This allows you to move the shif t
lever out of Park if the normal
method of pushing on the brake
pedal and pressing the release
button does not work.Set the Parking brake.
Remove the key from the ignition
switch.
Push down on the key while you
pressthereleasebuttononthe
shif t lever and move the shif t lever
out of Park to Neutral.
Insert the key in the Shift Lock
Release slot.
Put a cloth on the edge of the Shif t
Lock Release slot cover next to
the shift lever.
Use a small flat-tipped screwdriver
or small metal plate (neither are
included in the tool kit) to remove
the cover. Caref ully pry on the
edge of the cover. Remove the key from the Shift
Lock Release slot, then reinstall
thecover.Makesurethenotchon
the cover is on the lef t side.
Depress the brake pedal and
restart the engine.
If you need to use the Shif t Lock
Release, it means your car is
developing a problem. Have the car
checked by your Honda dealer.
1. 2. 3.
4.5.6.
Automatic Transmission
Driving
Shif t L ock Release
178
COVER
SHIFT LOCK
RELEASE SLOT
RELEASE BUTTON
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µDo this:
Press the brake pedal and
press the release button.
Press the release button.
Move the lever.
To shift from:
PtoR
RtoP
NtoR StoL
LtoS
StoD
DtoS
DtoN
NtoD RtoNThis position
mechanically locks the transmission.
Use Park whenever you are turning
of f or starting the engine. To shif t
outofPark,youmustpressonthe
brake pedal, have your foot off the
accelerator pedal, and press the
releasebuttononthefrontof the
shif t lever.
If you have done all of the above and
still cannot move the lever out of
Park, see Shif t Lock Release on page .
You must also press the release
button to shift into Park. To avoid
transmission damage, come to a
complete stop before shifting into
Park. The shif t lever must be in Park
bef ore you can remove the key f rom
the ignition switch.
178
Automatic Transmission (CVT)
Driving
Park (P)
180
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µMake sure the moonroof and the
windows are closed.
Make sure the parking brake is f ully
released bef ore driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or damage
the rear brakes. Turn of f the lights.
Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the trunk or take them with you.
Lockthedoorswiththekeyorthe
remote transmitter.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other f lammable
materials. The three way catalytic
converter gets very hot, and could
cause these materials to catch on
fire.
Always use the parking brake when
you park your car. The indicator on
the instrument panel shows that the
parking brake is not f ully released; it
does not indicate that the parking
brakeisfirmlyset.Makesurethe
parking brake is set f irmly or your
car may roll if it is parked on an
incline.
If your car has an automatic
transmission, set the parking brake
bef ore you put the transmission in
Park.Thiskeepsthecarfrom
moving and putting pressure on the
parking mechanism in the
transmission making it easier to
move the shift lever out of Park
when you want to drive away. If the car is f acing uphill, turn the
f ront wheels away f rom the curb. If
you have a manual transmission, put
it in f irst gear.
If the car is f acing downhill, turn the
f ront wheels toward the curb. If you
have a manual transmission, put it in
reverse gear.
Parking T ips
Driving
Parking
182
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When reporting your collision to the
insurance company, tell them you
want genuine Honda parts used in
the repair. Although most insurers
recognize the quality of original
parts, some may try to specif y that
the repairs be done with other
available parts. You should investi-
gate this before any repairs have
begun.
Takeyourcartoyourauthorized
Honda dealer f or inspection af ter the
repairs are completed. Your dealer
can make sure that quality materials
were used, and that corrosion-
preventive coatings were applied to
all repaired and replaced parts.
Body repairs can af f ect your car’s
resistance to corrosion. If your car
needs repairs af ter a collision, pay
close attention to the parts used in
the repair and the quality of the
work.
Make sure the repair f acility uses
genuine Honda replacement body
parts. Some companies make sheet
metal pieces that seem to duplicate
the original Honda body parts, but
are actually inf erior in f it, f inish, and
corrosion resistance. Once installed,
they do not give the same high-
quality appearance.
Body Repairs
Appearance Care256
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Diagnosing why your engine won’t
start f alls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
key to START (III):When you turn the ignition switch to
START (III), you do not hear the
normal noise of the engine trying to
start. You may hear a clicking sound
or series of clicks, or nothing at all.
Check these things:
You hear nothing, or almost
nothing. The engine’s starter
motor does not operate at all, or
operates very slowly.
You can hear the starter motor
operating normally, or the starter
motor sounds like it is spinning
f aster than normal, but the engine
does not start up and run. Check the transmission interlock.
If you have a manual transmission,
the clutch pedal must be pushed
all the way to the f loor or the
starter will not operate. With an
automatic transmission, it must be
in Park or Neutral.
Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
Turn on the headlights and check
their brightness. If the headlights
are very dim or don’t light at all,
the battery is discharged. See
on page . Turn the ignition switch to START
(III). If the headlights do not dim,
check the condition of the f uses. If
the f uses are OK, there is proba-
bly something wrong with the
electrical circuit f or the ignition
switch or starter motor. You will
need a qualif ied technician to
determine the problem. (See
on page .)
If the headlights dim noticeably or
go out when you try to start the
engine, either the battery is dis-
charged or the connections are
corroded. Check the condition of
the battery and terminal connec-
tions (see page ). You can
then try jump starting the car from
a booster battery (see page ).
267 283
224 267
Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
Jump Starting Emergency T owing
If Your Engine Won’t Start
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed265
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If youfindnothingwrong,youwill
need a qualif ied technician to f ind
the problem. Seeon page .
In this case, the starter motor’s
speed sounds normal, or even f aster
than normal, when you turn the
ignition switch to START (III), but
the engine does not run.
Your car has the Immobilizer
System. You should use a
properly-coded master or valet key
to start the engine (see page ).
A key that is not properly coded
will cause the immobilizer system
indicator in the dash panel to blink
rapidly.
Are you using the proper starting
procedure? Ref er to on page . Do you have f uel? Turn the
ignition switch to ON (II) for a
minute and watch the f uel gauge.
The low f uel level warning light
may not be working, so you were
not reminded to f ill the tank.
There may be an electrical
problem, such as no power to the
f uel pump. Check all the f uses
(see page ).
171 81 279
283
Emergency
Towing
T he Starter Operates Normally
Starting the
Engine
If Your Engine Won’t Start
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed266
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CONT INUED
...
Accessories and Modif ications . 163
................................
Accessories . 163
.
Additional Safety Precautions . 164
............................
Modif ications . 164
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key .......................................
Position) . 83
.............
Accessory Power Socket . 104
....................
Additives, Engine Oil . 203
.............................
Airbag (SRS) . 10, 49
.....................
Air Cleaner Element . 219
..............
Air Conditioning System . 110
..............................
Maintenance . 228
.........................................
Usage . 110
.......................
Air Outlets (Vents) . 112
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires . 232
.........................
Normal Driving . 233
.......................
Alcohol in Gasoline . 292
......................................
Antif reeze . 207
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
....................
Indicator Light . 65, 186
...................................
Operation . 184
Anti-thef t Steering Column ..............................................
Lock . 82
..........................
Appearance Care . 249 ........................
Audio System . 118, 130
.............
Automatic Speed Control . 151
..............
Automatic Transmission . 174
..........................
Capacity, Fluid . 288
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 214
.......................................
Shif ting . 175
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 174
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 175
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 178
Battery Charging System ...........................
Indicator . 64, 273
............................
Jump Starting . 267
..............................
Maintenance . 224
............................
Specif ications . 289
..............................
Bef ore Driving . 155
....................................
Belts,Seat .8,45
.........................
Beverage Holders . 102
.................................
Body Repairs . 256
Brakes
...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) . 184
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 156
....................
Bulb Replacement . 244 ...........................................
Fluid . 217
.......................................
Parking . 100
.................
System Indicator . 65, 275
........................
Wear Indicators . 183
.............................
Braking System . 183
........................
Break-in, New Car . 156
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 74
........................
Brights, Headlights . 73
Bulb Replacement
..........................
Back-up Lights . 244
..............................
Brake Lights . 244
..............................
Ceiling Light . 247
................
Front Parking Lights . 242
........
Front Side Marker Lights . 242
.................................
Headlights . 241
.........
High-mount Brake Light . 245
.................
License Plate Lights . 245
.........
Rear Side Marker Lights . 244
............................
Specif ications . 289
...................................
Spotlights . 247
...............................
Trunk Light . 246
....................
Turn Signal Lights . 242
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen . 241
Index
A
B
I
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.....................
Fuses, Checking the . 279
........................
Jacking up the Car . 259
.......................................
Jack, Tire . 259
................................
Jump Starting . 267
...............
Gas Mileage, Improving . 162
..........................................
Gasohol . 292
.........................................
Gasoline . 156
...............
Fuel Reserve Indicator . 66
...........................................
Gauge . 70
................
Octane Requirement . 156
........................
Tank, Filling the . 157
................
Gas Station Procedures . 157
Gauges
...
Engine Coolant Temperature . 71
...............................................
Fuel . 70
...............................
Speedometer . 69
.................................
Tachometer . 69
Gearshif t Lever Positions ..........
Automatic Transmission . 174
5-speed Manual
.........................
Transmission . 172
..............................
Glass Cleaning . 254
......................................
Glove Box . 101 .............
Halogen Headlight Bulbs . 241
..............
Hazard Warning Flashers . 78
Headlights
............
Daytime Running Lights . 74
..................
High Beam Indicator . 66
........................
Reminder Beeper . 73
........
Replacing Halogen Bulbs . 241
...................................
Turning on . 73
..............................
Head Restraints . 92
.....................
Heating and Cooling . 110
.............
High Altitude, Starting at . 171
.................
High-Low Beam Switch . 73
..............
High-mount Brake Light . 245
....................................
Hood Latch . 220
.......................
Hood, Opening the . 158
..................................................
Horn . 72
...........................
Hydraulic Clutch . 217
.................................
Hydroplaning . 188
...
Identif ication Number, Vehicle . 286
Ignition
..............................................
Keys . 80 ...........................................
Switch . 82
............
Timing Control System . 295
.........
Important Safety Precautions . 6
Indicators, Instrument
.............................................
Panel . 61
...............................
Inf ant Restraint . 30
Inf ant Seats
...........................
Lower Anchors . 42
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 41
...................
Inf lation, Proper Tire . 232
.........................
Normal Driving . 233
...................................
Inside Mirror . 99
.............................
Inspection, Tire . 234
........................
Instrument Panel . 2, 58
........
Instrument Panel Brightness . 74
...........................
Interior Cleaning . 252
...............................
Interior Lights . 105
........................................
Introduction . i
Index
G H I J
IV
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