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. 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 ).
Check these things:
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).
178 167
190
178
If Your Engine Won’t Start
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
Jump Starting Emergency T owing
176
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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. 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, 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.
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.
1. 2. 3.
4. 5.
Jump Starting
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
To Jump Start Your Vehicle:
178
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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There are three popular types of
prof essional towing equipment.
The tow
truck uses two pivoting arms that go
under the tires (f ront or rear) and lif t
them of f the ground. The other two
tires remain on the ground. Release the parking brake.
Shif t the transmission to Neutral.
Release the parking brake.
Start the engine.
ShifttoD,thentoN.
Turn of f the engine.
If your vehicle needs to be towed,
call a prof essional towing service or,
organization. Never tow your vehicle
behind another vehicle with just a
rope or chain. It is very dangerous.
The operator
loads your vehicle on the back of a
truck. The tow
truck uses metal cables with hooks
on the ends. These hooks go around
parts of the f rame or suspension and
the cables lif t that end of the vehicle
of f the ground. Your vehicle’s sus-
pension and body can be seriously
damaged.
If your Honda cannot be transported
by f lat-bed, it should be towed by
wheel-lif t equipment with the f ront
wheels of f the ground. If , due to
damage, your vehicle must be towed
with the f ront wheels on the ground,
do the f ollowing:
5-speed Manual Transmission:
Automatic Transmission:
Emergency T owing
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Wheel-lif t Equipment
Flat -bed Equipment Sling-t ype Equipment
T his is
an acceptable way to tow your
Honda. This is the best way to trans-
port your Honda. T his method of towing
is unacceptable.
190
NOTICE: Improper towing preparation
will damage the transmission. Follow
the above procedure exactly. If you
cannot shif t the transmission or start
the engine (automatic transmission),
your vehicle must be transported with
the f ront wheels of f the ground.
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The Engine Number is stamped into
the engine block.
The Transmission Number is on a
label on top of the transmission.
Identif ication Numbers
T echnical Inf ormation195
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NUMBER
MANUAL TRANSMISSION
NUMBER
ENGINE NUMBER
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ÎÎÎ Î ÎÎÎÎ
Î Î
Î Î
Î Î ÎÎ
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Specif ications
T echnical Inf ormation196
Dimensions
Weights
Engine Capacities
174.6 in (4,435 mm)
67.3 in (1,710 mm)
56.9 in (1,445 mm)
103.1 in (2,620 mm)
57.9 in (1,470 mm)
57.9 in (1,470 mm)
2.95 x 3.72 in (75.0 x 94.4 mm) 13.2 US gal (50
)
1.03 US gal (3.9
)
102 cu-in (1,668 cm
)
9.5 9.9 1.06 US gal (4.0
)
1.35 US gal (5.1
)
1.32 US gal (5.0)
3.4 US qt (3.2
)
3.7 US qt (3.5)
3.2 US qt (3.0)
3.5 US qt (3.3)
4.4 US qt (4.2)
1.6 US qt (1.5)
1.7 US qt (1.6)
2.9 US qt (2.7)
6.2 US qt (5.9)
2.6 US qt (2.5
)
4.8 US qt (4.5)
0.11 US gal (0.4
)
Including the coolant in the reserve tank and that remaining in the
engine.
Reserve tank capacity:
Excluding the oil remaining in the engine.
Length
Width
Height
Wheelbase
Track
Gross vehicle weight ratingType
BorexStroke
Displacement
Compression ratio
Spark plugs
Fuel tank
Engine
coolant
Engine oil Automatic
transmission
fluid
Water cooled 4-stroke
SOHC , SOHC VTEC
4-cylinder gasoline engine
See the certification label attached
to the driver’s doorjamb.
PZFR6F-11PKJ20CR-M11
NGK:
DENSO:
0.04 in (1.1 mm)
FrontRear
Approx.
1:2: DX, LX
EX, Canadian Si
DX, LX
EX, Canadian Si
1: 2: 3:4:
Spark Plug Gap: Change
ManualAutomatic
Total
ManualAutomatic
Change
Without filter
Total
ChangeTotal
ChangeTotal
U.S. Vehicles
Canada Vehicles
Manual trans-
mission fluid Including filter
Windshield
washer reservoir
12
12 3434
1 2
0
0.1 mm
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Make sure the gas tank is nearly,
but not completely, f ull (around
3/4).
Make sure the ambient
temperature is between 20° and
95°F.Without touching the accelerator
pedal, start the engine and let it
idle f or 20 seconds.
If you take your vehicle f or a state
emissions test shortly af ter the
battery has been disconnected or
gone dead, it may not pass the test.
This is because of certain ‘‘readiness
codes’’ that must be set in the on-
board diagnostics f or the emissions
systems. These codes are erased
when the battery is disconnected,
and set again only after several days
of driving under a variety of
conditions. If the testing f acility determines that
the readiness codes are not set, you
will be requested to return at a later
date to complete the test. If you must
get the vehicle re-tested within the
next two or three days, you can
condition the vehicle for re-testing
by doing the f ollowing.
Make sure the vehicle has been
parked with the engine of f f or 8
hours or more. Keep the vehicle in Park
(automatic transmission) or
Neutral (manual transmission).
Increase the engine speed to 2,000
rpm and hold it there until the
temperature gauge rises to at least
1/4of thescale(approximately3
minutes).
St at e Emissions T est ing
T esting of Readiness Codes
T echnical Inf ormation205
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CONT INUED
....................................
Accessories . 117
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key
.......................................
Position) . 69
...............
Accessory Power Socket . 85
....................
Additives, Engine Oil . 145
.............................
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 . 89
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires . 162
..................
High Speed Driving . 162
.........................
Normal Driving . 162
.......................
Alcohol in Gasoline . 200
......................................
Antif reeze . 147
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
...............................
Indicator . 55, 133 ...................................
Operation . 133
..............
Anti-thef t, Audio System . 105
Anti-thef t Steering Column
..............................................
Lock . 69
..................................
Audio System . 92
...
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners . 20
.............
Automatic Speed Control . 107
..............
Automatic Transmission . 128
..........................
Capacity, Fluid . 196
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 149
.......................................
Shif ting . 128
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 128
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 128
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 130
Battery Charging System ...........................
Indicator . 55, 182
............................
Jump Starting . 178
..............................
Maintenance . 167
............................
Specif ications . 197
..............................
Bef ore Driving . 111
....................................
Belts,Seat .8,19
.............................
Beverage Holder . 85 Brakes
...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) . 133
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 112
....................
Bulb Replacement . 153
...........................................
Fluid . 151
.......................................
Parking . 131
.................
System Indicator . 55, 184
........................
Wear Indicators . 132
.............................
Braking System . 132
.................
Break-in, New Vehicle . 112
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 64
........................
Brights, Headlights . 63
Bulb Replacement
..........................
Back-up Lights . 157
..............................
Brake Lights . 156
................
Front Parking Lights . 155
........
Front Side Marker Lights . 155
.................................
Headlights . 153
.........
High-mount Brake Light . 158
.........
Rear Side Marker Lights . 156
............................
Specif ications . 197
Bulb Replacement ....................
Turn Signal Lights . 155
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen . 153
Index
A
B
I
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............................
Capacities Chart . 196
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 46
.............................
Carrying Cargo . 119
Cassette Player
............................................
Care . 104
...................................
Operation . 102
..............
CAUTION, Explanation of . ii
.....................................
CD Changer . 98
.........................................
CD Player . 97
....................................
Ceiling Light . 83
........................
Certif ication Label . 194
............................................
Chains . 166
....................
Changing a Flat Tire . 171
Changing Oil
........................................
How to . 145
......................................
When to . 139
...
Charging System Indicator . 55, 182
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving . 124
.....................................
Child Saf ety . 29
Child Seats
......
LATCH Anchorage System . 37
...........................
Lower Anchors . 37
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 41
..................
Childproof Door Locks . 70 .........................
Clock, Setting the . 106
...................................
Clutch Fluid . 151
........................
CO in the Exhaust . 202
............
Cold Weather, Starting in . 125
..............................
Compact Spare . 170
...............
Consumer Inf ormation . 208
.............
Controls, Instruments and . 49
Coolant
........................................
Adding . 147
....................................
Checking . 115
.........................
Proper Solution . 147
...................
Temperature Gauge . 60
Crankcase Emissions Control ........................................
System . 202
............
Cruise Control Operation . 107
..........
Customer Relations Of f ice . 208
................
DANGER, Explanation of . ii
...................................
Dashboard . 2, 50
................
Daytime Running Lights . 63
............
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety . 210
..........................
Def og and Def rost . 91
................
Def ogger, Rear Window . 65
................
Def rosting the Windows . 91 ....................................
Dimensions . 196
...............
Dimming the Headlights . 63
Dipstick
..........
Automatic Transmission . 149
..................................
Engine Oil . 115
..........................
Directional Signals . 63
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators . 132
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil . 146
Doors
..............
Locking and Unlocking . 70
......................
Power Door Locks . 70
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 198
Downshif ting, 5-speed Manual
.............................
Transmission . 126
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety . 5
...........................................
Driving . 123
....................................
Economy . 116
................
In Foreign Countries . 201
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 159
..............................
Economy, Fuel . 116
............
Emergencies on the Road . 169
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 178
...........
Brake System Indicator . 184
Index
C
D E
II
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