Page 162 of 280
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Youshouldcheckthefollowing
items at the specif ied intervals. If
you are unsure of how to perf orm
any check, turn to the page given.
Engine oil level Check every
time you fill the fuel tank. See
page .
Windshield washer f luid Check
the level in the reservoir monthly.
If weather conditions cause you to
use the washers f requently, check
the reservoir each time you stop
f or f uel. See page .Tires Check the tire pressure
monthly. Examine the tread f or
wear and foreign objects. See page
.
Lights Check the operation of
the headlights, parking lights,
taillights, high-mount brake light,
turn signals, brake lights, and
license plate lights monthly. See
page .
Engine coolant level Check the
radiator reserve tank every time
you f ill the f uel tank. See page .
Brakes and clutch Check the
f luid level monthly. See page . 123
124
171 174 189
196
Owner Maintenance Checks
Maint enance159
Page 167 of 280
Put a new washer on the drain bolt,
then reinstall the drain bolt.
Tighten it to:
Refill the engine with the recom-
mended oil.
Engine oil change capacity
(including f ilter):Turn of f the engine, let it sit f or
several minutes, then check the oil
level. If necessary, add oil to bring
the level to the upper mark on the
dipstick.
Replace the engine oil f ill cap.
Start the engine. The oil pressure
indicator light should go out within
f ive seconds. If it does not, turn of f
the engine and reinspect your
work.
Let the engine run f or several
minutes, then check the drain bolt
and oil f ilter f or leaks.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Engine Oil
Maint enance164
33 lbf·ft (45 N·m , 4.6 kgf·m)
5.1 US qt (4.8
)
Improper disposal of engine oil can be
harmf ul to the environment. If you
change your own oil, please dispose of
the used oil properly. Put it in a sealed
container and take it to a recycling
center. Do not discard it in a trash bin
or dump it on the ground.
Page 182 of 280
Put the new spark plug into the
socket, then screw it into the hole.
Screw it in by hand so you do not
crossthread it.Torque the spark plug. (If you do
not have a torque wrench, tighten
the spark plug two-thirds of a turn
after it contacts the cylinder head.)
Tightening torque:
Remove the bolt holding the
ignition coil and pull the ignition
coil straight up slightly.
Disconnect the ignition coil
connector by pushing the tab and
pulling the connector back.
Pull the ignition coil all the way up.
Remove the spark plug with
a f ive-eighths inch (16 mm) spark
plug socket.
3.
4.
5.
6.
CONT INUED
Spark Plugs
Maint enance179
18 lbf·ft (25 N·m , 2.5 kgf·m)
Page 189 of 280

Run the air conditioning at least once
a week during the cold weather
months. Run it f or at least ten
minutes while you are driving at a
steady speed with the engine at
normal operating temperature. This
circulates the lubricating oil con-
tained in the ref rigerant.If the air conditioning does not get as
cold as before, have your dealer
check the system. Recharge the
system with Ref rigerant HFC-134a
(R-134a). (See Specif ications on page
.)
Your car’s air conditioning is a sealed
system. Any major maintenance,
such as recharging, should be done
by a qualif ied mechanic. You can do
a couple of things to make sure the
air conditioning works ef f iciently.
Periodically check the engine’s
radiator and air conditioning
condenser f or leaves, insects, and
dirt stuck to the f ront surf ace. These
block the air f low and reduce cooling
ef f iciency. Use a light spray f rom a
hose or a sof t brush to remove them. 251
A ir Condit ioning Syst em
Maint enance186
AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER
Whenever you have the air conditioning
system serviced, make sure the service
f acility uses a ref rigerant recycling
system. This system captures the
ref rigerant f or reuse. Releasing
ref rigerant into the atmosphere can
damage the environment.
The condenser and radiator f ins bend
easily. Only use a low-pressure spray
or sof t-bristle brush to clean them.
Page 199 of 280
Check the operation of your car’s
exterior lights at least once a month.
A burned out bulb can create an
unsaf e condition by reducing your
car’s visibility and the ability to
signal your intentions to other
drivers.
Maint enance
Lights
196
SIDE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT
TURN SIGNAL
FRONT PARKING AND
SIDE MARKER LIGHTLOW BEAM
HEADLIGHTHIGH BEAM
HEADLIGHT
Page 200 of 280
Check the f ollowing:Headlights (low and high beam)
Parking lights
Taillights
Brake lights
Turn signals
Back-up lights
Hazard light f unction
License plate light
Side marker lights
Daytime running lights
(Canadian cars)
If you f ind any bulbs are burned out,
replace them as soon as possible.
Refer to the chart on page to
determine what type of replacement
bulb is needed. 251
Maint enance
Lights
197
TURN SIGNAL LIGHT
SIDE MARKER LIGHT STOP/TAILLIGHT
BACK-UP LIGHTLICENSE PLATE LIGHT
Page 201 of 280

Halogen bulbs are used f or the high
beam headlight bulbs. When
replacing a high beam headlight bulb,
handle it by its base and protect the
glass from contact with your skin or
hard objects. If you touch the glass,
clean it with denatured alcohol and a
clean cloth.
The low beam headlight bulbs are a
type of high voltage discharge tube.
High voltage can remain in the
circuit even with the light switch of f
and the key removed. Because of
this, you should not attempt to
examine or change a low beam
headlight bulb yourself . If a low
beam headlight bulb fails, take the
cartoyourdealertohaveitreplaced.
Theheadlightswereproperlyaimed
when your car was new. If you
regularly carry heavy items in the
trunk, readjustment may be required.
Adjustment of the headlights should
be perf ormed by a Honda technician
or other qualif ied mechanic.
Lights
Maint enance
Replacing a Headlight Bulb
Headlight A iming
198
Halogen headlight bulbs get very hot
when lit. Oil, perspiration, or a scratch
on the glass can cause the bulb to
overheat and shatter.
Page 202 of 280

Open the hood.
Remove the electrical connector
f rom the bulb by squeezing the
connector to unlock the tab, then
slide the connector of f the bulb.Remove the rubber weather seal
by pulling on the tab.
If you need to change the high
beam headlight bulb on the lef t
side, remove the coolant reserve
tank f rom its holder by pulling it
straight up. Unclip the end of the hold-down
wire f rom its slot. Pivot it out of
the way and remove the bulb
socket.Install the rubber seal over the
back of the headlight assembly.
Make sure it is right side up; it is
marked ‘‘TOP.’’ Insert the socket back into the
headlight assembly. Make sure
the bulb is installed correctly by
looking through the headlight lens.
The pins on the base of the bulb
should f it in the holes in the
headlight assembly. Pivot the hold-
down wire back in place and clip
the end into the slot.
Pull the bulb straight out of its
socket. Push the new bulb straight
into the socket until it bottoms. Push the electrical connector onto
the new bulb. Turn on the
headlights to test the new bulb.
(Lef t side)
Reinstall the radiator reserve tank.
1.
2. 3.
4.
5.6.
7.
8.
9.
Lights
Maint enance199