The vehicle stability assist (VSA)
system helps to stabilize the vehicle
during cornering if the vehicle turns
more or less than desired. It also
assists you in maintaining traction
while accelerating on loose or
slippery road surf aces. It does this
by regulating the engine’s output,
and by selectively applying the
brakes.
The VSA system cannot enhance the
vehicle’s driving stability in all
situations and does not control your
vehicle’s entire braking system. It is
still your responsibility to drive and
corner at reasonable speeds and to
leave a sufficient margin of safety. When VSA activates, you may notice
that the engine does not respond to
the accelerator in the same way it
does at other times.When VSA activates, you will see the
VSA activation indicator blink.
If this indicator comes on while
driving, pull to the side of the road
when it is saf e, and turn of f the
engine. Reset the system by
restarting the engine. If the VSA
system indicator stays on, or comes
back on while driving, have the VSA
system inspected by your dealer.If the indicator does not come on
when the ignition switch is turned to
the ON (II) position, there may be a
problem with the VSA system. Have
your dealer inspect your vehicle as
soon as possible.
When the VSA system indicator
comes on, you will also see a
‘‘CHECK VSA SYSTEM’’ message in
the multi-information display.
Without VSA, your vehicle will have
normal braking and cornering ability,
but it will not have VSA traction and
stability enhancement.
CONT INUED
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) System
VSA A ctivation Indicator
VSA System Indicator
Driving
255
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Your vehicle has been designed to
primarily carry passengers and their
cargo. You can also use it to tow a
trailer if you caref ully observe the
load limits, use the proper equipment,
and f ollow the guidelines in this
section.The
maximum allowable weight of the
trailer and everything in or on it
must not exceed 1,000 lbs (450 kg).
Towing a load that is too heavy
can seriously af f ect your vehicle’s
handling and perf ormance. It can
also damage the engine and
drivetrain. The weight that
the tongue of a f ully-loaded trailer
puts on the hitch should be
approximately 10 % of the total
trailer weight. Too much tongue
load reduces front-tire traction and
steering control. Too little tongue
load can make the trailer unstable
and cause it to sway.
CONT INUED
Load Limits
T otal T railer Weight: T ongue L oad:
Towing a Trailer
Driving
257
Exceeding any load limit or
improperly loading your vehicle
and trailer can cause a crash in
which you can be seriously hurt
or killed.
Check the loading of your
vehicle and trailer carefully
beforestartingtodrive.
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If you have the skills and tools to
perf orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your vehicle, you may want
to purchase the service manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your dealer. This section explains why it is
important to keep your vehicle well
maintained and how to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.
This section also includes
instructions on how to read the
maintenance messages in the multi-
inf ormation display, a maintenance
record, and instructions f or simple
maintenance tasks you may want to
take care of yourself .......................
Maintenance Saf ety .264
....................
Maintenance Minder .266
....................
Maintenance Record .275
..............................
Fluid Locations .277
........................
Adding Engine Oil .278
.......
Recommended Engine Oil .278
..............................
Synthetic Oil .279
................
Engine Oil Additives .279
.........
Changing the Oil and Filter .280
....................
Windshield Washers .282
..............................
Engine Coolant .283
............
Adding Engine Coolant . 283
.......................
Transmission Fluid .285
Automatic .........................
Transmission .285
Manual .........................
Transmission .287
................
Brake and Clutch Fluid . 288
................................
Brake Fluid .288
...............................
Clutch Fluid .289
....................
Power Steering Fluid . 289
.............................................
Lights .291
.......................................
Seat Belts .299
.....................................
Floor Mats .299
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 300
.................................
Wiper Blades .301 ...............................................
Tires .303
..................
Inf lation Guidelines . 303
...
Recomended Tire Pressures . 304
..........................
Tire Inspection .305
.....................
Tire Maintenance .305
.............................
Tire Rotation .306
...
Replacing Tires and Wheels . 306
Wheel and Tire ........................
Specif ications .307
..........................
Winter Driving .307
.............................
Snow Tires .307
............................
Tire Chains .308
...................
Checking the Battery . 309
.............................
Vehicle Storage .310
353
Maintenance
Maint enance
263
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̵
µµ
µ µ
µ
µ
U.S. Vehicles:
According to state and federal
regulations, f ailure to perf orm
maintenance on the items marked
with will not void your emissions
warranties. However, all
maintenance services should be
perf ormed at the recommended time
or mileage period to ensure long-
term reliability.
Youshouldcheckthefollowing
items at the specif ied intervals. If
you are unsure of how to perf orm
any check, turn to the appropriate
page listed. Engine oil level Check every
time you f ill the f uel tank. See
page .
Engine coolant level Check the
radiator reserve tank every time
you f ill the f uel tank. See page .
Automatic transmission Check
the f luid level monthly. See pages
.
Brakes Check the f luid level
monthly. See page .
Tires Check the tire pressure
monthly. Examine the tread f or
wear and foreign objects. See page .
Lights Check the operation of
the headlights, parking lights,
taillights, high-mount brake light,
and license plate lights monthly.
Your authorized dealer knows your
vehicle best and can provide
competent, ef f icient service.
However, service at a dealer is not
mandatory to keep your warranties
in effect. Maintenance may be done
by any qualif ied service f acility or
person who is skilled in this type of
automotive service. Keep all receipts
as proof of completion, and have the
person who does the work f ill out the
maintenance record. Check your
warranty booklet f or more
inf ormation.
We recommend the use of Acura
parts and f luids whenever you have
maintenance done. These are
manuf actured to the same high-
quality standards as the original
components, so you can be conf ident
of their perf ormance and durability. 232
232
285 286 288
303
Maintenance, replacement, or
repair of emissions control
devices and systems may be done
by any automotive repair
establishment or individual using
parts that are ‘‘certif ied’’ to EPA
standards.
Owner’s Maintenance Checks
Important Maintenance
Precautions
Maintenance Schedule
Maint enance
273
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Î
Î
Ì Ì
Ì
Î
Maintenance Minder
274
: Maintenance Main Items
Replace engine oil
Replace engine oil and oil filter
Inspect front and rear brakes
Check parking brake adjustment
Inspect these items: Tie rod ends, steering gear box, and boots
Suspension components
Driveshaft boots
Brake hoses and line (including ABS)
All fluid levels and condition of fluids
Exhaust system
Fuel lines and connections Maintenance Sub Items
Rotate tires
Replace air cleaner element If you drive in dusty conditions, replace every 15,000
miles (24,000 km).
Replace dust and pollen filter If you drive primarily in urban areas that have high
concentrations of soot in the air from industry and
from diesel-powered vehicles, replace every 15,000
miles (24,000 km).
Inspect drive belt
Replace transmission fluid Driving in mountainous areas at very low vehicle
speeds or trailer towing results in higher
transmission and transfer temperatures. This
requires transmission and transfer fluid changes
more frequently than recommended by the
maintenance minder. If you regularly drive your
vehicle under these conditions, have the transmission
and transfer fluid changed at 60,000 miles (100,000
km), then every 30,000 miles (48,000 km). (For A/T
only.)
Replace spark plugs
Inspect valve clearance
Replace engine coolant
A
B
Symbol
Symbol
1
2
3
4
5
1
1
If the message ‘‘SERVICE DUE NOW’’ does not appear more than 12 months
after the display is reset, change the engine oil every year.
Inspect idle speed every 160,000 miles (256,000 km).
See information on maintenance and emissions warranty in the center
column on page .
Adjust the valves during services A, B, 1, 2, or 3 only if they are noisy. Independent of the maintenance messages in the multi-information
display, replace the brake fluid every 3 years.
NOTE: 1:
273
Maintenance Minder
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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 any. Clean up any
spills immediately. Spilled oil could
damage components in the engine
compartment.Reinstall the engine oil f ill cap, and
tighten it securely. Wait a f ew
minutes, and recheck the oil level on
the engine oil dipstick. Do not f ill
above the upper mark; you could
damage the engine.
Oil is a major contributor to your
engine’s perf ormance and longevity.
Always use a premium-grade
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. It is
highly recommended that you use
Honda Motor Oil in your vehicle f or
as long as you own it.
A dding Engine Oil
Recommended Engine Oil
278
ENGINE OIL FILL CAP
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Turn of f the engine, let it sit f or
several minutes, then check the oil
level on the dipstick. If necessary,
add more oil.
Install the maintenance cover and
tighten the bolt securely.
Refill the engine with the recom-
mended oil.
Engine oil change capacity
(including f ilter): Put a new washer on the drain bolt,
then reinstall the drain bolt.
Tighten it to:
Replace the engine oil f ill cap.
Start the engine. The oil pressure
indicator should go out within 5
seconds. If it does not, turn of f the
engine, and check your work.
Let the engine run f or several
minutes, then check the drain bolt
and oil f ilter f or leaks.
Make sure the oil f ilter gasket is
not stuck to the engine block. If it
is, remove it bef ore installing a
new oil f ilter.
Install a new oil f ilter according to
the instructions that come with it.
Make sure to clean of f any dirt
and dust on the connecting
surf ace of a new oil f ilter. 9. 8. 7.
6. 12.
11.
10.
Changing the Oil and Filter
Maint enance
281
OIL FILTER
33 lbf·ft (45 N·m , 4.6 kgf·m)
4.4 US qt (4.2
) Improper disposal of engine oil can be
harmf ul to the environment. If you
change your own oil, please dispose of
the used oil properly. Put it in a sealed
container and take it to a recycling
center. Do not discard it in a trash bin
or dump it on the ground.
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Check the level in the windshield
washer reservoir at least monthly
during normal use.
Check the reservoir’s f luid level by
removing the cap and looking at the
level gauge attached to the cap.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 the blade edges.
Fill the reservoir with a good-quality
windshield washer f luid. This
increases the cleaning capability and
prevents f reezing in cold weather. If the washer f luid is low, a
‘‘WASHER FLUID LOW’’ message
appears in the multi-inf ormation
display.
Canadian models only
Windshield Washers
282
LEVEL GAUGE
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.
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