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.Check the f luid level in the
windshield washer reservoir at least
monthly during normal use.
Fill the reservoir with a good-quality
windshield washer f luid. This
increases the cleaning capability and
prevents f reezing in cold weather.
When you ref ill the reservoir, clean
the edges of the windshield wiper
blades with windshield washer f luid
on a clean cloth. This will help to
condition them.
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. Install
the f iller bolt, and tighten it securely.
Manual T ransmission Fluid, Windshield Washers
Maint enance
Windshield Washers
Manual Transmission Fluid
134
NOTICE:
CORRECT LEVEL
FILLER BOLT
Do not use engine antif reeze
or a vinegar/water solution in the
windshield washer reservoir. Antif reeze
can damage your vehicle’s paint, while
a vinegar/water solution can damage
the windshield washer pump. Use only
commercially available windshield
washer f luid.
Use an SAE 90 viscosity hypoid gear
oil, API service classif ied GL5 or
GL6 only.
Put a new washer on the f iller bolt,
then reinstall the f iller bolt. Tighten
it securely. Tightening torque:
The dif f erential should be drained
and ref illed with new f luid according
to the time and distance recommen-
dations in the maintenance schedule.Clean the hood latch assembly with a
mild cleaner, then lubricate it with a
multipurpose grease. Lubricate all
the moving parts (as shown),
including the pivot. Follow the time
and distance recommendations in
the Maintenance Schedule. If you
are not sure how to clean and grease
the latch, contact your Honda dealer.
Check the f luid level with the
dif f erential at normal operating
temperature and the vehicle sitting
on level ground. Remove the
dif f erential f luid f iller bolt and
washer, 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, slowly add f luid
until it starts to run out of the hole.
Dif f erential Fluid, Hood L atch
Maint enance
Hood L atch
Dif f erential Fluid
135
CORRECT LEVEL
FILLER BOLT
PIVOTS
33 lbf·ft (45 N·m , 4.6 kgf·m)
Check the brake f luid level in the
reservoirs monthly.
Always use Honda Heavy Duty
Brake Fluid DOT 3. If it is not
available, you should use only DOT 3
or DOT 4 f luid, f rom a sealed
container, as a temporary
replacement.
Using any non-Honda brake f luid can
cause corrosion and decrease the lif e
of the system. Have the brake
system f lushed and ref illed with
Honda Heavy Duty Brake Fluid
DOT 3 as soon as possible.
Brake f luid marked DOT 5 is not
compatible with your vehicle’s
braking system and can cause
extensive damage.The f luid level should be between
theMINandMAXmarksontheside
of the reservoir. If the level is at or
below the MIN mark, your brake
system needs attention. Have the
brake system inspected f or leaks or
worn brake pads.
The f luid level should be between
theMINandMAXmarksontheside
of the reservoir. If it is not, add
brake f luid to bring it up to that level.
Use the same fluid specified for the
brake system.
Low f luid level can indicate a leak in
the clutch system. Have this system
inspected as soon as possible.
Replace the brake f luid according to
the time recommendation in the
maintenance schedule.
Brake and Clutch Fluid
Maint enance
Brake System
Clutch System
136
MAX
MIN MAX
MIN
If you need to park your vehicle f or
an extended period (more than one
month), there are several things you
should do to prepare it f or storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to
get your vehicle back on the road. If
possible, store your vehicle indoors.Fill the f uel tank.
Change the engine oil and f ilter.
Wash and dry the exterior
completely.
Cleantheinterior.Makesurethe
carpeting, floor mats, etc., are
completely dry.
Raise the convertible top cover.
Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in Reverse. Block the rear wheels.
If the vehicle is to be stored f or a
longer period, it should be
supported on jackstands so the
tires are of f the ground.
Leave one window open slightly (if
the vehicle is being stored
indoors).
Disconnect the battery.
Cover the vehicle with a
‘‘breathable’’ cover, one made
f rom a porous material such as
cotton. Non-porous materials, such
as plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint.
If possible, periodically run the
engine until it reaches f ull
operating temperature (the
cooling f ans cycle on and of f
twice). Pref erably, do this once a
month.
If you store your vehicle f or 1 year or
longer, have your Honda dealer
perf orm the inspections called f or in
the 2 years/30,000 miles (48,000 km)
maintenance schedule (Normal
Conditions) as soon as you take it
out of storage (see page ). The
replacements called f or in the
maintenance schedule are not
needed unless the vehicle has
actually reached that time or mileage.
Support the f ront wiper blade
arms with a f olded towel or rag so
they do not touch the windshield.
To minimize sticking, apply a
silicone spray lubricant to all door
and trunk seals. Also, apply a
vehiclebodywaxtothepainted
surfaces that mate with the door
and trunk seals.
123
Maint enance
Vehicle Storage
152
ÎÎ
The burning of gasoline in your
vehicle’s engine produces several by-
products. Some of these are carbon
monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen
(NOx) and hydrocarbons (HC).
Gasoline evaporating f rom the tank
also produces hydrocarbons. Con-
trolling the production of NOx, CO,
and HC is important to the environ-
ment. Under certain conditions of
sunlight and climate, NOx and HC
react to f orm photochemical ‘‘smog.’’
Carbon monoxide does not contri-
bute to smog creation, but it is a
poisonous gas.
In Canada, Honda vehicles comply
with the Canadian emission
requirements, as specif ied in an
agreement with Environment
Canada, at the time they are
manuf actured.
Your vehicle has a Positive
Crankcase Ventilation System. This
keeps gasses that build up in the
engine’s crankcase f rom going into
the atmosphere. The Positive Crank- case Ventilation valve routes them
from the crankcase back to the
intake manif old. They are then
drawn into the engine and burned.
As gasoline evaporates in the f uel
tank, an evaporative emissions
control canister f illed with charcoal
adsorbs the vapor. It is stored in this
canister while the engine is of f . Af ter
the engine is started and warmed up,
the vapor is drawn into the engine
and burned during driving.
The United States Clean Air Act
sets standards f or automobile
emissions. It also requires that
automobile manufacturers explain to
owners how their emissions controls
workandwhattodotomaintain
them. This section summarizes how
the emissions controls work.
Scheduled maintenance is on page
.
123
Emissions Cont rols
T echnical Inf ormation
Crankcase Emissions Control
System Evaporative Emissions Control
System
The Clean Air Act
185
CONT INUED
..............
Panel Brightness Control . 49
.................................
Parking Brake .67
.................................
Parking Lights .48
.............................
PGM-FI System .186
Power ..................................
Door Locks .54
..............
Engine, Specif ications . 180
.........................................
Mirrors .66
......................................
Windows .59
..........................
Power Door Locks .54
..................
Power Socket Location . 70..............................
Power Windows .59
.........
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts . 14
.........
Protecting Adults and Teens . 10
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 15
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 14
........................
Protecting Children .22
.....................
General Guidelines .22
.......
Protecting Larger Children . 30
.........
Protecting Small Children . 26
..................................
Maintenance .119
Owner’s Maintenance ...................................
Checks .122
........................................
Record .125
....................................
Schedule .121
..
Maintenance Required Indicator . 43
.
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 41,167
...................
Manual Transmission . 114
........
Manual Transmission Fluid . 134
...............................
Meters, Gauges .44
..........................
Mirrors, Adjusting .66
...............
Modif ying Your Vehicle . 106
..................
New Vehicle Break-in . 100
.....................
Normal Shif t Speeds .115
..................
NOTICE, Explanation of . ii
...............
Numbers, Identif ication . 178
...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline . 100
.........................................
Odometer .44 ...............................
Odometer, Trip .44
Oil ........................
Change, How to .130
......................
Change, When to .121
......................
Checking Engine .103
..............
Pressure Indicator . 40,166
Selecting Proper Viscosity ......................................
Chart .130
...........
ON (Ignition Key Position) . 53
.........................
Opening the Trunk .54
..............................
Outside Mirrors .66
....................
Overheating, Engine .163
...................
Radiator Overheating . 163
.......................
Radio Sound System .78
...................
Readiness Codes . 167,188
..
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement . 141
............................
Rear View Mirror .66
................
Reclining the Seat-backs . 58
.......
Recommended Shif t Speeds . 115
Recovery Vehicle, Emergency .......................................
Towing .176
.............................
Reminder Lights .40
.......................
Remote Transmitter .56
Index
M
N
O P
R
V
Replacement Inf ormation................
Engine Oil and Filter . 130
..........................................
Fuses .170
................................
Light Bulbs .137
....................................
Schedule .121
...........................................
Tires .148
.............................
Wiper Blades .144
Replacing Seat Belts Af ter a ............................................
Crash .17
...............................
Restraint, Child .22
................................
Rotation, Tire .148
........................................
Saf ety Belts .8
............
Safety Defects, Reporting . 194
.............
Saf ety Labels, Location of . 35
...............................
Saf ety Messages .ii
..................................
Satellite Radio .88
...........................................
Seat Belts .8
...............
Additional Information . 15
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 14
.....................................
Cleaning .143
......................
Lap/Shoulder Belt .16
................................
Maintenance .17
......
Reminder Light and Beeper . 40...................
System Components . 15
...............
Use During Pregnancy . 14
........................
Seats, Adjusting the .58
...............................
Serial Number .178
...........................
Service Intervals .121
.............................
Service Manual .195
.........
Service Station Procedures . 101
Shif ting The 6-speed Manual
.........................
Transmission .114
Side Turn Signal, Bulb .........................
Replacement in .140
...............................
Signaling Turns .48
6-speed Manual Transmission ...............
Checking Fluid Level . 134
................................
Shif ting the .114
.....................................
Snow Tires .149
..................................
Sound System .78
Spare Tire ......................................
Inf lating .154
............................
Specif ications .181
....................
Specif ications Charts . 180
..................................
Speed Control .95
...................................
Speedometer .44
..........
SRS, Additional Inf ormation . 18
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 21....................
Airbag Components . 18
.............................
Airbag Service .21
How the SRS Indicator .......................................
Works .20
...........
How Your Airbags Work . 18
..................
SRS Indicator Light . 20,41
.......................
Starting the Engine .113
................
With a Dead Battery . 162
..............
State Emissions Testing . 188
........
Steam Coming f rom Engine . 163
Steering Wheel .............
Anti-theft Column Lock . 53
.....................
Stereo Sound System .78
....................
Storing Your Vehicle .152
................................
Stuck Vehicle .174
Supplemental Restraint System ......................................
Servicing .21
.........................
SRS Indicator .20 ,41
...............
Tensioners, Seat Belts . 16
.....................................
Tachometer .44
......
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in . 141
.
Taking Care of the Unexpected . 153
Index
S
T
VI