2000 civic coupe online reference owner's manual contents

2000 Civic Coupe 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. Contents

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... i

A Few Words About Safety .......................................................................................................................... ii

Your Vehicle at a Glance ...............................................................................................................................2

Driver and Passenger Safety .......................................................................................................................5 Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restraint System.

Instruments and Controls...........................................................................................................................51Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls.

Comfort and Convenience Features.........................................................................................................87 How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features.

Before Driving .............................................................................................................................................123 What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.

Driving ...........................................................................................................................................................135The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, plus towing a trailer.

Maintenance .................................................................................................................................................157The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer.

Appearance Care.........................................................................................................................................213Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your car ever needs body repairs.

Taking Care of the Unexpected...............................................................................................................219This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, and how to handle them.

Technical Information ...............................................................................................................................243ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.

Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada) ......................................................................257A summary of the warranties covering your new Honda, and how to contact us.

Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)...............................................................................................................263How to order manuals and other technical literature.

Index ................................................................................................................................................................. I

Service Information Summary A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.

Owner's identification

Owner's Identification

OWNER

ADDRESSSTREET

CITY STATE/PROVINCE ZIP CODE/POSTAL CODE

V. I. N.

DELIVERY DATE

DEALER NAME

ADDRESS

(Date sold to original retail purchaser)

DEALER NO.

STREET

CITY

OWNER'S SIGNATURE

DEALER'S SIGNATURE

STATE/PROVINCE ZIP CODE/POSTAL CODE

This Owner's Manual should be considereda permanent part of the car, and shouldremain with the car when it is sold.

The information and specifications includedin this publication were in effect at the timeof approval for printing. Honda Motor Co.,Ltd. reserves the right, however, todiscontinue or change specifications ordesign at any time without notice andwith out incurring any obligation whatsoever.

Introduction

Congratulations ! Your selection of a 2000 Honda Civic was a wiseinvestment. It will give you years of driving pleasure.

One of the best ways to enhance the enjoyment of your new Honda is toread this manual. In it, you will learn how to operate its driving controls andconvenience items. Afterwards, keep this owner's manual in your car so youcan refer to it at any time.

Several warranties protect your new Honda. Read the warranty bookletthoroughly so you understand the coverages and are aware of your rightsand responsibilities.

Maintaining your car according to the schedules given in this manual helpsto keep your driving trouble-free while it preserves your investment. Whenyour car needs maintenance, keep in mind that your Honda dealer's staff isspecially trained in servicing the many systems unique to your Honda. YourHonda dealer is dedicated to your satisfaction and will be pleased to answerany questions and concerns.

As you read this manual, you willfind information that is preceded byainformation is intended to help youavoid damage to your Honda, otherproperty, or the environment.

NOTICE symbol. This

A Few Words About Safety

Your safety, and the safety of others,is very important. And operating thiscar safely is an importantresponsibility.

To help you make informeddecisions about safety, we haveprovided operating procedures andother information on labels and inthis manual. This information alertsyou to potential hazards that couldhurt you or others.

Of course, it is not practical orpossible to warn you about all thehazards associated with operating ormaintaining your car. You must useyour own good judgement.

You will find this important safety information in a variety of forms,including:

Safety Labels — on the car.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 SERIOUSLYHURT if you don't follow instructions.

You CAN be KILLED or SERIOUSLYHURT if you don't follow instructions.

You CAN be HURT if you don't followinstructions.

Safety Headings — such as Important Safety Reminders or ImportantSafety Precautions.

Safety Section — such as Driver and Passenger Safety.Instructions — how to use this car correctly and safely.

This entire book is filled with important safety information — please read itcarefully.

Your Car at a Glance

MIRRORCONTROLS(P. 82)

HEATING/COOLINGCONTROLS(P. 88)

AUDIO SYSTEM,DIGITAL CLOCK(P. 108)

DOOR LOCKSWITCHES(P. 70)

POWER WINDOWSWITCHES(P. 79)

FUEL FILLDOOR RELEASE(P. 125)

TRUNK RELEASEHANDLE(P. 75)

HOOD RELEASEHANDLE(P. 126)

Your Car at a Glance

CRUISECONTROL(P. 66)

INSTRUMENT PANELBRIGHTNESS(P. 62)

WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS

HAZARD WARNINRLIGHTS(P. 64)

REAR WINDOWDEFOGGER(P. 64)

MOONROOF(P. 81)


HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS(P. 61)

TILT ADJUSTMENT(P. 65)

HORN

Driver and Passenger Safety

This section gives you importantinformation about how to protectyourself and your passengers. Itshows you how to use seat beltsproperly. It explains your Supple-mental Restraint System. And it tellsyou how to properly restrain infantsand children in your car.

Important Safety Precautions.......... 6Your Car's Safety Features.............. 7

Seat Belts........................................ 8

Airbags............................................9Seats & Seat-Backs...................... 10Head Restraints........................... 10Door Locks................................... 11Pre-Drive Safety Checklist......... 11

Protecting Adults.............................121. Close and Lock the Doors...... 122. Adjust the Front Seats............ 123. Adjust the Seat-Backs............. 134. Adjust the Head Restraints.... 145. Fasten and Position the Seat

Belts...................................... 156. Adjust the Steering Wheel..... 187. Maintain a Proper Sitting

Position................................. 18Advice for Pregnant Women...... 19Additional Safety Precautions.... 19

Protecting Children......................... 21All Children Must Be

Restrained................................ 21Children Should Sit in the Back

Seat............................................ 22The Passenger's Airbag Poses

Serious Risks to Children....... 22If You Must Drive with Several

Children.................................... 24

If a Child Requires CloseAttention................................... 24

Additional Safety Precaution...... 24General Guidelines for Using

Child Seats................................ 25Protecting Infants........................ 29Protecting Small Children.......... 33Protecting Larger Children........ 37Using Child Seats with

Tethers...................................... 40Additional Information About Your

Seat Belts.................................. 42Seat Belt System Components... 42Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 42Lap Belt......................................... 43Seat Belt Maintenance................ 44

Additional Information About YourSRS............................................45

SRS Components......................... 45How Your Airbags Work............ 45How the SRS Indicator Light

Works........................................ 47SRS Service................................... 47Additional Safety Precautions.... 48

Carbon Monoxide Hazard.............. 49Safety Labels.................................... 50


Important Safety Precautions

You'll find many safetyrecommendations throughout thissection, and throughout this manual.The recommendations on this pageare the ones we consider to be themost important.

Always Wear Your Seat BeltA seat belt is your best protection inall types of collisions. Airbagssupplement seat belts, but airbagsare designed to inflate only in amoderate to severe frontal collision.So even though your car is equippedwith airbags, make sure you andyour passengers always wear yourseat belts, and wear them properly.(See page 15.)

Restrain All ChildrenChildren are safest when they areproperly restrained in the back seat,not the front seat. A child who is toosmall for a seat belt must be properlyrestrained in a child safety seat. (Seepage 21.)

Be Aware of Airbag HazardsWhile airbags can save lives, theycan cause serious or fatal injuries tooccupants who sit too close to them,or are not properly restrained.Infants, young children, and shortadults are at the greatest risk. Besure to follow all instructions andwarnings in this manual. (See page

7.)

Don't Drink and DriveAlcohol and driving don't mix. Evenone drink can reduce your ability torespond to changing conditions, andyour reaction time gets worse withevery additional drink. So don't drinkand drive, and don't let your friendsdrink and drive, either.

Control Your SpeedExcessive speed is a major factor incrash injuries and deaths. Generally,the higher the speed the greater therisk, but serious accidents can alsooccur at lower speeds. Never drivefaster than is safe for currentconditions, regardless of themaximum speed posted.

Keep Your Car in Safe ConditionHaving a tire blowout or amechanical failure can be extremelyhazardous. To reduce the possibilityof such problems, check your tirepressures and condition frequently,and perform all regularly scheduledmaintenance. (See page 162 .)


Your Car's Safety Features

Your car is equipped with manyfeatures that work together toprotect you and your passengersduring a crash.

Some safety features do not requireany action on your part. Theseinclude a strong steel frameworkthat forms a safety cage around thepassenger compartment; front andrear crush zones that are designed tocrumple and absorb energy during acrash; and a collapsible steeringcolumn.

These safety features are designedto reduce the severity of injuries in acrash. However, you and yourpassengers can't take full advantageof these safety features unless youremain sitting in a proper positionand always wear your seat beltsproperly. In fact, some safetyfeatures can contribute to injuries ifthey are not used properly.


(1) Safety Cage(2) Crush Zones(3) Seats & Seats-Backs(4) Head Restraints(5) Collapsible Steering Column(6) Seat Belts(7) Airbags(8) Door Locks


Seat BeltsFor your safety, and the safety ofyour passengers, your car isequipped with seat belts in all seatingpositions.

Your seat belt system alsoincludes a light on the

instrument panel to remind you andyour passengers to fasten your seatbelts.

Why Wear Seat BeltsSeat belts are the single mosteffective safety device for adults andlarger children. (Infants and smallerchildren must be properly restrainedin child seats.)

Not wearing a seat belt properlyincreases the chance of seriousinjury or death in a crash, eventhough your car has airbags.

In addition, most states and allCanadian provinces require you towear seat belts.

When properly worn, seat belts:

Keep you connected to the vehicleso you can take advantage of thecar's built-in safety features.

Help protect you in almost everytype of crash, including side andrear impacts and rollovers. (Yourairbag can only be helpful in amoderate to severe frontal

collision.)

Help keep you from being thrownagainst the inside of the vehicleand against other occupants.

Keep you from being thrown outof the vehicle.

Help keep you in a good positionshould the airbags ever deploy. Agood position reduces the risk ofinjury from an inflating airbag, andallows you to get the bestadvantage from the airbag.

Of course, seat belts cannotcompletely protect you in everycrash. But in most cases, seat beltscan reduce your risk of seriousinjury.

What you should do: Always wearyour seat belt, and make sure youwear it properly.


Not wearing a seat belt properlyincreases the chance of seriousinjury or death in a crash, evenif you have airbags.

Be sure you and yourpassengers always wear seatbelts and wear them properly.


Airbags

Your car has a SupplementalRestraint System (SRS) with frontalairbags to help protect the driver anda front seat passenger.

This system also includesan indicator light on the

instrument panel to alert you to apossible problem with the system.

The most important things you needto know about your airbags are:

Airbags do not replace seat belts.The seat belts are the occupants'primary protection in all types ofcollisions. The airbags supplementthe seat belts by providing extraprotection for the head and chestof each front seat occupant in amoderate to severe frontalcollision.

Airbags offernoprotection in sideimpacts, rear impacts, rollovers,or minor collisions. Airbags aredesigned to deploy only during amoderate to severe frontalcollision.

Airbags can pose serious hazards.To do their job, airbags mustinflate with tremendous force andspeed. So while airbags save lives,they can cause serious injuries toadults and larger children who are

not wearing seat belts, are notwearing them properly, are sittingtoo close to the airbag, or are notsitting in a proper position. Infantsand small children are at an evengreater risk of injury or death.

What you should do: Always wearyour seat belt properly, and situpright and as far back as possiblefrom the steering wheel ordashboard.


SRS


Seats & Seat-BacksYour car's seats are designed to keepyou in a comfortable, uprightposition so you can take fulladvantage of the protection offeredby seat belts and the energyabsorbing materials in the seats.

How you adjust your seats and seat-backs can also affect your safety. Forexample, sitting too close to thesteering wheel or dashboardincreases the risk of you or yourpassenger being injured by strikingthe inside of the car, or by aninflating airbag.

Reclining a seat-back too far reducesthe seat belt's effectiveness andincreases the chance that the seat'soccupant will slide under the seatbelt in a crash and be seriouslyinjured.

What you should do: Move the frontseats as far back as possible, andkeep adjustable seat-backs in anupright position whenever the car ismoving.

Head RestraintsHead restraints can help protect youfrom whiplash and other injuries. Formaximum protection, the back ofyour head should rest against thecenter of the head restraint.



Door LocksKeeping your doors locked reducesthe chance of being thrown out ofthe car during a crash. It also helpsprevent occupants from accidentallyopening a door and falling out, andoutsiders from unexpectedly openingyour doors.

Pre-Drive Safety ChecklistTo make sure you and yourpassengers get the maximumprotection from your car's safetyfeatures, check the following eachtime before you drive away:

All adults, and children who haveoutgrown child safety seats, arewearing their seat belts andwearing them properly (see page15).

Any infant or small child isproperly restrained in a child seatin the back seat (see page 21).

Front seat occupants are sittingupright and as far back as possiblefrom the steering wheel anddashboard (see page 12 ).

Seat-backs are upright (see page13).

Head restraints are properlyadjusted (see page 14).

Both doors are closed and locked(see page 12).

All cargo is properly stored orsecured (see page 132 ).

The rest of this section gives moredetailed information about how youcan maximize your safety.

Remember, however, that no safetysystem can prevent all injuries ordeaths that can occur in severecrashes, even when seat belts areproperly worn and the airbags deploy-


Protecting Adults

IntroductionThe following pages provideinstructions on how to properlyprotect the driver and other adultoccupants.

These instructions also apply tochildren who have outgrown childseats and are large enough to wearlap/shoulder belts. (See page 37 forimportant additional guidelines onhow to properly protect largerchildren.)

1. Close and Lock the DoorsAfter everyone has entered the car,be sure the doors are closed andlocked.

Your car has a door monitor light onthe instrument panel to indicatewhen a specific door is not tightlyclosed.

For safety, locking the doors reducesthe chance that a passenger,

especially a child, will open a doorwhile the car is moving andaccidentally fall out. It also reducesthe chance of someone being thrownout of the car during a crash.

For security, locked doors canprevent an outsider fromunexpectedly opening a door whenyou come to a stop.See page 70 for how to lock thedoors.

2.Adjust the Front Seats

Any driver who sits too close to thesteering wheel is at risk of beingseriously injured or killed by strikingthe steering wheel, or from beingstruck by an inflating airbag during acrash.

To reduce the chance of injury, wearyour seat belt properly, sit uprightwith your back against the seat, andmove the seat as far back as possiblefrom the steering wheel while stillmaintaining full control of the car.Also make sure your front seatpassenger moves the seat as far tothe rear as possible.


Protecting Adults

Most shorter drivers can get farenough away from the steeringwheel and still reach the pedals.However, if you are concerned aboutsitting too close, we recommend thatyou investigate whether some typeof adaptive equipment may help.

Once your seat is adjusted correctly,rock it back and forth to make surethe seat is locked in position.

See page 76 for how to adjust thefront seats.

3. Adjust the Seat-Backs

Adjust the driver's seat-back to acomfortable, upright position,leaving ample space between yourchest and the airbag cover in thecenter of the steering wheel. If yousit too close to the steering wheel,you could be injured if the airbaginflates.

A front passenger should also adjustthe seat-back to an upright position,but as far from the dashboard as

possible. A passenger who sits tooclose to the dashboard could beinjured if the airbag inflates.

Reclining a seat-back so that theshoulder part of the belt no longerrests against the occupant's chestreduces the protective capability ofthe belt. It also increases the chanceof sliding under the belt in a crashand being seriously injured. Thefarther a seat-back is reclined, thegreater the risk of injury.

See page 77 for how to adjust seat-backs.


Sitting too close to an airbagcan result in serious injury ordeath if the airbags inflate.

Always sit as far back from theairbags as possible.

Reclining the seat-back too farcan result in serious injury ordeath in a crash.

Adjust the seat-back to anupright position and sit wellback in the seat.

Protecting Adults

4.Adjust the Head Restraints

Before driving, make sure everyonewith an adjustable head restraint hasproperly positioned the headrestraint. The restraint should bepositioned so the back of theoccupant's head rests against thecenter of the restraint. A tallerperson should adjust the restraint ashigh as possible.

Properly adjusted head restraintswill help protect occupants fromwhiplash and other crash injuries.

See page 77 for how to adjust thehead restraints.


Improperly positioning headrestraints reduces theireffectiveness and you can beseriously injured in a crash.

Make sure head restraints arein place and positioned properlybefore driving.

Protecting Adults

5. Fasten and Position the SeatBelts

Using a Lap/Shoulder BeltInsert the latch plate into the buckle,then tug on the belt to make sure thebelt is securely latched. Also checkthat the belt is not twisted, because atwisted belt can cause seriousinjuries in a crash.

Position the lap part of the belt aslow as possible across your hips,then pull up on the shoulder part ofthe belt so the lap part fits snugly.This lets your strong pelvic bonestake the force of a crash and reducesthe chance of internal injuries.

If necessary, pull up on the belt againto remove any slack from theshoulder part, then check that thebelt rests across the center of yourchest and over your shoulder. Thisspreads the forces of a crash overthe strongest bones in your upperbody.

CONTINUED


Improperly positioning the seatbelts can cause serious injuryor death in a crash.

Make sure all seat belts areproperly positioned beforedriving.

Protecting Adults

Never place the shoulder portion of alap/shoulder belt under your arm orbehind your back. This could causevery serious injuries in a crash.

Using the Lap Belt

Insert the latch plate into the bucklemarked CENTER.

If the belt is too short, hold the latchplate at a right angle and pull on theplate to extend the belt. Then insertthe latch plate into the buckle, andtug on the belt to make sure the beltis securely latched.


Protecting Adults

Position the belt as low as possibleacross your hips. This lets yourstrong pelvic bones take the force ofa crash and reduces the chance ofinternal injuries.

Pull on the loose end of the belt for asnug but comfortable fit.

If a Seat Belt Doesn't WorkProperlyIf a seat belt does not seem to workas it should, it may not protect theoccupant in a crash. No one shouldsit in a seat with an inoperative seatbelt. Anyone using a seat belt that isnot working properly can beseriously injured or killed. Have yourHonda dealer check the belt as soonas possible.

See page 42 for additionalinformation about your seat beltsystem and how to take care of yourbelts.


Protecting Adults

6.Adjust the Steering Wheel

Adjust the steering wheel, if needed,so that the wheel points toward yourchest, not toward your face.

Pointing the steering wheel towardyour chest provides optimalprotection from the airbag.

See page 65 for how to adjust thesteering wheel.

7. Maintain a Proper SittingPosition

After all occupants have adjustedtheir seats and put on seat belts, it isvery important that they continue tosit upright, well back in their seats,with their feet on the floor, until thecar is parked and the engine is off.

Sitting improperly can increase thechance of injury during a crash. Forexample, if an occupant slouches,lies down, turns sideways, sitsforward, leans forward or sideways,or puts one or both feet up, thechance of injury during a crash isgreatly increased.

In addition, an occupant who is out ofposition in the front seat can beseriously or fatally injured bystriking interior parts of the car, orby being struck by an inflating airbag.

Remember, to get the bestprotection from your car's airbagsand other safety features, you mustsit properly and wear your seat beltproperly.


Sitting improperly or out ofposition can result in seriousinjury or death in a crash.

Always sit upright, well back inthe seat, with your feet on thefloor.

Protecting Adults

Advice for Pregnant Women

Because protecting the mother is thebest way to protect her unborn child,a pregnant woman should alwayswear a seat belt whenever she drivesor rides in a vehicle.

We recommend that pregnantwomen use a lap/shoulder beltwhenever possible. Remember tokeep the lap portion of the belt aslow as possible across your hips.

Pregnant women should also situpright and as far back as possiblefrom the steering wheel ordashboard. This will reduce the riskof injuries to both the mother andher unborn child that can be causedby a crash or an inflating airbag.

Each time you have a check-up, askyour doctor if it's okay for you todrive.

Additional Safety PrecautionsTwo people should never use thesame seat belt. If they do, theycould be very seriously injured in acrash.

Do not put any accessories on seatbelts. Devices intended to improveoccupant comfort or reposition theshoulder part of a seat belt canseverely compromise theprotective capability of the seatbelt and increase the chance ofserious injury in a crash.

CONTINUED


Protecting Adults

Do not place hard or sharp objectsbetween yourself and an airbag.Carrying hard or sharp objects onyour lap, or driving with a pipe orother sharp object in your mouth,can result in injuries if yourairbags inflate.

Do not attach or place objects onthe airbag covers. Any objectattached to or placed on the coversmarked "SRS AIRBAG," in thecenter of the steering wheel andon top of the dashboard, couldinterfere with the proper operationof the airbags. Or, if the airbagsinflate, the objects could bepropelled inside the car and hurtsomeone.

Keep your hands and arms awayfrom the airbag covers. If yourhands or arms are close to theairbag covers in the center of thesteering wheel and on top of thedashboard, they could be injured ifthe airbags inflate.


Protecting Children

Children depend on adults to protectthem. However, despite their bestintentions, many parents and otheradults may not know how to properlyprotect young passengers.

So if you have children, or if you everneed to drive with a grandchild orother children in your car, be sure toread this section.

All Children Must Be RestrainedEach year, many children are injuredor killed in vehicle crashes becausethey are either unrestrained or notproperly restrained. In fact, vehicleaccidents are the number one causeof death of children ages 12 andunder.

To reduce the number of childdeaths and injuries, every state andCanadian province requires thatinfants and children be restrainedwhenever they ride in a vehicle.

Any child who is too small to wear aseat belt should be properlyrestrained in a child seat. (See page25.)

A larger child should always berestrained with a seat belt. (See page37.)


Children who are unrestrainedor improperly restrained can beseriously injured or killed in acrash.

Any child too small for a seatbelt should be properlyrestrained in a child seat. Alarger child should be properlyrestrained with a seat belt.

Protecting Children

Children Should Sit in the BackSeatAccording to accident statistics,children of all ages and sizes aresafer when they are restrained in theback seat, not the front seat. TheNational Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration and TransportCanada recommend that all childrenages 12 and under be properlyrestrained in the back seat.

In the back seat, children are lesslikely to be injured by striking hardinterior parts during a collision orhard braking. Also, children cannotbe injured by an inflating airbagwhen they ride in the back.

The Passenger's Airbag PosesSerious Risks to ChildrenAirbags have been designed to helpprotect adults in a moderate tosevere frontal collision. To do this,the passenger's airbag is quite large,and it inflates with tremendousspeed.

InfantsNever put a rear-facing child seat inthe front seat of a vehicle equippedwith a passenger's airbag. If theairbag inflates, it can hit the back ofthe child seat with enough force tokill or very seriously injure an infant.

Small ChildrenPlacing a forward-facing child seat inthe front seat of a vehicle equippedwith a passenger's airbag can behazardous. If the vehicle seat is toofar forward, or the child's head isthrown forward during a collision, aninflating airbag can strike the childwith enough force to kill or veryseriously injure a small child.

Larger ChildrenChildren who have outgrown childseats are also at risk of being injuredor killed by an inflating passenger'sairbag. Whenever possible, largerchildren should sit in the back seat,properly restrained with a seat belt.(See page 37 for importantinformation about protecting largerchildren.)


Protecting Children

U.S. ModelsTo remind you of the passenger'sairbag hazards, and that childrenmust be properly restrained in theback seat, your car has warninglabels on the dashboard and on thedriver's and front passenger's visors.Please read and follow theinstructions on these labels.

Canadian ModelsTo remind you of the airbag hazards,your car has warning labels on thedriver's and front passenger's visors.Please read and follow theinstructions on these labels.


CAUTIONTO AVOID SERIOUS INJURY:FOR MAXIMUM SAFETY PROTECTION INALL TYPES OF CRASHES, YOU MUSTALWAYS WEAR YOUR SAFETY BELT.DO NOT INSTALL REARWARD-FACINGCHILD SEATS IN ANY FRONTPASSENGER SEAT POSITION.DO NOT SIT OR LEAN UNNECESSARILYCLOSE TO THE AIR BAG.DO NOT PLACE ANY OBJECTS OVER THEAIR BAG OR BETWEEN THE AIR BAGAND YOURSELF.SEE THE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR FURTHERINFORMATION AND EXPLANATIONS.

PRECAUTION:POUR EVITER DES BLESSURES GRAVES:POUR PROFITER D'UNE PROTECTIONMAXIMALE LORS D'UNE COLLISION BOUCLEZTOUJOURS VOTRE CEINTURE DE SECURITE.N'lNSTALLEZ JAMAIS UN SIEGE POURENFANTS FAISANT FACE A L'AHRIERE SURLE SIEGE DU PASSAGER AVANT.NE VOUS APPUYEZ PAS ET NE VOUS ASSEYEZPAS PRES DU COUSSIN GONFLABLE.NE DEPOSEZ AUCUN OBJET SUR LE COUSSINGONFLABLE OU ENTRE LE COUSSINGONFLABLE ET VOUS.LISEZ LE GUIDE UTILISATEUR POUR DEPLUS AMPLES RENSEIGNEMENTS.

Protecting Children

If You Must Drive with SeveralChildrenYour car has three seating positionsin the back seat where children canbe properly restrained.

If you ever have to carry more thanthree children in your car:

Place the largest child in the frontseat, provided the child is largeenough to wear a seat beltproperly (see page 37 ).

Move the vehicle seat as far to therear as possible (see page 12 ).

Have the child sit upright and wellback in the seat (see page 18).

Make sure the seat belt is properlypositioned and secured (see page15).

If a Child Requires CloseAttentionMany parents say they prefer to putan infant or small child in the frontpassenger seat so they can watch thechild, or because the child requiresattention.

Placing a child in the front seatexposes the child to hazards fromthe airbag, and paying closeattention to a child distracts thedriver from the important tasks ofdriving, placing both of you at risk.

If a child requires physical attentionor frequent visual contact, westrongly recommend that anotheradult ride with the child in the backseat. The back seat is far safer for achild than the front.

Additional Safety PrecautionDo not leave children alone in yourvehicle. Leaving children withoutadult supervision is illegal in moststates and Canadian provinces,and can be very hazardous. Forexample, infants and smallchildren left in a vehicle on a hotday can die from heatstroke. Andchildren left alone with the key inthe ignition can accidentally setthe vehicle in motion, possiblyinjuring themselves or others.


Protecting Children

General Guidelines for UsingChild SeatsThe following pages give generalguidelines for selecting and installingchild seats for infants and smallchildren.

Selecting a Child SeatTo provide proper protection, a childseat should meet threerequirements:

1. The child seat should meet safetystandards. The child seat shouldmeet Federal Motor VehicleSafety Standard 213 (FMVSS 213)or Canadian Motor Vehicle SafetyStandard 213 (CMVSS 213). Lookfor the manufacturer's statementof compliance on the box and seat.

2. The child seat should be of theproper type and size to fit the child.

Infants: Children up to about oneyear old should be restrained in arear-facing, reclining child seat. Onlya rear-facing seat provides theproper support to protect an infant'shead, neck, and back. See page29 for additional information onprotecting infants.

Small Children: A child who is toolarge for a rear-facing child seat, andwho can sit up without support,should be restrained in a forward-facing child seat. See page 33 foradditional information on protectingsmall children.

CONTINUED


Protecting Children

3. The child seat should fit thevehicle seating position (orpositions) where it will be used.

Due to variations in the design ofchild seats, vehicle seats, and seatbelts, all child seats will not fit allvehicle seating positions.

However, Honda is confident thatone or more child seat models can fitand be properly installed in allrecommended seating positions inyour car.

Before purchasing a child seat, werecommend that parents test thechild seat in the specific vehicleseating position (or positions) wherethey intend to use the seat. If apreviously purchased child seat doesnot fit, you may need to buy adifferent one that will fit.


Protecting Children

Placing a Child SeatThis page briefly summarizesHonda's recommendations on whereto place rear-facing and forward-facing child seats in your car.

Airbags Pose SeriousRisks to Children

The passenger's airbag inflateswith enough force to kill orseriously injure an infant in arear-facing child seat.

A small child in a forward-facingchild seat is also at risk. If thevehicle seat is too far forward,or the child's head is thrownforward during a collision, aninflating airbag can kill orseriously injure the child.

If a small child must ride in thefront, follow the instructionsprovided in this section.

Front Passenger's SeatInfants: Never in the front seat, due

to the passenger's airbag hazard.

Small children: Not recommended,due to the passenger's airbaghazard. If a small child must ridein front, move the vehicle seat tothe rear-most position and securea front-facing child seat with theseat belt (see page 34 ).

Back SeatsInfants: Recommended positions.

Secure a rear-facing child seatwith the seat belt (see page 30).

Small children: Recommendedpositions. Secure a front-facingchild seat with the seat belt (seepage 34).

CONTINUED


Protecting Children

Installing a Child SeatAfter selecting a proper child seat,and a good position to install the seat,there are three main steps ininstalling the seat:

1. Secure the child seat to the carwith a seat belt. All child seatsmust be secured to the car withthe lap belt or the lap part of a lap/shoulder belt. A child whose seatis not properly secured to the carcan be endangered in a crash. Seepages 28 and 32 for instructions onhow to secure child seats in thiscar.

2. Make sure the child seat is firmlysecured. After installing a childseat, push and pull the seatforward and from side to side toverify that it is secure.

To provide security during normaldriving maneuvers as well as duringa collision, we recommend thatparents secure a child seat as firmlyas possible.

However, a child seat does not needto be "rock solid." In some vehiclesor seating positions, it may bedifficult to install a child seat so thatit does not move at all. Some side-to-side or back-and-forth movement canbe expected and should not reducethe child seat's effectiveness.

If the child seat is not secure, tryinstalling it in a different seatingposition, or use a different style ofchild seat that can be firmly securedin the desired seating position.

3. Secure the child in the child seat.Make sure the child is properlystrapped in the child seataccording to the child seat maker'sinstructions. A child who is notproperly secured in a child seatcan be thrown out of the seat in acrash and seriously injured.

Storing a Child SeatWhen you are not using a child seat,either remove it and store it in a safeplace, or make sure it is properlysecured. An unsecured child seat canbe thrown around the car during acrash or sudden stop and injuresomeone.


Protecting Children

Protecting Infants

Child Seat TypeOnly a rear-facing child seat providesproper support for a baby's head,neck, and back. Infants up to aboutone year of age must be restrained ina rear-facing child seat.

Two types of seats may be used: aseat designed exclusively for infants,or a convertible seat used in the rear-facing, reclining mode.

We recommend that an infant berestrained in a rear-facing child seatuntil the infant reaches the seatmaker's weight or height limit and isable to sit up without support.

Rear-Facing Child Seat PlacementIn this car, a rear-facing child seatcan be placed in any seating positionin the back seat, but not in the frontseat.

Never put a rear-facing child seat inthe front seat. If the passenger'sairbag inflates, it can hit the back ofthe child seat with enough force tokill or seriously injure an infant. If aninfant must be closely watched, werecommend that another adult sit inthe back seat with the baby.

Do not put a rear-facing child seat ina forward-facing position. If placedfacing forward, an infant could bevery seriously injured during afrontal collision.

CONTINUED


Placing a rear-facing child seatin the front seat can result inserious injury or death if theairbags inflate.

Always place a rear-facing childseat in the back seat, not thefront.

Protecting Children

Installing a Rear-Facing Child Seatwith a Lap/Shoulder BeltThe lap/shoulder belts in the outerback seats have a lockingmechanism that must be activated tosecure a child seat.

The following pages provideinstructions on how to secure a rear-facing child seat with this type ofseat belt.

See page 32 for how to secure a rear-facing child seat in the center backseat with the lap belt.For tips on installing a rear-facingchild seat with a seat belt, see page32.

1. With the child seat in the desiredback seating position, route thebelt through the child seataccording to the seat maker'sinstructions, then insert the latchplate into the buckle.


Protecting Children

2. To activate the lockable retractor,slowly pull the shoulder part of thebelt all the way out until it stops,then let the belt feed back into theretractor (you might hear aclicking noise as the belt retracts).

3. After the belt has retracted, tug onit. If the belt is locked, you will notbe able to pull it out. If you can pullthe belt out, it is not locked andyou will need to repeat these steps.

4. After confirming that the belt islocked, grab the shoulder part ofthe belt near the buckle and pullup to remove any slack from thelap part of the belt. Remember, ifthe lap part of the belt is not tight,the child seat will not be secure.To remove slack, it may help toput weight on the child seat, orpush on the back of the seat, whilepulling up on the belt.

5. Push and pull the child seatforward and from side to side toverify that it is secure enough tostay upright during normal drivingmaneuvers. If the child seat is notsecure, unlatch the belt, allow it toretract fully, then repeat thesesteps.

To deactivate the lockingmechanism and remove a child seat,unlatch the buckle, unroute the seatbelt, and let the belt fully retract.

CONTINUED


Protecting Children

Installing a Rear-Facing Child Seatwith the Lap Belt

To install a rear-facing child seat inthe center back seat with the lap belt,follow instruction number 1 on page30 for routing and latching the seatbelt. Then pull hard on the loose endof the belt to remove any slack (itmay help to put weight on the childseat while pulling on the belt).Finally, follow instruction number 5on page 31 to verify that the childseat is secure.

Rear-Facing Child Seat InstallationTips

For proper protection, an infant mustride in a reclined, or semi-reclinedposition. To determine the properreclining angle, check with the baby'sdoctor or follow the seat maker'srecommendations.

To achieve the desired recliningangle, it may help to put a rolled uptowel under the toe of the child seat,as shown.

When properly installed, a rear-facing child seat may prevent thedriver or a front-seat passenger frommoving the seat as far back asrecommended (see page 12 ). Or itmay prevent them from locking theseat-back in the desired uprightposition (see page 13 ).

In either case, we recommend thatyou place the child seat directlybehind the front passenger seat,move the front seat as far forward asneeded, and leave it unoccupied. Oryou may wish to get a smaller childseat that allows you to safely carry afront passenger.


Protecting Children

Additional Precautions for InfantsNever hold an infant on your lap.If you are not wearing a seat beltin a crash, you could be thrownforward into the dashboard andcrush the infant.

If you are wearing a seat belt, theinfant can be torn from your arms.For example, if your car crashesinto a parked vehicle at 30 mph(48 km/h), a 20-lb (9 kg) infantwill become a 600-lb (275 kg) force,and you will not be able to hold on.

Never put a seat belt over yourselfand an infant. During a crash, thebelt could press deep into theinfant and cause very seriousinjuries.

Protecting Small Children

Child Seat TypeA child who can sit up withoutsupport, and who fits within the childseat maker's weight and heightlimits, should be restrained in aforward-facing, upright child seat.

Of the different seats available, werecommend those that have a five-point harness system as shown.

We also recommend that a smallchild stay in the child seat as long aspossible, until the child reaches theweight or height limit for the seat.

Child Seat PlacementIn this car, the best place to install aforward-facing child seat is in one ofthe seating positions in the back seat.

Placing a forward-facing child seat inthe front seat of a vehicle equippedwith a passenger airbag can behazardous. If the car seat is too farforward, or the child's head isthrown forward during a collision, aninflating passenger's airbag canstrike the child with enough force tocause very serious or fatal injuries. Ifa small child must be closelywatched, we recommend thatanother adult sit in the back seatwith the child.

CONTINUED


Protecting Children

If it is necessary to put a forward-facing child seat in the front, movethe vehicle seat as far to the rear aspossible, be sure the child seat isfirmly secured to the car, and thechild is properly strapped in the seat.

Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder BeltThe lap/shoulder belts in the outerback and front passenger seatingpositions have a locking mechanismthat must be activated to secure achild seat.

The following pages provideinstructions on how to secure aforward-facing child seat with thistype of seat belt.

See page 36 for how to secure aforward-facing child seat in thecenter back seat with the lap belt.

1. With the child seat in the desiredback seating position, route thebelt through the child seataccording to the seat maker'sinstructions, then insert the latchplate into the buckle.


Improperly placing a forward-facing child seat in the frontseat can result in serious injuryor death if the airbags inflate.

If you must place a forward-facing child seat in front, movethe vehicle seat as far back aspossible and properly restrainthe child.

Protecting Children

2. To activate the lockable retractor,slowly pull the shoulder part of thebelt all the way out until it stops,then let the belt feed back into theretractor (you might hear aclicking noise as the belt retracts).

3. After the belt has retracted, tug onit. If the belt is locked, you will notbe able to pull it out. If you can pullthe belt out, it is not locked andyou will need to repeat these steps.

4. After confirming that the belt islocked, grab the shoulder part ofthe belt near the buckle and pullup to remove any slack from thelap part of the belt. Remember, ifthe lap part of the belt is not tight,the child seat will not be secure. Itmay help to put weight on thechild seat, or push on the back ofthe seat, while pulling up on thebelt.

5. Push and pull the child seatforward and from side to side toverify that it is secure enough tostay upright during normal drivingmaneuvers. If the child seat is notsecure, unlatch the belt, allow it toretract fully, then repeat thesesteps.

CONTINUED


Protecting Children

To deactivate the lockingmechanism in order to remove achild seat, unlatch the buckle,unroute the seat belt, and let the beltfully retract.

Installing a Child Seat with the LapBelt

To install a forward-facing child seatin the center back seat with the lapbelt, follow instruction number 1 onpage 34 for routing and latching theseat belt. Then pull hard on the looseend of the belt to remove any slack;it may help to put weight on the childseat while pulling on the belt. Finally,follow instruction number 5 on page35 to verify that the child seat issecure.

Additional Precautions for SmallChildren

Never hold a small child on yourlap. If you are not wearing a seatbelt in a crash, you could bethrown forward into thedashboard and crush the child.

If you are wearing a seat belt, thechild can be torn from your armsduring a crash. For example, ifyour car crashes into a parkedvehicle at 30 mph (48 km/h), a30-lb (14 kg) child will become a900-lb (410 kg) force, and you willnot be able to hold on.

Never put a seat belt over yourselfand a child. During a crash, thebelt could press deep into the childand cause very serious injuries.


Protecting Children

Protecting Larger ChildrenWhen a child reaches therecommended weight or height limitfor a forward-facing child seat, thechild should sit in one of the outerback seats and wear a lap/shoulderbelt. The lap/shoulder belt providesbetter protection than the lap belt.

If a child is too short for the shoulderpart of the belt to properly fit, werecommend that the child use abooster seat until they are tallenough to use the seat belt without abooster.

The following pages giveinstructions on how to check properseat belt fit, what kind of boosterseat to use if one is needed, andimportant precautions for childrenwho must sit in the front seat.

Checking Seat Belt FitTo determine if a lap/shoulder beltproperly fits a child, have the childput on the seat belt. Follow theinstructions on page 15 . Then checkhow the belt fits.

CONTINUED


Allowing a larger child to sitimproperly in the front seat canresult in injury or death if theairbags inflate.

If a larger child must sit in front,make sure the child moves theseat as far back as possibleand wears the seat belt properly.

Protecting Children

If the shoulder part of the belt restsover the child's collarbone andagainst the center of the chest, asshown, the child is large enough towear the seat belt.

However, if the belt touches orcrosses the child's neck, the childneeds to use a booster seat.

Do not let a child wear a seat beltacross the neck. This could result inserious neck injuries during a crash.

Do not let a child put the shoulderpart of a seat belt behind the back orunder the arm. This could causevery serious injuries during a crash.It also increases the chance that thechild will slide under the belt in acrash and be injured.

Do not put any accessories on a seatbelt. Devices intended to improveoccupant comfort or reposition theshoulder part of a seat belt, severelycompromise the protective capabilityof seat belts and increase the chanceof serious injury in a crash.

Two children should never use thesame seat belt. If they do, they couldbe very seriously injured in a crash.


Protecting Children

Using a Booster Seat

If a child needs a booster seat, werecommend choosing a style thatallows the child to use the lap/shoulder belt directly, without ashield, as shown.

Whichever style you select, followthe booster seat maker's instructions.

A child may continue using a boosterseat until the tops of the ears areeven with the top of the seat-back. Achild of this height should be tallenough to use the lap/shoulder beltwithout a booster.

When Can a Larger Child Sit in FrontThe National Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration and TransportCanada recommend that all childrenages 12 and under be properlyrestrained in a back seat.

The back seat is the safest place fora child of any age or size.

In addition, the passenger's airbagposes serious risks to children. If theseat is too far forward, or the child'shead is thrown forward during acollision, or the child is unrestrainedor out of position, an inflating airbagcan kill or seriously injure the child.

Of course, children vary widely. Andwhile age may be one indicator ofwhen a child can safely ride in thefront, there are other importantfactors you should consider.

CONTINUED


Protecting Children

Physical SizePhysically, a child must be largeenough for the lap/shoulder belt toproperly fit over the hips, chest, andshoulder (see pages 15 and 21). Ifthe seat belt does not fit properly,the child should not sit in the front.

MaturityTo safely ride in front, a child mustbe able to follow the rules, includingsitting properly and wearing the seatbelt properly throughout a ride.

If you decide that a child can safelyride up front, be sure to:

Carefully read the owner's manualand make sure you understand allseat belt instructions and all safetyinformation.

Move the vehicle seat to the rear-most position.

Have the child sit up straight, backagainst the seat, and feet on ornear the floor.

Check that the child's seat belt isproperly positioned and secured.

Supervise the child. Even maturechildren sometimes need to bereminded to fasten the seat beltsor sit properly.

Using Child Seats with Tethers

Your car has three tether anchoragepoints on the rear shelf for securinga tether-style child seat to the car.

Since a tether can provide additionalsecurity, we recommend using atether whenever one is required oravailable.


Protecting Children


Attach the tether strap hook to thetether anchorage point and tightenthe strap according to the child seatmaker's instructions.

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

Seat Belt System ComponentsYour seat belt system includes lap/shoulder belts in the front seats andthe outer back seats, and a lap belt inthe center back seat.

The seat belt system alsoincludes a light on the

instrument panel to remind you andyour passengers to fasten your belts.If the driver's seat belt is notfastened before the ignition is turnedON (II), the light will come on and abeeper will also sound. The beeperwill stop after a few seconds, but thelight will stay on until the driver'sseat belt is fastened.

Lap/Shoulder BeltThis seat belt has a single belt thatgoes over your shoulder, across yourchest and across your hips.

To fasten the belt, insert the latchplate into the buckle, then tug on thebelt to make sure the buckle islatched.

To unlock the belt, push the redPRESS button on the buckle.Guide the belt across your body tothe door pillar. After exiting the car,be sure the belt is out of the way andwill not get closed in the door.

All lap/shoulder belts have anemergency locking retractor.In normal driving, the retractor letsyou move freely in your seat while itkeeps some tension on the belt.During a collision or sudden stop,the retractor automatically locks thebelt to help restrain your body.

All the lap/shoulder belts except thedriver's have an additional lockingmechanism that must be activated tosecure a child seat. (See pages30 and 32 for instructions on how tosecure child seats with this type ofseat belt.)

If the shoulder part of the belt ispulled all the way out, the lockingmechanism will activate. The beltwill retract, but it will not allow thepassenger to move freely.



To deactivate the lockingmechanism, unlatch the buckle andlet the seat belt fully retract. Torefasten the belt, pull it out only asfar as needed.

See page 15 for instructions on howto wear the lap/shoulder beltproperly.

Lap BeltThe lap belt has one manually-adjusted belt that fits across the hips.

To fasten the belt, insert the latchplate into the buckle markedCENTER, then tug on the belt tomake sure the buckle is latched.

To unlock the belt, push the redPRESS button.

See page 16 for how to lengthen thelap belt, and how to properly positionthe belt.



Seat Belt MaintenanceFor safety, you should check thecondition of your seat belts regularly.

Pull each belt out fully and look forfrays, cuts, burns, and wear. Checkthat the latches work smoothly andthat the lap/shoulder belts retracteasily. Any belt not in good conditionor not working properly will notprovide good protection and shouldbe replaced as soon as possible.

U.S. ModelsHonda provides a lifetime warrantyon seat belts. Honda will repair orreplace any seat belt component thatfails to function properly duringnormal use. Please see your HondaWarranty Information booklet fordetails.

If a seat belt is worn during a crash,you should have your dealer inspectthe belt, and replace it if necessary.A belt that has been worn during acrash may not provide the same levelof protection in a subsequent crash.The dealer should also inspect theanchors for damage and replacethem if needed.For information on how to clean yourseat belts, see page 216 .


Not checking or maintainingseat belts can result in seriousinjury or death if the seat beltsdo not work properly whenneeded.

Check your seat belts regularlyand have any problemcorrected as soon as possible.

Additional Information About Your SRS

SRS ComponentsYour Supplemental Restraint System(SRS) includes:

Two front airbags. The driver'sairbag is stored in the center ofthe steering wheel; the frontpassenger's airbag is stored in thedashboard. Both are marked "SRSAIRBAG."

Sensors that can detect amoderate to severe frontalcollision.

A sophisticated electronic systemthat continually monitors thesensors, control unit, the airbagactivators, and all related wiringwhen the ignition is ON (II).

An indicator light on theinstrument panel that alerts you toa possible problem with thesystem (see page 47 ).

Emergency backup power in caseyour car's electrical system isdisconnected in a crash.

How Your Airbags Work

If you ever have a moderate tosevere frontal collision, the sensorswill detect rapid deceleration andsignal the control unit to instantlyinflate the airbags.

During a crash, your seat belt helpsrestrain your lower body and torso.Your airbag provides a cushion tohelp restrain and protect your headand chest.


CONTINUED


Since both airbags use the samesensors, both airbags normallyinflate at the same time. However, itis possible for only one airbag toinflate.

This can occur when the severity ofa collision is at the margin, orthreshold, that determines whetheror not the airbags will deploy. Insuch cases, the seat belt will providesufficient protection, and thesupplemental protection offered bythe airbag would be minimal.

After inflating, the airbagsimmediately deflate, so they won'tinterfere with the driver's visibility,or the ability to steer or operateother controls.

The total time for inflation anddeflation is approximately one-tenthof a second, so fast that mostoccupants are not aware that theairbags deployed until they see themlying in their laps.

After a crash, you may see whatlooks like smoke. This is actuallypowder from the airbag's surface.Although the powder is not harmful,people with respiratory problemsmay experience some temporarydiscomfort. If this occurs, get out ofthe car as soon as it is safe to do so.

U.S. OwnersFor additional information on howyour airbags work, see the booklettitled SRS: What You Need to KnowAbout Airbags that came with yourowner's manual.

Canadian OwnersFor additional information on howyour airbags work, ask your dealerfor a copy of the booklet titled SRS:What You Need to Know About Airbags.



How the SRS Indicator LightWorks

The purpose of the SRSlight is to alert you to a

potential problem with yourSupplemental Restraint System.

When you turn the ignition ON (II),this indicator will light up brieflythen go out. This tells you that thesystem is working properly.

However, if the light comes on at anyother time, you should have thesystem checked by your dealer. Forexample:

If the SRS indicator light does notcome on after you turn the ignitionON (II).

If the light stays on after theengine starts.

If the light comes on or flashes onand off while you drive.

If you see any of these indications,your airbags may not deploy whenyou need them. See your Hondadealer as soon as possible.

SRS ServiceYour Supplemental Restraint Systemis virtually maintenance-free, andthere are no parts you can safelyservice. However, you must haveyour car serviced if:

Your airbags ever inflate. Theairbags and the control unit mustbe replaced. Do not try to removeor replace the airbags yourself.This must be done by a Hondadealer or a knowledgeable bodyshop.

The SRS indicator light alerts youto a problem. Take your car to anauthorized Honda dealer as soonas possible. If you ignore thisindication, the airbags might notinflate when you need them.


SRS

Ignoring the SRS indicator lightcan result in serious injury ordeath if the airbags do notinflate when needed.

Have your vehicle checked by adealer as soon as possible ifthe SRS light alerts you to apotential problem.


Additional Safety PrecautionsDo not attempt to deactivate yourairbags. Together, airbags andseat belts provide the bestprotection in a moderate to severefrontal collision.

Do not tamper with SRScomponents or wiring for anyreason. Tampering could causethe airbags to deploy, possiblycausing very serious injury.

See page 131 for further informationand precautions relating to your SRS.


Carbon Monoxide Hazard

Your car's exhaust contains carbonmonoxide gas. You should have noproblem with carbon monoxideentering the car in normal driving ifyou maintain your car properly.Have the exhaust system inspectedfor leaks whenever:

The car is raised for an oil change.You notice a change in the soundof the exhaust.The car was in an accident thatmay have damaged the underside. High levels of carbon monoxide can

collect rapidly in enclosed areas,such as a garage. Do not run theengine with the garage door closed.Even with the door open, run theengine only long enough to move thevehicle out of the garage.

With the trunk lid open, air flow canpull exhaust gas into your car'sinterior and create a hazardouscondition. If you must drive with thetrunk lid open, open all the windowsand set the climate control system asshown below.

If you must sit in your parked car,even in an unconfined area, with theengine running, adjust the heatingand 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.


Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.Breathing it can causeunconsciousness and even killyou.

Avoid any enclosed areas oractivities that expose you tocarbon monoxide.

Safety Labels


These labels are in the locationsshown. They warn you of potentialhazards that could cause seriousinjury. Read these labels carefully.

If a label comes off or becomes hardto read, contact your Honda dealerfor a replacement.

HOOD

RADIATOR CAP

DASHBOARDU.S. models only

SUN VISORU.S. models

Canadian models

Instruments and Controls

This section gives information aboutthe controls and displays thatcontribute to the daily operation ofyour Honda. All the essentialcontrols are within easy reach.

Control Locations............................ 52Indicator Lights................................ 53Gauges.............................................. 57

Speedometer................................ 57Tachometer.................................. 57Odometer...................................... 57Trip Meter.................................... 57Fuel Gauge................................... 58Temperature Gauge.................... 58Maintenance Required

Indicator.................................... 59Controls Near the Steering

Wheel........................................ 60Headlights.................................... 61Daytime Running Lights............. 61Instrument Panel Brightness..... 62Turn Signals................................. 62Windshield Wipers...................... 63Windshield Washers................... 63Hazard Warning........................... 64Rear Window Defogger.............. 64Steering Wheel Adjustment....... 65

Steering Wheel Controls ................ 66Cruise Control.............................. 66

Keys and Locks................................ 69Keys............................................... 69

Ignition Switch............................. 69Door Locks................................... 70Power Door Locks....................... 71Remote Transmitter.................... 72Trunk............................................ 75

Seat Adjustments............................. 76Front Seat Adjustments.............. 76Rear Seat Access......................... 77Head Restraints........................... 77

Folding Rear Seat............................ 78Power Windows............................... 79Moonroof.......................................... 81Mirrors.............................................. 81

Adjusting the Power Mirrors..... 82Parking Brake.................................. 83Glove Box......................................... 83Beverage Holder.............................. 84Accessory Power Socket................ 85Ashtrays............................................ 85Interior Light.................................... 86


Control Locations



DOOR LOCKSWITCHES(P- 70)

POWER WINDOWSWITCHES(P. 79)

FUEL FILLDOOR RELEASE(P. 125)

TRUNK RELEASEHANDLE(P. 75)

HOOD RELEASEHANDLE(P. 126)

HEATING/COOLINGCONTROLS(P. 88)

AUDIO SYSTEM,DIGITAL CLOCK(P. 108)

Indicator Lights

The instrument panel has manyindicators to give you importantinformation about your car.

U.S.: EX, Canada: Si Instrument Panel

* The U.S. instrument panel is shown. Differences for Canadian models arenoted in the text.


CHARGING SYSTEMINDICATOR

PARKING BRAKE ANDBRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR*

TRUNK-OPENINDICATORLOW FUEL INDICATOR

SEAT BELTREMINDER LIGHT

ANTI-LOCK BRAKESYSTEM INDICATOR*

HIGH BEAMINDICATOR

CRUISE CONTROLINDICATOR

SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINTSYSTEM INDICATOR

MALFUNCTIONINDICATOR LAMPLOW OILPRESSUREINDICATOR

Indicator Lights

* Differences in the indicators for Canadian models are noted in the text.

Seat Belt Reminder Light

This indicator lights when you turnthe ignition switch ON (II). It is areminder to you and your passengersto protect yourselves by fasteningthe seat belts. A beeper also soundsif you have not fastened your seatbelt.

If you do not fasten your seat belt,the beeper will stop after a fewseconds but the light stays on untilyou do. Both the light and the beeperstay off if you fasten your seat beltbefore turning on the ignition.

Supplemental RestraintSystem Indicator

This indicator lights when you turnthe ignition switch ON (II). If itcomes on at any other time, itindicates a problem in thesupplemental restraint system. Forcomplete information, see page 47.


SRS

U.S.: DX, Canada: DX

HIGH BEAM INDICATOR

CHARGING SYSTEMINDICATOR

LOW OILPRESSUREINDICATOR

PARKING BRAKE AND BRAKESYSTEM INDICATOR"

TRUNK-OPENINDICATOR

LOW FUEL INDICATOR

MALFUNCTIONINDICATOR LAMP

SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINTSYSTEM INDICATOR

SEAT BELTREMINDER LIGHT

ANTI-LOCK BRAKESYSTEM INDICATOR(On models equipped with ABS)

Indicator Lights

Charging SystemIndicator

If this light comes on when theengine is running, the battery is notbeing charged. For completeinformation, see page 232 .

Low Oil PressureIndicator

The engine can be severely damagedif this light flashes or stays on whenthe engine is running. For completeinformation, see page 231.

High Beam Indicator

This light comes on with the highbeam headlights. See page 61 forinformation on the headlightcontrols.

On Canadian models, this indicatorcomes on with reduced brightnesswhen the Daytime Running Lights(DRL) are on (see page 61).

This light has two functions:

1. It lights as a reminder that youhave not released the parkingbrake. Driving with the parkingbrake applied can damage thebrakes and tires.

2. If it remains lit after you releasethe parking brake while the engineis running, or comes on whiledriving, it can indicate a problemin the brake system. For completeinformation, see page 234 .

Malfunction IndicatorLamp

See page 233.

Only on cars equipped with ABS (seepage 153)This light normally comes on for afew seconds when you turn theignition switch ON (II), and whenthe ignition switch is turned toSTART (III). If this light comes on atany other time, there is a problem inthe ABS. If this happens, take thecar to your dealer to have it checked.With the light on, your car still hasnormal braking ability but no anti-lock. For complete information, seepage 153.


BRAKE

U.S. Canada Parking Brakeand BrakeSystemIndicator

U.S. Canada Anti-lock BrakeSystem (ABS)IndicatorABS

Indicator Lights

The left or right turn signal lightblinks when you signal a lane changeor turn. If the light does not blink orblinks rapidly, it usually means oneof the turn signal bulbs is burned out(see page 205 ). Replace the bulb assoon as possible, since other driverscannot see that you are signalling.

When you turn on the HazardWarning switch, both turn signallights blink. All turn signals on theoutside of the car should flash.

Trunk-open Indicator

This light comes on if the trunk lid isnot closed tightly.

Low Fuel Indicator

This light comes on as a reminderthat you must refuel soon.

Cruise Control Indicator

Only on models equipped with CruiseControl SystemThis lights when you set the cruisecontrol. See page 66 for informationon operating the cruise control.

Washer Level Indicator

Canadian models onlyThis light comes on when thewasher fluid level is low. Add washerfluid when you see this light come on(see page 180).


Turn Signal andHazard WarningIndicators

CRUISECONTROL

Gauges

SpeedometerU.S. ModelsThis shows your speed in miles perhour (mph). The smaller innernumbers are the speed in kilometersper hour (km/h).

Canadian ModelsThis shows your speed in kilometersper hour (km/h). The smaller innernumbers are the speed in miles per

hour (mph).

TachometerOn HX, EX, and Si models in the U.S.,and Si and SiR models in CanadaThe tachometer shows the enginespeed in revolutions per minute(rpm). To protect the engine fromdamage, never drive with thetachometer needle in the red zone.

OdometerThe odometer shows the total dis-tance your car has been driven. Itmeasures miles in U.S. models andkilometers in Canadian models.It is illegal under U.S. federal law andCanadian provincial regulations todisconnect, reset, or alter theodometer with the intent to changethe number of miles or kilometersindicated.

Trip MeterThis meter shows the number ofmiles (U.S.) or kilometers (Canada)driven since you last reset it. Toreset it, push the trip meter resetbutton.


U.S.: EX, Canada: Si Instrument Panel

TACHOMETER TRIP METER SPEEDOMETER FUEL GAUGE TEMPERATUREGAUGE

ODOMETER MAINTENANCEREQUIRED INDICATOR

TRIP METERRESET BUTTON

Gauges

Fuel GaugeThis shows how much fuel you have.It is most accurate when the car is onlevel ground. It may show slightlymore or less than the actual amountwhen you are driving on curvy orhilly roads.

The gauge stays at the same fuellevel reading after you turn off theignition. When you add fuel, thegauge slowly changes to the newreading after you turn the ignitionswitch back ON (II).

Temperature GaugeThis shows the temperature of theengine's coolant. During normaloperation, the pointer should risefrom the bottom white mark to aboutthe middle of the gauge. In severedriving conditions, such as very hotweather or a long period of uphilldriving, the pointer may rise to theupper blue zone. If it reaches the red(Hot) mark, pull safely to the side ofthe road. Turn to page 229 forinstructions and precautions onchecking the engine's coolingsystem.


DX Instrument Panel

TEMPERATUREGAUGE

TRIP METER SPEEDOMETER FUEL GAUGE

ODOMETER

MAINTENANCEREQUIRED INDICATOR(U.S. Cars only)

TRIP METERRESET BUTTON

Gauges

Maintenance Required Indicator

U.S. ModelsThis indicator reminds you that it isnearing 7,500 miles (12,000 km)since the last scheduled maintenance.Refer to the Maintenance Schedulesfor Normal and Severe DrivingConditions on pages 162 —166.

When the distance driven since thelast scheduled maintenance nears7,500 miles (12,000 km), theindicator will turn yellow. If youexceed 7,500 miles (12,000 km), theindicator will turn red.

Your dealer will reset the indicatorwhen he performs the scheduledmaintenance. If someone elseperforms the maintenance, reset theindicator by inserting your key in theslot beside the indicator.


SLOT INDICATOR

Controls Near the Steering Wheel

The two levers on the steeringcolumn contain controls for drivingfeatures you use most often. The leftlever controls the turn signals,headlights, and high beams. Theright lever controls the windshieldwashers and wipers.

The rear window defogger switch ison the dashboard to the right of thecenter air vents.

The controls under the left air ventare for the moonroof, mirrors, cruisecontrol and instrument panelbrightness.

The tilt adjustment lever on theunderside of the steering columnallows you to tilt the steering wheel.


CRUISECONTROL

INSTRUMENT PANELBRIGHTNESS

HAZARD WARNINGLIGHTS

REAR WINDOWDEFOGGER

WINDSHIELDWIPERS/WASHERS

MIRRORCONTROLS

HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS TILT ADJUSTMENT HORN

MOONROOF


Headlights

The rotating switch on the left levercontrols the lights. Turning thisswitch to the position turnson the parking lights, taillights,instrument panel lights, side-markerlights, and rear license plate lights.Turning the switch to theposition turns on the headlights.

If you leave the lights on with theignition switch in ACCESSORY (I)or LOCK (0), you will hear areminder beeper when you open thedriver's door.

To change between low beams andhigh beams, pull the turn signal leveruntil you hear a click, then let go.The blue high beam indicator willlight (see page 55).

To flash the high beams, pull theturn signal lever back lightly, thenrelease it. The high beams will comeon and go off.

The high beams will stay on for aslong as you hold the lever back, nomatter what position the headlightswitch is in.

Daytime Running Lights(Canadian Models)With the headlight switch off, thehigh beam headlights come on withreduced brightness when you turnthe ignition switch to ON (II) andrelease the parking brake. Theyremain on until you turn the ignitionoff, even if you set the parking brake.

The headlights revert to normaloperation when you turn them onwith the switch.



The dial on the dashboard to the leftof the instrument panel controls thebrightness of the instrument panellights. Turn the dial to adjust thebrightness.

Signal a turn or lane change with thislever. Push down on the lever tosignal a left turn, and up to signal aright turn. If you push it up or downall the way, the turn signal continuesto blink even when you release thelever. It shuts off automatically asyou complete the turn.

To signal a lane change, push lightlyon the turn signal lever in the properdirection and hold it. The lever willreturn to the center position as soonas you release it.


Turn Signals

TURN SIGNAL LEVER

Instrument Panel Brightness


The right lever controls the wind-shield wipers and washers. Therotary switch at the end of the leverhas three positions:

INT: intermittent: low speed: high speed

In intermittent, the wipers operateevery few seconds. In low speed andhigh speed, the wipers run continu-ously.

To operate the wipers in mist mode,push the control lever down. Thewipers run at high speed until yourelease the lever. This gives you aquick way to clear the windshield.

Windshield Washers

To clean the windshield, pull back onthe wiper control lever. The washersspray until you release the lever.

On Canadian modelsThe wipers run at low speed whileyou're pulling the lever, thencomplete one more sweep of thewindshield after you release it.


Windshield Wipers


Hazard Warning

Push the red button to the left of thecenter vents to turn on the hazardwarning lights (four-way flashers).This causes all four outside turnsignals and both indicators in theinstrument panel to flash. Use thehazard warning lights if you need topark in a dangerous area near heavytraffic, or if your car is disabled.

Rear Window Defogger

The rear window defogger will clearfog, frost, and thin ice from thewindow. Push the defogger button toturn it on and off. The light in thebutton lights to show the defogger ison. If you do not turn it off, thedefogger will shut itself off afterabout 25 minutes. It also shuts offwhen you turn off the ignition. Youhave to turn it on again when yourestart the car.

Make sure the rear window is clearand you have good visibility beforestarting to drive.

The defogger wires on the inside ofthe rear window can be accidentallydamaged. When cleaning the glass,always wipe side to side.



Steering Wheel AdjustmentSee page 18 for important safetyinformation about how to properlyposition the steering wheel.Make any steering wheel adjustmentbefore you start driving.

To adjust the steering wheel upwardor downward:

1. Push the lever under the steeringcolumn all the way down.

2. Move the steering wheel to thedesired position, making sure thewheel points toward your chest,not toward your face. Make sureyou can see the instrument panelgauges and the indicator lights.

3. Push the lever up to lock thesteering wheel in that position.

4. Make sure you have securelylocked the steering wheel in placeby trying to move it up and down.


Adjusting the steering wheelposition while driving maycause you to lose control of thecar and be seriously injured in acrash.

Adjust the steering wheel onlywhen the car is stopped.

Steering Wheel Controls

Cruise ControlOn EX and Si models in the U.S., and Siand SiR models in CanadaCruise control allows you to maintaina set speed above 25 mph (40 km/h)without keeping your foot on theaccelerator pedal. It should be usedfor cruising on straight, openhighways. It is not recommended forconditions such as city driving,winding roads, slippery roads, heavyrain, or bad weather. You shouldhave full control of the car underthose conditions.

The cruise control, as it operates,moves the accelerator pedal. You candamage your car's acceleratormechanism by resting your foot underthe pedal and blocking the movement.

Using the Cruise Control

1. Push in the Cruise Control MasterSwitch to the left of the steeringcolumn. The indicator in theswitch will light.

2. Accelerate to the desired cruisingspeed above 25 mph (40 km/h).


NOTICE

Improper use of the cruisecontrol can lead to a crash.

Use the cruise control onlywhen traveling on openhighways in good weather.


3. Press and release the SET/decelbutton on the steering wheel. TheCRUISE CONTROL light on theinstrument panel comes on toshow the system is now activated.

The cruise control may not holdthe set speed when you are goingup and down hills. If your speedincreases going down a hill, usethe brakes to slow down to thedesired speed. This will cancel the

cruise control. To resume the setspeed, press and hold theRESUME/accel button until theCRUISE CONTROL light on theinstrument panel comes on. Whenclimbing a steep hill, the automatictransmission may downshift tohold the set speed.

Changing the Set SpeedYou can increase the set cruisingspeed in any of these ways:

Press and hold the RESUME/accel button. The car will acceler-ate. When you reach the desiredcruising speed, release the button.

Push on the accelerator pedal. Ac-celerate to the desired cruisingspeed and press the SET/decelbutton.

To increase your speed in verysmall amounts, tap the RESUME/accel button repeatedly. Each time

you do this, your car will speed upabout 1 mph (1.6 km/h).

You can decrease the set cruisingspeed in any of these ways:

Press and hold the SET/decelbutton. The car will decelerate.Release the button when youreach the desired speed.

To slow down in very smallamounts, tap the SET/decelbutton repeatedly. Each time youdo this, your car will slow downabout 1 mph (1.6 km/h).

Tap the brake or clutch pedallightly with your foot. TheCRUISE CONTROL light on theinstrument panel will go out.When the car slows to the desiredspeed, press the SET/decel button.The car will then maintain thedesired speed.


RESUME/accel

SET/decel

CONTINUED


Even with the cruise control turnedon, you can still use the acceleratorpedal to speed up for passing. Aftercompleting the pass, take your footoff the accelerator pedal. The carwill return to the set cruising speed.

Resting your foot on the brake orclutch pedal will cause the cruisecontrol to cancel.

Cancelling the Cruise ControlYou can cancel the cruise control inany of these ways:

Tap the brake or clutch pedal.

Press the SET/decel and RE-SUME/accel buttons at the sametime.

Press the Cruise Control MasterSwitch.

When you tap the brake or clutchpedal, or press the SET and RE-SUME buttons at the same time, theCRUISE CONTROL light on theinstrument panel will go out and thecar will begin to slow down. You canuse the accelerator pedal in thenormal way.

The system remembers thepreviously-set cruising speed. Toreturn to that speed, accelerate toabove 25 mph (40 km/h) and press

the RESUME/accel button until theCRUISE CONTROL light comes on.The car will accelerate to the samecruising speed as before.

Pressing the Cruise Control MasterSwitch turns the system completelyoff and erases the previous cruisingspeed from memory. To use thesystem again, refer to Using theCruise Control.


Your car comes with two masterkeys and a valet key.The master key fits all the locks onyour vehicle:

IgnitionDoorsTrunkTrunk release handleRear seat trunk access

The valet key works only in theignition and the door locks. You cankeep the trunk, trunk release handle,trunk pass-through cover, rear seattrunk access and glove box lockedwhen you leave your car and thevalet key at a parking facility.

You should have received a keynumber plate with your set of keys.You will need this key number if youever have to get a lost key replaced.Keep the plate stored in a safe place.

When replacing keys, use onlyHonda-approved key blanks.

Remote TransmitterOn EX and Si models in the U.S.Your car also comes with two remotetransmitters; see page 72 for anexplanation of the operation.

Ignition Switch

The ignition switch is on the rightside of the steering column. It hasfour positions:

LOCK (0)ACCESSORY (I)ON (II)START (III)

CONTINUED


Keys

KEYNUMBERPLATE

MASTERKEYS

VALET KEY

Keys and Locks

Keys and Locks

LOCK (0) — You can insert orremove the key only in this position.To switch from ACCESSORY toLOCK, you must push the key inslightly as you turn it. If your car hasan automatic transmission, the shiftlever must also be in Park. The anti-theft lock will lock the steeringcolumn when you remove the key.If the front wheels are turned, theanti-theft lock may sometimes makeit difficult to turn the key fromLOCK to ACCESSORY. Firmly turnthe steering wheel to the left or tothe right as you turn the key.

ACCESSORY (I) — In this position,you can operate the audio systemand the accessory power socket.

ON (II) — This is the normal keyposition when driving. All featuresand accessories on the car are usable.Several of the lights on the instru-ment panel come on as a test whenyou turn the ignition switch fromACCESSORY to ON.

START (III) — Use this positiononly to start the engine. The switchreturns to ON (II) when you let go ofthe key.

You will hear a reminder beeper ifyou leave the key in the ignitionswitch in the LOCK (0) orACCESSORY (I) position and openthe driver's door. Remove the key toturn off the beeper.

Door Locks

Each door has a lock tab next to theinside door handle. Push the tab in tolock the door and pull it out to unlock.

To lock any passenger's door whengetting out of the car, push the locktab in and close the door. To lock thedriver's door, pull the outside doorhandle and push the lock tab in orpush the master switch down.Release the handle, then close thedoor.


Removing the key from theignition switch while drivinglocks the steering. This cancause you to lose control.

Remove the key from theignition switch only whenparked.

Keys and Locks

The doors can also be locked andunlocked from the outside with thekey.

Power Door Locks

On HX, EX and Si models in the U.S.,and Si and SiR models in CanadaThe master door lock switch allowscontrol of both door locks from thedriver's door. Push the switch downto lock both doors, and up to unlockthem.

Both doors lock when you push thelock tab on the driver's door in, orlock the driver's door from theoutside with the key. Only the driver'sdoor unlocks when you use the keyor lock tab. To unlock the passenger'sdoor, use the master door lockswitch or the lock tab on the passen-ger's door.


MASTER DOOR LOCK SWITCH

Keys and Locks

On EX and Si models in the U.S.You can lock and unlock your carwith the remote transmitter. Whenyou push the LOCK button, all doorslock. The parking lights, side markerlights, and taillights flash once.

When you push the UNLOCK buttononce, only the driver's door unlocks.The passenger's door unlocks whenyou push the button a second time.The parking lights, side marker

lights, and taillights flash twice.

The interior light (if the interior lightswitch is in the center position) willcome on when you press theUNLOCK button. If you do not openeither door, the light will go out inabout 30 seconds and the doors willautomatically relock. If you relockthe doors with the remotetransmitter before 30 seconds haveelapsed, the light will go offimmediately.

You cannot lock or unlock the doorswith the remote transmitter if eitherdoor is not fully closed or the key isin the ignition switch.

Panic ModePanic mode allows you to remotelyactivate your car's horn and exteriorlights to attract attention. Whenactivated, the horn will sound, andthe exterior lights will flash, forabout 30 seconds. To activate panicmode, press and hold the PANICbutton for about one second.

To cancel PANIC mode before 30seconds, press any button on theremote transmitter. You can alsoturn the ignition switch toACCESSORY (I) or ON (II).

Panic mode will not activate if theignition switch is in theACCESSORY (I) or ON (II) position.


Remote Transmitter

LOCKBUTTON

PANICBUTTON

UNLOCKBUTTON

LED

Keys and Locks

Replacing the Battery

When the remote transmitter'sbattery begins to get weak, it maytake several pushes on the button tolock or unlock the doors, and theLED will get dim. Replace thebattery as soon as possible.

Battery type: CR2025

To replace the battery, remove theround cover on the back of the trans-mitter by turning it counterclockwisewith a coin.

Remove the old battery and note thepolarity. Make sure the polarity ofthe new battery is the same (+ sidefacing up), then insert it in thetransmitter.

Reinstall the O-ring. Align themark on the cover with themark on the transmitter,

then set the cover in place and turn itclockwise.

After the battery is changed, thetransmitter must be synchronizedwith the main unit. With the doorsand trunk lid closed, press either theLOCK or UNLOCK button six times.

Test the transmitter by locking andunlocking the doors several times.

CONTINUED


ROUNDCOVER

CUSHIONRING

BATTERY

Open

Close

Keys and Locks

Transmitter CareAvoid severe shock to the trans-mitter, such as dropping or throwingit. Also, protect it from extreme hotor cold temperatures.

Clean the transmitter case with asoft cloth. Do not use strongcleaners or solvents that could harmthe case. Immersing the transmitterin any liquid will harm the trans-mitter and cause it to not functionproperly.

Use the ring on the transmitter toattach it to your main key ring. Youcould damage the transmitter if youtry to use its ring as a key ring.

If you lose a transmitter, you willneed to have the replacementprogrammed to your car's system byyour Honda dealer. Any othertransmitters you have will also needto be reprogrammed.

As required by the FCC:This device complies with Part 15 of theFCC rules. Operation is subject to thefollowing two conditions: (1) This devicemay not cause harmful interference, and(2) this device must accept anyinterference received, includinginterference that may cause undesiredoperation.

This device complies with IndustryCanada Standard RSS-210.Operation is subject to the following twoconditions: (1) this device may not causeinterference, and (2) this device mustaccept any interference that may causeundesired operation of the device.

Changes or modifications not expresslyapproved by the party responsible forcompliance could void the user'sauthority to operate the equipment.


Keys and Locks

Trunk

You can open the trunk in two ways:

Pull the trunk release handle tothe left of the driver's seat.

Use the master key to open thetrunk lock. The valet key does notwork in this lock.

To close the trunk, press down onthe trunk lid.

See page 133 for cargo loading andweight limit information. Keep thetrunk lid closed at all times whiledriving to avoid damaging the lid,and to prevent exhaust gas fromgetting into the interior. See CarbonMonoxide Hazard on page 49 .

To protect items in the trunk whenyou need to give the key to someoneelse, lock the trunk release handlewith the master key and give theother person the valet key.


TRUNK RELEASE HANDLE MASTER KEY MASTER KEY

Seat Adjustments

See pages 12 —13 for important safetyinformation and warnings about how toproperly position seats and seat-backs.Make all seat adjustments beforeyou start driving.To adjust the seat forward andbackward, pull up on the lever underthe seat cushion's front edge. Movethe seat to the desired position andrelease the lever. Try to move theseat to make sure it is locked inposition.

To change the angle of the seat-back,pull up on the lever on the outside ofthe seat bottom. Move the seat-backto the desired position and releasethe lever. Let the seat-back latch inthe new position.

Driver's Seat Height Adjustment

On the EX and Si models in the U.S., andSi and SiR models in CanadaThe height of your driver's seat isadjustable. Turn the front dial on theoutside of the seat cushion to raisethe front of the seat bottom and turnthe rear dial to raise the rear.


Front Seat Adjustments

Seat Adjustments

Rear Scat Access

To get into the back seat on thedriver's side, pull up on the seat-backadjustment lever.

To tilt the passenger's seat-back outof the way, push forward on therelease lever at the base of the seat-back.

On HX, EX and Si models in the U.S.,and DX, Si and SiR models in CanadaPush the passenger's seat-back whilepushing the release lever to tilt theseat-back out of the way. The entireseat will slide forward at the sametime.

Head Restraints

See page 14 for important safetyinformation and a warning about how toproperly position the head restraints.The front head restraints helpprotect you and your passenger fromwhiplash and other injuries. They aremost effective when you adjust themso the back of the occupant's headrests against the center of therestraint. A taller person shouldadjust the restraint as high aspossible.


RELEASE BUTTON

RELEASE LEVER

CONTINUED

Seat Adjustments, Folding Rear Seat

The front head restraints adjust forheight. You need both hands toadjust the restraint. Do not attemptto adjust it while driving. To raise it,pull upward. To lower the restraint,push the release button sidewaysand push the restraint down.

To remove a head restraint forcleaning or repair, pull it up as far asit will go. Push the release buttonand pull the restraint out of the seat-back.

Folding Rear SeatThe back of the rear seat folds downto give you direct access to the trunk.Each side folds down separately.With only half the seat folded, youcan still carry a passenger in theback seat.

To fold down either side of the seat-back from inside the car, insert themaster key in the lock on the rearshelf. To fold down the driver's side,turn the key clockwise, pull down thetop of the seat-back, then release thekey. To fold down the passenger'sside, turn the key counterclockwiseand perform the same procedure.


MASTER KEY

Folding Rear Seat, Power Windows

To release the seat-back from insidethe trunk, pull the release under therear shelf. Push the seat-back down,then let go of the release.

To lock the seat-back upright, push itfirmly against the rear shelf. Makesure it is latched in place by pullingon the top of the seat.

Make sure all items in the trunk, oritems extending through the openinginto the back seat, are secured.Loose items can fly forward andcause injury if you have to brakehard. See Carrying Cargo on page132.

Never drive with the seat-backfolded down and the trunk lid open.See Carbon Monoxide Hazard onpage 49.

Power WindowsOn HX, EX and Si models in the U.S., Siand SiR models in CanadaYour car's windows are electrically-powered. Turn the ignition switch toON (II) to raise or lower eitherwindow.

Each door has a switch that controlsits window. To open the window,push the switch down and hold it.Release the switch when you wantthe window to stop. Close thewindow by pulling back on theswitch and holding it.

CONTINUED


RELEASE

Power Windows

On HX, EX and Si models in the U.S., Siand SiR models in CanadaThe driver's door has a masterpower window control panel. Toopen the passenger's window, pushdown on the switch and hold it downuntil the window reaches the desiredposition. To close the window, pullup on the window switch. Releasethe switch when the window gets tothe position you want.

The master control panel also con-tains these extra features:

AUTO — To open the driver'swindow fully, push the windowswitch firmly down and release it.The window automatically goes allthe way down. To stop the windowfrom going all the way down, pullback on the window switch briefly.

To open the driver's window onlypartially, push the window switchdown lightly and hold it. The windowwill stop as soon as you release theswitch.

The AUTO function only works tolower the driver's window. To raisethe window, you must pull back onthe window switch and hold it untilthe window reaches the desiredposition.

The MAIN switch controls power tothe passengers' windows. With thisswitch off, the passengers' windowscannot be raised or lowered. TheMAIN switch does not affect thedriver's window. Keep the MAINswitch off when you have children inthe car so they do not injure them-selves by operating the windowsunintentionally.


MAIN SWITCH

DRIVER'S WINDOW SWITCH

Closing a power window onsomeone's hands or fingers cancause serious injury.

Make sure your passengers areaway from the windows beforeclosing them.

Moonroof, Mirrors

Moonroof

On EX and Si models in the U. S., and Siand SiR models in CanadaUse the switches on the dashboardunder the left vent to operate themoonroof. The ignition must be ON(II).

To lift the rear of the moonroof forventilation, push the button.To slide the moonroof back, pushthe switch. Hold it until themoonroof reaches the desired

position, then release the switch.To close the moonroof, press andhold the switch.

If you try to open the moonroof inbelow-freezing temperatures, or whenit is covered with snow or ice, you candamage the moonroof panel or motor.

Mirrors

Keep the inside and outside mirrorsclean and adjusted for best visibility.Be sure to adjust the mirrors beforeyou start driving.

The inside mirror has day and nightpositions. The night position reducesglare from headlights behind you.Flip the tab on the bottom edge ofthe mirror to select the day or nightposition.


NOTICE

Closing the moonroof onsomeone's hands or fingers cancause serious injury.

Make sure passengers areclear of the moonroof beforeclosing it. TAB

Mirrors

Adjusting the Power Mirrors

On HX, EX and Si models in the U.S., Siand SiR models in CanadaAdjust the outside mirrors with theadjustment switch on the left side ofthe dashboard:

1. Turn the ignition switch ON (II).

2. Move the selector switch to L(driver's side) or R (passenger'sside).

3. Push the appropriate edge of theadjustment switch to move themirror right, left, up or down.

4. When you finish, move theselector switch to the center (off)position. This turns off theadjustment switch so you can'tmove a mirror out of position byaccidentally bumping the switch.

On Si and SiR models in CanadaThe outside mirrors are heated to re-move fog and frost. With the ignitionswitch ON (II), turn on the heatersby pressing the button. The light inthe button comes on as a reminder.Press the button again to turn theheaters off.


SELECTOR SWITCH ADJUSTMENT SWITCH

Parking Brake, Glove Box

Parking Brake

To apply the parking brake, pull thelever up fully. To release it, pull upslightly, push the button, and lowerthe lever. The parking brake light onthe instrument panel should go outwhen the parking brake is fullyreleased (see page 55).

Driving the car with the parking brakeapplied can damage the rear brakesand axles.

Glove Box

Open the glove box by pulling thehandle. Close it with a firm push.


An open glove box can causeserious injury to your passengerin a crash, even if thepassenger is wearing the seatbelt.

Always keep the glove boxclosed while driving.

NOTICE

GLOVE BOXPARKING BRAKE LEVER

Beverage Holder

Be careful when you are using thebeverage holder. A spilled liquid thatis very hot can scald you or yourpassengers. Spilled liquids can alsodamage the upholstery, carpeting,and electrical components in theinterior.

The inner liner can be removed ifyou want to hold a larger cup.


Accessory Power Socket, Ashtrays

Accessory Power Socket

To use the accessory power socket,pull down the cover. The ignitionswitch must be in ACCESSORY (I)or ON (II).

This socket is intended to supplypower for 12 volt DC accessoriesthat are rated 120 watts or less (10amps).

It will not power an automotive typecigarette lighter element.

Ashtrays(Optional)Front and rear ashtrays are availableas options. The front ashtray fits inthe beverage holder.The rear ashtray fits in the rear ofthe center armrest.

Open the rear ashtray by swingingthe upper edge down. To remove theashtray for emptying, open theashtray and then lift it up and out.

Use the ashtray only for cigarettes,cigars, and other smoking materials.To prevent a possible fire and damageto your car, don't put paper or otherthings that can burn in the ashtray.


ACCESSORY POWER SOCKETNOTICE

Interior Light

The interior light has a three-position switch. In the OFF position,the light does not come on. In thecenter position, the interior lightcomes on when you open any door.In the ON position, the interior lightstays on continuously.

(U.S.: DX, HX, Canada: DX)

On cars with remote transmitterThe interior light (with the switch inthe center position) also comes onwhen you unlock the door with theremote transmitter (see page 72 ).

(U.S.: EX and Si, Canada: Si and SiR)

Turn on the spotlight by pushing thebutton next to each light. Push thebutton again to turn it off. You canuse the spotlights at all times.



DOOR ACTIVATEDON

OFFOFF

ON

DOOR ACTIVATED

Comfort and Convenience Features

The heating and air conditioning*systems in your Honda provide acomfortable driving environment inall weather conditions.

The standard audio system hasmany features. This section de-scribes those features and how touse them. (If you selected anoptional audio system, refer to theoperating instructions that camewith it.)

* Air conditioning is standard on theEX and Si models in the U.S. and onSiR model in Canada. It is optional onother models.

Heating and Cooling........................ 88What Each Control Does............ 88How to Use the System............... 90To Turn Everything Off............. 95

Audio System................................... 96Operating the Radio.................... 96Adjusting the Sound.................... 98Digital Clock................................. 99Operating the Optional

CD Player/Changer.............. 100CD Changer Error

Indications.............................. 102AM/FM/CD Audio System..... 103Operating the Radio.................. 104Adjusting the Sound.................. 107Digital Clock............................... 108Operating the CD Player.......... 109Protecting Compact Discs........ 112CD Changer Error

Indications.............................. 114Operating the Cassette

Player...................................... 115Theft Protection........................ 119Radio Frequencies..................... 120Radio Reception......................... 120


Heating and Cooling

Proper use of the Heating andCooling system can make theinterior dry and comfortable, andkeep the windows clear for bestvisibility.

If your car does not have airconditioning, it can be installed atany time. Your dealer can install aGenuine Honda air conditioningsystem that meets Honda's highquality standards and is designed toexactly fit your car. Please contactyour dealer for more information.

What Each Control Does

Fan Control DialTurning this dial clockwise increasesthe fan's speed, which increases airflow.

MODE CONTROL DIAL

TEMPERATURECONTROL DIAL

FAN CONTROLDIAL

RECIRCULATIONBUTTON

AIR CONDITIONINGBUTTON

Temperature Control DialTurning this dial clockwise increasesthe temperature of the air flow.

Air Conditioning (A/C) ButtonThis button turns the air condi-tioning ON and OFF. The indicatorin the button lights when the A/C ison.

Recirculation ButtonThis button controls the source ofthe air going into the system. Whenthe indicator in this button is lit, airfrom the car's interior is sentthrough the system again (Recircula-tion mode). When the indicator is off,air is brought in from outside the car(Fresh Air mode).


Heating and Cooling

Mode Control DialUse the MODE control dial to selectthe vents the air flows from. Someair will flow from the dashboardvents in all modes.

Air flows from the centerand corner vents in the dashboard.

Air flow is divided betweenthe vents in the dashboard and thefloor vents.

Air flows from the floorvents.

Air flow is divided betweenthe floor vents and the defrostervents at the base of the windshield.

Air flows from the defrostervents at the base of the windshield.

When you select the systemautomatically switches to Fresh Airmode and turns on the A/C.


Heating and Cooling

Vent Controls

You can adjust the direction of theair coming from the dashboard ventsby moving the tab in the center ofeach vent up-and-down and side-to-side.

The vents in the corners of thedashboard can be opened and closedwith the dials next to them.

How to Use the SystemThis section covers how to set up thesystem controls for ventilation,heating, cooling, dehumidifying, anddefrosting.

The engine must be running for theheater and air conditioning togenerate hot and cold air. The heateruses engine coolant to warm the air.If the engine is cold, it will be severalminutes before you feel warm aircoming from the system.The air conditioning does not rely onengine temperature.


SIDE VENT

Open

Close

CENTER VENT

Heating and Cooling

It is best to leave the system in FreshAir mode under almost all conditions.Keeping the system in Recirculationmode, particularly with the A/C off,can cause the windows to fog up.Switch to Recirculation mode whenyou are driving through smoky ordusty conditions, then switch back toFresh Air mode when the conditionclears.

The outside air intakes for theheating and cooling system are atthe base of the windshield. Keepthese clear of leaves and otherdebris.

VentilationThe flow-through ventilation systemdraws in outside air, circulates itthrough the interior, then exhausts itthrough vents near the rear window.

1. Turn the temperature control dialall 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


MODE CONTROL DIAL


FAN CONTROLDIAL

RECIRCULATIONBUTTON


Heating and Cooling

To Cool with A/C1. Turn on the A/C by pressing the

button. The light in the buttonshould come on when a fan speedis selected.

2. Make sure the temperaturecontrol dial is all the way to the left.

3. Select4. If the outside air is humid, select

Recirculation mode. If the outsideair is dry, select Fresh Air mode.

5. Set the fan to the desired speed.

If the interior is very warm frombeing parked in the sun, you can coolit down more rapidly by setting upthe controls this way:

1. Start the engine.2. Turn on the A/C by pressing the

button. Make sure the tempera-ture control dial is turned all theway to the left.

3. Set the fan to maximum speed.4. Open the windows partially. Select

and Fresh Air mode.


MODE CONTROL DIAL


FAN CONTROLDIAL

RECIRCULATIONBUTTON


When the interior has cooled downto a more comfortable temperature,close the windows and set thecontrols as described for normalcooling.

Air conditioning places an extra loadon the engine. Watch the enginecoolant temperature gauge (see page58) when driving in stop-and-go

traffic or climbing a long, steep hill.If it moves near the red zone, turnoff the A/C until the gauge readsnormally.

Heating and Cooling

To HeatTo 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 dial.

To Heat and Dehumidify with AirConditioningAir conditioning, as it cools, removesmoisture from the air. When used incombination with the heater, itmakes 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

dial so the mixture of heated andcooled air feels comfortable.

This setting is suitable for all drivingconditions whenever the outsidetemperature is above 32°F (0°C).

To Defog and DefrostTo remove fog from the inside of thewindows:

1. Switch the fan on.2. Select

When you select thesystem automatically switches toFresh Air mode and turns on theA/C.

3. Adjust the temperature controldial so the air flow from thedefroster vents feels warm.

4. Turn on the rear window defoggerto help clear the rear window.When you switch to another modefrom the A/C stays on.Press the A/C button to turn it off.

CONTINUED


Heating and Cooling

To remove exterior frost or ice fromthe windshield and side windowsafter the car has been sitting out incold weather:

1. Start the engine.2. Select

When you select thesystem automatically switches toFresh Air mode and turns on theA/C.

3. Switch the fan and temperaturecontrols to maximum.

To rapidly remove exterior frost orice from the windshield (on very colddays), first select the Recirculationmode. Once the windshield is clear,select the Fresh Air mode to avoidfogging the windows. ;.

MODE CONTROL DIAL



FAN CONTROLDIAL

RECIRCULATIONBUTTON


Heating and Cooling

These settings direct all the air flowto the defroster vents at the base ofthe windshield and the side windowdefroster vents. The air flow will getwarmer and clear the windows fasteras the engine warms up. You canclose the side vents with the dialbeside each vent. This will sendmore warm air to the windshielddefroster vents.

For safety, make sure you have aclear view through all the windowsbefore driving away.

To Turn Everything OffTo shut off the system temporarily,turn the fan speed and temperaturecontrol dials all the way to the left.

You should shut the systemcompletely off only for the first fewminutes of driving in cold weather,until the engine coolant warms upenough to operate the heater. Keepthe fan on at all other times so staleair does not build up in the interior.


Audio System

On DX and HX models in the U.S., andthe DX model in CanadaAM/FM Stereo Audio SystemYour Honda's audio system providesclear reception on both AM and FMbands, while the preset buttons allowyou to easily select your favoritestations.

Operating the RadioThe ignition switch must be inACCESSORY (I) or ON (ID tooperate the audio system. Turn thesystem on by pressing the PWR/VOL knob or the AM/FM button.Adjust the volume by turning theknob.

The band and frequency that theradio was last tuned to is displayed.To change bands, press the AM/FMbutton. On the FM band, ST will bedisplayed if the station is broadcast-ing in stereo. Stereo reproduction onAM is not available.

You can use any of three methods tofind radio stations on the selectedband: TUNE, SEEK, or the Presetbuttons.

TUNE — Use the TUNE/SEEK barto tune the radio to a desiredfrequency. Press the right side ( )to tune to a higher frequency, or the

left side ( ) to tune to a lowerfrequency. The frequency numberswill start to change rapidly. Releasethe bar when the display reaches thedesired frequency. To change thefrequency in small increments, pressand release the TUNE/SEEK barquickly.

SEEK — The SEEK functionsearches the band for a station witha strong signal. To activate it, pressthe TUNE/SEEK bar until you heara beep, then release it. Depending onwhich side of the bar you press, thesystem scans upward or downwardfrom the current frequency. It stopswhen it finds a station with a strongsignal.

Preset — You can store thefrequencies of your favorite radiostations in the six preset buttons.Each button will store one frequencyon the AM band, and twofrequencies on the FM band.


Audio System

To store a frequency:

1. Select the desired band, AM orFM. FM1 and FM2 let you storetwo frequencies with each Presetbutton.

2. Use the TUNE or SEEK functionto tune the radio to a desiredstation.

3. Pick the Preset button you wantfor that station. Press the buttonand hold it until you hear a beep.

4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 to store a totalof six stations on AM and twelveon FM.

Once a station's frequency is stored,simply press and release the properPreset button to tune to it.The preset frequencies will be lost ifyour car's battery goes dead, isdisconnected, or the radio fuse isremoved.

U.S.: DX and HX modelsCanada: DX model


PWR/VOL KNOB STEREO INDICATOR AM/FM BUTTON

TUNE/SEEK BAR PRESET BUTTONS

Audio System

Adjusting the SoundBass, Treble, Balance, and Fader areeach adjustable. You select which ofthese you want to adjust by pressingthe MODE button. The modechanges from BAS to TRE to FAD toBAL, and then back to VOL eachtime you press the button. Eachmode is shown in the display as itchanges.

Balance/Fader — These twomodes adjust the strength of thesound coming from each speaker.BAL adjusts the side-to-side strength,while FAD adjusts the front-to-backstrength.

Select BAL or FAD by pressing theMODE button. Adjust the Balance orFader to your liking by turning thePWR/VOL knob. The indicator barson the display show you the range.

MODE BUTTON

PWR/VOL KNOB

Treble/Bass — Use these modes toadjust the tone to your liking. SelectTRE or BAS by pressing the MODEbutton. Adjust the desired mode byturning the PWR/VOL knob. Theindicator bars on the display showyou the range.

As you adjust a mode, you will hear abeep whenever the indicator barreaches the center, far left, and farright of its range. The system willautomatically return the display tonormal mode about seven secondsafter you stop adjusting a mode withthe PWR/VOL knob.

Radio Frequencies and ReceptionFor information, See page 120 .


Audio System

Digital ClockThe audio system also displays thetime. The ignition switch must be inACCESSORY (I) or ON (II).

To set the time, press the CLOCKbutton. The hour numbers will beginblinking. Press the Preset 5 button toget the numbers to count down, orthe Preset 6 button to get the hoursto count up.

Press the CLOCK button again, andthe minutes numbers will beginblinking. Use the Preset 5 or Preset6 button to change the minutes tothe correct value.

After you have set the clock, pressthe CLOCK button again to return tothe normal display. If you do not, thesystem will automatically return tothe normal display about sevenseconds after you stop pressing thePreset buttons.


TIME DISPLAYED

PRESET 5 BUTTON

PRESET 6 BUTTON

CLOCK BUTTON

Audio System

Operating the Optional CDPlayer/ChangerA Compact Disc changer is availablethrough your dealer. It holds up tosix discs, providing several hours ofcontinuous entertainment. Youoperate the CD changer with thesame controls used for the radio.

Your dealer also has an accessory in-dash single CD player available thatis operated by the radio controls. Tooperate this unit, use the instructions(except for those relating to multiplediscs) in this section.

To operate the CD player or changer,the ignition must be in ACCESSORY(I) or ON (II).

CD PlayerInsert the disc into the CD slot. Pushthe disc in halfway, the drive will pullit in the rest of the way. Push theCD/TAPE button and the disc willstart to play.

You will see the track number beingplayed in the display.

You can also play 3-inch (8-cm) discswithout using an adapter ring. In allcases, play only standard round discs.Odd-shaped CDs may jam in thedrive or cause other problems.

When the system reaches the end ofthe disc, it will return to the begin-ning and play that disc again.


PWR/VOL KNOB REPEAT INDICATOR AM/FM BUTTON

TUNE/SEEKBAR

RPTBUTTON

PRESET BUTTONS CD/TAPEBUTTON

Audio System

Press the EJECT button to removethe disc from the player.

If you eject the disc, but do notremove it from the slot, the systemwill automatically reload the discafter 15 seconds and put the CDplayer in pause mode. To beginplaying the disc, press the CD button.

CD ChangerUsing the instructions that camewith the changer, load the desiredCDs in the magazine, and load themagazine in the changer. Play onlystandard round discs. Odd-shapedCDs may jam in the drive or causeother problems.

Press the CD/TAPE button. You willsee "CD" in the display. The systemwill start to play the first track of thefirst disc. When that disc ends, thenext disc in the magazine is loadedand played. After the last discfinishes, the system returns to disc 1.

To select a different disc, press theappropriate preset button (1 — 6). Ifyou select an empty slot in themagazine, the changer will, afterfinding that slot empty, try to loadthe CD in the next slot. Thiscontinues until it finds a CD to loadand play.

CD Player and ChangerYou can use the TUNE/SEEK bar toselect tracks within a disc. If youpress and release the TUNE/SEEKbar, the system will move to thebeginning of a track. Press the

side to move to the beginningof the next track, and the sideto move to the beginning of thecurrent track.

If you press and hold the TUNE/SEEK bar, you will hear a beep andthe system will continue to moveacross tracks. Release the bar whenyou think it has reached the desiredplace on the disc.

REPEAT — When you activate theRepeat feature by pressing the RPTbutton, the system continuouslyreplays the current track. You willsee RPT in the display as a reminder.Press the RPT button again to turn itoff.

To take the system out of CD mode,press the AM/FM button or insert acassette in the player. If a tape isalready in the cassette player, pressthe CD/TAPE button. When youreturn to CD mode, play will contin-ue at the same point that it left off.

If you turn the system off while a CDis playing, either with the PWR/VOLknob or the ignition switch, play willcontinue at the same point when youturn it back on.


Audio System

CD Changer Error IndicationsIf you see an error indication in thedisplay while operating the CDchanger, find the cause in the chartto the right. If you cannot clear theerror indication, take the vehicle toyour Honda dealer.


Audio System

AM/FM/CD Audio SystemOn EX and Si models in the U.S., Si andSiR models in CanadaYour Honda's audio system providesclear reception on both AM and FMbands, while the preset buttons allowyou to easily select your favoritestations.

The anti-theft feature will disable thesystem if it is disconnected from thecar's battery. To get the systemworking again, you must enter acode number (see page 119 ).


Audio System

Operating the RadioThe ignition switch must be inACCESSORY (I) or ON (II) tooperate the audio system. Turn thesystem on by pushing the PWR/VOL knob. Adjust the volume byturning the same knob.

The band and frequency that theradio was last tuned to is displayed.To change bands, press the AM/FMbutton. On the FM band, ST will bedisplayed if the station is broadcast-ing in stereo. Stereo reproduction onAM is not available.

You can use any of four methods tofind radio stations on the selectedband: TUNE, SEEK, SCAN or thePreset buttons.


PWR/VOL KNOB

AM/FM BUTTON

TUNE BAR

SEEK BAR

PRESET BUTTONS SCAN BUTTON

Audio System

TUNE — Use the TUNE bar to tunethe radio to a desired frequency.Press the side of the bar to tuneto a higher frequency, and the

side to tune to a lowerfrequency. The frequency numberswill start to change rapidly. Releasethe bar when the display reaches thedesired frequency. To change thefrequency in small increments, pressand release the TUNE bar quickly.

SEEK — The SEEK functionsearches the band for a station witha strong signal. To activate it, pressthe SEEK bar on either the or

side, then release it.Depending on which side you press,the system scans upward or down-ward from the current frequency. Itstops when it finds a station with astrong signal.

SCAN — The SCAN functionsamples all the stations with strongsignals on the selected band. Toactivate it, press the SCAN button,then release it. When the system isin the SCAN mode, SCAN shows inthe display. The system will scan upthe band for a station with a strongsignal. When it finds one, it will stopand play that station forapproximately five seconds. If you donothing, the system will then scanfor the next strong station and playthat for five seconds. When it plays astation that you want to continuelistening to, press the SCAN buttonagain.

Preset — You can store thefrequencies of your favorite radiostations in the six preset buttons.Each button will store one frequencyon the AM band, and twofrequencies on the EM band.

To store a frequency:

1. Select the desired band, AM orFM. FM1 and EM2 let you storetwo frequencies with each Presetbutton.

2. Use the TUNE or SEEK functionto tune the radio to a desiredstation.

3. Pick the Preset button you wantfor that station. Press the buttonand hold it until you hear a beep.

4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 to store a totalof six stations on AM and twelveon FM.

Once a station's frequency is stored,simply press and release the properpreset button to tune to it.The preset frequencies will be lost ifyour car's battery goes dead, isdisconnected, or the radio fuse isremoved. CONTINUED


Audio System

AUTO SELECT — If you aretraveling far from home and can nolonger receive the stations youpreset, you can use the Auto Selectfeature to find stations in the localarea.

To activate Auto Select, press theA. SEL button. A. SEL will flash inthe display, and the system will gointo scan mode for several seconds.It automatically scans both bands,looking for stations with strongsignals; It stores the frequencies ofsix AM stations and twelve FMstations in the preset buttons. Youcan then use the preset buttons toselect those stations.

If you are in a remote area, AutoSelect may not find six strong AMstations or twelve strong FM stations.If this happens, you will see a "0"displayed when you press any presetbutton that does not have a stationstored.

If you do not like the stations AutoSelect has stored, you can storeother frequencies in the presetbuttons. Use the TUNE, SEEK, orSCAN function to find the desiredfrequencies, then store them in theselected preset buttons as describedpreviously.

Auto Select does not erase thefrequencies that you preset pre-viously. When you return home, turnoff Auto Select by pressing theA. SEL button. The preset buttonswill then select the frequencies youoriginally set.


AUTO SELECT LIGHT TUNE BAR SEEK BAR

PRESET BUTTONS A. SEL BUTTON

Audio System

Adjusting the SoundBalance/Fader — These twocontrols adjust the strength of thesound coming from each speaker.The Balance control adjusts the side-to-side strength, while the Fadercontrol adjusts the front-to-backstrength.

To adjust the fader, push on theBASS/FADER control knob to get itto pop out. Pull it out slightly farther,and adjust the front-to-back sound toyour liking. Push the knob back inwhen you are done so you cannotchange the setting by accidentallybumping it.

To adjust the balance, push on theTREBLE/BALANCE control knobto get it to pop out. Pull it out slightlyfarther, and adjust the side-to-sidesound to your liking. Push the knobback in when you are done so youcannot change the setting byaccidentally bumping it.

Treble/Bass — Use these controlsto adjust the tone to your liking.

To adjust the Treble level, push onthe TREBLE/BALANCE controlknob to get it to pop out. Withoutpulling it out farther, turn the knobto adjust the treble level. Push theknob back in when you are done soyou cannot change the setting byaccidentally bumping it.

To adjust the Bass level, push on theBASS/FADER control knob to get itto pop out. Without pulling it outfarther, turn the knob to adjust thebass level. Push the knob back inwhen you are done so you cannotchange the setting by accidentallybumping it.


BASS/FADERCONTROL

TREBLE/BALANCECONTROL

Audio System

Audio System LightingYou can use the instrument panelbrightness control dial to adjust the il-lumination of the audio system (seepage 62). The audio systemilluminates when the parking lightsare on, even if the radio is turned off.

Digital ClockThe display of your audio systemusually shows the time when theignition switch is in ACCESSORY (I)or ON (II). It shows operation modeof radio, CD player, or optional CDchanger/cassette player when youoperate them, and goes back to thetime display after five seconds.The display also goes back to thetime display two seconds after youturn the volume knob to adjust thevolume.

If an error occurs while operatingthe CD player or optional CDchanger, the display will show theerror code and will not switch to the

time display until the error iscorrected (see pages 113 and 114).

To set the time, press the CLOCK(AM/FM) button for more than twoseconds until you hear a beep. Thetime display will begin blinking. Toset the hour, press and hold the H(Preset 4) button until the houradvances to the desired time.

To set the minutes, press and holdthe M (Preset 5) button until thenumbers advance to the desired time.

When you are finished, press theCLOCK button again. The timedisplay will stop blinking and thetime is now set.

To exit the clock set function, pushthe AM/FM button.


AM/FM BUTTON

Audio System

Operating the CD PlayerYou operate the CD player with thesame controls used for the radio.

With the ignition switch inACCESSORY (I) or ON (II), insertthe disc into the CD slot. Push thedisc in halfway, the drive will pull itin the rest of the way and begin toplay. The number of the track that isplaying is shown in the display.

You can also play 3-inch (8-cm) discswithout using an adapter ring. Playonly standard round discs. Odd-shaped CDs may jam in drive orcause other problems.

When the system reaches the end ofthe disc, it will return to the begin-ning and play that disc again.You can switch to the radio while aCD is playing by pressing the A M/FM button. Press the CD button toreturn to playing the CD. The CDwill begin playing where it left off. CONTINUED


CD SLOT

AM/FM BUTTON TUNE BAR EJECT BUTTON

SEEK/SKIPBAR

RPT BUTTON

A. SEL/RDM BUTTON

Audio System

If you turn the system off while a CDis playing, either with the PWR/VOLknob or by turning off the ignition,the disc will stay in the drive. Whenyou turn the system back on, the CDwill begin playing where it left off.

Press the eject button to remove thedisc from the drive.

If you eject the disc, but do notremove it from the slot, the systemwill automatically reload the discafter 15 seconds and put the CDplayer in pause mode. To beginplaying the disc, press the CD button.

You can use the TUNE and SEEK/SKIP bars while a disc is playing toselect passages and change tracks.

To move rapidly within a track, pressand hold the TUNE bar. Press the

side to move forward. You willsee CUE in the display. Press the

side to move backward. Youwill see REW displayed. Release thebar when the system reaches thepoint you want.

Each time you press the side ofthe SEEK/SKIP bar, the systemskips forward to the beginning of thenext track. Press the side toskip backward to the beginning ofthe current track. Press it again toskip to the beginning of the previoustrack.

REPEAT — To activate the Repeatfeature, press and release the RPTbutton. You will see RPT in thedisplay. The system continuously

replays the current track. Press theRPT button again to turn it off.

RANDOM PLAY — This feature,when activated, plays the tracks onthe CD in random order, rather thanin the order they are recorded on theCD. To activate Random Play, pressand release the A. SEL/RDM button.You will see RDM in the display. Thesystem will then select and playtracks randomly. This continuesuntil you deactivate Random Play bypressing A. SEL/RDM again.

If the system is in Repeat mode, youmust turn it off by pressing the RPTbutton before selecting Random Play.


Audio System

Operating the CD Changer(Optional)A Compact Disc changer is availablefor your vehicle. It holds up to sixdiscs, providing several hours ofcontinuous entertainment. Youoperate this CD changer with thesame controls used for the in-dashCD player.

Load the desired CDs in themagazine and load the magazine inthe changer according to theinstructions that came with the unit.Play only standard round discs. Odd-shaped CDs may jam in the drive orcause other problems.

To select the CD changer, press theCD button. The disc and tracknumbers will be displayed.

To select a different disc, press theappropriate preset button (1 — 6). Ifyou select an empty slot in themagazine, the changer will, afterfinding that slot empty, try to loadthe CD in the next slot. Thiscontinues until it finds a CD to loadand play.

If you load a CD in the in-dash playerwhile the changer is playing a CD,the system will stop the changer andbegin playing the in-dash CD. Toselect the changer again, press theCD button. Play will begin where itleft off. Use the CD button to switchbetween the player and the changer.

If you eject the in-dash CD while it isplaying, the system will automaticallyswitch to the CD changer and beginplay where it left off. If there are noCDs in the changer, the display willflash. You will have to select anothermode (AM or FM) with the button.

When you switch back to CD mode,the system selects the same unit (in-dash or changer) that was playingwhen you switched out of CD mode.

To use the SKIP, REPEAT, andRANDOM functions, refer to the in-dash player operating instructions.


Audio System

Protecting Compact Discs

Handle a CD by its edges; nevertouch either surface. Contaminationfrom fingerprints, liquids, felt-tippens, and labels can cause the CD tonot play properly, or possibly jam inthe drive.

When a CD is not being played, storeit in its case to protect it from dustand other contamination. To preventwarpage, keep CDs out of directsunlight and extreme heat.

To clean a disc, use a clean soft cloth.Wipe across the disc from the centerto the outside edge.

A new CD may be rough on theinner and outer edges. The smallplastic pieces causing this roughnesscan flake off and fall on the re-cording surface of the disc, causingskipping or other problems. Removethese pieces by rubbing the innerand outer edges with the side of apencil or pen.

Never try to insert foreign objects inthe CD player or the magazine.


Audio System

CD Player Error IndicationsIf you see an error indication in thedisplay while operating the CDplayer, find the cause in the chart tothe right. If you cannot clear theerror indication, take the car to yourHonda dealer.


Audio System

CD Changer Error IndicationsIf you see an error indication in thedisplay while operating the CDchanger, find the cause in the chartto the right. If you cannot clear theerror indication, take the car to yourHonda dealer.


Audio System

Operating the Cassette Player(Optional)The cassette system features DolbyB* noise reduction, automaticsensing of chromium-dioxide (CrO2)tape, and autoreverse for continuousplay.

Make sure the tape opening on thecassette is facing to the right, theninsert the cassette most of the wayinto the slot. The system will pull itin the rest of the way, and begin toplay.

* Dolby noise reduction manufactured underlicense from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corpo-ration. "DOLBY" and the double-D symbol

are trademarks of Dolby LaboratoriesLicensing Corporation.

CONTINUED


PWR/VOL KNOB

CD BUTTON

TAPE DIRECTIONINDICATOR

TUNE BAR SEEK/SKIP BAR

REPEAT BUTTON

AM/FMBUTTON

NR BUTTONPLAY BUTTON

PROG BUTTON

Audio System

The tape direction indicator will lightto show you which side of thecassette is playing. The indicatesthe side you inserted facing upwardis now playing. If you want to playthe other side, press the PROGbutton.

Dolby B noise reduction turns onwhen you insert a cassette. If thetape was not recorded with Dolby Bnoise reduction, turn it off bypressing the NR button.

Dolby remains off until you turn it onby pressing the button again.

When the system reaches the end ofthe tape, it will automatically reversedirection and play the other side. Ifyou want to remove the cassettefrom the drive, press the EJECTbutton on the cassette player.

If you turn the system off while atape is playing, either with the PWR/VOL knob or by turning off theignition, the cassette will remain inthe drive. When you turn the systemback on, the cassette player will be inpause mode. To begin playing, pressthe PLAY button.

To switch to the radio or CD playerwhile a tape is playing, press theAM/FM, or CD button. To changeback to the cassette player, push theCD button.

Tape Search FunctionsWith a cassette playing, you can usethe FF, REW, SKIP, or REPEATfunction to find a desired program.

FF/REW — Fast Forward andRewind move the tape rapidly. Pressand release the side of theTUNE bar to fast forward the tape,or the side to rewind. You willsee FF or REW flashing in thedisplay. To stop fast forward orrewind, press either side of theTUNE bar or the PLAY button. If thesystem reaches the end of the tapewhile in fast forward or rewind, itautomatically stops that function,reverses direction, and begins to play.


Audio System

SKIP — The skip function allowsyou to find the beginning of a songor passage. To activate SKIP, pressthe SEEK/SKIP bar. Press the

side to advance to thebeginning of the next song orpassage, or the side to return tothe beginning of the current song orpassage. FF or REW will flash in thedisplay as the tape moves. When thesystem reaches the beginning of thenext song or passage (FF), or thebeginning of the current one (REW),it goes back to PLAY mode.

REPEAT — The Repeat functioncontinuously replays the currentsong or passage. Press the REPEATbutton to activate it; you will see RPTdisplayed as a reminder. When thesystem reaches the end of the songor passage currently playing, it willautomatically go into rewind. Whenit senses the beginning of the samesong or passage, the system returnsto PLAY mode. It will continue torepeat this same program until youdeactivate REPEAT by pressing thebutton again.

The SKIP and REPEAT functionsuse silent periods on the tape to findthe end of a song or passage. Thesefeatures may not work to yoursatisfaction if there is almost no gapbetween selections, a high noiselevel between selections, or a silentperiod in the middle of selection.


Audio System

Caring for the Cassette PlayerThe cassette player picks up dirt andoxides from the tape. This contami-nation builds up over time andcauses the sound quality to degrade.To prevent this, you should clean theplayer after every 30 hours of use.Your dealer has a cleaning kitavailable.

If you do not clean the cassetteplayer regularly, it may eventuallybecome impossible to remove thecontamination with a normalcleaning kit.

Use 100-minute or shorter cassettes.Cassettes longer than that usethinner tape that may break or jamthe drive.

Look at the cassette before youinsert it. If the tape is loose, tightenit by turning a hub with a pencil oryour finger.If the label is peeling off, remove itfrom the cassette or it could causethe cassette to jam in the player.Never try to insert a warped ordamaged cassette in the player.

When they are not in use, storecassettes in their cases to protectthem from dust and moisture. Neverplace cassettes where they will beexposed to direct sunlight, high heat,or high humidity. If a cassette isexposed to extreme heat or cold, letit reach a moderate temperaturebefore inserting it in the player.

Never try to insert foreign objectsinto the cassette player.

If you see the error indication(except U.S.: EX, Si,

Canada: Si-R)/ on thedisplay, press the EJECT button andremove the cassette from the unit.Make sure the tape is not damaged.If the cassette will not eject or theerror indication stays on after thecassette ejects, take the vehicle toyour Honda dealer.

If a problem develops in the connec-tion between the cassette player andthe radio, you will see inthe display. Take the vehicle to yourHonda dealer.


Audio System

Theft ProtectionOn EX and Si models in the U.S., and Siand SiR models in CanadaYour car's audio system will disableitself if it is disconnected fromelectrical power for any reason. Tomake it work again, the user mustenter a specific five-digit code in thePreset buttons. Because there arehundreds of number combinationspossible from five digits, making thesystem work without knowing theexact code is nearly impossible.

You should have received a card thatlists your audio system's codenumber and serial number. It is bestto store this card in a safe place athome. In addition, you should writethe audio system's serial number inthis Owner's Manual. If you shouldhappen to lose the card, you mustobtain the code number from yourHonda dealer. To do this, you willneed the system's serial number.

If your car's battery is disconnectedor goes dead, the audio system willdisable itself. If this happens, youwill see in the frequencydisplay the next time you turn on thesystem. Use the Preset buttons toenter the five-digit code. If it isentered correctly, the radio will startplaying.

If you make a mistake entering thecode, do not start over or try tocorrect your mistake. Complete thefive-digit sequence, then enter thecorrect code. You have ten tries toenter the correct code. If you areunsuccessful in ten attempts, youmust then leave the system on forone hour before trying again.

You will have to store your favoritestations in the Preset buttons afterthe system begins working. Youroriginal settings were lost whenpower was disconnected.


Audio System

Radio FrequenciesYour Honda's radio can receive thecomplete AM and FM bands.Those bands cover these frequen-cies:

AM band:530 to 1,710 kilohertzFM band:87.7 to 107.9 megahertz

Radio stations on the AM band areassigned frequencies at least tenkilohertz apart (530, 540, 550).Stations on the FM band areassigned frequencies at least 0.2megahertz apart (87.9, 88.1, 88.3).

Stations must use these exactfrequencies. It is fairly common forstations to round-off the frequency intheir advertising, so your radio coulddisplay a frequency of 100.9 eventhough the announcer may identifythe station as "FM101."

Radio ReceptionHow well your Honda's radioreceives stations is dependent onmany factors, such as the distancefrom the station's transmitter,nearby large objects, and atmos-pheric conditions.

A radio station's signal gets weakeras you get farther away from itstransmitter. If you are listening to anAM station, you will notice the soundvolume becoming weaker, and thestation drifting in and out. If you arelistening to an FM station, you willsee the stereo indicator flickering offand on as the signal weakens.Eventually, the stereo indicator willgo off and the sound will fadecompletely as you get out of range ofthe station's signal.

Driving very near the transmitter ofa station that is broadcasting on afrequency close to the frequency ofthe station you are listening to canalso affect your radio's reception.You may temporarily hear bothstations, or hear only the station youare close to.


Audio System

Radio signals, especially on the FMband, are deflected by large objectssuch as buildings and hills. Yourradio then receives both the directsignal from the station's transmitter,and the deflected signal. This causesthe sound to distort or flutter. This isa main cause of poor radio receptionin city driving.

Radio reception can be affected byatmospheric conditions such asthunderstorms, high humidity, andeven sunspots. You may be able toreceive a distant radio station oneday and not receive it the next daybecause of a change in conditions.

Electrical interference from passingvehicles and stationary sources cancause temporary reception problems.

As required by the FCC:Changes or modifications not expresslyapproved by the party responsible forcompliance could void the user'sauthority to operate the equipment.


Before Driving

Before you begin driving your Honda,you should know what gasoline touse, and how to check the levels ofimportant fluids. You also need toknow how to properly store luggageor packages. The information in thissection will help you. If you plan toadd any accessories to your car,please read the information in thissection first.

Break-in Period.............................. 124Gasoline.......................................... 124Service Station Procedures.......... 125

Filling the Fuel Tank................. 125Opening the Hood..................... 126

Oil Check................................ 127Engine Coolant Check.......... 128

Fuel Economy................................ 129Vehicle Condition...................... 129Driving Habits............................ 129

Accessories and Modifications.... 130Carrying Cargo.............................. 132

Before Driving

Break-in Period, Gasoline

Break-in PeriodHelp assure your car's futurereliability and performance by payingextra attention to how you driveduring the first 600 miles (1,000 km).During this period:

Avoid full-throttle starts and rapidacceleration.

Avoid hard braking. New brakesneed to be broken-in by moderateuse for the first 200 miles (300km).

You should follow these same re-commendations with an overhauledor exchanged engine, or when thebrakes are relined.

GasolineYour Honda is designed to operateon unleaded gasoline.

We recommend gasolines containingdetergent additives that help preventfuel system and engine deposits.

Using gasoline containing lead willdamage your car's emissionscontrols. This contributes to airpollution.

In Canada, some gasolines containan octane-enhancing additive calledMMT. If you use such gasolines,your emission control systemperformance may deteriorate andthe Malfunction Indicator Lamp onyour instrument panel may turn on.If this happens, contact yourauthorized Honda dealer for service.

U.S. DX, HX, EX models, and CanadianDX, Si modelsUse an unleaded gasoline with apump octane number of 86 or higher.Use of a lower octane gasoline cancause a persistent, heavy metallicrapping noise in the engine that canlead to mechanical damage.

U.S. Si model and Canadian SiR modelUse a premium unleaded gasolinewith a pump octane number of 91 orhigher.

If you are unable to find premiumunleaded gasoline, you may substi-tute an unleaded regular gasoline.The engine will compensate for thelower octane, but you may notice aslight decrease in power as a result.

Before Driving

Service Station Procedures

Filling the Fuel Tank

1. Because the fuel fill cap is on thedriver's side of the car, park withthat side closest to the servicestation pumps.

2. Open the fuel fill door by pullingon the handle to the left of thedriver's seat.

3. Remove the fuel fill cap slowly.You may hear a hissing sound aspressure inside the tank escapes.

4. Stop filling the tank after the fuelnozzle automatically clicks off. Donot try to "top off" the tank, leavesome room for the fuel to expandwith temperature changes.

Your car has an on-board refuelingvapor recovery system to helpkeep fuel vapors from going intothe atmosphere. If the fuel pumpkeeps clicking off even though thetank is not full, there may be aproblem with this system. Consultyour dealer.

5. Screw the fuel fill cap back on,tighten it until it clicks severaltimes. If you do not properlytighten the cap, the MalfunctionIndicator Lamp may come on (seepage 233 ).

6. Push the fuel fill door closed untilit latches.

Before Driving

Gasoline is highly flammableand explosive. You can beburned or seriously injuredwhen handling fuel.

Stop the engine and keepheat, sparks, and flame away.Handle fuel only outdoors.Wipe up spills immediately.

FUEL FILL CAP

Pull


Opening the Hood

1. Shift to Park or Neutral and setthe parking brake. Pull the hoodrelease handle located under thelower left corner of the dashboard.The hood will pop up slightly.

2. Standing in front of the car, putyour fingers under the front edgeof the hood to the right of center.Slide your hand to the left untilyou feel the hood latch handle.Push this handle to the left until itreleases the hood. Lift the hood.

If you can open the hood withoutlifting the hood latch handle, or thehood latch handle moves stiffly ordoes not spring back as before, themechanism should be cleaned andlubricated (see page 186 ).

Before Driving

HOODRELEASEHANDLE

LATCH


3. Pull the support rod out of its clipand insert the end into the hole onthe left side of the hood.

To close the hood, lower it to about afoot (30 cm) above the fender, thenpress down firmly with your hands.After closing the hood, make sure itis securely latched.

After closing the hood, make sure itis securely latched.

Check the engine oil level every timeyou fill the car with fuel. Wait a fewminutes after turning the engine offbefore you check the oil.

1. Remove the dipstick (orangehandle).

2. Wipe the dipstick with a cleancloth or paper towel.

CONTINUED

Before Driving

SUPPORT ROD

CLIP

DIPSTICK

Oil Check


3. Insert it all the way back in its tube. 4. Remove the dipstick again andcheck the level. It should bebetween the upper and lowermarks.

If it is near or below the lower mark,see Adding Oil on page 171.

Engine Coolant Check

Look at the coolant level in theradiator reserve tank. Make sure it isbetween the MAX and MIN lines. Ifit is below the MIN line, see AddingEngine Coolant on page 175 forinformation on adding the propercoolant.

Refer to Owner MaintenanceChecks on page 169 for informationon checking other items in yourHonda.

Before Driving

UPPER MARKLOWER MARK

RESERVETANK

MAX

MIN

Fuel Economy

The condition of your car and yourdriving habits are the two mostimportant things that affect the fuelmileage you get.

Vehicle ConditionAlways maintain your car accordingto the maintenance schedule. Thiswill keep it in top operating condition.

An important part of that mainte-nance is the Owner MaintenanceChecks (see page 169). Forexample, an underinflated tirecauses more "rolling resistance,"which uses fuel. It also wears outfaster, so check the tire pressure atleast monthly.

In winter, the build-up of snow onyour car's underside adds weight androlling resistance. Frequent cleaninghelps your fuel mileage and reducesthe chance of corrosion.

Driving HabitsYou can improve fuel economy bydriving moderately. Rapid acceler-ation, abrupt cornering, and hardbraking use more fuel.

Always drive in the highest gear thatallows the engine to run and acceler-ate smoothly.

Depending on traffic conditions, tryto maintain a constant speed. Everytime you slow down and speed up,your car uses extra fuel. Use thecruise control, when appropriate, toincrease fuel economy.

A cold engine uses more fuel than awarm engine. It is not necessary to"warm-up" a cold engine by letting itidle for a long time. You can driveaway in about a minute, no matterhow cold it is outside. The enginewill warm up faster, and you getbetter fuel economy. To cut down onthe number of "cold starts," try tocombine several short trips into one.

The air conditioning puts an extraload on the engine which makes ituse more fuel. Turn off the A/C tocut down on air conditioning use.Use the flow-through ventilationwhen the outside air temperature ismoderate.

Before Driving

Accessories and Modifications

Modifying your car, or installingsome non-Honda accessories, canmake your car unsafe. Before youmake any modifications or add anyaccessories, be sure to read thefollowing information.

AccessoriesYour dealer has Genuine Hondaaccessories that allow you topersonalize your car. Theseaccessories have been designed andapproved for your car, and arecovered by warranty.

Non-Honda accessories are usuallydesigned for universal applications.Although aftermarket accessoriesmay fit on your car, they may notmeet factory specifications, andcould adversely affect your car'shandling and stability. (See"Modifications" on the page 131 foradditional information.)

When properly installed, cellularphones, alarms, two-way radios, andlow-powered audio systems shouldnot interfere with your car'scomputer-controlled systems, suchas the SRS and anti-lock brakesystem.

However, if electronic accessoriesare improperly installed, or exceedyour car's electrical system capacity,they can interfere with the operation

of your car, or even cause theairbags to deploy.

Before installing any accessory:

Make sure the accessory does notobscure any lights, or interferewith proper car operation orperformance.

Be sure electronic accessories donot overload electrical circuits(see page 239).

Have the installer contact yourHonda dealer for assistance beforeinstalling any electronic accessory.

If possible, have your dealer inspectthe final installation.

Before Driving

Improper accessories ormodifications can affect yourcar's handling, stability andperformance, and cause acrash in which you can be hurtor killed.

Follow all instructions in thisowner's manual regardingaccessories and modifications.

Accessories and Modifications

ModificationsDo not remove any originalequipment or modify your car in anyway that would alter its design oroperation. This could make your carunsafe and illegal to drive.

For example, do not make anymodifications that would change theride height of your car, or installwheels and tires with a differentoverall diameter.

Such modifications can adverselyaffect handling, and interfere withthe operation of the car's anti-lockbrakes and other systems.

In addition, any modifications thatdecrease ground clearance increasethe chance of undercarriage partsstriking a curb, speed bump, or otherraised object, which could causeyour airbags to deploy.

Do not modify your steering wheelor any other part of yourSupplemental Restraint System.Modifications could make thesystem ineffective.

Additional Safety PrecautionDo not attach or place objects on theairbag covers. Any object attached toor placed on the covers marked "SRSAIRBAG," in the center of thesteering wheel and on top of thedashboard, could interfere with theproper operation of the airbags. Or,if the airbags inflate, the objectscould be propelled inside the car andhurt someone.

Before Driving

Carrying Cargo

Your car has several convenientstorage areas so you can stow cargosafely.

The glove box, and the pockets inthe front doors and seat-backs, aredesigned for small, lightweight items.The trunk is intended for larger,heavier items. In addition, the backseat can be folded down to allow youto carry more cargo or longer items.

However, carrying too much cargo,or improperly storing it, can affectyour car's handling, stability andoperation and make it unsafe. Beforecarrying any type of cargo, be sure toread the following pages.

Before Driving

CONSOLE COMPARTMENT FRONT DOOR POCKET

TRUNK SEAT BACK POCKET GLOVE BOX

Carrying Cargo

Load LimitThe maximum load for your car is850 lbs (395 kg).

This figure includes the total weightof all occupants, cargo, andaccessories.

To figure out how much cargo youcan carry:

Add up the weight of all occupants.

Subtract the total from 850 lbs(395 kg).

The final number is the total weightof cargo you can carry.

Carrying Items in the PassengerCompartment

Store or secure all items that couldbe thrown around and hurtsomeone during a crash.

Do not put any items on top of therear shelf. They can block yourview and be thrown around the carduring a crash.

Be sure items placed on the floorbehind the front seats cannot rollunder the seats and interfere withthe driver's ability to operate thepedals, or with the properoperation of the seats.

Keep the glove box closed whiledriving. If the lid is open, apassenger could injure their kneesduring a crash or sudden stop.

Before Driving

Overloading or improperloading can affect handling andstability and cause a crash inwhich you can be hurt or killed.

Follow all load limits and otherloading guidelines in thismanual.

Carrying Cargo

Carrying Cargo in the Trunk or ona Roof Rack

Distribute cargo evenly on thefloor of the trunk, placing theheaviest items on the bottom andas far forward as possible.

If you fold down the back seat, tiedown items that could be thrownabout the car during a crash orsudden stop.

If you carry large items thatprevent you from closing thehatch, exhaust gas can enter thepassenger area. To avoid thepossibility of carbon monoxidepoisoning, follow the instructionson page 49 .

If you can carry any items on aroof rack, be sure the total weightof the rack and the items does notexceed the maximum allowableweight. Please contact your Hondadealer for further information.

Before Driving

Driving

This section gives you tips onstarting the engine under variousconditions, and how to operate the5-speed manual and automatictransmissions. It also includes impor-tant information on parking your car,and the braking system.

Preparing to Drive......................... 136Starting the Engine........................ 137

Starting in Cold Weatherat High Altitude ..................... 137

5-speed Manual Transmission..... 138Recommended Shift Points...... 139Engine Speed Limiter ............... 139

Automatic Transmission............... 140Shift Lever Position Indicator.. 141Shift Lever Positions................. 141Engine Speed Limiter ............... 144Shift Lock Release..................... 144Continuously Variable

Transmission (CVT)............. 145Parking............................................ 149

Parking Tips............................... 149The Braking System...................... 150

Brake Wear Indicators.............. 150Brake System Design................ 151Anti-lock Brakes........................ 151

Important SafetyReminders.......................... 152

ABS Indicator......................... 153Driving in Bad Weather................ 154Towing a Trailer............................ 155

Driving

Preparing to Drive

You should do the following checksand adjustments every day beforeyou drive your car.

1. Make sure all windows, mirrors,and outside lights are clean andunobstructed. 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 becarrying with you inside are storedproperly or fastened downsecurely.

5. Check the adjustment of the seat(see page 76 ).

6. Check the adjustment of the inside and outside mirrors (see page 81 ).

7. Check the adjustment of the steering wheel (see page 65).

8. Make sure the doors are securelyclosed and locked.

9. Fasten your seat belt. Check that your passengers have fastened their seat belts (see page 8 ).

10. Turn the ignition switch ON (II). Check the indicator lights in the instrument panel.

11.Start the engine (see page 137).

12. Check the gauges and indicator lights in the instrument panel (see page 53).

Driving

Starting the Engine

1. Apply the parking brake.

2. In cold weather, turn off allelectrical accessories to reducethe drain on the battery.

3. Manual Transmission:Push the clutch pedal down all theway. START (III) does notfunction unless the clutch pedal isdepressed.

Automatic Transmission (IncludingCVT):Make sure the shift lever is inPark. Press on the brake pedal.

4. Without touching the acceleratorpedal, turn the ignition key to theSTART (III) position. If the enginedoes not start right away, do nothold the key in START (III) formore than 15 seconds at a time.Pause for at least 10 secondsbefore trying again.

5. If the engine does not start within15 seconds, or starts but stallsright away, repeat step 4 with theaccelerator pedal pressed half-waydown. If the engine starts, releasepressure on the accelerator pedalso the engine does not race.

6. If the engine still does not start,press the accelerator pedal all theway down and hold it there whilestarting in order to clear flooding.As before, keep the ignition key inthe START (III) position for nomore than 15 seconds. Return tostep 5 if the engine does not start.If it starts, lift your foot off theaccelerator pedal so the enginedoes not race.

Starting in Cold Weather at HighAltitude (Above 8,000 feet/2,400 meters)An engine is harder to start in coldweather. The thinner air found athigh altitude above 8,000 feet (2,400

meters) adds to the problem.Use the following procedure:

1. Turn off all electrical accessoriesto reduce the drain on the battery.

2. Push the accelerator pedal half-way to the floor and hold it therewhile starting the engine. Do nothold the ignition key in START(III) for more than 15 seconds.When the engine starts, releasethe accelerator pedal gradually asthe engine speeds up and smoothsout.

3. If the engine fails to start in step 2,push the accelerator pedal to thefloor and hold it there while youtry to start the engine for no morethan 15 seconds. If the enginedoes not start, return to step 2.

Driving

5-speed Manual Transmission

The manual transmission is syn-chronized in all forward gears forsmooth operation. It has a lockout soyou cannot shift directly from Fifthto Reverse. When shifting up ordown, make sure you push the clutchpedal down all the way, shift to thenext gear, and let the pedal upgradually. When you are not shifting,do not rest your foot on the clutchpedal. This can cause your clutch towear out faster.

Come to a full stop before you shiftinto Reverse. You can damage thetransmission by trying to shift intoReverse with the vehicle moving.Push down the clutch pedal, andpause for a few seconds beforeshifting into Reverse, or shift intoone of the forward gears for amoment. This stops the gears sothey won't "grind."

When slowing down, you can getextra braking from the engine byshifting to a lower gear. This extrabraking can help you maintain a safespeed and prevent your brakes fromoverheating while going down asteep hill. Before downshifting,make sure engine speed will not gointo the tachometer's red zone in thelower gear.

Driving

Rapid slowing or speeding-upcan cause loss of control onslippery surfaces. If you crash,you can be injured.

Use extra care when driving onslippery surfaces.


Recommended Shift PointsDrive in the highest gear that letsthe engine run and acceleratesmoothly. This will give you the bestfuel economy and effective emis-sions control. The following shiftpoints are recommended:

(U.S.: DX, EX, HX, Canada: DX, Si)

(U.S.: Si, Canada: SIR)

Engine Speed LimiterIf you exceed the maximum speedfor the gear you are in, the enginespeed will enter into the tachometer'sred zone. If this occurs, you may feelthe engine cut in and out. This iscaused by a limiter in the engine'scomputer controls. The engine will

run normally when you reduce theRPM below the red zone.

Before downshifting, make sure theengine will not go into thetachometer's red zone.

Driving

Automatic Transmission

Your Honda's transmission has fourforward speeds, and is electronicallycontrolled for smoother shifting. Italso has a "lock-up" torque converterfor better fuel economy. You mayfeel what seems like another shiftwhen the converter locks.

On vehicles with Continuously VariableTransmission (CVT):To operate your Honda'sContinuously Variable Transmission(CVT), refer to the page 145 .

Driving


Shift Lever Position Indicator

This indicator on the instrumentpanel shows which position the shiftlever is in.

The "D4" indicator comes on for afew seconds when you turn theignition switch ON (II). If it flasheswhile driving (in any shift position),it indicates a possible problem in thetransmission. Avoid rapid acceler-ation and have the transmissionchecked by an authorized Honda

dealer as soon as possible.

Shift Lever Positions

SHIFT LEVER

The shift lever has six positions. Itmust be in Park or Neutral to startthe engine. When you are stopped inD4, D3, 2, N or R, press firmly on thebrake pedal, and keep your foot offthe accelerator pedal.

Driving

CONTINUED


Park (P) — This position mechani-cally locks the transmission. UsePark whenever you are turning off orstarting the engine. To shift out ofPark, you must press on the brakepedal and have your foot off theaccelerator pedal. Press the releasebutton on the side of the shift leverto move it.

If you have done all of the above andstill cannot move the lever out ofPark, see Shift Lock Release on page144.

You must also press the releasebutton to shift into Park. To avoidtransmission damage, come to acomplete stop before shifting intoPark. The shift lever must be in Parkbefore you can remove the key fromthe ignition switch.

Driving


Reverse (R) — To shift to Reversefrom Park, see the explanation underPark. To shift to Reverse fromNeutral, come to a complete stop andthen shift. Press the release buttonbefore shifting into Reverse fromNeutral.

Neutral (N) — Use Neutral if youneed to restart a stalled engine, or ifit is necessary to stop briefly withthe engine idling. Shift to Park posi-tion if you need to leave the car forany reason. Press on the brake pedalwhen you are moving the shift leverfrom Neutral to another gear.

Drive (D4) — Use this position foryour normal driving. The transmis-sion automatically selects a suitablegear for your speed and acceleration.You may notice the transmissionshifting up at higher speeds whenthe engine is cold. This helps theengine warm up faster.

Drive (D3) —This position is similarto D4, except only the first threegears are selected. Use D3 to provideengine braking when going down asteep hill. D3 can also keep thetransmission from cycling betweenthird and fourth gears in stop-and-godriving.

For faster acceleration when in D3 orD4, you can get the transmission toautomatically downshift by pushingthe accelerator pedal to the floor.The transmission will shift down oneor two gears, depending on yourspeed.

Second (2) — To shift to Second,press the release button on the sideof the shift lever. This position locksthe transmission in second gear. Itdoes not downshift to first gearwhen you come to a stop. Secondgives you more power when climbing,and increased engine braking whengoing down steep hills. Use secondgear when starting out on a slipperysurface or in deep snow. It will helpreduce wheelspin.

Driving


Engine Speed LimiterIf you exceed the maximum speedfor the gear you are in, the enginespeed will enter into the tachometer'sred zone. If this occurs, you may feelthe engine cut in and out. This iscaused by a limiter in the engine'scomputer controls. The engine willrun normally when you reduce theRPM below the red zone.

Shift Lock ReleaseThis allows you to move the shiftlever out of Park if the normalmethod of pushing on the brakepedal and pressing the releasebutton does not work.

1. Set the Parking brake.

2. Remove the key from the ignitionswitch.

3. Put a cloth on the edge of the ShiftLock Release slot cover next tothe shift lever.Use a small flat-tipped screwdriveror small metal plate (neither areincluded in the tool kit) to removethe cover. Carefully pry off theedge of the cover.

Driving

Automatic Transmission (CVT)

4. Insert the key in the Shift LockRelease slot.

5. Push down on the key while youpress the release button on theshift lever and move the shift leverout of Park to Neutral.

RELEASE BUTTON

SHIFT LOCKRELEASE SLOT

6. Remove the key from the shiftlock release slot, then reinstall thecover.Depress the brake pedal andrestart the engine.

If you need to use the Shift LockRelease, it means your car isdeveloping a problem. Have the carchecked by your Honda dealer.

Continuously VariableTransmission (CVT)On HX modelHonda's Continuously Variableautomatic transmission's uniquedesign provides a smooth, constantflow of power. It is electronicallycontrolled for more precise operationand better fuel economy.

Driving


Shift Lever Position Indicator

This indicator on the instrumentpanel shows which position the shiftlever is in.The "D" indicator comes on for afew seconds when you turn theignition switch ON (II). If it flasheswhile driving (in any shift position),it indicates a possible problem in thetransmission. Avoid rapid accelera-tion and have the transmissionchecked by an authorized Hondadealer as soon as possible.

Shift Lever Positions

The shift lever has six positions. Itmust be in Park or Neutral to startthe engine. When you are stopped inD, S, L, N or R, press firmly on thebrake pedal and keep your foot offthe accelerator pedal.

Driving


Park (P) — This position mechani-cally locks the transmission. UsePark whenever you are turning off orstarting the engine. To shift out ofPark, you must press on the brakepedal, have your foot off the accelera-tor pedal, and press the releasebutton on the side of the shift lever.If you have done all of the above andstill cannot move the lever out ofPark, see Shift Lock Release on page144.

You must also press the releasebutton to shift into Park. To avoidtransmission damage, come to acomplete stop before shifting intoPark. The shift lever must be in Parkbefore you can remove the key fromthe ignition switch.

Reverse (R) — To shift from Re-verse to Park, see the explanationunder Park. To shift to Reverse fromNeutral, come to a complete stopfirst. Press the release button beforeshifting into Reverse from Neutral.

Neutral (N) — Use Neutral if youneed to restart a stalled engine, or ifit is necessary to stop briefly withthe engine idling. Always shift toPark position if you need to leave thevehicle for any reason. Press on thebrake pedal when you are movingthe shift lever from Neutral toanother position.

Driving

CONTINUED


Drive (D) — Use this position foryour normal driving. The transmis-sion automatically adjusts to keepthe engine at the best speed fordriving conditions. To help theengine warm up faster, the transmis-sion will select ratios that allow theengine to run at higher speeds whenit is cold.

Second (S) — Selecting Secondshifts the transmission into a lowerrange of ratios for better accelera-tion and increased engine braking.Use Second when you are goingdown a steep hill, or in stop-and-godriving.

Low (L) — To shift to Low, pressthe release button on the side of theshift lever. Use Low to get morepower when climbing, and formaximum engine braking whengoing down steep hills.

For faster acceleration when in D, Sor L, the transmission willautomatically "kick down" to a lowerrange of ratios by pushing theaccelerator pedal to the floor.

Maximum Allowable SpeedsThe CVT shifts automatically tomaintain proper engine speed in anyshift position.

When the vehicle reaches themaximum speed in any shift position,you may feel the engine cut in andout. This is caused by a limiter (112mph, 180 km/h) in the engine'scomputer controls. The engine willrun normally when you reduce thespeed below the maximum.

Driving

Parking

Always use the parking brake whenyou park your car. The indicator onthe instrument panel shows that theparking brake is not fully released; itdoes not indicate that the parkingbrake is firmly set. Make sure theparking brake is set firmly or yourcar may roll if it is parked on anincline.

If your car has an automatictransmission, set the parking brakebefore you put the transmission inPark. This keeps the car frommoving and putting pressure on theparking mechanism in thetransmission — making it easier tomove the shift lever out of Parkwhen you want to drive away.

If the car is facing uphill, turn thefront wheels away from the curb. Ifyou have a manual transmission, putit in first gear.

If the car is facing downhill, turn thefront wheels toward the curb. If youhave a manual transmission, put it inreverse gear.

Make sure the parking brake is fullyreleased before driving away.Driving with the parking brakepartially set can overheat or damagethe rear brakes.

Parking TipsMake sure the moonroof and thewindows 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 theremote transmitter.

Never park over dry leaves, tallgrass, or other flammablematerials. The three way catalyticconverter gets very hot, and couldcause these materials to catch onfire.

Driving

The Braking System

On DX, HX and EX in the U.S., DX andEX models in CanadaAll Civics are equipped with frontdisc brakes. The brakes on the rearwheels are drum. A power assisthelps reduce the effort needed onthe brake pedal.

(On the Si model in the U.S., SiR modelin Canada)Your Honda is equipped with discbrakes at all four wheels. A powerassist helps reduce the effort neededon the brake pedal.

Put your foot on the brake pedal onlywhen you intend to brake. Restingyour foot on the pedal keeps thebrakes applied lightly, causing themto build up heat. Heat build-up canreduce how well your brakes work. Italso keeps your brake lights on allthe time, confusing drivers behindyou.

Constant application of the brakeswhen going down a long hill buildsup heat and reduces their effective-ness. Use the engine to assist thebrakes by downshifting to a lowergear and taking your foot off theaccelerator pedal.

Check your brakes after drivingthrough deep water. Apply thebrakes moderately to see if they feelnormal. If not, apply them gently andfrequently until they do. Since alonger distance is needed to stopwith wet brakes, be extra cautiousand alert in your driving.

Brake Wear IndicatorsThe front disc brakes on all modelshave audible brake wear indicators.When the brake pads need replacing,you will hear a distinctive metallic"screeching" sound when you applythe brakes. If you do not have thebrake pads replaced, they will beginscreeching all the time.

Your brakes may sometimes squealor squeak when you apply themlightly. Do not confuse this with thebrake wear indicators. They make avery audible "screeching."

Driving

The Braking System

Brake System DesignThe hydraulic system that operatesthe brakes has two separate circuits.Each circuit works diagonally acrossthe vehicle (the left-front brake isconnected with the right-rear brake,etc.). If one circuit should develop aproblem, you will still have brakingat two wheels.

Anti-lock BrakesStandard on Si-R model in Canada.It is optional on the EX and Si modelsin the U.S., and DX and Si models inCanada.

ABS helps to prevent the wheelsfrom locking up and skidding duringhard braking, allowing you to retainsteering control.

When the front tires skid, you losesteering control; the car continuesstraight ahead even though you turnthe steering wheel. The ABS helps toprevent lock-up and helps you retainsteering control by pumping thebrakes rapidly; much faster than aperson can do it.

You should never pump thebrake pedal, this defeats thepurpose of the ABS. Let the ABSwork for you by always keeping firm,steady pressure on the brake pedalas you steer away from the hazard.This is sometimes referred to as"stomp and steer."

CONTINUED

Driving

Front

The Braking System

You will feel a pulsation in the brakepedal when the ABS activates, andyou may hear some noise. This isnormal, it is the ABS rapidlypumping the brakes.

Activation varies with the amount oftraction your tires have. On drypavement, you will need to press onthe brake pedal very hard before youactivate the ABS. However, you mayfeel the ABS activate immediately ifyou are trying to stop on snow or ice.

Important Safety RemindersABS does not reduce the time ordistance it takes to stop the car, itonly helps with steering controlduring braking. You should alwaysmaintain a safe following distancefrom other vehicles.

ABS will not prevent a skid thatresults from changing directionabruptly, such as trying to take acorner too fast or making a suddenlane change. Always drive at a safe,prudent speed for the road andweather conditions.

ABS cannot prevent a loss ofstability. Always steer moderatelywhen you are braking hard. Severeor sharp steering wheel movementcan still cause your car to veer intooncoming traffic or off the road.

A vehicle with ABS may require alonger distance to stop on loose oruneven surfaces, such as gravel orsnow, than a vehicle without anti-lock. Slow down and allow a greaterdistance between vehicles underthose conditions.

Driving

The Braking System

Driving

The ABS is self-checking. If anythinggoes wrong, the ABS indicator onthe instrument panel comes on (seepage 55 ). This means the anti-lockfunction of the braking system hasshut down. The brakes still work likea conventional system without anti-lock, providing normal stoppingability. You should have the dealerinspect your car as soon as possibleif this light stays on after you startthe engine, or comes on whiledriving.

ABS Indicator

ABS INDICATOR*

*U.S. indicator shown

Driving in Bad Weather

Rain, fog, and snow conditions re-quire a different driving techniquebecause of reduced traction andvisibility. Keep your car well-maintained and exercise greatercaution when you need to drive inbad weather. The cruise controlshould not be used in these condi-tions.

Driving Technique — Always driveslower than you would in dryweather. It takes your car longer toreact, even in conditions that mayseem just barely damp. Applysmooth, even pressure to all thecontrols. Abrupt steering wheelmovements or sudden, hard appli-cation of the brakes can cause loss ofcontrol in wet weather. Be extracautious for the first few miles(kilometers) of driving while youadjust to the change in drivingconditions. This is especially true insnow. A person can forget somesnow-driving techniques during thesummer months. Practice is neededto relearn those skills.

Exercise extra caution when drivingin rain after a long dry spell. Aftermonths of dry weather, the firstrains bring oil to the surface of theroadway, making it slippery.

Visibility — Being able to seeclearly in all directions and beingvisible to other drivers are importantin all weather conditions. This ismore difficult in bad weather. To beseen more clearly during daylighthours, turn on your headlights.

Inspect your windshield wipers andwashers frequently. Keep the wind-shield washer reservoir full of theproper fluid. Have the windshieldwiper blades replaced if they start tostreak the windshield or leave partsunwiped. Use the defrosters and airconditioning to keep the windowsfrom fogging up on the inside (seepage 93 ).

Driving

Driving in Bad Weather, Towing a Trailer

Traction — Check your tiresfrequently for wear and properpressure. Both are important inpreventing "hydroplaning" (loss oftraction on a wet surface). In thewinter, mount snow tires on all fourwheels for the best handling.

Watch road conditions carefully,they can change from moment tomoment. Wet leaves can be as slip-pery as ice. "Clear" roads can havepatches of ice. Driving conditionscan be very hazardous when theoutside temperature is near freezing.The road surface can becomecovered with areas of water puddlesmixed with areas of ice, so yourtraction can change without warning.

Be careful when downshifting. Iftraction is low, you can lock up thedrive wheels for a moment and causea skid.

Be very cautious when passing, orbeing passed by other vehicles. Thespray from large vehicles reducesyour visibility, and the wind buffetingcan cause you to lose control.

Towing a TrailerYour vehicle is not designed to tow atrailer. Attempting to do so can voidyour warranties.

Driving

Maintenance

This section explains why it isimportant to keep your car wellmaintained and to follow basicmaintenance safety precautions.

This section also includesMaintenance Schedules for normaldriving and severe driving conditions,a Maintenance Record, and instruc-tions for simple maintenance tasksyou may want to take care ofyourself.

If you have the skills and tools to per-form more complex maintenancetasks on your Honda, you may wantto purchase the Service Manual. Seepage 263 for information on how toobtain a copy, or see your Hondadealer.

Maintenance Safety....................... 158Important Safety Precautions.. 159

Maintenance Schedule.................. 160Maintenance Record..................... 167Owner Maintenance Checks........ 169Fluid Locations............................... 170Engine Oil....................................... 171

Adding Oil................................... 171Recommended Oil..................... 171Synthetic Oil............................... 172Additives..................................... 172Changing the Oil and Filter...... 173

Cooling System.............................. 175Adding Engine Coolant............. 175Replacing Engine Coolant........ 177

Windshield Washers..................... 180Transmission Fluid........................ 180

AutomaticTransmission.......................... 180

5-speed ManualTransmission.......................... 182

Brake and Clutch Fluid................. 182Brake System............................. 183Clutch System............................ 183

Power Steering............................... 184Air Cleaner Element...................... 185

Hood Latch..................................... 186Spark Plugs..................................... 187

Replacement............................... 187Specifications............................. 188

Battery............................................ 189Wiper Blades.................................. 191Air Conditioning System............... 193Drive Belts...................................... 194Timing Belt..................................... 194Tires................................................ 195

Inflation....................................... 195Recommended Tire Pressures

for Normal Driving............ 196Tire Pressure Adjustment for

High Speed Driving........... 196Inspection................................... 197Maintenance............................... 198Tire Rotation.............................. 198Replacing Tires and Wheels .... 199Wheels and Tires....................... 200Winter Driving........................... 200

Snow Tires.............................. 201Tire Chains............................. 201

Lights.............................................. 202Replacing Bulbs......................... 204

Storing Your Car............................ 212

Maintenance

Maintenance Safety

Regularly maintaining your car is thebest way to protect your investment.Proper maintenance is essential toyour safety and the safety of yourpassengers. It will also reward youwith more economical, trouble-freedriving and help reduce air pollution.

This section includes instructions forsimple maintenance tasks, such aschecking and adding oil. Any serviceitems not detailed in this sectionshould be performed by a Hondatechnician or other qualifiedmechanic.

Some of the most important safetyprecautions are given here. However,we cannot warn you of everyconceivable hazard that can arise inperforming maintenance. Only youcan decide whether or not youshould perform a given task.

Maintenance

Improperly maintaining this caror failing to correct a problembefore driving can cause acrash in which you can beseriously hurt or killed.

Always follow the inspectionand maintenancerecommendations andschedules in this owner'smanual.

Failure to properly followmaintenance instructions andprecautions can cause you tobe seriously hurt or killed.

Always follow the proceduresand precautions in this owner'smanual.

Maintenance Safety

Important Safety PrecautionsBefore you begin any maintenance,make sure your car is parked onlevel ground and that the parkingbrake is set. Also, be sure the engineis off. This will help to eliminateseveral potential hazards:

Carbon monoxide poisoningfrom engine exhaust. Be surethere is adequate ventilationwhenever you operate the engine.

Burns from hot parts. Let theengine and exhaust system coolbefore touching any parts.

Injury from moving parts. Donot run the engine unless in-structed to do so.

Read the instructions before youbegin, and make sure you have thetools and skills required.

To reduce the possibility of fire orexplosion, be careful when workingaround gasoline or batteries. Use acommercially available degreaser orparts cleaner, not gasoline, to cleanparts. Keep cigarettes, sparks, andflames away from the battery and allfuel-related parts.

You should wear eye protection andprotective clothing when workingnear the battery or when usingcompressed air.

Maintenance

Maintenance Schedule

The Maintenance Schedule specifieshow often you should have your carserviced and what things needattention. It is essential that you haveyour car serviced as scheduled toretain its high level of safety,dependability, and emissions controlperformance.

The services and time or distanceintervals shown in the maintenanceschedule assume you will use yourcar as normal transportation forpassengers and their possessions.You should also follow theserecommendations:

Avoid exceeding your car's loadlimit. This puts excess stress onthe engine, brakes, and manyother parts of your car. The loadlimit is shown on the label on thedriver's doorjamb.

Operate your car on reasonableroads within the legal speed limit.

Drive your car regularly over adistance of several miles(kilometers).

Always use unleaded gasoline withthe proper octane rating (see page124).

Which Schedule to Follow:Service your car according to thetime and mileage periods on one ofthe Maintenance Schedules on thefollowing pages. Select the schedulefor "Severe Conditions" if most ofyour driving is done under one ormore of the conditions listed on thatpage. Otherwise, follow the schedulefor "Normal Conditions."

Maintenance

Maintenance Schedule

Your authorized Honda dealerknows your car best and can providecompetent, efficient service.However, service at a dealer is notmandatory to keep your warrantiesin effect. Maintenance may be doneby any qualified service facility orperson who is skilled in this type ofautomotive service. Keep all thereceipts as proof of completion, andhave the person who does the workfill out the Maintenance Record.Check your warranty booklet formore information.

We recommend the use of GenuineHonda parts and fluids whenever youhave maintenance done. These aremanufactured to the same high-quality standards as the originalcomponents, so you can be confidentof their performance and durability.

U.S. Vehicles:Maintenance, replacement orrepair of emissions controldevices and systems may be doneby any automotive repairestablishment or individual usingparts that are "certified" to EPAstandards.

According to state and federalregulations, failure to performmaintenance on the items markedwith # will not void your emissionswarranties. However, Hondarecommends that all maintenanceservices be performed at therecommended time or mileageperiod to ensure long-term reliability.

Maintenance

U.S. OwnersFollow the Normal ConditionsMaintenance Schedule if thesevere driving conditionsspecified in the SevereConditions MaintenanceSchedule do not apply.

NOTE: If you onlyOCCASIONALLY drive under a"severe" condition, you shouldfollow the Normal ConditionsMaintenance Schedule.

Canadian OwnersFollow the MaintenanceSchedule for Severe Conditions.

* 1 : U.S.: Si model, Canada: SiR model#: See information on maintenance and emissions warranty, last column, page 161.

Maintenance

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 thisschedule 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

* 1 : U.S.: Si model, Canada: SiR model

#: See Information on maintenance and emissions warranty, lastcolumn, page 161.

*: See Timing Belt on page 194 to determine need for replacement.

Page 198

Page 181

* 1 : U.S.: Si model, Canada: SiR model#: See information on maintenance and emissions warranty, last column, page 161.

Maintenance

U.S. OwnersFollow the Severe ConditionsMaintenance Schedule if youdrive your vehicle MAINLYunder one or more of thefollowing conditions:

Driving less than 5 miles (8km) per trip or, in freezingtemperatures, driving lessthan 10 miles (16 km) per trip.Driving in extremely hot[over 90°F (32° C] conditions.Extensive idling or longperiods of stop-and-go driving.Driving with a roof-top carrier,or driving in mountainousconditions.Driving on muddy, dusty, orde-iced roads.

* 2 : Refer to page 181 for replacementinformation under special drivingconditions.

* 3 : Refer to page 194 for replacementinformation under special drivingconditions.

Canadian OwnersFollow the MaintenanceSchedule for Severe Conditions.

Use this schedule if your vehicle is MAINLY driven in any of the following Severe Conditions, or normally driven in Canada; otherwise use the NormalSchedule. Service at the indicated distance or time, whichever comes first. Do the items in A, B, C as required for each distance/time.

CONTINUEDMaintenance

Page 198

* 1 : U.S.: Si model, Canada: SiR model

#: See information on maintenance and emissions warranty, lastcolumn, page 161.

*: See Timing Belt on page 194 to determine need for replacement.

Maintenance

page 181.)

Required Maintenance Record (for Normal and Severe Schedules)

You or the servicing dealer can record all completed maintenance here, whether you follow the schedule for normal conditions (page 162 ) or severeconditions (page 164). Keep the receipts for all work done on your vehicle.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

Required Maintenance Record (for Normal and Severe Schedules)

Maintenance

Owner Maintenance Checks

You should check the followingitems at the specified intervals. Ifyou are unsure of how to performany check, turn to the page given.

Engine oil level — Check everytime you fill the fuel tank. Seepage 127.

Engine coolant level — Check theradiator reserve tank every timeyou fill the fuel tank. See page 128 .

Windshield washer fluid — Checkthe level in the reservoir monthly.If weather conditions cause you touse the washers frequently, checkthe reservoir each time you stopfor fuel. See page 180 .

Automatic transmission — Checkthe fluid level monthly. See page180.

Brakes — Check the fluid levelmonthly. See page 183 .

Tires — Check the tire pressuremonthly. Examine the tread forwear and foreign objects. See page196.

Lights — Check the operation ofthe headlights, parking lights,taillights, high-mount brake light,turn signals, brake lights, andlicense plate lights monthly. Seepage 202.

Maintenance

Fluid Locations

COOLANTRESERVOIR

AUTOMATICTRANSMISSIONFLUID DIPSTICK(Yellow loop)(Including CVT)

BRAKE FLUID(Gray cap)

CLUTCH FLUID(5-speed ManualTransmission only)(Gray cap)

ENGINE OILFILL CAP

WASHER FLUID(Blue cap)

POWER STEERINGFLUID (Red cap)

ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK(Orange loop)

Maintenance

Engine Oil

Adding Oil

ENGINE OILFILL CAP

To add oil, unscrew and remove theengine oil fill cap on top of the valvecover. Pour in the oil, and reinstallthe engine oil fill cap. Tighten itsecurely. Wait a few minutes andrecheck the oil level. Do not fillabove the upper mark; you coulddamage the engine.

Recommended OilOil is a major contributor to yourengine's performance and longevity.Always use a premium-grade deter-gent oil. It is highly recommendedthat you use Genuine Honda MotorOil in your vehicle for as long as youown it.

You can determine an oil's SAEviscosity and Service Classificationfrom the API Service label on the oilcontainer.

A fuel-efficient oil is recommendedfor your Honda. This is shown on theAPI Service label by the words"Energy Conserving." This oil isformulated to help your engine useless fuel.

The API Service label also tells youthe service classification of the oil.Always use an oil that is labeled "APIService SJ." This service rating mayinclude other classifications, such asCD. These additional classificationsare not a problem, as long as thelabel also carries the SJ classification.

API SERVICE LABEL

CONTINUED

Maintenance

Engine Oil

The oil container may also displaythe API Certification seal. Make sureit says "For Gasoline Engines."

API CERTIFICATION MARK

The SAE numbers tell you the oil'sviscosity or weight. Select the oil foryour car according to this chart.

An oil with a viscosity of 5W-30 ispreferred for improved fuel economyand year-round protection in yourHonda. You may use a 10W-30 oil ifthe temperature in your area nevergoes below 20°F ( — 7°C).

Synthetic OilYou may use a synthetic motor oil ifit meets the same requirementsgiven for conventional motor oil:energy conserving, a serviceclassification of SJ, and the properweight as shown on the chart. Whenusing synthetic oil, you must followthe oil and filter change intervalsgiven in the maintenance schedule.

AdditivesYour Honda does not need any oiladditives. Purchasing additives forthe engine or transmission will notincrease your car's performance orlongevity. It only increases the costof operating your car.

Maintenance

Ambient Temperature

Engine Oil

Changing the Oil and FilterAlways change the oil and filteraccording 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 ifthey are not removed regularly.

Changing the oil and filter requiresspecial tools and access fromunderneath the car. The car shouldbe raised on a service station-typehydraulic lift for this service. Unlessyou have the knowledge and properequipment, you should have thismaintenance done by a skilledmechanic.

OIL DRAIN BOLT WASHER

1. Run the engine until it reachesnormal operating temperature,then shut it off.

2. Open the hood and remove theengine oil fill cap. Remove the oildrain bolt and washer from thebottom of the engine. Drain the oilinto an appropriate container.

OIL FILTER

3. Remove the oil filter and let theremaining oil drain. A specialwrench (available from yourHonda dealer) is required toremove the filter.

4. Install a new oil filter according toinstructions that come with it.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

Engine Oil

5. Put a new washer on the drain bolt,then reinstall the drain bolt.Tighten it to:

(U.S.: DX and Si, Canada: DX andSiR)33 lbf.ft (44 N.m, 4.5 kgf.m)

(U.S.: HX, EX, Canada: Si)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, Canada: DX)3.8 US qt (3.6 ,3.2 Imp qt)

(U.S.: HX, EX, Canada: Si)3.5 US qt (3.3 ,2.9 Imp qt)

(U.S.: Si, Canada: SiR)4.2 US qt (4.0 , 3.5 Imp qt)

7. Replace the engine oil fill cap.Start the engine. The oil pressureindicator light should go out withinfive seconds. If it does not, turn offthe engine and reinspect yourwork.

8. Let the engine run for severalminutes and check the drain boltand oil filter for leaks.

9. Turn off the engine, let it sit forseveral minutes, then check the oillevel. If necessary, add oil to bringthe level to the upper mark on thedipstick.

Improper disposal of engine oil can beharmful to the environment. If youchange your own oil, please dispose ofthe used oil properly. Put it in a sealedcontainer and take it to a recyclingcenter. Do not discard it in a trash binor dump it on the ground.

Maintenance

NOTICE

Cooling System

Adding Engine Coolant

If the coolant level in the reservetank is at or below the MIN line, addcoolant to bring it up to the MAX line.Inspect the cooling system for leaks.This coolant should always be amixture of 50 percent antifreeze and50 percent water. Never add straightantifreeze or plain water.

Always use Genuine HondaAntifreeze/Coolant. If it is notavailable, you may use anothermajor-brand non-silicate coolant as atemporary replacement. Make sure itis a high-quality coolantrecommended for aluminum engines.However, continued use of any non-Honda coolant can result incorrosion, causing the coolingsystem to malfunction or fail. Havethe cooling system flushed andrefilled with Honda antifreeze/coolant as soon as possible.

If the reserve tank is completelyempty, you should also check thecoolant level in the radiator.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

Removing the radiator capwhile the engine is hot cancause the coolant to spray out,seriously scalding you.

Always let the engine andradiator cool down beforeremoving the radiator cap.

RESERVE TANK

Cooling System

RADIATOR CAP

1. Make sure the engine and radiatorare cool.

2. Turn the radiator cap counter-clockwise, without pressing downon it, until it stops. This relievesany pressure remaining in thecooling system.

3. Remove the radiator cap bypushing down and turningcounterclockwise.

RESERVE TANK

4. The coolant level should be up tothe base of the filler neck. Addcoolant 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 MAXand MIN marks. Put the cap backon the reserve tank.

Do not add any rust inhibitors orother additives to your car's coolingsystem. They may not be compatiblewith the coolant or engine compo-nents.

Maintenance

Cooling System

Replacing Engine CoolantThe cooling system should becompletely drained and refilled withnew coolant according to the timeand distance recommendations inthe maintenance schedule. Only useGenuine Honda Antifreeze/Coolant.

Draining the coolant requires accessto the underside of the car. Unlessyou have the tools and knowledge,you should have this maintenancedone by a skilled mechanic.

1. Turn the ignition ON (II). Turnthe temperature control dial tomaximum heat. Turn off theignition and remove the key. Openthe hood. Make sure the engineand radiator are cool to the touch.

2. Remove the radiator cap.

DRAIN PLUG

3. Loosen the drain plug on thebottom of the radiator. Thecoolant will come out through thehole in the splash cover.

(U.S.: Si model, Canada: SiRmodel)

Remove the drain bolt and washerfrom the engine block.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

Cooling System

4. Remove the reserve tank from itsholder by pulling it straight up.Drain the coolant, then put thetank back in its holder.

5. When the coolant stops draining,tighten the drain plug at thebottom of the radiator.

(U.S.: Si model, Canada: SiRmodel)

When the coolant stops draining,apply non-hardening sealant to thedrain bolt threads, then reinstallthe bolt and tighten it securely.

6. Mix the recommended antifreezewith an equal amount of purifiedor distilled water in a cleancontainer. The cooling systemcapacity is:

With 5-speed manual transmission:(U.S.: DX, EX and HX, Canada: DXand Si)0.82 US gal (3.1 ,0.68 Imp gal)(U.S.: Si, Canada: SiR)1.14 US gal (4.3 ,0.95 Imp gal)

With automatic transmission:(U.S.: DX, Canada: DX)0.79 US gal (3.0 ,0.66 Imp gal)(U.S.: HX, EX, Canada: Si)0.85 US gal (3.2 ,0.70 Imp gal)

FILLER NECK

Fill up to here

7. Pour coolant into the radiator upto the base of the filler neck. Startthe engine and let it run for about30 seconds. Then turn off theengine.

8. Fill the reserve tank to the MAXmark. Install the reserve tank cap.

9. Check the level in the radiator,add coolant if needed.

Maintenance

RESERVETANK CAP

RESERVETANK

HOLDER

10.Install the radiator cap, andtighten it to the first stop.

11.Start the engine and let it run untilthe radiator fan comes on twotimes. Then stop the engine.

12.Remove the radiator cap. Fill theradiator with coolant up to thefiller neck and the reserve tank upto the MAX mark.

13.Start the engine and hold it at1,500 rpm until the cooling fancomes on. Turn off the engine.Check the coolant level in theradiator and add coolant if needed.

14.Install the radiator cap, andtighten it fully.

15.If necessary, fill the reserve tankto the MAX mark. Install thereserve tank cap.

Cooling System

Maintenance

Windshield Washers, Transmission Fluid

Windshield WashersCheck the level in the windshieldwasher reservoir at least monthlyduring normal usage. In bad weather,when you use the washers often,check the level every time you stopfor fuel.

The windshield washer reservoir islocated behind the driver's sideheadlight. Check the reservoir's fluidlevel by removing the cap andlooking at the level gauge attachedto the cap.

Fill the reservoir with a good-qualitywindshield washer fluid. Thisincreases the cleaning capability andprevents freezing in cold weather.

WINDSHIELD WASHER RESERVOIR

Do not use engine antifreeze or avinegar/water solution in thewindshield washer reservoir.

Antifreeze can damage your car's paint,while a vinegar/water solution candamage the windshield washer pump.

Use only commercially-availablewindshield washer fluid.

The engine and transmission mustbe at normal operating temperaturebefore checking the fluid level. Drivethe vehicle at least 10 miles (16kilometers) before checking.

1. Park the car on level ground. Shutoff the engine. For accurateresults, wait at least 60 seconds,and no more than 90 seconds,after shutting off the engine tocheck the fluid level.

Maintenance

DIPSTICK (CVT)

DIPSTICK (AUTOMATICTRANSMISSION)


NOTICE

Transmission Fluid

UPPERMARKLOWERMARK

2. Remove the dipstick (yellow loop)from the transmission and wipe itwith a clean cloth.

3. Insert the dipstick all the way intothe transmission securely asshown in the illustration.

4. Remove the dipstick and checkthe fluid level. It should bebetween the upper and lowermarks.

5. If the level is below the lowermark, add fluid into the filler holeto bring it to the upper mark.Always use Honda PremiumFormula Automatic TransmissionFluid (ATF). If it is not available,you may use a DEXRON® IIIautomatic transmission fluid as atemporary replacement. However,continued use can affect shiftquality. Have the transmissiondrained and refilled with HondaATF as soon as it is convenient.

HX model (CVT) only:Use Genuine Honda CVT fluidonly. Using other fluids can affecttransmission operation and mayreduce transmission life.

6. Insert the dipstick all the way backinto the transmission securely asshown in the illustration.

The transmission should be drainedand refilled with new fluid accordingto the time and distance recommen-dations in the maintenance schedule.

HX model (CVT) only:If you drive at high speeds in high(90° F/32°C and above)temperatures, the transmission fluidshould be changed every 15,000miles (24,000 km).

Maintenance

DIPSTICK

Transmission Fluid, Brake and Clutch Fluid


FILLER BOLT

Check the fluid level with thetransmission at normal operatingtemperature and the car sitting onlevel ground. Remove thetransmission filler bolt and carefullyfeel inside the bolt hole with yourfinger. The fluid level should be upto the edge of the bolt hole. If it isnot, add Genuine Honda ManualTransmission Fluid (MTF) until itstarts to run out of the hole. Reinstallthe filler bolt and tighten it securely.

If Honda MTF is not available, youmay use an API service SG, SH or SJgrade motor oil with a viscosity ofSAE 10W-30 or 10W-40 as atemporary replacement. An SGgrade is preferred, but an SH or SJgrade may be used if SG is notavailable. However, motor oil doesnot contain the proper additives andcontinued use can cause stiffershifting. Replace as soon asconvenient.

The transmission should be drainedand refilled with new fluid accordingto the time and distance recommen-dations in the maintenance schedule.

Brake and Clutch FluidCheck the fluid level in the reser-voirs monthly. There are up to tworeservoirs, depending on the model.They are:

Brake fluid reservoir (all models)Clutch fluid reservoir(manual transmission only)

The brake fluid should be replacedaccording to the time and distancerecommendations in the mainte-nance schedule.

Maintenance

Correct level

Brake and Clutch Fluid

Always use Genuine Honda DOT 3brake fluid. If it is not available, youshould use only DOT 3 or DOT 4fluid, from a sealed container, as atemporary replacement. However,the use of any non-Honda brake fluidcan cause corrosion and decreasethe life of the system. Have thebrake system flushed and refilledwith Honda DOT 3 brake fluid assoon as possible.

Brake fluid marked DOT 5 is notcompatible with your car's brakingsystem and can cause extensivedamage.

Brake System

The fluid level should be betweenthe MIN and MAX marks on the sideof the reservoir. If the level is at orbelow the MIN mark, your brakesystem needs attention. Have thebrake system inspected for leaks orworn brake pads.

Clutch System

The fluid should be between theMIN and MAX marks on the side ofthe reservoir. If it is not, add brakefluid to bring it up to that level. Usethe same fluid specified for thebrake system.

Low fluid level can indicate a leak inthe clutch system. Have this systeminspected as soon as possible.

Maintenance

MAX

MIN

MAX

MIN

Power Steering

Check the level when the engine iscold. Look at the side of thereservoir. The fluid should bebetween the UPPER LEVEL andLOWER LEVEL. If it is below theLOWER LEVEL, add power steeringfluid to the UPPER LEVEL.

UPPER LEVEL

Always use Genuine Honda PowerSteering Fluid. If it is not available,you may use another power steeringfluid as an emergency replacement.However, continued use can causeincreased wear and poor steering incold weather. Have the powersteering system flushed and refilledwith Honda PSF as soon as possible.

A low power steering fluid level canindicate a leak in the system. Checkthe fluid level frequently and havethe system inspected as soon aspossible.

Turning the steering wheel to full leftor right lock and holding it there candamage the power steering pump.

Maintenance

LOWER LEVEL

NOTICE

Air Cleaner Element

The air cleaner element should bereplaced according to the time anddistance recommendations in themaintenance schedule.

Replacement

On DX model in the U.S., and DX modelin CanadaThe air cleaner element is inside theair cleaner housing in the enginecompartment.To replace it:

1. Unsnap the four clips and removethe air cleaner housing cover.

2. Remove the old air cleanerelement.

3. Carefully clean the inside of theair cleaner housing with a damprag.

4. Place the new air cleaner elementin the air cleaner housing.

5. Reinstall the air cleaner housingcover, snap the four clips back intoplace.

Maintenance

CLIPS

AIR CLEANER ELEMENT

Air Cleaner Element, Hood Latch

Replacement

On HX, EX and Si models in the U.S.,and Si and SiR models in CanadaThe air cleaner element is inside theair cleaner housing on the passenger'sside of the engine compartment.To replace it:

1. Unsnap the two clips and removethe air cleaner housing cover.

2. Remove the old air cleanerelement.Carefully clean the inside of theair cleaner housing with a damprag.

3. Place the new air cleaner elementin the air cleaner housing.

4. Align the tabs and reinstall the aircleaner housing cover, snap thetwo clips back into place.

Hood Latch

Clean the hood latch assembly with amild cleaner, then lubricate it with amultipurpose grease. Lubricate allthe moving parts, including the pivot.Follow the time and distancerecommendations in theMaintenance Schedule. If you arenot sure how to clean and grease thelatch, contact your Honda dealer.

Maintenance

AIR CLEANERELEMENT

PIVOTS

CLIPS

Spark Plugs

The spark plugs in your car shouldbe replaced according to the timeand distance recommendations inthe maintenance schedule.

Replacement

1. Clean up any dirt and oil aroundthe spark plug caps.

2. Remove the spark plug cap bypulling it straight out.

3. Remove the spark plug witha five-eighths inch (16 mm) sparkplug socket.

4. Put the new spark plug into thesocket; then screw it into the hole.Screw it in by hand so you do notcrossthread it.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

SPARK PLUG CAP

Spark Plugs

5. Torque the spark plug. (If you donot have a torque wrench, tightenthe spark plug two-thirds of a turnafter it contacts the cylinder head.)Tightening torque:13 lbf.ft (18 N.m, 1.8 kgf.m)

Tighten the spark plugs carefully. Aspark plug that is too loose canoverheat and damage the engine.Overtightening can cause damage tothe threads in the cylinder head.

6. Install the spark plug cap.

7. Repeat this procedure for theother three spark plugs.

U.S.: Si, Canada: Si-RReinstall the plug wire cover, andtighten the four nuts.

Maintenance

NOTICE

Specifications:

(U.S.: HX)NGK: ZFR4F-11DENSO: KJ14CR-L11

(U.S.: DX, EX, Canada: DX, Si)NGK: ZFR5F-11DENSO: KJ16CR-L11

(U.S.: Si, Canada: SiR)NGK: PFR6L-13DENSO: PK20PR-L13

Spark Plug Gap:(U.S.: DX, HX, EX, Canada: DX, Si)

0.04 in (1.1 mm)

(U.S.: Si, Canada: SiR)0.05 in (1.3 mm)

Battery

Check the condition of your car'sbattery monthly. You should checkthe color of the test indicator window,and for corrosion on the terminals.

Check the battery condition bylooking at the test indicator windowon the battery.The label on the battery explains thetest indicator's colors.

Check the battery terminals forcorrosion (a white or yellowishpowder). To remove it, cover theterminals with a solution of bakingsoda and water. It will bubble up andturn brown. When this stops, wash itoff with plain water. Dry off thebattery with a cloth or paper towel.Coat the terminals with grease tohelp prevent future corrosion.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

TEST INDICATOR WINDOW

Battery

If the terminals are severely cor-roded, clean them with baking sodaand water. Then use a wrench toloosen and remove the cables fromthe terminals. Always disconnect thenegative ( — ) cable first and recon-nect it last. Clean the battery termi-nals with a terminal cleaning tool orwire brush. Reconnect and tightenthe cables, then coat the terminalswith grease.

If you need to connect the battery toa charger, disconnect both cables toprevent damage to the car'selectrical system.

Charging the battery with the cablesconnected can seriously damage yourcar's electronic controls. Detach thebattery cables before connecting thebattery to a charger.

Maintenance

NOTICE

The battery gives off explosivehydrogen gas during normaloperation.

A spark or flame can cause thebattery to explode with enoughforce to kill or seriously hurt you.

Wear protective clothing and aface shield, or have a skilledmechanic do the batterymaintenance.

Wiper Blades

Check the condition of the wiperblades at least every six months.Look for signs of cracking in therubber, or areas that are gettinghard. Replace the blades if you findthese signs, or they leave streaksand unwiped areas when used.

To replace the blade:

1. Raise the wiper arm off thewindshield.

2. Disconnect the blade assemblyfrom the wiper arm by pushing inthe lock tab. Hold it in while youpush the blade assembly towardthe base of the arm.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

LOCK TAB

WIPER ARMS

Wiper Blades

3. Remove the blade from its holderby grasping the tabbed end of theblade. Pull firmly until the tabscome out of the holder.

4. Examine the new wiper blades. Ifthey have no plastic or metal rein-forcement along the back edge,remove the metal reinforcementstrips from the old wiper blade andinstall them in the slots along theedge of the new blade.

5. Slide the new wiper blade into theholder until the tabs lock.

6. Slide the wiper blade assemblyonto the wiper arm. Make sure itlocks in place.

7. Lower the wiper arm down againstthe windshield.

Maintenance

BLADE

REINFORCEMENT

BLADE

Air Conditioning System

Standard on EX and Si models in U.S.,and SiR model in CanadaYour car's air conditioning is a sealedsystem. Any major maintenance,such as recharging, should be doneby a qualified mechanic. You can doa couple of things to make sure theair conditioning works efficiently.

Periodically check the engine'sradiator and air conditioningcondenser for leaves, insects, anddirt stuck to the front surface. Theseblock the air flow and reduce coolingefficiency. Use a light spray from ahose or a soft brush to remove them.

The condenser and radiator fins bendeasily. Only use a low-pressure sprayor soft-bristle brush to clean them.

Run the air conditioning at least oncea week during the cold weathermonths. Run it for at least tenminutes while you are driving at asteady speed with the engine atnormal operating temperature. Thiscirculates the lubricating oil con-tained in the refrigerant.

If the air conditioning does not get ascold as before, have your dealercheck the system. Recharge thesystem with Refrigerant HFC-134a(R-134a). (See Specifications on page248.)

Whenever you have the air conditioningsystem serviced, make sure the servicefacility uses a refrigerant recyclingsystem. This system captures therefrigerant for reuse. Releasingrefrigerant into the atmosphere candamage the environment.

Maintenance

AIR CONDITIONINGCONDENSER

NOTICENOTICE

Drive Belts, Timing Belt

Check the condition of the two orthree drive belts. Examine the edgesof each belt for cracks or fraying.Check the tension of each belt bypushing on it with your thumbmidway between the pulleys.

The belts should have the following"play" or deflection.

Alternator belt:(U.S.: DX, HX, EX, Canada: DX,EX)0.31 — 0.41 in (8.0 — 10.5 mm)(U.S.: Si, Canada: SiR)0.28 — 0.41 in (7.0 — 10.5 mm)

Power steering belt:(U.S.: DX, HX, EX, Canada: DX,EX)0.41-0.55 in (10.5-14.0 mm)(U.S.: Si, Canada: SiR)0.30 — 0.43 in (7.5 — 11.0 mm)

On vehicles with Air ConditioningSystemCompressor belt:(U.S.: DX, HX, EX, Canada: DX,EX)0.30 — 0.37 in (7.5 — 9.5 mm)(U.S.: Si, Canada: SiR)0.24 — 0.37 in (6.0 — 9.5 mm)

If you see signs of wear or looseness,have your dealer adjust or replacethe belts.

Timing BeltThe timing belt should normally bereplaced at the intervals shown inthe maintenance schedule.

Replace this belt at 60,000 miles (U.S.)or 100,000 km (Canada) if youregularly drive your car in one ormore of these conditions:

In very high temperatures(over 110°F, 43°C).In very low temperatures(under — 20°F, — 29°C).

Maintenance

Drive Belts

POWER STEERINGBELT

ALTERNATORBELT

COMPRESSOR BELT

Tires

To safely operate your car, your tiresmust be the proper type and size, ingood condition with adequate tread,and correctly inflated. The followingpages give more detailed informationon how and when to check airpressure, how to inspect your tiresfor damage and wear, and what to dowhen your tires need to be replaced.

InflationKeeping the tires properly inflatedprovides the best combination ofhandling, tread life and ridingcomfort. Underinflated tires wearunevenly, adversely affect handlingand fuel economy, and are morelikely to fail from being overheated.Overinflated tires can make your carride more harshly, are more prone todamage from road hazards, and wearunevenly.

We recommend that you visuallycheck your tires every day. If youthink a tire might be low, check itimmediately with a tire gauge.

Use a gauge to measure the airpressure at least once a month. Eventires that are in good condition maylose one to two psi (10 to 20 kPa, 0.1to 0.2 kgf/cm2) per month.Remember to check the spare tire atthe same time you check all theother tires.

Check the pressure in the tires whenthey are cold. This means the carhas been parked for at least threehours. If you have to drive the carbefore 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 excessivelyworn or improperly inflated cancause a crash in which you canbe seriously hurt or killed.

Follow all instructions in thisowner's manual regarding tireinflation and maintenance.

Tires

If you check the pressure when thetires are hot (the car has been drivenseveral miles), you will see readings4 to 6 psi (30 to 40 kPa, 0.3 to 0.4kgf/cm2) higher than the coldreading. This is normal. Do not letair out to match the specified coldpressure. The tire will beunderinflated.

You should get your own tirepressure gauge and use it wheneveryou check your tire pressures. Thiswill make it easier for you to tell if apressure loss is due to a tire problemand not due to a variation betweengauges.

Recommended Tire Pressures forNormal DrivingThe following chart shows therecommended cold tire pressures formost normal driving conditions andspeeds.

(U.S.: DX, EX, HX, Canada: DX, Si)

(U.S.: Si, Canada: SiR)

The compact spare tire pressure is:60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm2)

These pressures are also given onthe tire information label on thedriver's doorjamb.

Tubeless tires have some ability toself-seal if they are punctured.However, because leakage is oftenvery slow, you should look closelyfor punctures if a tire starts losingpressure.

Tire Pressure Adjustment for HighSpeed DrivingHonda strongly recommends thatyou not drive faster than postedspeed limits and conditions allow. Ifyou decide it is safe to drive at highspeeds, be sure to adjust the cold tirepressures as shown below. If you donot adjust the tire pressure, exces-sive heat can build up and causesudden tire failure.

Maintenance

Tires

Be sure to readjust the pressure fornormal driving speeds. You shouldwait until the tires are cold beforeadjusting the tire pressure (see page196).

InspectionEvery time you check inflation, youshould also examine the tires fordamage, foreign objects, and wear.You should look for:

Bumps or bulges in the tread orside of the tire. Replace the tire ifyou find either of these conditions.

Cuts, splits, or cracks in the sideof the tire. Replace the tire if youcan see fabric or cord.

Excessive tread wear.Your car's tires have wear indicatorsmolded into the tread. When thetread wears down to that point, youwill see a 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) wideband running across the tread. Thisshows there is less than 1/16 inch(1.6 mm) of tread left on the tire. Atire that is this worn gives very littletraction on wet roads. You shouldreplace the tire if you can see thetread wear indicator in three or moreplaces around the tire.

Maintenance

TREAD WEAR INDICATORS

INDICATOR LOCATION MARKS

Tires

MaintenanceIn addition to proper inflation,correct wheel alignment helps todecrease tire wear. If you find a tireis worn unevenly, have your dealercheck the wheel alignment.

The tires were properly balanced bythe factory. They may need to berebalanced at some time before theyare worn out. Have your dealercheck the tires if you feel a consis-tent vibration while driving. A tireshould always be rebalanced if it isremoved from the wheel for repair.

Make sure the installer balances thewheels when you have new tiresinstalled. This increases ridingcomfort and tire life. Your car'soriginal tires were dynamic or "spin"balanced at the factory. For bestresults, have the installer perform adynamic balance.

Improper wheel weights can damageyour car's aluminum wheels. Use onlyGenuine Honda wheel weights forbalancing.

Tire Rotation

To help increase tire life anddistribute wear more evenly, youshould have the tires rotated every7,500 miles (12,000 km). Move thetires to the positions shown in thechart each time they are rotated.

Maintenance

NOTICE

Front Front

(For Non-directionalTires and Wheels)

(For DirectionalTires and Wheels)

Tires

When shopping for replacementtires, you may find that some tiresare "directional." This means theyare designed to rotate only in onedirection. If you use directional tires,they should be rotated only front-to-back.

Replacing Tires and WheelsThe tires that came with your carwere selected to match the perform-ance capabilities of the car whileproviding the best combination ofhandling, ride comfort, and long life.You should replace them with radialtires of the same size, load range,speed rating, and maximum cold tirepressure rating (as shown on thetire's sidewall). Mixing radial andbias-ply tires on your car can reduceits braking ability, traction, andsteering accuracy. It is best to replace all four tires at

the same time. If that is not possibleor necessary, then replace the twofront tires or the two rear tires as apair. Replacing just one tire canseriously affect your car's handling.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

Installing improper tires on yourcar can affect handling andstability. This can cause a crashin which you can be seriouslyhurt or killed.

Always use the size and type oftires recommended in thisowner's manual.

Tires

The ABS works by comparing thespeed of the wheels. When replacingtires, use the same size originallysupplied with the car. Tire size andconstruction can affect wheel speedand may cause the system to work in-consistently.

If you ever need to replace a wheel,make sure the wheel's specificationsmatch those of the original wheelthat came on your car. Replacementwheels are available at your Hondadealer.

Wheels and Tires

Wheels:(U.S.: DX, EX, Canada: Si, DX)

1 4 x 5J(U.S.: HX)

14 x 51/2 JJ(U.S.: Si, Canada: SiR)

15 x 6 JJ

Tires:(U.S.: DX, EX, HX, Canada: DX, Si)

P185/65R14 85S(U.S.: Si, Canada: SIR)

P195/55R15 84V

See page 249 for information aboutDOT Tire Quality Grading.

Winter DrivingTires that are marked "M + S" or"All Season" on the sidewall have anall-weather tread design. Theyshould be suitable for most winterdriving conditions. Tires withoutthese markings are designed foroptimum traction in dry conditions.They may not provide adequateperformance in winter driving.For the best performance in snowyor icy conditions, you should installsnow tires or tire chains. They maybe required by local laws undercertain conditions.

Maintenance

Tires

Snow TiresIf you mount snow tires on yourHonda, make sure they are radialtires of the same size and load rangeas the original tires. Mount snowtires on all four wheels to balanceyour car's handling in all weatherconditions. Keep in mind the tractionprovided by snow tires on dry roadsmay not be as high as your car'soriginal equipment tires. You shoulddrive cautiously even when the roadsare clear. Check with the tire dealerfor maximum speed recommenda-tions.

Tire ChainsMount traction devices (link-type orcable-type) only when required bydriving conditions or local laws.Make sure they are the correct sizefor your tires. Install them only onthe front tires.

DX, HX, and EX models in the U.S. andDX, and Si models in CanadaIf link-type traction devices are used,they must be SAE class "S". Cable-type traction devices can also beused.

Si model in the U.S. and Si-R model inCanadaBecause your Honda has limited tireclearance, mount only SAE Class "S"cable-type traction devices.

Link-type "chains" should not beused. No matter how tight they seemto be installed, they can come intocontact with the body andsuspension, causing serious damage.

All ModelsWhen installing traction devices,follow the manufacturer'sinstructions and mount them astightly as you can. Drive slowly withthem installed. If you hear themcoming in contact with the body orchassis, stop and investigate. Makesure the traction devices areinstalled tightly, and that they arenot contacting the brakes orsuspension.Remove them as soon as you startdriving on cleared roads.

Traction devices that are the wrongsize or improperly installed candamage your car's brake lines,suspension, body, and wheels. Stopdriving if they are hitting any part ofthe car.

Maintenance

NOTICE

Lights

Check the operation of your car'sexterior lights at least once a month.A burned out bulb can create anunsafe condition by reducing yourcar's visibility and the ability tosignal your intentions to otherdrivers.

Maintenance

HEADLIGHT TURN SIGNAL/SIDE MARKER/PARKING LIGHTS

Lights

Check the following:

Headlights (low and high beam)Parking lightsTaillightsBrake lightsHigh-mount brake lightTurn signalsBack-up lightsHazard light functionLicense plate lightSide marker lightsDaytime running lights(Canadian models)

If you find any bulbs are burned out,replace them as soon as possible.Refer to the chart on page 248 todetermine what type of replacementbulb is needed.

Maintenance

STOP/TAILLIGHTS/REAR SIDE MARKER LIGHTS

STOP/TAILLIGHTS

LICENSE PLATELIGHT

BACK-UP LIGHTTURN SIGNAL LIGHTS

Lights

Replacing a Headlight BulbYour car has halogen headlightbulbs, one on each side. Whenreplacing a bulb, handle it by its steelbase and protect the glass fromcontact with your skin or hardobjects. If you touch the glass, cleanit with denatured alcohol and a cleancloth.

Halogen headlight bulbs get very hotwhen lit. Oil, perspiration, or a scratchon the glass can cause the bulb tooverheat and shatter.

1. Open the hood.If you need to change the head-light bulb on the driver's side,remove the power steeringreservoir tank by pulling it out ofits holder.

WEATHER SEAL

CONNECTOR HOLD-DOWN WIRE

2. Remove the electrical connectorfrom the bulb by squeezing theconnector on both sides to unlockthe tab. Pull the connector straightoff.

3. Remove the rubber weather sealby pulling on the tab.

Maintenance

HOLDER

NOTICE

BULB

Lights

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 theirslots. Pivot the hold-down wireback in place and clip the end intothe slot.

6. Install the rubber seal over theback of the headlight assembly.Make sure it is right side up; it ismarked "TOP."

7. Push the electrical connector ontothe tabs of the new bulb. Makesure it locks in place.Turn on the headlights to test thenew bulb.

8. (Driver's side)Reinstall the power steeringreservoir.

Replacing the Front Side Marker/Turn Signal and Parking LightBulb

1. If you are changing the bulb onthe driver's side, start the engine,turn the steering wheel all the wayto the right, and turn off theengine. If you are changing thebulb on the passenger's side, turnthe steering wheel to the left.

2. Use a flat-tipped screwdriver toremove the holding clip from theinner fender.

3. Pull the inner fender cover back.

4. Remove the socket from theheadlight assembly by turning itone-quarter turn counterclockwise.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

HOLDINGCLIP

Lights

5. Remove the burned out bulb fromthe socket by pushing it in andturning counterclockwise until itunlocks.

6. Install the new bulb in the socket.Turn it clockwise to lock it in place.

7. Insert the socket back into theheadlight assembly. Turn itclockwise to lock it in place.

8. Test the lights to make sure thenew bulb is working.

9. Put the inner fender cover in place.Install the holding clip and tightenit securely.

Replacing Rear Bulbs(in Fenders)

1. Open the trunk.

Undo the fastener on the side of thetrunk lining by pushing on the centerof the fastener's head until it pops in.Pull the lining back.

2. Determine which of the two bulbsis burned out: stop/taillight/sidemarker light or turn signal light.

3. Remove the socket by turning itone-quarter turn counterclockwise.

Maintenance

Lights

4. Pull the bulb straight out of itssocket.Push the new bulb straight intothe socket until it bottoms.

5. Reinstall the socket into the lightassembly by turning it clockwiseuntil it locks.


7. Reinstall the trunk lining.

8. Reset the fastener by pushing onthe pointed end until it pops backalmost flush with the fingers onthe housing.

9. Put the fastener in the hole on theside of the trunk lining and pushon the center until it locks (thecenter is flush with the head).

Maintenance

Lights

Replacing Rear Bulbs (in TrunkLid)

1. Open the trunk.

2. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver toremove the two screws from thebulb holder. Remove the holderfrom the taillight assembly.

3. Determine which of the two bulbsis burned out: stop/taillight/sidemarker or back-up light.

4. Remove the socket by turning itone-quarter turn counterclockwise.


6. Insert the socket back into thelight assembly. Turn it clockwiseto lock it in place.


8. Reinstall the bulb holder assembly.Install the screw and tighten itsecurely.

Maintenance

SCREW

Lights

Replacing a High-mount BrakeLight Bulb1. Open the trunk and remove the

socket from the light assembly byturning it one-quarter turn counter-clockwise.


3. Reinstall the socket. Turn itclockwise until it locks. Make surethe new bulb is working.

Replacing a Rear License Bulb

1. Remove the two screws andremove the license light assembly.

2. Remove the socket from the lightassembly by turning it one-quarterturn counterclockwise.

3. Pull the bulb straight out of itssocket. Push the new bulb in untilit bottoms in the socket.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

Lights

4. Turn on the parking lights andcheck that the new bulb isworking.

5. Reinstall the socket. Turn it clock-wise until it locks.

6. Put the license light assembly inplace. Reinstall the two screws andtighten them securely.

Replacing an Interior Light Bulb(U.S.: EX, Si, Canada: Si, SiR)

1. Remove the lens by carefullyprying on the edge of the lens inthe middle with a fingernail file ora small flat-tip screwdriver. Do notpry on the edge of the housingaround the lens.


2. Remove the bulb by pulling itstraight out of its metal tabs.

3. Push the new bulb into the metaltabs. Snap the lens back in place.

Maintenance

INTERIOR LIGHT INTERIOR LIGHT

Lights

(U.S.: EX and Si, Canada: Si and SiR)Replacing the Trunk Light Bulb(U.S.: HX, EX and Si, Canada: DX, Siand SiR models)

1. Remove the lens by carefullyprying on the edge of the lens inthe middle with a fingernail file ora small flat-tip screwdriver. Do notpry on the edge of the housingaround the lens.

2. Remove the bulb by pulling itstraight out of its metal tabs.

3. Push the new bulb into the metaltabs. Snap the lens back in place.

Maintenance

SPOTLIGHTTRUNK LIGHT

Storing Your Car

If you need to park your car for anextended period (more than onemonth), there are several things youshould do to prepare it for storage.Proper preparation helps preventdeterioration and makes it easier toget your car back on the road. Ifpossible, store your car indoors.

Fill the fuel tank.

Change the engine oil and filter(see page 173).

Wash and dry the exteriorcompletely.

Clean the interior. Make sure thecarpeting, floor mats, etc. arecompletely dry.

Leave the parking brake off. Putthe transmission in Reverse (5-speed manual) or Park(automatic).

Block the rear wheels.

If the car is to be stored for alonger period, it should besupported on jackstands so thetires are off the ground.

Leave one window open slightly (ifthe car is being stored indoors).

Disconnect the battery.

Support the front wiper bladearms with a folded towel or rag sothey do not touch the windshield.

To minimize sticking, apply asilicone spray lubricant to all doorand trunk seals. Also, apply avehicle body wax to the paintedsurfaces that mate with the doorand trunk seals.

Cover the car with a "breathable"cover, one made from a porousmaterial such as cotton.Nonporous materials, such asplastic sheeting, trap moisture,which can damage the paint.

If possible, run the engine for awhile periodically (preferably oncea month).

If you store your car for 12 monthsor longer, have your Honda dealerperform the inspections called for inthe 24 months/30,000 miles (48,000km) maintenance schedule as soonas you take it out of storage (seepage 162 ). The replacements calledfor in the maintenance schedule arenot needed unless the car hasactually reached that time or mileage.

Maintenance

Appearance Care

Regular cleaning and polishing ofyour Honda helps to keep it "new"looking. This section gives you hintson how to clean your car andpreserve its appearance: the paint,brightwork, wheels and interior. Alsoincluded are several things you cando to help prevent corrosion.

Exterior Care.................................. 214Washing...................................... 214Waxing........................................ 214Aluminum Wheels..................... 215Paint Touch-up........................... 215

Interior Care................................... 216Carpeting.................................... 216Fabric.......................................... 216Vinyl........................................... 216Seat Belts.................................... 216Windows..................................... 217Air Fresheners........................... 217

Corrosion Protection..................... 217Body Repairs.................................. 218

Appearance Care

Exterior Care

WashingFrequent washing helps preserveyour car's beauty. Dirt and grit canscratch the paint, while tree sap andbird droppings can permanently ruinthe finish.

Wash your car in a shady area, not indirect sunlight. If the car is parked inthe sun, move it into the shade andlet the exterior cool down before youstart.

Only use the solvents and cleanersrecommended in this Owner'sManual.

Chemical solvents and strong cleanerscan damage the paint, metal, andplastic on your car.

Rinse the car thoroughly with coolwater to remove loose dirt.

Fill a bucket with cool water. Mixin a mild detergent, such asdishwashing liquid or a productmade especially for car washing.

Wash the car using the water anddetergent solution and a soft-bristle brush, sponge, or soft cloth.Start at the top and work your waydown. Rinse frequently.

Check the body for road tar, treesap, etc. Remove these stains withtar remover or turpentine. Rinse itoff immediately so it does notharm the finish. Remember to re-wax these areas, even if the rest ofthe car does not need waxing.

When you have washed and rinsedthe whole exterior, dry it with achamois or soft towel. Letting itair-dry will cause dulling and waterspots.

As you dry the car, inspect it forchips and scratches that could allowcorrosion to start. Repair them withtouch-up paint (see page 215 ).

WaxingAlways wash and dry the whole carbefore waxing it. You should waxyour car, including the metal trim,whenever water sits on the surfacein large patches. It should form intobeads or droplets after waxing.

You should use a quality liquid orpaste wax. Apply it according to theinstructions on the container. Ingeneral, there are two types ofproducts:

Waxes — A wax coats the finish andprotects it from damage by exposureto sunlight, air pollution, etc. Youshould use a wax on your Hondawhen it is new.

Appearance Care

NOTICE

Exterior Care

Polishes — Polishes and cleaner/waxes can restore the shine to paintthat has oxidized and lost some of itsshine. They normally contain mildabrasives and solvents that removethe top layer of the finish. Youshould use a polish on your Honda ifthe finish does not have its originalshine after using a wax.

Cleaning tar, insects, etc. withremovers also takes off the wax.Remember to re-wax those areas,even if the rest of the car does notneed waxing.

Aluminum Wheels(U.S.: HX, Si models, Canada: SiRmodel)

Clean your Honda's aluminum alloywheels as you do the rest of theexterior. Wash them with the samesolution, and rinse them thoroughly.

The wheels have a protective clear-coat that keeps the aluminum fromcorroding and tarnishing. Usingharsh chemicals, including somecommercial wheel cleaners, or stiffbrushes can damage this clear-coat.Only use a mild detergent and softbrush or sponge to clean the wheels.

Paint Touch-upYour dealer has touch-up paint tomatch your car's color. The colorcode is printed on a sticker on thedriver's doorjamb. Take this code toyour dealer so you are sure to getthe correct color.

Inspect your car frequently for chipsor scratches in the paint. Repairthem right away to prevent corrosionof the metal underneath. Use thetouch-up paint only on small chipsand scratches. More extensive paintdamage should be repaired by aprofessional.

Appearance Care

Interior Care

CarpetingVacuum the carpeting frequently toremove dirt. Ground-in dirt will makethe carpet wear out faster.Periodically shampoo the carpet tokeep it looking new. Use one of thefoam-type carpet cleaners on themarket. Follow the instructions thatcome with the cleaner, applying itwith a sponge or soft brush. Keepthe carpeting as dry as possible bynot adding water to the foam.

FabricVacuum dirt and dust out of thematerial frequently. For generalcleaning, use a solution of mild soapand lukewarm water, letting it air dry.To clean off stubborn spots, use acommercially-available fabric cleaner.Test it on a hidden area of the fabricfirst, to make sure it does not bleachor stain the fabric. Follow theinstructions that come with thecleaner.

VinylRemove dirt and dust with a vacuumcleaner. Wipe the vinyl with a softcloth dampened in a solution of mildsoap and water. Use the samesolution with a soft-bristle brush onmore difficult spots. You can also usecommercially-available spray orfoam-type vinyl cleaners.

Seat BeltsIf your seat belts get dirty, you canuse a soft brush with a mixture ofmild soap and warm water to cleanthem. Do not use bleach, dye, orcleaning solvents. They can weakenthe belt material. Let the belts air-dry before you use the car.

Dirt build-up in the loops of the seatbelt anchors can cause the belts toretract slowly. Wipe the insides ofthe loops with a clean clothdampened in mild soap and warmwater or isopropyl alcohol.

Appearance Care

LOOP

Interior Care, Corrosion Protection

WindowsClean the windows, inside and out,with a commercially-available glasscleaner. You can also use a mixtureof one part white vinegar to ten partswater. This will remove the haze thatbuilds up on the inside of thewindows. Use a soft cloth or papertowels to clean all glass and clearplastic surfaces.

The rear window defogger wires arebonded to the inside of the glass.Wiping vigorously up-and-down candislodge and break the defogger wires.When cleaning the rear window, usegentle pressure and wipe side-to-side.

Air FreshenersIf you want to use an air freshener/deodorizer in the interior of your car,it is best to use a solid type. Someliquid air fresheners contain chemi-cals that may cause parts of theinterior trim and fabric to crack ordiscolor.

If you use a liquid air freshener,make sure you fasten it securely so itdoes not spill as you drive.

Corrosion ProtectionTwo factors normally contribute tocausing corrosion in your car:

1. Moisture trapped in body cavities.Dirt and road salt that collects inhollows on the underside of thecar stays damp, promotingcorrosion in that area.

2. Removal of paint and protectivecoatings from the exterior andunderside of the car.

Many corrosion-preventive measuresare built into your Honda. You canhelp keep your car from corrodingby performing some simple periodicmaintenance:

Repair chips and scratches in thepaint as soon as you discover them.

CONTINUED

Appearance Care

NOTICE

Corrosion Protection, Body Repairs

Inspect and clean out the drainholes in the bottom of the doorsand body.

Check the floor coverings fordampness. Carpeting and floormats may remain damp for a longtime, especially in winter. Thisdampness can eventually causethe floor panels to corrode.

Use a high-pressure spray to cleanthe underside of your car. This isespecially important in areas thatuse road salt in winter. It is also agood idea in humid climates andareas subject to salt air. Carsequipped with ABS have a sensorand wiring at each wheel. Becareful not to damage them.

Have the corrosion-preventivecoatings on the underside of yourcar inspected and repairedperiodically.

Body RepairsBody repairs can affect your car'sresistance to corrosion. If your carneeds repairs after a collision, payclose attention to the parts used inthe repair and the quality of thework.

Make sure the repair facility usesGenuine Honda replacement bodyparts. Some companies make sheetmetal pieces that seem to duplicatethe original Honda body parts, butare actually inferior in fit, finish, andcorrosion resistance. Once installed,they do not give the same high-quality appearance.

When reporting your collision to theinsurance company, tell them youwant Genuine Honda parts used inthe repair. Although most insurersrecognize the quality of originalparts, some may try to specify thatthe repairs be done with otheravailable parts. You should investi-gate this before any repairs havebegun.

Take your car to your authorizedHonda dealer for inspection after therepairs are completed. Your dealercan make sure that quality materialswere used, and that corrosion-preventive coatings were applied toall repaired and replaced parts.

Appearance Care

Taking Care of the Unexpected

This section covers the more-common problems that motoristsexperience with their vehicles. Itgives you information about how tosafely evaluate the problem and whatto do to correct it. If the problem hasstranded you on the side of the road,you may be able to get going again.If not, you will also find instructionson getting your car towed.

Compact Spare Tire....................... 220Changing a Flat Tire..................... 221If Your Engine Won't Start........... 226

Nothing Happens or theStarter Motor OperatesVery Slowly............................. 226

The Starter OperatesNormally................................. 227

Jump Starting................................. 227If Your Engine Overheats............. 229Low Oil Pressure Indicator.......... 231Charging System Indicator........... 232Malfunction Indicator Lamp ........ 233Brake System Indicator................ 234Closing the Moonroof................... 235Fuses............................................... 236

Checking and Replacing........... 237Emergency Towing....................... 241


Compact Spare Tire

Your car has a compact spare tirethat takes up less space. Use thisspare tire as a temporary replace-ment only. Get your regular tirerepaired or replaced and put back onyour car as soon as you can.

Check the inflation pressure of thecompact spare tire every time youcheck the other tires. It should beinflated to:60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm2)

Follow these precautions wheneveryou are using the compact spare tire:

Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)under any circumstances.

This tire gives a harsher ride andless traction on some road sur-faces than the regular tire. Usegreater caution while driving onthis tire.

Do not mount snow chains on thecompact spare.

The wheel of the spare tire isdesigned especially to fit your car.Do not use your spare tire onanother car unless it is the samemake and model.

The compact spare tire has a shortertread life than a regular tire. Replaceit when you can see the tread wearindicator bars. The replacementshould be the same size and designtire, mounted on the same wheel.The compact spare tire is notdesigned to be mounted on a regularwheel, and the compact wheel is notdesigned for mounting a regular tire.


INDICATOR LOCATION MARK

TREAD WEAR INDICATOR BAR

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 shoulderof a busy road is dangerous. Driveslowly along the shoulder until youget to an exit or an area to stop thatis far away from the traffic lanes.

1. Park the car on firm, level andnon-slippery ground away fromtraffic. Put the transmission inPark (automatic) or Reverse(manual). Apply the parking brake.

2. Turn on the hazard warning lightsand turn the ignition switch toLOCK (0). Have all thepassengers get out of the car whileyou change the tire.

3. Open the trunk. Raise the trunkfloor by lifting up on the back edge.

4. Take the tool kit out of the trunk.

5. Unscrew the wing bolt and takethe spare tire out of the trunk.

CONTINUED


SPARE TIRE TRUNK FLOOR

JACKTOOL KIT

The car can easily roll off thejack, seriously injuring anyoneunderneath.

Follow the directions forchanging a tire exactly, andnever get under the car when itis supported only by the jack.


6. Turn the jack's end bracketcounterclockwise to loosen it, thenremove the jack.

7. Loosen the four wheel nuts 1/2turn with the wheel wrench.

8. Locate the jacking point nearestthe tire you need to change. It ispointed to by an arrow molded intothe underside of the body. Placethe jack under the jacking point.Turn the end bracket clockwiseuntil the top of the jack contactsthe jacking point. Make sure thejacking point tab is resting in thejack notch.


JACK

WHEEL WRENCHJACKINGPOINT


9. Use the extension and wheelwrench as shown to raise thevehicle until the flat tire is off theground.

10.Remove the wheel nuts and flattire. Temporarily place the flat tireon the ground with the outsidesurface of the wheel facing up.You could scratch the wheel if youput it face down.

On DX and EX models in the U.S., andDX and Si models in CanadaDo not attempt to forcibly pry thewheel cover off with a screwdriver orother tool. The wheel cover cannotbe removed without first removingthe wheel nuts.

11.Before mounting the spare tire,wipe any dirt off the mountingsurface of the wheel and hub witha clean cloth. Wipe the hubcarefully, it may be hot fromdriving.

CONTINUED


WHEEL WRENCH EXTENSION

BRAKE HUB


12.Put on the spare tire. Put thewheel nuts back on finger-tight,then tighten them in a crisscrosspattern with the wheel wrenchuntil the wheel is firmly againstthe hub. Do not try to tightenthem fully.

13.Lower the car to the ground andremove the jack.

14.Tighten the wheel nuts securely inthe same crisscross pattern. Havethe wheel nut torque checked atthe nearest automotive servicefacility.Tighten the wheel nuts to:80 lbf.ft (108 N.m, 11 kgf.m)



15.Remove the wheel cover or centercap.Place the flat tire face down in thetrunk well.

16.Remove the spacer cone from thewing bolt, turn it over, and put itback on the bolt.

17.Secure the flat tire by screwingthe wing bolt back into its hole.

18.Store the jack in the trunk with theend bracket on the left side. Turnthe jack's end bracket to lock it inplace. Store the tool kit.

19. Store the wheel cover or centercap in the trunk. Make sure it doesnot get scratched or damaged.

20. Lower the trunk floor, then closethe trunk lid.


WING BOLT

SPACERCONE

Loose items can fly around theinterior in a crash and couldseriously injure the occupants.

Store the wheel, jack and toolssecurely before driving.

If Your Engine Won't Start

Diagnosing why your engine won'tstart falls into two areas, dependingon what you hear when you turn thekey to START (III):

You hear nothing, or almostnothing. The engine's startermotor does not operate at all, oroperates very slowly.

You can hear the starter motoroperating normally, or the startermotor sounds like it is spinningfaster than normal, but the enginedoes not start up and run.

Nothing Happens or the StarterMotor Operates Very SlowlyWhen you turn the ignition switch toSTART (III), you do not hear thenormal noise of the engine trying tostart. You may hear a clicking soundor 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 pushedall the way to the floor or thestarter will not operate. With anautomatic transmission, it must bein Park or Neutral.

Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).Turn on the headlights and checktheir brightness. If the headlightsare very dim or don't light at all,the battery is discharged. SeeJump Starting on page 227.

Turn the ignition switch to START(III). If the headlights do not dim,check the condition of the fuses. Ifthe fuses are OK, there is proba-bly something wrong with theelectrical circuit for the ignitionswitch or starter motor. You willneed a qualified technician todetermine the problem. (SeeEmergency Towing on page 241.)

If the headlights dim noticeably orgo out when you try to start theengine, either the battery is dis-charged or the connections arecorroded. Check the condition ofthe battery and terminal connec-tions (see page 189). You canthen try jump starting the vehiclefrom a booster battery (see page227).


If Your Engine Won't Start, Jump Starting

The Starter Operates NormallyIn this case, the starter motor'sspeed sounds normal, or even fasterthan normal, when you turn theignition switch to START (III), butthe engine does not run.

Are you using the proper startingprocedure? Refer to Starting theEngine on page 137.Do you have fuel? Turn theignition switch to ON (II) for aminute and watch the fuel gauge.The low fuel level warning lightmay not he working, so you werenot reminded to fill the tank.There may be an electricalproblem, such as no power to thefuel pump. Check all the fuses(see page 237).

If you find nothing wrong, you willneed a qualified technician to findthe problem. See EmergencyTowing on page 241.

Jump StartingIf your car's battery has run down,you may be able to start the engineby using a booster battery. Althoughthis seems like a simple procedure,you should take several precautions.

You cannot start a Honda with anautomatic transmission by pushingor pulling it.

To jump start your car, follow thesedirections closely:

1. Open the hood and check thephysical condition of the battery(see page 189 ). In very coldweather, check the condition ofthe electrolyte. If it seems slushyor like ice, do not try jump startinguntil it thaws.

If a battery sits in extreme cold, theelectrolyte inside can freeze.Attempting to jump start with a frozenbattery 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 orPark and set the parking brake.

CONTINUED


NOTICE

A battery can explode if you donot follow the correct procedure,seriously injuring anyonenearby.

Keep all sparks, open flames,and smoking materials awayfrom the battery.

Jump Starting

3. Connect one jumper cable to thepositive (+) terminal on thebooster battery. Connect the otherend to the positive ( +) terminalon your Honda's battery.

4. Connect the second jumper cableto the negative ( — ) terminal onthe booster battery. Connect theother end to the grounding strapas shown. Do not connect thisjumper cable to any other part ofthe engine.

5. If the booster battery is in anothervehicle, have an assistant startthat vehicle and run it at a fast idle.

6. Start your car. If the starter motorstill operates slowly, check thejumper cable connections to makesure they have good metal-to-metal contact.

7. Once your car is running, discon-nect the negative cable from yourcar, then from the booster battery.Disconnect the positive cable fromyour car, then the booster battery.


BOOSTER BATTERY

If Your Engine Overheats

The pointer of your car's tempera-ture gauge should stay in the mid-range under most conditions. It maygo higher if you are driving up a longsteep hill on a very hot day. If itclimbs to the red mark, you shoulddetermine the reason.

Driving with the temperature gaugepointer at the red mark can causeserious damage to your engine.

Your car can overheat for severalreasons, such as lack of coolant or amechanical problem. The onlyindication may be the temperaturegauge climbing to or above the redmark. Or you may see steam orspray coming from under the hood.In either case, you should takeimmediate action.

1. Safely pull to the side of the road.Put the transmission in Neutral orPark and set the parking brake.Turn off the heating and coolingsystem and all other accessories.Turn on the hazard warningindicators.

2. If you see steam and/or spraycoming from under the hood, turnoff the engine.

3. If you do not see steam or spray,leave the engine running andwatch the temperature gauge. Ifthe high heat is due to overloading(climbing a long, steep hill on ahot day with the A/C running, forexample), the engine should startto cool down almost immediately.If it does, wait until the tempera-ture gauge comes down to the mid-point then continue driving.

CONTINUED


NOTICE

Steam and spray from anoverheated engine canseriously scald you.

Do not open the hood if steamis coming out.

If Your Engine Overheats

4. If the temperature gauge stays atthe red mark, turn off the engine.

5. Wait until you see no more signsof steam or spray, then open thehood.

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, itmust be repaired before youcontinue driving (see EmergencyTowing on page 241).

7. If you don't find an obvious leak,check the coolant level in theradiator reserve tank (see page128). If the level is below theMIN mark, add coolant to halfwaybetween the MIN and MAX marks.

8. If there was no coolant in thereserve tank, you may also have toadd coolant to the radiator. Let theengine 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 heavycloth, turn the radiator capcounterclockwise, without pushingdown, to the first stop. Thisreleases any remaining pressure inthe cooling system. After thepressure releases, push down onthe cap and turn it until it comesoff.

10.Start the engine and set thetemperature control dial tomaximum. Add coolant to theradiator up to the base of the fillerneck. If you do not have theproper coolant mixture available,you can add plain water.Remember to have the coolingsystem drained and refilled withthe proper mixture as soon as youcan.

11.Put the radiator cap back ontightly. Run the engine and watchthe temperature gauge. If it goesback to the red mark, the engineneeds repair. (See EmergencyTowing on page 241.)

12.If the temperature stays normal,check the coolant level in theradiator reserve tank. If it hasgone down, add coolant to theMAX mark. Put the cap back ontightly.


Removing the radiator capwhile the engine is hot cancause the coolant to spray out,seriously scalding you.

Always let the engine andradiator cool down beforeremoving the radiator cap.

Low Oil Pressure Indicator

This indicator should light when theignition switch is ON (II), and go outafter the engine starts. It shouldnever come on when the engine isrunning. If it starts flashing, itindicates that the oil pressuredropped very low for a moment, thenrecovered. If the indicator stays onwith the engine running, it showsthat the engine has lost oil pressureand serious engine damage ispossible. In either case, you shouldtake immediate action.

Running the engine with low oilpressure can cause serious mechanicaldamage almost immediately. Turn offthe engine as soon as you can safely getthe car stopped.

1. Safely pull off the road and shutoff the engine. Turn on the hazardwarning indicators.

2. Let the car sit for a minute. Openthe hood and check the oil level(see page 127). Although oil leveland oil pressure are not directlyconnected, an engine that is verylow on oil can lose pressure duringcornering and other drivingmaneuvers.

3. If necessary, add oil to bring thelevel back to the full mark on thedipstick (see page 171).

4. Start the engine and watch the oilpressure indicator. If the lightdoes not go out within ten seconds,turn off the engine. There is amechanical problem that needs tobe repaired before you cancontinue driving. (See EmergencyTowing on page 241.)


LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR NOTICE

Charging System Indicator

This indicator should come on whenthe ignition switch is ON (II), and goout after the engine starts. If itcomes on brightly when the engineis running, it indicates that thecharging system has stoppedcharging the battery.

Immediately turn off all electricalaccessories: radio, heater, A/C, reardefogger, cruise control, etc. Try notto use other electrically-operatedcontrols such as the power windows.Keep the engine running and takeextra care not to stall it. Starting theengine will discharge the batteryrapidly.

By eliminating as much of theelectrical load as possible, you candrive several miles (kilometers)before the battery is too dischargedto keep the engine running. Drive toa service station or garage whereyou can get technical assistance.


CHARGING SYSTEM INDICATOR

Malfunction Indicator Lamp

This indicator comes on for a fewseconds when you turn the ignitionswitch ON (II). If it comes on at anyother time, it indicates one of theengine's emissions control systemsmay have a problem. Even thoughyou may feel no difference in yourcar's performance, it can reduceyour fuel economy and cause yourcar to put out excessive emissions.Continued operation may causeserious damage.

If you have recently refueled yourcar, the cause of this indicatorcoming on could be a loose ormissing fuel fill cap. Check the capand tighten it until it clicks severaltimes. Replace the fuel fill cap if it ismissing. Tightening the cap will notmake the indicator turn offimmediately; it takes three drivingtrips.

If the indicator remains on past threedriving trips, or the fuel cap was notloose or missing, have the carchecked by the dealer as soon aspossible. Drive moderately until thedealer has inspected the problem.Avoid full-throttle acceleration anddriving at high speed.

You should also have the dealerinspect your car if this indicatorcomes on repeatedly, even though itmay turn off as you continue driving.

If you keep driving with themalfunction indicator lamp on, you candamage your car's emissions controlsand engine. Those repairs may not becovered by your car's warranties.


MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP

NOTICE

Brake System Indicator

The Brake System indicator lightshould normally come on only whenthe parking brake is not fullyreleased.

If it comes on at any other time, itindicates a problem with the car'sbrake system. In most cases, theproblem is a low fluid level in thebrake fluid reservoir. Press lightly onthe brake pedal to see if it feelsnormal. If it does, check the brakefluid level the next time you stop at a

service station (see page 182 ). If thefluid level is low, take the car to yourdealer and have the brake systeminspected for leaks or worn brakepads.

However, if the brake pedal does notfeel normal, you should takeimmediate action. Because of thebrake system's dual-circuit design, aproblem in one part of the systemwill still give you braking at twowheels. You will feel the brake pedalgo down much farther before the carbegins to slow down, and you willhave to press harder on the pedal.The distance needed to stop will bemuch longer.

Slow down by shifting to a lowergear, and pull to the side of the roadwhen it is safe. Because of thelonger distance needed to stop, it ishazardous to drive the car. Youshould have it towed, and repaired assoon as possible. (See Emergency

Towing on page 241.)

If you must drive the car a shortdistance in this condition, driveslowly and cautiously.


BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR*

* U.S. indicator shown

Closing the Moonroof

If the electric motor will not closethe moonroof, do the following:

1. Check the fuse for the moonroofmotor (see page 239). If the fuseis blown, replace it with one of thesame or lower rating.

2. Try closing the moonroof. If thenew fuse blows immediately or themoonroof motor still does notoperate, you can close themoonroof manually.

3. Get the moonroof wrench out ofthe tool kit in the trunk.

4. Use a screwdriver or coin toremove the round plug in thecenter of the headliner.

5. Insert the moonroof wrench intothe socket behind this plug. Turnthe wrench until the moonroof isfully closed.

6. Remove the wrench. Replace theround plug.


ROUND PLUG

SOCKET

Fuses

All the electrical circuits in your carhave fuses to protect them from ashort circuit or overload. Thesefuses are located in three fuse boxes.

The interior fuse box is underneaththe dashboard on the driver's side.Remove the fuse box lid by swingingthe lid down and pulling it straightout of its hinges.

The under-hood fuse box is locatedin the engine compartment next tothe battery. To open it, push the tabas shown.


INTERIOR UNDER-HOODTAB

Fuses

Vehicles equipped with ABS have athird fuse box for the ABS. It is inthe engine compartment on thepassenger's side.

Checking and Replacing FusesIf something electrical in your carstops working, the first thing youshould check for is a blown fuse.Determine from the chart on pages239 and 240, or the diagram on thefuse box lid, which fuse or fusescontrol that component. Check thosefuses first, but check all the fusesbefore deciding that a blown fuse isnot the cause. Replace any blownfuses and check the component'soperation.

1. Turn the ignition switch to LOCK(0). Make sure the headlights andall other accessories are off.

2. Remove the cover from the fusebox.

FUSE

3. Check each of the large fuses inthe under-hood fuse box bylooking through the top at the wireinside. Removing these fusesrequires a Phillips-head screw-driver.

CONTINUED


BLOWN

ABS FUSE BOX

Fuses

4. Check the smaller fuses in theunder-hood fuse box and all thefuses in the interior fuse box bypulling out each fuse with the fusepuller provided in the interior fusebox.

5. Look for a burned wire inside thefuse. If it is burned, replace it withone of the spare fuses of the samerating or lower.

If you cannot drive the car withoutfixing the problem, and you do nothave a spare fuse, take a fuse of thesame rating or a lower rating fromone of the other circuits. Make sureyou can do without that circuittemporarily (such as the cigarettelighter or radio).

If you replace the blown fuse with aspare fuse that has a lower rating, itmight blow out again. This does notindicate anything wrong. Replace thefuse with one of the correct rating assoon as you can.

Replacing a fuse with one that has ahigher rating greatly increases thechances of damaging the electricalsystem. If you do not have a replace-ment fuse with the proper rating for thecircuit, install one with a lower rating.

6. If the replacement fuse of thesame rating blows in a short time,there is probably a seriouselectrical problem in your car.Leave the blown fuse in thatcircuit and have your car checkedby a qualified mechanic.


FUSE PULLER BLOWN

NOTICE

Fuses

INTERIOR FUSE BOX

* : On Canadian modelsCONTINUED


Fuses

UNDER-HOOD FUSE BOX

ABS FUSE BOX


Emergency Towing

If your car needs to be towed, call aprofessional towing service or, if youbelong to one, an organization thatprovides roadside assistance. Nevertow your car behind another vehiclewith just a rope or chain. It is verydangerous.

There are three popular types ofprofessional towing equipment.

Flat-bed Equipment — The operatorloads your car on the back of a truck.This is the best way to transportyour Honda.

Wheel-Lift Equipment — The towtruck uses two pivoting arms that gounder the tires (front or rear) and liftthem off the ground. The other twotires remain on the ground. This isan acceptable way to tow yourHonda.

Sling-type Equipment — The towtruck uses metal cables with hookson the ends. These hooks go aroundparts of the frame or suspension andthe cables lift that end of the car offthe ground. Your car's suspensionand body can be seriously damaged.This method of towing isunacceptable.

If your Honda cannot be transportedby flat-bed, it should be towed bywheel-lift equipment with the frontwheels off the ground. If, due todamage, your car must be towedwith the front wheels on the ground,do the following:

5-speed Manual Transmission andContinuously Variable Transmission(CVT)

Release the parking brake.Shift the transmission to Neutral.

Automatic Transmission:Release the parking brake.Start the engine.Shift to D4, then to N.Turn off the engine.

Improper towing preparation willdamage the transmission. Follow theabove procedure exactly. If you cannotshift the transmission or start theengine (automatic transmission), yourcar must be transported with the frontwheels off the ground.

CONTINUED


NOTICE

Emergency Towing

With the front wheels on the ground,it is best to tow the car no fartherthan 50 miles (80 km), and keep thespeed below 35 mph (55 km/h).

If you decide to tow your car with allfour wheels on the ground, makesure you use a properly-designed andattached tow bar. Prepare the car fortowing as described above, and leavethe ignition switch in Accessory (I)so the steering wheel does not lock.Make sure the radio and any itemsplugged into the accessory powersocket are turned off so they do notrun down the battery.

The steering wheel system can bedamaged if the steering wheel is locked.Leave the ignition switch in Accessory(I), and make sure the steering wheelturns freely before you begin towing.

Trying to lift or tow your car by thebumpers will cause serious damage.The bumpers are not designed tosupport the car's weight.


NOTICE

NOTICE

Technical Information

The diagrams in this section giveyou the dimensions and capacities ofyour Honda, and the locations of theidentification numbers. The expla-nations of several electronic andmechanical systems on your Hondaare for the more technically-orientedowner.

Identification Numbers................. 244Specifications................................. 246DOT Tire Quality Grading

(U.S. Cars).............................. 249Treadwear.................................. 249Traction....................................... 250Temperature.............................. 250

Oxygenated Fuels.......................... 251Driving in Foreign Countries....... 252

Emissions Controls........................ 253The Clean Air Act...................... 253Crankcase Emissions Control

System..................................... 253Evaporative Emissions Control

System..................................... 253Onboard Refueling Vapor

Recovery................................. 253Exhaust Emissions Controls.... 254

PGM-FI System..................... 254Ignition Timing Control

System................................. 254Exhaust Gas Recirculation

(EGR) System.................... 254Three Way Catalytic

Converter............................ 254Replacement Parts..................... 254

Three Way Catalytic Converter... 255


Identification Numbers

Your car has several identifyingnumbers located in various places.

The Vehicle Identification Number(VIN) is the 17-digit number yourHonda dealer uses to register yourcar for warranty purposes. It is alsonecessary for licensing and insuringyour car. The easiest place to findthe VIN is on a plate fastened to thetop of the dashboard. You can see itby looking through the windshieldon the driver's side. It is also on theCertification label attached to thedriver's doorjamb, and is stamped onthe engine compartment bulkhead.The VIN is also provided in bar codeon the Certification label.


VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

CERTIFICATION LABEL

Identification Numbers

The Engine Number is stamped intothe engine block.

The Transmission Number is on alabel on top of the transmission.


ENGINE NUMBER

TRANSMISSION NUMBER

Specifications

*1 : U.S.: DX, Canada: DX* 2 : U.S.: HX, EX, Canada: Si*3 : U.S.: DX, HX, Canada: DX* 4 : U.S.: EX, Canada: Si*5 : U.S.: Si, Canada: SiR


page 188

Specifications

* 1 : Including the coolant in the reserve tank and that remaining in theengine.Reserve tank capacity: 0.11 US gal (0.4 ,0.09 Imp gal)

* 2 : Excluding the oil remaining in the engine.* 3 : U.S.: DX, Canada: DX*4 : U.S.: HX, EX, Canada: Si* 5 : U.S.:DX, Canada: DX* 6 : U.S.: HX, EX, Canada: Si*7 : U.S.: Si, Canada: SiR* 8 : Canadian Car* 9 : U.S.: HX (CVT)


CONTINUED

Specifications

* 1 : U.S.: DX and HX without ABS, Canada: DX without ABS* 2 : U.S.: Cars equipped with CVT, EX without ABS, Canada: Si without

ABS* 3 : U.S.: Cars equipped with ABS, Canada: Cars equipped with ABS* 4 : U.S.: Si, Canada: SiR


page 239

page 240

DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Cars)

The tires on your vehicle meet allU.S. Federal Safety Requirements.All tires are also graded fortreadwear, traction, and temperatureperformance according toDepartment of Transportation(DOT) standards. The followingexplains these gradings.

Uniform Tire Quality GradingQuality grades can be found whereapplicable on the tire sidewallbetween the tread shoulder and themaximum section width. Forexample:

Treadwear 200Traction AATemperature A

TreadwearThe treadwear grade is a compara-tive rating based on the wear rate ofthe tire when tested under controlledconditions on a specified governmenttest course. For example, a tiregraded 150 would wear one and onehalf (1-1/2) times as well on thegovernment course as a tire graded100. The relative performance oftires depends upon the actual condi-tions of their use, however, and maydepart significantly from the normdue to variations in driving habits,service practices, and differences inroad characteristics and climate.


DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Cars)

TractionThe traction grades, from highest tolowest, are AA, A, B, and C. Thosegrades represent the tire's ability tostop on wet pavement as measuredunder controlled conditions onspecified government test surfaces ofasphalt and concrete. A tire marked Cmay have poor traction performance.

Warning: The traction grade assignedto this tire is based on straight-aheadbraking traction tests, and does notinclude acceleration, cornering,hydroplaning, or peak tractioncharacteristics.

TemperatureThe temperature grades are A (thehighest), B, and C, representing thetire's resistance to the generation ofheat and its ability to dissipate heatwhen tested under controlledconditions on a specified indoorlaboratory test wheel. Sustained hightemperature can cause the materialof the tire to degenerate and reducetire life, and excessive temperaturecan lead to sudden tire failure. Thegrade C corresponds to a level ofperformance which all passenger cartires must meet under the FederalMotor Vehicle Safety Standard No.109. Grades B and A representhigher levels of performance on thelaboratory test wheel than theminimum required by law.

Warning: The temperature grade forthis tire is established for a tire thatis properly inflated and not over-loaded. Excessive speed, underinfla-tion, or excessive loading eitherseparately or in combination, cancause heat build-up and possible tirefailure.


Oxygenated Fuels

Some conventional gasolines arebeing blended with alcohol or anether compound. These gasolinesare collectively referred to asoxygenated fuels. To meet clean airstandards, some areas of the UnitedStates and Canada use oxygenatedfuels to help reduce emissions.

If you use an oxygenated fuel, besure it is unleaded and meets theminimum octane rating requirement.

Before using an oxygenated fuel, tryto confirm the fuel's contents. Somestates/provinces require thisinformation to be posted on thepump.

The following are the U.S. EPA andCanadian CGSB approvedpercentages of oxygenates:ETHANOL (ethyl or grain alcohol)You may use gasoline containing upto 10 percent ethanol by volume.Gasoline containing ethanol may bemarketed under the name "Gasohol.'

MTBE (Methyl Tertiary ButylEther)You may use gasoline containing upto 15 percent MTBE by volume.

METHANOL (methyl or woodalcohol)Your vehicle was not designed touse fuel that contains methanol.Methanol can corrode metal parts inthe fuel system, and also damageplastic and rubber components. Thisdamage would not be covered byyour warranties.

If you notice any undesirableoperating symptoms, try anotherservice station or switch to anotherbrand of gasoline.

Fuel system damage or performanceproblems resulting from the use ofan oxygenated fuel containing morethan the percentages of oxygenatesgiven above are not covered underwarranty.


Driving in Foreign Countries

If you are planning to take yourHonda outside the U.S. or Canada,contact the tourist bureaus in theareas you will be traveling in to findout about the availability of unleadedgasoline with the proper octanerating.

If unleaded gasoline is not available,be aware that using leaded gasolinein your Honda will affect perfor-mance and fuel mileage, and damageits emissions controls. It will nolonger comply with U.S. andCanadian emissions regulations, andwill be illegal to operate in NorthAmerica. To bring your car back intocompliance will require the replace-ment of several components, such asthe oxygen sensors and the threeway catalytic converter. These re-placements are not covered underwarranty.


Emissions Controls

The burning of gasoline in your car'sengine produces several byproducts.Some of these are carbon monoxide(CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOx) andhydrocarbons (HC). Gasolineevaporating from the tank alsoproduces hydrocarbons. Controllingthe production of NOx, CO, and HCis important to the environment.Under certain conditions of sunlightand climate, NOx and HC react toform photochemical "smog." Carbonmonoxide does not contribute tosmog creation, but it is a poisonousgas.

The Clean Air ActThe United States Clean Air Act*sets standards for automobileemissions. It also requires thatautomobile manufacturers explain toowners how their emissions controlswork and what to do to maintain

them. This section summarizes howthe emissions controls work.Scheduled maintenance is on page160.

* In Canada, Honda vehicles complywith the Canadian Motor VehicleSafety Standards (CMVSS) forEmissions valid at the time they aremanufactured.

Crankcase Emissions ControlSystemYour car has a Positive CrankcaseVentilation System. This keepsgasses that build up in the engine'scrankcase from going into theatmosphere. The Positive CrankcaseVentilation valve routes them fromthe crankcase back to the intakemanifold. They are then drawn intothe engine and burned.

Evaporative Emissions ControlSystemAs gasoline evaporates in the fueltank, an evaporative emissionscontrol canister filled with charcoaladsorbs the vapor. It is stored in thiscanister while the engine is off. Afterthe engine is started and warmed up,the vapor is drawn into the engineand burned during driving.

Onboard Refueling VaporRecoveryThe Onboard Refueling VaporRecovery (ORVR) system capturesthe fuel vapors during refueling. Thevapors are adsorbed in a canisterfilled with activated carbon. Whiledriving, the fuel vapors are drawninto the engine and burned off.


Emissions Controls

Exhaust Emissions ControlsThe exhaust emissions controlsinclude three systems: PGM-FI,Ignition Timing Control and ThreeWay Catalytic Converter. Thesethree systems work together tocontrol the engine's combustion andminimize the amount of HC, CO, andNOx that comes out the tailpipe. Theexhaust emissions control systemsare separate from the crankcase andevaporative emissions controlsystems.

PGM-FI SystemThe PGM-FI System uses sequentialmultiport fuel injection.It has three subsystems: Air Intake,Engine Control, and Fuel Control.The Engine Control Module (ECM)/Powertrain Control Module (PCM)/Transmission Control Module(TCM-HX model only) uses varioussensors to determine how much airis going into the engine. It thencontrols how much fuel to inject

under all operating conditions.

Ignition Timing Control SystemThis system constantly adjusts theignition timing, reducing the amountof HC, CO and NOx produced.

Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR)SystemOnly on HX modelThe Exhaust Gas Recirculation(EGR) system takes some of theexhaust gas and routes it back intothe intake manifold. Adding exhaustgas to the air/fuel mixture reducesthe amount of NOx produced whenthe fuel is burned.

Three Way Catalytic ConverterThe three way catalytic converter isin the exhaust system. Throughchemical reactions, it converts HC,CO, and NOx in the engine's exhaustto carbon dioxide (CO2), dinitrogen(N2), and water vapor.

Replacement PartsThe emissions control systems aredesigned and certified to work to-gether in reducing emissions tolevels that comply with the Clean AirAct. To make sure the emissionsremain low, you should use only newGenuine Honda replacement parts ortheir equivalent for repairs. Usinglower quality parts may increase theemissions from your car.

The emissions control systems arecovered by warranties separate fromthe rest of your car. Read yourwarranty manual for more informa-tion.


Three Way Catalytic Converter

The three way catalytic convertercontains precious metals that serveas catalysts, promoting chemicalreactions to convert the exhaustgasses without affecting the metals.The catalytic converter is referred toas a three-way catalyst, since it actson HC, CO, and NOx. A replacementunit must be an original Honda partor its equivalent.

The three way catalytic convertermust operate at a high temperaturefor the chemical reactions to takeplace. It can set on fire any com-bustible materials that come near it.Park your car away from high grass,dry leaves, or other flammables.


A defective three way catalyticconverter contributes to air pollution,and can impair your engine's per-formance. Follow these guidelines toprotect your car's three way catalyticconverter.

Always use unleaded gasoline.Even a small amount of leadedgasoline can contaminate thecatalyst metals, making the threeway catalytic converter ineffective.


Keep the engine tuned-up.

Have your car diagnosed andrepaired if it is misfiring, back-firing, stalling, or otherwise notrunning properly.


THREE WAY CATALYTIC CONVERTER THREE WAY CATALYTIC CONVERTER

Warranty and Customer Relations

Customer RelationsInformation................................. 258

U.S. Zone Office Map.................... 259Canada Zone Office Map.............. 260Warranty Coverages..................... 261Reporting Safety Defects

(U.S. Vehicles)........................... 262Authorized Manuals...................... 263


Customer Relations Information

Honda dealership personnel aretrained professionals. They shouldbe able to answer all your questions.If you encounter a problem that yourdealership does not solve to yoursatisfaction, please discuss it withthe dealership's management. TheService Manager or GeneralManager can help. Almost allproblems are solved in this way.

If you are dissatisfied with thedecision made by the dealership'smanagement, contact your HondaCustomer Relations Zone Office.Refer to the U.S. and Canadian ZoneOffice maps on the following pages.

When you call or write, please giveus this information:

Vehicle Identification Number(see page 244)Name and address of the dealerwho services your carDate of purchaseMileage on your carYour name, address, and tele-phone numberA detailed description of theproblemName of the dealer who sold thecar to you


U.S. Zone Office Map

Western ZoneP.O. Box 2260

700 Van Ness AvenueTorrance, California90509-2260(310)781-4565

Northwestern ZoneP.O. Box 20186

12439 N.E. Airport WayPortland, Oregon 97230(503) 256-0943(also includes Alaska andHawaii)

The addresses and telephone numbers are subject to change. If you cannotreach your Zone office, ask your Honda dealer for the current information.

Northeastern ZoneP.O. Box 337

Eastgate Industrial Park115 Gaither DriveMoorestown, New Jersey 08057(609) 235-5533Includes: NYC Metro area andFairfield County, CT area

Mid-Atlantic Zone902 Wind River Ln., Suite 200

Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878(301) 990-2020

Southeastern Zone1500 Morrison Parkway

Alpharetta, Georgia 30004(770) 442-2045

North Central Zone601 Campus Drive, Suite A-9

Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004(847) 870-5600

New England Zone555 Old County Road

Windsor Locks, Connecticut 06096(860) 623-3310See Zone 5 for:NYC Metro area andFairfield County, CT area

West Central Zone1600 South Abilene Street, Suite D

Aurora, Colorado 80012(303) 696-3935

Puerto Rico and U.S. V.I.Bella International

P.O. Box 190816San Juan, PR 00919-0816(787) 250-4318


South Central Zone4529 Royal Lane

Irving, Texas 75063(972) 929-5481

Central Zone101 South Stanfield Road

Troy, Ohio 45373(937) 332-6250

Canada Zone Office Map

CUSTOMER RELATIONSRELATIONS AVEC LA CLIENTELE

Honda Canada Inc.715 Milner AvenueToronto, ONM1B 2K8

Tel: 1-888-9-HONDA-9

Fax: Toll-free 1-877-939-0909Toronto (416) 287-4776


Honda Canada Inc.National Office

Warranty Coverages

U.S. OwnersYour new Honda is covered by thesewarranties:

New Car Limited Warranty — coversyour new vehicle, except for thebattery, emissions control systemsand accessories, against defects inmaterials and workmanship.

Emissions Control Systems DefectsWarranty and EmissionsPerformance Warranty — these twowarranties cover your vehicle's emis-sions control systems. Time, mileage,and coverage are conditional. Pleaseread the warranty manual for exactinformation.

Original Equipment Battery LimitedWarranty — this warranty gives upto 100 percent credit toward areplacement battery.

Seat Belt Limited Warranty — a seatbelt that fails to function properly iscovered for the useful life of thevehicle.

Rust Perforation Limited Warranty— all exterior body panels arecovered for rust-through from theinside for the specified time periodwith no mileage limit.

Accessory Limited Warranty —Genuine Honda Accessories arecovered under this warranty. Timeand mileage limits depend on thetype of accessory and other factors.Please read your warranty manualfor details.

Replacement Parts LimitedWarranty — covers all GenuineHonda replacement parts againstdefects in materials and workman-ship.

Replacement Battery LimitedWarranty — provides proratedcoverage for a replacement batterypurchased from a Honda dealer.

Replacement Muffler LifetimeLimited Warranty — providescoverage for as long as the pur-chaser of the muffler owns the car.

Restrictions and exclusions apply toall these warranties. Please read the2000 Honda Warranty Informationbooklet that came with your car forprecise information on warrantycoverages. Your Honda's originaltires are covered by theirmanufacturer. Tire warranty infor-mation is in a separate booklet.

Canadian OwnersPlease refer to the 2000 WarrantyManual that came with your car.


Reporting Safety Defects (U.S. Vehicles)

If you believe that your vehicle has adefect which could cause a crash orcould cause injury or death, youshould immediately inform theNational Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration (NHTSA) in additionto notifying American Honda MotorCo., Inc.

If NHTSA receives similar com-plaints, it may open an investigation,and if it finds that a safety defectexists in a group of vehicles, it mayorder a recall and remedy campaign.However, NHTSA cannot becomeinvolved in individual problemsbetween you, your dealer, orAmerican Honda Motor Co., Inc.

To contact NHTSA, you may eithercall the Auto Safety Hotline toll-freeat 1-800-424-9393 (or 366-0123 inWashington D.C. area) or write to:NHTSA, U.S. Department ofTransportation, Washington,D.C. 20590. You can also obtainother information about motorvehicle safety from the Hotline.


Authorized Manuals

Purchasing Factory Authorized Manuals(U.S. only)The following publications covering the operation andservicing of your vehicle can be obtained from HelmIncorporated, either by filling out the attached form or,for credit card holders, calling the toll-free phone numberon the form. For manuals prior to the year shown below,contact Helm Incorporated, P.O. Box 07280, Detroit,Michigan 48207, or call 1-800-782-4356.

Valid only for sales within the U.S. Canadian owners shouldcontact their authorized Honda dealer.

By completing this form you can order the materials desired. You canpay by check or money order, or charge to your credit card. Mail toHelm Incorporated at the address shown on the back of the order form.

61S0307

61S0307EL

61S0330

61S0331

31S02640

HON-R

Authorized Manuals

P.O. BOX 07280-DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48207-1-800-782-4356

Service Manual:This manual covers maintenance and recommendedprocedures for repair to engine and chassis components.It is written for the Journeyman mechanic, but is simpleenough for most mechanically-inclined owners to under-stand.

Electrical Troubleshooting Manual:This manual complements the Service Manual byproviding in-depth troubleshooting information for eachelectrical circuit in your vehicle.

Body Repair Manual:This manual describes the procedures involved in thereplacement of damaged body parts.

Index

Accessories and Modifications.... 130Accessories................................. 130Additional Safety Precaution.... 131Modifications............................. 131

ACCESSORY (Ignition KeyPosition)........................................ 70

Accessory Power Socket................ 85Adding

Automatic TransmissionFluid........................................ 180

Brake Fluid................................. 183Clutch Fluid................................ 183Engine Coolant........................... 175Engine Oil................................... 171Manual Transmission Fluid..... 182Power Steering Fluid................. 184Windshield Washer Fluid......... 180

Additional Information AboutYour Seat Belts........................ 42

Lap Belt......................................... 43Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 42Seat Belt Maintenance................ 44Seat Belt System Components... 42

Additional Information AboutYour SRS................................... 45

Additional Safety Precautions.... 48How Your Airbags Work............ 45How Your SRS Indicator

Works........................................ 47SRS Components......................... 45

Additives, Engine Oil..................... 181Adjustments

Head Restraints........................... 77Mirrors.......................................... 81Seats.............................................. 76Steering Wheel............................ 65

Airbag (SRS)...................................... 9Air Cleaner Element...................... 185Air Conditioning............................... 88

Maintenance............................... 193Usage............................................. 90

Air Outlets (Vents).......................... 90Air Pressure, Tires........................ 196

High Speed Driving................... 196Normal Driving.......................... 196

Alcohol in Gasoline........................ 251Antifreeze....................................... 175Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)

Indicator Light..................... 55, 153

Operation.................................... 152Anti-theft Steering Column

Lock.............................................. 70Appearance Care........................... 213Ashtrays (Optional)......................... 85Audio System................................... 96Automatic Speed Control................ 66Automatic Transmission............... 140

Capacity, Fluid........................... 247Checking Fluid Level................ 180Shifting........................................ 141Shift Lever Position Indicator.. 141Shift Lever Positions................. 141Shift Lock Release..................... 144

BatteryCharging System

Indicator............................ 55, 232Jump Starting............................. 22 7Maintenance............................... 189Specifications............................. 248

CONTINUED

Index

Before Driving............................... 123Belts, Seat........................................... 8Beverage Holder.............................. 84Body Repair.................................... 214Brakes

Anti-lock System (ABS)............ 151Break-in, New Linings .............. 124Fluid............................................ 182Light, Burned-out...................... 206Parking.......................................... 83System Indicator.......................... 55Wear Indicators......................... 150

Brakes, ABSOperation.................................... 151System Indicator................. 55, 153

Braking System.............................. 150Break-in, New Car......................... 124Brightness Control, Instruments... 62Brights, Headlights......................... 61Bulb Replacement

Back-up Lights........................... 208Brake Lights ...................... 206, 207Front Parking Lights................. 205Front Side Marker Lights......... 205Headlights.................................. 204High-mount Brake Light.......... 209

Interior Light.............................. 210License Plate Lights.................. 209Rear Side Marker Lights.......... 206Specifications............................. 248Trunk Light................................ 211Turn Signal Lights............. 205, 206

Bulbs, Halogen............................... 204

Cables, Jump Starting With.......... 228Capacities Chart............................. 247Carbon Monoxide Hazard.............. 49Carrying Cargo.............................. 132Cassette Player

Operation.................................... 115CAUTION, Explanation of............... iiCD Changer.................................... 100CD Player........................................ 100Certification Label......................... 244Chains............................................. 201Change Oil

How to......................................... 173When to....................................... 162

Changing a Flat Tire..................... 221Changing Engine Coolant............. 177

Charging System Indicator.... 55, 232Checking

Automatic TransmissionFluid........................................ 180

Battery Condition...................... 189Brake Fluid................................. 183Clutch Fluid................................ 183Drive Belts.................................. 194Engine Coolant........................... 128Engine Oil................................... 127Fuses........................................... 236Manual Transmission Fluid ..... 182Power Steering Fluid................. 184

Checklist, Before Driving............. 136Cleaner, Air.................................... 185Cleaning

Exterior....................................... 214Interior........................................ 216Seat Belts.................................... 216Viny1............................................ 216Windows..................................... 217

Clock, Setting the ............................ 99Clutch Fluid.................................... 183CO in the Exhaust......................... 253Cold Weather, Starting in............. 137Compact Spare............................... 220

Index

Consumer Information*................ 258Controls, Instruments and.............. 51Coolant

Adding......................................... 175Checking..................................... 128Proper Solution.......................... 175Replacing.................................... 177Temperature Gauge.................... 58

Corrosion Protection..................... 217Crankcase Emissions Control

System......................................... 253Cruise Control Operation............... 66Customer Relations Office........... 258

DANGER, Explanation of................. iiDashboard........................................ 52Daytime Running Lights................. 61Dead Battery, What to Do............ 227Defects, Reporting Safety............. 262Defog and Defrost........................... 93Defogger, Rear Window................. 64Defrosting the Windows................. 93DEXRON® III Automatic

Transmission Fluid.................... 181

Dimensions..................................... 246Dimming the Headlights................ 61Dipstick

Automatic Transmission........... 181Engine Oil................................... 128

Directional Signals........................... 62Disabled, Towing Your Car If...... 241Disc Brake Wear Indicators......... 150Disposal of Used Oil...................... 174Doors

Locking and Unlocking............... 70Power Door Locks....................... 71

DOT Tire Quality Grading........... 249Downshifting, 5-speed Manual

Transmission.............................. 138Driver and Passenger Safety............ 5Drive Belts...................................... 194Driving............................................ 135

Economy..................................... 129In Bad Weather.......................... 154In Foreign Countries................. 252

Economy, Fuel............................... 129Emergencies on the Road............. 219

Battery, Jump Starting.............. 227Brake System Indicator............ 234Changing a Flat Tire................. 221Charging System Indicator...... 232Checking the Fuses................... 237Low Oil Pressure Indicator...... 231Malfunction Indicator Lamp.... 233Manually Closing Moonroof.... 235Overheated Engine................... 229

Emergency Brake............................ 83Emergency Flashers....................... 64Emergency Towing....................... 241Emissions Controls........................ 253Engine

Coolant Temperature Gauge ..... 58Malfunction Indicator

Lamp................................. 55, 233Oil Pressure Indicator......... 55, 231Oil, What Kind to Use............... 171Overheating................................ 229

CONTINUED

Index

EngineSpecifications............................. 246Engine Speed Limiter....... 139, 144

Ethanol in Gasoline ....................... 251Evaporative Emissions Controls.. 253Exhaust Fumes................................ 49Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat

Belts by......................................... 19Exterior, Cleaning the................... 214

Fabric, Cleaning............................. 216Fan, Interior...................................... 88Features, Comfort and

Convenience................................. 87Filling the Fuel Tank..................... 125Filters

Air................................................ 185Oil................................................ 173

5-speed Manual TransmissionChecking Fluid Level................ 182Shifting the................................. 138

Flashers, Hazard Warning.............. 64Flat Tire, Changing a.................... 221

FluidsAutomatic Transmission........... 180Brake........................................... 183Clutch.......................................... 183Manual Transmission............... 182Power Steering........................... 184Windshield Washer................... 180

FM Stereo RadioReception.................................... 120

Folding Rear Seat............................ 78Foreign Countries, Driving in...... 252Four-way Flashers........................... 64Front End, Towing by

Emergency Wrecker................. 241Fuel.................................................. 124

Fill Door and Cap....................... 125Gauge............................................ 58Octane Requirement................. 124Oxygenated................................ 251Reserve Indicator......................... 58Tank, Filling the......................... 125

Fuses, Checking the...................... 236

Gas Mileage, Improving................ 129

Gasohol........................................... 251Gasoline.......................................... 124

Fuel Reserve Indicator................ 58Gauge............................................ 58Octane Requirement................. 124Tank, Filling the......................... 125

Gas Station Procedures................. 125Gauges

Engine Coolant Temperature .... 58Fuel................................................ 58

Gearshift Lever PositionsAutomatic Transmission........... 1405-speed Manual

Transmission.......................... 138Glass Cleaning............................... 217Glove Box......................................... 83

Halogen Headlight Bulbs.............. 204Hazard Warning Flashers............... 64Headlights

Daytime Running Lights............. 61High Beam Indicator................... 55High Beams, Turning on............ 61Low Beams, Turning on............. 61

Index

Reminder Beeper......................... 61Replacing Halogen Bulbs ......... 204Turning on.................................... 61

Head Restraints............................... 77Heating and Cooling........................ 88High Altitude, Starting at.............. 137High-Low Beam Switch .................. 61High-mount Brake Light............... 209Hood, Opening the ........................ 126Horn................................................... 60Hot Coolant, Warning about........ 175Hydraulic Clutch............................ 183Hydroplaning.................................. 154

Identification Number, Vehicle.... 244If Your Car Has to be Towed....... 241Ignition

Keys............................................... 69Switch............................................ 69Timing Control System............. 254

Important Safety Precautions .......... 6Indicator Lights, Instrument

Panel............................................. 53Infant Restraint................................ 29

Inflation, Proper Tire .................... 195High Speed Driving................... 196Normal Driving.......................... 196

Inside Mirror.................................... 81Inspection, Tire.............................. 197Instrument Panel............................. 52Instrument Panel Brightness......... 62Interior Cleaning............................ 216Interior Light.................................... 86Introduction......................................... i

Jacking up the Car......................... 221Jack, Tire........................................ 221Jump Starting................................. 227

Keys................................................... 69

Label, Certification........................ 244Lane Change, Signaling.................. 62Lap Belt............................................. 43

Lap/Shoulder Belts......................... 42Leaking of Exhaust into Car.......... 49Lights

Bulb Replacement..................... 204Indicator........................................ 53Parking.......................................... 64Turn Signal................................... 62

LOCK (Ignition Key Position)....... 70Locks

Anti-theft Steering Column........ 70Fuel Fill Door............................. 125Power Door.................................. 71Trunk............................................ 75

Low Coolant Level......................... 128Low Fuel Indicator.......................... 58Lower Gear, Downshifting to a.... 138Low Oil Pressure Indicator.... 55, 231Lubricant Specifications Chart.... 247Luggage.......................................... 132

Maintenance................................... 157Owner Maintenance Checks.... 169

CONTINUED

Index

MaintenanceRecord.................................. 167-168Required Indicator....................... 59Safety........................................... 158Schedule.............................. 162-166

Malfunction Indicator Lamp.. 55, 233Manual Transmission.................... 138Manual Transmission Fluid ......... 182Meters, Gauges................................ 57Methanol in Gasoline.................... 251Mirrors, Adjusting........................... 81Moonroof.......................................... 81

Closing Manually....................... 235Operation...................................... 81

Neutral Gear Position.................... 143New Vehicle Break-in ................... 124Normal Shift Speeds...................... 139NOTICE, Explanation of.................... iNumbers, Identification................ 244

Octane Requirement, Gasoline.... 124

Odometer.......................................... 57Odometer, Trip................................ 57Oil

Change, How to......................... 173Change, When to....................... 162Checking Engine....................... 127Pressure Indicator............... 55, 231Selecting Proper Viscosity

Chart....................................... 172ON (Ignition Key Position)............ 70Opening the Hood......................... 126Opening the Trunk.......................... 75Operation in Foreign Countries... 252Outside Mirrors............................... 81Overheating, Engine..................... 229

Panel Brightness Control............... 62Park Gear Position......................... 141Parking............................................ 149Parking Brake.................................. 83Parking Lights.................................. 64Parking Over Things that Burn... 254PGM-FI System.............................. 254Polishing and Waxing................... 214

PowerDoor Locks................................... 70Mirrors.......................................... 82Steering....................................... 184Windows....................................... 79

Pre-Drive Safety Checklist............. 11Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts.......... 19Protecting Adults............................. 12

Additional Safety Precautions.... 19Advice for Pregnant Women...... 19

Protecting Children......................... 21Protecting Infants........................ 29Protecting Larger Children........ 37Protecting Small Children.......... 33Using Child Seats with

Tethers...................................... 40

Radiator Overheating.................... 229Radio/Cassette Sound System....... 96Rear End Towing........................... 241Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement... 206Rear Seat, Folding........................... 78Rear View Mirror............................. 81Rear Window Defogger.................. 64

Index

Reclining the Seat Backs................ 76Recommended Shift Speeds ........ 139Reminder Lights.............................. 53Remote Transmitter........................ 72Replacement Information

Air Cleaner Element.................. 185Coolant........................................ 177Engine Oil and Filter................. 173Fuses........................................... 236Light Bulbs................................. 202Schedule..................................... 160Spark Plugs................................. 187Timing Belt................................. 194Tires............................................ 195Wiper Blades.............................. 191

Replacing Seat Belts After aCrash............................................. 44

Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant.... 128Restraint, Child................................ 21Reverse Gear Position................... 143Rotation, Tire................................. 198

Safety Belts......................................... 8Safety Defects, Reporting*.......... 262

Safety Features.................................. 7Airbags............................................ 9Door Locks................................... 11Head Restraints........................... 10Seat Belts........................................ 8Seats & Seat-Backs...................... 10

Safety Labels, Location of.............. 50Safety Messages................................ iiSeat Belt, Additional Information.. 42

Lap Belt......................................... 43Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 42Seat Belt Maintenance................ 44Seat Belt System Components... 42

Seat Belts............................................ 8Cleaning...................................... 216Maintenance................................. 44Reminder Light and Beeper....... 54System Components.................... 42Tether Attachment Points.......... 40Use During Pregnancy................ 19

Seats, Adjusting the......................... 76Serial Number................................ 244Service Intervals............................ 160Service Manual*............................ 263Service Station Procedures .......... 125Setting the Clock............................. 99

ShiftingThe Automatic Transmission.. 140The 5-speed Manual

Transmission.......................... 138Shift Lever Position Indicator...... 141Shift Lock Release......................... 144Side Marker Lights, Bulb

Replacement in.......................... 205Signaling Turns................................ 62Snow Tires...................................... 201Solvent-type Cleaners.................... 214Sound System................................... 96Spare Tire

Inflating....................................... 195Specifications............................. 248

Spark Plugs, Replacing................. 187Specifications Charts..................... 246Speed Control................................... 66Speedometer.................................... 57

CONTINUED

Index

SRS, Additional Information........... 45Additional Safety Precautions.... 48How Your Airbags Work............ 45How Your SRS Indicator

Works........................................ 47SRS Components......................... 45SRS Service................................... 47

SRS Indicator.............................. 47, 54START (Ignition Key Position)..... 70Starting the Engine........................ 137

In Cold Weather at HighAltitude................................... 137

With a Dead Battery ................. 227Steam Coming from Engine......... 229Steering Wheel

Adjustment................................... 65Anti-theft Column Lock.............. 70

Stereo Sound System...................... 96Storing Your Car............................ 212Supplemental Restraint System..... 45

Servicing....................................... 47SRS Indicator.......................... 47, 54System Components.................... 45

Synthetic Oil................................... 172

Tachometer...................................... 57Taillights, Changing Bulbs in....... 206Taking Care of the Unexpected .. 219Tape Player..................................... 115Technical Descriptions

Driving in Foreign Countries... 252Emissions Control Systems...... 253Oxygenated Fuels...................... 251Three Way Catalytic

Converter................................ 255Temperature Gauge........................ 58Tether Attachment Points.............. 40Three Way Catalytic Converter... 255Time, Setting the............................. 99Timing Belt..................................... 194Tire Chains..................................... 201Tire, How to Change a Flat.......... 221Tires................................................ 195

Air Pressure............................... 195Checking Wear.......................... 197Compact Spare........................... 220DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 249Inflation....................................... 195Inspection................................... 197

Maintenance............................... 198Replacing.................................... 199Rotating....................................... 198Snow............................................ 201Specifications............................. 248

Technical Information................... 243Tools, Tire Changing.................... 221Towing

A Trailer...................................... 155Emergency Wrecker................. 241

TransmissionChecking Fluid Level,

Automatic............................... 180Checking Fluid Level,

Manual.................................... 182Fluid Selection............................ 180Identification Number............... 245Shifting the Automatic.............. 140Shifting the Manual................... 138

Treadwear...................................... 249Trip Meter........................................ 57Trunk................................................. 75

Opening......................................... 75Open Monitor Light.................... 56

Turn Signals..................................... 62

Index

Underside, Cleaning...................... 214Unexpected, Taking Care

of the........................................... 219Uniform Tire Quality Grading..... 249Unleaded Gasoline......................... 124Upholstery Cleaning...................... 216Used Oil, How to Dispose of........ 174

Vehicle Capacity Load .................. 132Vehicle Dimensions....................... 246Vehicle Identification Number..... 244Vehicle Storage.............................. 212Ventilation......................................... 90VIN.................................................. 244Vinyl Cleaning................................ 216Viscosity, Oil................................... 172

Seat Belts...................................... 54WARNING, Explanation of.............. iiWarning Labels, Location of.......... 50Warranty Coverages*................... 261Washer, Windshield

Checking the Fluid Level......... 180Operation...................................... 63

Washing.......................................... 214Waxing and Polishing................... 214Wheels

Adjusting the Steering................ 65Alignment and Balance............. 198Compact Spare........................... 220Wrench....................................... 222

WindowsCleaning...................................... 217Operating the Power................... 79Rear, Defogger............................ 64

WindshieldCleaning........................................ 63Defroster...................................... 93

Wipers, WindshieldChanging Blades........................ 191Operation...................................... 63

Worn Tires..................................... 197Wrecker, Emergency Towing...... 241

* : U.S. and Canada only

Warning BeepersHeadlights on............................... 61Key in Ignition.............................. 70

Service Information Summary

Gasoline:U.S.: EX, DX, HX, Canada: DX andSiUnleaded gasoline, pump octanenumber of 86 or higher.

U.S.: Si, Canada: SiRPremium unleaded gasoline,pump octane number of 91 orhigher.

Fuel Tank Capacity:11.9 US gal (45 l,9.9 Imp gal)

Recommended Engine Oil:API Service SJ "EnergyConserving" oil, SAE 5W-30viscosity (see page 171 ).

U.S.: DX, Canada: DX3.8 US qt (3.6 l,3.2 Imp qt)

U.S.: HX, EX, Canada: Si3.5 US qt (3.3 l, 2.9 Imp qt)

U.S.: Si, Canada: SiR4.2 US qt (4.0 l, 3.5 Imp qt)

Automatic Transmission Fluid:Honda Premium Formula Auto-matic Transmission Fluid (ATF)

HX model (CVT) only:Use Honda CVT Fluid only

5-speed Manual TransmissionFluid:Honda Manual TransmissionFluid preferred, or an API serviceSG, SH or SJ, SAE 10W-30 or10W-40 motor oil as a temporaryreplacement (see page 182).

Capacity (including differential):U.S.: DX, EX and HX, Canada: DXand Si

1.9 US qt (1.8 l, 1.6 lmp qt)U.S.: Si, Canada: SiR

2.3 US qt (2.2 l, 1.9 Imp qt)

Power Steering Fluid:Genuine Honda Power SteeringFluid preferred, or another brandof power steering fluid as a

temporary replacement. Do notuse ATF (see page 184).

Brake Fluid:Genuine Honda DOT3 Brake Fluidpreferred, or a DOT 3 or DOT 4brake fluid as a temporaryreplacement (see page 183).

Tire Pressure (measured cold):U.S.: DX, EX and HX, Canada: DXand SiFront:

30 psi (210 kPa, 2.1 kgf/cm2)Rear:

29 psi (200 kPa , 2.0 kgf/cm2)

U.S.: Si, Canada: SiRFront:

35 psi (240 kPa , 2.4 kgf/cm2)Rear:

33 psi (230 kPa , 2.3 kgf/cm2)

Spare Tire Pressure:60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm2)

2000 civic coupe online reference owner's manual contents

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