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 152 of 231
The oil viscosity or weight is
provided on the container’s label.
5W-20 oil is f ormulated f or year-
round protection of your Honda to
improve cold weather starting and
f uel economy.Your Honda does not require any oil
additives. Additives may adversely
af f ect your engine’s or transmission’s
perf ormance and durability.
You may use a synthetic motor oil if
it meets the same requirements
given f or a conventional motor oil: it
displays the API Certif ication Seal
and it is the proper weight. You must
f ollow the oil and f ilter change
intervals given in the maintenance
schedule.
A dding Engine Oil
Maint enance
Synthetic Oil
A dditives
153
Ambient Temperature
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Page 161 of 231

µµ
Check the f luid level with the
transmission at normal operating
temperature and the vehicle sitting
on level ground. Remove the
transmission f iller bolt, and caref ully
f eel inside the bolt hole with your
f inger. The f luid level should be up
to the edge of the bolt hole. If it is
not, add Honda Manual
Transmission Fluid (MTF) until it
starts to run out of the hole. Reinstall
the f iller bolt, and tighten it securely. If Honda MTF is not available, you
may use an SAE 10W-30 or 10W-40
viscosity motor oil with the API
Certif ication seal that says ‘‘FOR
GASOLINE ENGINES’’ as a
temporary replacement. However,
motor oil does not contain the proper
additives, and continued use can
cause stiffer shifting. Replace as
soon as it is convenient.
The transmission should be drained
and ref illed with new f luid according
to the time and distance recommen-
dations in the maintenance schedule.
In very high temperatures
(over 110°F, 43°C).
In very low temperatures
(under 20°F, 29°C).
The timing belt should be replaced
at the intervals shown in the
maintenance schedule. Replace the
belt at 60,000 miles (100,000 km) if
you regularly drive your vehicle in
one or more of these conditions:
Manual T ransmission Fluid, T iming Belt
Maint enance
5-speed Manual Transmission
Timing Belt
162
FILLER BOLT
Correct Level
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Page 222 of 231

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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