This section explains why it is
important to keep your vehicle well
maintained and how to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.
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 also includes
instructions on how to read the
maintenance minder messages on
the information display, a
maintenance record, and instructions
for simple maintenance tasks you
may want to take care of yourself.......................
Maintenance Saf ety .132
....................
Maintenance Minder .133
....................
Maintenance Record .140
..............................
Fluid Locations .142
........................
Adding Engine Oil .143
.........
Changing the Oil and Filter .144
..............................
Engine Coolant .146
....................
Windshield Washers .148
........
Manual Transmission Fluid .149
..........................
Dif f erential Fluid .150
................
Brake and Clutch Fluid .151
.............................................
Lights .152
................
Cleaning the Seat Belts .157
.....................................
Floor Mats .158
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter .158
.................................
Wiper Blades .159
...............................................
Tires .160
...................
Checking the Battery .166
.............................
Vehicle Storage .167
209
Maintenance
Maint enance
131
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Maintenance Minder
139
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 lines (including ABS)
All fluid levels and condition of fluids
Exhaust system
Fuel lines and connections Maintenance Sub Items
Check tire inflation and condition
Replace air cleaner element
Replace dust and pollen filter
Inspect drive belt
Replace transmission fluid
Replace spark plugs
Inspect valve clearance
Replace engine coolant
Replace rear differential fluid
:
A
B
Symbol
Symbol
1
2
3
4
5
61
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). Independent of the maintenance minder messages, replace the brake fluid
every 3 years.
Adjust the valves during services A, B, 1, 2, or 3 only if they are noisy.
See information on maintenance and emissions warranty on page .
NOTE: 1:
138
If you drive in dusty conditions, replace every 15,000
miles (24,000 km).
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).
Driving in mountainous areas results in higher level
of mechanical (shear) stress to fluid. This requires
differential fluid changes more frequently than
recommended by the maintenance minder. If you
regularly drive your vehicle under these conditions,
have the differential fluid changed every 15,000 miles
(24,000 km).
Maintenance Minder
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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.
If you are not sure how to check and
add f luid, contact your dealer.
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. The transmission should be drained
and ref illed with new f luid according
to the intervals shown on the
inf ormation display.
Manual T ransmission Fluid
Maint enance
149
CORRECT LEVEL
FILLER BOLT
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Changing Oil
........................................
How to .144
......................................
When to .139
...
Charging System Indicator .46,182
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving .121
.....................................
Child Saf ety .28
..............................
Booster Seats .37
...................................
Child Seats .33
.....
Important Saf ety Reminders .31
..........................
Larger Children .36
.......................
Risk with Airbags .29
.............................
Small Children .32
.......................................
Child Seats .33
.......................
Cleaning Seat Belts .157
.................................................
Clock .54
...................................
Clutch Fluid .151
........................
CO in the Exhaust .201
............
Cold Weather, Starting in .122
......................
Compact Spare Tire .170
...............
Consumer Inf ormation .206
.............
Controls, Instruments and .43
..............................
Convertible Top .70
...............
Convertible Top Cover .72
..
Lowering the Convertible Top .70
................................
Maintenance .74
.....
Raising the Convertible Top .73 Coolant
........................................
Adding .146
....................................
Checking .112
.........................
Proper Solution .146
...................
Temperature Gauge .52
Crankcase Emission Control ........................................
System .201
................
Cruise Control Indicator .47
............
Cruise Control Operation .103
......................................
Cup Holder .78
.............
Customer Service Of f ice .206
..............................
Economy, Fuel .112
..................................
Emergencies .169
.............
Battery, Jump Starting .178
...........
Brake System Indicator .184
................
DANGER, Explanation of .ii
...................................
Dashboard .3,44
..............
Dashboard Lower Pocket .79
................
Daytime Running Lights .57
Daytime Running Lights
.......................................
Indicator .48
.................................
Dead Battery .178
.........
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety .208
................
Def ogger, Rear Window .59
................
Def rosting the Windows .85
..........................
Dif f erential Fluid .150
....................................
Dimensions .196 ...............
Dimming the Headlights .57
Dipstick
..................................
Engine Oil .111
..........................
Directional Signals .57
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators .126
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil .146
...................
Do Not Tow a Trailer .129
Doors
..............
Locking and Unlocking .63
.......................
Monitor Indicator .47
......................
Power Door Locks .63
........
DOT Tire Quality Grading .198
Downshif ting, Manual
.............................
Transmission .123
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety .5
...........................................
Driving .119
....................................
Economy .112
........................
Driving Guidelines .120
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter .158
Index
D
E
II
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CONT INUED
...............
Gas Mileage, Improving .112
..........................................
Gasohol .108
.........................................
Gasoline .108
...........................................
Gauge .52
.....................
Low Fuel Indicator .49
................
Octane Requirement .108
........................
Tank, Ref ueling .109
.............................................
Gauges .51
...
Engine Coolant Temperature .52
...............................................
Fuel .52
.....................................
Fan, Interior .83
...........................................
Features .81
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank .109
Filters
.........................
Dust and Pollen .158
...............................................
Oil .144
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning .58
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a .171
Fluids
..........................................
Brake .151
.........................................
Clutch .151
..............
Manual Transmission .149
..................
Windshield Washer .148
..........................
Four-way Flashers .58 .................................................
Fuel .108
......................
Fill Door and Cap .109
...........................................
Gauge .52
.....................
Low Fuel Indicator .49
................
Octane Requirement .108
...............................
Oxygenated .108
........................
Tank, Ref ueling .109
...............................
Fuel Economy .112
..............
Fuel Station Procedures .109
.....................
Fuses, Checking the .186
................
Changing a Flat Tire .171
.....
Charging System Indicator .182
..................
Checking the Fuses .186
...
Closing the Convertible Top .185
.........
Hazard Warning Flashers .57
............................
Jump Starting .178
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .182
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .183
..................
Overheated Engine .179
.......................................
Towing .191
...........................
Emergency Brake .76
......................
Emergency Flashers .58
......................
Emergency Towing .191
............
Emergency Trunk Opener .64
.......................
Emissions Controls .201
.............
Emissions Testing, State .204
Engine
............
Adding Engine Coolant .146
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge .52
.........................
If It Won’t Start .176
Malf unction Indicator
................................
Lamp .47,183
.......................
Oil Lif e Indicator .133
........
Oil Pressure Indicator .46,182
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use .143
...............................
Overheating .179 ............................
Specif ications .196
............................
Speed Limiter .124
...............................
Start Button .122
.......................................
Starting .122
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline .108
...
Evaporative Emission Controls .201
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .40
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
........................................
Belts by .14
Index
F
G
INDEX
III
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CONT INUED
..............
Panel Brightness Control .58
...........................................
Parking .125
.................................
Parking Brake .76
Parking Brake and Brake System
.....................................
Indicator .184
.......................
Label, Certif ication .194
.................
Lane Change, Signaling .57
..................
Lap/Shoulder Belts .12,16
Lights
....................
Bulb Replacement .152
.......................................
Indicator .46
..................................
Turn Signal .57
....................................
Load Limits .116
......
LOCK (Ignition Key Position) .62
Locks
.......
Anti-thef t Steering Column .62
............................
Fuel Fill Door .109
.................................
Power Door .63
...........................................
Trunk .63
........................
Low Coolant Level .112
.........................
Low Fuel Indicator .49
...
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .46,182
...
Lubricant Specif ications Chart .196
...........
Luggage, Storing (Cargo) .115
..................................
Maintenance .131
........................................
Minder .133 .........................
Minder Indicator .50
Owner’s Maintenance ...................................
Checks .138
........................................
Record .140
..........................................
Saf ety .132
.
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 47,183
...................
Manual Transmission . 123
........
Manual Transmission Fluid . 149
...............................
Meters, Gauges .51
...................
Methanol in Gasoline . 108
..........................
Mirrors, Adjusting .75
...............
Modif ying Your Vehicle . 114
..................
New Vehicle Break-in . 108
.....................
Normal Shif t Speeds .124
...................
NOTICE, Explanation of . i
...............
Numbers, Identif ication . 194
...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline . 108
.........................................
Odometer .51
...............................
Odometer, Trip .51 Oil
........................
Change, How to .144
......................
Change, When to .139
......................
Checking Engine .111
..............
Pressure Indicator . 46,182
Selecting Proper Viscosity ......................................
Chart .144
...........
ON (Ignition Key Position) . 62
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor ....................................
Recovery .201
.........................
Opening the Trunk .63
..............................
Outside Mirrors .75
....
Outside Temperature Indicator . 52
....................
Overheating, Engine .179
....
Owner’s Maintenance Checks . 138
.........................
Oxygenated Fuels .108
Index
M N
O
P
LINDEX
V
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Towing ......................
A Trailer, Do Not .129
................
Emergency Wrecker .191
..................
Trailer, Do Not Tow a .129
Transmission
Checking Fluid Level, Manual .........................
Transmission .149
...........................
Fluid Selection .149
..............
Identif ication Number .195
Shif ting the Manual
.........................
Transmission .123
.....................................
Treadwear .198
.......................................
Trip Meter .51
................................................
Trunk .63
........
Emergency Trunk Opener .64
.................................
Opening the .63
.............
Open Monitor Indicator .47
....................................
Turn Signals .57............. WARNING, Explanation of .ii
.........
Warning Labels, Location of .41
..................
Warranty Coverages .207
Washer, Windshield
........
Checking the Fluid Level .148
.....................................
Operation .56
...........................................
Wheels .164
............
Alignment and Balance .163
..............................
Wrench, Nut .172 ....
Windows, Operating the Power .67
Windshield
.......................................
Cleaning .56
.....................................
Def roster .85
.......................................
Washers .56
Wipers, Windshield .......................
Changing Blades .159
.....................................
Operation .56
....................................
Worn Tires .163
.....
Wrecker, Emergency Towing .191
Unexpected, Taking Care ..........................................
of the .169
..
Unif orm Tire Quality Grading .198
........................
Unleaded Gasoline .108
.......
Used Oil, How to Dispose of .146 .................
Vehicle Capacity Load .116
......................
Vehicle Dimensions .196
....
Vehicle Identif ication Number .194
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA)
....................................
System .128
................
VSA System Indicator .50
...........
VSA Activation Indicator .50
.........................
VSA Of f Switch .129
.............................
Vehicle Storage .167
........................................
Ventilation .84
.................................................
VIN .194
..................................
Viscosity, Oil .144........................ XM Satellite Radio .91
:U.S.only
Index
X
U V
W
VIII
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