Page 153 of 228

If the reserve tank is completely
empty, you should also check the
coolant level in the radiator.When the radiator and engine are
cool, relieve any pressure in the
cooling system by turning the
radiator cap counterclockwise,
without pressing down.
Remove the radiator cap by
pushing down and turning
counterclockwise.The coolant level should be up to
the base of the f iller neck. Add
coolant if it is low.
Pourthecoolantslowlyand
caref ully so you do not spill any.
Clean up any spill immediately; it
could damage components in the
engine compartment.
Put the radiator cap on, and
tighten it fully.
Pour coolant into the reserve tank.
Fill it to half way between the MAX
and MIN marks. Put the cap back
on the reserve tank.
Do not add any rust inhibitors or
other additives to your vehicle’s
cooling system. They may not be
compatible with the coolant or
engine components.
2. 3.
4.
5.
1.
Engine Coolant
150
RADIATOR CAP
Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and
radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.
Page 154 of 228
Check the f luid level by looking at
the level gauge attached to the cap. Check the f luid level in the
windshield washer reservoir at least
monthly during normal use.Fill the reservoir with a good-quality
windshield washer f luid. This
increases the cleaning capability and
prevents f reezing in cold weather.
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 them.
Windshield Washers
Maint enance
151
LEVEL GAUGERESERVOIR CAP
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.
Page 155 of 228

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.If you are not sure how to check and
add f luid, contact your dealer. The transmission should be drained
and ref illed with new f luid according
to the intervals shown on the
inf ormation display. 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. Put a new washer on the f iller bolt,
then reinstall the f iller bolt and
tighten it securely.
Manual T ransmission Fluid
152
CORRECT LEVEL
FILLER BOLT
Page 169 of 228

In addition to proper inflation,
correct wheel alignment helps to
decrease tire wear. If you find a tire
is wo rn unevenly, have your dealer
check the wheel alignment.
Have your dealer check the tires if
you feel a consistent vibration while
driving. A tire should always be
rebalanced if it is removed from the
wheel. When you have new tires
installed, make sure they are
balanced. This increases riding
comfort and tire life. For best results,
have the insta ller perform a dynamic
balance. You
should not rotate your vehicle’s
tires. The front and rear tires are
different sizes, so they cannot be
rotated front-to-rear. The original-
equipment tires on your vehicle have
a unidirectional tread pattern, so
th ey cannot be rotated side-to-side.
The tires that came on your vehicle
were designed and constructed to
provide superior grip during
acceleration, braking, and cornering.
As a trade-off, they will wear more
rapidly than tires used on ordinary
passenger vehicles. Because of the
vehicl e’s weight distribution, and the
fact that the rear wheels are the
driving wheels, you can expect them
to wear more rapidly than the front
tires. The
mileage you can expect from
yourvehicletiresisthesameas
comparable mid-and rear-engine
sports cars, and it will vary greatly
wi th your driving habits.
If you drive moderately, the rear
tires could last more than 10,000
miles (16,000 km). However, the
mileage will be substantially less if
you tend to drive your vehicle at the
upper limits of its capabilities.
You should caref ully inspect your
vehicle’s tires f or wear, damage, and
proper inf lation every 7,500 miles
(12,000 km) or when tire inspection
is indicated on the inf ormation
display (see page ). 142
T ire Maintenance
T ire Rotation
Tire Wear
Tires
166
Improper wheel weights can damage
your vehicle’s aluminum wheels. Use
only Honda wheel weights f or
balancing.
Page 176 of 228

This section covers the more
common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you inf ormation about how to
safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has
stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again.
If not, you will also f ind instructions
on getting your vehicle towed.......................
Compact Spare Tire .174
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .175
.............
If the Engine Won’t Start . 180
................................
Jump Starting .182
..............
If the Engine Overheats . 183
.........
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 186
..........
Charging System Indicator . 186
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 187
...............
Brake System Indicator . 188
.......
Closing the Convertible Top . 189
..............................................
Fuses .190
..........
Checking and Replacing . 191
..............................
Fuse Locations .194
......................
Emergency Towing .196
..........
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck . 196
Taking Care of the Unexpected
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
173
Page 183 of 228

Diagnosing why the engine won’t
start falls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you press
the ENGINE START button.
You hear nothing, or almost
nothing. The engine’s starter
motor does not operate at all, or
operates very slowly.
You can hear the starter motor
operating normally, or the starter
motor sounds like it is spinning
faster than normal, but the engine
does not start up and run. When
you press the ENGINE
START button, you do not hear the
norm al noise of the engine trying to
start. You may hear a clicking sound
or series of clicks, or nothing at all.
Check these things:
Check the transmission interlock.
The clutch pedal must be pushed
all the way to the floor or the
starter will not operate.
Turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position. Turn on the
headlights, and check their
brightness. If the headlights are
very dim or do not come on at all,
the battery is discharged. See
on page . Press
the ENGI NE START button,
then release it. If the headlights do
not dim, check the condition of the
fuses.IfthefusesareOK,thereis
probably something wrong with
the electrical circuit for the
ignition switch or starter motor.
You will need a qualified mechanic
to determine the problem. (See
on page .)
182 196
Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
Jump Starting Emergency T owing
If theEngineWon’tStart
180
Page 184 of 228

If the headlights dim noticeably or
go out when you try to start the
engine, either the battery is
discharged or the connections are
co rroded. Check the condition of the
battery and terminal connections
(see page ). You can then try
jump starting the vehicle from a
booster battery (see page ). In
this case, the starter motor’s
speed sounds normal, or even faster
than normal, when you press the
ENGI NE START button, but the
engine does not run. There
may be an electrical
problem, such as no power to the
fuel pump. Check all the fuses
(see page ).
Are you using a properly coded
key? An improperly coded key will
cause the immobilizer system
indicator in the instrument panel
to blink rapidly (see page ).
Are you using the proper starting
procedure? Refer to
on page .
Do you have fuel? Check the fuel
gauge; the low fuel indicator may
not be working. Ifyoufindnothingwrong,youwill
need
a qualified mechanic to find the
problem. See
on page .
61
169
182
124 190
196
T he Starter Operates Normally
Starting the
Engine Emergency T owing
If theEngineWon’tStart
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
181
Page 186 of 228

µThe reading on your vehicle’s
temperature gauge should stay in
the midrange under most conditions.
If it reaches the red mark, you
should determine the reason (hot
day, driving up a steep hill, etc.).
If your vehicle overheats, you should
take immediate action. The only
indication may be the temperature
gauge reading reaching the red
mark. Or you may see steam or
spray coming f rom under the hood.
Connect the second jumper cable
to the negative ( ) terminal on
the booster battery. Connect the
other end to the grounding strap
as shown. Do not connect this
jumper cable to any other part of
the engine. Keep the ends of the jumper
cables away from each other and
any metal on the vehicle until
everything is disconnected.
Otherwise, you may cause an
electrical short. Once your vehicle is running,
disconnect the negative cable f rom
your vehicle, then f rom the
booster battery. Disconnect the
positive cable f rom your vehicle,
then from the booster battery. Start your vehicle. If the starter
motor still operates slowly, check
that the jumper cables have good
metal-to-metal contact. If the booster battery is in another
vehicle, have an assistant start
that vehicle and run it at a fast idle.
6.
7. 5.
4.
CONT INUED
Jump Starting, If the Engine Overheats
If the Engine Overheats
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
183
Driving with the temperature gauge
reading at the red mark can cause
serious damage to your engine.