However, service at a dealer is not
mandatory to keep your warranties in
effect. Maintenance may be done by
any qualified service facility or
person who is skilled in this type of
automotive service. Make sure to
have the service facility or person
reset the display as previously
described. Keep all receipts as proof
of completion, and have the person
who does the work fill out your
Honda Service History or Canadian
Maintenance Log. Check your
warranty booklet for moreinformation.
We recommend using Honda parts
and fluids whenever you have
maintenance done. These are
manufactured to the same high
quality standards as the original
components, so you can be confident
of their performance and durability.U.S. Vehicles:
Maintenance,
replacement, or repair of
emissions control devices and
systems may be done by any
automotive repair establishment
or individual using parts that are‘‘ certified ’’to EPA standards.
According to state and federal
regulations, failure to perform
maintenance on the items markedwith #will not void your emissions
warranties. However, all
maintenance services should be
performed in accordance with the
intervals indicated by the informationdisplay.
Owner's Maintenance Checks
You should check the following
items at the specified intervals. If you
are unsure of how to perform any
check, turn to the appropriate pagelisted. ●
Engine oil level -Check every
time you fill the fuel tank. See page201.
● Engine coolant level -Check the
radiator reserve tank every time
you fill the fuel tank. See page 202.
● Automatic transmission -Check
the fluid level monthly. See page259.
● Brakes -Check the fluid level
monthly. See page 261.
● Tires -Check the tire pressure
monthly. Examine the tread for
wear and foreign objects. See page274.
● Lights -Check the operation of
the headlights, parking lights,
taillights, high-mount brake light,
and license plate lights monthly.
See page 262.
Maintenance Minder
250
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Clutch Fluid
Manual Transmission only
The fluid level should be between
the MIN and MAX marks on the side
of the reservoir. If it is not, add brake
fluid to bring it up to that level. Use
the same fluid specified for the brakesystem.
A low fluid level can indicate a leak in
the clutch system. Have this system
inspected as soon as possible.Headlight Aiming
The headlights were properly aimed
when your vehicle was new. If you
regularly carry heavy items in the
cargo area, readjustment may be
required. Adjustments should be
done by your dealer or another
qualified mechanic.
Replacing a Headlight Bulb
Your vehicle has halogen headlight
bulbs. When replacing a bulb, handle
it by its base, and protect the glass
from contact with your skin or hard
objects. If you touch the glass, clean
it with denatured alcohol and a cleancloth.
Halogen headlight bulbs get very hot
when lit. Oil, perspiration, or a scratch
on the glass can cause the bulb to
overheat and shatter.
1. Open the hood.
2. Remove the electrical connector
from the bulb by pulling the
connector straight back.
3. Remove the rubber weather seal by pulling on the tab.
MAX
MIN
BULB
ELECTRICAL
CONNECTOR
RUBBER WEATHER SEAL HOLD-DOWN WIRE
Brake and Clutch Fluid, Lights
262
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If you need to park your vehicle for
an extended period (more than 1
month), there are several things you
should do to prepare it for storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to
get your vehicle back on the road. If
possible, store your vehicle indoors.● Fill the fuel tank.
● Wash and dry the exteriorcompletely.
● Clean the interior. Make sure the
carpeting, floor mats, etc., are
completely dry.
● Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in reverse
(manual) or Park (automatic).
● Block the rear wheels. ●
If the vehicle is to be stored for a
longer period, it should be
supported on jackstands so the
tires are off the ground.
● Leave one window open slightly (if
the vehicle is being storedindoors).
● Disconnect the battery.
● Support the front and rear wiper
blade arms with a folded towel or
rag so they do not touch thewindshield.
● To minimize sticking, apply a
silicone spray lubricant to all door
and tailgate seals. Also, apply a
vehicle body wax to the painted
surfaces that mate with the door
and tailgate seals. ●
Cover the vehicle with a‘‘breathable ’’cover, one made from
a porous material such as cotton.
Non-porous materials, such as
plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint.
● If possible, periodically run the
engine until it reaches full
operating temperature (the cooling
fans cycle on and off twice).
Preferably, do this once a month.
Vehicle Storage
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Maintenance
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Except all Canadian models withautomatic transmission
If you have a flat tire while driving,
stop in a safe 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.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 thejack.
1. Park the vehicle on firm, level, and non-slippery ground. Put the
transmission in Park (automatic)
or reverse (manual). Apply the
parking brake.
2. 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.
3. Lift the rear center head restraint.
4. Open the tailgate. Raise the cargo area floor lid by lifting it up with
the back of the strap. To keep the
floor lid open, hook the looped
side of the strap to the legs of the
rear center head restraint.
5. Take the tool kit out of the spare tire.
FLOOR LID LOOP
SPARE TIRE
TOOL KIT JACK
STRAP
CONTINUED
Changing a Flat Tire
285
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How to Use the Tire Repair Kit
All Canadian models with automatictransmission
To reduce weight, your vehicle is
equipped with a tire repair kit instead
of a spare tire. This kit will allow you
to temporarily repair a flat tire under
the following conditions:
● Only one tire is flat.
● The puncture is smaller than
3/16ths of an inch (4 mm).
● The puncture is located within the tread.
● The wheel rim is not damaged.
● The tire bead is seated.
When making a temporary repair,
carefully follow all instructions in this
owner's manual and in the
instructions that came with the kit. If you have a flat tire while driving,
park the vehicle on a level surface in
a safe place, put the transmission in
Park (P), set the parking brake, and
turn the hazard lights on.
Thoroughly examine the tire for a
puncture or other damage.
If a puncture is wider than 3/16ths of
an inch (4 mm), or is located in the
tire sidewall, do not attempt to repair
the tire. Have your vehicle towed to a
Honda service center. In Canada or
the continental U.S.A. simply call 1-
800-465-PLUS (7587) for Honda Plus
Roadside Assistance.
If the damage is smaller than 3/16ths
of an inch (4 mm) and within the tire
tread, proceed with the followinginstructions.
1. Park vehicle on a level surface in a
safe place. Set shifter lever into
PARK and engage the parking
brake. Turn hazard light on.
Remove valve cap from tire valve.
TIRE VALVE
VALVE CAP
CONTINUED
Temporarily Repairing a Flat Tire
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Taking Care of the Unexpected
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Although this seems like a simple
procedure, you should take severalprecautions.
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.
You cannot start your vehicle with an
automatic transmission by pushing
or pulling it.
To Jump Start Your Vehicle:
1. 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 frozen, do not try
jump starting until it thaws.
If a battery sits in extreme cold, the
electrolyte inside can freeze. Attempting
to jump start with a frozen battery can
cause it to rupture.
2. Turn off all the electricalaccessories: heater, A/C (if
equipped), audio system, lights,
etc. Put the transmission in neutral
(manual) or Park (automatic), and
set the parking brake.
The numbers in the illustration show
you the order to connect the jumpercables.
BOOSTER BATTERY
CONTINUED
Jump Starting
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Taking Care of the Unexpected
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The high temperature indicator
should be off under most conditions.
If the engine coolant temperature
gets higher than normal, the
indicator will blink. If it stays on, you
should determine the reason (hot
day, driving up a steep hill, etc.).
If the vehicle overheats, you should
take immediate action. The only
indication may be the high
temperature indicator blinking or
remaining on. Or you may see steam
or spray coming from under thehood.
Driving with the high temperature
indicator on can cause serious damage
to your engine.
Steam and spray from an
overheated engine can
seriously scald you.
Do not open the hood if steam
is coming out.
1. Safely pull to the side of the road. Put the transmission in neutral
(manual) or Park (automatic), and
set the parking brake. Turn off all
accessories, and turn on the
hazard warning lights.
2. If you see steam and/or spray coming from under the hood, turn
off the engine. Wait until you see
no more signs of steam or spray,
then open the hood. 3. If you do not see steam or spray,
leave the engine running, and
check the high temperature
indicator. If the high heat is due to
overloading, the engine should
start to cool down almost
immediately. If it does, wait until
the high temperature indicator
goes off, then continue driving.
4. If the high temperature indicator stays on, turn off the engine.
CONTINUED
If the Engine Overheats
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U.S. Canada
Brake System
Indicator (Red)
The brake system indicator (red)
normally comes on when you turn
the ignition switch to the ON (II)
position, and as a reminder to check
the parking brake. It will stay on if
you do not fully release the parkingbrake.
If the brake system indicator (red)
comes on while driving, the brake
fluid level is probably low. Press
lightly on the brake pedal to see if it
feels normal. If it does, check the
brake fluid level the next time you
stop at a service station (see page261).
If the fluid level is low, take your
vehicle to a dealer, and have the
brake system inspected for leaks or
worn brake pads/shoes. However, if the brake pedal does not
feel normal, you should take
immediate action. A problem in one
part of the system's dual circuit
design will still give you braking at
two wheels. You will feel the brake
pedal go down much farther before
the vehicle begins to slow down, and
you will have to press harder on thepedal.
Slow down by shifting to a lower
gear, and pull to the side of the road
when it is safe. Because of the long
distance needed to stop, it is
hazardous to drive the vehicle. You
should have it towed and repaired as
soon as possible (see
Emergency
Towing on page 311).
If you must drive the vehicle a short
distance in this condition, drive
slowly and carefully. If the ABS indicator and the VSA
system indicator (if equipped) come
on with the brake system indicator,
have your vehicle inspected by your
dealer immediately.
Brake System Indicator
305
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