This section covers the more
common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you inf ormation about how to
safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has
stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again.
If not, you will also f ind instructions
on getting your vehicle towed.......................
Compact Spare Tire . 182
....................
Changing a Flat Tire . 183
.............
If the Engine Won’t Start . 189
................................
Jump Starting . 191
..............
If the Engine Overheats . 192
.........
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 195
..........
Charging System Indicator . 195
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 196
...............
Brake System Indicator . 197
..................
Closing the Moonroof . 198
..............................................
Fuses . 199
..........................
Fuse Locations . 201
......................
Emergency Towing . 203
Taking Care of the Unexpected
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed181
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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):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 these things:
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 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
probably 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 vehicle
f rom a booster battery (see page
).
191 203
178
191
If theEngineWon’tStart
Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
Jump Starting Emergency T owing
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed189
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Although this seems like a simple
procedure, you should take several
precautions.
You cannot start a Honda with an
automatic transmission by pushing
or pulling it.
Connect the second jumper cable
to the negative ( ) terminal on
the booster battery. Connect the
other end to the grounding strap
as shown. Do not connect this
jumper cable to any other part of
the engine.
If the booster battery is in another
vehicle, have an assistant start
that vehicle and run it at a fast idle.
Open the hood and check the
physical condition of the battery.
In very cold weather, check the
condition of the electrolyte. If it
seems slushy or like ice, do not try
jump starting until it thaws.
Turn of f all the electrical acces-
sories: heater, A/C, climate
control, stereo system, lights, etc.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park, and set the parking brake.
Connect one jumper cable to the
positive ( ) terminal on your
battery. Connect the other end to
the positive ( ) terminal on the
booster battery.
3.
5.
1. 2.
4.
CONT INUED
Jump Starting
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
To Jump Start Your Vehicle:
191
NOTICE:
A battery can explode if you do
not follow the correct procedure,
seriously injuring anyonenearby.
Keep all sparks, open flames,
and smoking materials away
from the battery. If a battery sits in extreme
cold, the electrolyte inside can f reeze.
Attempting to jump start with a f rozen
battery can cause it to rupture.
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Start your vehicle. If the starter
motor still operates slowly, check
the jumper cable connections to
make sure they have good metal-
to-metal contact.The pointer of your vehicle’s
temperature gauge should stay in
the midrange. If it climbs to the red
mark, you should determine the
reason (hot day, driving up a steep
hill, etc.).
If your vehicle overheats, you
should take immediate action. The
only indication may be the
temperature gauge climbing to or
above the red mark. Or you may
see steam or spray coming f rom
under the hood.
Once your vehicle is running,
disconnect the negative cable f rom
your vehicle, then f rom the
booster battery. Disconnect the
positive cable f rom your vehicle,
then from the booster battery.
Keep the ends of the jumper cables
away from each other and any metal
on the vehicle until all are
disconnected. Otherwise, you may
cause an electrical short.
7.
6.
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Jump Starting, If the Engine Overheats
If the Engine Overheats
192
NOTICE: 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 pointer at the red
mark can cause serious damage to
your engine.
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CONT INUED
BatteryCharging System ...........................
Indicator . 56, 195
............................
Jump Starting . 191
..............................
Maintenance . 178
............................
Specif ications . 209
..............................
Bef ore Driving . 113
....................................
Belts,Seat .8,19
...........................
Beverage Holders . 87
..................................
Booster Seats . 45
Brakes
...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) . 139
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 114
....................
Bulb Replacement . 164
...........................................
Fluid . 163
.......................................
Parking . 131
.................
System Indicator . 57, 197
........................
Wear Indicators . 138
.............................
Braking System . 138
........................
Break-in, New Car . 114 ..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 66
........................
Brights, Headlights . 65
Bulb Replacement
..........................
Back-up Lights . 167
..............................
Brake Lights . 167
................
Front Parking Lights . 166
........
Front Side Marker Lights . 166
.................................
Headlights . 164
.........
High-mount Brake Light . 168
.........
Rear Side Marker Lights . 167
............................
Specif ications . 209
....................
Turn Signal Lights . 166
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen . 164
............................
Capacities Chart . 208
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 47
.............................
Carrying Cargo . 122
Cassette Player
............................................
Care . 106
...................................
Operation . 104
..............
CAUTION, Explanation of . ii
.........................................
CD Care . 101
....................................
Accessories . 120
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key
.......................................
Position) . 71
...............
Accessory Power Socket . 88
....................
Additives, Engine Oil . 152
.............................
Airbag (SRS) . 10, 22
................
Air Conditioning System . 91
.........................
Air Outlets (Vents) . 90
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires . 172
..................
High Speed Driving . 173
.........................
Normal Driving . 172
.......................
Alcohol in Gasoline . 212
......................................
Antif reeze . 157
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
....................
Indicator Light . 57, 139
...................................
Operation . 139
Anti-thef t Steering Column ..............................................
Lock . 71
..................................
Audio System . 94
.............
Automatic Speed Control . 110
..............
Automatic Transmission . 130
..........................
Capacity, Fluid . 208
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 160
.......................................
Shif ting . 130 .
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 130
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 130
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 133
Index
A
B
C
I
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CONT INUED
..............................
Economy, Fuel . 119
Emergencies
............................
Jump Starting . 119
.......................................
Towing . 203
...........
Hazard Warning Flashes . 67
............
Emergencies on the Road . 182
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 191
...........
Brake System Indicator . 197
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 183
.....
Charging System Indicator . 195
..................
Checking the Fuses . 199
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 195
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 196
...
Manually Closing Moonroof . 198
..................
Overheated Engine . 192
...........................
Emergency Brake . 84
......................
Emergency Flashers . 67
......................
Emergency Towing . 203
............
Emergency Trunk Opener . 73
.......................
Emissions Controls . 212Engine
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 61
...........................
If it won’t start . 189 Malf unction Indicator
................................
Lamp . 58, 196
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 56, 195
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 152
...............................
Overheating . 192
............................
Specif ications . 208
.......................................
Starting . 127
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline . 212
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 212
...............................
Exhaust Fumes . 47
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
........................................
Belts by . 17
.....................................
Fan, Interior . 91
Features, Comfort and
................................
Convenience . 89
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 115
Filters
.........................
Dust and Pollen . 169
...............................................
Oil . 154
5-speed Manual Transmission ...............
Checking Fluid Level . 162
................................
Shif ting the . 128
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 67 ...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 183
Fluids
..........
Automatic Transmission . 160
..........................................
Brake . 163
.........................................
Clutch . 163
..............
Manual Transmission . 162
..........................
Power Steering . 159
..................
Windshield Washer . 156
FM Stereo Radio .....................................
Reception . 97
..........................
Four-way Flashers . 67
Front Seat
......................................
Adjusting . 11
.........................................
Airbags . 22
.................................................
Fuel . 114
....................................
Economy . 119
......................
Fill Door and Cap . 115
...........................................
Gauge . 60
................
Octane Requirement . 114
...............................
Oxygenated . 114
........................
Reserve Indicator . 58
........................
Tank, Filling the . 115
.....................
Fuses, Checking the . 199
Index
E
F
III
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CONT INUED
........................................
Introduction . i
..................................................
Keys . 69 ...................
Neutral Gear Position . 131
..................
New Vehicle Break-in . 114
.....................
Normal Shif t Speeds . 129
...................
NOTICE, Explanation of . i
...............
Numbers, Identif ication . 206
...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline . 114
.........................................
Odometer . 60
...............................
Odometer, Trip . 60
Oil
........................
Change, How to . 154
......................
Change, When to . 145
......................
Checking Engine . 117
..............
Pressure Indicator . 56, 195
Selecting Proper Viscosity
......................................
Chart . 153
.................
Jacking up the Vehicle . 184
.......................................
Jack, Tire . 183
................................
Jump Starting . 191
.......................
Label, Certif ication . 206
.................
Lane Change, Signaling . 65
..................
Lap/Shoulder Belts . 14, 19
Lights
....................
Bulb Replacement . 164
.......................................
Indicator . 56
.........................................
Parking . 57
..................................
Turn Signal . 58
.....................................
Load Limit . 123
......
LOCK (Ignition Key Position) . 71
Locks
.......
Anti-thef t Steering Column . 71 ............................
Fuel Fill Door . 115
.................................
Power Door . 72
...........................................
Trunk . 72
........................
Low Coolant Level . 118
.........................
Low Fuel Indicator . 58
................................
Lower Anchors . 38
...
Lower Gear, Downshif ting to a . 128
...
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 56, 195
...
Lubricant Specif ications Chart . 208
.........................................
Luggage . 122
..................................
Maintenance . 141
...
Owner Maintenance Checks . 144
.................................
Record . 149-150
......................
Required Indicator . 62
..........................................
Saf ety . 142
.............................
Schedule . 145-148
.
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 58, 196
...................
Manual Transmission . 128
........
Manual Transmission Fluid . 162
...............................
Meters, Gauges . 60
...................
Methanol in Gasoline . 114
..........................
Mirrors, Adjusting . 83
...............
Modif ying Your Vehicle . 121 .........................................
Moonroof . 82
......................
Closing Manually . 198
.....................................
Operation . 82
Index
N
K
J L
M
O
V
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