
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.

Slow down by shif ting to a lower
gear, and pull to the side of the road
when it is saf e. Because of the
longer distance needed to stop, it is
hazardous to drive the car. You
should have it towed, and repaired as
soon as possible.
If it comes on at any other time, it
indicates a problem with the car’s
brake system. In most cases, the
problem is a low f luid level in the
brake f luid reservoir. Press lightly on
the brake pedal to see if it f eels
normal. If it does, check the brake
f luid level the next time you stop at a
service station (see page ). If the
fluid level is low, take the car to your
dealer and have the brake system
inspected f or leaks or worn brake
pads.
However, if the brake pedal does not
f eel normal, you should take
immediate action. Because of the
brake system’s dual-circuit design, a
problem in one part of the system
will still give you braking at two
wheels. You will f eel the brake pedal
go down much f arther bef ore the car
begins to slow down, and you will
have to press harder on the pedal.
The distance needed to stop will be
much longer. If you must drive the car a short
distance in this condition, drive
slowly and cautiously.
The Brake System Indicator
normallycomesonwhenyouturn
the ignition switch ON (II). It is a
reminder to check the parking brake.
It comes on and stays lit if you do not
f ully release the parking brake. 176
Brake System Indicator
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
238
BBRRAAKKEESSYYSSTTEEMMIINNDDIICCAATTOORR

The auxiliary f use box is located on
thedriver’ssidenearthebrakefluid
reservoir. To open it, push the tab on
each side and remove the lid.If something electrical in your car
stops working, the f irst thing you
should check f or is a blown f use.
Determine f rom the chart on pages
and , or the diagram on the
f use box lid, which f use or f uses
control that component. Check those
f uses f irst, but check all the f uses
bef ore deciding that a blown f use is
not the cause. Replace any blown
f uses and check the component’s
operation.
Turn the ignition switch to LOCK
(0). Make sure the headlights and
all other accessories are off.
Remove the cover f rom the f use
box. Check each of the large f uses in
the under-hood f use box by
looking through the top at the wire
inside. Removing these f uses
requires a Phillips-head screw-
driver.
1. 2. 3.
243 244
CONT INUED
Checking and Replacing Fuses
Fuses
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
241
BBLLOOWWNN

Then drive in city/suburban
traffic for at least 10 minutes.
When traf f ic conditions allow, let
the vehicle coast f or several
seconds without using the
accelerator pedal or the brake
pedal.
Select a nearby lightly traveled
major highway where you can
maintain a speed of 50 to 60 mph
(80to97km/h)foratleast20
minutes. Drive on the highway in 5
th. Do not use the cruise control.
When traffic allows, drive for 90
seconds without moving the
accelerator pedal. (Vehicle speed
may vary slightly; this is okay.) If
you cannot do this f or a
continuous 90 seconds because of
traf f ic conditions, drive f or at least
30 seconds, then repeat it two
more times (for a total of 90
seconds). If the testing f acility determines the
readiness codes are still not set, see
your Honda dealer.
St at e Emissions T est ing
T echnical Inf ormation
262

CONT INUED
Accessories.................................
Installation . 128
...............
Accessory Power Socket . 80
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key
.......................................
Position) . 59
....................
Additives, Engine Oil . 164
.....................................
Airbag (SRS) . 9
.....................
Air Cleaner Element . 178
..............................
Air Conditioning . 84
..............................
Maintenance . 188
............................................
Usage . 84
.........................
Air Outlets (Vents) . 86
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires . 191
...........................
Alarm, Anti-theft . 116
.......................
Alcohol in Gasoline . 256
.......
Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning . 212
......................................
Antif reeze . 167
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
....................
Indicator Light . 45, 145
...................................
Operation . 143
.
Anti-thef t Steering Column Lock . 58
..........................
Anti-thef t System . 116
..........................
Appearance Care . 209
......................................
Audio Panel . 80 ..................................
Audio System . 92
................
Automatic Car Washes . 210
...............
Automatic Speed Control . 55
........
Back-up Lamp Replacement . 204
Battery
Charging System ...........................
Indicator . 44, 235
............................
Jump Starting . 228
..............................
Maintenance . 183
............................
Specif ications . 253
..............................
Bef ore Driving . 121
..........................................
Belts, Seat . 8
.............................
Beverage Holder . 80
...................................
Body Repair . 217
............................................
Brakes . 142
...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) . 143
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 122
....................
Bulb Replacement . 204
...........................................
Fluid . 176
.........................................
Parking . 79
.........................
System Indicator . 44
..............
Wear Indicators, Disc . 142
.............................
Braking System . 142 ........................
Break-in, New Car . 122
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 52
........................
Brights, Headlights . 51
.........................
Bulb Replacement . 200
..........................
Back-up Lights . 204
..............................
Brake Lights . 204
.................................
Headlights . 200
.................
License Plate Lights . 206
..................
Side Marker Lights . 202
............................
Specif ications . 253
....................
Turn Signal Lights . 202
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen . 200
............................
Capacities Chart . 252
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 39
............................
Cargo, Carrying . 130
..............
CAUTION, Explanation of . ii
...................................
CD Changer . 106
........................
Certif ication Label . 250
............................................
Chains . 197
Index
B
A
C
I

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

CONT INUED
...
Closing the Convertible Top . 239
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 234
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 236
..................
Overheated Engine . 231
...........................
Emergency Brake . 79
......................
Emergency Flashers . 78
............
Emergency Trunk Opener . 65
.......................
Emissions Controls . 258
.............
Emissions Testing, State . 261 Engine
...........
Check Engine Light . 45, 236
Compartment, Checking
......................................
in the . 124
.......................................
Coolant . 126
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 47
...................................
Drive Belt . 190
Malf unction Indicator
................................
Lamp . 45, 236
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 44, 234
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 163
...............................
Overheating . 231
............................
Specif ications . 252
............................
Speed Limiter . 140
.......................................
Starting . 137
.........
Engine Cover, Opening the . 124
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline . 256 ...
Evaporative Emission Controls . 258
...............................
Exhaust Fumes . 39
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
........................................
Belts by . 17
..................
Exterior, Cleaning the . 210
..........................................
Gasohol . 256
.........................................
Gasoline . 122
...............
Fuel Reserve Indicator . 46
...........................................
Gauge . 48
................
Octane Requirement . 122
.....................
Oxygenated Fuels . 256
........................
Tank, Filling the . 123
............................
Fabric, Cleaning . 214
.....................................
Fan, Interior . 84
Features, Comfort and
................................
Convenience . 83
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 123
Filters
...............................................
Oil . 165
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 78
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 221
Fluids
..........................................
Brake . 176
.........................................
Clutch . 177
..............
Manual Transmission . 174
..................
Windshield Washer . 173
........
FM Stereo Radio Reception . 101
.....
Foreign Countries, Driving in . 257
..........................
Four-way Flashers . 78 .................................................
Fuel . 122
......................
Fill Door and Cap . 123
...........................................
Gauge . 48
................
Octane Requirement . 122
...............................
Oxygenated . 256
........................
Reserve Indicator . 46
........................
Tank, Filling the . 123
..............
Fuel Mileage, Improving . 127
..............
Fuel Station Procedures . 123
.....................
Fuses, Checking the . 241
Index
F
G
III

CONT INUED
...
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 44, 234
...
Lubricant Specif ications Chart . 252
.........................................
Luggage . 130
..................................
Maintenance . 149
...
Owner Maintenance Checks . 161
........................................
Record . 159
....................................
Schedule . 152
..
Maintenance Required Indicator . 49
.
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 45, 236
...................
Manual Transmission . 139
........
Manual Transmission Fluid . 174
...............................
Meters, Gauges . 47
...................
Methanol in Gasoline . 256
..........................
Mirrors, Adjusting . 78
..................
New Vehicle Break-in . 122
.....................
Normal Shif t Speeds . 140
..................
NOTICE, Explanation of . ii
...............
Numbers, Identif ication . 250 ...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline . 122
.........................................
Odometer . 48
...............................
Odometer, Trip . 48
Oil
........................
Change, How to . 165
......................
Change, When to . 152
......................
Checking Engine . 125
..............
Pressure Indicator . 44, 234
Selecting Proper Viscosity
......................................
Chart . 164
...........
ON (Ignition Key Position) . 59
.........................
Opening the Trunk . 64
..
Operation in Foreign Countries . 257
..............................
Outside Mirrors . 78
....................
Overheating, Engine . 231
.........................
Oxygenated Fuels . 256
..............................
Paint Touch-up . 212
..............
Panel Brightness Control . 52
.................................
Parking Brake . 79
.................................
Parking Lights . 51
.............................
PGM-FI System . 259 ..................
Polishing and Waxing . 211
Power
..................................
Door Locks . 60
..............
Engine, Specif ications . 252
.........................................
Mirrors . 78
......................................
Windows . 68
.........
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
...................
Radiator Overheating . 231
.......................
Radio Sound System . 92
...........................
Readiness Codes . 261
..
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement . 204
............................
Rear View Mirror . 78
................
Reclining the Seat-backs . 67
.......
Recommended Shif t Speeds . 140
Index
M N O P
R
V