Page 127 of 226
Fasten your seat belt. Check that
your passengers have f astened
their seat belts (see page ).
Make sure the doors are securely
closed and locked.
Check the steering wheel
adjustment (see page ).
Check the adjustment of the
inside and outside mirrors (see
page ).
Check that any items you may be
carrying are stored properly or
f astened down securely.
Check the seat adjustment (see
page ).
Make sure all windows, mirrors,
and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove f rost, snow,
or ice.
Youshoulddothefollowingchecks
and adjustments bef ore you drive
your vehicle.
Check that the hood is f ully closed.
Check that the trunk is f ully
closed.
Visually check the tires. If a tire
looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure. When you start the engine, check
the gauges and indicators in the
instrument panel (see page ).
1. 2. 14
3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
11.
10.
80
73
65 51
Preparing to Drive
134
——y
y
(%y
y
Page 151 of 226

Oil is a major contributor to your
engine’s perf ormance and longevity.
Always use a premium-grade 5W-20
detergent oil displaying the API
Certif ication Seal. This seal indicates
the oil is energy conserving, and that
it meets the American Petroleum
Institute’s latest requirements.Honda Motor Oil is the pref erred
5W-20 lubricant f or your vehicle. It is
highly recommended that you use
Honda Motor Oil in your vehicle f or
optimum engine protection. Make
sure the API Certif ication Seal says
‘‘For Gasoline Engines.’’
Unscrew and remove the engine oil
fill cap on top of the valve cover.
Pour in the oil slowly and caref ully so
you do not spill. Clean up any spills
immediately. Spilled oil could
damage components in the engine
compartment.
Install the engine oil f ill cap, and
tighten it securely. Wait a f ew
minutes, and recheck the oil level.
Do not f ill above the upper mark; you
could damage the engine. The oil’s viscosity or weight is
provided on the container’s label.
5W-20 oil is f ormulated f or year-
round protection of your vehicle, to
improve cold weather starting and
f uel economy.
Recommended Engine Oil
A dding Engine Oil
Maint enance
159
ENGINE OIL
FILL CAP
API CERTIFICATION SEAL
Ambient Temperature
——y
y
(%y
y
Page 157 of 226
Check the f luid level with the engine
at normal operating temperature.Park the vehicle on level ground.
Shut of f the engine. Remove the dipstick (yellow loop)
f rom the transmission, and wipe it
with a clean cloth.
Remove the dipstick and check
the f luid level. It should be
between the upper and lower
marks.
Insert the dipstick all the way into
the transmission securely as
shown in the illustration.
NOTE: For accurate results, wait at
least 60 seconds, and no more than
90 seconds, af ter turning of f the
engine to check the f luid level. 3.
4.
1. 2.
CONT INUED
Automatic Transmission Fluid
Maint enance
165
DIPSTICK (A/T)
LOWER MARK
UPPER MARK
DIPSTICK (CVT)
DIPSTICK (A/T)
——y
y
(%y
y
Page 158 of 226

If the level is below the lower
mark, add f luid into the f iller hole
to bring it to the upper mark (On
CVT model, the HOT side’s upper
mark).
Remove the dipstick and check the
f luid level. There is a HOT side and a
COLD side on the dipstick. It should
be between the upper and lower
marks on the HOT side. To thoroughly f lush the transmission,
the technician should drain and ref ill
it with Honda ATF-Z1, then drive the
vehicle f or a short distance. Do this
three times. Then drain and ref ill the
transmission a final time.
Insert the dipstick all the way back
into the transmission securely as
shown in the illustration.
If you are not sure how to add f luid,
contact your dealer.
The transmission should be drained
and ref illed with new f luid according
to the time and distance recommen-
dations in the maintenance schedule.
Pour the f luid slowly and caref ully
so you do not spill any. Clean up
any spills immediately; it could
damage components in the engine
compartment.
Always use Honda ATF-Z1
(Automatic Transmission Fluid). If
it’s not available, you may use a
DEXRON
III automatic
transmission f luid as a temporary
replacement. However, continued
use can af f ect the shif t quality.
Have the transmission f lushed and
ref illed with Honda ATF-Z1 as
soon as it is convenient.
5.
6.
On CVT model
Automatic Transmission Fluid
166
UPPER MARK
DIPSTICK (CVT)
LOWER MARK
——y
y
(%y
y
Page 159 of 226

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 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 you are not sure how to check and
add f luid, contact your dealer.
Manual T ransmission Fluid
Maint enance
167
FILLER BOLT
Correct Level
——y
y
(%y
y
Page 163 of 226
If you need to change a headlight
bulb on the passenger’s side, remove
the bolt from the stay and push the
battery toward windshield to obtain
enough working space.Remove the electrical connector
f rom the bulb by pushing on the
tab and pulling the connector
down.
Remove the bulb by turning it one-
quarter turn counterclockwise.Push the electrical connector back
onto the bulb. Make sure it is on
all the way.
Turn on the headlights to test the
new bulb.
Put the battery back to its original
position, reinstall the bolt in the
stay and tighten it securely.
Reinstall the power steering
reservoir.
(Passenger’s side)
(Driver’s side)
Insert the new bulb into the hole
and turn it one-quarter turn clock-
wise to lock it in place.
2. 3. 4. 5.6. 7.
Lights
Maint enance
171
STAY
TAB
BULB
CONNECTOR
——y
y
(%y
y
Page 183 of 226
Put on the spare tire. Put the
wheel nuts back on f inger-tight,
then tighten them in a crisscross
pattern with the wheel nut wrench
until the wheel is f irmly against
the hub. Do not try to tighten
them f ully.
Lower the vehicle to the ground
and remove the jack.Remove the center cap from the
flat tire.
Tighten the wheel nuts securely in
the same crisscross pattern. Have
the wheel nut torque checked at
the nearest automotive service
f acility.
Tighten the wheel nuts to:
12.
13. 14.
15.On HX, Special Edition, and EX
models in the U.S., REVERB and Si
models in Canada
Changing a Flat T ire
192
80 lbf·ft (108 N·m , 11 kgf·m)
——y
y
(%y
y
Page 184 of 226
Place the flat tire face down in the
spare tire well.
Remove the spacer cone f rom the
wing bolt, turn it over, and put it
back on the bolt.
Securetheflattirebyscrewing
the wing bolt back into its hole.Store the jack in the trunk with the
end bracket on the lef t side. Turn
the jack’s end bracket to lock it in
place. Store the tool kit.
Store the wheel cover or center
cap in the trunk. Make sure it does
not get scratched or damaged.
Lower the trunk f loor, then close
the trunk lid.
16.
17.
18. 19.
20. 21.
Changing a Flat T ire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
193
WING BOLT SPACER CONE
Loose items can fly around the
interiorinacrashandcould
seriously injure the occupants.
Store the wheel, jack, and tools
securely before driving.
——y
y
(%y
y