Page 279 of 380

The air cleaner element should be
cleaned or replaced according to the
time and distance recommendations
in the maintenance schedule.
Clean the air cleaner element by
blowing compressed air through it in
the opposite direction to normal air
f low. If you do not have access to
compressed air (such as a service
station), ask your Honda dealer to do
this service.
Follow the replacement procedure
for removal and reinstallation.
Always use Honda Power Steering
Fluid. If it is not available, you may
use another power steering f luid as
an emergency replacement.
However, continued use can cause
increased wear and poor steering in
cold weather. Have the power
steering system f lushed and ref illed
with Honda PSF as soon as possible.
A low power steering f luid level can
indicate a leak in the system. Check
the f luid level f requently and have
the system inspected as soon as
possible.
A ir Cleaner Element
Cleaning (Severe Condit ions)
Power Steering, A ir Cleaner Element
Maint enance286
T urning the steering wheel to f ull lef t
or right lock and holding it there can
damage the power steering pump.
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Page 298 of 380

Every time you check inf lation, you
should also examine the tires f or
damage, f oreign objects, and wear.
Youshouldlookfor:Bumps or bulges in the tread or
side of the tire. Replace the tire if
youfindeitherof theseconditions.
Cuts, splits, or cracks in the side
of the tire. Replace the tire if you
can see f abric or cord.
Excessive tread wear. In addition to proper inf lation,
correct wheel alignment helps to
decrease tire wear. If you f ind a tire
is worn unevenly, have your dealer
check the wheel alignment.
The tires were properly balanced by
the factory. They may need to be
rebalanced at some time bef ore they
are worn out. Have your dealer
check the tires if you f eel a consis-
tent vibration while driving. A tire
should always be rebalanced if it is
removed f rom the wheel f or repair.
Your car’s tires have wear indicators
molded into the tread. When the
tread wears down to that point, you
will see a 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) wide
band running across the tread. This
shows there is less than 1/16 inch
(1.6 mm) of tread lef t on the tire. A
tire that is this worn gives very little
traction on wet roads. You should
replace the tire if you can see the
tread wear indicator in three or more
places around the tire.
CONT INUED
Inspection
Maintenance
Tires
Maint enance305
INDICATOR LOCATION MARKS
TREAD WEAR INDICATORS
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Page 299 of 380

When shopping f or replacement
tires, you may find that some tires
are ‘‘directional.’’ This means they
are designed to rotate only in one
direction. If you use directional tires,they should be rotated only front-to-
back.
Make sure the installer balances the
wheels when you have new tires
installed. This increases riding
comf ort and tire lif e. Your car’s
original tires were dynamic or ‘‘spin’’
balanced at the f actory. For best
results, have the installer perf orm a
dynamic balance. The tires that came with your car
were selected to match the perform-
ance capabilities of the car while
providing the best combination of
handling, ride comf ort, and long lif e.
Youshouldreplacethemwithradial
tires of the same size, load range,
speed rating, and maximum cold tire
pressure rating (as shown on the
tire’s sidewall). Mixing radial and
bias-ply tires on your car can reduce
its braking ability, traction, and
steering accuracy.
To help increase tire lif e and
distribute wear more evenly, you
should have the tires rotated every
10,000 miles (16,000 km). Move the
tires to the positions shown in the
chart each time they are rotated.
(U.S. LX, EX and EX-V6 models) Tire Rotation
Replacing T ires and Wheels
Maint enance
Tires
306
(For Non-directional
Tires and Wheels)Front Front
(For Directional
Tires and Wheels)Improper wheel weights can damage
your car’s aluminum wheels. Use only
Honda wheel weights f or balancing.
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Page 300 of 380

It is best to replace all f our tires at
thesametime.If thatisnotpossible
or necessary, then replace the two
f ront tires or the two rear tires as a
pair. Replacing just one tire can
seriously af f ect your car’s handling.
TheABSworksbycomparingthe
speed of the wheels. When replacing
tires, use the same size originally
supplied with the car. Tire size and
construction can af f ect wheel speed
and may cause the system to workinconsistently.
If you ever need to replace a wheel,
make sure the wheel’s specif ications
match those of the original wheel
that came on your car. Replacement
wheels are available at your Honda
dealer.
Wheel:
Tire:
See page f or inf ormation about
DOT Tire Quality Grading.
DX and LX models
All EX models
LX-V6 model LX model
All EX and V6 models
DX model
367
Wheels and T ires
Tires
Maint enance307
15x61/2JJ P195/65R15 89H
16x61/2JJ(Aluminumwheels only) P205/65R15 92H
P205/60R16 91V
16x61/2JJ(Steelwheelsonly)
Installing improper tires on your
car can affect handling and
stability. This can cause a crash
in which you can be seriously
hurt or killed.
Always use the size and type of
tires recommended in this
owner’s manual.
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Page 301 of 380

´
Tires that are marked ‘‘M S’’ or
‘‘All Season’’ on the sidewall have an
all-weather tread design. They
should be suitable f or most winter
driving conditions. Tires without
these markings are designed f or
optimum traction in dry conditions.
They may not provide adequate
perf ormance in winter driving.
For the best perf ormance in snowy
or icy conditions, you should install
snow tires or tire chains. They may
be required by local laws under
certain conditions. If you mount snow tires on your
Honda, make sure they are radial
tires of the same size and load range
as the original tires. Mount snow
tiresonallfourwheelstobalance
your car’s handling in all weather
conditions. Keep in mind the traction
provided by snow tires on dry roads
may not be as high as your car’s
original equipment tires. You should
drive cautiously even when the roads
are clear. Check with the tire dealer
f or maximum speed recommenda-
tions.Mount snow chains on your tires
when required by driving conditions
or local laws. Install them only on the
f ront tires.
Because your car has limited tire
clearance, Honda strongly
recommends using the chains listed
below, made by Security Chain
Company (SCC).
Link-type: SCC Quick Grip QG1130
Cable-types: SCC Radial Chain
CH2311T or SCC SC Cable SC1030
Link-type: SCC Quick Grip QG1134
Cable-types: SCC Radial Chain
CH2311T or SCC SC Cable SC1030
Cable-types: SCC Radial Chain
CH2311T or SCC SC Cable SC1030
DX
LXEX and V6
Winter DrivingSnow T ires T ire Chains
Maint enance
Tires
308
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Page 307 of 380
Push the electrical connector back
onto the bulb. Make sure it is on
all the way.
Turn on the headlights to test the
new bulb.
Reinstall the air intake cover.
Reinstall the two fasteners and
secure them by pushing on the
heads until they lock.Use a f lat-tipped screwdriver to
remove the two holding clips f rom
the inner f ender.Pull the inner f ender cover away
f rom the f ender and bumper.
(Passenger’s side) Remove the electrical connector
fromthebulbbysqueezingthe
connector to unlock the tab, then
slide the connector of f the bulb.
Remove the bulb by turning it
approximately one-quarter turn
counterclockwise.
If you are changing the bulb on
the passenger’s side, start the
engine, turn the steering wheel all
the way to the left, and turn off the
engine. If you are changing the
bulb on the driver’s side, turn the
steering wheel to the right.
6. 7.
5.
3.4. 5.
1. 2.
L ow Beam Headlight
Lights
Maint enance314
HOLDING CLIPS
TAB BULB
6-cylinder models
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Page 308 of 380
Turn on the headlights to test the
new bulb.
Push the electrical connector back
onto the bulb. Make sure it is on
all the way.
Insert the new bulb into the hole
and turn it one-quarter turn clock-
wise to lock it in place.
Put the inner f ender cover in place.
Install the two holding clips. Lock
each one in place by pushing on
the center.
If you are changing the bulb on
the passenger’s side, start the
engine, turn the steering wheel all
the way to the left, and turn off the
engine. If you are changing the
bulb on the driver’s side, turn the
steering wheel to the right.
Use a f lat-tipped screwdriver to
remove the holding clips f rom the
inner f ender.Pull the inner f ender cover away
f rom the f ender and bumper.
Remove the socket from the
headlight assembly by turning it
one-quarter turn counterclockwise.
1.
3.
2. 4.
9.
8.
7.
6.
CONT INUED
Replacing a Front T urn Signal/
Parking L ight Bulbs
Lights
Maint enance315
HOLDING CLIPS
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Page 316 of 380

Block the rear wheels.
Fill the f uel tank.
Wash and dry the exterior
completely.
Cleantheinterior.Makesurethe
carpeting, floor mats, etc. are
completely dry.
Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in Reverse
(5-speed manual) or Park
(automatic).
If you need to park your car f or an
extended period (more than one
month), there are several things you
should do to prepare it f or storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to
get your car back on the road. If
possible, store your car indoors.
If the car is to be stored for a
longer period, it should be
supported on jackstands so the
tires are of f the ground.
Leave one window open slightly (if
the car is being stored indoors).
Disconnect the battery.
Support the f ront wiper blade
arms with a f olded towel or rag so
they do not touch the windshield.
To minimize sticking, apply a
silicone spray lubricant to all door
and trunk seals. Also, apply a car
body wax to the painted surf aces
that mate with the door and trunk
seals.
Change the engine oil and f ilter
(see page ).
If you store your car f or 1 year or
longer, have your Honda dealer
perf orm the inspections as soon as
youtakeitoutof storage(seepages
, ). The 6-cylinder model
needs the inspections called f or in
the 2 years/30,000 miles (48,000 km)
maintenance schedule (Normal
Conditions) and the 4-cylinder model
needs the inspections called f or in
the 2 years/40,000 miles (64,000 km)
maintenance schedule (Normal
Conditions). The replacements
called f or in the maintenance
schedule are not needed unless the
car has actually reached that time or
mileage.
Coverthecarwitha‘‘breathable’’
cover, one made f rom a porous
material such as cotton. Nonporous materials, such as
plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint.
If possible, run the engine f or a
while periodically (pref erably once
amonth).
270 250 255
St oring Your Car
Maint enance323
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