This section also includes
Maintenance Schedules f or normal
driving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions f or simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of
yourself .
If you have the skills and tools to per-
f orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your Honda, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your Honda
dealer.
This section explains why it is
important to keep your car well
maintained and how to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.
......................
Maintenance Saf ety . 154
.
Important Safety Precautions . 155
.................
Maintenance Schedule . 156
...
Required Maintenance Record . 163
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 165
..............................
Fluid Locations . 166
......................................
Engine Oil . 167
..................................
Adding Oil . 167
....................
Recommended Oil . 167
..............................
Synthetic Oil . 168
....................................
Additives . 168
.....
Changing the Oil and Filter . 169
.............................
Cooling System . 171
............
Adding Engine Coolant . 171
.......
Replacing Engine Coolant . 173
....................
Windshield Washers . 176
.......................
Transmission Fluid . 177
................
Brake and Clutch Fluid . 177
............................
Brake System . 178
...........................
Clutch System . 178
.....................
Air Cleaner Element . 179
....................................
Hood Latch . 181
....................................
Spark Plugs . 181
..............................
Replacement . 181
............................
Specif ications . 183
...........................................
Battery . 184 .................................
Wiper Blades . 186
..............
Air Conditioning System . 189
..................
DustandPollenFilter .190
.....................................
Drive Belts . 192
...............................................
Tires . 193
......................................
Inf lation . 193
Recommended TirePressures f or Normal ...........................
Driving . 194
Tire Pressure Adjustment ....
f or High Speed Driving . 194
..................................
Inspection . 195
..............................
Maintenance . 195
.............................
Tire Rotation . 196
...
Replacing Tires and Wheels . 197
......................
Wheels and Tires . 198
..........................
Winter Driving . 198
.............................
Snow Tires . 199
............................
Tire Chains . 199
.............................................
Lights . 200
.....................
Headlight Aiming . 202
........................
Replacing Bulbs . 202
...........................
Storing Your Car . 212
265
Maintenance
Maint enance
153
Fluid Locations
Maint enance
166 ENGINE OIL
DIPSTICK
(Orange handle)
WASHER FLUID
(Blue cap)
ENGINE
COOLANT
RESERVOIR RADIATOR CAP BRAKE FLUID
(Gray cap)
CLUTCH FLUID
(Gray cap)
ENGINE OIL
FILL CAP
Check the level in the windshield
washer reservoir at least monthly
duringnormaluse.Inbadweather,
when you use the washers of ten,
check the level every time you stop
f or f uel. This reservoir supplies the
windshield and rear window washers.Fill the reservoir with a good-quality
windshield washer f luid. This
increases the cleaning capability and
prevents f reezing in cold weather.
When you ref ill the reservoir, clean
the edges of the windshield wiper
blades with windshield washer fluid
on a clean cloth. This will help to
condition the blade edges.
The windshield washer reservoir is
located behind the lef t headlight.
Check the windshield washer f luid
level as f ollows:
Check the f luid level in the tube. If
the f luid level is low, f ill the
reservoir with windshield washer
f luid.
The low washer level indicator will
light when the level is low (see page
).
Cover the small hole in the center
of the cap with your f inger and
pull up until the tube is f ully
exposed.
Unf asten the reservoir cap.
1. 2. 3.
60
On Canadian model
Windshield Washers
Maint enance
176 Fluid level
Do not use engine antif reeze or a
vinegar/water solution in the
windshield washer reservoir.
Antif reeze can damage your car’s paint,
while a vinegar/water solution can
damage the windshield washer pump.
Use only commercially-available
windshield washer f luid.
ÎÎ Î
Î Î Î
Specif ications
T echnical Inf ormation
250 Dimensions
Weights
Engine
Capacities
67.1 in (1,705 mm)
54.1 in (1,375 mm)
101.2 in (2,570 mm)
57.8 in (1,468 mm)
57.8 in (1,468 mm)
3.39 x 3.39 in (86.0 x 86.0 mm) 121.9 cu-in (1,998 cm
)
9.8 : 1 13.2 US gal (50
)
1.32 US gal (5.0
)
164.2 in (4,170 mm)
Length
Width
Height
Wheelbase
Track
Gross vehicle weight ratingType
BorexStroke
Displacement
Compression ratio
Spark plugs See the certification label attached
to the driver’s doorjamb. Fuel tank
Engine
coolant
Engine oil Manual
transmission
fluid
Windshield
washer reservoir1.77 US gal (6.7
)
4.4 US qt (4.2
)
4.2 US qt (4.0)
5.6 US qt (5.3)
1.6 US qt (1.5)
1.8 US qt (1.7)
2.6 US qt (2.5
)
0.13 US gal (0.5
)
Including the coolant in the reserve tank and that remaining in the
engine.
Reserve tank capacity:
Water cooled 4-stroke DOHC
i-VTEC 4-cylinder gasoline engine 5.8 US qt (5.5
)
See spark plug maintenance
section page 183 .
FrontRear
Approx.
Change Manual
Total Manual
Change
Without filter
Total
ChangeTotal
1: 2: 3: On the U.S. model
On Canadian model 1
23
Including filter
CONT INUED
BatteryCharging System ...........................
Indicator . 58, 235
............................
Jump Starting . 230
..............................
Maintenance . 184
............................
Specif ications . 251
..............................
Bef ore Driving . 127
....................................
Belts,Seat .8,43
...........................
Beverage Holders . 90
.................................
Body Repairs . 220
Brakes
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 128
...........................................
Fluid . 177
.....................
Light, Burned-out . 207
.........................................
Parking . 89
.................
System Indicator . 59, 238
........................
Wear Indicators . 147
.............................
Braking System . 147
........................
Break-in, New Car . 128
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 67
........................
Brights, Headlights . 66
...
Accessories and Modif ications . 135
................................
Accessories . 135
.
Additional Safety Precautions . 136
............................
Modif ications . 136
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key .......................................
Position) . 73
...............
Accessory Power Socket . 92
Adding
................................
Brake Fluid . 178
...............................
Clutch Fluid . 178
..........................
Engine Coolant . 171
..................................
Engine Oil . 167
....
Manual Transmission Fluid . 177
........
Windshield Washer Fluid . 176
Additional Inf ormation About .......................
Your Seat Belts . 43
......................
Lap/Shoulder Belt . 43
...............
Seat Belt Maintenance . 45
..
Seat Belt System Components . 43
Additional Inf ormation About ...........................
Your Airbags . 46
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 51
How the Passenger Airbag
..........
Cutoff Indicator Works . 49 How Your Front Airbags
.........................................
Work . 46
....................
Airbag Components . 46
....................
Additives, Engine Oil . 168
Adjustments
..........................
Head Restraints . 82
.........................................
Mirrors . 88
.............................................
Seats . 81
...........................
Steering Wheel . 71
...............................
Airbag (SRS) . 9, 46
.....................
Air Cleaner Element . 179
................
Air Conditioning System . 96
..............................
Maintenance . 189
............................................
Usage . 96
.........................
Air Outlets (Vents) . 98
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires . 193
..................
High Speed Driving . 194
.........................
Normal Driving . 194
.......................
Alcohol in Gasoline . 254
......................................
Antif reeze . 171
Anti-thef t Steering Column
..............................................
Lock . 73
..........................
Appearance Care . 213
................................
Audio System . 104
Index
A B
I
...
Identif ication Number, Vehicle . 248
......
If Your Car Has to be Towed . 245
Ignition
..............................................
Keys . 72
...........................................
Switch . 72
5-speed Manual Transmission
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 177
................................
Shif ting the . 144
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 70
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 223
Fluids
..........................................
Brake . 177
.........................................
Clutch . 177
..............
Manual Transmission . 177
..................
Windshield Washer . 176
FM Stereo Radio ...................................
Reception . 111
...........................
Folding Rear Seat . 83
.....
Foreign Countries, Driving in . 255
..........................
Four-way Flashers . 70
Front End, Towing by
................
Emergency Wrecker . 245
.................................................
Fuel . 128
......................
Fill Door and Cap . 129
...........................................
Gauge . 63
................
Octane Requirement . 128
...............................
Oxygenated . 254
........................
Reserve Indicator . 60
........................
Tank, Filling the . 129
.....................
Fuses, Checking the . 241 ...............
Gas Mileage, Improving . 134
..........................................
Gasohol . 254
.........................................
Gasoline . 128
...............
Fuel Reserve Indicator . 60
...........................................
Gauge . 63
................
Octane Requirement . 128
........................
Tank, Filling the . 129
................
Gas Station Procedures . 129
Gauges
Engine Coolant
...........................
Temperature . 64
...............................................
Fuel . 63
Gearshif t Lever Positions 5-speed Manual
.........................
Transmission . 144
..............................
Glass Cleaning . 218
........................................
Glove Box . 90
.............
Halogen Headlight Bulbs . 202
Hatch
.................................
Opening the . 80
..............
Hazard Warning Flashers . 70 Headlights
............
Daytime Running Lights . 67
..................
High Beam Indicator . 59
...........
High Beams, Turning on . 66
............
Low Beams, Turning on . 66
........................
Reminder Beeper . 66
........
Replacing Halogen Bulbs . 202
...................................
Turning on . 66
..............................
Head Restraints . 82
.......................
Heating and Cooling . 96
.............
High Altitude, Starting at . 143
.................
High-Low Beam Switch . 66
....................................
Hood Latch . 181
.......................
Hood, Opening the . 130
..............................................
Horn .3,65
.......
Hot Coolant, Warning about . 171
...........................
Hydraulic Clutch . 178
.................................
Hydroplaning . 152
Index
G H I
IV
Î.................
Vehicle Capacity Load . 138
......................
Vehicle Dimensions . 250
....
Vehicle Identif ication Number . 248
.............................
Vehicle Storage . 212
........................................
Ventilation . 99
.................................................
VIN . 248
...............................
Vinyl Cleaning . 217
..................................
Viscosity, Oil . 168
Warning Beepers
..............................
Headlights on . 66
.............................
Key in Ignition . 73
.............
WARNING, Explanation of . ii
.........
Warning Labels, Location of . 53
..................
Warranty Coverages . 263
Washer, Windshield
........
Checking the Fluid Level . 176
.......................................
Indicator . 60
.....................................
Tachometer . 64
......
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in . 206
Taking Care of the
...............................
Unexpected . 221
....................................
Tape Player . 119
Technical Descriptions
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 252
..
Driving in Foreign Countries . 255
.....
Emissions Control Systems . 256
.....................
Oxygenated Fuels . 254
Three Way Catalytic
...............................
Converter . 258
.......................
Temperature Gauge . 64
..............
Tether Anchorage Points . 39
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter . 258
..........................
Time, Setting the . 109
....................................
Tire Chains . 199
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat . 223
...............................................
Tires . 193
..............................
Air Pressure . 193
.........................
Checking Wear . 195
..........................
Compact Spare . 222
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 252
......................................
Inf lation . 193 ..................................
Inspection . 195
...................................
Replacing . 197
......................................
Rotating . 196
...........................................
Snow . 199
............................
Specif ications . 251
................................
Tire Chains . 199
...................
Tools, Tire Changing . 223
Towing
.....................................
A Trailer . 152
................
Emergency Wrecker . 245
Transmission Checking Fluid Level, ...................................
Manual . 177
...........................
Fluid Selection . 177
..............
Identif ication Number . 248
..................
Shif ting the Manual . 144
.....................................
Treadwear . 252
.......................................
Trip Meter . 63
....................................
Turn Signals . 68
.....................
Underside, Cleaning . 219
Unexpected, Taking Care
..........................................
of the . 221
....
Unif orm Tire Quality Grading . 252 ........................
Unleaded Gasoline . 128
.....................
Upholstery Cleaning . 216
.......
Used Oil, How to Dispose of . 170
Index
T
U V W
VIII