Page 46 of 231

Your vehicle’s exhaust contains
carbon monoxide gas. You should
have no problem with carbon
monoxide entering the vehicle in
normal driving if you maintain your
vehicle properly.
Have the exhaust system inspected
f or leaks whenever:The vehicle is raised f or an oil
change.
You notice a change in the sound
of the exhaust.
The vehicle was in an accident
that may have damaged the under-
side. High levels of carbon monoxide can
collect rapidly in enclosed areas,
such as a garage. Do not run the
engine with the garage door closed.
Even with the door open, run the
engine only long enough to move the
vehicle out of the garage. With the trunk lid open, air f low can
pull exhaust gas into your vehicle’s
interior and create a hazardous
condition. If you must drive with the
trunk lid open, open all the windows
and set the heating and cooling
system as shown below.
If you must sit in your parked vehicle,
even in an unconf ined area, with the
engine running, adjust the heating
and cooling system as f ollows:
Select the Fresh Air mode.
Select the mode.
Turn the f an on high speed.
Set the temperature control to a
comfortable setting.
1.2.3.4.
Carbon Monoxide Hazard
Driver and Passenger Saf ety47
Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.
Breathing it can cause
unconsciousness and even killyou.
Avoid any enclosed areas or
activities that expose you to
carbon monoxide.
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Î
Î
CONT INUED
The U.S. instrument panel is shown. Dif f erences f or the Canadian models are noted in the text.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator f or the HX is shown on page 134 .
Instrument Panel
Inst rument s and Cont rols
U.S.:HX,LX,EX,Canada:LX,Si
53
IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM
INDICATOR MAINTENANCE
REQUIRED INDICATOR
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM INDICATOR
HIGH BEAM INDICATOR
CHARGING SYSTEM
INDICATOR
LOW OIL PRESSURE
INDICATOR MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP CRUISE CONTROL INDICATOR
TRUNK-OPEN INDICATOR
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE
SYSTEM INDICATOR
LOW FUEL INDICATORPARKING BRAKE AND
BRAKE SYSTEM
INDICATOR
(P. 58)
(P. 58)
(P. 56, 195)
(P. 130)
SHIFT LEVER POSITION INDICATORS (P. 56)
(P. 56)(P. 59) (P. 58)
(P. 62) (P. 58)
(P. 57)
(P. 56)
(P. 57)
SIDE AIRBAG OFF INDICATORSEAT BELT INDICATOR
(P. 58, 196)
(P. 56, 195)
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Instrument Panel
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Canada: DX
54
LOW OIL PRESSURE
INDICATORDAYTIME RUNNING
LIGHTS INDICATOR
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP WASHER LEVEL
INDICATOR
TRUNK-OPEN INDICATOR
IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM
INDICATOR
CHARGING SYSTEM
INDICATOR MAINTENANCE REQUIRED
INDICATORPARKING BRAKE AND
BRAKE SYSTEM
INDICATOR
LOW FUEL INDICATOR
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM INDICATOR
(P. 56)
(P. 59)
(P. 56, 195)
(P. 56, 195) HIGH BEAM INDICATOR(P. 58)
(P. 62) (P. 57)
(P. 58) (P. 58)
(P. 57)
(P. 56)
(P. 58)
SIDE AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR
(P. 58, 196) SEAT BELT INDICATOR
(P. 56)
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Instrument Panel
Inst rument s and Cont rols
U.S.: DX
55
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM INDICATOR
IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM
INDICATOR
LOW OIL PRESSURE
INDICATOR
MAINTENANCE REQUIRED INDICATOR
TRUNK-OPEN INDICATOR
PARKING BRAKE AND
BRAKE SYSTEM
INDICATOR
HIGH BEAM INDICATOR LOW FUEL INDICATOR
CHARGING SYSTEM
INDICATOR MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP
(P. 56)
(P. 59)
(P. 56, 195)
(P. 56, 195)
(P. 56)(P. 58)
(P. 62) (P. 57)
(P. 58)
(P. 56)
(P. 58)
SIDE AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR
(P. 58, 196) SEAT BELT INDICATOR
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Page 55 of 231

The instrument panel has many
indicators to give you important
inf ormation about your vehicle.If this indicator comes on when the
engine is running, the battery is not
being charged. For more inf ormation,
see page .
The engine can be severely damaged
if this indicator f lashes or stays on
when the engine is running. For
complete inf ormation, see page .
This indicator comes on when you
turn the ignition switch to ON (II). If
it comes on at any other time, it
indicates a potential problem with
your f ront airbags or automatic seat
belt tensioners. On models equipped
with side airbags, this light will also
alert you to a potential problem with
your side airbags or passenger’s side
airbag automatic cutoff system. For
complete inf ormation, see page .
This indicator comes on when you
turn the ignition switch to ON (II). If
it comes on at any other time, it
indicates that the passenger’s side
airbag has automatically shut off.
For more inf ormation, see page .
The seat belt system includes an
indicator on the instrument panel
and a beeper to remind you and your
passengers to f asten your seat belts.
If you turn the ignition switch to ON
(II) bef ore f astening your belt, the
beeper sounds and the indicator
f lashes. If you do not f asten your
seat belt bef ore the beeper stops, the
indicator stops f lashing but remainson.
If you continue driving without
f astening your seat belt, the beeper
sounds and the indicator f lashes
again at regular intervals.
26
27 195
195
Only on models equipped with side
airbags
Supplemental Restraint
System Indicator Charging System
Indicator
L ow Oil Pressure
Indicator
Side Airbag Of f Indicator
Seat Belt Indicator
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Instrument Panel Indicators
56
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Page 113 of 231

Help assure your vehicle’s f uture
reliability and perf ormance by paying
extra attention to how you drive
during the f irst 600 miles (1,000 km).
During this period:Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid
acceleration.
Avoidhardbrakingforthefirst
200 miles (300 km).
Do not change the oil until the
scheduled maintenance time.
You should also f ollow these re-
commendations with an overhauled
or exchanged engine, or when the
brakes are replaced. Your Honda is designed to operate
on unleaded gasoline with a pump
octane number of 86 or higher. Use
of a lower octane gasoline can cause
a persistent, heavy, metallic rapping
noise in the engine that can lead to
mechanical f ailure.
We recommend using gasoline
containing detergent additives that
help prevent f uel system and engine
deposits.
In addition, in order to maintain good
perf ormance, f uel economy, and
emissions control, we strongly
recommend, in areas where it is
available, the use of gasoline that
does NOT contain manganese-based
f uel additives such as MMT.
Use of gasoline with these additives
may adversely af f ect perf ormance,
and cause the Malfunction Indicator
Lamp on your instrument panel to
come on. If this happens, contactyour authorized Honda dealer f or
service.
Some gasoline today is blended with
oxygenates such as ethanol or
MTBE. Your vehicle is designed to
operate on oxygenated gasoline
containing up to 10 percent ethanol
by volume and up to 15 percent
MTBE by volume. Do not use
gasoline containing methanol.
For f urther important f uel-related
inf ormation, please ref er to your
Quick Start Guide.
Break-in Period, Gasoline T ype
Break-in Period Gasoline Type
Bef ore Driving114
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Page 116 of 231
Lif t it up slightly to remove the
support rod f rom the hole. Put the
support rod back into its holding
clip. Lower the hood to about a
f oot (30 cm) above the f ender,
then let it drop. Make sure it is
securely latched.Remove the dipstick again and
check the level. It should be
between the upper and lower
marks.
Wait a f ew minutes af ter turning the
engine of f bef ore you check the oil.
Remove the dipstick.
Wipe the dipstick with a clean
cloth or paper towel.
Insert it all the way back in its tube. If it is near or below the lower mark,
see on page .
3.
1. 2. 4.
152
To Close the Hood:
Service Station Procedure
Bef ore Driving
Oil Check
A dding Engine Oil
117
SUPPORT RODGRIP
CLIP DIPSTIC UPPER MARK
LOWER MARK
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Page 140 of 231

This section explains why it is
important to keep your vehicle well
maintained and how to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.
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.......................
Maintenance Saf ety . 142
.................
Maintenance Schedule . 143
....................
Maintenance Record . 149
..............................
Fluid Locations . 151
........................
Adding Engine Oil . 152
.........
Changing the Oil and Filter . 154
....................
Windshield Washers . 156
..............................
Engine Coolant . 157
....................
Power Steering Fluid . 159
....
Automatic Transmission Fluid . 160
........
Manual Transmission Fluid . 162
....................................
Timing Belt . 162
................
Brake and Clutch Fluid . 163
.............................................
Lights . 164
.......................................
Seat Belts . 169
.....................................
Floor Mats . 169
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 169
.................................
Wiper Blades . 170
...............................................
Tires . 172
...................
Checking the Battery . 178
.............................
Vehicle Storage . 179
221
Maintenance
Maint enance141
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