Index
Accessories and Modifications.... 114
Accessories................................. 114
Additional Safety Precaution.... 115
Modifications............................. 115
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key
Position)........................................ 68
Accessory Power Socket................ 83
Adding
Automatic Transmission
Fluid........................................ 161
Brake Fluid................................. 162
Clutch Fluid................................ 163
Engine Coolant........................... 155
Engine Oil................................... 151
Manual Transmission Fluid ..... 162
Power Steering Fluid................. 164
Windshield Washer Fluid......... 160
Additional Information About
Your Seat Belts........................ 40
Lap Belt......................................... 41
Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 40
Seat Belt Maintenance................ 42
Seat Belt System Components... 40
Additional Information About
Your SRS................................... 43
Additional Safety Precautions.... 46
How Your Airbags Work............ 43
How Your SRS Indicator
Works........................................ 45
SRS Components......................... 43
Additives, Engine Oil..................... 152
Adjustments
Headlights.................................. 184
Head Restraints........................... 75
Mirrors.......................................... 79
Seats.............................................. 74
Steering Wheel............................ 63
Airbag (SRS)...................................... 7
Air Cleaner Element...................... 165
Air Conditioning............................... 86
Maintenance............................... 173
Usage............................................. 86
Air Outlets (Vents).......................... 88
Air Pressure, Tires........................ 175
High Speed Driving................... 231
Normal Driving.......................... 176
Alcohol in Gasoline........................ 233
Antifreeze....................................... 155
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
Indicator Light.....................
53, 132
Operation.................................... 13
1
Anti-theft Steering Column
Lock.............................................. 68
Appearance Care........................... 195
Ashtrays (Optional)......................... 83
Audio System................................... 94
Automatic Speed Control................ 64
Automatic Transmission............... 124
Capacity, Fluid........................... 228
Checking Fluid Level................ 161
Shifting........................................125
Shift Lever Position Indicator.. 124
Shift Lever Positions................. 125
Shift Lock Release..................... 128
Battery
Charging System
Indicator............................ 53, 214
Jump Starting............................. 209
Maintenance............................... 169
Specifications............................. 229
CONTINUED
Main Menu
▲
▼
Index
Before Driving............................... 107
Belts, Seat........................................... 6
Beverage Holder.............................. 82
Body Repair.................................... 200
Brakes
Anti-lock System (ABS)............ 131
Break-in, New Linings .............. 108
Fluid............................................ 162
Light, Burned-out...................... 188
Parking.......................................... 80
System Indicator.......................... 53
Wear Indicators......................... 130
Brakes, ABS
Operation.................................... 131
System Indicator................. 53, 132
Braking System.............................. 130
Break-in, New Car......................... 108
Brightness Control, Instruments... 60
Brights, Headlights......................... 59
Bulb Replacement
Back-up Lights........................... 189
Brake Lights............................... 188
Front Parking Lights................. 187
Front Side Marker Lights......... 187
Headlights.................................. 185
High-mount Brake Light.......... 190
Interior Light.............................. 191
License Plate Lights.................. 191
Rear Side Marker Lights.......... 189
Specifications............................. 229
Trunk Light................................ 192
Turn Signal Lights..................... 187
Bulbs, Halogen............................... 185
Cables, Jump Starting With.......... 210
Capacities Chart............................. 228
Carbon Monoxide Hazard.............. 47
Carrying Cargo.............................. 116
Cassette Player
Care............................................. 102
Operation.................................... 100
CAUTION, Explanation of............... ii
CD Changer.................................... 103
CD Player........................................ 103
Certification Label......................... 226
Chains............................................. 181
Change Oil
How to......................................... 153
When to....................................... 142
Changing a Flat Tire..................... 203
Changing Engine Coolant............. 157
Charging System Indicator.... 53, 214
Checking
Automatic Transmission
Fluid........................................ 161
Battery Condition...................... 169
Brake Fluid................................. 162
Clutch Fluid................................ 163
Drive Belts.................................. 174
Engine Coolant........................... 112
Engine Oil...................................
111
Fuses........................................... 219
Manua
l Transmission Fluid..... 162
Power Steering Fluid................. 164
Checklist, Before Driving............. 120
Childproof Door Locks................... 73
Cleaner, Air.................................... 165
Cleaning
Exterior....................................... 196
Interior........................................ 198
Seat Belts.................................... 198
Vinyl............................................ 198
Windows..................................... 199
Clock, Setting the............................ 99
Clutch Fluid.................................... 163
CO in the Exhaust......................... 235
Main Menu
▲
▼
Index
Cold Weather, Starting in............. 121
Compact Spare............................... 202
Consumer Information*................ 240
Controls, Instruments and.............. 49
Coolant
Adding......................................... 155
Checking..................................... 112
Proper Solution.......................... 155
Replacing.................................... 157
Temperature Gauge.................... 56
Corrosion Protection..................... 199
Crankcase Emissions Control
System......................................... 235
Cruise Control Operation............... 64
Customer Relations Office........... 240
DANGER, Explanation of................. ii
Dashboard........................................ 50
Daytime Running Lights................. 59
Dead Battery, What to Do............ 209
Defects, Reporting Safety............. 244
Defog and Defrost........................... 91
Defogger, Rear Window................. 62
Defrosting the Windows................. 91
DEXRON
®
III Automatic
Transmission Fluid.................... 161
Dimensions..................................... 228
Dimming the Headlights................ 59
Dipstick
Automatic Transmission........... 161
Engine Oil................................... 112
Directional Signals........................... 60
Disabled, Towing Your Car If...... 223
Disc Brake Wear Indicators......... 130
Disposal of Used Oil...................... 154
Doors
Locking and Unlocking............... 68
Power Door Locks....................... 69
DOT Tire Quality Grading........... 231
Downshifting, 5-speed Manual
Transmission.............................. 122
Driver and Passenger Safety............ 3
Drive Belts...................................... 175
Driving............................................ 119
Economy..................................... 113
In Bad Weather.......................... 134
In Foreign Countries................. 234
Economy, Fuel............................... 113
Emergencies on the Road............. 201
Battery, Jump Starting.............. 209
Brake System Indicator............ 216
Changing a Flat Tire................. 203
Charging System Indicator ...... 214
Checking the Fuses................... 219
Low Oil Pressure Indicator...... 213
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.... 215
Manually Closing Moonroof.... 217
Overheated Engine................... 211
Emergency Brake............................ 80
Emergency Flashers....................... 62
Emissions Controls........................ 235
Engine
Coolant Temperature Gauge..... 56
Malfunction Indicator
Lamp................................. 54,
215
Oil Pressure
Indicator......... 53, 213
Oil, What Kind to Use............... 151
Overheating................................ 211
Specifications............................. 228
CONTINUED
Main Menu
▲
▼
Index
Ethanol in Gasoline....................... 233
Evaporative Emissions Controls.. 235
Exhaust Fumes................................ 47
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
Belts by........................................ 17
Exterior, Cleaning the................... 196
Fabric, Cleaning............................. 198
Fan, Interior...................................... 86
Features, Comfort and
Convenience................................. 85
Filling the Fuel Tank..................... 109
Filters
Air................................................ 165
Oil................................................ 151
5-speed Manual Transmission
Checking Fluid Level................ 162
Shifting the................................. 122
Flashers, Hazard Warning.............. 62
Flat Tire, Changing a.................... 203
Fluids
Automatic Transmission........... 161
Brake........................................... 162
Clutch.......................................... 163
Manual Transmission............... 162
Power Steering........................... 164
Windshield Washer................... 160
FM Stereo Radio
Reception...................................... 94
Folding Rear Seat............................ 76
Foreign Countries, Driving in...... 234
Four-way Flashers........................... 62
Front End, Towing by
Emergency Wrecker................. 223
Fuel.................................................. 108
Fill Door and Cap....................... 109
Gauge............................................ 56
Octane Requirement................. 108
Oxygenated................................ 233
Reserve Indicator......................... 54
Tank, Filling the......................... 109
Fuses, Checking the...................... 219
Gas Mileage, Improving................ 113
Gasohol........................................... 233
Gasoline.......................................... 108
Fuel Reserve Indicator................ 54
Gauge............................................
56
Octane Requirement.................
108
Tank, Filling the......................... 109
Gas Station Procedures................. 109
Gauges
Engine Coolant Temperature .... 56
Fuel................................................ 56
Gearshift Lever Positions
Automatic Transmission........... 125
5-speed Manual
Transmission.......................... 122
Glass Cleaning............................... 199
Glove Box......................................... 81
Halogen Headlight Bulbs.............. 185
Hazard Warning Flashers............... 62
Headlights
Aiming......................................... 184
Daytime Running Lights............. 59
High Beam Indicator................... 54
High Beams, Turning on............ 59
Low Beams, Turning on............. 59
Reminder Beeper......................... 59
Replacing Halogen Bulbs......... 185
Turning on....................................
59
Main Menu
▲
▼
Index
Head Restraints............................... 75
Heating and Cooling........................ 86
High Altitude, Starting at.............. 121
High-Low Beam Switch .................. 59
High-mount Brake Light............... 190
Hood, Opening the ........................ 110
Horn................................................... 58
Hot Coolant, Warning about........ 155
Hydraulic Clutch............................ 163
Hydroplaning.................................. 135
Identification Number, Vehicle.... 226
If Your Car Has to be Towed....... 223
Ignition
Keys............................................... 67
Switch........................................... 67
Timing Control System............. 236
Important Safety Precautions .......... 4
Indicator Lights, Instrument
Panel............................................. 51
Infant Restraint................................ 27
Inflation, Proper Tire .................... 175
High Speed Driving................... 231
Normal Driving.......................... 176
Lights
Bulb Replacement..................... 185
Indicator........................................ 51
Parking.......................................... 59
Turn Signal................................... 60
LOCK (Ignition Key Position)....... 68
Locks
Anti-theft Steering Column........ 68
Fuel Fill Door............................. 109
Power Door.................................. 69
Trunk............................................ 73
Low Coolant Level......................... 112
Low Fuel Indicator.......................... 54
Lower Gear, Downshifting to a.... 122
Low Oil Pressure Indicator.... 53, 213
Lubricant Specifications Chart.... 228
Luggage.......................................... 116
Maintenance................................... 137
Owner Maintenance Checks.... 149
Record.................................. 147-148
Required Indicator....................... 57
CONTINUED
Inside Mirror.................................... 79
Inspection, Tire.............................. 177
Instrument Panel............................. 50
Instrument Panel Brightness......... 60
Interior Cleaning............................ 198
Interior Light.................................... 84
Introduction......................................... i
Jacking up the Car......................... 204
Jack, Tire........................................ 203
Jump Starting................................. 209
Keys................................................... 67
Label, Certification........................ 226
Lane Change, Signaling.................. 60
Lap Belt............................................. 41
Lap/Shoulder Belts......................... 40
Leaking of Exhaust into Car.......... 47
Main Menu
▲
▼
Driver and Passenger Safety
This section gives you important
information about how to protect
yourself and your passengers. It
shows you how to use seat belts
properly. It explains your Supple-
mental Restraint System. And it tells
you how to properly restrain infants
and children in your vehicle.
Important Safety Precautions .......... 4
Your Vehicle's Safely Features........ 5
Seat Belts........................................ 6
Airbags............................................ 7
Seats & Seat-Backs........................ 8
Head Restraints............................. 8
Door Locks..................................... 9
Pre-Drive Safety Checklist........... 9
Protecting Adults............................. 10
1. Close and Lock the Doors...... 10
2. Adjust the Front Seats............ 10
3. Adjust the Seat-Backs............. 11
4. Adjust the Head Restraints.... 12
5. Fasten and Position the Seat
Belts...................................... 13
6. Adjust the Steering Wheel..... 16
7. Maintain a Proper Sitting
Position................................. 16
Advice for Pregnant Women...... 17
Additional Safety Precautions.... 17
Pretecting Children......................... 19
All Children Must Be
Restrained ................................ 19
Children Should Sit in the Back
Seat............................................20
The Passenger's Airbag Poses
Serious Risks to Children....... 20
If You Must Drive With Several
Children.................................... 21
If A Child Requires Close
Attention.................................. 22
Additional Safety Precautions.... 22
General Guidelines for Using
Child Seats................................ 23
Protecting Infants........................ 27
Protecting Small Children.......... 31
Protecting Larger Children........ 35
Using Child Seats with
Tethers......................................38
Additional Information About Your
Seat Belts.................................. 40
Seat Belt System Components... 40
Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 40
Lap Belt......................................... 41
Seat Belt Maintenance................ 42
Additional Information About Your
SRS............................................ 43
SRS Components......................... 43
How Your Airbags Work............ 43
How Your SRS Indicator Light
Works........................................ 45
SRS Service................................... 45
Additional Safety Precautions.... 46
Carbon Monoxide Hazard.............. 47
Safety Labels.................................... 48
Driver and Passenger Safety
Main Menu
▲
▼
1998 Civic Sedan Online Reference Owner's Manual
Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.helminc.com.
If you have a Civic GX refer to Civic GX Owner’s Manual Supplement for additional information.
Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... i
A F
ew Words About Safety ..........................................................................................................................ii
Driver and Passenger Safety .......................................................................................................................3
Proper use and care of your car's seat belts, and Supplemental Restraint System.
Instruments and Controls...........................................................................................................................49
Instrument panel indic
ator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features.........................................................................................................85
How t
o
op
erate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features.
Before Driving .............................................................................................................................................107
What gasolin
e to us
e, how
to break-in your new car, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving...........................................................................................................................................................119
The proper way to
start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, plus towing a trailer.
Maintenance
..............................................................................................................................
.
..................137
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your car to the dealer.
Appearance Care.........................................................................................................................................195
T
i
ps on cl
eaning and protecting your car. Things to look for if your car ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpected...............................................................................................................201
This section
covers sever
a
l problems motorists sometimes experience, and how to handle them.
Technical Information...............................................................................................................................225
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and techn
ical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)......................................................................239
A summary
of th
e warr
anties covering your new Honda, and how to contact us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)...............................................................................................................245
How t
o
order
manuals and other technical literature.
Index ...............................................................................................................................
.................................. I
Servic
e Inf
ormation Summary
A summary of information you n
eed when you pull up to the fuel pump.
Owner's Identification Form
Important Safety Precautions
You'll find many safety
recommendations throughout this
section, and throughout this manual.
Following are a few
recommendations we consider most
important.
Always Wear Your Seat Belt
A seat belt is your best protection in
all types of collisions. Airbags
supplement seat belts, but airbags
are designed to inflate only in a
severe frontal collision. So even with
airbags, make sure you and your
passengers always wear your seat
belts, and wear them properly. (See
page 13.)
Restrain All Children
Children are safest when they are
properly restrained in the back seat,
not the front seat. A child who is too
small for a seat belt must be properly
restrained in a child safety seat. (See
page 19.)
Be Aware of Airbag Hazards
While airbags save lives, they can
cause serious or fatal injuries to
occupants who sit too close to them,
or are not properly restrained.
Infants, young children, and short
adults are at the greatest risk. Be
sure to follow all instructions and
warnings in this manual. (See page 5.
)
Don't Drink
and Drive
Alcohol and driving don't mix. Even
one drink can reduce your ability to
respond to changing conditions.
Reaction time gets worse with every
additional drink. So don't drink and
drive, and don't let your friends drink
and drive, either.
Control Your Speed
Excessive speed is a major factor in
crash injuries and deaths, Generally,
the higher the speed the greater the
risk, but serious accidents can also
occur at lower speeds. Never drive
faster than is safe for current
conditions, regardless of the
maximum speed posted.
Keep Your Vehicle in Safe
Condition
Having a tire blowout or a
mechanical failure can be extremely
hazardous. To reduce the possibility
of such problems, check your tire
pressures and condition frequently,
and perform all regularly scheduled
maintenance. (See page 142.)
Driver and Passenger Safety
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
Your Vehicle's Safety Features
Your vehicle is equipped with many
features that work together to
protect you and your passengers
during a crash.
Some safety features do not require
any action on your part. These
include a strong steel framework
that forms a safety cage around the
passenger compartment; front and
rear crush zones that are designed to
crumple and absorb energy during a
crash; and a collapsible steering
column.
These safety features are designed
to reduce the severity of injuries in a
crash. However, you and your
passengers can't take full advantage
of these safety features unless you
remain sitting in a proper position
and always wear your seat belts
properly. In fact, some safety
features can contribute to injuries if
they are not used properly.
Driver and Passenger Safety
(1) Safety Cage
(2) Crush Zones
(3) Seats & Seat-Backs
(4) Head Restraints
(5) Collapsible Steering Column
(6) Seat Belts
(7) Airbags
(8) Door Locks
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
Your Vehicle's Safety Features
Seat Belts
For your safety, and the safety of
your passengers, your vehicle is
equipped with seat belts in all seating
positions.
Your seat belt system also
includes a light on the
instrument panel to remind you and
your passengers to fasten your seat
belts.
Why Wear Seat Belts
Seat belts are the single most
effective safety device for adults and
larger children. (Infants and smaller
children must be properly restrained
in child seats.)
Not wearing a seat belt properly
increases the chance of serious
injury or death in a crash, even
though your car has airbags.
In addition, most states and all
Canadian provinces require you to
wear seat belts.
When properly worn, seat belts:
Keep you connected to the vehicle
so you can take advantage of the
vehicle's built-in safety features.
Help protect you in almost every
type of crash, including side and
rear impacts and rollovers. (Your
airbags can only be helpful in
severe frontal collisions.)
Help keep you from being thrown
against the inside of the car and
against other occupants.
Keep you from being thrown
outside of the car.
Help keep you in a good position
should the airbags ever deploy. A
good position reduces the risk of
injury from an inflating airbag, and
allows you to get the best
advantage from the airbag.
Of course, seat belts cannot
completely protect you in every
crash. But in most cases, seat belts
can reduce your risk of serious
injury.
What you should do: Always wear
your seat belt, and make sure you
wear it properly.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Not wearing a seat belt properly
increases the chance of serious
injury or death in a crash, even
if you have airbags.
Be sure you and your
passengers always wear seat
belts and wear them properly.
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
Your Vehicle's Safety Features
Airbags
Your vehicle has a Supplemental
Restraint System (SRS) with frontal
airbags to help protect the driver and
a front seat passenger.
This system also includes
an indicator light on the
instrument panel to alert you to a
possible problem with the system.
Following are the most important
things you need to know about your
airbags.
Airbags do not replace seat belts.
They supplement seat belts by
providing extra protection for the
heads and chests of front seat
occupants.
Airbags offer no protection in side
impacts, rear impacts, rollovers,
or minor or moderate collisions.
Airbags are designed to deploy
only during a severe frontal
collision (such as a 25 mph [40
km/h] crash into a parked car of
similar size and weight).
Airbags can pose serious hazards.
To do their job, airbags must
inflate with tremendous force and
speed. So while airbags save lives,
they can cause serious injuries to
adults and larger children who are
not wearing seat belts, are not
wearing them properly, are sitting
too close to the airbag, or are not
sitting in a good position. Infants
and small children are at an even
greater risk of injury or death.
What you should do: Always wear
your seat belt properly and sit
upright and as far back as possible
from the steering wheel or
dashboard.
Driver and Passenger Safety
SRS
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
Your Vehicle's Safety Features
Seats & Seat-Backs
Your vehicle seats are designed to
keep you in a comfortable, upright
position so you can take full
advantage of the protection offered
by seat belts and the seats' energy
absorbing materials.
How you adjust your seats and seat-
backs can also affect your safety. For
example, sitting too close to the
steering wheel or dashboard
increases your risk of being injured
by striking the inside of the vehicle
or being injured by an inflating
airbag.
Reclining a seat-back too far makes
your seat belt less effective and
increases your chance of sliding
under the seat belt and being
seriously injured in a crash.
What you should do: Move the front
seats as far back as practical, and
keep adjustable seat-backs in an
upright position whenever the
vehicle is moving.
Head Restraints
Head restraints can help protect you
from whiplash and other injuries. For
maximum protection, the back of
your head should rest against the
center of the head restraint.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
Your Vehicle's Safety Features
Door Locks
Keeping your doors locked reduces
the chance of being thrown out of
the vehicle during a crash. It also
helps prevent occupants from
accidentally opening a door and
falling out, and outsiders from
unexpectedly opening your doors.
Pre-Drive Safety Checklist
To make sure you and your
passengers get the maximum
protection from your vehicle's safety
features, check the following each
time before you drive away:
All adults, and children who have
outgrown child safety seats, are
wearing their seat belts and
wearing them properly (see page
13).
Any infant or small child is
properly restrained in a child seat
in the back seat (see page 19).
Front seat occupants are sitting as
far back as possible from the
steering wheel and dashboard
(see page 10).
Seat-backs are upright (see page
11).
Head restraints are properly
adjusted (see page 12).
All doors are closed and locked
(see page 10).
All cargo is properly stored or
secured (see page 116).
The rest of this section gives more
detailed information about how you
can maximize your safety.
Remember, however, that no safety
system can prevent all injuries or
deaths that can occur in severe
crashes, even when seat belts are
properly worn and the airbags deploy.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
Protecting Adults
Introduction
The following pages provide
instructions on how to properly
protect the driver and other adult
occupants.
These instructions also apply to
children who have outgrown child
seats and are large enough to wear
lap/shoulder belts. (See page 35 for
important additional guidelines on
how to properly protect larger
children.)
1.Close and Lock the Doors
After everyone has entered the
vehicle, be sure the doors are closed
and locked.
For safety, locking the doors reduces
the chance of a passenger, especially
a child, opening a door while the
vehicle is moving and accidentally
falling out. It also reduces the
chance of someone being thrown out
of the vehicle during a crash.
For security, locked doors can
prevent an outsider from
unexpectedly opening a door when
you come to a stop.
See page 68 for how to lock the
doors.
2.Adjust the Front Seats
Any driver who sits too close to the
steering wheel is at risk of being
seriously injured or killed by striking
the steering wheel or being struck
by an inflating airbag during a crash.
To reduce the chance of injury, wear
your seat belt properly, sit upright
with your back against the seat, and
move the seat as far back as possible
from the steering wheel while still
maintaining full control of the car.
Also make sure your front seat
passenger moves their seat as far to
the rear as possible.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
Protecting Adults
Most shorter drivers can get far
enough away from the steering
wheel and still reach the pedals.
However, if you are concerned about
sitting too close, we recommend that
you investigate whether some type
of adaptive equipment may help.
Once your seat is adjusted correctly,
rock it forward and back to make
sure the seat is locked in position.
See page 74 for how to adjust the
front seats.
3.Adjust the Seat-Backs
Adjust the driver's seat-back to a
comfortable, upright position,
leaving ample space between your
chest and the airbag cover in the
center of the steering wheel. If you
sit too close to the steering wheel,
you could be injured if the airbag
inflates.
A front passenger should also adjust
the seat-back to an upright position,
but not too close to the dashboard. If
the passenger sits too close to the
dashboard, they could be injured if
the airbag inflates.
Reclining a seat-back so that the
shoulder part of the belt no longer
rests against an occupant's chest
reduces the protective capability of
the belt. It also increases the chance
of sliding under the belt and being
seriously injured in a crash. The
farther a seat-back is reclined, the
greater the risk of injury.
See page 75 for how to adjust seat-
backs.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Reclining the seat-back too far
can result in serious injury or
death in a crash.
Adjust the seat-back to an
upright position and sit well
back in the seat.
Sitting too close to an airbag
can result in serious injury or
death if the airbags inflate.
Always sit as far back from the
airbags as possible.
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
Protecting Adults
4.Adjust the Head Restraints
Before driving, make sure everyone
with an adjustable head restraint has
properly positioned the head
restraint. The restraint should be
positioned so the back of the
occupant's head rests against the
center of the restraint. A taller
person should adjust the restraint as
high as possible.
Properly adjusted head restraints
will help protect you from whiplash
and other crash injuries.
See page 75 for how to adjust the
head restraints.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Improperly positioned head
restraints reduce their
effectiveness and you can be
seriously injured in a crash.
Make sure head restraints are
in place and positioned properly
before driving.
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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▼
Protecting Adults
5.Fasten and Position the Seat
Belts
Using a Lap/Shoulder Belt
Insert the latch plate into the buckle,
then tug on the belt to make sure the
belt is securely latched. Also check
that the belt is not twisted, because a
twisted belt can cause serious
injuries in a crash.
Position the lap part of the belt as
low as possible across your hips,
then pull up on the shoulder part of
the belt so the lap part fits snugly.
This lets your strong pelvic bones
take the force of a crash and reduces
the chance of internal injuries.
If necessary, pull up on the belt again
to remove any slack from the
shoulder part, then check that the
belt rests across the center of your
chest and over your shoulder. This
spreads the forces of a crash over
the strongest bones in your upper
body.
CONTINUED
Driver and Passenger Safety
Improperly positioning the seat
belts can cause serious injury
or death in a crash.
Make sure all seat belts are
properly positioned before
driving.
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
Protecting Adults
If the seat belt touches or crosses
your neck, or if it crosses your arm
instead of your shoulder, you need to
adjust the seat belt anchor height.
An improperly positioned seat belt
can cause severe neck injuries if the
belt is positioned too high, or serious
chest or internal injuries if the belt is
positioned too low.
To adjust the height of a front seat
belt anchor, squeeze the two release
buttons and slide the anchor up or
down as needed (it has four
positions).
Never place the shoulder portion of a
lap/shoulder belt under your arm or
behind your back.
This could cause
very serious injuries in a crash.
Using the Lap Belt
Insert
the latch plate into the buckle
marked CENTER.
If the belt is too short, hold the latch
plate at a right angle and pull on the
plate to extend the belt. Then insert
the latch plate into the buckle, and
tug on the belt to make sure the belt
is securely latched.
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Protecting Adults
Position the belt as low as possible
across your hips. This lets your
strong pelvic bones take the force of
a crash and reduces the chance of
internal injuries.
Pull on the loose end of the belt for a
snug but comfortable fit.
If a Seat Belt Doesn't Work Properly.
If your seat belt does not seem to
work as it should, it may not protect
you in a crash. Anyone using an
inoperative seat belt can be seriously
injured or killed. No one should sit in a
seat with an inoperative seat belt. Have
your Honda dealer check the belt as
soon as possible.
See page 40 for additional
information about your seat belt
system and how to take care of your
belts.
Driver and Passenger Safety
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Protecting Adults
6.Adjust the Steering Wheel
Adjust the steering wheel, if needed,
so that the wheel points toward your
chest, not toward your face.
Pointing the steering wheel toward
your face decreases the protective
capability of the driver's airbag.
See page 63 for how to adjust the
steering wheel.
7.Maintain a Proper Sitting
Position
After all occupants have adjusted
their seats and put on seat belts, it is
very important that they continue to
sit upright, with their bodies well
back in their seats and both feet on
the floor, until the car is parked and
the engine is off.
Sitting improperly can increase the
chance of injury during a crash. For
example, if an occupant slouches,
lies down, turns sideways, sits
forward, leans forward, or puts one
or both feet up, their chance of
injury during a crash is greatly
increased.
In addition, if an occupant is out of
position in the front seat, they can be
seriously or fatally injured by
striking interior parts of the vehicle,
or by being struck by an inflating
airbag.
Remember, to get the best
protection from your vehicle's
airbags and other safety features,
you must sit properly and wear your
seat belt properly.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Sitting improperly or out of
position can result in serious
injury or death in a crash.
Always sit upright, well back in
the seat, with your feet on the
floor.
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Protecting Adults
Advice for Pregnant Women
Because protecting the mother is the
best way to protect her unborn child,
a pregnant woman should always
wear a seat belt whenever she drives
or rides in a car.
We recommend that pregnant
women use a lap/shoulder belt
whenever possible. Remember to
keep the lap portion of the belt as
low as possible across your hips.
Pregnant women should also sit as
far back as practical from the
steering wheel or dashboard. This
will reduce the risk of injuries to
both the mother and her unborn
child that can be caused by a crash
or an inflating airbag.
Each time you have a checkup, ask
your doctor if it's okay for you to
drive.
Additional Safety Precautions
Two people should never use the
same seat belt. If they do, they
could be very seriously injured in a
crash.
Do not put any accessories on seat
belts. Devices intended to improve
occupant comfort, or reposition
the shoulder part of a seat belt,
can severely compromise the
protective capability of seat belts
and increase the chance of serious
injury in a crash.
CONTINUED
Driver and Passenger Safety
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Protecting Adults
Do not place hard or sharp objects
between yourself and an airbag.
Carrying hard or sharp objects on
your lap, or driving with a pipe or
other sharp object in your mouth,
can result in injuries if your
airbags inflate.
Keep your hands and arms away
from the airbag covers.
If your hands or arms are close to
the SRS covers in the center of the
steering wheel and on top of the
dashboard, they could be injured if
the airbags inflate.
Driver and Passenger Safety
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Protecting Children
Children depend on adults to protect
them. However, despite their best
intentions, many parents and other
adults do not know how to properly
protect young passengers.
So if you have children, or if you ever
need to drive with a grandchild or
other children in your vehicle, be
sure to read this section.
All Children Must Be Restrained
Each year, many children are injured
or killed in vehicle crashes because
they are either unrestrained or not
properly restrained. In fact, vehicle
accidents are the number one cause
of death of children age 12 and
under.
To reduce the number of child
deaths and injuries, every state and
Canadian province requires that
infants and children be restrained
whenever they ride in a vehicle.
Any child who is too small to wear a
seat belt should be properly
restrained in a child seat.
(See page
23.)
Larger children should always
be
restrained with a seat belt.
(See page
35.)
Driver and Passenger Safety
Childre
n who are unrestrained
or improperly restrained can be
seriously injured or killed in a
crash.
Any child too small for a seat
belt should be properly
restrained in a child seat.
Larger children should be
properly restrained with a seat
belt.
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Protecting Children
Children Should Sit in the Back
Seat
According to accident statistics,
children of all ages and sizes are
safer when they are restrained in the
back seat, not the front seat. The
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration recommends that all
children age 12 and under ride in the
back seat, properly restrained.
In the back seat, children are less
likely to be injured by striking hard
interior vehicle parts during a
collision or hard braking. Also,
children cannot be injured by an
inflating airbag when they ride in the
back.
The Passenger's Airbag Poses
Serious Risks to Children
Airbags have been designed to help
protect adults in a severe frontal
collision. To do this, the passenger's
airbag is quite large, and it inflates
with tremendous speed.
Infants
Never put a rear-facing child seat in
the front seat of a vehicle equipped
with a passenger's airbag. If the
airbag inflates, it can hit the back of
the child seat with enough force to
kill or very seriously injure an infant.
Small Children
Placing a forward-facing child seat in
the front seat of a vehicle equipped
with a passenger's airbag can be
hazardous. If the vehicle seat is too
far forward, or the child's head is
thrown forward during a collision, an
inflating airbag can strike the child
with enough force to kill or very
seriously injure a small child.
Larger Children
Children who have outgrown child
seats are also at risk of being injured
or killed by an inflating passenger
airbag. Whenever possible, larger
children should sit in the back seat,
properly restrained with a seat belt.
(See page 35 for important
information about protecting larger
children.)
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Protecting Children
U.S. Models
To remind you of the passenger
airbag hazards, and that children
must be properly restrained in the
back seat, your vehicle has warning
labels on the dashboard and on the
driver's and front passenger's visors.
Please read and follow the
instructions on these labels.
If You Must Drive With Several
Children
Your vehicle has three seating
positions in the back seat where
children can be properly restrained.
If you ever have to carry more than
three children in your vehicle:
Place the largest child in the front
seat, provided the child is large
enough to wear a seat belt
properly (see page 35).
Move the vehicle seat as far to the
rear as possible (see page 10).
Have the child sit upright and well
back in the seat (see page 16).
Make sure the seat belt is properly
positioned and secured (see page
13).
Driver and Passenger Safety
Children Can Be KILLED or INJURED
by Passenger Airbag
The back seat is the safest place for children 12 and under.
Make sure all children use seat belts or child seats.
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Protecting Children
If A Child Requires Close
Attention
Many parents say they prefer to put
an infant or small child in the front
passenger seat so they can watch the
child, or because the child requires
attention.
Placing a child in the front seat
exposes them to hazards from the
airbag, and paying close attention to
a child distracts the driver from the
important tasks of driving, creating
serious safety risks.
If a child requires physical attention
or frequent visual contact, we
strongly recommend that another
adult ride with the child in the back
seat. The back seat is far safer for a
child than the front.
Additional Safety Precautions
Use childproof door locks to
prevent children from opening the
doors. Using this feature will
prevent children from opening the
doors and accidentally falling out
(see page 73).
Use the main power window
switch to prevent children from
opening the rear windows. Using
this feature will prevent children
from playing with the windows,
which could expose them to
hazards or distract the driver (see
page 77).
Do not leave children alone in your
vehicle. Leaving children without
adult supervision is illegal in most
states and can be very hazardous.
For example, infants and small
children left in a vehicle on a hot
day can die from heatstroke. And
children left alone with the key in
the ignition can accidentally set
the vehicle in motion, possibly
injuring themselves or others.
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Protecting Children
General Guidelines for Using
Child Seats
The following pages give general
guidelines for selecting and installing
child seats for infants and small
children.
Selecting a Child Seat
To provide proper protection, a child
seat should meet three
requirements:
1. The child seat should meet safety
standards. The child seat should
meet Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard 213 (FMVSS 213)
or Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards. Look for the
manufacturer's statement of
compliance on the box and seat.
2. The child seat should be of the
proper type and size to fit the child.
Infants: Children up to about one
year old should be restrained in a
rear-facing, reclining child seat. Only
rear-facing seats provide the support
an infant needs to protect their head,
neck, and back. See page 27 for
additional information on protecting
infants.
Small Children:
A
child who is too
large for
a rear-facing child seat, and
who can sit up without support,
should be restrained in a forward-
facing child seat. See page 31 for
additional information on protecting
small children.
CONTINUED
Driver and Passenger Safety
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Protecting Children
3. The child seat should fit the
vehicle seating position (or
positions) where it will be used.
Due to variations in the design of
child seats, vehicle seats, and seat
belts, all child seats will not fit all
vehicle seating positions.
However, Honda is confident that
one or more child seat models can fit
and be properly installed in all
recommended seating positions in
your vehicle.
Whenever possible, we recommend
that parents test a child seat in the
specific vehicle seating position (or
positions) where they intend to use
the seat before making a purchase. If
a previously purchased child seat
does not fit, you may need to buy a
different one that will fit.
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Protecting Children
Placing a Child Seat
This page briefly summarizes
Honda's recommendations on where
to place rear-facing and forward-
facing child seats in your vehicle.
Front Passenger's Seat
Infants: Never in the front seat, due
to the passenger airbag hazard.
Small children: Not recommended,
due to the passenger's airbag
hazard. If a small child must ride
in front, move the vehicle seat to
the rear-most position and secure
a front-facing child seat with the
seat belt. (see page 32).
Back Seats
Infants: Recommended positions.
Secure a rear-facing child seat
with the seat belt. (see page 28).
Small children: Recommended
positions. Secure a front-facing
child seat with the seat belt. (see
page 32).
CONTINUED
Driver and Passenger Safety
Airbags Pose Serious
Risks to Children
The passenger's airbag inflates
with enough force to kill or
seriously injure an infant in a
rear-facing child seat.
A small child in a forward-facing
child seat is also at risk. If the
vehicle seat is too far forward,
or the child's head is thrown
forward during a collision, an
inflating airbag can kill or
seriously injure the child.
If a small child must ride in the
front, follow the instructions
provided.
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Protecting Children
Installing a Child Seat
After selecting a proper child seat,
and a good place to install the seat,
there are three main steps in
installing the seat:
1. Secure the child seat to the car
with a seat belt. All child seats
must be secured to the car with
the lap belt or the lap part of a lap/
shoulder belt. A child whose seat
is not properly secured to the car
can be endangered in a crash. See
pages 28 and 32 for instructions on
how to secure child seats in this
vehicle.
2. Make sure the child seat is firmly
secured. After installing a child
seat, push and pull the seat
forward and from side to side to
verify that it is secure.
To provide security during normal
driving maneuvers, as well as during
a collision, we recommend that
parents secure a child seat as firmly
as possible.
However, a child seat does not need
to be "rock solid." In some vehicles
or seating positions, it may be
difficult to install a child seat so that
it does not move at all. Some side-to-
side or forward-and-backward
movement can be expected and
should not reduce the child seat's
effectiveness.
If the child seat is not secure, try
installing it in a different seat
position, or use a different style of
child seat that can be firmly secured
in the desired seating position.
3. Secure the child in the child seat.
Make sure the child is properly
strapped in the child seat
according to the child seat maker's
instructions. A child who is not
properly secured in a child seat
can be thrown out of the seat and
be seriously injured in a crash.
Storing a Child Seat
When you are not using a child seat,
either remove it and store it in a safe
place, or make sure it is properly
secured. An unsecured child seat can
be thrown around the vehicle during
a crash or sudden stop and injure
someone.
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Protecting Children
Protecting Infants
Child Seat Type
To provide proper support for a
baby's head, neck and back, infants
up to about one year of age must be
restrained in a rear-facing child seat.
Two types of seats may be used: a
seat designed exclusively for infants,
or a convertible seat used in the rear-
facing, reclining mode.
We recommend that an infant stay in
a rear-facing child seat as long as
possible, until they reach the seat
maker's weight or height limit and
are able to sit up without support.
Infant Seat Placement
In this vehicle, a rear-facing child
seat can be placed in any seating
position in the back seat, but not in
the front seat.
Never put a rear-facing child seat in
the front seat. If the passenger's
airbag inflates, it can hit the back of
the child seat with enough force to
kill or seriously injure an infant. If an
infant must be closely watched, we
recommend that another adult sit in
the back seat with the baby.
Do not put a rear-facing child seat in
a forward-facing position. If an
infant faces forward, they could be
very seriously injured during a
frontal collision.
CONTINUED
Driver and Passenger Safety
Placing a rear-facing child seat
in the front seat can result in
serious injury or death if the
airbags inflate.
Always place a rear-facing child
seat in the back seat, not the
front.
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Protecting Children
Installing an Infant Seat With a Lap/
Shoulder Belt
The lap/shoulder belts in the outer
back seats have a locking
mechanism that must be activated to
secure a child seat.
The following pages provide
instructions on how to secure a rear-
facing child seat with this type of
seat belt.
See page 30 for how to secure a rear-
facing child seat in the center back
seat with the lap belt. See page 30 for
tips on installing an infant seat with
either type of seat belt.
1. With the child seat in the desired
back seating position, route the
belt through the child seat
according to the seat maker's
instructions, then insert the latch
plate into the buckle.
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Protecting Children
2. To activate the lockable retractor,
slowly pull the shoulder part of the
belt all the way out until it stops,
then let the belt feed back into the
retractor (you might hear a
clicking noise as the belt retracts).
3. After the belt has retracted, tug on
it. If the belt is locked, you will not
be able to pull it out. If you can pull
the belt out, it is not locked and
you will need to repeat these steps.
4. After confirming that the belt is
locked, grab the shoulder part of
the belt near the buckle and pull
up to remove any slack from the
lap part of the belt. Remember, if
the lap part of the belt is not tight,
the child seat will not be secure.
To remove slack, it may help to
put weight on the child seat, or
push on the back of the seat while
pulling up on the belt.
5. Push and pull the child seat
forward and from side to side to
verify that it is secure enough to
stay upright during normal driving
maneuvers. If the child seat is not
secure, unlatch the belt, allow it to
retract fully, then repeat these
steps.
To deactivate the locking
mechanism in order to remove a
child seat, unlatch the buckle,
unroute the seat belt, and let the belt
fully retract. CONTINUED
Driver and Passenger Safety
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Protecting Children
Installing an Infant Seat With the
Lap Belt
To install a rear-facing child seat in
the center back seat with the lap belt,
follow instruction number 1 on page
28 for routing and latching the seat
belt. Then pull hard on the loose end
of the belt to remove any slack (it
may help to put weight on the child
seat while pulling on the belt).
Finally, follow instruction number 5
of page 29 to verify that the child
seat is secure.
Infant Seat Installation Tips
For proper protection, an infant must
ride in a reclined, or semi-reclined
position. To determine the proper
reclining angle, check with the baby's
doctor or follow the seat maker's
recommendations.
To achieve the desired reclining
angle, it may help to put a rolled up
towel under the toe of the child seat,
as shown above.
When properly installed a rear-facing
child seat may prevent the driver or
a front-seat passenger from moving
their seat as far back as
recommended (see page 10). Or it
may prevent them from locking their
seat-back in the desired upright
position (see page 11).
In either case, we recommend that
you place the child seat directly
behind the front passenger seat,
move the front seat as far forward as
needed, and leave it unoccupied. You
may also wish to get a smaller child
seat that allows you to safely carry a
front passenger.
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Protecting Children
Additional Precautions for Infants
Never hold a baby on your lap.
If
you are not wearing a seat belt in a
crash, you could be thrown
forward into the dashboard and
crush the child.
If you are wearing a seat belt, the
baby can be torn from your arms.
For example, if the vehicle crashes
into a parked vehicle at 30 mph
(48 km/h), a 20 Ib (9 kg) baby will
become a 600-lb (275-kg) force,
and you will not be able to hold it.
Never put a seat belt over yourself
and a baby. During a crash, the
belt could press deep into the child
and cause very serious injuries.
Protecting Small Children
Child Seat Type
A child who can sit up without
support, and who fits within the child
seat maker's weight and height
limits, should be restrained in a
forward-facing, upright child seat.
Of the different seats available, we
recommend those that have a five-
point harness system as shown.
We also recommend that a small
child stay in the child seat as long as
possible, until they reach the weight
or height limit for the seat.
Child Seat Placement
In this vehicle, the best place to
install a forward-facing child seat is
in one of the seating positions in the
back seat.
Placing a forward-facing child seat in
the front seat of a vehicle equipped
with a passenger airbag can be
hazardous. If the vehicle seat is too
far forward, or the child's head is
thrown forward during a collision, an
inflating passenger's airbag can
strike the child with enough force to
cause very serious or fatal injuries. If
a small child must be closely
watched, we recommend that
another adult sit in the back seat
with the child.
CONTINUED
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Protecting Children
If it is necessary to put a forward-
facing child seat in the front, move
the vehicle seat as far to the rear as
possible, be sure the child seat is
firmly secured to the car, and that
the child is properly strapped in the
seat.
Installing a Child Seat With a Lap/
Shoulder Belt
The retractors in the lap/shoulder
belts of the outer back and front
passenger seating positions have a
locking mechanism that can be
activated to secure a child seat.
The following pages provide
instructions on how to secure a
forward-facing child seat with this
type of seat belt.
See page 34 for how to secure a
forward-facing child seat in the
center back seat with the lap belt.
1. With the child seat in the desired
seating position, route the belt
through the child seat according
to the seat maker's instructions,
then insert the latch plate into the
buckle.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Improperly placing a forward-
facing child seat in the front
seat can result in serious injury
or death if the airbags inflate.
If you must place a forward-
facing child seat in front, move
the vehicle seat as far back as
possible and properly restrain
the child.
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Protecting Children
2. To activate the lockable retractor,
slowly pull the shoulder part of the
belt all the way out until it stops,
then let the belt feed back into the
retractor (you might hear a
clicking noise as the belt retracts).
3. After the belt has retracted, tug on
it. If the belt is locked, you will not
be able to pull it out. If you can pull
the belt out, it is not locked and
you will need to repeat these steps.
4. After confirming that the belt is
locked, grab the shoulder part of
the belt near the buckle and pull
up to remove any slack from the
lap part of the belt. Remember, if
the lap part of the belt is not tight,
the child seat will not be secure. It
may help to put weight on the
child seat, or push on the back of
the seat while pulling up on the
belt.
5. Push and pull the child seat
forward and from side to side to
verify that it is secure enough to
stay upright during normal driving
maneuvers. If the child seat is not
secure, unlatch the belt, allow it to
retract fully, then repeat these
steps.
CONTINUED
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Protecting Children
To deactivate the locking
mechanism in order to remove a
child seat, unlatch the buckle,
unroute the seat belt, and let the belt
fully retract.
Installing a Child Seat With the Lap
Belt
To install a forward-facing child seat
in the center back seat with the lap
belt, follow instruction number 1 on
page 32 for routing and latching the
seat belt. Then pull hard on the loose
end of the belt to remove any slack
(it may help to put weight on the
child seat while pulling on the belt).
Finally, follow instruction number 5
on page 33 to verify that the child
seat is secure.
Additional Precautions for Small
Children
Never hold a small Child on your
lap. If you are not wearing a seat
belt in a crash, you could be
thrown forward into the
dashboard and crush the child.
If you are wearing a seat belt, the
child can be torn from your arms
during a crash. For example, if the
vehicle crashes into a parked
vehicle at 30 mph (48 km/h), a
30 Ib (14 kg) child will become a
900-lb (410-kg) force, and you will
not be able to hold it.
Never put a seat belt over yourself
and a child. During a crash, the
belt could press deep into the child
and cause very serious injuries.
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Protecting Children
Protecting Larger Children
When a child reaches the
recommended weight or height limit
for a forward-facing child seat, the
child should sit in one of the outer
back seats and wear a lap/shoulder
belt. The lap/shoulder belt provides
better protection than the lap belt.
If a child is too short for the shoulder
part of the belt to properly fit, we
recommend that the child use a
booster seat until they are tall
enough to use the seat belt without a
booster.
The following pages give
instructions on how to check proper
seat belt fit, what kind of booster
seat to use if one is needed, and
important precautions for children
who must sit in the front seat.
Checking Seat Belt Fit
To determine whether a lap/
shoulder belt properly fits a child,
first have the child put on the seat
belt, following the instructions on
page 13. Then check how the belt
fits.
CONTINUED
Driver and Passenger Safety
Allowing a larger child to sit
improperly in the front seat can
result in injury or death if the
airbags inflate.
If a larger child must sit in front,
they should move the seat as
far back as possible and wear
their seat belt properly.
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Protecting Children
If the shoulder part of the belt rests
over the child's collarbone and
against the center of the chest, as
shown above, the child is large
enough to wear the seat belt.
However, if the belt touches or
crosses the child's neck, the child
needs to use a booster seat.
Do not let a child wear a seat belt
across their neck. This could result
in serious neck injuries during a
crash.
Do not let a child put the shoulder
part of a seat belt behind their back
or under their arm. This could cause
very serious injuries during a crash.
It also increases the chance of a
child sliding under the belt and being
injured in a crash.
Do not put any accessories on a seat
belt. Devices intended to improve
occupant comfort, or reposition the
shoulder part of a seat belt, severely
compromise the protective capability
of seat belts and increase the chance
of serious injury in a crash.
Two children should never use the
same seat belt. If they do, they could
be very seriously injured in a crash.
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Protecting Children
Using a Booster Seat
If a child needs a booster seat, we
recommend choosing a style that
allows the child to use the lap/
shoulder belt directly, without a
shield, as shown above.
Whichever style you select, follow
the booster seat maker's instructions.
A child may continue using a booster
until the top of their ears are even
with the top of the seat-back. When a
child reaches this height, they
should be tall enough to use the lap/
shoulder belt without a booster.
When Can a Larger Child Sit in Front
The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport
Canada recommends that all
children age 12 and under ride in the
back seat, properly restrained.
The back seat is the safest place for
a child of any age or size.
In addition, the passenger's airbag
poses serious risks to children. If the
seat is too far forward, or the child's
head is thrown forward during a
collision, or the child is unrestrained
or out of position, an inflating airbag
can kill or seriously injure the child.
Of course, children vary widely. And
while age may be one indicator of
when a child can safely ride in the
front, there are other important
factors you should consider.
CONTINUED
Driver and Passenger Safety
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
Protecting Children
Physical Size
Physically, a child must be large
enough for the lap/shoulder belt to
properly fit over their hips, chest,
and shoulder (see page 13). If the
seat belt does not fit properly, the
child should not sit in the front.
Maturity
To safely ride in front, a child must
be able to follow the rules, including
sitting properly and wearing their
seat belt properly throughout a ride.
If you decide that a child can safely
ride up front, be sure to:
Read the owner's manual and
make sure you both understand all
seat belt instructions and all safety
information.
Move the vehicle seat to the rear-
most position.
Have the child sit up straight with
their back against the seat and
their feet on or near the floor.
Check that the child's seat belt is
properly positioned and secured.
Closely supervise the child. Even
mature children sometimes need
to be reminded to fasten their seat
belt or sit properly.
Using Child Seats with Tethers
Your car has three attachment points
on the rear shelf for securing a
tether-style child seat to the car.
Since a tether can provide additional
security, we recommend using a
tether whenever one is required or
available. (Tethers are required in
Canada. U.S. owners may check with
the child seat maker to determine
whether a tether is available for a
particular child seat.)
Driver and Passenger
Safety
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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▼
Protecting Children
To attach a tether to your car:
1. Using the illustration on page 38,
locate the attachment point you
want to use.
2. Remove the plug with a small flat-
tipped screwdriver or a fingernail
file.
3. Install the anchor plate and
mounting hardware. The
hardware is available for purchase
from your Honda dealer (part
number 82410-SE3-C01). For
Canadian models, the hardware is
supplied with the vehicle.
When installing tether hardware,
make sure the toothed washer is on
the bottom of the bolt. Tighten the
bolt to:
16 lbf.ft(22 N·m, 2.2 kgf.m)
If a torque wrench was not used, see
your Honda dealer as soon as
possible to verify proper installation.
To attach the tether to the child seat,
follow the child seat maker's
instructions.
If you are not sure how to install the
tether, or you need mounting
hardware, contact your Honda dealer.
Driver and
Passenger Safety
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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▼
Additional Information About Your Seat Belts
Seat Belt System Components
Your seat belt system includes lap/
shoulder belts in the front seats and
the outer back seats, and a lap belt in
the center back seat.
The system also includes a
light on the instrument
panel to remind you and your
passengers to fasten your belts. If
the driver's seat belt is not fastened
before the ignition is turned ON (II),
the light will come on and a beeper
will also sound. The beeper will stop
after a few seconds, but the light will
stay on until the driver's seat belt is
fastened.
Lap/Shoulder Belt
This seat belt has a single belt that
goes over your shoulder, across your
chest and across your hips.
To fasten the belt, insert the latch
plate into the buckle, then tug on the
belt to make sure the buckle is
latched.
To unlock the belt, push the red
PRESS button on the buckle.
Guide the belt across your body to
the door pillar. After exiting the
vehicle, be sure the belt is out of the
way and will not get closed in the
door.
All lap/shoulder belts have an
emergency locking retractor.
In normal driving, the retractor lets
you move freely in your seat while it
keeps some tension on the belt.
During a collision or sudden stop,
the retractor automatically locks the
belt to help restrain your body.
The lap/shoulder belts in all seating
positions except the driver's have an
additional locking mechanism that
can be activated to secure a child
seat. (See pages 28 and 32 for
instructions on how to secure child
seats with this type of seat belt.)
If the shoulder part of the belt is
pulled all the way out, the locking
mechanism will activate. The belt
will retract, but it will not allow a
passenger to move freely.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Main Menu
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Additional Information About Your Seat Belts
To deactivate the locking
mechanism, unlatch the buckle and
let the seat belt fully retract. To
refasten the belt, pull it out only as
far as needed.
See page 13 for instructions on how
to wear the lap/shoulder belt
properly.
Lap Belt
The lap belt has one manually-
adjusted belt that fits across the hips.
To fasten the belt, insert the latch
plate into the buckle marked
CENTER, then tug on the belt to
make sure the buckle is latched.
To unlock the belt, push the red
PRESS button on the buckle.
See page 14 for how to lengthen the
lap belt, and how to properly position
the belt.
Driver and
Passenger Safety
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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▼
Additional Information About Your Seat Belts
Seat Belt Maintenance
For safety, you should check the
condition of your seat belts regularly.
Pull each belt out fully and lock for
frays, cuts, burns, and wear. Check
that the latches work smoothly and
that the lap/shoulder belts retract
easily. Any belt not in good condition
or not working properly will not
provide good protection and should
be replaced as soon as possible.
U.S. Owners
Honda provides a lifetime warranty
on seat belts. Honda will repair or
replace any seat belt component that
fails to function properly during
normal use.
Please see your Honda Warranty
Information booklet for details.
If a seat belt is worn during a crash,
you should have your dealer inspect
the belt, and replace it if necessary.
A belt that has been worn during a
crash may not provide the same level
of protection in a subsequent crash.
The dealer should also inspect the
anchors for damage and replace
them if needed.
For information on how to clean your
seat belts, see page 198.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Not checking or maintaining
seat belts can result in serious
injury or death if the seat belts
do not work properly when
needed.
Check your seat belts regularly
and have any problem
corrected as soon as possible.
Main Menu
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Additional Information About Your SRS
SRS Components
Your Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS) includes:
Two frontal airbags. The driver's
airbag is stored in the center of
the steering wheel; the front
passenger's airbag is stored in the
dashboard. Both are marked
"SRS".
Sensors that can detect a severe
frontal collision.
A sophisticated electronic system
that continually monitors the
sensors, control unit, the airbag
activators, and all related wiring
when the ignition is ON (II).
An indicator light on the
instrument panel to alert you to a
possible problem with the system
(see page 45).
Emergency backup power in case
your vehicle's electrical system is
disconnected in a crash.
How Your Airbags Work
If you ever have a severe frontal
collision, the sensors will detect
rapid deceleration and signal the
control unit to instantly inflate the
airbags.
During a crash, your seat belt helps
restrain your lower body and torso.
Your airbag provides a cushion to
help restrain and protect your head
and chest.
CONTINUED
Driver and Passenger Safety
Main Menu
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Additional Information About Your SRS
Since both airbags use the same
sensors, both airbags normally
inflate at the same time. However, it
is possible for only one airbag to
inflate.
This can occur when the severity of
a collision is at the margin, or
threshold, that determines whether
or not the airbags will deploy. In
such cases, the seat belt will provide
sufficient protection, and the
supplemental protection offered by
the airbag would be minimal.
After inflating, the airbags
immediately deflate, so they won't
interfere with the driver's visibility,
or the ability to steer or operate
other controls.
The total time for inflation and
deflation is approximately one-tenth
of a second, so fast that most
occupants are not aware that the
airbags deployed until they see them
lying in their laps.
After a crash, you may see what
looks like smoke. This is actually
powder from the airbag's surface.
Although the powder is not harmful,
people with respiratory problems
may experience some temporary
discomfort. If this occurs, get out of
the car as soon as it is safe to do so.
U.S. Owners
For additional information on how
your airbags work, see the booklet
titled SRS: What You Need to Know
About Airbags, that came with your
owner's manual.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Main Menu
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Additional Information About Your SRS
How Your SRS Indicator Light
Works
The purpose of the SRS
indicator light is to alert
you to a potential problem with your
Supplemental Restraint System.
When you turn the ignition ON (II),
this indicator will light up briefly
then go out. This tells you that the
system is working properly.
However, if the light comes on at any
other time, you should have your
system checked by your dealer. For
example:
If the SRS indicator light does not
come on after you turn the ignition
ON (II).
If the light stays on after the
engine starts.
If the light comes on or flashes on
and off while you drive.
If you see any of these indications,
your airbags may not deploy when
you need them. See your Honda
dealer as soon as possible.
SRS Service
Your Supplemental Restraint System
is virtually maintenance-free, and
there are no parts you can safely
service. However, you must have
your vehicle serviced if:
Your airbags ever inflatesh. The
airbags and the control unit must
be replaced. Do not try to remove
or replace the airbags yourself.
This must be done by a Honda
dealer or a knowledgeable body
shop.
The SRS indicator light alerts you
to a problem. Take your vehicle to
an authorized Honda dealer as
soon as possible. If you ignore this
indication, the airbags might not
inflate when you need them.
Driver and Passenger
Safety
SRS
Ignoring the SRS indicator light
can result in serious injury or
death if the airbags do not
inflate when needed.
Have your vehicle checked by a
dealer as soon as possible if
the SRS light alerts you to a
potential problem.
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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▼
Additional Information About Your SRS
Additional Safety Precautions
Do not attempt to deactivate your
airbags. Together, airbags and
seat belts provide the best
protection in a severe frontal
collision.
Do not tamper with SRS
components or wiring for any
reason. Tampering could cause
the airbags to deploy, possibly
causing very serious injury.
See page 115 for further information
and precautions relating to your SRS.
Driver and
Passenger Safety
Main Menu
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Carbon Monoxide Hazard
Your vehicle's exhaust contains
carbon monoxide gas. You should
have no problem with carbon
monoxide entering the vehicle in
normal driving if you maintain your
vehicle properly.
Have the exhaust system inspected
for leaks whenever:
The vehicle is raised for an oil
change.
You notice a change in the sound
of the exhaust.
The vehicle was in an accident
that may have damaged the under-
side.
High levels of carbon monoxide can
collect rapidly in enclosed areas,
such as a garage. Do not run the
engine with the garage door closed.
Even with the door open, run the
engine only long enough to move the
vehicle out of the garage.
With the trunk lid open, air flow can
pull exhaust gas into your vehicle's
interior and create a hazardous
condition. If you must drive with the
trunk lid open, open all the windows
and set the heating and cooling
system as shown below.
If you must sit in your parked vehicle,
even in an unconfined area, with the
engine running, adjust the heating
and cooling system as follows:
1. Select the Fresh Air mode.
2. Select the mode.
3. Turn the fan on high speed.
4. Set the temperature control to a
comfortable setting.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.
Breathing it can cause
unconsciousness and even kill
you.
Avoid any enclosed areas or
activities that expose you to
carbon monoxide.
Main Menu
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SUN VISOR
U.S. models
RADIATOR CAP
Canadian models
Safety Labels
These labels are in the locations
shown. They warn you of potential
hazards that could cause serious
injury. Read these labels carefully.
If a label comes off or becomes hard
to read, contact your Honda dealer
for a replacement.
HOOD
DASH BOARD
U.S. models only
Driver and Passenger Safety
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Control Locations
MIRROR
CONTROLS
(P.70)
AUDIO SYSTEM,
DIGITAL CLOCK
(P.94, 99)
HEATING/COOLING
CONTROL
(P.86)
DOOR LOCK
SWITCH
(P.69)
POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES
(P.77)
FUEL FILL
DOOR RELEASE
(P.109)
TRUNK RELEASE
HANDLE
(P.73)
HOOD RELEASE
HANDLE
(P.110)
Instruments and Controls
Main Menu
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Indicator Lights
The instrument panel has many
indicators to give you important
information about your vehicle.
Lamp Check
These indicator lights come on when
you turn the ignition switch ON (II),
allowing you to see that they are
working:
SRS Indicator
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Charging System Indicator
Low Oil Pressure Indicator
Anti-lock Brake System Indicator
Seat Belt Reminder Light
D4 Lamp
If an indicator does not light during
this test, it cannot alert you if that
system develops a problem. Have the
dealer check your vehicle for
burned-out bulbs or other problems.
* The U.S. instrument panel is
shown. Differences for the Canadian
model are noted in the text.
EX and U.S. LX
CONTINUED
Instruments and Controls
HIGH BEAM INDICATOR
CHARGING SYSTEM
INDICATOR
MALFUNCTION
INDICATOR LAMP
LOW OIL
PRESSURE
INDICATOR
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM INDICATOR
CRUISE CONTROL
INDICATOR
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE
SYSTEM INDICATOR*
SEAT BELT
REMINDER LIGHT
LOW FUEL
INDICATOR
TRUNK-OPEN
INDICATOR
PARKING BRAKE AND
BRAKE SYSTEM
INDICATOR*
Main Menu
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Indicator Lights
U.S. DX and Canadian LX
Seat Belt Reminder Light
This indicator lights when you turn
the ignition switch ON (II). It is a
reminder to you and your passengers
to protect yourselves by fastening
the seat belts. A beeper also sounds
if you have not fastened your seat
belt.
If you do not fasten your seat belt,
the beeper will stop after a few
seconds but the light stays on until
you do. Both the light and the beeper
stay off if you fasten your seat belt
before turning on the ignition.
* Differences in the indicators for
Canadian models are noted in the
text.
Instruments and Controls
HIGH BEAM INDICATOR
CHARGING SYSTEM
INDICATOR
LOW OIL
PRESSURE
INDICATOR
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM INDICATOR
MALFUNCTION
INDICATOR LAMP
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE
SYSTEM INDICATOR
(Canadian LX model only)
SEAT BELT
REMINDER LIGHT
LOW FUEL
INDICATOR
TRUNK-OPEN
INDICATOR
PARKING BRAKE AND
BRAKE SYSTEM
INDICATOR*
Main Menu
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Indicator Lights
Supplemental Restraint
System Indicator
This indicator lights when you turn
the ignition switch ON (II). If it
comes on at any other time, it
indicates a problem in the
supplemental restraint system. For
complete information, see page 45.
Charging System
Indicator
If this light comes on when the
engine is running, the battery is not
being charged. For complete
information, see page 214.
Low Oil Pressure
Indicator
The engine can be severely damaged
if this light flashes or stays on when
the engine is running. For complete
information, see page 213.
U.S. Canada Parking Brake
and Brake
System
Indicator
This light has two functions:
1. It lights as a reminder that you
have not released the parking
brake. Driving with the parking
brake applied can damage the
brakes and tires.
2. If it remains lit after you release
the parking brake, or comes on
while driving, it can indicate a
problem in the brake system. For
complete information, see page
216.
U.S. Canada Anti-lock Brake
System (ABS)
Indicator
Only on cars equipped with ABS (see
page 131)
This light normally comes on for a
few seconds when you turn the
ignition switch ON (II), and when
the ignition switch is turned to
START (III). If this light comes on at
any other time, there is a problem in
the ABS. If this happens, take the
vehicle to your dealer to have it
checked. With the light on, your
vehicle still has normal braking
ability but no anti-lock.
Instruments and Controls
SRS
ABS
BRAKE
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Indicator Lights
Malfunction Indicator
Lamp
See page 215.
Turn Signal and
Hazard Warning
Indicators
The left or right turn signal light
blinks when you signal a lane change
or turn. If the light does not blink or
blinks rapidly, it usually means one
of the turn signal bulbs is burned out
(see page 187). Replace the bulb as
soon as possible, since other drivers
cannot see that you are signalling.
When you turn on the Hazard
Warning switch, both turn signal
lights blink. All turn signals on the
outside of the vehicle should flash.
High Beam Indicator
This light comes on with the high
beam headlights. See page 59 for
information on the headlight
controls.
On Canadian models, this indicator
comes on with reduced brightness
when the Daytime Running Lights
(DRL) are on (see page 59).
Cruise Control Indicator
Only on cars equipped with Cruise
Control System
This lights when you set the cruise
control. See page 64 for information
on operating the cruise control.
Trunk-open Indicator
This light comes on if the trunk lid is
not closed tightly.
Low Fuel Indicator
This light comes on as a reminder
that you must refuel soon.
Instruments and Controls
CRUISE
CONTROL
Main Menu
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Gauges
EX and U.S. LX
Speedometer
U.S. Models
This shows your speed in miles per
hour (mph). The smaller inner
numbers are the speed in kilometers
per hour (km/h).
Canadian Models
This shows your speed in kilometers
per hour (km/h). The smaller inner
numbers are the speed in miles per
hour (mph).
Tachometer
On LX and EX models in U.S., and
EX model in Canada
The tachometer shows the engine
speed in revolutions per minute
(rpm). To protect the engine from
damage, never drive with the
tachometer needle in the red zone.
Odometer
The odometer shows the total dis-
tance your vehicle has been driven.
It measures miles in U.S. models and
kilometers in Canadian models.
It is illegal under federal law (in the
U.S.) and provincial regulations (in
Canada) to disconnect, reset, or alter
the odometer with the intent to
change the number of miles or
kilometers indicated.
Trip Meter
This meter shows the number of
miles (U.S.) or kilometers (Canada)
driven since you last reset it. To
reset it, push the trip meter reset
button.
Instruments and Controls
TACHOMETER
TRIP METER
SPEEDOMETER
FUEL GAUGE
TEMPERATURE
GAUGE
TRIP METER
RESET BUTTON
MAINTENANCE
REQUIRED INDICATOR
ODOMETER
Main Menu
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▼
Gauges
U.S. DX and Canadian LX
Fuel Gauge
This shows how much fuel you have.
It is most accurate when the vehicle
is on level ground. It may show
slightly more or less than the actual
amount when you are driving on
curvy or hilly roads.
The gauge stays at the same fuel
level reading after you turn off the
ignition. When you add fuel, the
gauge slowly changes to the new
reading after you turn the ignition
switch back ON (II).
Temperature Gauge
This shows the temperature of the
engine's coolant. During normal
operation, the pointer should rise
from the bottom white mark to about
the middle of the gauge. In severe
driving conditions, such as very hot
weather or a long period of uphill
driving, the pointer may rise to the
upper blue zone. If it reaches the red
(Hot) mark, pull safely to the side of
the road. Turn to page 211 for
instructions and precautions on
checking the engine's cooling
system.
Instruments and Controls
TEMPERATURE
GAUGE
TRIP METER
SPEEDOMETER
FUEL GAUGE
ODOMETER
MAINTENANCE
REQUIRED INDICATOR
TRIP METER
RESET BUTTON
Main Menu
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Gauges
Maintenance Required Indicator
U.S. Models
This indicator reminds you that it is
nearing 7,500 miles (12,000 km)
since the last scheduled maintenance.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedules
for Normal and Severe Driving
Conditions on pages 142 — 146.
When the distance driven since the
last scheduled maintenance nears
7,500 miles (12,000 km), the
indicator will turn yellow. If you
exceed 7,500 miles (12,000 km), the
indicator will turn red.
Your dealer will reset the indicator
when he performs the scheduled
maintenance. If someone else
performs the maintenance, reset the
indicator by inserting your key in the
slot beside the indicator.
Instruments and Controls
SLOT
INDICATOR
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Controls Near the Steering Wheel
The two levers on the steering
column contain controls for driving
features you use most often. The left
lever controls the turn signals,
headlights, and high beams. The
right lever controls the windshield
washers and wipers.
The rear window defogger switch is
on the dashboard to the right of the
center air vents.
The controls under the left air vent
are for the moonroof, mirrors, cruise
control and instrument panel
brightness.
The tilt adjustment lever on the
underside of the steering column
allows you to tilt the steering wheel.
Instruments and Controls
CRUISE
CONTROL
INSTRUMENT PANEL
BRIGHTNESS
HAZARD WARNING
LIGHTS
REAR WINDOW
DEFOGGER
MOONROOF
WINDSHIELD
WIPERS/
WASHERS
MIRROR
CONTROLS
HEADLIGHTS/
TURN SIGNALS
TILT ADJUSTMENT
HORN
BUTTONS
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Headlights
The rotating switch on the left lever
controls the lights. Turning this
switch to the " " position turns
on the parking lights, taillights,
instrument panel lights, side-marker
lights, and rear license plate lights.
Turning the switch to the " "
position turns on the headlights.
If you leave the lights on with the
ignition switch in ACCESSORY (I)
or LOCK (0), you will hear a
reminder beeper when you open the
driver's door.
To change between low beams and
high beams, pull the turn signal lever
until you hear a click, then let go.
The blue high beam indicator will
light (see page 54).
To flash the high beams, pull the
turn signal lever back lightly, then
release it. The high beams will come
on and go off.
The high beams will stay on for as
long as you hold the lever back, no
matter what position the headlight
switch is in.
Daytime Running Lights
(Canadian Models)
With the headlight switch off, the
high beam headlights come on with
reduced brightness when you turn
the ignition switch to ON (II) and
release the parking brake. They
remain on until you turn the ignition
off, even if you set the parking brake.
The headlights revert to normal
operation when you turn them on
with the switch.
Instruments and Controls
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Instrument Panel Brightness
The dial on the dashboard to the left
of the instrument panel controls the
brightness of the instrument panel
lights. Turn the dial to adjust the
brightness.
Turn Signals
Signal a turn or lane change with this
lever. Push down on the lever to
signal a left turn, and up to signal a
right turn. If you push it up or down
all the way, the turn signal continues
to blink even when you release the
lever. It shuts off automatically as
you complete the turn.
To signal a lane change, push lightly
on the turn signal lever in the proper
direction and hold it. The lever will
return to the center position as soon
as you release it.
Instruments and
Controls
TURN SIGNAL
LEVER
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Windshield Wipers
The right lever controls the wind-
shield wipers and washers. The
rotary switch at the end of the lever
has three positions:
1NT: intermittent
: low speed
: high speed
In intermittent, the wipers operate
every few seconds. In low speed and
high speed, the wipers run continu-
ously.
To operate the wipers in mist mode,
push the control lever down. The
wipers run at high speed until you
release the lever. This gives you a
quick way to clear the windshield.
Windshield Washers
To clean the windshield, pull back on
the wiper control lever. The washers
spray until you release the lever.
The wipers run at low speed while
you're pulling the lever, then
complete one more sweep of the
windshield after you release it.
Instruments and Controls
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Hazard Warning
Push the red button to the left of the
center vents to turn on the hazard
warning lights (four-way flashers).
This causes all four outside turn
signals and both indicators in the
instrument panel to flash. Use the
hazard warning lights if you need to
park in a dangerous area near heavy
traffic, or if your vehicle is disabled.
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger will clear
fog, frost, and thin ice from the
window. Push the defogger button to
turn it on and off. The light in the
button lights to show the defogger is
on. If you do not turn it off, the
defogger will shut itself off after
about 25 minutes. It also shuts off
when you turn off the ignition. You
have to turn it on again when you
restart the vehicle.
Make sure the rear window is clear
and you have good visibility before
starting to drive.
The defogger wires on the inside of
the rear window can be accidentally
damaged. When cleaning the glass,
always wipe side to side.
Instruments and Controls
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Steering Wheel Adjustment
See page 16 for important safety
information about how to properly
position the steering wheel.
Make any steering wheel
adjustments before you start
driving.
To adjust the steering wheel
upward or downward:
1. Push the lever under the steering
column all the way down.
2. Move the steering wheel to the
desired position, making sure the
wheel points toward your chest,
not toward your face. Make sure
you can see the instrument panel
gauges and the indicator lights.
3. Push the lever up to lock the
steering wheel in that position.
4. Make sure you have securely
locked the steering wheel in place
by trying to move it up and down.
Instruments and Controls
Adjusting the steering wheel
position while driving may
cause you to lose control of the
vehicle and be seriously injured
in a crash.
Adjust the steering wheel only
when the vehicle is stopped.
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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▼
Steering Wheel Controls
Cruise Control
On LX and EX models in the U.S., and
EX model in Canada
Cruise control allows you to maintain
a set speed above 25 mph (40 km/h)
without keeping your foot on the
accelerator pedal. It should be used
for cruising on straight, open
highways. It is not recommended for
conditions such as city driving,
winding roads, slippery roads, heavy
rain, or bad weather. You should
have full control of the vehicle under
those conditions.
The cruise control, as it operates,
moves the accelerator pedal. You can
damage your vehicle's accelerator
mechanism by resting your foot under
the pedal and blocking the movement.
Using the Cruise Control
1. Push in the Cruise Control Master
Switch to the left of the steering
column. The indicator in the
switch will light.
2. Accelerate to the desired cruising
speed above 25 mph (40 km/h).
Instruments and Controls
Improper use of the cruise
control can lead to a crash.
Use the cruise control only
when traveling on open
highways in good weather.
NOTICE
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Steering Wheel Controls
3. Press and hold the SET/decel
button on the steering wheel until
the CRUISE CONTROL light on
the instrument panel comes on.
This shows the system is now
activated.
The cruise control may not hold
the set speed when you are going
up and down hills.
Changing the Set Speed
You can increase the set cruising
speed in either of two ways:
Press and hold the RESUME/
accel button. The vehicle will
accelerate slowly. When you reach
the desired cruising speed, release
the button.
Push on the accelerator pedal. Ac-
celerate to the desired cruising
speed and press the SET/decel
button.
You can decrease the set cruising
speed in either of two ways:
Press and hold the SET/decel
button. The vehicle will decelerate.
Release the button when you
reach the desired speed.
Tap the brake or clutch pedal
lightly with your foot. The
CRUISE CONTROL light on the
instrument panel will go out.
When the vehicle slows to the
desired speed, press the SET/
decel button. The vehicle will then
maintain the desired speed.
CONTINUED
Instruments and Controls
RESUME/
accel
SET/decel
Main Menu
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Steering Wheel Controls
Even with the cruise control turned
on, you can still use the accelerator
pedal to speed up for passing. After
completing the pass, take your foot
off the accelerator pedal. The vehicle
will return to the set cruising speed.
Resting your foot on the brake or
clutch pedal will cause the cruise
control to cancel.
Cancelling the Cruise Control
You can cancel the cruise control in
any of these ways:
Tap the brake or clutch pedal.
Press the SET/decel and RE-
SUME/accel buttons at the same
time.
Press the Cruise Control Master
Switch.
When you tap the brake or clutch
pedal, or press the SET and RE-
SUME buttons at the same time, the
CRUISE CONTROL light on the
instrument panel will go out and the
car will begin to slow down. You can
use the accelerator pedal in the
normal way.
If you use the brake or clutch pedal
to cancel cruise control, the system
remembers the previously-set
cruising speed. To return to that
speed, accelerate to above 25 mph
(40 km/h) and press the RESUME/
accel button until the CRUISE CON-
TROL light comes on. The vehicle
will accelerate to the same cruising
speed as before.
If you cancel cruise control by
pressing the SET and RESUME
buttons at the same time, the
previously-set cruising speed is
erased. To use the cruise control,
accelerate to the desired cruising
speed and press the SET/decel
button.
Pressing the Cruise Control Master
Switch turns the system completely
off and erases the previous cruising
speed from memory. To use the
system again, refer to
Using the
Cruise Control.
Instruments and Controls
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Keys and Locks
Keys
Your vehicle comes with two kinds
of keys: a master key and a valet key.
The master key fits all the locks on
your vehicle:
Ignition
Doors
Trunk
Trunk release handle
Rear seat trunk access
The valet key works only in the
ignition and the door locks. You can
keep the trunk, trunk release handle
and rear seat trunk access locked
when you leave your vehicle and
valet key at a parking facility. (See
Trunk, page 73.)
You should have received a key
number plate with your set of keys.
You will need this key number if you
ever have to get a lost key replaced.
Keep the plate stored in a safe place.
When replacing keys, use only
Honda-approved key blanks.
Remote Transmitter
Standard on the EX model in the U.S.
Optional on the LX model in the U.S.
and EX model in Canada
Your vehicle also comes with two
remote transmitters; see page 70 for
an explanation of the operation.
Ignition Switch
The ignition switch is on the right
side of the steering column. It has
four positions:
LOCK (0)
ACCESSORY (I)
ON (II)
START (III)
CONTINUED
Instruments and Controls
KEY
NUMBER
PLATE
VALET
KEY
MASTER
KEY
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Keys and Locks
LOCK (0) — You can insert or
remove the key only in this position.
To switch from ACCESSORY to
LOCK, you must push the key in
slightly as you turn it. If your vehicle
has an automatic transmission, it
must also be in Park. The anti-theft
lock will lock the steering column
when you remove the key.
If the front wheels are turned, the
anti-theft lock may sometimes make
it difficult to turn the key from
LOCK to ACCESSORY. Firmly turn
the steering wheel to the left or to
the right as you turn the key.
ACCESSORY (I) - In this position,
you can operate the audio system
and the accessory power socket.
ON (II) — This is the normal key
position when driving. All features
and accessories on the vehicle are
usable. Several of the lights on the
instrument panel come on as a test
when you turn the ignition switch
from ACCESSORY to ON (see page
51).
START (III) - Use this position
only to start the engine. The switch
returns to ON (II) when you let go of
the key.
You will hear a reminder beeper if
you leave the key in the ignition
switch in the LOCK (0) or
ACCESSORY (I) position and open
the driver's door. Remove the key to
turn off the beeper.
Door Locks
Each door has a lock tab on the top.
Push the tab down to lock the door
and pull it up to unlock.
To lock any passenger's door when
getting out of the vehicle, push the
lock tab down and close the door. To
lock the driver's door, pull the
outside door handle and push the
lock tab down. Release the handle,
then close the door.
Instruments and Controls
Removing the key from the
ignition switch while driving
locks the steering. This can
cause you to lose control.
Remove the key from the
ignition switch only when
parked.
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Keys and Locks
The front doors can be locked and
unlocked from the outside with the
key.
Power Door Locks
On LX and EX models in the U.S., and
EX model in Canada
The master door lock switch allows
control of all door locks from the
driver's door. Push the switch down
to lock all doors, and up to unlock
them.
All doors lock when you push down
the lock tab on the driver's door, or
lock the driver's door from the
outside with the key. Only the driver's
door unlocks when you use the key
or lock tab. To unlock the passen-
gers' doors, use the master door lock
switch or the lock tab on each door.
Instruments and Controls
MASTER DOOR LOCK SWITCH
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Keys and Locks
Remote Transmitter
Standard on the EX model in the U.S.
Optional on the LX model in the U.S.
and EX model in Canada
You can lock and unlock your vehicle
with the remote transmitter. When
you push the LOCK button, all doors
lock.
When you push the UNLOCK button
once, only the driver's door unlocks.
The remaining doors unlock when
you push the button a second time.
The interior light (if the interior light
switch is in the center position) will
come on when you press the
UNLOCK button. If you do not open
any door, the light will go out in
about 30 seconds and the doors will
automatically relock. If you relock
the doors with the remote
transmitter before 30 seconds have
elapsed, the light will go off
immediately.
If you installed a non-Honda radio in
your vehicle, the keyless entry
system and the interior light will no
longer work.
You cannot lock or unlock the doors
with the remote transmitter if any
door is not fully closed or the key is
in the ignition switch.
Horn Operation
You can program the remote
transmitter to have the horn beep
when you lock and unlock the doors.
It will beep once when you lock the
doors, and twice when you unlock
them.
To turn this feature on and off, press
the OPTION and LOCK buttons at
the same time for two seconds. If
you are turning the horn on, the
remote transmitter's LED will come
on for one second. If you are turning
the horn off, the LED will blink twice.
Release the buttons after the LED
goes out.
The horn feature will be off after you
install a new battery in the remote
transmitter. Use the above
procedure to turn it on again.
Instruments and Controls
LED
UNLOCK
BUTTON
LOCK
BUTTON
OPTION
BUTTON
PANIC
BUTTON
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Keys and Locks
Panic Mode
Panic mode allows you to remotely
sound your vehicle's horn to attract
attention. To activate this mode,
press and hold the PANIC button for
about one second. Your vehicle's
horn will beep for about 30 seconds.
To cancel PANIC mode before 30
seconds, press any button on the
remote transmitter. You can also
turn the ignition switch to
ACCESSORY (I) or ON (II).
Panic mode will not activate if the
ignition switch is in ACCESSORY (I)
or ON (II).
Replacing the Battery
When the remote transmitter's
battery begins to get weak, it may
take several pushes on the button to
lock or unlock the doors, and the
LED will get dim. Replace the
battery as soon as possible.
Battery type: CR2025
To replace the battery, remove the
round cover on the back of the trans-
mitter by turning it counterclockwise
with a coin.
Remove the old battery and note the
polarity. Make sure the polarity of
the new battery is the same (+ side
facing up), then insert it in the
transmitter.
CONTINUED
Instruments and Controls
Open
Close
ROUND
COVER
CUSHION
RING
BATTERY
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Keys and Locks
Reinstall the O-ring. Align the
mark on the cover with the
mark on the transmitter,
then set the cover in place and turn it
clockwise.
After the battery is changed, the
transmitter must be synchronized
with the main unit. With the doors
and trunk lid closed, press either the
LOCK or UNLOCK button six times.
Transmitter Care
Avoid severe shock to the trans-
mitter, such as dropping or throwing
it. Also, protect it from extreme hot
or cold temperatures.
Clean the transmitter case with a
soft cloth. Do not use strong
cleaners or solvents that could harm
the case. Immersing the transmitter
in any liquid will harm the trans-
mitter and cause it to not function
properly.
Use the ring on the transmitter to
attach it to your main key ring. You
could damage the transmitter if you
try to use its ring as a key ring.
If you lose a transmitter, you will
need to have the replacement
programmed to your vehicle's
system by your Honda dealer. Any
other transmitters you have will also
need to be reprogrammed.
As required by the FCC:
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1) This device
may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any
interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired
operation.
This device complies with DOC rules in
Canada.
Changes or modifications not expressly
approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void the user's
authority to operate the equipment.
Instruments and Controls
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Keys and Locks
Childproof Door Locks
The childproof door locks are
designed to prevent children seated
in the rear from accidentally opening
the rear doors. Each rear door has a
lock lever near the edge. With the
lever in the LOCK position, the door
cannot be opened from the inside
regardless of the position of the lock
tab. To open the door, pull the lock
tab up and use the outside door
handle.
Trunk
You can open the trunk in two ways:
Pull the trunk release handle to
the left of the driver's seat.
Use the master key to open the
trunk lock. The valet key does not
work in this lock.
To close the trunk, press down on
the trunk lid.
See page 116 for cargo loading and
weight limit information. Keep the
trunk lid closed at all times while
driving to avoid damaging the lid,
and to prevent exhaust gas from
getting into the interior. See
Carbon
Monoxide Hazard
on page 47.
CONTINUED
Instruments and Controls
LEVER
MASTE
R KEYTRUNK RELEASE HANDLE
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Keys and Locks, Seat Adjustments
To protect items in the trunk when
you need to give the key to someone
else, lock the trunk release handle
with the master key and give the
other person the valet key.
Front Seat Adjustments
See pages 10 - 11 for important safety
information and warnings about how to
properly position seats and seat-backs.
Adjust the seat before you start
driving.
To adjust the seat forward and
backward, pull up on the lever under
the seat cushion's front edge. Move
the seat to the desired position and
release the lever. Try to move the
seat to make sure it is locked in
position.
Instruments and Controls
MASTER KEY
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Seat Adjustments
To change the angle of the seat-back,
pull up on the lever on the outside of
the seat bottom. Move the seat-back
to the desired position and release
the lever. Let the seat-back latch in
the new position.
Head Restraints
See page 12 for important safety
information and a warning about how to
properly position the head restraints.
The front head restraints help
protect you and your passenger from
whiplash and other injuries. They are
most effective when you adjust them
so the back of the occupant's head
rests against the center of the
restraint. A taller person should
adjust the restraint as high as
possible.
The front head restraints adjust for
height. You need both hands to
adjust the restraint. Do not attempt
to adjust it while driving. To raise it,
pull upward. To lower the restraint,
push the release button sideways
and push the restraint down.
To remove a head restraint for
cleaning or repair, pull it up as far as
it will go. Push the release button
and pull the restraint out of the seat-
back.
Instruments and Controls
RELEASE BUTTON
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Folding Rear Seat
The back of the rear seat folds down
to give you direct access to the
trunk. Each side folds down sepa-
rately. With only half the seat folded,
you can still carry a passenger in the
back seat.
To fold down either side of the seat-
back from inside the vehicle, use the
master key in the lock on the rear
shelf. To fold down the driver's side,
turn the key clockwise, fold down
the seat-back, then release the key.
To fold down the passenger's side,
turn the key counterclockwise and
perform the same procedure.
To release the seat-back from inside
the trunk, pull the release under the
rear shelf. Push the seat-back down,
then let go of the release.
To lock the seat-back upright, push it
firmly against the rear shelf. Make
sure it is latched in place by pulling
on the top of the seat.
Instruments and Controls
MASTER KEY
RELEASE
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Folding Rear Seat, Power Windows
Make sure all items in the trunk, or
items extending through the opening
into the back seat, are tied down.
Loose items can fly forward and
cause injury if you have to brake
hard. See Carrying Cargo on page
116.
Never drive with the seat-back
folded down and the trunk lid open.
See Carbon Monoxide Hazard on
page 47.
Power Windows
On LX and EX models in the U.S., and
EX model in Canada
Your vehicle's windows are electri-
cally-powered. Turn the ignition
switch to ON (II) to raise or lower
any window.
Each door has a switch that controls
its window. To open the window,
push the switch down and hold it.
Release the switch when you want
the window to stop. Close the
window by pulling back on the
switch and holding it.
The driver's door armrest has a
master power window control panel.
To open any of the passengers' win-
dows, push down on the appropriate
switch and hold it down until the
window reaches the desired position.
To close the window, pull back on
the window switch. Release the
switch when the window gets to the
position you want.
CONTINUED
Instruments and Controls
DRIVER'S WINDOW SWITCH
MAIN SWITCH
Closing a power window on a
child's hands or fingers can
cause serious injury.
Make sure your children are
away from the windows before
closing them.
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Power Windows
The master control panel also con-
tains these extra features:
AUTO - To open the driver's
window fully, push the window
switch firmly down and release it.
The window automatically goes all
the way down. To stop the window
from going all the way down, pull
back on the window switch briefly.
To open the driver's window only
partially, push the window switch
down lightly and hold it. The window
will stop as soon as you release the
switch.
The AUTO function only works to
lower the driver's window. To raise
the window, you must pull back on
the window switch and hold it until
the window reaches the desired
position.
The MAIN switch controls power to
the passengers' windows. With this
switch off, the passengers' windows
cannot be raised or lowered. The
MAIN switch does not affect the
driver's window. Keep the MAIN
switch off when you have children in
the vehicle so they do not injure
themselves by operating the
windows unintentionally.
Instruments and Controls
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Moonroof, Mirrors
Moonroof
On U.S. EX model
Use the switches on the dashboard
under the left vent to operate the
moonroof. The ignition must be ON
(II).
To lift the rear of the moonroof for
ventilation, push the button.
To slide the moonroof back, push
the switch. Hold it until the
moonroof reaches the desired
position, then release the switch.
To close the moonroof, press and
hold the switch.
If you try to open the moonroof in
below-freezing temperatures, or when
it is covered with snow or ice, you can
damage the moonroof panel or motor.
Mirrors
Keep the inside and outside mirrors
clean and adjusted for best visibility.
Be sure to adjust the mirrors before
you start driving.
The inside mirror has day and night
positions. The night position reduces
glare from headlights behind you.
Flip the tab on the bottom edge of
the mirror to select the day or night
position.
CONTINUED
Instruments and Controls
TAB
NOTICE
Closing the moonroof on
someone's hands or fingers can
cause serious injury.
Make sure passengers are
clear of the moonroof before
closing it.
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Mirrors, Parking Brake
Adjusting the Power Mirrors
On LX and EX models in the U.S., and
EX model in Canada
Adjust the outside mirrors with the
adjustment switch on the left side of
the dashboard:
1. Turn the ignition switch ON (II).
2. Move the selector switch to L
(driver's side) or R (passenger's
side).
3. Push the appropriate edge of the
adjustment switch to move the
mirror right, left, up or down.
4. When you finish, move the
selector switch to the center (off)
position. This turns off the
adjustment switch so you can't
move a mirror out of position by
accidentally bumping the switch.
Parking Brake
To apply the parking brake, pull the
lever up fully. To release it, pull up
slightly, push the button, and lower
the lever. The parking brake light on
the instrument panel should go out
when the parking brake is fully
released (see page 53).
Instruments and Controls
SELECTOR SWITCH
PARKING BRAKE LEVER
ADJUSTMENT SWITCH
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Parking Brake, Glove Box
Driving the vehicle with the parking
brake applied can damage the rear
brakes and axles.
Glove Box
Open the glove box by pulling the
handle. Close it with a firm push.
Instruments and Controls
GLOVE BOX
NOTICE
An open glove box can cause
serious injury to your passenger
in a crash, even if the
passenger is wearing the seat
belt.
Always keep the glove box
closed while driving.
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Beverage Holder
To open the beverage holder, push
on the top. The beverage holder lid
is spring-loaded and will swing open.
To close it, push it down until it
latches.
Use the beverage holder only when
the vehicle is parked. If you place
cups in the holder while driving, the
liquid may spill when you go over
bumps or around corners.
Be careful when you are using the
beverage holder. A spilled liquid that
is very hot can scald you or your
passengers. Spilled liquids can also
damage the upholstery, carpeting,
and electrical components in the
interior.
Instruments and Controls
Push
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Accessory Power Socket, Ashtrays
Accessory Power Socket
To use the accessory power socket,
pull down the cover. The ignition
switch must be in ACCESSORY (I)
or ON (II).
This socket is intended to supply
power for 12 volt DC accessories
that are rated 120 watts or less (10
amps).
It will not power an automotive type
cigarette lighter element.
Ashtrays
(Optional)
Front and rear ashtrays are available
as options. The front ashtray fits in
the beverage holder.
The rear ashtray fits in the rear of
the center armrest.
Open the rear ashtray by swinging
the upper edge down. To remove the
ashtray for emptying, open the
ashtray and then lift it up and out.
Use the ashtray only for cigarettes,
cigars, and other smoking materials.
To prevent a possible fire and damage
to your vehicle, don't put paper or
other things that can burn in the
ashtray.
Instruments and Controls
ACCESSORY POWER SOCKET
NOTICE
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Interior Light
(U.S.: EX)
The interior light has a three-
position switch. In the OFF position,
the light does not come on. In the
center position, the interior light
comes on when you open any door.
In the ON position, the interior light
stays on continuously.
(U.S.: DX, LX, Canada: LX, EX)
On vehicles with remote transmitter
The interior light (with the switch in
the center position) also comes on
when you unlock the door with the
remote transmitter (see page 70).
If you installed a non-Honda radio in
your vehicle, the interior light will no
longer work.
(U.S.: EX)
Turn on the spotlight by pushing the
button next to each light. Push the
button again to turn it off. You can
use the spotlights at all times.
Instruments and Controls
DOOR ACTIVATED
DOOR ACTIVATED
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Heating and Cooling
Proper use of the Heating and
Cooling system can make the
interior dry and comfortable, and
keep the windows clear for best
visibility.
If your vehicle does not have air
conditioning, it can be installed at
any time. Your dealer will install a
Genuine Honda air conditioning
system that meets Honda's high
quality standards and is designed to
exactly fit your vehicle. Please
contact your dealer for more
information.
What Each Control Does
Fan Control Lever
Sliding this lever to the right
increases the fan's speed, which
increases air flow.
Temperature Control Lever
Sliding this lever to the right
increases the temperature of the air
flow.
Air Conditioning (A/C) Button
This button turns the air condi-
tioning ON and OFF. The indicator
in the button lights when the A/C is
on.
Recirculation Button
This button controls the source of
the air going into the system. When
the indicator in this button is lit, air
from the vehicle's interior is sent
through the system again (Recircula-
tion mode). When the indicator is off,
air is brought in from outside the
vehicle (Fresh Air mode).
Comfort and Convenience Features
MODE BUTTONS
RECIRCULATION
BUTTON
AIR CONDITIONING
BUTTON
TEMPERATURE
CONTROL LEVER
FAN CONTROL
LEVER
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Heating and Cooling
Mode Buttons
Use the MODE buttons to select the
vents the air flows from. Some air
will flow from the dashboard corner
vents in all modes.
Air flows from the center
and corner vents in the dashboard.
Air flow is divided between
the vents in the dashboard and the
floor vents.
Air flows from the floor
vents.
Air flow is divided between
the floor vents and the defroster
vents at the base of the windshield.
Air flows from the defroster
vents at the base of the windshield.
When you select , the system
automatically switches to Fresh Air
mode and turns on the A/C.
Comfort and Convenience Features
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Heating and Cooling
You can adjust the direction of the
air coming from the dashboard vents
by moving the tab in the center of
each vent up-and-down and side-to-
side.
The vents in the corners of the
dashboard can be opened and closed
with the dials next to them.
How to Use the System
This section covers how to set up the
system controls for ventilation,
heating, cooling, dehumidifying, and
defrosting.
The engine must be running for the
heater and air conditioning to
generate hot and cold air. The heater
uses engine coolant to warm the air.
If the engine is cold, it will be several
minutes before you feel warm air
coming from the system.
The air conditioning does not rely on
engine temperature.
Comfort and Convenience Features
CENTER VENT
SIDE VENT
Vent Controls
Open
Close
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Heating and Cooling
It is best to leave the system in Fresh
Air mode under almost all conditions.
Keeping the system in Recirculation
mode, particularly with the A/C off,
can cause the windows to fog up.
Switch to Recirculation mode when
you are driving through smoky or
dusty conditions, then switch back to
Fresh Air mode when the condition
clears.
The outside air intakes for the
heating and cooling system are at
the base of the windshield. Keep
these clear of leaves and other
debris.
Ventilation
The flow-through ventilation system
draws in outside air, circulates it
through the interior, then exhausts it
through vents near the rear window.
1. Slide the temperature control lever
all the way to the left.
Make sure the A/C is off.
2. Select and Fresh Air mode.
3. Set the fan to the desired speed.
CONTINUED
Comfort and Convenience Features
TEMPERATURE
CONTROL LEVER
FAN CONTROL
LEVER
MODE BUTTONS
RECIRCULATION
BUTTON
AIR CONDITIONING
BUTTON
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Heating and Cooling
To Cool with A/C
1. Turn on the A/C by pressing the
button. The light in the button
should come on.
2. Make sure the temperature
control lever is all the way to the
left.
3. Select
4. If the outside air is humid, select
Recirculation mode. If the outside
air is dry, select Fresh Air mode.
5. Set the fan to the desired speed.
If the interior is very warm from
being parked in the sun, you can cool
it down more rapidly by setting up
the controls this way:
1. Start the engine.
2. Turn on the A/C by pressing the
button. Make sure the tempera-
ture control lever is all the way to
the left.
3. Set the fan to maximum speed.
4. Open the windows partially. Select
and Fresh Air mode.
When the interior has cooled down
to a more comfortable temperature,
close the windows and set the
controls as described for normal
cooling.
Air conditioning places an extra load
on the engine. Watch the engine
coolant temperature gauge (see page
56) when driving in stop-and-go
traffic or climbing a long, steep hill.
If it moves near the red zone, turn
off the A/C until the gauge reads
normally.
Comfort and Convenience Features
MODE BUTTONS
RECIRCULATION
BUTTON
AIR CONDITIONING
BUTTON
TEMPERATURE
CONTROL LEVER
FAN CONTROL
LEVER
Main Menu
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Heating and Cooling
To Heat
To warm the interior:
1. Start the engine.
2. Select and Fresh Air mode.
3. Set the fan to the desired speed.
4. Adjust the warmth of the air with
the temperature control lever.
To Heat and Dehumidify with Air
Conditioning
Air conditioning, as it cools, removes
moisture from the air. When used in
combination with the heater, it
makes the interior warm and dry.
1. Switch the fan on.
2. Turn on the air conditioning.
3. Select and Fresh Air mode.
4. Adjust the temperature control
lever so the mixture of heated and
cooled air feels comfortable.
This setting is suitable for all driving
conditions whenever the outside
temperature is above 32° F (0°C).
To Defog and Defrost
To remove fog from the inside of the
windows:
1. Switch the fan on.
2. Select
When you select , the
system automatically switches to
Fresh Air mode and turns on the
A/C.
3. Adjust the temperature control
lever so the air flow from the
defroster vents feels warm.
4. Turn on the rear window defogger
to help clear the rear window.
When you switch to another mode
from , the A/C stays on.
Press the A/C button to turn it off.
CONTINUED
Comfort and Convenience Features
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Heating and Cooling
To remove exterior frost or ice from
the windshield and side windows
after the vehicle has been sitting out
in cold weather:
1. Start the engine.
2. Select
When you select , the
system automatically switches to
Fresh Air mode and turns on the
A/C.
3. Switch the fan and temperature
controls to maximum.
To rapidly remove exterior frost or
ice from the windshield (on very cold
days), first select the Recirculation
mode. Once the windshield is clear,
select the Fresh Air mode to avoid
fogging the windows.
Comfort and Convenience Features
MODE BUTTONS
RECIRCULATION
BUTTON
AIR CONDITIONING
BUTTON
TEMPERATURE
CONTROL LEVER
FAN CONTROL
LEVER
Main Menu
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Heating and Cooling
These settings direct all the air flow
to the defroster vents at the base of
the windshield and the side window
defroster vents. The air flow will get
warmer and clear the windows faster
as the engine warms up. You can
close the side vents with the dial
beside each vent. This will send
more warm air to the windshield
defroster vents.
For safety, make sure you have a
clear view through all the windows
before driving away.
To Turn Everything Off
To shut off the system temporarily,
slide the fan speed and temperature
control levers all the way to the left.
You should shut the system
completely off only for the first few
minutes of driving in cold weather,
until the engine coolant warms up
enough to operate the heater. Keep
the fan on at all other times so stale
air does not build up in the interior.
Comfort and Convenience Features
Main Menu
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Audio System
AM/FM Stereo Audio System
Your Honda's audio system provides
clear reception on both AM and FM
bands, while the preset buttons allow
you to easily select your favorite
stations.
A cassette player, CD player or CD
changer is available as optional
equipment. The cassette player is
standard on the EX model in Canada.
Operating the Radio
The ignition switch must be in
ACCESSORY (I) or ON (II) to
operate the audio system. Turn the
system on by pressing the PWR/
VOL knob or the AM/FM button.
Adjust the volume by turning the
knob.
The band and frequency that the
radio was last tuned to is displayed.
To change bands, press the AM/FM
button. On the FM band, ST will be
displayed if the station is broadcast-
ing in stereo. Stereo reproduction on
AM is not available.
You can use any of three methods to
find radio stations on the selected
band: TUNE, SEEK, or the Preset
buttons.
TUNE
— Use the TUNE/SEEK bar
to tune
the radio to a desired
frequency. Press the right side ( )
to tune to a higher frequency, or the
left side ( ) to tune to a lower
frequency. The frequency numbers
will start to change rapidly. Release
the bar when the display reaches the
desired frequency. To change the
frequency in small increments, press
and release the TUNE/SEEK bar
quickly.
SEEK — The SEEK function
searches the band for a station with
a strong signal. To activate it, press
the TUNE/SEEK bar until you hear
a beep, then release it. Depending on
which side of the bar you press, the
system scans upward or downward
from the current frequency. It stops
when it finds a station with a strong
signal.
Preset — You can store the fre-
quencies of your favorite radio
stations in the six preset buttons.
Each button will store one frequency
on the AM band, and two on the FM
band.
Comfort and Convenience Features
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Audio System
To store a frequency:
1. Select the desired band, AM or
FM. FM1 and FM2 let you store
two frequencies with each Preset
button.
2. Use the TUNE or SEEK function
to tune the radio to a desired
station.
3. Pick the Preset button you want
for that station. Press the button
and hold it until you hear a beep.
4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 to store a total
of six stations on AM and twelve
on FM.
Once a station's frequency is stored,
simply press and release the proper
Preset button to tune to it.
The preset frequencies will be lost if
your vehicle's battery goes dead, is
disconnected or the radio fuse is
removed.
Comfort and Convenience Features
PWR/VOL KNOB STEREO INDICATOR AM/FM BUTTON
TUNE/SEEK BAR
PRESET BUTTONS
Main Menu
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Audio System
Adjusting the Sound
Bass, Treble, Balance, and Fader are
each adjustable. You select which of
these you want to adjust by pressing
the MODE button. The mode
changes from BAS to TRE to FAD to
BAL, and then back to VOL each
time you press the button. Each
mode is shown in the display as it
changes.
Balance/Fader — These two
modes adjust the strength of the
sound coming from each speaker.
BAL adjusts the side-to-side strength,
while FAD adjusts the front-to-back
strength.
Select BAL or FAD by pressing the
MODE button. Adjust the Balance or
Fader to your liking by turning the
PWR/VOL knob. The indicator bars
on the display show you the range.
Treble/Bass — Use these modes to
adjust the tone to your liking. Select
TRE or BAS by pressing the MODE
button. Adjust the desired mode by
turning the PWR/VOL knob. The
indicator bars on the display show
you the range.
As you adjust a mode, you will hear a
beep whenever the indicator bar
reaches the center, far left, and far
right of its range. The system will
automatically return the display to
normal mode about seven seconds
after you stop adjusting a mode with
the PWR/VOL knob.
Comfort and Convenience Features
PWR/VOL KNOB
MODE BUTTON
Main Menu
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Audio System
Radio Frequencies
Your Honda's radio can receive the
complete AM and FM bands.
Those bands cover these frequen-
cies:
AM band:
530 to 1,710 kilohertz
FM band:
87.7 to 107.9 megahertz
Radio stations on the AM band are
assigned frequencies at least ten
kilohertz apart (530, 540, 550).
Stations on the FM band are
assigned frequencies at least 0.2
megahertz apart (87.9, 88.1, 88.3).
Stations must use these exact
frequencies. It is fairly common for
stations to round-off the frequency in
their advertising, so your radio could
display a frequency of 100.9 even
though the announcer may identify
the station as "FM101."
Radio Reception
How well your Honda's radio
receives stations is dependent on
many factors, such as the distance
from the station's transmitter,
nearby large objects, and atmos-
pheric conditions.
A radio station's signal gets weaker
as you get farther away from its
transmitter. If you are listening to an
AM station, you will notice the sound
volume becoming weaker, and the
station drifting in and out. If you are
listening to an FM station, you will
see the stereo indicator flickering off
and on as the signal weakens.
Eventually, the stereo indicator will
go off and the sound will fade
completely as you get out of range of
the station's signal.
Driving very near the transmitter of
a station that is broadcasting on a
frequency close to the frequency of
the station you are listening to can
also affect your radio's reception.
You may temporarily hear both
stations, or hear only the station you
are close to.
CONTINUED
Comfort and Convenience Features
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Audio System
Radio signals, especially on the FM
band, are deflected by large objects
such as buildings and hills. Your
radio then receives both the direct
signal from the station's transmitter,
and the deflected signal. This causes
the sound to distort or flutter. This is
a main cause of poor radio reception
in city driving.
Radio reception can be affected by
atmospheric conditions such as
thunderstorms, high humidity, and
even sunspots. You may be able to
receive a distant radio station one
day and not receive it the next day
because of a change in conditions.
Electrical interference from passing
vehicles and stationary sources can
cause temporary reception problems.
Comfort and Convenience Features
Main Menu
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Audio System
Digital Clock
The audio system also displays the
time. The ignition switch must be in
ACCESSORY (I) or ON (II).
To set the time, press the CLOCK
button. The hour numbers will begin
blinking. Press the Preset 5 button to
get the numbers to count down, or
the Preset 6 button to get the hours
to count up.
Press the CLOCK button again, and
the minutes numbers will begin
blinking. Use the Preset 5 or Preset
6 button to change the minutes to
the correct value.
After you have set the clock, press
the CLOCK button again to return to
the normal display. If you do not, the
system will automatically return to
the normal display about seven
seconds after you stop pressing the
Preset buttons.
TIME DISPLAYED
Comfort and Convenience Features
PRESET 6 BUTTON
CLOCK BUTTON
PRESET 5 BUTTON
Main Menu
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Audio System
Operating the Cassette Player
Standard on EX model in Canada
The cassette system features Dolby
B* noise reduction, automatic
sensing of chromium-dioxide (CrO
2
)
tape, and autoreverse for continuous
play.
* Dolby noise reduction manufactured under
license from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corpo-
ration. "DOLBY" and the double-D symbol
are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories
Licensing Corporation.
Make sure the tape opening on the
cassette is facing to the right, then
insert the cassette most of the way
into the slot. The system will pull it
in the rest of the way, and begin to
play.
The tape direction indicator will light
to show you which side of the
cassette is playing. The indicates
the side you inserted facing upward
is now playing. If you want to play
the other side, press the PROG
button.
Dolby B noise reduction turns on
when you insert a cassette. If the
tape was not recorded with Dolby B
noise reduction, turn it off by
pressing the NR button.
When the system reaches the end of
the tape, it will automatically reverse
direction and play the other side. If
you want to remove the cassette
from the drive, press the EJECT
button.
If you turn the system off while a
tape is playing, either with the PWR/
VOL knob or by turning off the
ignition, the cassette will remain in
the drive. When you turn the system
back on, the tape will begin playing
where it left off.
To switch to the radio or optional CD
changer while listening to a tape,
press the AM/FM or CD/TAPE
button. To change back to the
cassette player, press the CD/TAPE
button.
Tape Search Functions
With a cassette playing, you can use
the FF, REW, TMS, or REPEAT
function to find a desired program.
FF/REW — Fast Forward and
Rewind move the tape rapidly. Press
and release the REW side of the
TUNE/SEEK bar to rewind the tape,
or the FF side to fast forward. Press
the PLAY button to take the system
out of rewind or fast forward. If the
system reaches the end of the tape
while in fast forward or rewind, it
automatically stops that function,
reverses direction, and begins to play.
Comfort and Convenience Features
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Audio System
TMS — The Tape Music Search
function allows you to find the
beginning of a song or passage. To
activate TMS, press FF or REW until
you hear a beep. You will see TMS
displayed. When the system reaches
the beginning of the next song or
passage (FF), or the beginning of
the song just played (REW), it goes
back to PLAY mode.
REPEAT — The Repeat function
continuously replays the current
song or passage. Press the RPT
button to activate it; you will see RPT
displayed as a reminder. When the
system reaches the end of the song
or passage currently playing, it will
automatically go into rewind. When
it senses the beginning of the same
song or passage, the system returns
to PLAY mode. It will continue to
repeat this same program until you
deactivate REPEAT by pressing the
button again.
PLAY
BUTTON
AM/FM
BUTTON
CD/TAPE
BUTTON
NR
BUTTON
CASSETTE
SLOT
The TMS and REPEAT functions
use silent periods on the tape to find
the end of a song or passage. These
features may not work to your
satisfaction if there is almost no gap
between selections, a high noise
level between selections, or a silent
period in the middle of a selection.
Comfort and Convenience Features
EJECT BUTTON
PROG
BUTTON
TAPE DIRECTION
INDICATOR
RPT
BUTTON
TUNE/SEEK
BAR
Main Menu
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Audio System
Caring for the Cassette Player
The cassette player picks up dirt and
oxides from the tape. This contami-
nation builds up over time and
causes the sound quality to degrade.
To prevent this, you should clean the
player after every 30 hours of use.
Your dealer has a cleaning kit
available.
If you do not clean the cassette
player regularly, it may eventually
become impossible to remove the
contamination with a normal
cleaning kit.
Use 100-minute or shorter cassettes.
Cassettes longer than that use
thinner tape that may break or jam
the drive.
Look at the cassette before you
insert it. If the tape is loose, tighten
it by turning a hub with a pencil or
your finger.
If the label is peeling off, remove it
from the cassette or it could cause
the cassette to jam in the player.
Never try to insert a warped or
damaged cassette in the player.
When they are not in use, store
cassettes in their cases to protect
them from dust and moisture. Never
place cassettes where they will be
exposed to direct sunlight, high heat,
or high humidity. If a cassette is
exposed to extreme heat or cold, let
it reach a moderate temperature
before inserting it in the player.
Never try to insert foreign objects
into the cassette player.
If you see the error indication
" " on the display, press the
EJECT button and remove the
cassette from the unit. Make sure
the tape is not damaged. If the
cassette will not eject or the error
indication stays on after the cassette
ejects, take the vehicle to your
Honda dealer.
If a problem develops in the connec-
tion between the cassette player and
the radio, you will see " " in
the display. Take the vehicle to your
Honda dealer.
Comfort and Convenience Features
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Audio System
Operating the Optional CD
Player/Changer
A Compact Disc changer is available
through your dealer. It holds up to
six discs, providing several hours of
continuous entertainment. You
operate the CD changer with the
same controls used for the radio.
Your dealer also has an accessory in-
dash single CD player available that
is operated by the radio controls. To
operate this unit, use the instructions
(except for those relating to multiple
discs) in this section.
To operate the CD player or changer,
the ignition must be in ACCESSORY
(I) or ON (II).
CD Player
Insert the disc into the CD slot. Push
the disc in halfway, the drive will pull
it in the rest of the way. Push the
CD/TAPE button and the disc will
start to play.
You will see the track number being
played in the display.
You can also play 3-inch (8-cm) discs
without using an adapter ring. In all
cases, play only standard round discs.
Odd-shaped CDs may jam in the
drive or cause other problems.
When the system reaches the end of
the disc, it will return to the begin-
ning and play that disc again.
CONTINUED
Comfort and Convenience Features
PWR/VOL KNOB
REPEAT INDICATOR
AM/FM BUTTON
TUNE/SEEK
BAR
RPT
BUTTON
PRESET BUTTONS
CD/TAPE
BUTTON
Main Menu
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Audio System
Press the EJECT button to remove
the disc from the player.
If you eject the disc, but do not
remove it from the slot, the system
will automatically reload the disc
after 15 seconds and put the CD
player in pause mode. To begin
playing the disc, press the CD button.
CD Changer
Using the instructions that came
with the changer, load the desired
CDs in the magazine, and load the
magazine in the changer. Play only
standard round discs. Odd-shaped
CDs may jam in the drive or cause
other problems.
Press the CD/TAPE button. You will
see "CD" in the display. The system
will start to play the first track of the
first disc. When that disc ends, the
next disc in the magazine is loaded
and played. After the last disc
finishes, the system returns to disc 1.
To select a different disc, press the
appropriate preset button (1-6). If
you select an empty slot in the
magazine, the changer will, after
finding that slot empty, try to load
the CD in the next slot. This
continues until it finds a CD to load
and play.
CD Player and Changer
You can use the TUNE/SEEK bar to
select tracks within a disc. If you
press and release the TUNE/SEEK
bar, the system will move to the
beginning of a track. Press the
side to move to the beginning
of the next track, and the side
to move to the beginning of the
current track.
If you press and hold the TUNE/
SEEK bar, you will hear a beep and
the system will continue to move
across tracks. Release the bar when
you think it has reached the desired
place on the disc.
REPEAT — When you activate the
Repeat feature by pressing the RPT
button, the system continuously
replays the current track. You will
see RPT in the display as a reminder.
Press the RPT button again to turn it
off.
To take the system out of CD mode,
press the AM/FM button or insert a
cassette in the player. If a tape is
already in the cassette player, press
the CD/TAPE button. When you
return to CD mode, play will contin-
ue at the same point that it left off.
If you turn the system off while a CD
is playing, either with the PWR/VOL
knob or the ignition switch, play will
continue at the same point when you
turn it back on.
Comfort and Convenience Features
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Audio System
Protecting Compact Discs
Handle a CD by its edges; never
touch either surface. Contamination
from fingerprints, liquids, felt-tip
pens, and labels can cause the CD to
not play properly, or possibly jam in
the drive.
When a CD is not being played, store
it in its case to protect it from dust
and other contamination. To prevent
warpage, keep CDs out of direct
sunlight and extreme heat.
To clean a disc, use a clean soft cloth.
Wipe across the disc from the center
to the outside edge.
A new CD may be rough on the
inner and outer edges. The small
plastic pieces causing this roughness
can flake off and fall on the re-
cording surface of the disc, causing
skipping or other problems. Remove
these pieces by rubbing the inner
and outer edges with the side of a
pencil or pen.
Never try to insert foreign objects in
the CD player or the magazine.
Comfort and Convenience Features
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Audio System
CD Changer Error Indications
If you see an error indication in the
display while operating the CD
changer, find the cause in the chart
to the right. If you cannot clear the
error indication, take the vehicle to
your Honda dealer.
Comfort and Convenience Features
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Break-in Period, Gasoline
Break-in Period
Help assure your vehicle's future
reliability and performance by paying
extra attention to how you drive
during the first 600 miles (1,000 km).
During this period:
Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid
acceleration.
Avoid hard braking. New brakes
need to be broken-in by moderate
use for the first 200 miles (300
km).
You should follow these same re-
commendations with an overhauled
or exchanged engine, or when the
brakes are relined.
Gasoline
Your Honda is designed to operate
on unleaded gasoline with a pump
octane number of 86 or higher. Use
of a lower octane gasoline can cause
a persistent, heavy metallic rapping
noise in the engine that can lead to
mechanical damage.
We recommend gasolines containing
detergent additives that help prevent
fuel system and engine deposits.
Using gasoline containing lead will
damage your vehicle's emission
controls. This contributes to air
pollution.
In Canada, some gasolines contain
an octane-enhancing additive called
MMT. If you use such gasolines,
your emission control system
performance may deteriorate and
the Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
your instrument panel may turn on.
If this happens, contact your
authorized Honda dealer for service.
Before Driving
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Service Station Procedures
Filling the Fuel Tank
1. Because the fuel fill cap is on the
driver's side of the vehicle, park
with that side closest to the
service station pumps.
2. Open the fuel fill door by pulling
on the handle to the left of the
driver's seat.
3. Remove the fuel fill cap slowly.
You may hear a hissing sound as
pressure inside the tank escapes.
4. Stop filling the tank after the fuel
pump automatically clicks off. Do
not try to "top off" the tank, leave
some room for the fuel to expand
with temperature changes.
5. Screw the fuel fill cap back on,
tighten it until it clicks. If you do
not properly tighten the cap, the
Malfunction Indicator Lamp may
come on (see page 215).
6. Push the fuel fill door closed until
it latches.
Before Driving
FUEL FILL CAP
Gasoline is highly flammable
and explosive. You can be
burned or seriously injured
when handling fuel.
Stop the engine and keep
heat, sparks, and flame away.
Handle fuel only outdoors.
Wipe up spills immediately.
Main Menu
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Service Station Procedures
Opening the Hood
Before Driving
2. Standing in front of the vehicle,
put your fingers under the front
edge of the hood to the right of
center. Slide your hand to the left
until you feel the hood latch
handle. Push this handle to the left
until it releases the hood. Lift the
hood.
3. Pull the support rod out of its clip
and insert the end into the hole on
the left side of the hood.
To close the hood, lift it up slightly to
remove the support rod from the
hole. Put the support rod back into
its holding clip. Lower the hood to
about a foot (30 cm) above the
fender, then let it drop.
After closing the hood, make sure it
is securely latched.
1. Shift to Park or Neutral and set
the parking brake. Pull the hood
release handle located under the
lower left corner of the dashboard.
The hood will pop up slightly.
HOOD
RELEASE
HANDLE
SUPPORT ROD
CLIP
LATCH
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Service Station Procedures
Oil Check
Check the engine oil level every time
you fill the vehicle with fuel. Wait a
few minutes after turning the engine
off before you check the oil.
1. Remove the dipstick (orange
handle).
2. Wipe the dipstick with a clean
cloth or paper towel.
3. Insert it all the way back in its tube.
CONTINUED
Before Driving
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Service Station Procedures
4. Remove the dipstick again and
check the level. It should be
between the upper and lower
marks.
If it is near or below the lower mark,
see Adding Oil on page 151.
Engine Coolant Check
Look at the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. Make sure it is
between the MAX and MIN lines. If
it is below the MIN line, see Adding
Engine Coolant on page 155 for
information on adding the proper
coolant.
Refer to Owner Maintenance
Cheeks on page 149 for information
on checking other items in your
Honda.
Before Driving
UPPER MARK
LOWER MARK
MAX
MIN
RESERVE
TANK
Main Menu
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Fuel Economy
The condition of your vehicle and
your driving habits are the two most
important things that affect the fuel
mileage you get.
Vehicle Condition
Always maintain your vehicle accord-
ing to the maintenance schedule.
This will keep it in top operating
condition.
An important part of that mainte-
nance is the Owner Maintenance
Checks (see page 149). For
example, an underinflated tire
causes more "rolling resistance,"
which uses fuel. It also wears out
faster, so check the tire pressure at
least monthly.
In winter, the build-up of snow on
your vehicle's underside adds weight
and rolling resistance. Frequent
cleaning helps your fuel mileage and
reduces the chance of corrosion.
Driving Habits
You can improve fuel economy by
driving moderately. Rapid acceler-
ation, abrupt cornering, and hard
braking use more fuel.
Always drive in the highest gear that
allows the engine to run and acceler-
ate smoothly.
Depending on traffic conditions, try
to maintain a constant speed. Every
time you slow down and speed up,
your vehicle uses extra fuel. Use the
cruise control, when appropriate, to
increase fuel economy.
A cold engine uses more fuel than a
warm engine. It is not necessary to
"warm-up" a cold engine by letting it
idle for a long time. You can drive
away in about a minute, no matter
how cold it is outside. The engine
will warm up faster, and you get
better fuel economy. To cut down on
the number of "cold starts," try to
combine several short trips into one.
The air conditioning puts an extra
load on the engine which makes it
use more fuel. Turn off the A/C to
cut down on air conditioning use.
Use the flow-through ventilation
when the outside air temperature is
moderate.
Before Driving
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Accessories and Modifications
Modifying your vehicle, or installing
some non-Honda accessories, can
make your vehicle unsafe. Before
you make any modifications or add
any accessories, be sure to read the
following information.
Accessories
Your dealer has Genuine Honda
accessories that allow you to
personalize your vehicle. These
accessories have been designed and
approved for your vehicle, and are
covered by warranty.
Non-Honda accessories are usually
designed for universal applications.
Although aftermarket accessories
may fit on your vehicle, they may not
meet factory specifications, and
could adversely affect your vehicle's
handling and stability. (See
"Modifications" on page 115 for
additional information.)
When properly installed, car phones,
alarms, two-way radios, and low-
powered audio systems should not
interfere with your vehicle's
computer-controlled systems, such
as the SRS and anti-lock brake
system.
However, if electronic accessories
are improperly installed, or exceed
your vehicle's electrical system
capacity, they can interfere with the
operation of your vehicle, or even
cause the airbags to deploy.
Before installing any accessory:
Make sure the accessory does not
obscure any lights, or interfere
with proper vehicle operation or
performance.
Be sure electronic accessories do
not overload electrical circuits
(see page 218).
Have the installer contact your
Honda dealer for assistance before
installing any electronic accessory.
If possible, have your dealer inspect
the final installation.
Before Driving
Improper accessories or
modifications can affect your
vehicle's handling, stability and
performance, and cause a
crash in which you can be hurt
or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner's manual regarding
accessories and modifications.
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Accessories and Modifications
Modifications
Do not remove any original
equipment or modify your vehicle in
any way that would alter its design or
operation. This could make your
vehicle unsafe and illegal to drive.
For example, do not make any
modifications that would change the
ride height of your vehicle, or install
wheels and tires with a different
overall diameter.
Such modifications can adversely
affect handling, and interfere with
the operation of the vehicle's anti-
lock brakes and other systems.
In addition, any modifications that
decrease ground clearance increase
the chance of undercarriage parts
striking a curb, speed bump, or other
raised object, which could cause
your airbags to deploy.
Do not modify your steering wheel
or any other part of your
Supplemental Restraint System.
Modifications could make the
system ineffective.
Additional Safety Precaution
Do not attach or place objects on the
airbag covers. Any object attached to
or placed on the covers marked "SRS,"
in the center of the steering wheel
and on top of the dashboard, could
interfere with the proper operation
of the airbags. Or, if the airbags
inflate, the objects could be
propelled inside the vehicle and hurt
someone.
Before Driving
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Carrying Cargo
Your vehicle has several convenient
storage areas so you can stow cargo
safely.
The glove box, and the pockets in
the front doors and seat-backs, are
designed for small, lightweight items.
The trunk is intended for larger,
heavier items. In addition, the back
seat can be folded down to allow you
to carry more cargo or longer items.
However, carrying too much cargo,
or improperly storing it, can affect
your vehicle's handling, stability and
operation and make it unsafe. Before
carrying any type of cargo, be sure to
read the following pages.
Before Driving
FRONT DOOR POCKET
SEAT-BACK POCKET
GLOVE BOX
TRUNK
CONSOLE COMPARTMENT
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Carrying Cargo
Load Limit
The maximum load for your vehicle
is
850
Ib
(395 kg).
This figure includes the total weight
of all occupants, cargo and
accessories.
To figure out how much cargo you
can carry:
Add up the weight of all occupants.
Subtract the total from 850 Ib (395
kg).
The final number is the total weight
of cargo you can carry.
Carrying Items in the Passenger
Compartment
Store or secure all items that could
be thrown around and hurt
someone during a crash.
Do not put any items on top of the
rear shelf. They can block your
view and be thrown around the
vehicle during a crash.
Be sure items placed on the floor
behind the front seats cannot roll
under the seats and interfere with
the driver's ability to operate the
pedals, or with the proper
operation of the seats.
Keep the glove box closed while
driving. If the lid is open, a
passenger could injure their knees
during a crash or sudden stop.
Before Driving
Overloading or improper
loading can affect handling and
stability and cause a crash in
which you can be hurt or killed.
Follow all load limits and other
loading guidelines in this
manual.
Main Menu
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Carrying Cargo
Carrying Cargo in the Trunk or on
a Roof Rack
Distribute cargo evenly on the
floor of the trunk, placing the
heaviest items on the bottom and
as far forward as possible.
If you fold down the back seat, tie
down items that could be thrown
about the vehicle during a crash or
sudden stop.
If you carry large items that
prevent you from closing the
hatch, exhaust gas can enter the
passenger area. To avoid the
possibility of carbon monoxide
poisoning, follow the instructions
on page 47.
If you can carry any items on a
roof rack, be sure the total weight
of the rack and the items does not
exceed the maximum allowable
weight. Please contact your Honda
dealer.
Before Driving
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Preparing to Drive
You should do the following checks
and adjustments every day before
you drive your vehicle.
1. Make sure all windows, mirrors,
and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove frost, snow,
or ice.
2. Check that the hood and trunk are
fully closed.
3. Visually check the tires. If a tire
looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure.
4. Check that any items you may be
carrying with you inside are stored
properly or fastened down
securely.
5. Check the adjustment of the seat
(see page 74).
6. Check the adjustment of the
inside and outside mirrors (see
page 79).
7. Check the adjustment of the
steering wheel (see page 63).
8. Make sure the doors are securely
closed and locked.
9. Fasten your seat belt. Check that
your passengers have fastened
their seat belts (see page 13).
10.Turn the ignition switch ON (II).
Check the indicator lights in the
instrument panel.
11.Start the engine (see page 121).
12. Check the gauges and indicator
lights in the instrument panel (see
page 51).
Driving
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Starting the Engine
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. In cold weather, turn off all
electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery.
3. Manual Transmission:
Push the clutch pedal down all the
way. START (III) does not
function unless the clutch pedal is
depressed.
Automatic Transmission:
Make sure the shift lever is in
Park. Press on the brake pedal.
4. Without touching the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition key to the
START (III) position. If the engine
does not start right away, do not
hold the key in START (III) for
more than 15 seconds at a time.
Pause for at least 10 seconds
before trying again.
5. If the engine does not start within
15 seconds, or starts but stalls
right away, repeat step 4 with the
accelerator pedal pressed half-way
down. If the engine starts, release
pressure on the accelerator pedal
so the engine does not race.
6. If the engine still does not start,
press the accelerator pedal all the
way down and hold it there while
starting in order to clear flooding.
As before, keep the ignition key in
the START (III) position for no
more than 15 seconds. Return to
step 5 if the engine does not start.
If it starts, lift your foot off the
accelerator pedal so the engine
does not race.
Starting in Cold Weather at High
Altitude (Above 8,000 feet/
2,400 meters)
An engine is harder to start in cold
weather. The thinner air found at
high altitude above 8,000 feet (2,400
meters) adds to the problem.
Use the following procedure:
1. Turn off all electrical accessories
to reduce the drain on the battery.
2. Push the accelerator pedal half-
way to the floor and hold it there
while starting the engine. Do not
hold the ignition key in START
(III) for more than 15 seconds.
When the engine starts, release
the accelerator pedal gradually as
the engine speeds up and smooths
out.
3. If the engine fails to start in step 2,
push the accelerator pedal to the
floor and hold it there while you
try to start the engine for no more
than 15 seconds. If the engine
does not start, return to step 2.
Driving
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5-speed Manual Transmission
The manual transmission is syn-
chronized in all forward gears for
smooth operation. It has a lockout so
you cannot shift directly from Fifth
to Reverse. When shifting up or
down, make sure you push the clutch
pedal down all the way, shift to the
next gear, and let the pedal up
gradually. When you are not shifting,
do not rest your foot on the clutch
pedal. This can cause your clutch to
wear out faster.
Come to a full stop before you shift
into Reverse. You can damage the
transmission by trying to shift into
Reverse with the car moving. Push
down the clutch pedal, and pause for
a few seconds before shifting into
Reverse, or shift into one of the
forward gears for a moment. This
stops the gears so they won't "grind".
When slowing down, you can get
extra braking from the engine by
shifting to a lower gear. This extra
braking can help you maintain a safe
speed and prevent your brakes from
overheating while going down a
steep hill. Before downshifting,
make sure engine speed will not go
into the tachometer's red zone in the
lower gear. Refer to the Maximum
Allowable Speeds chart.
Recommended Shift Points
Drive in the highest gear that lets
the engine run and accelerate
smoothly. This will give you the best
fuel economy and effective emis-
sions control. The following shift
points are recommended:
Driving
Rapid slowing or speeding-up
can cause loss of control on
slippery surfaces. If you crash,
you can be injured.
Use extra care when driving on
slippery surfaces.
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5-speed Manual Transmission
Maximum Speeds
The speeds in this table are the
maximums for the given gears. If
you exceed these speeds, the engine
speed will enter into the
tachometer's red zone. If this
occurs, you may feel the engine cut
in and out. This is caused by a
limiter in the engine's computer
controls. The engine will run
normally when you reduce the
RPM below the red zone.
Before downshifting, make sure the
vehicle will not exceed the
maximum speed in the chart in the
lower gear.
(U.S.: DX, LX, Canada: LX, EX)
(U.S.: EX)
Driving
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Automatic Transmission
Your Honda's transmission has four
forward speeds, and is electronically
controlled for smoother shifting. It
also has a "lock-up" torque converter
for better fuel economy. You may
feel what seems like another shift
when the converter locks.
Shift Lever Position Indicator
This indicator on the instrument
panel shows which position the shift
lever is in.
The "D
4
" indicator comes on for a
few seconds when you turn the
ignition switch ON (II). If it flashes
while driving (in any shift position),
it indicates a possible problem in the
transmission. Avoid rapid acceler-
ation and have the transmission
checked by an authorized Honda
dealer as soon as possible.
Driving
UNLEADED
FUEL ONLY
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Automatic Transmission
Shift Lever Positions
The shift lever has six positions. It
must be in Park or Neutral to start
the engine. When you are stopped in
D
4
, D
3
, 2, N or R, press firmly on the
brake pedal, and keep your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
Park (P) — This position mechani-
cally locks the transmission. Use
Park whenever you are turning off or
starting the engine. To shift out of
Park, you must press on the brake
pedal and have your foot off the
accelerator pedal. Press the release
button on the side of the shift lever
to move it.
CONTINUED
Driving
SHIFT LEVER
Main Menu
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Automatic Transmission
If you have done all of the above and
still cannot move the lever out of
Park, see Shift Lock Release on page
128.
You must also press the release
button to shift into Park. To avoid
transmission damage, come to a
complete stop before shifting into
Park. The shift lever must be in Park
before you can remove the key from
the ignition switch.
Reverse (R) — To shift to Reverse
from Park, see the explanation under
Park. To shift to Reverse from
Neutral, come to a complete stop and
then shift. Press the release button
before shifting into Reverse from
Neutral.
Neutral (N) — Use Neutral if you
need to restart a stalled engine, or if
it is necessary to stop briefly with
the engine idling. Shift to Park posi-
tion if you need to leave the vehicle
for any reason. Press on the brake pe-
dal when you are moving the shift
lever from Neutral to another gear.
Drive (D4) — Use this position for
your normal driving. The transmis-
sion automatically selects a suitable
gear for your speed and acceleration.
You may notice the transmission
shifting up at higher speeds when
the engine is cold. This helps the
engine warm up faster.
Drive (D
3
) —This position is similar
to D4, except only the first three
gears are selected. Use D
3
to provide
engine braking when going down a
steep hill. D
3
can also keep the
transmission from cycling between
third and fourth gears in stop-and-go
driving.
For faster acceleration when in D
3
or
D4, you can get the transmission to
automatically downshift by pushing
the accelerator pedal to the floor.
The transmission will shift down one
or two gears, depending on your
speed.
Driving
Main Menu
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Automatic Transmission
Second (2) — To shift to Second,
press the release button on the side
of the shift lever. This position locks
the transmission in second gear. It
does not downshift to first gear
when you come to a stop. Second
gives you more power when climbing,
and increased engine braking when
going down steep hills. Use second
gear when starting out on a slippery
surface or in deep snow. It will help
reduce wheelspin.
Maximum Speeds
The speeds in this table are the
maximums for the given position. If
you exceed these speeds, the engine
speed will enter into the
tachometer's red zone. If this
occurs, you will feel the engine cut
in and out. This is caused by a
limiter in the engine's computer
controls. The engine will run
normally when you reduce the
RPM below the red zone.
(U.S.: DX, LX, Canada: LX, EX)
(U.S.: EX)
Driving
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Automatic Transmission
Shift Lock Release
This allows you to move the shift
lever out of Park if the normal
method of pushing on the brake
pedal and pressing the release
button does not work.
1. Set the Parking brake.
2. Remove the key from the ignition
switch.
3. Insert the key in the Shift Lock
Release slot next to the shift lever.
4. Push down on the key while you
press the release button and move
the shift lever out of Park to
Neutral.
5. Remove the key from the Shift
Lock Release slot. Depress the
brake pedal and restart the engine.
If you need to use the Shift Lock
Release, it means your vehicle is
developing a problem. Have the
vehicle checked by your Honda
dealer.
Driving
RELEASE BUTTON
SHIFT LOCK
RELEASE SLOT
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Parking
Always use the parking brake when
you park your vehicle. The indicator
on the instrument panel shows that
the parking brake is not fully
released; it does not indicate that the
parking brake is firmly set. Make
sure the parking brake is set firmly
or your vehicle may roll if it is
parked on an incline.
If your vehicle has an automatic
transmission, set the parking brake
before you put the transmission in
Park. This keeps the vehicle from
moving and putting pressure on the
parking mechanism in the
transmission — making it easier to
move the shift lever out of Park
when you want to drive away.
If the vehicle is facing uphill, turn
the front wheels away from the curb.
If you have a manual transmission,
put it in first gear.
If the vehicle is facing downhill, turn
the front wheels toward the curb. If
you have a manual transmission, put
it in reverse gear.
Make sure the parking brake is fully
released before driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or damage
the rear brakes.
Parking Tips
Make sure the moonroof and the
windows are closed.
Turn off the lights.
Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the trunk or take them with you.
Lock the doors with the key or the
remote transmitter.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other flammable
materials. The three way catalytic
converter gets very hot, and could
cause these materials to catch on
fire.
Driving
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The Braking System
All Civics are equipped with front
disc brakes. The brakes on the rear
wheels are drum. A power assist
helps reduce the effort needed on
the brake pedal.
Put your foot on the brake pedal only
when you intend to brake. Resting
your foot on the pedal keeps the
brakes applied lightly, causing them
to build up heat. Heat build-up can
reduce how well your brakes work. It
also keeps your brake lights on all
the time, confusing drivers behind
you.
Constant application of the brakes
when going down a long hill builds
up heat and reduces their effective-
ness. Use the engine to assist the
brakes by downshifting to a lower
gear and taking your foot off the
accelerator pedal.
Check your brakes after driving
through deep water. Apply the
brakes moderately to see if they feel
normal. If not, apply them gently and
frequently until they do. Since a
longer distance is needed to stop
with wet brakes, be extra cautious
and alert in your driving.
Brake Wear Indicators
The front disc brakes on all vehicles
have audible brake wear indicators.
When the brake pads need replacing,
you will hear a distinctive metallic
"screeching" sound when you apply
the brakes. If you do not have the
brake pads replaced, they will begin
screeching all the time.
Your brakes may sometimes squeal
or squeak when you apply them
lightly. Do not confuse this with the
brake wear indicators. They make a
very audible "screeching".
Driving
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The Braking System
Brake System Design
The hydraulic system that operates
the brakes has two separate circuits.
Each circuit works diagonally across
the vehicle (the left-front brake is
connected with the right-rear brake,
etc.). If one circuit should develop a
problem, you will still have braking
at two wheels.
Anti-lock Brakes
The U.S. EX model has an Anti-lock
Brake System (ABS) as standard
equipment. It is optional on all
Canadian models.
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) helps
to prevent the wheels from locking
up and skidding during hard braking,
allowing you to retain steering
control.
When the front tires skid, you lose
steering control; the vehicle
continues straight ahead even
though you turn the steering wheel.
The ABS helps to prevent lock-up
and helps you retain steering control
by pumping the brakes rapidly; much
faster than a person can do it.
You should never pump the
brake pedal, this defeats the
purpose of the ABS. Let the ABS
work for you by always keeping firm,
steady pressure on the brake pedal
as you steer away from the hazard.
This is sometimes referred to as
"stomp and steer."
You will feel a pulsation in the brake
pedal when the ABS activates, and
you may hear some noise. This is
normal, it is the ABS rapidly
pumping the brakes.
Activation varies with the amount of
traction your tires have. On dry
pavement, you will need to press on
the brake pedal very hard before you
activate the ABS. However, you may
feel the ABS activate immediately if
you are trying to stop on snow or ice.
CONTINUED
Driving
Front
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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The Braking System
Important Safety Reminders
ABS does not reduce the time or
distance it takes to stop the
vehicle, it only helps with steering
control during braking. You should
always maintain a safe following
distance from other vehicles.
ABS will not prevent a skid that
results from changing direction
abruptly, such as trying to take a
corner too fast or making a sudden
lane change. Always drive at a safe,
prudent speed for the road and
weather conditions.
ABS cannot prevent a loss of
stability. Always steer moderately
when you are braking hard. Severe
or sharp steering wheel movement
can still cause your vehicle to veer
into oncoming traffic or off the road.
A vehicle with ABS may require a
longer distance to stop on loose or
uneven surfaces, such as gravel or
snow, than a vehicle without anti-
lock. Slow down and allow a greater
distance between vehicles under
those conditions.
ABS Indicator
The ABS is self-checking. It also
checks itself whenever you use the
brakes.
Driving
ABS INDICATOR*
* U.S. indicator shown
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The Braking System
Driving
If anything goes wrong, the ABS
indicator on the instrument panel
comes on (see page 53). This means
the anti-lock function of the braking
system has shut down. The brakes
still work like a conventional system
without anti-lock, providing normal
stopping ability. You should have the
dealer inspect your vehicle as soon
as possible if this light stays on after
you start the engine, or comes on
while driving.
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Driving in Bad Weather
Rain, fog, and snow conditions re-
quire a different driving technique
because of reduced traction and
visibility. Keep your vehicle well-
maintained and exercise greater
caution when you need to drive in
bad weather. The cruise control
should not be used in these condi-
tions.
Driving Technique — Always drive
slower than you would in dry
weather. It takes your vehicle longer
to react, even in conditions that may
seem just barely damp. Apply
smooth, even pressure to all the
controls. Abrupt steering wheel
movements or sudden, hard appli-
cation of the brakes can cause loss of
control in wet weather. Be extra
cautious for the first few miles
(kilometers) of driving while you
adjust to the change in driving
conditions. This is especially true in
snow. A person can forget some
snow-driving techniques during the
summer months. Practice is needed
to relearn those skills.
Exercise extra caution when driving
in rain after a long dry spell. After
months of dry weather, the first
rains bring oil to the surface of the
roadway, making it slippery.
Visibility — Being able to see
clearly in all directions and being
visible to other drivers are important
in all weather conditions. This is
more difficult in bad weather. To be
seen more clearly during daylight
hours, turn on your headlights.
Inspect your windshield wipers and
washers frequently. Keep the wind-
shield washer reservoir full of the
proper fluid. Have the windshield
wiper blades replaced if they start to
streak the windshield or leave parts
unwiped. Use the defrosters and air
conditioning to keep the windows
from fogging up on the inside (see
page 91).
Driving
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Driving in Bad Weather, Towing a Trailer
Traction — Check your tires
frequently for wear and proper
pressure. Both are important in
preventing "hydroplaning" (loss of
traction on a wet surface). In the
winter, mount snow tires on all four
wheels for the best handling.
Watch road conditions carefully,
they can change from moment to
moment. Wet leaves can be as slip-
pery as ice. "Clear" roads can have
patches of ice. Driving conditions
can be very hazardous when the
outside temperature is near freezing.
The road surface can become
covered with areas of water puddles
mixed with areas of ice, so your
traction can change without warning.
Be careful when downshifting. If
traction is low, you can lock up the
drive wheels for a moment and cause
a skid.
Be very cautious when passing, or
being passed by other vehicles. The
spray from large vehicles reduces
your visibility, and the wind buffeting
can cause you to lose control.
Towing a Trailer
Your vehicle is not designed to tow a
trailer. Attempting to do so can void
your warranties.
Driving
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Maintenance Safety
Regularly maintaining your vehicle is
the best way to protect your
investment. Proper maintenance is
essential to your safety and the
safety of your passengers. It will also
reward you with more economical,
trouble-free driving and help reduce
air pollution.
This section includes instructions for
simple maintenance tasks, such as
checking and adding oil. Any service
items not detailed in this section
should be performed by a Honda
technician or other qualified
mechanic.
Some of the most important safety
precautions are given here. However,
we cannot warn you of every
conceivable hazard that can arise in
performing maintenance. Only you
can decide whether or not you
should perform a given task.
Maintenance
Improperly maintaining this
vehicle or failing to correct a
problem before driving can
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the inspection
and maintenance
recommendations and
schedules in this owner's
manual.
Failure to properly follow
maintenance instructions and
precautions can cause you to
be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the procedures
and precautions in this owner's
manual.
Main Menu
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Maintenance Safety
Important Safety Precautions
Before you begin any maintenance,
make sure your vehicle is parked on
level ground and that the parking
brake is set. Also, be sure the engine
is off. This will help to eliminate
several potential hazards:
Carbon monoxide poisoning
from engine exhaust. Be sure
there is adequate ventilation
whenever you operate the engine.
Burns from hot parts. Let the
engine and exhaust system cool
before touching any parts.
Injury from moving parts. Do
not run the engine unless in-
structed to do so.
Read the instructions before you
begin, and make sure you have the
tools and skills required.
To reduce the possibility of fire or
explosion, be careful when working
around gasoline or batteries. Use a
nonflammable solvent, not gasoline,
to clean parts. Keep cigarettes,
sparks, and flames away from the
battery and all fuel-related parts.
You should wear eye protection and
protective clothing when working
near the battery or when using
compressed air.
Maintenance
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Maintenance Schedule
The Maintenance Schedule specifies
how often you should have your
vehicle serviced and what things
need attention. It is essential that
you have your vehicle serviced as
scheduled to retain its high level of
safety, dependability, and emissions
control performance.
The services and time or distance
intervals shown in the maintenance
schedule assume you will use your
vehicle as normal transportation for
passengers and their possessions.
You should also follow these
recommendations:
Avoid exceeding your vehicle's
load limit. This puts excess stress
on the engine, brakes, and many
other parts of your vehicle. The
load limit is shown on the label on
the driver's doorjamb.
Operate your vehicle on
reasonable roads within the legal
speed limit.
Drive your vehicle regularly over a
distance of several miles
(kilometers).
Always use unleaded gasoline with
the proper octane rating (see page
108).
Which Schedule to Follow:
Service your vehicle according to the
time and mileage periods on one of
the Maintenance Schedules on the
following pages. Select the schedule
for "Severe Conditions" if most of
your driving is done under one or
more of the conditions listed on that
page. Otherwise, follow the schedule
for "Normal Conditions."
Maintenance
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Maintenance Schedule
Your authorized Honda dealer
knows your vehicle best and can
provide competent, efficient service.
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. Keep all the
receipts as proof of completion, and
have the person who does the work
fill out the Maintenance Record.
Check your warranty booklet for
more information.
We recommend the use of Genuine
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 emission 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 marked
with # will not void your emissions
warranties. However, Honda
recommends that all maintenance
services be performed at the
recommended time or mileage
period to ensure long-term reliability.
Maintenance
Main Menu
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Maintenance Schedule (Normal Conditions)
Follow the Normal Maintenance
Schedule if the severe driving
conditions specified in the
Severe Conditions Maintenance
Schedule do not apply.
NOTE: If you only
OCCASIONALLY drive under a
"severe" condition, you should
follow the Normal Conditions
Maintenance Schedule.
Maintenance
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Maintenance Schedule for Normal Conditions (listed by distance/time)
Service at the indicated distance or time, whichever comes first. Do the items in
A, B, C
as required for each distance/time interval. Follow this
schedule if the severe driving conditions described in the Severe Conditions Schedule on the next page do not apply.
Canadian owners: follow the schedule for Severe Conditions.
Maintenance
# : See info on maintenance and emissions warranty, last column,
page 141.
* : See Timing Belt on page 174 to determine need for replacement.
page
178).
Main Menu
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Maintenance Schedule (Severe Conditions)
Follow the Severe Maintenance
Schedule if you drive your
vehicle MAINLY under one or
more of the following condi-
tions:
Driving less than 5 miles (8
km) per trip or, in freezing
temperatures, driving less
than 10 miles (16 km) per trip.
Driving in hot [over 90° F
(32° C)] conditions.
Extensive idling or long
periods of stop-and-go driving.
Driving with a vehicle-top
carrier, or driving in
mountainous conditions.
Driving on muddy, dusty, or
de-iced roads.
For Canadian Owners
Follow the Maintenance
Schedule for Severe Conditions.
*: Refer to page 174 for replacement information under special driving conditions.
Maintenance
Main Menu
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Maintenance Schedule for Severe Conditions (listed by distance/time)
Use this schedule if your vehicle is MAINLY driven in any of the following Severe Conditions, or normally driven in Canada; otherwise use the Normal
Schedule. Service at the indicated distance or time, whichever comes first. Do the items in
A, B, C
as required for each distance/time.
CONTINUED
Maintenance
pag
e
178).
Main Menu
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Maintenance Schedule for Severe Conditions (listed by distance/time)
Maintenance
# : See info on maintenance and emissions warranty, last column,
page 141.
*
: See Timing Belt on page 174 to determine need for replacement.
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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▼
Required Maintenance Record (for Normal and Severe Schedules)
You or the servcing dealer can record all completed maintenance here, whether you follow the schedule for normal conditions (page 142) or severe
conditions (page 144). Keep the receipts for all work done on your vehicle.
CONTINUED
Maintenance
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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▼
Required Maintenance Record (for Normal and Severe Schedules)
Maintenance
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Owner 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 page given.
Engine oil level — Check every
time you fill the fuel tank. See
page 111.
Engine coolant level — Check the
radiator reserve tank every time
you fill the fuel tank. See page 112.
Windshield washer fluid — Check
the level in the reservoir monthly.
If weather conditions cause you to
use the washers frequently, check
the reservoir each time you stop
for fuel. See page 160.
Tires — Check the tire pressure
monthly. Examine the tread for
wear and foreign objects. See page
175.
Lights — Check the operation of
the headlights, parking lights,
taillights, high-mount brake light,
turn signals, brake lights, and
license plate lights monthly. See
page 182.
Maintenance
Main Menu
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Fluid Locations
AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
FLUID DIPSTICK
(Yellow loop)
COOLANT
RESERVOIR
BRAKE FLUID
(Gray cap)
CLUTCH FLUID
(5-speed Manual
Transmission only)
(Gray cap)
ENGINE OIL
FILL CAP
POWER STEERING
FLUID (Red cap)
WASHER FLUID
(Blue cap)
ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK
(Orange loop)
Maintenance
Main Menu
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Engine Oil
Adding Oil
To add oil, unscrew and remove the
engine oil fill cap on top of the valve
cover. Pour in the oil, and replace the
engine oil fill cap. Tighten it securely.
Wait a few minutes and recheck the
oil level. Do not fill above the upper
mark; you could damage the engine.
Recommended Oil
Oil is a major contributor to your
engine's performance and longevity.
Always use a premium-grade deter-
gent oil.
You can determine an oil's SAE
viscosity and Service Classification
from the API Service label on the oil
container.
A fuel-efficient oil is recommended
for your Honda. This is shown on the
API Service label by the words
"Energy Conserving". This oil is
formulated to help your engine use
less fuel.
The API Service label also tells you
the service classification of the oil.
Always use an oil that is labeled "API
Service SJ". This service rating may
include other classifications, such as
CD. These additional classifications
are not a problem, as long as the
label also carries the SJ classification.
An oil that is only classified SG is not
recommended.
CONTINUED
Maintenance
ENGINE OIL
FILL CAP
API SERVICE LABEL
Main Menu
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Engine Oil
The oil container may also display
the API Certification mark. Make
sure it says "For Gasoline Engines."
The SAE numbers tell you the oil's
viscosity or weight. Select the oil for
your vehicle according to this chart.
An oil with a viscosity of 5W-30 is
preferred for improved fuel economy
and year-round protection in your
Honda. You may use a 10W-30 oil if
the temperature in your area never
goes below 20°F(—7°C).
Synthetic Oil
You may use a synthetic motor oil if
it meets the same requirements
given for conventional motor oil;
energy conserving, a service
classification of SJ, and the proper
weight as shown on the chart. When
using synthetic oil, you must follow
the oil and filter change intervals
given in the maintenance schedule.
Additives
Your Honda does not need any oil
additives. Purchasing additives for
the engine or transmission will not
increase your vehicle's performance
or longevity. It only increases the
cost of operating your vehicle.
Maintenance
API CERTIFICATION MARK
Ambient Temperature
Main Menu
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Engine Oil
Changing the Oil and Filter
Always change the oil and filter
according to the time and distance
(miles/kilometers) recommenda-
tions in the maintenance schedule.
The oil and filter collect contami-
nants that can damage your engine if
they are not removed regularly.
Changing the oil and filter requires
special tools and access from
underneath the vehicle. The vehicle
should be raised on a service station-
type hydraulic lift for this service.
Unless you have the knowledge and
proper equipment, you should have
this maintenance done by a skilled
mechanic.
1. Run the engine until it reaches
normal operating temperature,
then shut it off.
2. Open the hood and remove the
engine oil fill cap. Remove the oil
drain bolt and washer from the
bottom of the engine. Drain the oil
into an appropriate container.
3. Remove the oil filter and let the
remaining oil drain. A special
wrench (available from your
Honda dealer) is required to
remove the filter.
4. Install a new oil filter according to
instructions that come with it.
CONTINUED
Maintenance
OIL DRAIN BOLT
WASHER
OIL FILTER
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Engine Oil
5. Put a new washer on the drain holt,
then reinstall the drain bolt.
Tighten it to:
(U.S.: DX, LX, Canada: LX, EX)
33 lbf·ft (44 N·m, 4.5 kgf·m)
(U.S.: EX)
29 lbf·ft (39 N·m, 4.0 kgf·m)
6. Refill the engine with the recom-
mended oil.
Engine oil change capacity
(including filter):
(U.S.: DX, LX, Canada: LX, EX)
3.8 US qt (3.6 ,3.2 Imp qt)
(U.S.: EX)
3.5 US qt (3.3 , 2.9 Imp qt)
7. Replace the engine oil fill cap.
Start the engine. The oil pressure
indicator light should go out within
five seconds. If it does not, turn off
the engine and reinspect your
work.
8. Let the engine run for several
minutes and check the drain bolt
and oil filter for leaks.
9. Turn off the engine, let it sit for
several minutes, then check the oil
level. If necessary, add oil to bring
the level to the upper mark on the
dipstick.
Improper disposal of engine oil can be
harmful 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.
Maintenance
NOTICE
Main Menu
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Cooling System
Adding Engine Coolant
If the coolant level in the reserve
tank is at or below the MIN line, add
coolant to bring it up to the MAX line.
Inspect the cooling system for leaks.
This coolant should always be a
mixture of 50 percent antifreeze and
50 percent water. Never add straight
antifreeze or plain water.
Always use Genuine Honda
antifreeze/coolant. If it is not
available, you may use another
major-brand non-silicate coolant as a
temporary replacement. Make sure it
is a high-quality coolant
recommended for aluminum engines.
However, continued use of any non-
Honda coolant can result in
corrosion, causing the cooling
system to malfunction or fail. Have
the cooling system flushed and
refilled with Honda antifreeze/
coolant as soon as possible.
If the reserve tank is completely
empty, you should also check the
coolant level in the radiator.
1. Make sure the engine and radiator
are cool.
CONTINUED
Maintenance
RESERVE TANK
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.
Main Menu
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Cooling System
2. Turn the radiator cap counter-
clockwise, without pressing down
on it, until it stops. This relieves
any pressure remaining in the
cooling system.
3. Remove the radiator cap by
pushing down and turning
counterclockwise.
4. The coolant level should be up to
the base of the filler neck. Add
coolant if it is low.
5. Put the radiator cap back on.
Tighten it fully.
6. Pour coolant into the reserve tank.
Fill it to halfway 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.
Maintenance
RADIATOR CAP
RESERVE TANK
Main Menu
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Cooling System
Replacing Engine Coolant
The cooling system should be
completely drained and refilled with
new coolant according to the time
and distance recommendations in
the maintenance schedule. Only use
Genuine Honda antifreeze/coolant.
Draining the coolant requires access
to the underside of the car. Unless
you have the tools and knowledge,
you should have this maintenance
done by a skilled mechanic.
1. Slide the heater temperature
control lever to maximum heat.
Open the hood. Make sure the
engine and radiator are cool to the
touch.
2. Remove the radiator cap.
3. Loosen the drain plug on the
bottom of the radiator. The
coolant will come out through the
hole in the splash cover.
CONTINUED
Maintenance
DRAIN PLUG
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Cooling System
4. Remove the reserve tank from its
holder by pulling it straight up.
Drain the coolant, then put the
tank back in its holder.
5. When the coolant stops draining,
tighten the drain plug in the
bottom of the radiator.
6. Mix the recommended antifreeze
with an equal amount of purified
or distilled water in a clean
container. The cooling system
capacity is:
With 5-speed manual transmission:
0.82 US gal (3.1 , 0.68 Imp gal)
With automatic transmission:
(U.S.: DX, LX, Canada: LX, EX)
0.79 US gal (3.0 ,0.66 Imp gal)
(U.S.: EX)
0.85 US gal (3.2 ,0.70 Imp gal)
7. Pour coolant into the radiator up
to the base of the filler neck.
Maintenance
RESERVE
TANK
RESERVE
TANK CAP
HOLDER
FILLER NECK
Fill up to here
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Cooling System
8. Start the engine and let it run until
it warms up (the radiator cooling
fan comes on at least twice).
9. Turn off the engine. Check the
level in the radiator, add coolant if
needed. Install the radiator cap,
and tighten it fully.
10.Fill the reserve tank to the MAX
mark. Install the reserve tank cap.
Maintenance
RESERVE TANK
Main Menu
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Windshield Washers
Check the level in the windshield
washer reservoir at least monthly
during normal usage. In bad weather,
when you use the washers often,
check the level every time you stop
for fuel.
The windshield washer reservoir is
located behind the driver's side
headlight. Check the reservoir's fluid
level by removing the cap and
looking at the level gauge attached
to the cap.
Fill the reservoir with a good-quality
windshield washer fluid. This
increases the cleaning capability and
prevents freezing in cold weather.
Do not use engine antifreeze or a
vinegar/water solution in the
windshield washer reservoir.
Antifreeze can damage your vehicle's
paint, while a vinegar/water solution
can damage the windshield washer
pump.
Use only commercially-available
windshield washer fluid.
Maintenance
LEVEL GAUGE
NOTICE
Main Menu
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Transmission Fluid
Automatic Transmission
Check the fluid level with the engine
at normal operating temperature.
1. Park the vehicle on level ground.
Shut off the engine.
2. Remove the dipstick (yellow loop)
from the transmission and wipe it
with a clean cloth.
3. Insert the dipstick all the way into
the transmission securely as
shown in the illustration.
4. Remove the dipstick and check
the fluid level. It should be
between the upper and lower
marks.
5. If the level is below the lower
mark, add fluid into the filler hole
to bring it to the upper mark.
Always use Honda Premium
Formula Automatic Transmission
Fluid (ATF). If it is not available,
you may use a DEXRON
®
III
automatic transmission fluid as a
temporary replacement. However,
continued use can affect shift
quality. Have the transmission
drained and refilled with Honda
ATF as soon as it is convenient.
6. Insert the dipstick all the way back
into the transmission securely as
shown in the illustration.
The transmission should be drained
and refilled with new fluid according
to the time and distance recommen-
dations in the maintenance schedule.
Maintenance
DIPSTICK
UPPER
MARK
LOWER
MARK
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Transmission Fluid, Brake and Clutch Fluid
5-speed Manual Transmission
Check the fluid level with the
transmission at normal operating
temperature and the vehicle sitting
on level ground. Remove the
transmission filler bolt and carefully
feel inside the bolt hole with your
finger. The fluid level should be up
to the edge of the bolt hole. If it is
not, add Genuine Honda Manual
Transmission Fluid (MTF) until it
starts to run out of the hole. Reinstall
the filler bolt and tighten it securely.
If Honda MTF is not available, you
may use an API service SG, SH or SJ
grade motor oil with a viscosity of
SAE 10W-30 or 10W-40 as a
temporary replacement. An SG
grade is preferred, but an SH or SJ
grade may be used if SG is not
available. However, motor oil does
not contain the proper additives and
continued use can cause stiffer
shifting. Replace as soon as
convenient.
The transmission should be drained
and refilled with new fluid according
to the time and distance recommen-
dations in the maintenance schedule.
Brake and Clutch Fluid
Check the fluid level in the reser-
voirs monthly. There are one or two
reservoirs, depending on model.
They are:
Brake fluid reservoir (all models)
Clutch fluid reservoir
(manual transmission only)
The brake fluid in the brake system
should be replaced according to the
time and distance recommendations
in the maintenance schedule.
Maintenance
FILLER BOLT
Correct level
Main Menu
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Brake and Clutch Fluid
Always use Genuine Honda DOT 3
brake fluid. If it is not available, you
should use only DOT 3 or DOT 4
fluid, from a sealed container, as a
temporary replacement. However,
the use of any non-Honda brake fluid
can cause corrosion and decrease
the life of the system. Have the
brake system flushed and refilled
with Honda DOT 3 brake fluid as
soon as possible.
Brake fluid marked DOT 5 is not
compatible with your car's braking
system and can cause extensive
damage.
Brake System
The fluid level should be between
the MIN and MAX marks on the side
of the reservoir. If the level is at or
below the MIN mark, your brake
system needs attention. Have the
brake system inspected for leaks or
worn brake pads.
Clutch System
The fluid 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
brake system.
Low fluid level can indicate a leak in
the clutch system. Have this system
inspected as soon as possible.
Maintenance
MAX
MIN
MAX
MIN
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Power Steering
Check the level when the engine is
cold. Look at the side of the
reservoir. The fluid should be
between the UPPER LEVEL and
LOWER LEVEL. If it is below the
LOWER LEVEL, add power steering
fluid to the UPPER LEVEL.
Always use Genuine Honda Power
Steering Fluid. If it is not available,
you may use another power steering
fluid as an emergency replacement.
However, continued use can cause
increased wear and poor steering in
cold weather. Have the power
steering system flushed and refilled
with Honda PSF as soon as possible.
A low power steering fluid level can
indicate a leak in the system. Check
the fluid level frequently and have
the system inspected as soon as
possible.
Turning the steering wheel to full left
or right lock and holding it there can
damage the power steering pump.
Maintenance
UPPER LEVEL
LOWER LEVEL
NOTICE
Main Menu
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Air Cleaner Element
The air cleaner element should be
replaced according to the time and
distance recommendations in the
maintenance schedule.
Replacement
On DX and LX models in the U.S., and
all models in Canada
The air cleaner element is inside the
air cleaner housing in the engine
compartment.
To replace it:
1. Unsnap the four clips and remove
the air cleaner housing cover.
2. Remove the old air cleaner
element.
3. Clean the inside of the air cleaner
housing with a damp rag.
4. Place the new air cleaner element
in the air cleaner housing.
5. Reinstall the air cleaner housing
cover, snap the four clips back into
place.
Maintenance
CLIPS
AIR CLEANER ELEMENT
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Air Cleaner Element
Replacement
On EX model in the U.S.
The air cleaner element is inside the
air cleaner housing on the passenger's
side of the engine compartment.
To replace it:
1. Unsnap the two clips and remove
the air cleaner housing cover.
2. Remove the old air cleaner
element.
3. Clean the inside of the air cleaner
housing with a damp rag.
4. Place the new air cleaner element
in the air cleaner housing.
5. Align the tabs and reinstall the air
cleaner housing cover, snap the
two clips back into place.
Maintenance
CLIPS
AIR CLEANER
ELEMENT
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Spark Plugs
The spark plugs in your vehicle need
to be replaced every 2 years or
30,000 miles (48,000 km), whichever
comes first.
Replacement
1. Clean up any dirt and oil around
the spark plug caps.
2. Remove the spark plug cap by
pulling it straight out.
3. Remove the spark plug with
a five-eighths inch (16 mm) spark
plug socket.
4. Put the new spark plug into the
socket; then screw it into the hole.
Screw it in by hand so you do not
crossthread it.
CONTINUED
Maintenance
SPARK PLUG CAP
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Spark Plugs
5. Torque the spark plug. (If you do
not have a torque wrench, tighten
the spark plug two-thirds of a turn
after it contacts the cylinder head.)
Tightening torque:
13 lbf-ft (18 N·m,1.8 kgf ·m)
Tighten the spark plugs carefully. A
spark plug that is too loose can
overheat and damage the engine.
Overtightening can cause damage to
the threads in the cylinder head.
6. Install the spark plug cap.
7. Repeat this procedure for the
other three spark plugs.
Maintenance
NOTICE
Specifications:
NGK: ZFR5F-11
DENSO: KJ16CR-L11
Spark Plug Gap:
0.04 in
(1.1
mm)
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Battery
Check the condition of your vehicle's
battery monthly. You should check
the color of the test indicator window,
and for corrosion on the terminals.
Check the battery condition by
looking at the test indicator window
on the battery.
The label on the battery explains the
test indicator's colors.
Check the batteiy terminals for
corrosion (a white or yellowish
powder). To remove it, cover the
terminals with a solution of baking
soda and water. It will bubble up and
turn brown. When this stops, wash it
off with plain water. Dry off the
battery with a cloth or paper towel.
Coat the terminals with grease to
help prevent future corrosion.
CONTINUED
Maintenance
TEST INDICATOR WINDOW
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Battery
If the terminals are severely cor-
roded, clean them with baking soda
and water. Then use a wrench to
loosen and remove the cables from
the terminals. Always disconnect the
negative (—) cable first and recon-
nect it last. Clean the battery termi-
nals with a terminal cleaning tool or
wire brush. Reconnect and tighten
the cables, then coat the terminals
with grease.
If you need to connect the battery to
a charger, disconnect both cables to
prevent damage to the vehicle's
electrical system.
Charging the battery with the cables
connected can seriously damage your
vehicle's electronic controls. Detach
the battery cables before connecting
the battery to a charger.
Maintenance
The battery gives off explosive
hydrogen gas during normal
operation.
A spark or flame can cause the
battery to explode with enough
force to kill or seriously hurt you.
Wear protective clothing and a
face shield, or have a skilled
mechanic do the battery
maintenance.
NOTICE
Main Menu
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Wiper Blades
Check the condition of the wiper
blades at least every six months.
Look for signs of cracking in the
rubber, or areas that are getting
hard. Replace the blades if you find
these signs, or they leave streaks
and unwiped areas when used.
To replace the blade:
1. Raise the wiper arm off the
windshield.
2. Disconnect the blade assembly
from the wiper arm by pushing in
the lock tab. Hold it in while you
push the blade assembly toward
the base of the arm.
CONTINUED
Maintenance
WIPER ARMS
LOCK TAB
Main Menu
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Wiper Blades
3. Remove the blade from its holder
by grasping the tabbed end of the
blade. Pull firmly until the tabs
come out of the holder.
4. Examine the new wiper blades. If
they have no plastic or metal rein-
forcement along the back edge,
remove the metal reinforcement
strips from the old wiper blade and
install them in the slots along the
edge of the new blade.
5. Slide the new wiper blade into the
holder until the tabs lock.
6. Slide the wiper blade assembly
onto the wiper arm. Make sure it
locks in place.
7. Lower the wiper arm down against
the windshield.
Maintenance
BLADE
REINFORCEMENT
BLADE
Main Menu
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Air Conditioning System
Optional for U.S. DX, and Canadian LX,
EX models
Your vehicle's air conditioning is a
sealed system. Any major mainte-
nance, such as recharging, should be
done by a qualified mechanic. You
can do a couple of things to make
sure the air conditioning works
efficiently.
Periodically check the engine's
radiator and air conditioning
condenser for leaves, insects, and
dirt stuck to the front surface. These
block the air flow and reduce cooling
efficiency. Use a light spray from a
hose or a soft brush to remove them.
The condenser and radiator fins bend
easily. Only use a low-pressure spray
or soft-bristle brush to clean them.
Run the air conditioning at least once
a week during the cold weather
months. Run it for at least ten
minutes while you are driving at a
steady speed with the engine at
normal operating temperature. This
circulates the lubricating oil con-
tained in the refrigerant.
If the air conditioning does not get as
cold as before, have your dealer
check the system. Recharge the
system with Refrigerant HFC-134a
(R-134a). (See Specifications on page
229.)
Whenever you have the air conditioning
system serviced, make sure the service
facility uses a refrigerant recycling
system. This system captures the
refrigerant for reuse. Releasing
refrigerant into the atmosphere can
damage the environment.
Maintenance
NOTICE
AIR CONDITIONING
CONDENSER
NOTICE
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Drive Belts, Timing Belt
Drive Belts
Check the condition of the two or
three drive belts. Examine the edges
of each belt for cracks or fraying.
Check the tension of each belt by
pushing on it with your thumb
midway between the pulleys.
The belts should have the following
"play" or deflection.
Alternator belt:
0.31 — 0.41 in (8.0 — 10.5 mm)
Power steering belt:
0.41 — 0.55 in (10.5 — 14.0 mm)
On cars with Air Conditioning
Compressor belt:
0.30 — 0.37 in (7.5 — 9.5 mm)
If you see signs of wear or looseness,
have your dealer adjust or replace
the belts.
Timing Belt
The timing
belt should normally be
replaced at the intervals shown in
the maintenance schedule.
Replace this belt at 60,000 miles (U.S.)
or 100,000 km (Canada) if you regu-
larly drive your vehicle in one or
more of these conditions:
In very high temperatures
(over 110° F, 43°C).
In very low temperatures
(under — 20°F, — 29°C).
Maintenance
ALTERNATOR
BELT
POWER STEERING
BELT
COMPRESSOR BELT
Main Menu
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Tires
To safely operate your vehicle, your
tires must be the proper type and
size, in good condition with adequate
tread, and correctly inflated. The
following pages give more detailed
information on how and when to
check air pressure, how to inspect
your tires for damage and wear, and
what to do when your tires need to
be replaced.
Inflation
Keeping the tires properly inflated
provides the best combination of
handling, tread life and riding
comfort. Underinflated tires wear
unevenly, adversely affect handling
and fuel economy, and are more
likely to fail from being overheated.
Overinflated tires can make your
vehicle ride more harshly, are more
prone to damage from road hazards,
and wear unevenly.
We recommend that you visually
check your tires every day. If you
think a tire might be low, check it
immediately with a tire gauge.
Use a gauge to measure the air
pressure at least once a month. Even
tires that are in good condition may
lose one to two psi (10 to 20 kPa, 0.1
to 0.2 kgf/cm
2
) per month.
Remember to check the spare tire at
the same time you check all the
other tires.
Check the pressure in the tires when
they are cold. This means the vehicle
has been parked for at least three
hours. If you have to drive the
vehicle before checking the tire
pressure, the tires can still be
considered "cold" if you drive less
than 1 mile (1.6 km).
CONTINUED
Maintenance
Using tires that are excessively
worn or improperly inflated can
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously hurt or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner's manual regarding tire
inflation and maintenance.
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Tires
If you check the pressure when the
tires are hot (the vehicle has been
driven several miles), you will see
readings 4 to 6 psi (30 to 40 kPa, 0.3
to 0.4 kgf/cm
2
) higher than the cold
reading. This is normal. Do not let
air out to match the specified cold
pressure. The tire will be
underinflated.
You should get your own tire
pressure gauge and use it whenever
you check your tire pressures. This
will make it easier for you to tell if a
pressure loss is due to a tire problem
and not due to a variation between
gauges.
Recommended Tire Pressures for
Normal Driving
The following chart shows the
recommended cold tire pressures for
most normal driving conditions and
speeds. Tire pressures for high
speed driving are shown on page
231.
The compact spare tire pressure is:
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm
2
)
These pressures are also given on
the tire information label on the
driver's doorjamb.
Tubeless tires have some ability to
self-seal if they are punctured.
However, because leakage is often
very slow, you should look closely
for punctures if a tire starts losing
pressure.
Maintenance
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Tires
Inspection
Every time you check inflation, you
should also examine the tires for
damage, foreign objects, and wear.
You should look for:
Bumps or bulges in the tread or
side of the tire. Replace the tire if
you find either of these conditions.
Cuts, splits, or cracks in the side
of the tire. Replace the tire if you
can see fabric or cord.
Excessive tread wear.
Your vehicle's tires have wear indica-
tors molded into the tread. When the
tread wears down to that point, you
will see a 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) wide
band running across the tread. This
shows there is less than 1/16 inch
(1.6 mm) of tread left on the tire. A
tire that is this worn gives very little
traction on wet roads. You should
replace the tire if you can see the
tread wear indicator in three or more
places around the tire.
Maintenance
In addition to proper inflation,
correct wheel alignment helps to
decrease tire wear. If you find a tire
is worn unevenly, have your dealer
check the wheel alignment.
The tires were properly balanced by
the factory. They may need to be
rebalanced at some time before they
are worn out. Have your dealer
check the tires if you feel a consis-
tent vibration while driving. A tire
should always be rebalanced if it is
removed from the wheel for repair.
CONTINUED
Maintenance
INDICATOR
LOCATION
MARKS
TREAD WEAR
INDICATORS
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Tires
Make sure the installer balances the
wheels when you have new tires
installed. This increases riding
comfort and tire life. Your vehicle's
original tires were dynamic or "spin"
balanced at the factory. For best
results, have the installer perform a
dynamic balance.
Tire Rotation
To help increase tire life and
distribute wear more evenly, you
should have the tires rotated every
7,500 miles (12,000 km). Move the
tires to the positions shown in the
chart each time they are rotated.
When shopping for replacement
tires, you may find that some tires
are "directional." This means they
are designed to rotate only in one
direction. If you use directional tires,
they should be rotated only front-to-
back.
Maintenance
Front
Front
(For Non-directional
Tires and Wheels)
(For Directional
Tires and Wheels)
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Tires
Replacing Tires and Wheels
The tires that came with your
vehicle were selected to match the
performance capabilities of the
vehicle while providing the best
combination of handling, ride
comfort, and long life. You should
replace them with radial tires of the
same size, load range, speed rating,
and maximum cold tire pressure
rating (as shown on the tire's
sidewall). Mixing radial and bias-ply
tires on your vehicle can reduce its
braking ability, traction, and steering
accuracy.
It is best to replace all four tires at
the same time. If that is not possible
or necessary, then replace the two
front tires or the two rear tires as a
pair. Replacing just one tire can
seriously affect your vehicle's han-
dling.
The ABS works by comparing the
speed of the wheels. When replacing
tires, use the same size originally
supplied with the vehicle. Tire size
and construction can affect wheel
speed and may cause the system to
work inconsistently.
If you ever need to replace a wheel,
make sure the wheel's specifications
match those of the original wheel
that came on your vehicle. Re-
placement wheels are available at
your Honda dealer.
Maintenance
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.
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Tires
Wheels and Tires
Wheels:
14 x 5 J
Tires:
P185/65R14 85S
See Tire Information on page 230 for
additional information about tire and
wheel size designations. See page
231 for information about DOT Tire
Quality Grading.
Winter Driving
Tires that are marked "M + S" or
"All Season" on the sidewall have an
all-weather tread design. They
should be suitable for most winter
driving conditions. Tires without
these markings are designed for
optimum traction in dry conditions.
They may not provide adequate
performance in winter driving.
For the best performance in snowy
or icy conditions, you should install
snow tires or tire chains. They may
be required by local laws under
certain conditions.
Snow Tires
If you mount snow tires on your
Honda, make sure they are radial
tires of the same size and load range
as the original tires. Mount snow
tires on all four wheels to balance
your vehicle's handling in all weather
conditions. Keep in mind the traction
provided by snow tires on dry roads
may not be as high as your vehicle's
original equipment tires. You should
drive cautiously even when the roads
are clear. Check with the tire dealer
for maximum speed recommenda-
tions.
Maintenance
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Tires
Tire Chains
Mount snow chains on your vehicle
when warranted by driving condi-
tions or required by local laws. Make
sure the chains are the correct size
for your tires. Install them only on
the front tires. If metal chains are
used, they must be SAE class "S".
Cable type traction devices can also
be used.
When installing chains, follow the
manufacturer's instructions and
mount them as tightly as you can.
Drive slowly with chains installed. If
you hear the chains contacting the
body or chassis, stop and investigate
them. Make sure the chains are
installed tightly, and that they are
not contacting the brake lines or
suspension. Remove the chains as
soon as you begin driving on cleared
roads.
Chains of the wrong size or that are
improperly installed can damage your
vehicle's brake lines, suspension, body,
and wheels. Stop driving if you hear
the chains hitting any part of the
vehicles.
Maintenance
NOTICE
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Lights
Check the operation of your vehicle's
exterior lights at least once a month.
A burned out bulb can create an
unsafe condition by reducing your
vehicle's visibility and the ability to
signal your intentions to other
drivers.
Maintenance
HEADLIGHT
TURN SIGNAL/
SIDE MARKER/
PARKING LIGHTS
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Lights
Check the following:
Headlights (low and high beam)
Parking lights
Taillights
Brake lights
High-mount brake light
Turn signals
Back-up lights
Hazard light function
License plate light
Side marker lights
Daytime running lights
(Canadian models)
If you find any bulbs are burned out,
replace them as soon as possible.
Refer to the chart on page 229 to
determine what type of replacement
bulb is needed.
Maintenance
STOP/TAILLIGHTS/
REAR SIDE MARKER LIGHTS
BACK-UP LIGHT
TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS
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Lights
Headlight Aiming
The headlights were properly aimed
when your vehicle was new. You
should check their aim if you
regularly carry heavy items in the
trunk. Each headlight assembly has
horizontal and vertical adjustment
indicators. These are set to their "0"
positions after the headlights are
aimed at the factory.
To check these settings:
1. Make sure the fuel tank is full.
Park the vehicle on level ground.
2. The driver or someone who
weighs the same should be sitting
in the driver's seat for all checks
and adjustments.
Load the trunk with the items you
normally carry.
3. Open the hood.
4. Check the horizontal angle gauge.
The line on the adjustment screw
indicator should line up with the
"0" mark on the gauge.
5. Check the vertical angle gauge.
The bubble should be centered
underneath the longest scribe
mark on the gauge.
Maintenance
HORIZONTAL ANGLE GAUGE VERTICAL ANGLE GAUGE
BUBBLE
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Lights
6. If either indicator is not aligned
with its "0" mark as described, an
adjustment can be made using a
Phillips-head screwdriver to
realign it with the "0" mark. Please
refer to the illustrations.
7. If you cannot get an indicator to
align, have your Honda dealer
inspect the car for body damage or
suspension problems.
Replacing a Headlight Bulb
Your vehicle has halogen headlight
bulbs, one on each side. When
replacing a bulb, handle it by its steel
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 clean
cloth.
Halogen headlight bulbs get very hot
when lit. Oil, perspiration, or a scratch
on the glass can cause the bulb to
overheat and shatter.
CONTINUED
Maintenance
HORIZONTAL ADJUSTMENT
VERTICAL ADJUSTMENT
NOTICE
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Lights
1. Open the hood.
If you need to change the head-
light bulb on the driver's side,
remove the power steering
reservoir tank by pulling it out of
its holder.
2. Remove the electrical connector
from the bulb by squeezing the
connector on both sides to unlock
the tab. Pull the connector straight
off.
3. Remove the rubber weather seal
by pulling on the tab.
4. Unclip the end of the hold-down
wire from its slot. Pivot it out of
the way and remove the bulb.
5. Insert the new bulb into the hole,
making sure the tabs are in their
slots. Pivot the hold-down wire
back in place and clip the end into
the slot.
6. Install the rubber seal over the
back of the headlight assembly.
Make sure it is right side up; it is
marked "TOP".
7. Push the electrical connector onto
the tabs of the new bulb. Make
sure it locks in place.
Turn on the headlights to test the
new bulb.
8. (Driver's side)
Reinstall the power steering
reservoir.
Maintenance
HOLDER
WEATHER SEAL
BULB
CONNECTOR
HOLD-DOWN WIRE
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Lights
Replacing the Front Side Marker/
Turn Signal and Parking Light
Bulb
1. If you are changing the bulb on
the driver's side, start the engine,
turn the steering wheel all the way
to the right, and turn off the
engine. If you are changing the
bulb on the passenger's side, turn
the steering wheel to the left.
2. Use a flat-tipped screwdriver to
remove the holding clip from the
inner fender.
3. Pull the inner fender cover off.
4. Remove the socket from the
headlight assembly by turning it
one-quarter turn counterclockwise.
5. Remove the burned out bulb from
the socket by pushing it in and
turning counterclockwise until it
unlocks.
6. Install the new bulb in the socket.
Turn it clockwise to lock it in place.
7. Insert the socket back into the
headlight assembly. Turn it
clockwise to lock it in place.
8. Test the lights to make sure the
new bulb is working.
9. Put the inner fender cover in place.
Install the holding clip and tighten
it securely.
Maintenance
HOLDING
CLIP
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Lights
Replacing Rear Bulbs
(in Fenders)
1. Open the trunk.
Undo the fastener on the side of
the trunk lining by pushing on the
center of the fastener's head until
it pops in. Pull the lining back.
2. Determine which of the two bulbs
is burned out: stop/taillight/side
marker light or turn signal.
3. Remove the socket by turning it
one-quarter turn counterclockwise.
4. Pull the bulb straight out of its
socket.
Push the new bulb straight into
the socket until it bottoms.
5. Reinstall the socket into the light
assembly by turning it clockwise
until it locks.
6. Test the lights to make sure the
new bulb is working.
7. Reinstall the trunk lining.
Maintenance
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Lights
8. Reset the fastener by pushing on
the pointed end until it pops back
almost flush with the fingers on
the housing.
9. Put the fastener in the hole of the
side of the trunk lining and push
on the center until it locks (the
center is flush with the head).
Replacing Rear Bulbs (in Trunk
Lid)
1. Open the trunk.
2. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver to
remove the screw from the bulb
holder. Remove the holder from
the taillight assembly.
3. Determine which of the two bulbs
is burned out: stop/taillight/side
marker or back-up light.
4. Remove the socket by turning it
one-quarter turn counterclockwise.
CONTINUED
Maintenance
SCREW
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Lights
5. Pull the bulb straight out of its
socket.
Push the new bulb straight into
the socket until it bottoms.
6. Insert the socket back into the
light assembly. Turn it clockwise
to lock it in place.
7. Test the lights to make sure the
new bulb is working.
8. Reinstall the bulb holder assembly.
Install the screw and tighten it
securely.
Replacing a High-mount Brake
Light Bulb
1. Open the trunk and remove the
socket from the light assembly by
turning it one-quarter turn counter-
clockwise.
2. Pull the bulb straight out of its
socket.
Push the new bulb straight into
the socket until it bottoms.
3. Reinstall the socket. Turn it
clockwise until it locks. Make sure
the new bulb is working.
Maintenance
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Lights
Replacing a Rear License Bulb
1. Remove the two screws and
remove the license light assembly.
2. Remove the socket from the light
assembly by turning it one-quarter
turn counterclockwise.
3. Pull the bulb straight out of its
socket. Push the new bulb in until
it bottoms in the socket.
4. Turn on the parking lights and
check that the new bulb is
working.
5. Reinstall the socket. Turn it clock-
wise until it locks.
6. Put the license light assembly in
place. Reinstall the two screws and
tighten them securely.
Replacing an Interior Light Bulb
(U.S.: EX)
1. Remove the lens by carefully
prying on the edge of the lens in
the middle with a fingernail file or
a small flat-tip screwdriver. Do not
pry on the edge of the housing
around the lens.
CONTINUED
Maintenance
INTERIOR LIGHT
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Lights
(U.S.: DX, LX, Canada: LX, EX)
2. Remove the bulb by pulling it
straight out of its metal tabs.
3. Push the new bulb into the metal
tabs. Snap the lens back in place.
(U.S.: EX)
Replacing the Trunk Light Bulb
The trunk light is available on LX and
EX models in the U.S., and all models in
Canada
1. Remove the lens by carefully
prying on the edge of the lens in
the middle with a fingernail file or
a small flat-tip screwdriver. Do not
pry on the edge of the housing
around the lens.
Maintenance
INTERIOR LIGHT
SPOTLIGHT
TRUNK LIGHT
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2. Remove the bulb by pulling it
straight out of its metal tabs.
3. Push the new bulb into the metal
tabs. Snap the lens back in place.
Lights
Maintenance
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Storing Your Vehicle
If you need to park your vehicle for
an extended period (more than one
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.
Change the engine oil and filter
(see page 153).
Wash and dry the exterior
completely.
Clean the interior. Make sure the
carpeting, floor mats, etc. are
completely dry.
Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in Reverse (5-
speed 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
(it
the vehicle
is being stored
indoors).
Disconnect the battery.
Support the front wiper blade
arms with a folded towel or rag so
they do not touch the windshield.
To minimize sticking, apply a
silicone spray lubricant to all door
and trunk seals. Also, apply a
vehicle body wax to the painted
surfaces that mate with the door
and trunk seals.
Cover the vehicle with a
"breathable" vehicle cover, one
made from a porous material such
as cotton. Nonporous materials,
such as plastic sheeting, trap
moisture, which can damage the
paint.
If possible, run the engine for a
while periodically (preferably once
a month).
If you store your vehicle for 12
months or longer, have your Honda
dealer perform the inspections called
for in the 24 months/30,000 miles
(48,000 km) maintenance schedule
(Normal Conditions) as soon as you
take it out of storage (see page 142).
The replacements called for in the
maintenance schedule are not
needed unless the vehicle has
actually reached that time or mileage,
Maintenance
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Exterior Care
Washing
Frequent washing helps preserve
your vehicle's beauty. Dirt and grit
can scratch the paint, while tree sap
and bird droppings can permanently
ruin the finish.
Wash your vehicle in a shady area,
not in direct sunlight. If the vehicle is
parked in the sun, move it into the
shade and let the exterior cool down
before you start.
Only use the solvents and cleaners
recommended in this Owner's
Manual.
Chemical solvents and strong cleaners
can damage the paint, metal, and
plastic on your vehicle.
Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with
cool water to remove loose dirt.
Fill a bucket with cool water. Mix
in a mild detergent, such as
dishwashing liquid or a product
made especially for vehicle
washing.
Wash the vehicle using the water
and detergent solution and a soft-
bristle brush, sponge, or soft cloth.
Start at the top and work your way
down. Rinse frequently.
Check the body for road tar, tree
sap, etc. Remove these stains with
tar remover or turpentine. Rinse it
off immediately so it does not
harm the finish. Remember to re-
wax these areas, even if the rest of
the vehicle does not need waxing.
When you have washed and rinsed
the whole exterior, dry it with a
chamois or soft towel. Letting it
air-dry will cause dulling and water
spots.
As you dry the vehicle, inspect it for
chips and scratches that could allow
corrosion to start. Repair them with
touch-up paint (see page 197).
Appearance Care
NOTICE
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Exterior Care
Waxing
Always wash and dry the whole
vehicle before waxing it. You should
wax your vehicle, including the metal
trim, whenever water sits on the
surface in large patches. It should
form into beads or droplets after
waxing.
You should use a quality liquid or
paste wax. Apply it according to the
instructions on the container. In
general, there are two types of
products:
Waxes — A wax coats the finish and
protects it from damage by exposure
to sunlight, air pollution, etc. You
should use a wax on your Honda
when it is new.
Polishes — Polishes and cleaner/
waxes can restore the shine to paint
that has oxidized and lost some of its
shine. They normally contain mild
abrasives and solvents that remove
the top layer of the finish. You
should use a polish on your Honda if
the finish does not have its original
shine after using a wax.
Cleaning tar, insects, etc. with
removers also takes off the wax.
Remember to re-wax those areas,
even if the rest of the vehicle does
not need waxing.
Paint Touch-up
Your dealer has touch-up paint to
match your vehicle's color. The color
code is printed on a sticker on the
driver's doorjamb. Take this code to
your dealer so you are sure to get
the correct color.
Inspect your vehicle frequently for
chips or scratches in the paint.
Repair them right away to prevent
corrosion of the metal underneath.
Use the touch-up paint only on small
chips and scratches. More extensive
paint damage should be repaired by
a professional.
Appearance Care
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Interior Care
Carpeting
Vacuum the carpeting frequently to
remove dirt. Ground-in dirt will make
the carpet wear out faster.
Periodically shampoo the carpet to
keep it looking new. Use one of the
foam-type carpet cleaners on the
market. Follow the instructions that
come with the cleaner, applying it
with a sponge or soft brush. Keep
the carpeting as dry as possible by
not adding water to the foam.
Fabric
Vacuum dirt and dust out of the
material frequently. For general
cleaning, use a solution of mild soap
and lukewarm water, letting it air dry.
To clean off stubborn spots, use a
commercially-available fabric cleaner.
Test it on a hidden area of the fabric
first, to make sure it does not bleach
or stain the fabric. Follow the
instructions that come with the
cleaner.
Vinyl
Remove dirt and dust with a vacuum
cleaner. Wipe the vinyl with a soft
cloth dampened in a solution of mild
soap and water. Use the same
solution with a soft-bristle brush on
more difficult spots. You can also use
commercially-available spray or
foam-type vinyl cleaners.
Seat Belts
If your
seat belts get dirty, you can
use a soft brush with a mixture of
mild soap and warm water to clean
them. Do not use bleach, dye, or
cleaning solvents. They can weaken
the belt material. Let the belts air-
dry before you use the vehicle.
Dirt build-up in the loops of the seat
belt anchors can cause the belts to
retract slowly. Wipe the insides of
the loops with a clean cloth
dampened in mild soap and warm
water or isopropyl alcohol.
Appearance Care
LOOP
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Interior Care, Corrosion Protection
Windows
Clean the windows, inside and out,
with a commercially-available glass
cleaner. You can also use a mixture
of one part white vinegar to ten parts
water. This will remove the haze that
builds up on the inside of the
windows. Use a soft cloth or paper
towels to clean all glass and clear
plastic surfaces.
The rear window defogger wires are
bonded to the inside of the glass.
Wiping vigorously up-and-down can
dislodge and break the defogger wires.
When cleaning the rear window, use
gentle pressure and wipe side-to-side.
Air Fresheners
If you want to use an air freshener/
deodorizer in the interior of your
vehicle, it is best to use a solid type.
Some liquid air fresheners contain
chemicals that may cause parts of
the interior trim and fabric to crack
or discolor.
If you use a liquid air freshener,
make sure you fasten it securely so it
does not spill as you drive.
Corrosion Protection
Two factors normally contribute to
causing corrosion in your vehicle:
1. Moisture trapped in body cavities.
Dirt and road salt that collects in
hollows on the underside of the
vehicle stays damp, promoting
corrosion in that area.
2. Removal of paint and protective
coatings from the exterior and
underside of the vehicle.
Many corrosion-preventive measures
are built into your Honda. You can
help keep your vehicle from
corroding by performing some
simple periodic maintenance:
Repair chips and scratches in the
paint as soon as you discover them.
CONTINUED
Appearance Care
NOTICE
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Corrosion Protection, Body Repairs
Inspect and clean out the drain
holes in the bottom of the doors
and body.
Check the floor coverings for
dampness. Carpeting and floor
mats may remain damp for a long
time, especially in winter. This
dampness can eventually cause
the floor panels to corrode.
Use a high-pressure spray to clean
the underside of your vehicle. This
is especially important in areas
that use road salt in winter. It is
also a good idea in humid climates
and areas subject to salt air.
Vehicles equipped with ABS have
a sensor and wiring at each wheel.
Be careful not to damage them.
Have the corrosion-preventive
coatings on the underside of your
vehicle inspected and repaired
periodically.
Body Repairs
Body repairs can affect your vehicle's
resistance to corrosion. If your
vehicle needs repairs after a collision,
pay close attention to the parts used
in the repair and the quality of the
work.
Make sure the repair facility uses
Genuine Honda replacement body
parts. Some companies make sheet
metal pieces that seem to duplicate
the original Honda body parts, but
are actually inferior in fit, finish, and
corrosion resistance. Once installed,
they do not give the same high-
quality appearance.
When reporting your collision to the
insurance company, tell them you
want Genuine Honda parts used in
the repair. Although most insurers
recognize the quality of original
parts, some may try to specify that
the repairs be done with other
available parts. You should investi-
gate this before any repairs are
begun.
Take your vehicle to your authorized
Honda dealer for inspection after the
repairs are completed. He can make
sure that quality materials were used,
and that corrosion-preventive
coatings were applied to all repaired
and replaced parts.
Appearance Care
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Compact Spare Tire
Your vehicle has a compact spare
tire that takes up less space. Use this
spare tire as a temporary replace-
ment only. Get your regular tire
repaired or replaced and put back on
your vehicle as soon as you can.
Check the inflation pressure of the
compact spare tire every time you
check the other tires. It should be
inflated to:
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm
2
)
Follow these precautions whenever
you are using the compact spare tire:
Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)
under any circumstances.
This tire gives a harsher ride and
less traction on some road sur-
faces than the regular tire. Use
greater caution while driving on
this tire.
Do not mount snow chains on the
compact spare.
The wheel of the compact spare
tire is designed especially to fit
your vehicle. Do not use your
spare tire on another car unless it
is the same make and model.
The compact spare tire has a shorter
tread life than a regular tire. Replace
it when you can see the tread wear
indicator bars. The replacement
should be the same size and design
tire, mounted on the same wheel.
The compact spare tire is not
designed to be mounted on a regular
wheel, and the compact wheel is not
designed for mounting a regular tire.
Taking Care of the Unexpected
TREAD WEAR INDICATOR BAR
INDICATOR LOCATION MARK
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Changing a Flat Tire
If you have a flat tire while driving,
stop in a safe place to change it.
Stopping in traffic or on the shoulder
of a busy road is dangerous. Drive
slowly along the shoulder until you
get to an exit or an area to stop that
is far away from the traffic lanes.
1. Park the vehicle on firm, level
ground away from traffic. Turn on
the hazard warning lights and turn
the ignition switch to LOCK (0).
2. Put the transmission in Park
(automatic) or Reverse (manual).
Apply the parking brake. Have all
of the passengers get out of the
vehicle while you change the tire.
3. Open the trunk. Raise the trunk
floor by lifting up on the back edge.
4. Take the tool kit out of the trunk.
5. Unscrew the wing bolt and take
the spare tire out of its well.
CONTINUED
Taking Care of the Unexpected
TOOL KIT JACK
TRUNK FLOORSPARE TIRE
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.
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Changing a Flat Tire
6. Turn the jack's end bracket
counterclockwise to loosen it, then
remove the jack.
7. Loosen the four wheel nuts 1/2
turn with the wheel wrench.
8. Locate the jacking point nearest
the tire you need to change. It is
pointed to by an arrow molded into
the underside of the body. Place
the jack under the jacking point.
Turn the end bracket clockwise
until the top of the jack contacts
the jacking point. Make sure the
jacking point tab is resting in the
jack notch.
Taking Care of the Unexpected
JACK
WHEEL WRENCH
JACKING
POINT
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Changing a Flat Tire
9. Use the extension and wheel
wrench as shown to raise the
vehicle until the flat tire is off the
ground.
10.Remove the wheel nuts and flat
tire. Temporarily place the flat tire
on the ground with the outside
surface of the wheel facing up.
You could scratch the wheel if you
put it face down.
Do not attempt to forcibly pry the
wheel cover off with a screwdriver or
other tool. The wheel cover cannot
be removed without first removing
the wheel nuts.
11.Before mounting the spare tire,
wipe any dirt off the mounting
surface of the wheel and hub with
a clean cloth. Wipe the hub
carefully, it may be hot from
driving.
CONTINUED
Taking Care of the Unexpected
WHEEL WRENCH
EXTENSION
BRAKE HUB
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Changing a Flat Tire
12.Put on the spare tire. Put the
wheel nuts back on finger-tight,
then tighten them in a crisscross
pattern with the wheel wrench
until the wheel is firmly against
the hub. Do not try to tighten
them fully.
13.Lower the vehicle to the ground
and remove the jack.
14.Tighten the wheel nuts securely in
the same crisscross pattern. Have
the wheel nut torque checked at
the nearest automotive service
facility.
Tighten the wheel nuts to:
80lbf-ft(108N·m,11 kgf-m)
Taking Care of the Unexpected
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Changing a Flat Tire
15.Remove the wheel cover or center
cap.
Place the flat tire face down in the
spare tire well.
16.Remove the spacer cone from the
wing bolt, turn it over, and put it
back on the bolt.
17.Secure the flat tire by screwing
the wing bolt back into its hole.
18.Store the jack in the trunk with the
end bracket on the left side. Turn
the jack's end bracket to lock it in
place. Store the tool kit.
19.Store the wheel cover in the trunk.
Make sure it does not get
scratched or damaged.
20.Lower the trunk floor, then close
the trunk lid.
Taking Care of the Unexpected
SPACER
CONE
WING BOLT
Loose items can fly around the
interior in a crash and could
seriously injure the occupants.
Store the wheel, jack and tools
securely before driving.
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If Your Engine Won't Start
Diagnosing why your engine won't
start falls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
key to START (III):
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.
Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
When you turn the ignition switch to
START (III), you do not hear the
normal 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.
If you have a manual transmission,
the clutch pedal must be pushed
all the way to the floor or the
starter will not operate. With an
automatic transmission, it must be
in Park or Neutral.
Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
Turn on the headlights and check
their brightness. If the headlights
are very dim or don't light at all,
the battery is discharged. See
Jump Starting on page 209.
Turn the ignition switch to START
(III). If the headlights do not dim,
check the condition of the fuses. If
the fuses are OK, there is proba-
bly something wrong with the
electrical circuit for the ignition
switch or starter motor. You will
need a qualified technician to
determine the problem. (See
Emergency Towing on page 223.)
If the headlights dim noticeably or
go out when you try to start the
engine, either the battery is dis-
charged or the connections are
corroded. Check the condition of
the battery and terminal connec-
tions (see page 169). You can
then try jump starting the car from
a booster battery (see page 209).
Taking Care of the Unexpected
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If Your Engine Won't Start, Jump Starting
The Starter Operates Normally
In this case, the starter motor's
speed sounds normal, or even faster
than normal, when you turn the
ignition switch to START (III), but
the engine does not run.
Are you using the proper starting
procedure? Refer to Starting the
Engine on page 121.
Do you have fuel? Turn the
ignition switch to ON (II) for a
minute and watch the fuel gauge.
The low fuel level warning light
may not be working, so you were
not reminded to fill the tank.
There may be an electrical
problem, such as no power to the
fuel pump. Check all the fuses
(see page 218).
If you find nothing wrong, you will
need a qualified technician to find
the problem. See Emergency
Towing on page 223.
Jump Starting
If your vehicle's battery has run
down, you may be able to start the
engine by using a booster battery.
Although this seems like a simple
procedure, you should take several
precautions.
You cannot start a Honda with an
automatic transmission by pushing
or pulling it.
To jump start your vehicle, follow
these directions closely:
1. Open the hood and check the
physical condition of the battery
(see page 169). In very cold
weather, check the condition of
the electrolyte. If it seems slushy
or like ice, 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 electrical acces-
sories: heater, A/C, stereo system,
lights, etc.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park and set the parking brake.
CONTINUED
Taking Care of the Unexpected
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.
NOTICE
NOTICE
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Jump Starting
3. Connect one jumper cable to the
positive (+) terminal on the
booster battery. Connect the other
end to the positive (+) terminal
on your Honda's battery.
4. 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.
5. If the booster battery is in another
vehicle, have an assistant start
that vehicle and run it at a fast idle.
6. Start your vehicle. If the starter
motor still operates slowly, check
the jumper cable connections to
make sure they have good metal-
to-metal contact.
7. Once your vehicle is running,
disconnect the negative cable from
your vehicle, then from the
booster battery. Disconnect the
positive cable from your vehicle,
then the booster battery.
Taking Care of the Unexpected
BOOSTER BATTERY
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If Your Engine Overheats
The pointer of your vehicle's
temperature gauge should stay in
the midrange under most conditions.
It may go higher if you are driving up
a long steep hill on a very hot day. If
it climbs to the red mark, you should
determine the reason.
Driving with the temperature gauge
pointer at the red mark can cause
serious damage to your engine.
Your vehicle can overheat for several
reasons, such as lack of coolant or a
mechanical problem. The only
indication may be the temperature
gauge climbing to or above the red
mark. Or you may see steam or
spray coming from under the hood.
In either case, you should take
immediate action.
1. Safely pull to the side of the road.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park and set the parking brake.
Turn off the heating and cooling
system and all other accessories.
Turn on the hazard warning
indicators.
2. If you see steam and/or spray
coming from under the hood, turn
off the engine.
3. If you do not see steam or spray,
leave the engine running and
watch the temperature gauge. If
the high heat is due to overloading
(climbing a long, steep hill on a
hot day with the A/C running, for
example), the engine should start
to cool down almost immediately.
If it does, wait until the tempera-
ture gauge comes down to the mid-
point then continue driving.
CONTINUED
Taking Care of the Unexpected
NOTICE
Steam and spray from an
overheated engine can
seriously scald you.
Do not open the hood if steam
is coming out.
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If Your Engine Overheats
4. If the temperature gauge stays at
the red mark, turn off the engine.
5. Wait until you see no more signs
of steam or spray, then open the
hood.
6. Look for any obvious coolant leaks,
such as a split radiator hose.
Everything is still extremely hot,
so use caution. If you find a leak, it
must be repaired before you
continue driving. (See Emergency
Towing on page 223).
7. If you don't find an obvious leak,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank (see page
112). If the level is below the
MIN mark, add coolant to halfway
between the MIN and MAX marks.
8. If there was no coolant in the
reserve tank, you may also have to
add coolant to the radiator. Let the
engine cool down until the pointer
reaches the middle of the tempera-
ture gauge, or lower, before check-
ing the radiator.
9. Using gloves or a large heavy
cloth, turn the radiator cap
counterclockwise, without pushing
down, to the first stop. This
releases any remaining pressure in
the cooling system. After the
pressure releases, push down on
the cap and turn it until it comes
off.
10. Start the engine and set the
temperature control lever to
maximum. Add coolant to the
radiator up to the base of the filler
neck. If you do not have the
proper coolant mixture available,
you can add plain water.
Remember to have the cooling
system drained and refilled with
the proper mixture as soon as you
can.
11. Put the radiator cap back on
tightly. Run the engine and watch
the temperature gauge. If it goes
back to the red mark, the engine
needs repair. (See Emergency
Towing on page 223.)
12.If the temperature stays normal,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. If it has
gone down, add coolant to the
MAX mark. Put the cap back on
tightly.
Taking Care of the Unexpected
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.
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Low Oil Pressure Indicator
This indicator should light when the
ignition switch is ON (II), and go out
after the engine starts. It should
never come on when the engine is
running. If it starts flashing, it
indicates that the oil pressure
dropped very low for a moment, then
recovered. If the indicator stays on
with the engine running, it shows
that the engine has lost oil pressure
and serious engine damage is
possible. In either case, you should
take immediate action.
Running the engine with low oil
pressure can cause serious mechanical
damage almost immediately. Turn off
the engine as soon as you can safely get
the car stopped.
1. Safely pull off the road and shut
off the engine. Turn on the hazard
warning indicators.
2. Let the vehicle sit for a minute.
Open the hood and check the oil
level (see page 111). Although oil
level and oil pressure are not
directly connected, an engine that
is very low on oil can lose pressure
during cornering and other driving
maneuvers.
3. If necessary, add oil to bring the
level back to the full mark on the
dipstick (see page 151).
4. Start the engine and watch the oil
pressure indicator. If the light
does not go out within ten seconds,
turn off the engine. There is a
mechanical problem that needs to
be repaired before you can
continue driving. (See Emergency
Towing on page 223.)
Taking Care of the Unexpected
LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR
NOTICE
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Charging System Indicator
CHARGING SYSTEM INDICATOR
This indicator should come on when
the ignition switch is ON (II), and go
out after the engine starts. If it
comes on brightly when the engine
is running, it indicates that the
charging system has stopped
charging the battery.
Immediately turn off all electrical
accessories: radio, heater, A/C, rear
defogger, cruise control, etc. Try not
to use other electrically-operated
controls such as the power windows.
Keep the engine running and take
extra care not to stall it. Starting the
engine will discharge the battery
rapidly.
By eliminating as much of the
electrical load as possible, you can
drive several miles (kilometers)
before the battery is too discharged
to keep the engine running. Drive to
a service station or garage where
you can get technical assistance.
Taking Care of the Unexpected
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Malfunction Indicator Lamp
This indicator comes on for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition
switch ON (II). If it comes on at any
other time, it indicates one of the
engine's emissions control systems
may have a problem. Even though
you may feel no difference in your
vehicle's performance, it can reduce
your fuel economy and cause your
vehicle to put out excessive
emissions. Continued operation may
cause serious damage.
If you have recently refueled your
vehicle, the cause of this indicator
coming on could be a loose or
missing fuel fill cap. Check the cap
and tighten it until it clicks. Replace
the fuel fill cap if it is missing.
Tightening the cap will not make the
indicator turn off immediately; it
takes three driving trips.
If the indicator remains on past three
driving trips, or the fuel cap was not
loose or missing, have the vehicle
checked by the dealer as soon as
possible. Drive moderately until the
dealer has inspected the problem.
Avoid full-throttle acceleration and
driving at high speed.
You should also have the dealer
inspect your vehicle if this indicator
comes on repeatedly, even though it
may turn off as you continue driving.
If you keep driving with the malfunc-
tion indicator lamp on, you can damage
your vehicle's emission controls and
engine. Those repairs may not be
covered by your vehicle's warranties.
Taking Care of the Unexpected
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP
NOTICE
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Brake System Indicator
The Brake System indicator light
should normally come on only when
the parking brake is not fully
released.
If it comes on at any other time, it
indicates a problem with the vehicle's
brake system. In most cases, the
problem is a low fluid level in the
brake fluid reservoir. 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 page 162). If the
fluid level is low, take the vehicle to
your dealer and have the brake
system inspected for leaks or worn
brake pads.
However, if the brake pedal does not
feel normal, you should take
immediate action. Because of the
brake system's dual-circuit design, a
problem in one part of the system
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 the
pedal. The distance needed to stop
will be much longer.
Slow down by shifting to a lower
gear, and pull to the side of the road
when it is safe. Because of the
longer distance needed to stop, it is
hazardous to drive the vehicle. You
should have it towed, and repaired as
soon as possible.
If you must drive the vehicle a short
distance in this condition, drive
slowly and cautiously.
Taking Care of the Unexpected
BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR*
*U.S. indicator shown
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Closing the Moonroof
If the electric motor will not close
the moonroof, do the following:
1. Check the fuse for the moonroof
motor (see page 219). If the fuse
is blown, replace it with one of the
same or lower rating.
2. Try closing the moonroof. If the
new fuse blows immediately or the
moonroof motor still does not
operate, you can close the
moonroof manually.
3. Get the moonroof wrench out of
the tool kit in the trunk.
4. Use a screwdriver or coin to
remove the round plug in the
center of the headliner.
5. Insert the moonroof wrench into
the socket behind this plug. Turn
the wrench until the moonroof is
fully closed.
6. Remove the wrench. Replace the
round plug.
Taking Care of the Unexpected
ROUND PLUG
SOCKET
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Fuses
All the electrical circuits in your
vehicle have fuses to protect them
from a short circuit or overload.
These fuses are located in two or
three fuse boxes.
The interior fuse box is underneath
the dashboard on the driver's side.
Remove the fuse box lid by swinging
the lid down and pulling it straight
out of its hinges.
The under-hood fuse box is located
in the engine compartment next to
the battery. To open it, push the tab
as shown.
Taking Care of the Unexpected
INTERIOR
TAB
UNDER-HOOD
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Fuses
Vehicles equipped with ABS have a
third fuse box for the ABS. It is in
the engine compartment on the
passenger's side.
Checking and Replacing Fuses
If something electrical in your
vehicle stops working, the first thing
you should check for is a blown fuse.
Determine from the chart on pages
221 and 222, or the diagram on the
fuse box lid, which fuse or fuses
control that component. Check those
fuses first, but check all the fuses
before deciding that a blown fuse is
not the cause. Replace any blown
fuses and check the component's
operation.
1. Turn the ignition switch to LOCK
(0). Make sure the headlights and
all other accessories are off.
2. Remove the cover from the fuse
box.
3. Check each of the large fuses in
the under-hood fuse box by
looking through the top at the wire
inside. Removing these fuses
requires a Phillips-head screw-
driver.
CONTINUED
Taking Care of the Unexpected
ABS FUSE BOX
FUSE
BLOWN
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▼
Fuses
4. Check the smaller fuses in the
under-hood fuse box and all the
fuses in the interior fuse box by
pulling out each fuse with the fuse
puller provided in the interior fuse
box.
5. Look for a burned wire inside the
fuse. If it is burned, replace it with
one of the spare fuses of the same
rating or lower.
If you cannot drive the vehicle
without fixing the problem, and you
do not have a spare fuse, take a fuse
of the same rating or a lower rating
from one of the other circuits. Make
sure you can do without that circuit
temporarily (such as the accessory
socket or radio).
If you replace the blown fuse with a
spare fuse that has a lower rating, it
might blow out again. This does not
indicate anything wrong. Replace the
fuse with one of the correct rating as
soon as you can.
Replacing a fuse with one that has a
higher rating greatly increases the
chances of damaging the electrical
system. If you do not have a replace-
ment fuse with the proper rating for the
circuit, install one with a lower rating.
6. If the replacement fuse of the
same rating blows in a short time,
there is probably a serious
electrical problem in your vehicle.
Leave the blown fuse in that
circuit and have your vehicle
checked by a qualified mechanic.
Taking Care of the Unexpected
FUSE PULLER
BLOWN
NOTICE
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Fuses
INTERIOR FUSE BOX
*
: On Canadian models
CONTINUED
Taking Care of the Unexpected
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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▼
Fuses
UNDER-HOOD FUSE BOX
ABS FUSE BOX
Taking Care of the Unexpected
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Emergency Towing
If your vehicle needs to be towed,
call a professional towing service
or, if you belong to one, an
organization that provides roadside
assistance. Never tow your vehicle
behind another vehicle with just a
rope or chain. It is very dangerous.
There are three popular types of
professional towing equipment.
Flat-bed Equipment — The operator
loads your vehicle on the back of a
truck.
This is the best way to
transport your Honda.
Wheel-Lift Equipment — Th
e tow
truck uses two pivoting arms that
go under the tires (front or rear) and
lift them off the ground. The other
two tires remain on the ground.
This is an acceptable way to tow
your Honda.
Sling-type Equipment — The tow
truck uses metal cables with hooks
on the ends. These hooks go around
parts of the frame or suspension and
the cables lift that end of the vehicle
off the ground. Your vehicle's
suspension and body can be
seriously damaged.
This method of
towing is unacceptable.
If your Honda cannot be transported
by flat-bed, it should be towed by
wheel-lift equipment with the front
wheels off the ground. If due to
damage, your vehicle must be towed
with the front wheels on the ground,
do the following.
5-speed Manual Transmission
Release the parking brake.
Shift the transmission to Neutral.
Automatic Transmission
Release the parking brake.
Start the engine.
Shift to D
4
, then to N.
Turn off the engine.
Improper towing preparation will
damage the transmission. Follow
the above procedure exactly. If you
cannot shift the transmission or
start the engine (automatic
transmission), your vehicle must be
transported with the front wheels
off the ground.
With the front wheels on the
ground, it is best to tow the vehicle
no farther than 50 miles (80 km),
and keep the speed below 35 mph
(55 km/h).
If you decide to tow your vehicle
with all four wheels on the ground,
make sure you use a properly-
designed and attached tow bar.
Prepare the vehicle for towing as
described above, and leave the
ignition switch in Accessory (I) so
the steering wheel does not lock.
Make sure the radio and any items
Taking Care of the Unexpected
NOTICE
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Emergency Towing
plugged into the accessory power
socket are turned off so they do not
run down the battery.
The steering system can be
damaged if the steering wheel is
locked. Leave the ignition switch in
Accessory (I), and make sure the
steering wheel turns freely before
you begin towing.
Trying to lift or tow your vehicle by
the bumpers will cause serious
damage. The bumpers are not
designed to support the vehicle's
weight.
Taking Care of the Unexpected
NOTICE
NOTICE
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▼
Identification Numbers
Your vehicle has several identifying
numbers located in various places.
The Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) is the 17-digit number your
Honda dealer uses to register your
vehicle for warranty purposes. It is
also necessary for licensing and
insuring your vehicle. The easiest
place to find the VIN is on a plate
fastened to the top of the dashboard.
You can see it by looking through
the windshield on the driver's side. It
is also on the Certification label at-
tached to the driver's doorjamb, and
is stamped on the engine com-
partment bulkhead. The VIN is also
provided in bar code on the
Certification label.
VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
CERTIFICATION LABEL
Technical Information
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▼
Identification Numbers
The Engine Number is stamped into
the engine block.
The Transmission Number is on a
label on top of the transmission.
TRANSMISSION NUMBER
ENGINE NUMBER
Technical Information
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▼
Specifications
*
1 : U.S.: DX, LX, Canada: LX, EX
*
2 :
U.S.: EX
*
1 : Including the coolant in the reserve tank and that remaining in the
engine.
Reserve tank capacity: 0.11 US gal (0.4 ,0.09 Imp gal)
*
2 : U.S.: DX, LX, Canada: LX, EX
*
3: U.S.: EX
*
4 : Excluding the oil remaining in the engine.
Technical Information
Dimensions
Weights
Engine
Capacities
page 168.
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▼
Specifications
*
1 : Without moonroof
*
2 : With moonroof
*
1 U.S.: DX, LX, Canada: L.X without ABS
*
2 Canada: EX without ABS
*
3 U.S.: EX, Canada: LX with ABS, EX with ABS
Technical Information
page 221
page 222
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Tire Information
Tire Size Designation
A tire's side-wall is marked with a tire
size designation. You will need this
information when selecting replace-
ment tires for your vehicle. The
following explains what the letters
and numbers in the tire size
designation mean.
(Example tire size designation)
P185/65R14 85S
P — Applicable vehicle type (tires
marked with the prefix "P" are
intended for use on passenger
vehicles; however, not all tires have
this marking).
185 — Tire width in millimeters.
65 — Aspect ratio. The tire's section
height as a percentage of its width.
R — Tire construction code (Radial).
14 — Rim diameter in inches.
85 — Load Index, a numerical code
associated with the maximum load
the tire can carry.
S — Speed Symbol. See the speed
rating chart in this section for
additional information.
Wheel Size Designation
Wheels are also marked with
important information that you need
if you ever have to replace one. The
following explains what the letters
and numbers in the wheel size
designation mean.
(Example wheel size designation)
14 x 5 J
14 — Rim diameter in inches.
5 — Rim width in inches.
J — Rim contour designation.
Tire Speed Ratings
The chart below shows many of the
different speed ratings currently
being used for passenger vehicle
tires. The speed symbol is part of the
tire size designation on the sidewall
of the tire. This symbol corresponds
to that tire's designed maximum safe
operating speed.
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Tire Information
Tire Pressure Adjustment For
High Speed Driving
Honda strongly recommends that
you not drive faster than posted
speed limits and conditions allow. If
you decide it is safe to drive at high
speeds, be sure to adjust the cold tire
pressures as shown below. If you do
not adjust the tire pressure, exces-
sive heat can build up and cause
sudden tire failure.
Be sure to readjust the pressure for
normal driving speeds. You should
wait until the tires are cold before
adjusting the tire pressure (see page
176).
DOT Tire Quality Grading
(U.S. Cars)
The tires on your car meet all U.S.
Federal Safety Requirements. All
tires are also graded for treadwear,
traction, and temperature perform-
ance according to Department of
Transportation (DOT) standards.
The following explains these
gradings.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a compara-
tive rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government
test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and one
half (1-1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded
100. The relative performance of
tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits,
service practices, and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
CONTINUED
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Tire Information
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are A, B, and C, and they
represent the tire's ability to stop on
wet pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on specified
government test surfaces of asphalt
and concrete. A tire marked C may
have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade as-
signed to this tire is based on brak-
ing (straight ahead) traction tests
and does not include cornering
(turning) traction.
Temperature
The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B, and C, representing the
tire's resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high
temperature can cause the material
of the tire to degenerate and reduce
tire life, and excessive temperature
can lead to sudden tire failure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger car
tires must meet under the Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No.
109. Grades B and A represent
higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for
this tire is established for a tire that
is properly inflated and not over-
loaded. Excessive speed, underinfla-
tion, or excessive loading either
separately or in combination, can
cause heat build-up and possible tire
failure.
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Oxygenated Fuels
Some conventional gasolines are
being blended with alcohol or an
ether compound. These gasolines
are collectively referred to as
oxygenated fuels. To meet clean air
standards, some areas of the United
States and Canada use oxygenated
fuels to help reduce emissions.
If you use an oxygenated fuel, be
sure it is unleaded and meets the
minimum octane rating requirement.
Before using an oxygenated fuel, try
to confirm the fuel's contents. Some
states/provinces require this
information to be posted on the
pump.
The following are the EPA-approved
percentages of oxygenates:
ETHANOL (ethyl or grain alcohol)
You may use gasoline containing up
to 10 percent ethanol by volume.
Gasoline containing ethanol may be
marketed under the name "Gasohol."
MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl
Ether)
You may use gasoline containing up
to 15 percent MTBE by volume.
METHANOL (methyl or wood
alcohol)
You may use gasoline containing up
to 5 percent methanol by volume as
long as it also contains cosolvents
and corrosion inhibitors to protect
the fuel system. Gasoline containing
more than 5 percent methanol by
volume may cause starting and/or
performance problems. It may also
damage metal, rubber and plastic
parts of your fuel system.
If you notice any undesirable
operating symptoms, try another
service station or switch to another
brand of gasoline.
Fuel system damage or performance
problems resulting from the use of
an oxygenated fuel containing more
than the percentages of oxygenates
given above are not covered under
warranty.
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Driving In Foreign Countries
If you are planning to take your
Honda outside the U.S. or Canada,
contact the tourist bureaus in the
areas you will be traveling in to find
out about the availability of unleaded
gasoline with the proper octane
rating.
If unleaded gasoline is not available,
be aware that using leaded gasoline
in your Honda will affect perfor-
mance and fuel mileage, and damage
its emissions controls. It will no
longer comply with U.S. and
Canadian emissions regulations, and
will be illegal to operate in North
America. To bring your vehicle back
into compliance will require the re-
placement of several components,
such as the oxygen sensors and the
three way catalytic converter. These
replacements are not covered under
warranty.
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Emissions Controls
The burning of gasoline in your
vehicle's engine produces several by-
products. Some of these are carbon
monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen
(NOx) and hydrocarbons (HC).
Gasoline evaporating from the tank
also produces hydrocarbons. Con-
trolling the production of NOx, CO,
and HC is important to the environ-
ment. Under certain conditions of
sunlight and climate, NOx and HC
react to form photochemical "smog."
Carbon monoxide does not contri-
bute to smog creation, but it is a
poisonous gas.
The Clean Air Act
The United States Clean Air Act*
sets standards for automobile
emissions. It also requires that
automobile manufacturers explain to
owners how their emissions controls
work and what to do to maintain
them. This section summarizes how
the emissions controls work.
Scheduled maintenance is on page
142.
* In Canada, Honda vehicles comply
with the Canadian Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards (CMVSS) for
Emissions valid at the time they are
manufactured.
Crankcase Emissions Control
System
Your vehicle has a Positive
Crankcase Ventilation System. This
keeps gasses that build up in the
engine's crankcase from going into
the atmosphere. The Positive Crank-
case Ventilation valve routes them
from the crankcase back to the
intake manifold. They are then
drawn into the engine and burned.
Evaporative Emissions Control
System
As gasoline evaporates in the fuel
tank, an evaporative emissions
control canister filled with charcoal
adsorbs the vapor. It is stored in this
canister while the engine is off. After
the engine is started and warmed up,
the vapor is drawn into the engine
and burned during driving.
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Emissions Controls
Exhaust Emissions Controls
The exhaust emissions controls
include three systems: PGM-FI,
Ignition Timing Control and Three
Way Catalytic Converter. These
three systems work together to
control the engine's combustion and
minimize the amount of HC, CO, and
NOx that comes out the tailpipe. The
exhaust emissions control systems
are separate from the crankcase and
evaporative emissions control
systems.
PGM-FI System
The PGM-FI System uses sequential
multiport fuel injection.
It has three subsystems: Air Intake,
Engine Control, and Fuel Control.
The Engine Control Module (ECM)
or the Powertrain Control Module
(PCM) uses various sensors to
determine how much air is going
into the engine. It then controls how
much fuel to inject under all operat-
ing conditions.
Ignition Timing Control System
This system constantly adjusts the
ignition timing, reducing the amount
of HC, CO and NOx produced.
Three Way Catalytic Converter
The three way catalytic converter is
in the exhaust system. Through
chemical reactions, it converts HC,
CO, and NOx in the engine's exhaust
to carbon dioxide (CO
2
), dinitrogen
(N
2
) , and water vapor.
Replacement Parts
The emissions control systems are
designed and certified to work to-
gether in reducing emissions to
levels that comply with the Clean Air
Act. To make sure the emissions
remain low, you should use only new
Genuine Honda replacement parts or
their equivalent for repairs. Using
lower quality parts may increase the
emissions from your vehicle.
The emissions control systems are
covered by warranties separate from
the rest of your vehicle. Read your
warranty manual for more informa-
tion.
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Three Way Catalytic Converter
The three way catalytic converter
contains precious metals that serve
as catalysts, promoting chemical
reactions to convert the exhaust
gasses without affecting the metals.
The catalytic converter is referred to
as a three-way catalyst, since it acts
on HC, CO, and NOx. A replacement
unit must be an original Honda part
or its equivalent.
The three way catalytic converter
must operate at a high temperature
for the chemical reactions to take
place. It can set on fire any com-
bustible materials that come near it.
Park your vehicle away from high
grass, dry leaves, or other flamma-
bles.
(U.S.: EX)
A defective three way catalytic
converter contributes to air pollution,
and can impair your engine's per-
formance. Follow these guidelines to
protect your vehicle's three way
catalytic converter.
Always use unleaded gasoline.
Even a small amount of leaded
gasoline can contaminate the
catalyst metals, making the three
way catalytic converter ineffective.
(U.S.: DX, LX, Canada: LX, EX)
Keep the engine tuned-up.
Have your vehicle diagnosed and
repaired if it is misfiring, back-
firing, stalling, or otherwise not
running properly.
Technical Information
THREE WAY CATALYTIC CONVERTER THREE WAY CATALYTIC CONVERTER
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Customer Relations Information
Honda dealership personnel are
trained professionals. They should
be able to answer all your questions.
If you encounter a problem that your
dealership does not solve to your
satisfaction, please discuss it with
the dealership's management. The
Service Manager or General
Manager can help. Almost all
problems are solved in this way.
If you are dissatisfied with the
decision made by the dealership's
management, contact your Honda
Customer Relations Zone Office.
Refer to the U.S. and Canadian Zone
Office maps on the following pages.
When you call or write, please give
us this information:
Vehicle Identification Number
(see page 226)
Name and address of the dealer
who services your vehicle
Date of purchase
Mileage on your vehicle
Your name, address, and tele-
phone number
A detailed description of the
problem
Name of the dealer who sold the
vehicle to you
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Warranty Coverages
U.S. Owners
Your new Honda is covered by these
warranties:
New Vehicle Limited Warranty —
covers your new vehicle, except for
the battery, emissions control
systems and accessories, against
defects in materials and
workmanship.
Emissions Control Systems Defects
Warranty and Emissions
Performance Warranty — these two
warranties cover your vehicle's emis-
sions control systems. Time, mileage,
and coverage are conditional. Please
read the warranty manual for exact
information.
Original Equipment Battery Limited
Warranty — this warranty gives up
to 100 percent credit toward a
replacement battery.
Seat Belt Limited Warranty — a seat
belt that fails to function properly is
covered for the useful life of the
vehicle.
Rust Perforation Limited Warranty
— all exterior body panels are
covered for rust-through from the
inside for the specified time period
with no mileage limit.
Accessory Limited Warranty —
Genuine Honda Accessories are
covered under this warranty. Time
and mileage limits depend on the
type of accessory and other factors.
Please read your warranty manual
for details.
Replacement Parts Limited
Warranty — covers all Genuine
Honda replacement parts against
defects in materials and workman-
ship.
Replacement Battery Limited
Warranty — provides prorated
coverage for a replacement battery
purchased from a Honda dealer.
Replacement Muffler Lifetime
Limited Warranty — provides
coverage for as long as the pur-
chaser of the muffler owns the car.
Restrictions and exclusions apply to
all these warranties. Please read the
1998 Honda Warranties booklet that
came with your vehicle for precise
information on warranty coverages.
Your Honda's original tires are
covered by their manufacturer. Tire
warranty information is in a separate
booklet.
Canadian Owners
Please refer to the 1998 Warranty
Manual that came with your vehicle.
Warranty and Customer Relations
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Reporting Safety Defects (U.S. Cars)
If you believe that your vehicle has a
defect which could cause a crash or
could cause injury or death, you
should immediately inform the
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) in addition
to notifying American Honda Motor
Co., Inc.
If NHTSA receives similar com-
plaints, it may open an investigation,
and if it finds that a safety defect
exists in a group of vehicles, it may
order a recall and remedy campaign.
However, NHTSA cannot become
involved in individual problems
between you, your dealer, or
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
To contact NHTSA, you may either
call the Auto Safety Hotline toll-free
at 1-800-424-9393 (or 366-0123 in
Washington D.C. area) or write to:
NHTSA, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Washington,
D.C. 20590. You can also obtain
other information about motor
vehicle safety from the Hotline.
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Introduction
Congratulations ! Your selection of a 1998 Honda Civic was a wise
investment. It will give you years of driving pleasure.
One of the best ways to enhance the enjoyment of your new Honda is to
read this manual. In it, you will learn how to operate its driving controls and
convenience items. Afterwards, keep this owner's manual in your vehicle so
you can refer to it at any time.
Several warranties protect your new Honda. Read the warranty booklet
thoroughly so you understand the coverages and are aware of your rights
and responsibilities.
Maintaining your vehicle according to the schedules given in this manual
helps to keep your driving trouble-free while it preserves your investment.
When your vehicle needs maintenance, keep in mind that your Honda
dealer's staff is specially trained in servicing the many systems unique to
your Honda. Your Honda dealer is dedicated to your satisfaction and will be
pleased to answer any questions and concerns.
As you read this manual, you will
find information that is preceded by
symbol. This
information is intended to help you
avoid damage to your Honda, other
property, or the environment.
NOTICE
a
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A Few Words About Safety
Your safety, and the safety of others,
is very important. And operating this
vehicle safely is an important
responsibility.
To help you make informed
decisions about safety, we have
provided operating procedures and
other information on labels and in
this manual. This information alerts
you to potential hazards that could
hurt you or others.
Of course, it is not practical or
possible to warn you about all the
hazards associated with operating or
maintaining your vehicle. You must
use your own good judgement.
You will find this important safety information in a variety of forms,
including:
Safety Labels — on the vehicle.
Safety Messages — preceded by a safety alert symbol and one of
three signal words: DANGER, WARNING, or CAUTION.
These signal words mean:
You WILL be KILLED or SERIOUSLY
HURT if you don't follow instructions.
You CAN be KILLED or SERIOUSLY
HURT if you don't follow instructions.
You CAN be HURT if you don't follow
instructions.
Safety Headings — such as Important Safety Reminders or Important
Safety Precautions.
Safety Section — such as Driver and Passenger Safety.
Instructions — how to use this vehicle correctly and safely.
This entire book is filled with important safety information — please read it
carefully.
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Service Information Summary
Gasoline:
Unleaded gasoline, pump octane
number of 86 or higher.
Fuel Tank Capacity:
11.9 US gal (45 l ,9.9 Imp gal)
Recommended Engine Oil:
API Service SJ "Energy
Conserving" oil, SAE 5W-30
viscosity (see page 151).
Oil change capacity (including
filter):
U.S. DX, LX, Canada LX, EX
3.8 US qt (3.6 l , 3.2 Imp qt)
U.S. EX
3.5 US qt (3.3 l ,2.9 Imp qt)
Automatic Transmission Fluid:
Honda Premium Formula
Automatic Transmission Fluid
preferred, or a DEXRON
®
III ATF
as temporary replacement (see
page 161).
5-speed Manual Transmission
Fluid:
Honda Manual Transmission
Fluid preferred, or an API service
SG, SH or SJ, 10W-30 or 10W-40
motor oil as a temporary
replacement (see page 162).
Capacity (including differential):
1.9 US qt (1.8 l ,1.6 lmp qt)
Power Steering Fluid:
Genuine Honda Power Steering
Fluid preferred, or another brand
of power steering fluid as a
temporary replacement. Do not
use ATF (see page 164).
Brake Fluid:
Genuine Honda DOT 3 Brake Fluid
preferred, or a DOT 3 or DOT 4
replacement (see page 163).
Tire Pressure (measured cold):
Front:
30 psi (210 kPa, 2.1 kgf/cm
2
)
Rear:
29 psi (200 kPa , 2.0 kgf/cm
2
)
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