Page 48 of 236

Your vehicle’s exhaust contains
carbon monoxide gas. You should
have no problem with carbon
monoxide entering the vehicle in
normal driving if you maintain your
vehicle properly.High levels of carbon monoxide can
collect rapidly in enclosed areas,
such as a garage. Do not run the
engine with the garage door closed.
Even with the door open, run the
engine only long enough to move the
vehicle out of the garage.If you must sit in your parked vehicle
with the engine running, even in an
unconf ined area, adjust the heating
and cooling system as f ollows:
Select the Fresh Air mode.
Select the mode.
Turn the f an on high speed.
Set the temperature control to a
comfortable setting.
With the trunk open, airf low can pull
exhaust gas into your vehicle’s
interior and create a hazardous
condition. If you must drive with the
trunk open, open all the windows,
and set the heating and cooling
system as shown below.
Have the exhaust system inspected
f or leaks whenever:
The vehicle is raised f or an oil
change.
You notice a change in the sound
of the exhaust.
The vehicle was in an accident
that may have damaged the
underside. 1.
2.
3.
4.
Carbon Monoxide Hazard
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
47
Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.
Breathing it can cause
unconsciousness and even kill
you.
Avoid any enclosed areas or
activities that expose you to
carbon monoxide.
Page 54 of 236
The U.S. instrument panel is shown. Dif f erences f or the Canadian models are noted in the text.
Instrument Panel
Inst rument s and Cont rols
U.S. L X, EX and Canadian L X-G and Si models
53
SHIFT LEVER POSITION INDICATORPARKING BRAKE AND
BRAKE SYSTEM
INDICATOR
TRUNK-OPEN INDICATOR
MAINTENANCE
REQUIRED INDICATOR
LOW FUEL INDICATOR
IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM
INDICATOR
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM INDICATOR SEAT BELT REMINDER LIGHT
CRUISE CONTROL INDICATOR
SIDE AIRBAG CUTOFF INDICATOR
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE
SYSTEM INDICATOR
(P.
57)
(P. 58)
(P.57) (P.
58)
(P.
60)
(P.
58)
HIGH BEAM INDICATOR
CHARGING SYSTEM
INDICATOR
LOW OIL PRESSURE
INDICATOR
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP
(P.57)
(P.
58)
(P.59) (P.
56)
(P.57, 196)
(P. 56, 194)
(P. 56, 194)
(P. 56, 195)
(P.138)
Page 55 of 236
Instrument Panel
Canadian DX and SE models
54
LOW OIL PRESSURE
INDICATORDAYTIME RUNNING
LIGHTS INDICATOR
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP WASHER LEVEL
INDICATOR
TRUNK-OPEN INDICATOR
SIDE AIRBAG CUTOFF INDICATOR
IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM
INDICATOR
CHARGING SYSTEM
INDICATOR SEAT BELT
REMINDER LIGHTMAINTENANCE REQUIRED
INDICATOR PARKING BRAKE AND
BRAKE SYSTEM
INDICATOR LOW FUEL INDICATOR
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM INDICATOR
(P.
57)
(P. 59)
HIGH BEAM INDICATOR(P. 58)
(P.60) (P.
58)
(P.
58)
(P.
59)
(P.
57)
(P.
58)
(P. 56, 194)
(P. 56, 194)
(P.56) (P.
57, 196)
(P. 56, 195)
Page 56 of 236
Instrument Panel
U.S. DX model
Inst rument s and Cont rols
55
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM INDICATOR
LOW OIL PRESSURE
INDICATOR MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP HIGH BEAM INDICATORSIDE AIRBAG CUTOFF INDICATOR TRUNK-OPEN INDICATOR
CHARGING SYSTEM
INDICATOR SEAT BELT
REMINDER LIGHTMAINTENANCE REQUIRED
INDICATOR PARKING BRAKE AND
BRAKE SYSTEM
INDICATOR
IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM
INDICATOR
LOW FUEL INDICATOR
(P.
57)
(P. 59) (P.
57)
(P.
58)
(P. 58)
(P.60) (P.
58)
(P.
56, 194)
(P. 56, 194)
(P. 56, 195)
(P.56) (P.
57, 196)
Page 57 of 236

The instrument panel has many
indicators to give you important
inf ormation about your vehicle.The engine can be severely damaged
if this indicator f lashes or stays on
when the engine is running. For
more information, see page .
If this indicator comes on when the
engine is running, the battery is not
being charged. For more inf ormation,
see page .
See page .
This indicator comes on when you
turn the ignition switch to ON (II). It
reminds you and your passengers to
f asten your seat belts. A beeper also
sounds if you have not f astened your
seat belt.
If you turn the ignition switch to ON
(II) bef ore f astening your seat belt,
the beeper sounds and the indicator
f lashes. If you do not f asten your
seat belt bef ore the beeper stops, the
indicator stops f lashing but remains
on.
If you continue driving without
f astening your seat belt, the beeper
sounds and the indicator f lashes
again at regular intervals. 194
194 195
Instrument Panel Indicators
Seat Belt Reminder
Indicator L ow Oil Pressure
Indicator
Charging System
Indicator
Malf unction Indicator
Lamp
56
Page 122 of 236
Bef ore you begin driving your
vehicle, you should know what
gasoline to use, and how to check
the levels of important f luids. You
also need to know how to properly
store luggage or packages. The
inf ormation in this section will help
you. If you plan to add any
accessories to your vehicle, please
read the information in this section
first..............................
Break-in Period .122
.................
Fuel Recommendation . 122
.........
Service Station Procedures . 123
....................................
Ref ueling .123
Opening and Closing the .......................................
Hood .124
...................................
Oil Check .125
.............
Engine Coolant Check . 125
...............................
Fuel Economy .126
...
Accessories and Modif ications . 127
.............................
Carrying Cargo .129
Bef ore Driving
Bef ore Driving
121
Page 123 of 236

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
recommendations with an
overhauled or exchanged engine, or
when the brakes are replaced. You may hear a knocking noise from
the engine if you drive the vehicle at
low engine speed (below about 1,000
rpm) in a higher gear. To stop this,
raise the engine speed by shif ting to
a lower gear.
We recommend using gasoline
containing detergent additives that
help prevent f uel system and engine
deposits.
In addition, in order to maintain good
perf ormance, f uel economy, and
emissions control, we strongly
recommend, in areas where it isavailable, 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, contact
your dealer f or service.
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.
For f urther important f uel-related
inf ormation, please ref er to your
.
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 in the engine that can lead to
mechanical f ailure.
On vehicles with manual transmission
Break-in Period
Fuel Recommendation
Quick Start Guide
Break-in Period, Fuel Recommendation
122
Page 126 of 236
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 . 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.
2.
3. 1.
4.
154 157
148
Oil Check
A dding Oil A dding
Engine Coolant Engine Coolant Check
Owner’s Maintenance
Checks
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving
125
DIPSTICK UPPER MARK
LOWER MARKRESERVE TANK
MINMAX