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Your airbag systems are virtually
maintenance f ree, and there are no
parts you can saf ely service.
However, you must have your
vehicle serviced if:Together, airbags and
seat belts provide the best
protection. Improperly replacing
or covering f ront seat-back covers
can prevent your side airbags f rom
inf lating during a side impact.
Tampering could cause
the airbags to deploy, possibly
causing very serious injury.
Any airbag
that has deployed must be
replaced along with the control
unit and other related parts. If a
f ront airbag inf lates, the seat belt
tensioners must also be replaced.
Do not try to remove or replace
anyairbagbyyourself.Thismust
be done by a Honda dealer or a
knowledgeable body shop.
Take your vehicle to an
authorized your dealer as soon as
possible. If you ignore this
indication, your airbags may not
operate properly.
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Airbag Service Additional Saf ety Precautions
Donotattempttodeactivateyour
airbags. Do not cover or replace f ront seat -
back covers wit hout consult ingyour dealer.
Models wit h side airbags:
Do not t amper wit h airbag component s or wiring f or anyreason.
An airbag ever inf lates.
T he SRS indicat or alert s you t o aproblem.
28
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Page 103 of 205

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).Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid
acceleration.
Avoidhardbrakingforthefirst
200 miles (300 km).
Do not change the oil until the
scheduled maintenance time.
Youshouldfollowthesesame
recommendations with an
overhauled or exchanged engine, or
when the brakes are relined.
During this period:
Your vehicle 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 that can lead to engine damage.
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 dealer f or service.
For f urther important f uel-related
inf ormation, please ref er to your
.
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.
If you notice any undesirable
operating symptoms, try another
service station or switch to another
brand of gasoline.
We recommend using quality
gasoline containing detergent
additives that help prevent fuel
system and engine deposits.
Break-in Period Fuel Recommendation
Quick Start Guide
Break-in Period, Fuel Recommendation
110
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Park with the driver’s side closest
to the gas pump.
Open the f uel f ill door by pulling
onthehandletotheleftof the
driver’s seat.even though the tank is not f ull,
there may be a problem with your
vehicle’s fuel vapor recovery
system. The system helps keep
f uel vapors f rom going into the
atmosphere. Consult your dealer.
Stop f illing the tank af ter the f uel
nozzle automatically clicks of f . Do
not try to ‘‘top of f ’’ the tank. Leave
some room f or the f uel to expand
with temperature changes.
Remove the f uel f ill cap slowly.
You may hear a hissing sound as
pressure inside the tank escapes.
Put the attachment on the fuel fill
cap into the slit on the f uel f ill door.
1. 2.
3. 4.
CONT INUED
If the f uel nozzle keeps clicking of f
Service Station Procedures
Fueling
Bef ore Driving
111
Pull
FUEL FILL CAP
ATTACHMENT
SLIT
Gasoline is highly flammable
and explosive. You can be
burned or seriously injured
when handling fuel.
Stop the engine, and keep
heat, sparks, and flamesaway.
Handle fuel only outdoors.
Wipe up spills immediately.
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Page 105 of 205
Screw the fuel fill cap back on
until it clicks at least three times.
If you do not properly tighten the
cap, the Malf unction Indicator
Lampmaycomeon(seepage).
Push the f uel f ill door closed until
it latches.
Park the vehicle, and set the
parking brake. Pull the hood
release handle located under the
lower lef t corner of the dashboard.
The hood will pop up slightly.If the hood latch handle moves
stif f ly, or if you can open the hood
without lifting the handle, the
mechanism should be cleaned and
lubricated.
Put your fingers between the front
edge of the hood near the center.
The hood latch handle is above
the ‘‘H’’ logo. Push this handle up
until it releases the hood. Lif t thehood. Pull the support rod out of its clip
and insert the end into the
designated hole(s) in the hood.
2.
3.
5. 6.
1.
178
Service Station Procedures
Opening and Closing the Hood
112 LATCH
HOOD RELEASE HANDLE
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Page 106 of 205
Wait a f ew minutes af ter turning the
engine of f bef ore you check the oil.Remove the dipstick (orange loop).
Wipe the dipstick with a clean
cloth or paper towel.
Insert it all the way back in its tube. Remove the dipstick again and
check the level. It should be
between the upper and lower
marks.
If it is near or below the lower mark,
see on page .
To close the hood, lif t it up slightly to
remove the support rod f rom the
hole. Put the support rod back into
its holding clip. Lower the hood to
about a f oot (30 cm) above the
f ender, then let it drop. Make sure it
is securely latched.
3.
1. 2. 4.
138
Service Station Procedures
A dding Oil
Oil Check
Bef ore Driving
113
UPPER MARK
LOWER MARK
GRIP
SUPPORT ROD
CLIP DIPSTICK
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Page 107 of 205

Try to maintain a constant speed.
Everytimeyouslowdownand
speed up, your vehicle uses extra
fuel.Usethecruisecontrolwhen
appropriate.
Combine several short trips into
one.
The air conditioning puts an extra
load on the engine which makes it
usemorefuel.Usethefresh-air
ventilation when possible.
Look at the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. Make sure it is
between the MAX and MIN lines. If
it is below the MIN line, see on page f or
inf ormation on adding the proper
coolant.
Refer to
on page f or inf ormation
about checking other items on your
vehicle. an underinf lated tire
causes more ‘‘rolling resistance,’’
which uses more f uel.
The build-up of snow or mud on
your vehicle’s underside adds
weight and rolling resistance.
Frequent cleaning helps your f uel
mileage and reduces the chance of
corrosion.
Always maintain your vehicle
according to the maintenance
schedule. See
(see page
).
Always drive in the highest gear
possible.
Drive moderately. Rapid
acceleration, abrupt cornering,
and hard braking use more f uel.
141
132 132
For example,
Service Station Procedures, Fuel Economy
Improving Fuel Economy
Engine Coolant Check
A dding
Engine Coolant
Owner’s Maintenance
Checks Owner’s
Maintenance Checks
114 RESERVE
TANK
MIN
MAX
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Page 121 of 205

To eliminate potential hazards, read
the instructions bef ore you begin,
and make sure you have the tools
and skills required.To clean parts, use a commercially
available degreaser or parts
cleaner, not gasoline.
To reduce the possibility of f ire or
explosion, keep cigarettes, sparks,
and f lames away f rom the battery
and all f uel-related parts.
Wear eye protection and
protective clothing when working with the battery or compressed air.
Be sure there is
adequate ventilation whenever you
operate the engine.
Let the
engine and exhaust system cool
bef ore touching any parts. Do
not run the engine unless
instructed to do so.
Some of the most important saf ety
precautions are given here. However,
we cannot warn you of every
conceivable hazard that can arise in
perf orming maintenance. Only you
can decide whether or not you
should perf orm a given task.
Make sure your vehicle is parked
on level ground, the parking brake
is set, and the engine is of f .
All service items not detailed in this
section should be perf ormed by a
certif ied technician or qualif ied
mechanic.
Maintenance Saf ety
Important Saf ety Precautions
Potential Vehicle HazardsCarbon Monoxide poison f rom
engine exhaust.
Burns f rom hot parts. Injury f rom moving parts.
130 Failure to properly follow
maintenance instructions and
precautions can cause you to
be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the procedures
and precautions in this owner’smanual.
Improperly maintaining this
vehicle or failing to correct a
problem before driving can
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the inspection
and maintenance
recommendations, and
schedules in this owner’smanual.
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µµ
Avoid exceeding your vehicle’s
load limit. This puts excess stress
on the engine, brakes, and many
other vehicle parts. The load limit
is shown on the tire inf ormation
label on the driver’s doorjamb.
Follow the
Maintenance Schedule f or Severe
Conditions if you drive your vehicle
MAINLY under one or more of the
f ollowing conditions.
Driving less than 5 miles (8 km)
per trip or, in f reezing
temperatures, driving less than 10
miles (16 km) per trip.
Driving in extremely hot [over
90°F (32°C)] conditions.
Used primarily as a delivery
vehicle or taxi that is driven
mostly in stop-and-go traf f ic and/
or parked with the engine idling. Driving on muddy, dusty, or de-
iced roads.
If you only drive
under a ‘‘severe’’ condition, you
should f ollow the Normal Conditions
Maintenance Schedule.
Operate your vehicle on
reasonable roads within the legal
speed limit.
Always use unleaded gasoline with
theproperoctanerating(seepage ).
Drive your vehicle regularly over a
distance of several miles
(kilometers). Service your vehicle according to the
time and mileage periods on one of
the Maintenance Schedules on the
f ollowing pages.
Driving with a roof rack, or driving
in mountainous conditions.
The maintenance schedule assumes
you will use your vehicle as normal
transportation for passengers and
their possessions. You should also
f ollow these recommendations:
Follow the
Maintenance Schedule f or Severe
Conditions.
110
OCCASIONALLY
Maintenance Schedule
Which Schedule to Follow
U.S. Owners Canadian Owners
Maint enance
131
NOTE:
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