Page 117 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. We recommend using gasoline
containing detergent additives that
help prevent f uel system and engine
deposits.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, contact
your authorized Honda dealer f or
service.
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
occasional metallic knoking noises in
the engine and will result in
decreased engine perf ormance.
Using gasoline containing lead will
damage your vehicle’s emissions
controls. This contributes to air
pollution.
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.
If you notice any undesirable
operating symptoms, try another
service station or switch to another
brand of gasoline. 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
Bef ore Driving
Break-in Period
Gasoline Type
114
Page 156 of 231

Run the engine until it reaches
normal operating temperature,
then shut it off.
Always change the oil and f ilter
according to the recommendations in
the maintenance schedule. The oil
and f ilter collect contaminants that
can damage your engine if they are
not removed regularly.
Changing the oil and f ilter requires
special tools and access f rom
underneath the vehicle. The vehicle
should be raised on a service station-
type hydraulic lif t f or this service.
Unless you have the knowledge and
proper equipment, you should have
this maintenance done by a skilled
mechanic.
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 on the maintenance
schedule.
Your Honda does not require any oil
additives. Additives may adversely
af f ect your engine’s or transmission’s
perf ormance and durability.
Open the hood and remove the
engine oil f ill cap.
Remove the nine holding clips
with a flat-tipped screwdriver, then
pull the under-cover down.
1.
2.
3.
CONT INUED
Changing the Oil and Filter
Synthetic Oil
Engine Oil A dditives
A dding Engine Oil, Changing the Oil and Filter
Maint enance153
HOLDING CLIP
Page 162 of 231

Check the f luid level with the
transmission at normal operating
temperature and the vehicle sitting
on level ground. Remove the under-
cover to access the transmission
housing(seepage ).Removethe
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 Transmis-
sion Fluid (MTF) until it starts torun 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.
153
Maint enance
5-speed Manual Transmission
Manual T ransmission Fluid
159
Correct Level FILLER BOLT
Page 222 of 231

CONT INUED
....................................
Accessories .121
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key .......................................
Position) .72
...............
Accessory Power Socket . 85
....................
Additives, Engine Oil . 153
.............................
Airbag (SRS) .10, 22
...
Airbags, Additional Information . 22
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 28
.............................
Airbag Service .28
How the Side Airbag Cutof f ......................
Indicator Works .27
..
How the SRS Indicator Works . 26
How Your Front Airbags .........................................
Work .22
...
How Your Side Airbags Work . 25
........................
SRS Components .22
................
Air Conditioning System . 88
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires .170
..................
High Speed Driving . 170
.........................
Normal Driving .170
......................................
Antif reeze .155
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) ...............................
Indicator .54, 141
...................................
Operation .141 ..............
Anti-thef t, Audio System . 107
Anti-thef t Steering Column ..............................................
Lock .72
..................................
Audio System .94
........................
Auto Idle Stop .131, 137
...
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners . 20
.............
Automatic Speed Control . 109
..............
Automatic Transmission . 133
..........................
Capacity, Fluid .204
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 158
.......................................
Shif ting .133
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 133
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 133
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 136
Battery Charging System ...........................
Indicator .54, 191
............................
Jump Starting .186
..............................
Maintenance .175
............................
Specif ications .205
..............................
Bef ore Driving .113
....................................
Belts,Seat .8,19
.............................
Beverage Holder .85 ..................................
Booster Seats .43
Brakes ...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) . 141
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 114
....................
Bulb Replacement .161
...........................................
Fluid .160
.........................................
Parking .82
.................
System Indicator . 54,193
........................
Wear Indicators .140
.............................
Braking System .140
.................
Break-in, New Vehicle . 114
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 67
........................
Brights, Headlights .66
Bulb Replacement ..........................
Back-up Lights .165
..............................
Brake Lights .164
................
Front Parking Lights . 163
........
Front Side Marker Lights . 163
.................................
Headlights .161
.........
High-mount Brake Light . 165
.........
Rear Side Marker Lights . 164
............................
Specif ications .205
Bulb Replacement ....................
Turn Signal Lights . 163
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen .161
Index
A
B
I