Page 303 of 387

The f luid level should be between
theMINandMAXmarksontheside
of the reservoir. If the level is at or
below the MIN mark, your brake
system needs attention. Have the
brake system inspected f or leaks or
worn brake pads.
The manual transmission should be
drained and ref illed with new f luid
when this service is indicated by a
maintenance message on the
inf ormation display.
If you are not sure how to check and
add f luid, contact your dealer.
Brake f luid marked DOT 5 is not
compatible with your vehicle’s
braking system and can cause
extensive damage. Using any non-Honda brake f luid can
cause corrosion and decrease the lif e
of the system. Have the brake
system f lushed and ref illed with
Honda Heavy Duty Brake Fluid
DOT 3 as soon as possible. Always use Honda Heavy Duty
Brake Fluid DOT 3. If it is not
available, you should use only DOT 3
or DOT 4 f luid, f rom a sealed
container, as a temporary
replacement. Replace the brake f luid according to
thetimerecommendationsinthe
maintenance minder schedule. Check the brake f luid level in the
reservoirs monthly.Brake System
Brake and Clutch Fluid
Transmission Fluid, Brake and Clutch Fluid
300
MAX
MIN
09/07/02 17:18:53 31SNA640_305
Page 304 of 387

Manual Transmission onlyAll models except Si and Canadian DX-G
with manual transmission
The f luid level should be between
theMINandMAXmarksontheside
of the reservoir. If it is not, add
brake f luid to bring it up to that level.
Use the same fluid specified for the
brake system.
A low f luid level can indicate a leak
in the clutch system. Have this
system inspected as soon as possible. Pour the f luid slowly and caref ully so
you do not spill any. Clean up any
spill immediately; it could damage
components in the engine
compartment.
Always use Honda Power Steering
Fluid. You may use another power
steering f luid as an emergency
replacement, but have the power
steering system f lushed and ref illed
with Honda PSF as soon as possible.
A low power steering f luid level can
indicate a leak in the system. Check
the f luid level f requently, and have
the system inspected as soon as
possible.
Check the level on the side of the
reservoir when the engine is cold.
The f luid should be between the
UPPER LEVEL and LOWER LEVEL.
If not add power steering f luid to the
UPPER LEVEL mark.
Brake and Clutch Fluid, Power Steering Fluid
Power Steering Fluid
Clutch Fluid
Maint enance
301
LOWER LEVEL
UPPER LEVEL
MAX
MIN
Turning the steering wheel to f ull lef t
or right lock and holding it there can
damage the power steering pump.
09/07/02 17:19:05 31SNA640_306
Page 318 of 387

If you check air pressures when the
tires are hot (driven f or several
miles/kilometers), you will see
readings 4 to 6 psi (30 to 40 kPa, 0.3
to 0.4 kgf/cm ) higher than the cold
readings.Thisisnormal.Donotlet
air out to match the recommended
cold air pressure. The tire will be
underinf lated.
Youshouldgetyourowntire
pressure gauge and use it whenever
you check your tire pressures. This
will make it easier f or you to tell if a
pressure loss is due to a tire problem
and not due to a variation between
gauges.
While tubeless tires have some
ability to self -seal if they are
punctured, you should look closely
for punctures if a tire starts losing
pressure.The following charts show the
recommended cold tire pressures f or
most normal driving conditions.
Thecompactsparetirepressureis:
For convenience, the recommended
tire sizes and cold tire pressures are
on a label on the driver’s doorjamb.
For additional inf ormation about
your tires, see page . (Si)
(DX, Canadian DX-G with automatic
transmission)
(Canadian DX-G with manual
transmission)
(EX-L, U.S. LX, LX-S, EX, Canadian
Sport) 357
Optional f or U.S. Si
Tire Size Tire Size Cold Tire Pressure
Cold Tire Pressure
Tire Size Cold Tire Pressure
Tire Size Cold Tire Pressure
Tire Size Cold Tire Pressure
Tires
Recommended Tire Pressures
Maint enance
315
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm)
215/45ZR17 91W P215/45R17 87V
33 psi (230 kPa ,2.3 kgf/cm
)
33 psi (230 kPa , 2.3 kgf/cm
)
P195/65R15 89H
30 psi (210 kPa ,2.1 kgf/cm)
P195/65R15 89S 30 psi (210 kPa ,2.1 kgf/cm
)
P205/55R16 89H 32 psi (220 kPa ,2.2 kgf/cm
)
Front/Rear:
Front/Rear: Front/Rear:
Front/Rear:
Front/Rear:
09/07/02 17:21:51 31SNA640_320
Page 323 of 387
Wheels:See page f or inf ormation about
DOT Tire Quality Grading, and page
f or tire size and labeling
inf ormation.
Tires: (DX, Canadian DX-G)
(Si)
(Si) (DX, Canadian DX-G with
automatic transmission)
(all season tire)
(EX-L, U.S. LX, LX-S, EX,
Canadian Sport)
(EX-L, U.S. LX, LX-S, EX,
Canadian Sport)
(summer tire)
(Canadian DX-G with manual
transmission) 357
359
Optional f or U.S. Si
Wheel and T ire Specif ications
Tires
320
15x6J
215/45ZR17 91W P215/45R17 87V P205/55R16 89H P195/65R15 89S
P195/65R15 89H 17x7J 16x61/2J
Installing improper tires on your
vehicle can affect handling and
stability. This can cause a crash
in which you can be seriously
hurt or killed.
Always use the size and type of
tires recommended in this
owner’s manual.
09/07/02 17:22:46 31SNA640_325
Page 327 of 387

Fill the f uel tank.Block the rear wheels.
If the vehicle is to be stored f or a
longer period, it should be
supported on jackstands so the
tires are of f the ground.
If you need to park your vehicle f or
an extended period (more than 1
month), there are several things you
should do to prepare it f or storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to
get your vehicle back on the road. If
possible, store your vehicle indoors. Leave one window open slightly (if
the vehicle is being stored
indoors).Cover the vehicle with a
‘‘breathable’’ cover, one made
f rom a porous material such as
cotton. Non-porous materials, such
as plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint.
To minimize sticking, apply a
silicone spray lubricant to all door
and trunk seals. Also, apply a
vehiclebodywaxtothepainted
surfaces that mate with the door
and trunk seals. Support the f ront wiper blade
arms with a f olded towel or rag so
they do not touch the windshield. Disconnect the battery. If possible, periodically run the
engine until it reaches f ull
operating temperature (the
cooling f an cycles twice).
Pref erably, do this once a month.
Wash and dry the exterior
completely.
Cleantheinterior.Makesurethe
carpeting, floor mats, etc., are
completely dry.
Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in reverse
(manual) or Park (automatic).
Vehicle Storage
324
09/07/02 17:23:32 31SNA640_329
Page 330 of 387

Turn on the hazard warning lights,
and turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK (0) position. Have all
passengers get out of the vehicle
while you change the tire. Park the vehicle on f irm, level, and
non-slippery ground. Put the
transmission in Park (automatic)
or reverse (manual). Apply the
parking brake.Open the trunk. Raise the trunk
f loor by lif ting up on the back edge.
Take the tool case out of the spare
tire.
Unscrew the wing bolt, and take
the spare tire out of its well.
If you have a f lat tire while driving,
stop in a saf e place to change it.
Drive slowly along the shoulder until
you get to an exit or an area to stop
that is far away from the traffic lanes.
Thecompactsparetireissmaller
than a standard tire, and it will affect
the vehicle’s handling. Drive
cautiously when the spare is
mounted on your vehicle.
Thesizedifferencemayalsocause
damage to the dif f erential, so do not
mount the compact spare on the
f ront. If either f ront tire goes f lat,
removethereartireonthatsame
side, mount the compact spare tire
on the rear, then mount the rear tire
on the f ront.
5. 4.
3.
2. 1.
CONT INUED
On Si model only
Changing a Flat Tire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
327
SPARE TIRE
TRUNK FLOOR JACK
TOOL CASE
The vehicle can easily roll off
the jack, seriously injuring
anyone underneath.
Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and
never get under the vehicle
when it is supported only by the
jack.
09/07/02 17:24:00 31SNA640_332
Page 335 of 387

Diagnosing why the engine won’t
start f alls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
ignition switch to the START (III)
position: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
f aster than normal, but the engine
does not start up and run. When you turn the ignition switch to
the START (III) position, you do not
hear the normal noise of the engine
trying to start. You may hear a
clicking sound, a series of clicks, or
nothing at all.
Check these things:
Check the transmission interlock.
If you have a manual transmission,
the clutch pedal must be pushed
all the way to the f loor or the
starter will not operate. With an
automatic transmission, it must be
in Park or neutral. 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 .
Turn the ignition switch to the
START (III) position. If the
headlights do not dim, check the
condition of the f uses. If the f uses
areOK,thereisprobably
something wrong with the
electrical circuit f or the ignition
switch or starter motor. You will
need a qualif ied technician to
determine the problem. See on page .334
348
Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
Jump Starting
Emergency T owing
If theEngineWon’tStart
332
09/07/02 17:24:49 31SNA640_337
Page 337 of 387

Although this seems like a simple
procedure, you should take several
precautions.To jump start your vehicle:
The numbers in the illustrations
show you the order to connect the
jumper cables.
Turn of f all the electrical
accessories: heater, A/C, audio
system, lights, etc. Put the
transmission in neutral (manual)
or Park (automatic), and set the
parking brake. Open the hood, and check the
physical condition of the battery.
In very cold weather, check the
condition of the electrolyte. If it
seems slushy or f rozen, do not try
jump starting until it thaws.
You cannot start a vehicle with an
automatic transmission by pushing
or pulling it. 1.
2.
Jump Starting
334
Except Si
BOOSTER BATTERY
A battery can explode if you do
not follow the correct procedure,
seriously injuring anyone
nearby.
Keep all sparks, open flames,
and smoking materials away
from the battery. If a battery sits in extreme cold, the
electrolyte inside can f reeze.
Attempting to jump start with a f rozen
battery can cause it to rupture.
09/07/02 17:25:10 31SNA640_339