Page 169 of 277
Remove the reserve tank f rom its 
holder by pulling it straight up.
Drain the coolant, then put the
tank back in its holder.When the coolant stops draining,
tightenthedrainplugatthe
bottom of the radiator.
Apply non-hardening sealant to the
drain bolt threads, put a new
washer on the drain bolt, and
reinstall the bolt in the engine
block. Tighten it securely.
Tightening torque:
Loosen the bleeder bolt on top of
the engine, and remove the
bleeder cap near the engine oil f ill
cap.
5. 6.
7.
Cooling Syst em
Maint enance
170
RREESSEERRVVEETTAANNKKCCAAPP
HHOOLLDDEERRRREESSEERRVVEETTAANNKK
BBLLEEEEDDEERRBBOOLLTT
61 lbf·ft (83 N·m , 8.5 kgf·m) 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 170 of 277
CONT INUED
Fill the reserve tank to the MAX 
mark. Install the reserve tank cap. 
Install the radiator cap, and 
tighten it to the first stop. 
Start the engine and let it run until 
the radiator fan comes on two
times. Then stop the engine.
Pour Honda All Season
Antif reeze/Coolant Type 2 into
the radiator up to the base of the
f iller neck. This coolant is a
mixture of 50 percent antif reeze
and 50 percent water. Pre-mixing
is not required.
The cooling system capacity is:
Pour coolant into the radiator up
to the base of the f iller neck.
Start the engine and let it run f or
about 30 seconds. Then turn of f
the engine.
Tighten the bleeder bolt and
reinstall the bleeder cap when
coolant comes out in a steady
stream with no bubbles.
9.
10. 11. 12. 13.14.
8.
Cooling Syst em
Maint enance
171
BBLLEEEEDDEERRCCAAPP
FFIILLLLEERRNNEECCKK
RREESSEERRVVEETTAANNKKFFiilllluuppttoohheerree
1.72 US gal (6.5
, 1.43 Imp gal) 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 171 of 277
Remove the radiator cap. 
Pour coolant into the radiator up 
to the base of the f iller neck and
into the reserve tank up to the
MAX mark. 
Start the engine and hold it at 
1,500 rpm until the radiator f an
comes on. Turn of f the engine.
Check the coolant level in the
radiator and add coolant if needed. 
Install the radiator cap, and 
tighten it fully. 
If necessary, f ill the reserve tank 
to the MAX mark. Install the
reserve tank cap.
15. 16. 17. 18. 19.
Cooling Syst em
Maint enance
172 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 230 of 277

If the temperature gauge stays at 
the red mark, turn of f the engine.
If you do not see steam or spray,
leave the engine running and
watch the temperature gauge. If
the high heat is due to overloading
(climbing a long, steep hill on a
hot day with the A/C running, f or
example), the engine should start
to cool down almost immediately.
If it does, wait until the tempera-
ture gauge comes down to the mid-
point then continue driving.
Your car can overheat f or several
reasons, such as lack of coolant or a
mechanical problem. The only
indicationmaybethetemperature
gauge climbing to or above the red
mark. Or you may see steam or
spray coming f rom under the car or
engine cover. In either case, you
should take immediate action.
The reading on your car’s
temperature gauge should stay in
the midrange under most conditions.
Itmaygohigherif youaredrivingup
a long steep hill on a very hot day. If
it climbs to the red mark, you should
determine the reason.
Saf ely pull to the side of the road.
Put the transmission in Neutral
and set the parking brake. Turn
of f the heating and cooling system
andallotheraccessories.Turnon
the hazard warning indicators. 
If you see steam and/or spray 
coming f rom under the hood, turn
of f the engine.Wait until you see no more signs
of steam or spray, then open thehood.
1. 3. 4. 5.
2.
CONT INUED
If Your Engine Overheats
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed 231
Steam and spray from an 
overheated engine can
seriously scald you. 
Do not open the hood if steam 
is coming out.
Driving with the temperature gauge
reading at the red mark can cause
serious damage to your engine. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 231 of 277

Look f or any obvious coolant leaks, 
such as a split radiator hose.
Everything is still extremely hot,
so use caution. If you f ind a leak, it
must be repaired bef ore you
continue driving (seeon page ). If you don’t f ind an obvious leak,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank (see page
). If the level is below the
MIN mark, add coolant to halfway
between the MIN and MAX marks. Using gloves or a large heavy
cloth, turn the radiator cap
counterclockwise, without pushing
down, to the f irst stop. This
releases any remaining pressure in
the cooling system. After the
pressure releases, push down on
the cap and turn it until it comes
off.
If there was no coolant in the
reserve tank, you may also have to
add coolant to the radiator. Let the
engine cool down until the reading
reaches the middle of the
temperature gauge, or lower,
bef ore checking the radiator.
6.
7.9.
8.
247 126
Emergency
Towing
If Your Engine Overheats
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
232 Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you. 
Always let the engine and 
radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 232 of 277
Start the engine and set the 
temperature control dial to
maximum. Add coolant to the
radiator up to the base of the f iller
neck. If you do not have the
proper coolant mixture available,
you can add plain water.
Remember to have the cooling
system drained and ref illed with
the proper mixture as soon as you
can.Put the radiator cap back on
tightly. Run the engine and watch
the temperature gauge. If it goes
back to the red mark, the engine
needs repair. (See
on page .) If the temperature stays normal,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. If it has
gone down, add coolant to the
MAX mark. Put the cap back on
tightly.
10.
12.
11.
247Emergency
Towing
If Your Engine Overheats
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed 233 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 251 of 277

Î ÎÎ Î
T echnical Inf ormation
Specif ications
252 Engine
Dimensions 
Weights
Capacities
162.0 in (4,115 mm) 
68.9 in (1,750 mm)
50.6 in (1,285 mm)
94.5 in (2,400 mm)
57.9 in (1,470 mm)
59.4 in (1,510 mm) 13.2 US gal (50
, 11.0 Imp gal)
Water cooled 4-stroke DOHC
VTEC 4-cylinder gasoline engine
Type 
BorexStroke 
Displacement
Compression ratio
Spark plugs 121.8 cu-in (1,997 cm
)
11.0 : 1 1.72 US gal (6.5
, 1.43 Imp gal)
2.01 US gal (7.6, 1.67 Imp gal)
Length 
Width
Height
Wheelbase
Track 
Gross vehicle weight rating See the certification label attached
to the driver’s doorjamb. Fuel tank 
Engine coolant 
Engine oil Manual 
transmission
fluid
Differential
oil
Windshield
washer
reservoir5.1 US qt (4.8
, 4.2 Imp qt)
4.8 US qt (4.5, 4.0 Imp qt)
5.9 US qt (5.6, 4.9 Imp qt)
1.6 US qt (1.5, 1.3 Imp qt)
1.7 US qt (1.6, 1.4 Imp qt)
0.78 US qt (0.74
,0.65Impqt)
0.81 US qt (0.77,0.68Impqt)
2.7 US qt (2.6, 2.3 Imp qt)
4.4 US qt (4.2, 3.7 Imp qt)
Including the coolant in the reserve tank and that remaining in the 
engine.
Reserve tank capacity:
0.16 US gal (0.6
, 0.13 Imp gal)
Excluding the oil remaining in the engine.
3.43 x 3.31 in (87.0 x 84.0 mm)
See the spark plug maintenance 
section, page 181 .
FrontRear
1: 2:Change Total
Change Total 
ChangeTotal 
Change Total
U.S. Cars
Canadian Cars
1 2
Including filter 
Without filter 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 269 of 277

Changing Oil........................................
How to . 165
......................................
When to . 152
....................
Changing a Flat Tire . 221
............
Changing Engine Coolant . 169
...
Charging System Indicator . 44, 235
...............
Check Engine Light . 45, 236
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving . 136
.....................................
Child Saf ety . 19
.......................................
Child Seats . 22
...................................
Cleaner, Air . 178
.........................................
Cleaning . 209
....................
Aluminum Wheels . 212
...................................
Carpeting . 213
......................................
Exterior . 210
.................................
Floor Mats . 213
.......................................
Interior . 213
.......................................
Leather . 214
...................................
Seat Belts . 214
...........................................
Vinyl . 214
....................................
Windows . 215
...................................
Clutch Fluid . 177
........................
CO in the Exhaust . 258
............
Cold Weather, Starting in . 138
......................
Compact Spare Tire . 220
.............
Controls, Instruments and . 41 ................................
Covertible Top . 70
...............
Convertible Top Cover . 75
..
Lowering the Convertible Top . 70
................................
Maintenance . 76
........
Raising the Covertible Top . 73
Coolant ........................................
Adding . 167
....................................
Checking . 126
.........................
Proper Solution . 167
...................
Temperature Gauge . 47
....................
Corrosion Protection . 215 
Crankcase Emission Control
........................................
System . 258
..............
Cruise Control Operation . 55
Customer Relations
................................
Inf ormation . 264
..............................
Economy, Fuel . 127
............
Emergencies on the Road . 219
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 228
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 221
.....
Charging System Indicator . 235
..................
Checking the Fuses . 241
................
DANGER, Explanation of . ii
.......................................
Dashboard . 42
................
Daytime Running Lights . 52
............
Defects, Reporting Safety . 268
................
Defrosting the Windows . 89
....................................
Dimensions . 252
...............
Dimming the Headlights . 51 Dipstick
..................................
Engine Oil . 125
..........................
Directional Signals . 53
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators . 142
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil . 166
...................
Do Not Tow a Trailer . 147
Doors
..............
Locking and Unlocking . 60
..............................
Monitor Light . 45
......................
Power Door Locks . 60
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 254
Downshif ting, 6-speed Manual
.............................
Transmission . 140
...........................................
Driving . 135
....................................
Economy . 127
.........................
In Bad Weather . 146
................
In Foreign Countries . 257
Index
D
E
II