
conditioning compressor
generally make a good
point for this final ground
attachment point. Take care
that the jumper cable does
not contact moving parts on
or near the alternator or
compressor.)
5. Start the engine on the vehicle with the good (charged) battery
and run the engine at moderate
speed.

195Care and Maintenance
This section explains why it is
important to keep your vehicle
well maintained and to follow
basic maintenance safety
precautions.
This section also includes
Maintenance Schedules for
normal driving and severe driving
conditions, a Maintenance
Record, and instructions for
simple maintenance tasks you
may want to take care of yourself.
If you have the skills and tools
required
to perform more complex
maintenance tasks on your Honda,
you may want to purchase the
Service Manual. See page 253 for
information on how to obtain a
copy, or see your Honda dealer. Service Station Information
197
.
Fuel Fill Cap 197
. . . . . . . . . .
Fuel Recommendation 198
. . .
Fuel Tank Capacity 198
. . . . .
Engine Oil
Recommendation 198
. . . . . .
Windshield Washer 198
. . . . .
Tire Inflation Pressures 198
. .
Battery 198
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hood Release 199
. . . . . . . . . .
Engine Oil Dipstick 200
. . . . .
Fuel Requirements 200
. . . . . . . .
Oxygenated Fuels 200
. . . . . .
Maintenance Safety 201
. . . . . . .
Important Safety
Precautions 202
. . . . . . . . . .
Maintenance Schedule 203
. . . . .
Required Maintenance Record 206
Owner Safety Checks 208
. . . . . .
Engine Oil and Filter 211
. . . . . .
Proper Quality Oil 211
. . . . . . Change Interval
211
. . . . . . . .
Oil Change 212
. . . . . . . . . . .
Oil Filter Installation 212
.
Oil Viscosity 213
. . . . . . . . . .
Oil Level Check 213
. . . . . . .
Engine Oil Additives 214
. . .
Air Cleaner Filter 214
. . . . . . . .
Manual Transmission Fluid 215
Automatic Transmission
Fluid 216
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Front (4
WD) and
Rear Axles 216
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine Cooling System 217
. . .
Other Required Maintenance 219
Brake Master Cylinder 219
. .
Shift-on-the-Fly System 220
.
Front Wheel Bearings 220
. . .
Hood Latch and Hinges 221
.
Air Conditioning 221
. . . . . . .
Body Lubrication 221
. . . . . .
Care and Maintenance

210Care and Maintenance
Seat-back latches — Seat-back
latches are designed to prevent
forward motion of the seat-back
when the vehicle stops suddenly.
Check to see that the seat-back
latches are holding by pulling
forward on the top of the folding
seat-back.
Also check to see that the
reclining seats are operating
properly.
Lights and beepers — Check
panel lighting, warning lights, and
the seat belt reminder light and
beeper. Also check the key beeper
and interior lights. On the outside,
check the license plate light, side
marker lights, headlights, parking
lights, taillights, brake lights, turn
signals, backup lights and hazard
warning flashers. Have the
headlight aim checked promptly if the beams seem to be aimed
improperly.
Glass — Check for broken,
scratched or damaged glass that
could reduce visibility or cause
injury.
Door latches — Check that the
doors close, latch and lock
securely.
Hood latch — Check that the
hood closes firmly. Check for
broken, damaged, or missing parts
that might prevent secure
latching. Make sure the secondary
latch keeps the hood from
opening all the way when first
released.
Fluid leaks — Check for fuel,
water, oil or other fluid leaks by
looking at the surface beneath the
vehicle after it has been parked
for awhile. Water dripping from
the air conditioning system after
use is normal. If you notice
gasoline fumes or fluid at any
time, locate the source and have it
corrected at once.
Spare tire and jack — Check that
the spare tire and all jack gear are
securely stowed at all times.
Tailgate latch — Check that the
tailgate closes, latches and locks
securely.