2000 Odyssey Online Reference Owner's Manualtechinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/pubs/OM/AH/AOD0000OM/... · 2000 Odyssey Online Reference Owner's Manual ... Your selection of a 2000 Honda

2000 Odyssey 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

Owner's Identification Form

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...........................................................................................................................55Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls.

Comfort and Convenience Features.......................................................................................................129How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features.

Before Driving .............................................................................................................................................187What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.

Driving ...........................................................................................................................................................201The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, plus towing a trailer.

Maintenance .................................................................................................................................................225The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer.

Appearance Care.........................................................................................................................................283Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your car ever needs body repairs.

Taking Care of the Unexpected...............................................................................................................291This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, and how to handle them.

Technical Information ...............................................................................................................................319ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.

Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada) ......................................................................331A summary of the warranties covering your new Honda, and how to contact us.

Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)...............................................................................................................337How 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

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 affect 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.

OWNER

ADDRESSSTREET

CITY STATE/PROVINCE ZIP CODE /POSTAL CODE

V. I. N.

DELIVERY DATE(Date sold to original retail purchaser)

DEALER NAME DEALER NO.

ADDRESSSTREET

CITY STATE/PROVINCE ZIP CODE/POSTAL CODE

OWNER'S SIGNATURE

DEALER'S SIGNATURE

Introduction

Congratulations ! Your selection of a 2000 Honda Odyssey 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 vehicle soyou can 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 vehicle according to the schedules given in this manualhelps to keep your driving trouble-free while it preserves your investment.When your vehicle needs maintenance, keep in mind that your Hondadealer's staff is specially trained in servicing the many systems unique toyour Honda. Your Honda dealer is dedicated to your satisfaction and will bepleased to answer any questions and concerns.

As you read this manual, you willfind information that is preceded by

symbol. Thisinformation is intended to help youavoid damage to your Honda, otherproperty, or the environment.

a NOTICE

A Few Words About Safety

Your safety, and the safety of others,is very important. And operating thisvehicle 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 vehicle. You mustuse your own good judgement.

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

Safety Labels — on the vehicle.Safety Messages — preceded by a safety alert symbol and one of

three signal words: DANGER, WARNING, or CAUTION.These signal words mean:

You WILL be KILLED or 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 Safely.Instructions — how to use this vehicle correctly and safely.

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

Your Vehicle at a Glance

INDICATOR LIGHTS (P. 57)GAUGES (P. 62)

POWERDOOR LOCKSWITCHES(P. 79)

POWER WINDOWSWITCHES(P. 113)

HOOD RELEASEHANDLE(P. 190)

FUEL FILLDOOR RELEASE(P. 183)

REAR A/C CONTROL(P. 152)

GLOVE BOX(P. 87)

AUDIO SYSTEM(P. 155, 167)

SHIFT LEVER(P. 205)

HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM (P. 130)CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM (P. 138)

PARKING BRAKEPEDAL(P. 116)

ACCESSORYPOWER SOCKET(P. 124)

CENTER TABLE(P. 117)

Your Vehicle at a Glance

*: To use the horn, press the pad around the " H " logo.

TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM(P. 213)

HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS(P. 66/68)

HAZARD WARNINGLIGHTS(P. 70)

DIGITAL CLOCK(P. 117)

POWER SLIDINGDOOR SWITCHES(P. 90)

MIRRORCONTROLS(P. 115)

CRUISECONTROL(P. 73)

REMOTE AUDIOCONTROLS(P. 185)

STEERING WHEELADJUSTMENT(P. 72)

HORN*

CRUISECONTROL(P. 73)

WINDSHIELDWIPERS/WASHERS(P. 68/70)

LIGHT CONTROLSWITCH(P. 125)

REAR WINDOWDEFOGGER(P. 71)

4

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 vehicle.

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

Seat Belts........................................ 8Airbags............................................ 9Seats & Seat-Backs...................... 10

Head Restraints........................... 10Door Locks................................... 10Pre-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..... 197. Maintain a Proper Sitting

Position................................. 19Advice for Pregnant Women...... 20Additional Safety Precautions.... 20

Protecting Children......................... 22All Children Must Be

Restrained................................ 22Children Should Sit in the Back

Seat............................................ 23The Passenger's Airbag Poses

Serious Risks to Children....... 23If You Must Drive with Several

Children.................................... 25If a Child Requires Close

Attention................................... 25

Additional Safety Precautions.... 25General Guidelines for Using

Child Seats................................ 26Protecting Infants........................ 30Protecting Small Children.......... 35Protecting Larger Children........ 39Using Child Seats with

Tethers...................................... 43Additional Information About Your

Seat Belts.................................. 45Seat Belt System Components... 45Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 45Seat Belt Maintenance................ 47

Additional Information About YourSRS............................................48

SRS Components......................... 48How Your Airbags Work............ 48How the Automatic Seat Belt

Tensioners Work..................... 50How the SRS Indicator Light

Works........................................ 50SRS Service................................... 51Additional Safety Precautions.... 52

Carbon Monoxide Hazard.............. 53Safety Labels.................................... 54


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 vehicle isequipped with airbags, make sureyou and your passengers alwayswear your seat belts, and wear themproperly. (See page 15.)

Restrain All ChildrenChildren are safest when they areproperly restrained in a back seat,not the front seat. A child who is toosmall for a seat belt must be properlyrestrained in a child safety seat. (Seepage 22.)

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

9.)

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 Vehicle in SafeConditionHaving 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 230.)


Your Vehicle's Safety Features

(1) Safety Cage(2) Crush Zones(3) Seats & Seat-Backs(4) Head Restraints(5) Collapsible Steering Column(6) Seat Belts(7) Airbags(8) Seat Belt Tensioners(9) Door Locks

Your vehicle 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; a collapsible steering column;and seat belt tensioners thatautomatically tighten the front seatbelts in the event of a crash.

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.



Seat BeltsFor your safety, and the safety ofyour passengers, your vehicle 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 vehicle 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 thevehicle'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 vehicle has a SupplementalRestraint System (SRS) with frontalairbags to help protect the driver anda front seat passenger.

This system also includes anindicator light on the instrumentpanel to alert you to a possibleproblem 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 Lypes ofcollisions. The airbags supplementthe seat belts by providing extraprotection for the head and chestof each front seat occupant in amoderate to severe frontalcollision.

Airbags offer no protection 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.



Seats & Seat-BacksYour vehicle's seats are designed tokeep you 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 vehicle, 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 thevehicle is moving.

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 vehicle during a crash. It alsohelps prevent occupants fromaccidentally opening a door andfalling out, and outsiders fromunexpectedly opening your doors.



Pre-Drive Safety ChecklistTo make sure you and yourpassengers get the maximumprotection from your vehicle'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 a back seat (see page 22).

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).

All doors and the tailgate areclosed and locked (see page 12).

All cargo is properly stored orsecured (see page 197).

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 39 forimportant additional guidelines onhow to properly protect largerchildren.)

1. Close and Lock the DoorsAfter everyone has entered thevehicle, be sure the doors andtailgate are closed and locked.

Your vehicle has a door and tailgatemonitor light on the instrumentpanel to indicate when a specificdoor or the tailgate is not tightlyclosed.

For safety, locking the doors reducesthe chance that a passenger,especially a child, will open a doorwhile the vehicle is moving andaccidentally fall out.It also reducesthe chance of someone being thrownout of the vehicle during a crash.

For security, locked doors canprevent an outsider fromunexpectedly opening a door whenyou come to a stop.

See page 79 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.


Protecting Adults

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 thevehicle. Also make sure your frontseat passenger moves the seat as farto the rear as possible.

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 100 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.

CONTINUED


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

Always sit as far back from theairbags as possible.

Protecting Adults

A front passenger should also adjustthe seat-back to an upright position,but as far from the dashboard aspossible. 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 101 for how to adjust seat-backs.

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.


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

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

See page 104 for how to adjust thehead restraints.

5.Fasten and Position the SeatBelts

Using a Lap/Shoulder Belt(Except the center position of thethird row)Insert 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.

CONTINUED


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

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.

If the seat belt touches or crossesyour neck, or if it crosses your arminstead of your shoulder, you need toadjust the seat belt anchor height.

RELEASEBUTTON

The front seats and middle row seatshave adjustable seat belt anchors. Toadjust the height of a seat beltanchor, press the release button andslide the anchor up or down asneeded (it has four positions).

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


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

Make sure all seat belts areproperly positioned beforedriving.

Protecting Adults

Using the Lap/Shoulder Belt in theCenter Position of the Third Row

Unlatch the metal plate of theshoulder belt from the anchor on theceiling and extend the belt by pullingthe metal plate.

METALHOOK

LATCH PLATE

Attach the metal hook on the edge ofthe shoulder belt to the metal loopon the latch plate of the lap beltmarked CENTER. Make sure theshoulder belt is securely attachedand it is not twisted. A twisted beltcan cause serious injuries in a crash.

Insert the latch plate of the lap beltinto the buckle marked CENTER. Ifthe 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 lap and shoulder belts tomake sure the belt is securelylatched.


METAL PLATE

CONTINUED

Protecting Adults

Position the lap belt as low aspossible across your hips, then pullon the loose end of the lap belt for asnug but comfortable fit. This letsyour strong pelvic bones take theforce of a crash and reduces thechance of internal injuries.

If necessary, pull up on the shoulderbelt again to remove any slack fromthe shoulder belt, then check thatthe belt rests across the center ofyour chest and over your shoulder.This spreads the forces of a crashover the strongest bones in yourupper body.

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

If a Seat Belt Doesn't Work ProperlyIf 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 45 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 72 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 thevehicle is parked and the engine isoff.

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 vehicle,or by being struck by an inflatingairbag.

Remember, to get the bestprotection from your vehicle'sairbags and other safety features,you must sit properly and wear yourseat belt properly.


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.

Remember to keep the lap portion ofthe belt as low as possible acrossyour 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 PrecautionsNever let passengers ride in thecargo area or on top of a folded-down back seat. All passengersmust sit in locked, upright seatsand be properly restrained by seatbelts.

Passengers should not stand up orchange seats while the vehicle ismoving. A passenger who is notwearing a seat belt during a crashor emergency stop can be thrownagainst the inside of the vehicle,against other occupants, or out ofthe vehicle.

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


Protecting Adults

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.

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.

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.

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.


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 vehicle, besure to read 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 page26.)

A larger child should always berestrained with a seat belt. (See page39.)


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 a back seat.

In a 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 a back seat,properly restrained with a seat belt.(See page 39 for importantinformation about protecting largerchildren.)

CONTINUED


Protecting Children

U.S. ModelsTo remind you of the passenger'sairbag hazards, and that childrenmust be properly restrained in aback seat, your vehicle 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 vehicle has warning labels onthe driver's and front passenger'svisors. 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'ARRIERE 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 vehicle has two rows of backseats where children can be properlyrestrained.

If you ever have to carry a group ofchildren (when carpooling forexample), and a child must ride infront:

Place the largest child in the frontseat, provided the child is largeenough to wear a seat beltproperly (see page 39).

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 19).

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 a backseat. The back seat is far safer for achild than the front.

Additional Safety PrecautionsUse childproof door locks toprevent children from opening thedoors. Using this feature willprevent children from opening thedoors and accidentally falling out(see page 85).

Do 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 page30 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 35 foradditional information on protectingsmall children.


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 vehicle.

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.

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Protecting Children

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

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 36).

Back SeatsInfants: Recommended positions.

Secure a rear-facing child seatwith the seat belt (see page 31).

Small children: Recommendedpositions. Secure a front-facingchild seat with the seat belt (seepage 36).


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.

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 vehiclewith a seat belt. Al l child seatsmust be secured to the vehiclewith the lap part of a lap/shoulderbelt. A child whose seat is notproperly secured to the vehiclecan be endangered in a crash. Seepages 31 and 36 for instructions onhow to secure child seats in thisvehicle.

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 vehicle duringa crash 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 vehicle, a rear-facing childseat can be placed in any seatingposition in a back seat, but not in thefront seat.

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 ina 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.


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 33 for how to secure a rear-facing child seat in the centerposition on the third seat with the lappart of the lap/shoulder belt.

For tips on installing a rear-facingchild seat with either type of seatbelt, see page 34 .

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.

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).

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Protecting Children

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.


Protecting Children

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

Installing a Rear-Facing Child Seat inthe Center Position of the Third Seat

To install a rear-facing child seat inthe center position of the third seat,use the lap part of the lap/shoulderbelt. Follow instruction number 1 onpage 31 for routing and latching theseat belt.

Then pull hard on the loose end ofthe belt to remove any slack (it mayhelp to put weight on the child seatwhile pulling on the belt).

Finally, follow instruction number 5on page 32 to verify that the childseat is secure.

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Protecting Children

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 in anotherback seating position, or leave theaffected seat unoccupied. If theproblem cannot be solved, you maywish to get a smaller rear-facingchild seat.

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 vehiclecrashes into a parked vehicle at 30mph (48 km/h) , a 20-lb (9 kg)infant will become a 600-lb (275kg) force, and you will not be ableto 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 Children

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 vehicle, the best place toinstall a forward-facing child seat isin one of the seating positions in aback seat.

Placing 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 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 a back seat withthe child.

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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 vehicle, 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 38 for how to secure aforward-facing child seat in thecenter position on the third seat withthe lap part of the lap/shoulder belt.

1. With the child seat in the desiredseating position, route the beltthrough the child seat accordingto the seat maker's instructions,then insert the latch plate into thebuckle.


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 in the CenterPosition of the Third Seat

To install a forward-facing child seatin the center position of the thirdseat, use the lap part of the lap/shoulder belt. Follow instructionnumber 1 on page 36 for routing andlatching the seat belt.

Then pull hard on the loose end ofthe belt to remove any slack (it mayhelp to put weight on the child seatwhile pulling on the belt).Finally, follow instruction number 5

on page 37 to verify that the childseat is secure.


Protecting Children

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 vehicle 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 Larger ChildrenWhen a child reaches therecommended weight or height limitfor a forward-facing child seat, thechild should sit in the back seat andwear a lap/shoulder belt.

If a child is too short for the shoulderpart of the belt to properly fit, werecommend that the child use abooster seat until tall enough to usethe seat belt without a booster.

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.

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

Checking Seat Belt Fit

To 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.

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 the seat belt and increase thechance of 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.

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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 39). 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.


Protecting Children

Using Child Seats with TethersYour vehicle has attachment pointsfor a tether-style child seat to beinstalled on the second or third rowas shown.

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

Second Seat Installation:

TETHER ATTACHMENT POINT

Each second row bucket seat has atether attachment point on theunderside of the seat cushion.

Lift the head restraint, then routethe tether strap over the seat-backbetween the legs of the headrestraint.

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Protecting Children

Attach the tether strap hook to thetether attachment point and tightenthe strap according to the child seatmaker's instruction. Make sure thestrap is not twisted.

Third Seat Installation:

There are three attachment pointson the tailgate sill. Select the attach-ment point you want to use, andremove the plug with a small flat-tipped screwdriver or fingernail file.

Install the anchor plate andmounting hardware. The hardware isavailable for purchase from yourHonda dealer (part number 82410-SE3-C01). For Canadian models, thehardware is supplied with the vehicle.

When installing tether hardware,make sure the toothed washer is onthe bottom of the bolt. Tighten thebolt to:16 lbf.ft (22 N.m , 2.2 kgf.m)

If a torque wrench was not used, seeyour Honda dealer as soon aspossible to verify proper installation.

To attach the tether to the child seat,follow the child seat maker'sinstructions.

If you are not sure how to install thetether, or you need mountinghardware, contact your Honda dealer.


Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

Seat Belt System ComponentsYour seat belt system includes lap/shoulder belts in all seven seatingpositions.

The system also includes alight on the instrument

panel to remind you and yourpassengers to fasten your belts. Ifthe driver's seat belt is not fastenedbefore the ignition is turned ON (II),the light will come on and a beeperwill also sound. The beeper will stopafter a few seconds, but the light willstay on until the driver's seat belt isfastened.

Lap/Shoulder BeltYour vehicle has two types of lap/shoulder belts. The center positionof the third seat has a combination ofa lap belt and a shoulder belt. Formaximum safety, they are designedto be used together.

All other seating positions have aone-piece lap/shoulder belt. Thisseat belt goes over your shoulder,across your chest and across yourhips.

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 sothat it retracts completely. Afterexiting the vehicle, be sure the beltis out of the way and will not getclosed in the door.

All seat belts have an emergencylocking retractor. In normal driving,the retractor lets you move freely inyour seat while it keeps sometension on the belt. During a collisionor sudden stop, the retractorautomatically locks the belt to helprestrain your body.

CONTINUED



The seat belts in all positions exceptthe driver's and the center positionof the third seat have an additionallocking mechanism that must beactivated to secure a child seat. (Seepages 31 and 36 for instructions onhow to secure child seats with thistype of seat 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.

The combination lap belt andshoulder belt in the center positionof the third seat goes over yourshoulder, across your chest and overyour hips. The shoulder belt has anemergency locking retractor thatworks in combination with the lapbelt.

To fasten the seat belt, unlatch themetal plate of the shoulder belt fromthe anchor on the ceiling and extendthe belt by pulling the metal plate.

Attach the metal hook on the edge ofthe shoulder belt to the metal loopon the latch plate of the lap beltmarked CENTER, then tug on theshoulder belt to make sure it issecurely attached.

Insert the latch plate of the lap beltinto the buckle marked CENTER,then tug on the lap belt to make surethe buckle is latched.

To unlock the belt, push the redPRESS button on the buckle anddetach the shoulder belt from the lapbelt.

See page 17 for how to lengthen thelap belt, and how to properly positionthe lap and shoulder belts.



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 286.


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."

Automatic seat belt tensionersthat tighten the front seat beltsduring a moderate to severefrontal collision.

Sensors that can detect amoderate to severe frontalcollision.

A sophisticated electronic systemthat continually monitors andrecords information about thesensors, the control unit, theairbag activators, driver andpassenger seat belt use, and all

related wiring when the ignition isON (II).

An indicator light on theinstrument panel that alerts you toa possible problem with thesystem (see page 50 ).

Emergency backup power in caseyour vehicle'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 and activate theautomatic seat belt tensioners.



During a crash, your seat belt helpsrestrain your lower body and torso,while the tensioner tightens andlocks the seat belt to help keep youin place. Your airbag provides acushion to help restrain and protectyour head and chest.

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 vehicle as soon as it is safe to doso.

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 Automatic Seat BeltTensioners Work

Your Honda has automatic seat belttensioners for added protectionduring a moderate to severe frontalcollision.

If your airbags inflate, the tensionersimmediately tighten the front seatbelts to help hold the occupants inplace. The belts will remain tightuntil you unbuckle them in thenormal way.

How the SRS Indicator LightWorks

The purpose of the SRSlight is to alert you to a

potential problem with yourSupplemental Restraint System.This light will also alert you to apotential problem with yourautomatic seat belt tensioners.

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.


S R S


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

If you see any of these indications,your airbags and seat belt tensionersmay not deploy when you need them.See your Honda dealer as soon aspossible.

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

Your airbags ever inflate. Theairbags, seat belt tensioners, andcontrol unit must be replaced. Donot try to remove or replace theairbags yourself.This must be done by a Hondadealer or a knowledgeable bodyshop.

The SRS indicator light alerts youto a problem. Take your vehicle toan authorized Honda dealer assoon as possible. If you ignore thisindication, the airbags might notinflate when you need them (seepage 50).


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 196 for further informationand precautions relating to your SRS.


Carbon Monoxide Hazard

Your vehicle's exhaust containscarbon monoxide gas. You shouldhave no problem with carbonmonoxide entering the vehicle innormal driving if you maintain yourvehicle properly.Have the exhaust system inspectedfor leaks whenever:

The vehicle is raised for an oilchange.You notice a change in the soundof the exhaust.The vehicle was in an accidentthat may have damaged the under-side.

High levels of carbon monoxide cancollect 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 tailgate open, air flow canpull exhaust gas into your vehicle'sinterior and create a hazardouscondition. If you must drive with thetailgate open, open all the windowsand set the heating and coolingsystem/climate control system asshown below.

If you must sit in your parked vehicle,even in an unconfined area, with theengine running, adjust the heatingand cooling system/climate controlsystem 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.


DASHBOARDU.S. models only

SUN VISORU.S. models

HOOD

RADIATOR CAP

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............................ 56Indicator Lights................................ 57Gauges.............................................. 62Controls Near the Steering

Wheel........................................ 65Headlights.................................... 66Automatic Lighting Off

Feature...................................... 67Daytime Running Lights............. 67Instrument Panel Brightness..... 67Turn Signals................................. 68

Windshield Wipers...................... 68Windshield Washers................... 70Rear Window Wiper and

Washer...................................... 70Hazard Warning........................ 70Rear Window Defogger.............. 71Steering Wheel Adjustment....... 72

Steering Wheel Controls................ 73Cruise Control.............................. 73Remote Audio Controls .............. 76

Keys and Locks................................ 76Keys............................................... 76Immobilizer System..................... 77Ignition Switch............................. 78Power Door Locks....................... 79Remote Transmitter.................... 81Childproof Door Locks............... 85Tailgate......................................... 85Glove Box..................................... 87

Manual Sliding Doors...................... 88Power Sliding Doors........................ 89HomeLink Universal

Transmitter.................................. 95Seats.................................................. 99

Passenger Seating....................... 99Seat Adjustments....................... 100

Driver's Seat PowerAdjustments........................... 102

Armrests..................................... 103Head Restraints......................... 104Third Seat Access...................... 105Moving the Second Row

Bucket Seat............................ 106Removing the Bucket Seats

in the Second Row................. 108Folding the Third Seat.............. 109

Power Windows............................. 112Mirrors............................................ 115Parking Brake................................ 116Digital Clock................................... 117Center Table................................... 117Beverage Holder............................ 118Sunglasses Holder......................... 120Sun Visor......................................... 121Vanity Mirror................................. 121Rear Compartment........................ 122Center Pocket................................ 122Coin Holder.................................... 122Storage Box.................................... 123Coat Hook....................................... 123Accessory Power Sockets............. 124Interior Lights................................ 125


Control Locations


POWER SLIDINGDOOR SWITCHES(P. 90)

MIRRORCONTROLS(P. 115)

DIGITAL CLOCK(P. 117)

HEATING/COOLING CONTROLS (P. 130)CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM (P. 138)

REAR A/C UNITCONTROL(P. 152)

AUDIO SYSTEM(P. 155, 167)

HOOD RELEASE HANDLE(P. 190)

FUEL FILL DOOR RELEASE(P. 189)

POWER WINDOWSWITCHES(P. 113)

DOOR LOCKSWITCHES(P. 79)

Indicator Lights

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

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.

* The U.S. instrument panel is shown. Differences for the Canadian modelsare noted in the text.


HIGH BEAM INDICATOR SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINTSYSTEM INDICATOR

ANTI-LOCK BRAKESYSTEM INDICATOR*

POWER SLIDINGDOOR INDICATOR

PARKING BRAKE ANDBRAKE SYSTEMINDICATOR*

IMMOBILIZERSYSTEMINDICATOR

CRUISE CONTROLINDICATOR

TRACTION CONTROLSYSTEM INDICATOR

MAINTENANCEREQUIREDINDICATOR

SEAT BELTREMINDERLIGHT

LOW FUELINDICATOR

DOOR AND BRAKE LAMP MONITOR

LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR

CHARGING SYSTEM INDICATOR

MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP

Indicator Lights

Malfunction IndicatorLamp

See page 309.

Low Oil PressureIndicator

The engine can be severely damagedif this light flashes or stays on whenthe engine is running. For completeinformation, see page 307.

Charging SystemIndicator

If this light comes on when theengine is running, the battery is notbeing charged. For completeinformation, see page 308.

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 50.

Parking Brakeand BrakeSystemIndicator

This light has two functions:

1. It comes on when you turn theignition switch ON (II) as areminder to check the parkingbrake. If the parking brake is notset, it goes off after the enginestarts. If the parking brake is set,it goes off when you release theparking brake with the enginerunning. 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 310 .


S R SBRAKEU.S. Canada

Indicator Lights

U.S.

Anti-lock Brake System(ABS) IndicatorThis 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 thevehicle to your dealer to have itchecked. With the light on, yourvehicle still has normal brakingability but no anti-lock. For completeinformation, see page 211.

Traction Control System(TCS) Indicator

On EX modelThis indicator has three functions:1. It comes on as a reminder that you

have turned off the TractionControl System.

2. It flashes when the TCS isregulating wheelspin.

3. If it comes on and stays on whenthe Traction Control System is on,it indicates that there is a problemin the TCS.

This light also comes on when youturn the ignition ON (II) and goes offafter the engine starts. See page213 for more information on the

TCS.

Immobilizer SystemIndicator

This indicator comes on for a fewseconds when you turn the ignitionswitch ON (II). It will then go off ifyou have inserted a properly-codedignition key. If it is not a properly-coded key, the indicator will blinkand the engine will not start (seepage 77 ).

This indicator also blinks severaltimes when you turn the ignitionswitch from ON (II) to ACCESSORY(I) or LOCK (0).


Canada T C SA B S

Indicator Lights

Power Sliding DoorIndicator

EX model onlyThis indicator comes on for a fewseconds when you turn the ignitionswitch ON (II). If it comes on at anyother time, there is a problem in thepower sliding door system. With thislight on, move the main switch onthe dashboard to the OFF position,and have the system checked byyour Honda dealer as soon aspossible. You can still open or closeeach sliding door manually. Formore information on the powersliding doors, see page 90.

Turn Signal andHazard WarningIndicators

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 273). 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 vehicle should flash.

Door and Brake Lamp Monitor

The appropriate light comes on inthis display if the tailgate or any dooris not closed tightly. If a brake lightdoes not work, the BRAKE LAMPindicator comes on when you pushthe brake pedal with the ignitionswitch ON (II).

A burned out brake light is a hazardwhen drivers behind you cannot tellyou are braking. Have your brakelights repaired right away.All the lights in the monitor displaycome on when you turn the ignitionswitch ON (II). The lights go offafter the engine starts and thetailgate and all doors are closedtightly.


SLIDINGDOOR

BRAKE LAMP

Indicator Lights

"Daytime RunningLights" Indicator

Canadian models onlyThis indicator lights when you turnthe ignition switch to ON (II) withthe headlight switch off and theparking brake set. It should go off ifyou turn on the headlights or releasethe parking brake. If it comes on atany other time, it means there is aproblem with the DRL. There mayalso be a problem with the highbeam headlights.

Cruise Control Indicator

This lights when you set the cruisecontrol. See page 73 for informationon operating the cruise control.

High Beam Indicator

This light comes on with the highbeam headlights. See page 66 forinformation on the headlightcontrols.

On Canadian models, this indicatorcomes on with reduced brightnesswhen the Daytime Running Lights(DRL) are on (see page 67).

Low Fuel Indicator

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

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 248).


D R L

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 perhour (mph).

TachometerThe 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 vehicle has been driven.It measures 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.


TACHOMETER SPEEDOMETER FUEL GAUGE TEMPERATUREGAUGE

TRIP METER SELECT/RESET BUTTONTRIP METER ODOMETERMAINTENANCE

REQUIRED INDICATOR

Gauges

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

There are two trip meters: Trip Aand Trip B. Switch between thesedisplays by pressing the Select/Reset button repeatedly. Each tripmeter works independently, so youcan keep track of two differentdistances.

To reset a trip meter, display it andthen press and hold the Select/Resetbutton until the number resets to"0.0".

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 nearthe upper white mark. If it reachesthe red (Hot) mark, pull safely to theside of the road. Turn to page 305 forinstructions and precautions onchecking the engine's coolingsystem.

Fuel GaugeThis shows how much fuel you have.It is most accurate when the vehicleis on level ground. It may showslightly more or less than the actualamount when you are driving oncurvy or hilly roads.

The needle returns to the bottomafter you turn off the ignition. Thegauge shows the fuel level readingimmediately after you turn theignition switch back ON (II).


Gauges

Maintenance Required Indicator

This indicator reminds you that it istime to take your vehicle in for sched-uled maintenance.Refer to the Maintenance Schedulesfor Normal and Severe DrivingConditions on pages 230 — 234.

For the first 6,000 miles (9,600 km)after the Maintenance RequiredIndicator is reset, it will come on fortwo seconds when you turn theignition switch ON (II).

Between 6,000 miles (9,600 km) and7,500 miles (12,000 km) thisindicator will light for two secondswhen you first turn the ignitionswitch ON (II), and then flash forten seconds.

If you exceed 7,500 miles (12,000km) without having the scheduledmaintenance performed, thisindicator will remain on as a constantreminder.

Your dealer will reset this indicatorafter completing the scheduledmaintenance. If this maintenance isdone by someone other than yourHonda dealer, reset the indicator asfollows.

1. Turn off the engine.

2. Press and hold the select/resetbutton in the instrument panel,then turn the ignition switch ON(II).

3. Hold the button for about ten sec-onds, until the indicator resets.


MAINTENANCE REQUIREDINDICATOR SELECT/RESET BUTTON

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 switches for the hazard warninglights and rear window defogger arelocated to the right of the steeringcolumn.

The controls under the left air ventare for the TCS, the cruise control,the power sliding doors and thepower mirrors.

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

* To use the horn, press the padaround the "H" logo.


POWERSLIDINGDOOR

TRACTIONCONTROLSYSTEM

WINDSHIELDWIPERS/WASHERS

SHIFTLEVER

HAZARDWARNINGLIGHTS

LIGHT CONTROLSWITCH

REAR WINDOWDEFOGGER

HORN*

TILTADJUSTMENT

HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS

CRUISECONTROL

MIRRORCONTROL


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 chime 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 61).

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.



Automatic Lighting Off FeatureOn EX modelThe Automatic Lighting Off featureturns off the headlights, parkinglights, taillights, side marker lights,license plate lights and instrumentpanel lights within 15 seconds ofremoving the key from the ignitionswitch and closing the driver's door.

This feature activates if you leavethe headlight switch in the or

position, remove the key, open,then close the driver's door.If you remove the key from theignition switch with the headlightswitch on, but do not open the doorand get out, the lights will turn offafter 10 minutes.

The lights will turn on again whenyou unlock or open the driver's door.If you unlock the door, but do notopen it within 15 seconds, the lightswill go off. With the driver's dooropen, you will hear a lights-onreminder chime.

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.

Instrument Panel Brightness

The knob on the instrument panelcontrols the brightness of the instru-ment panel lights. Turn the knob toadjust the brightness.


INSTRUMENT PANEL BRIGHTNESSCONTROL KNOB


Turn Signals

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.

Windshield Wipers

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


TURN SIGNAL LEVER


In intermittent, the wipers operateevery few seconds. You can varyhow often the wipers sweep thewindshield by turning the INT TIMEring next to the rotary switch. Thesweep interval will change slightlywith speed; getting shorter as youdrive faster. In low speed and highspeed, the wipers run continuously.

If you turn the INT TIME ring to theshortest delay, the wipers willchange from intermittent to lowspeed operation when vehicle speedexceeds 12 mph (20 km/h).

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. Thewipers run at low speed while you'repulling the lever, then complete onemore sweep of the windshield afteryou release it.

Rear Window Wiper and Washer

The rear window wiper switch islocated next to the windshield wiperswitch.

To activate the rear windshield wiper,turn the switch "ON". If you wish touse the wiper and washer, turn andhold the switch one position up from"ON".

Hazard Warning

Push the button to the left of theclock to turn on the hazard warninglights (four-way flashers). Thiscauses all four outside turn signalsand both indicators in the instrumentpanel to flash. Use the hazardwarning lights if you need to park ina dangerous area near heavy traffic,or if your vehicle 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 abovethe button lights to show thedefogger is on. If you do not turn itoff, the defogger will shut itself offafter about 15 minutes. It also shutsoff when you turn off the ignition.You have to turn it on again whenyou restart the vehicle.

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.


EX model LX model


Steering Wheel AdjustmentSee page 19 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 thevehicle and be seriously injuredin a crash.

Adjust the steering wheel onlywhen the vehicle is stopped.

Steering Wheel Controls

Cruise ControlCruise 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 vehicle underthose conditions.

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).

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.

CONTINUED


Improper use of the cruisecontrol can lead to a crash.

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

CRUISE CONTROL MASTER SWITCH RESUME/accel

CANCEL

SET/decel


The cruise control may not hold theset speed when you are going up anddown hills. If your speed increasesgoing down a hill, use the brakes toslow down to the desired speed. Thiswill cancel the cruise control. Toresume the set speed, press theRESUME/accel button. TheCRUISE CONTROL light on theinstrument panel comes on.

When climbing a steep hill, theautomatic transmission maydownshift to hold 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 vehicle willaccelerate. When you reach thedesired cruising speed, release thebutton.

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 timeyou do this, your vehicle will speedup about 1 mph (1.6 km/h).

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

Press and hold the SET/decelbutton. The vehicle 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 vehicle will slowdown about 1 mph (1.6 km/h).

Tap the brake pedal lightly withyour foot. The CRUISECONTROL light on the instru-ment panel will go out. When thevehicle slows to the desired speed,press the SET/decel button. Thevehicle will then maintain thedesired speed.



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 vehiclewill return to the set cruising speed.

Resting your foot on the brake pedalwill cause the cruise control tocancel.

Cancelling the Cruise Control

You can cancel the cruise control inany of these ways:

Tap the brake pedal.

Push the CANCEL button on thesteering wheel.

Press the Cruise Control MasterSwitch.

When you push the CANCEL button,or tap the brake pedal, the CRUISECONTROL light on the instrumentpanel will go out and the vehicle willbegin to slow down. You can use theaccelerator pedal in the normal way.The system remembers thepreviously-set cruising speed. Toreturn to that speed, accelerate toabove 25 mph (40 km/h) and thenpress and release the RESUME/accel button. The CRUISECONTROL light comes on. Thevehicle 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.


CANCELBUTTON

Steering Wheel Controls, Keys and Locks

Remote Audio Controls

On EX modelThese buttons let you control somefunctions of the audio system with-out removing your hands from thewheel. Refer to page 179 for a com-plete explanation.

Keys

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

IgnitionDoorsGlove boxTailgate

The valet key works only in theignition and the door locks. You cankeep the glove box locked when youleave your vehicle and valet key at aparking facility.

You should have received a keynumber plate with your keys. Youwill need this key number if you everhave to get a lost key replaced. Keepthe plate stored in a safe place. If youneed to replace a key, use onlyHonda-approved key blanks.


KEYNUMBERPLATE

MASTERKEYS(BLACK)

VALET KEY(GRAY)

Keys and Locks

These keys contain electroniccircuits that are activated by theImmobilizer System. They will notwork to start the engine if thecircuits are damaged.

Protect the keys from directsunlight, high temperature, andhigh humidity.

Do not drop the keys or set heavyobjects on them.

Keep the keys away from liquids.If they get wet, dry them immedi-ately with a soft cloth.

The keys do not contain batteries.Do not try to take them apart.

Remote TransmitterSome models also come with aremote transmitter; see page 81 foran explanation of its operation.

Immobilizer SystemThe Immobilizer System protectsyour vehicle from theft. A properly-coded master or valet key must beused in the ignition switch for theengine to start. If an improperly-coded key (or other device) is used,the engine's fuel system is disabled.

When you turn the ignition switch toON (II), the Immobilizer Systemindicator should come on for a fewseconds, then go out. If the indicatorstarts to blink, it means the systemdoes not recognize the coding of thekey. Turn the ignition switch toLOCK (0), remove the key, reinsertit, and turn the switch to ON (II)again.

The system may not recognize yourkey's coding if another immobilizerkey or other metal object is near theignition switch when you insert thekey. To make sure the systemrecognizes the key code:

Do not keep other immobilizerkeys on the same key ring.

Use a plastic or leather key fob,not metal.

Keep other keys away from yourvehicle's key and the ignitionswitch while trying to start theengine.

If the system repeatedly does notrecognize the coding of your key,contact your Honda dealer.This indicator will also blink severaltimes when you turn the ignitionswitch from ON (II) to ACCESSORY(I) or LOCK (0).Do not attempt to alter this systemor add other devices to it. Electricalproblems could result that may makeyour vehicle undriveable.If you have lost your key and youcannot start the engine, contact yourHonda dealer.


CONTINUED

Keys and Locks

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.

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

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.

Ignition Switch

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

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

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. The shift levermust also be in Park. The anti-theftlock will lock the steering columnwhen 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.


Keys and Locks

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 vehicle areusable. Several of the lights on theinstrument panel come on as a testwhen you turn the ignition switchfrom ACCESSORY to ON.

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

The engine will not start if theImmobilizer System does notrecognize the key's coding (see page77).

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.

Power Door Locks

Each front door has a master doorlock switch. Either switch locks andunlocks all doors and the tailgate.Push the switch down to lock alldoors and the tailgate, and up tounlock them.

CONTINUED


MASTER DOOR LOCK SWITCH

Keys and Locks

LOCKTAB

Each front door has a lock tab on thetop. When you push down the locktab on the driver's door, all the doorsand the tailgate lock. Pulling up thelock tab on the driver's door unlocksonly that door. The lock tab on thefront passenger's door locks andunlocks only that door.

To lock the front passenger's doorwhen getting out of the vehicle, pushthe lock tab down and close the door.

To lock the driver's door, along withthe remaining doors and the tailgate,push the lock tab down or push themaster switch down, then close thedoor.

All doors and the tailgate can belocked from the outside by using thekey in either front door. To unlockonly the driver's door from theoutside, turn the key and release it.If you turn the key and hold it, alldoors and the tailgate will unlock. Allfour doors and the tailgate willunlock when you unlock thepassenger's door with the key.


Lockout PreventionIf you forget and leave the key in theignition switch, Lockout Preventionwill not allow you to lock the driver'sdoor. With the driver's door openand the key in the ignition, bothmaster door lock switches aredisabled. However, if the driver'sdoor is not open, the master doorlock switches are not disabled.Pushing the switch down on theopen passenger's door will lockalldoors. If you try to lock an opendriver's door by pushing in the locktab, the tabs on both front doors popout and the lock knobs on the rearsliding doors slide out. Pushing inthe lock tab on the passenger's dooronly locks that door.

Keys and Locks

Remote Transmitter

On EX modelYou can lock and unlock your vehiclewith the remote transmitter. Whenyou push the LOCK button, all doorsand the tailgate lock. The parkinglights, side marker lights, taillightsand instrument panel lights flashonce.

When you push the UNLOCK buttononce, only the driver's door unlocks.The remaining doors and the tailgateunlock when you push the button asecond time. The parking lights, sidemarker lights, taillights andinstrument panel lights flash twicewhen you push the button the firsttime.

When you press the UNLOCKbutton, the front and rear individualmap lights and the cargo area light,depending on their switch positions,will come on (see page 125). If youdo not open any door or the tailgate,the lights stay on for about 10seconds, then go out. If you relockthe doors and the tailgate with theremote transmitter before 10seconds have elapsed, the lights willgo off immediately.

If you unlock the doors and thetailgate with the remote transmitter,but do not open any door or thetailgate within 30 seconds, all doorsand the tailgate automatically relock.

You cannot lock the doors and thetailgate with the remote transmitterif any door or the tailgate is not fullyclosed. You cannot lock or unlockthe doors and the tailgate with thekey in the ignition switch.

CONTINUED


UNLOCKBUTTON

LOCKBUTTON

PANICBUTTON

LED

Keys and Locks

Opening or Closing the Power SlidingDoors

You can open or close each rearsliding door with the remotetransmitter. The right buttoncontrols the passenger's side doorand the left button controls thedriver's side door.

POWER SLIDING DOOR MAIN SWITCH

If the power sliding door MAINswitch on the dashboard is in theOFF position, you cannot open orclose the sliding doors with theremote transmitter.

Panic ModePanic mode allows you to remotelyactivate your vehicle's horn andlights to attract attention. Whenactivated, the horn will sound, andthe headlights, parking lights, sidemarker lights, taillights andinstrument panel 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 to ON (II).

Panic mode will not activate if thekey is in the ON (II) position.


DRIVER'SSIDESLIDINGDOORBUTTON

PASSENGER'SSIDESLIDINGDOORBUTTON

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 thetailgate, and the LED will get dim.Replace the battery as soon aspossible.

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.

CONTINUED


Open

Close

ROUNDCOVER

CUSHIONRING

BATTERY

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.

If you lose a transmitter, you willneed to have the replacementprogrammed to your vehicle'ssystem by your Honda dealer. Anyother transmitters you have will alsoneed to 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.

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

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.


Keys and Locks

Childproof Door Locks

The childproof door locks aredesigned to prevent children seatedin the rear from accidentally openingthe rear sliding doors. Each door hasa lock lever near the edge. With thelever in the LOCK position, the doorcannot be opened from the insideregardless of the position of the lockknob. To open the door, slide thelock knob forward and use theoutside door handle.

On EX modelWith the childproof door locks on,automatic operation with the insidedoor handle is disabled.

Tailgate

Use your key to lock and unlock thetailgate.

On the EX model, you can also lockand unlock the tailgate with theremote transmitter (see page 81).

CONTINUED


LOCKLEVER

Keys and Locks

To open the tailgate, pull the handle,then lift up the tailgate.

To close the tailgate, pull the tailgatedown, then press down on the backedge.

The tailgate also has a lock tab onthe inside.To lock the tailgate without the keyor the remote transmitter, push thelock tab down and close the tailgate.

See page 191 for information oncargo loading. Keep the tailgateclosed at all times while driving toavoid damaging the tailgate, and toprevent exhaust gas from gettinginto the interior. See CarbonMonoxide Hazard on page 53.


LOCKTAB

HANDLE

Keys and Locks

Glove Box

Open the glove box by pulling thebottom of the handle. Close it with afirm push. Lock or unlock the glovebox with the master key.


GLOVE BOX

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.

Manual Sliding Doors (LX Model)

Your Honda is equipped with dualsliding doors. Be sure all passengersare clear of the sliding doors beforeclosing them.

Opening and Closing the Doors

INSIDE

To open a manual sliding door, pullthe inside or outside door handle andslide the door back. It will latch inthe fully-open position. To close thedoor, pull either handle and slide thedoor closed. Make sure the door isclosed and latched securely before

driving.

Locking the Doors

Each sliding door has a lock knobunder the inside door handle. Slidethe lock knob forward to unlock, andbackward to lock.

When you drive with children in yourvehicle, use the childproof doorlocks (see page 85). This willprevent children from opening thedoors accidentally.

A Note About RefuelingBefore refueling, make sure thedriver's side sliding door is fullyclosed. When you release the fuel filldoor, the driver's side sliding doorautomatically locks so it cannot openand interfere with the fuel door. If apassenger attempts to unlock thedoor by cycling the lock knob severaltimes, the door may unlock and canbe opened.

If a passenger needs to get out of thevehicle while you are refueling,instruct that person to exit on thepassenger's side, not the driver'sside.

After you close the fuel fill door, thesliding door does not automaticallyunlock. You must unlock it manually.


OUTSIDE

Manual Sliding Doors (LX Model), Power Sliding Doors (EX Model)

Parking Facing DownhillWhen parking facing downhill, makesure the manual doors are latched inthe fully-open position, then hold thedoor open while allowing yourpassengers to enter or exit thevehicle. Do not pull the inside oroutside door handle, or the latch willrelease and the door will slam shut.

Power Sliding DoorsYour Honda is equipped with dualpower sliding doors. The doors onthe EX model are electricallypowered and can be operated withthe remote transmitter, the doorhandles, or the switches on thedashboard.

Be sure all passengers are clear ofthe sliding doors before closing them.

The power sliding doors operatewith the ignition switch in anyposition. In addition:

The shift lever must be in Park.The MAIN switch on thedashboard must be in the ONposition.The sliding door you want tooperate must be unlocked.To open the door with the insidehandle, the childproof door lockon the door you want to operatemust be unlocked (see page 85).

Make sure both sliding doors areclosed before you start driving.

If you shift out of Park while a dooris closing, you will hear a beep untilthe power sliding door closescompletely.

CONTINUED


Closing a power sliding doorwhile any part of a passenger isin the door's path can causeserious injury.

Make sure all passengers areclear of the doorway beforeclosing a sliding door.

Power Sliding Doors (EX Model)

If you shift out of Park while a dooris opening, you will hear acontinuous tone and the door willstop moving. If you keep driving withthe door open, the tone continuesuntil you stop and close the door.

About the Main Switch

The MAIN switch on the dashboardcontrols electrical power to thesliding doors. During normaloperation, leave the MAIN switch inthe ON position.

When the MAIN switch is off, theelectrical power is off and you willnot be able to use the dashboardswitches or the remote transmitterto open or close the power slidingdoors.

When the MAIN switch is off, youmust operate each sliding doormanually. To open or close a door,pull the inside or outside door handleand slide the door. The door will bedifficult to move; this is normal. Donot use force or try to move the doorrapidly, you could damage the motor.

Operating the Doors With theDashboard Switches

The dashboard switches to the leftof the steering column allow you toopen or close each sliding door. Theleft switch controls the sliding dooron the left side, and the right switchcontrols the sliding door on the rightside.


POWER SLIDING DOOR MAIN SWITCH

POWERSLIDINGDOORSWITCHES


To open a door, make sure the dooris unlocked. Then push and releasethe bottom of the switch. If youforget to unlock the door first, youwill hear three beeps. Unlock thedoor and try again.

To close a sliding door, push andrelease the top of the appropriateswitch.

To stop the power sliding door'smovement, push either the top or thebottom of the appropriate switch.The door will stop, and you will hearthree beeps.

To start the door moving again, pushthe switch again: bottom to open, ortop to close.

Operating the Doors With theRemote Transmitter

You can open or close each slidingdoor with the remote transmitter.The right button controls thepassenger's side sliding door, andthe left button controls the driver'sside sliding door.

To open a sliding door, make surethe door is unlocked. Then press theappropriate button for at least twoseconds. If you forget to unlock thedoor first, you will hear three beeps.Unlock the door and try again.

To close a sliding door, press theappropriate button for at least twoseconds.

To stop the power sliding door'smovement, push the appropriatedoor button on the remotetransmitter. The door will stop, andyou will hear three beeps.

If you push the same button again,the door will reverse direction.

CONTINUED


LED

DRIVER'SSIDESLIDINGDOORBUTTON

PASSENGER'SSIDESLIDINGDOORBUTTON


Operating the Doors With the DoorHandles

OUTSIDE

INSIDE

With the sliding door fully-closed orfully-open, pull the outside or insidedoor handle, then release it.

Once the door begins to move, thedoor handles cannot be used to stopthe door. If you need to stop the doorfor any reason, use the dashboardswitches or the remote transmitter.

Locking the Doors

LOCK KNOB

Each sliding door has a lock knobunder the inside door handle. Slidethe lock knob forward to unlock, andbackward to lock the doors. You canalso use the lock and unlock buttonson the remote transmitter.

When you drive with children in yourvehicle, use the childproof doorlocks (see page 85). This willprevent children from opening thedoors accidentally.

Sliding Doors and ObstaclesEach power sliding door has an auto-reverse feature. If a door meetsresistance while closing, it will beepthree times and automaticallyreverse direction. However, the doormay not immediately reversedirection (like some elevator doors),and the force of a closing door maycause bruising or discomfort. Alwaysmake sure passengers and anyobjects are well away from the powersliding doors before closing them.

Also check that passengers,especially children, do not have theirhands on the edge of the sliding dooror on the door pillar. The auto-reverse feature stops working whenthe door is about to latch so themotor can pull the door shut.



If a person or object is in the wayafter the door begins to close, thedoor handles cannot be used to stopthe door. To stop the door, use thedashboard switches or the remotetransmitter.

A Note About RefuelingBefore refueling, make sure thedriver's side sliding door is fullyclosed. When you release the fuel filldoor, the driver's side sliding doorautomatically locks so it cannot openand interfere with the fuel door. If apassenger attempts to unlock thedoor by cycling the lock knob severaltimes, the door may unlock and canbe opened.

If a passenger needs to get out of thevehicle while you are refueling,instruct that person to exit on thepassenger's side, not the driver'sside.

After you close the fuel fill door, thesliding door does not automaticallyunlock. You must unlock it manually.

Parking Facing DownhillWhen parking facing downhill on asteep grade, the power sliding doorsmay not open or close as they donormally.

Make sure the MAIN switch is inthe ON position. This allows thepower assist to keep the doorsfrom slamming shut.If the MAIN switch is off, the doorcan slam shut and possibly injuresomeone.

Make sure the power sliding doorsare latched in the fully-openposition, then hold the door openwhile allowing your passengers toenter or exit the vehicle. Do notpull the inside or outside doorhandle, or the latch will releaseand the door will close.

How to Reset the Power SlidingDoorsIf your vehicle's battery isdisconnected or goes dead while asliding door is open, the powersliding door system needs to be reset.After reconnecting the battery:

Close each sliding door completelyby hand; orMove the MAIN switch on thedashboard to the ON position.Push and hold the top of each doorswitch until each sliding doorcloses completely.

If the power sliding doors are closed,the system will reset itselfautomatically once the battery hasbeen reconnected.If the power sliding doors do notoperate properly after resetting,have your vehicle checked by aHonda dealer.


CONTINUED


Power Sliding Door Indicator

If the Power Sliding Door indicatorcomes on and stays on, it indicates aproblem in the system. Turn theMAIN switch off to turn off theindicator. Have the system inspectedby your Honda dealer as soon aspossible.


POWER SLIDING DOOR INDICATOR

HomeLink Universal Transmitter

On EX modelThe HomeLink UniversalTransmitter built into your vehiclecan be programmed to operateremotely controlled devices aroundyour home, such as garage doors,lighting, or home security systems.It can replace up to three remotetransmitters.

Customer AssistanceIf you have problems with trainingthe HomeLink Universal Transmitter,or would like information on homeproducts that can be operated by thetransmitter, call (800) 355-3515. Onthe internet, go towww.homelink.jci.com.

Important Safety PrecautionsAlways refer to the operatinginstructions and safety informationthat came with your garage dooropener or other equipment youintend to operate with the

HomeLink Universal Transmitter.If you do not have this information,you should contact themanufacturer of the equipment.

While training or using thetransmitter, make sure you have aclear view of the garage door orgate, and that no one wil l be injuredby its movement.

General InformationIf you are training the transmitter tooperate a garage door or gate, it isrecommended that you unplug themotor for that device duringtraining. Repeatedly pressing theremote control button could burnout the motor.

The HomeLink transmitter storesthe code in a permanent memory.There should be no need to retrainthe transmitter if your vehicle'sbattery goes dead or isdisconnected.

If your garage door opener wasmanufactured before April 1982,you may not be able to program theHomeLink Universal Transmitter tooperate it. Garage door openersmanufactured before that date donot have a safety feature thatcauses them to stop and reverse ifan obstacle is detected duringclosing, increasing the risk ofinjury. If you have questions, call(800) 355-3515.

Training the TransmitterBefore you can use the HomeLinkUniversal Transmitter to operatedevices around your home, it must"learn" the proper codes. Forexample, to train the transmitter toopen and close the garage door:

CONTINUED



Before you begin — If you just tookdelivery of your vehicle and havenot trained any of the buttons in theHomeLink transmitter before, youshould erase any previously learnedcodes before training the firstbutton. To do this, press and holdthe two outside buttons on theHomeLink transmitter until the redlight flashes. Release the buttons,then proceed to Step 1.

If you are training the second orthird buttons, go directly to Step 1.

1. Unplug the garage door openermotor from the house current.

2. Hold the end of the garage dooropener remote control 1 to 3inches from the HomeLinktransmitter. Make sure you arenot blocking your view of thered light in the transmitter.

3. Select the transmitter buttonyou want to train.

4. Press the button on the remotecontrol and the button on thetransmitter at the same time.Hold down both buttons.

Canadian Owners: The remotecontrol you are training frommay stop transmitting after twoseconds. This is not longenough for the HomeLink

transmitter to learn the code.Release and press the button onthe remote control every twoseconds until the transmitter haslearned the code.

5. The red light in the transmittershould begin flashing. It willflash slowly at first, thenrapidly.

6. When the red light flashesrapidly, release both buttons.The transmitter should havelearned the code from theremote control.

7. Plug in the garage door openermotor, then test the transmitterbutton by pushing it. It shouldoperate the garage door.

If the button does not work,repeat this procedure to train itagain. If it still does not work,you may have a variable or



rolling code garage dooropener. Test this by pressingand holding the HomeLinktransmitter button you justtrained. If the red light blinksfor two seconds, then stays on,you have a rolling code garagedoor opener. You may be ableto verify this with themanufacturer's documentation.Go to "Training With a RollingCode System."

8. Repeat these steps to train theother two transmitter buttons tooperate any other remotely-controlled devices around yourhome (lighting, automatic gate,security system, etc.).

Training With a Rolling CodeSystemFor security purposes, newergarage door opening systems use a"rolling" or variable code.Information from the remote

control and the garage door openerare needed before the HomeLinktransmitter can operate the garagedoor opener. The "Training theTransmitter" procedure trains theHomeLink transmitter to the propergarage door opener code. Thefollowing procedure synchronizesthe HomeLink transmitter to thegarage door opener so they sendand receive the correct codes.

It may be helpful to have someoneassist you with this procedure.

1. Make sure you have properlycompleted the "Training theTransmitter" procedure.

2. Find the "Training" button onyour garage door opener unit.The location wi l l vary,depending on the manufacturer.The manufacturer'sdocumentation may help.

3. Press the Training button on thegarage door opener unit untilthe light next to the buttoncomes on, then release it. Thelight may blink, or come on andstay on. You then haveapproximately 30 seconds tocomplete the following steps.

CONTINUED


TRAININGBUTTON


4. Press and release the button onthe HomeLink transmitter. (Thesame button you trained withthe "Training the Transmitter"procedure.)

5. Press and release theHomeLink transmitter buttonagain. This should turn off thetraining light on the garagedoor opener unit. (Somesystems may require you topress and release the button upto three times.)

6. Press the transmitter buttonagain. It should operate thegarage door.

Retraining a ButtonTo train an already programmedtransmitter button to operate a newdevice:

1. Select the transmitter buttonyou want to train.

2. Press and hold the transmitterbutton until the red light beginsto flash slowly (approximately20 seconds).

3. While continuing to hold thetransmitter button, place theremote control for the device 1to 3 inches from the HomeLinktransmitter.

4. Press and hold the button on theremote control. Hold bothbuttons until the red lightbegins to flash rapidly.

5. Release both buttons. Thetransmitter should now betrained to operate the device.

Erasing CodesTo erase the codes stored in allthree buttons, press and hold thetwo outside buttons until the redlight begins to flash, then releasethe buttons.

You should erase all three codesbefore selling the vehicle.

As required by the FCC:This device complies with Part 15of the FCC rules. Operation issubject to the following twoconditions: (1) This device may notcause harmful interference, and (2)this device must accept anyinterference received, includinginterference that may causeundesired operation.

Changes or modifications notexpressly approved by the partyresponsible for compliance couldvoid the user's authority to operatethe equipment.

This device complies with IndustryCanada Standard RSS-210.Operation is subject to thefollowing two conditions: (1) thisdevice may not cause interference,and (2) this device must accept anyinterference that may causeundesired operation of the device.


Seats

Passenger SeatingConvertible Second Row BucketSeatsThere are bucket seats witharmrests for two front passengers,bucket seats with armrests for twopassengers in the second row, and abench seat for three passengers inthe third row.

For greater cargo capacity, the seatsin the second row can be removed,and the bench seat in the third rowcan be folded into the floor.


Seats

Seat AdjustmentsSee pages 12 — 13 for important safetyinformation and warnings about how toproperly position seats and seat-backs.

The EX model has a poweradjustable driver's seat. All othermodels have manual driver's seatadjustments.

The front passenger's seat, and theseats in the second and third rowsadjust manually.

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 adjust the bucket seats in thesecond row, pull up on the lever onthe front of the seat bottom.


Seats

To change the seat-back angle of thefront seats, pull up on the lever onthe outside of the seat bottom.

To change the seat-back angle of thebucket seats in the second row, pullforward on the lever on the outsideof the seat-back.

HANDLE

To adjust the seat-back angle of thethird seat, open the tailgate. Pull onthe handle on the back of the seat-back, move the seat-back to thedesired position, and release thehandle. Let the seat-back latch in thenew position.


Seats

Driver's Seat Power AdjustmentsOn EX modelSee pages 12 — 13 for important safetyinformation and warnings about how toproperly position seats and seat-backs.

The two power seat adjustmentswitches are on the outside edge ofthe seat bottom. The horizontalswitch adjusts the seat bottom inseveral directions. The short verticalswitch adjusts the seat-back angle.

You can adjust the seat with theignition switch in any position. Makeall seat adjustments before you startdriving.

Push the horizontal switch forwardor backward to move the seatforward or backward.

Pull up or push down on the front ofthe switch to move the seat bottom'sfront edge up or down. Pull up orpush down on the rear of the switchto move the rear of the seat bottomup or down.


Seats

Pull the center of the horizontalswitch up to raise the seat. Push itdown to lower the seat.

Adjust the seat-back angle bypushing the rear switch in thedirection you want to move.

Armrests

An armrest is located on each of thefront seats and on each side of thesecond row seats. Pivot it down touse it. When you remove the bucketseats in the second row, pivot thearmrests up out of the way.


Seats

Head RestraintsSee page 14 for important safetyinformation and a warning about how toproperly position the head restraints.

Your vehicle is equipped with headrestraints in all seating positions.The head restraints help protect youand your passengers from whiplashand other injuries. They are mosteffective when you adjust them sothe back of the occupant's head restsagainst the center of the restraint. Ataller person should adjust therestraint as high as possible.

The head restraints adjust for height.You need both hands to adjust therestraint. Do not attempt to adjust itwhile driving. To raise it, pull upward.To lower the restraint, push therelease button sideways and pushthe 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.


RELEASEBUTTON

Seats

Third Seat Access

To get into or out of the third rowseat, walk between the second rowseats.

When the seat on the passenger'sside is moved to the center, walkthrough the passenger's side to getinto or out of the third row seat.


Seats

Moving the Second Row BucketSeat

The second row bucket seat on thepassenger's side can be moved to thecenter to provide access to the thirdrow seat.

Remove the two floor coversbetween the bucket seats in thesecond row by carefully prying onthe back edge of the covers with aflat-tipped screwdriver.

Unlock the seat from the floor bypulling the lock release lever underthe seat cushion's front edge andlifting the rear of the seat.

Slide the seat toward the center ofthe vehicle.

Push the back of the seat down overthe floor hooks. Make sure the seatis securely locked in place.


LOCKRELEASELEVER

Seats

Install the floor covers over the outerfloor hooks on the passenger's sideas shown.

Make sure the seat is securelylocked in place before driving. A seatthat is not locked in place could flyaround and cause injury in a suddenstop or crash.

Reverse this procedure to move theseat back to the outside.


Seats

Removing the Bucket Seats in theSecond Row

Both seats can be removed to givemore cargo capacity.

To remove a seat:Pull up the seat-back angleadjustment lever, and fold the seat-back forward.Unlock the seat from the floor bypulling the lock release lever underthe seat cushion's front edge andlifting the rear of the seat.

Unhook the front of the seat fromthe floor by pulling it back slightly,then pivoting it upward.

Always remove an unlocked seatfrom the vehicle before driving. Aseat that is not locked in place couldfly around and cause injury in asudden stop or crash.

To reinstall the seat, hook the frontof the seat to the floor, then push theback into the locks. Make sure boththe front and the back of the seat aresecurely latched before driving.


LOCK RELEASE LEVER

Seats

Folding the Third Seat

To create more cargo space, you canfold the third seat into the floorrecess.To fold the third seat:

1. Remove the head restraints bypushing the release buttons andpulling the restraints out.

2. Store the head restraints in theside cargo net. To install the sidecargo net, hook the four loops onthe net to the tabs on the left sidepanel.

Make sure the head restraint legsare inside the cargo net so they donot damage the seat as you fold it.

3. Unlock the seat-back by pullingthe handle. Push the seat-backforward.

CONTINUED


RELEASE BUTTON HANDLE

Seats

4. Pull the handle on the back of theseat cushion while you pull theentire seat towards you with thestrap. Pivot the seat into the floorrecess.

Make sure the center shoulder beltis stored in the holder and the outershoulder belts are positioned on eachhook whenever the third seat isfolded.

Make sure all items in the cargo areaare secured. Loose items can flyforward and cause injury if you haveto brake hard. See Carrying Cargoon page 197.

To return the seat to the uprightposition:

1. Pull the seat out of the recess bypulling on the handle and the strap.Pivot the seat forward all the way.


HANDLE

2. Pull up on the handle on the seat-back, and pull the seat-backupright with the strap. Make surethe seat is securely locked in place.

3. Reinstall the head restraints.

Seats


HANDLE

Power Windows

Your vehicle's front windows areelectrically-powered. Turn theignition switch to ON (II) to raise orlower either window.

The rear windows are alsoelectrically-powered (see page 114).

Each front door has a switch thatcontrols its window. To open thewindow, push the switch down andhold it. Release the switch when youwant the window to stop. Close thewindow by pulling back on theswitch and holding it.

The driver's door armrest has amaster power window control panel.To open the front passenger'swindow, push down on the switchand hold it down until the windowreaches the desired position. Toclose the window, pull back on thewindow switch. Release the switchwhen the window gets to the positionyou want.


DRIVER'S WINDOWSWITCM

MAIN SWITCH

Power Windows

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 front passenger's window andthe rear power windows. With thisswitch off, the front passenger'swindow cannot be raised or loweredand the rear windows cannot beopened or closed. The MAIN switchdoes not affect the driver's window.Keep the MAIN switch off when youhave children in the vehicle so theydo not injure themselves byoperating the windowsunintentionally.

CONTINUED


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

Make sure your passengers areaway from the windows beforeclosing them.

Power Windows

The power window system has a key-off delay function. The windows willstill operate for up to ten minutesafter you turn off the ignition.Opening either front door cancelsthe delay function. You must turnthe ignition switch ON (II) againbefore you can operate the windows.

You can open or close each rearwindow with the switches on thedriver's door armrest. The rightswitch controls the passenger's siderear window and the left switchcontrols the driver's side window. Toopen the window, push the switchdown and hold it. Release the switchwhen you want the window to stop.Close the window by pulling back onthe switch and holding it.


REAR WINDOW SWITCHES

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.

Adjusting the Power Mirrors

Adjust 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.


CONTINUED

SELECTOR SWITCH

ADJUSTMENT SWITCH

TAB

Mirrors, Parking Brake

HEATED MIRROR BUTTON

Canadian ModelsThe 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.

Parking Brake

PARKING BRAKE PEDAL

To apply the parking brake, push theparking brake pedal down with yourfoot. To release the parking brake,push on the pedal again. The parkingbrake light on the instrument panelshould go out when the parkingbrake is fully released with theengine running, (see page 58.)

Driving the vehicle with the parkingbrake applied can damage the rearbrakes and axles.


NOTICE

Digital Clock, Center Table

Digital Clock

The digital clock displays the timewith the ignition switch ON (II).To set the clock:

1. Turn the ignition switch ON (II) todisplay the time.

2. Press and hold the H button untilthe hour advances to the desiredhour.

3. Press and hold the M button untilthe numbers advance to thedesired time.

You can use R to quickly set the timeto the nearest hour. If the displayedtime is before the half hour, pressingR sets the clock back to the previoushour. If the displayed time is afterthe half hour, pressing R sets theclock forward to the beginning of thenext hour.For example:

1:06 would RESET to 1:00.1:52 would RESET to 2:00.

Center Table

To use the center table, pull up theoutside edge of the table until itlatches. To store it, pull the lever andlower the table.

CONTINUED


Center Table, Beverage Holder

Sitting on or getting under the table,or putting heavy objects on the table,may damage or deform it.

Do not put any items on the tablewhile driving. They may fall down orfly around when you go aroundcorners or brake hard.

The center table can be extended bypulling on the rear.

Beverage Holder

To use the front beverage holder,pull on the bottom edge. Push theholder all the way in to close it.


Beverage Holder

Additional beverage holders for thefront seat passengers, and thebeverage holders for the passengersin the second row, are in the centertable.

The beverage holders for the thirdseat passengers are located in thearmrests on the rear side panels.

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.


Sunglasses Holder

To open the sunglasses holder, pushon the front edge. It will unlatch andswing down. To close it, push it untilit latches. Make sure the holder isclosed while you are driving.

Some larger styles of sunglassesmay not fit in the holder.


Sun Visor, Vanity Mirror

Sun Visor

To use the sun visor, pull it down.You can also use the sun visor at theside window. Remove the supportrod from the clip and swing the sunvisor toward the side window. In thisposition, the sun visor can beextended by sliding out theextension.

Make sure you put the sun visorback in place when you are gettinginto or out of the vehicle. Do not usethe sun visor extension over the rearview mirror.

Vanity Mirror

To use a vanity mirror on the back ofthe sun visor, pull up the cover.

The light beside the mirror comeson only when the parking lights areon.


SUN VISOR

EXTENSION

Rear Compartment, Center Pocket, Coin Holder

Rear Compartment

A storage compartment is located bythe third seat on the driver's side. Toopen the compartment, pull the leverand lift the lid. To close, lower the lidand push it down until it latches.

Center Pocket

CENTERPOCKET

Open the center pocket by pullingthe handle. Close it with a firm push.

On EX modelThe light in the pocket comes onwhen the instrument panel lights areon.

Coin Holder

COINHOLDER

The coin holder is located in thefront beverage holder. To open it,pull on the bottom edge. Close itwith a firm push.


REAR COMPARTMENT LEVER

Storage Box, Coat Hook

Storage Box

STORAGE BOX

On EX modelA storage box is located under thefront passenger's seat. To use it, pullthe handle and slide the box out.

To remove the box for cleaning,push on the lock tab under the seatbottom and pull the tray out. Do nottry to force the box. You coulddamage it.

Coat Hook

To use a coat hook, push on the lid.Close it with a firm push.

Make sure the coat hook is closedwhen you are not using it. This hookis not designed for large or heavyitems.


LID

LOCK TAB

Accessory Power Sockets

FRONT

Your vehicle has two accessorypower sockets. The front accessorypower socket is located under thecenter pocket. The rear socket isbehind the third seat on the driver'sside.

REAR

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

These sockets are intended to supplypower for 12 volt DC accessoriesthat are rated 120 watts or less (10amps).

When both sockets are being used,the combined power rating of bothaccessories should be 120 watts or

less (10 amps).

They will not power an automotivetype cigarette lighter element.


Interior Lights

Light Control Switch

The light control switch controls theinterior lights: the individual maplights by the sun visors, theindividual map lights above thesecond and third row passengers,and the cargo area light. This switchhas three positions: OFF, DoorActivated, and ON.

When this switch is in the OFFposition:

None of the lights come on when adoor or the tailgate is opened.

The individual map lights in thefront can be turned on and off withthe switches next to the lights.

The individual map lights in thesecond and third rows cannot beturned on.

The cargo area light can be turnedon with the switch in the light.

When the switch is in the DoorActivated position:

The individual map lights in thefront come on when any door orthe tailgate is opened. When thedoors and the tailgate are closed,each light can be turned on and offwith the switch next to the light.

The individual map lights in thesecond and third rows come onwhen any door or the tailgate isopened. When the doors and thetailgate are closed, each light canbe turned on and off by pushingon the lens.

CONTINUED


LIGHT CONTROL SWITCH

DOORACTIVATEDPOSITION

OFF

ON

Interior Lights

The cargo area light comes onwhen any door or the tailgate isopened if the switch in the light isin the door activated (center)position. When the doors and thetailgate are closed, it can be turnedon with the switch in the light.

When the switch is in the ONposition:

All the individual map lights comeon and stay on as long as theswitch remains in the ON position.

The cargo area light comes on andstays on if the switch in the light isin the door activated (center)position.

On EX modelThe lights go out about six secondsafter all the doors and the tailgatehave closed.

With the light control switch in theDoor Activated position, all theindividual map lights and the cargoarea light (with the switch in thecenter position) come on when youunlock the door with the remotetransmitter (see page 81).

With any door or the tailgate leftopen, the lights stay on about threeminutes, then go out.


Interior Lights

Individual Map Lights

Turn on the front individual maplights by pushing the button next toeach light. Push the button again toturn it off. You can also operatethese lights with the light controlswitch (see page 125).

REAR

Turn on each rear individual maplight by pushing the lens when theignition switch is in theACCESSORY (I) or ON (II) position.Push the lens again to turn it off.You can also operate these lightswith the light control switch (seepage 125).

Cargo Area Light

The cargo area light has a three-position switch. In the OFF position,the light does not come on. In thecenter position, it comes on whenyou open the tailgate. In the ONposition, it stays on continuously.

This light also works with the lightcontrol switch (see page 125).


FRONTOFF

ON

Interior Lights

Ignition Switch Light

The ignition switch light comes onwhen you open the driver's door, andstays on several seconds after youclose the door.


Comfort and Convenience Features

The heating and air conditioningsystems 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.)

On EX modelYour Honda has an anti-theft audiosystem that requires a code numberto enable it.

Heating and Cooling...................... 130What Each Control Does.......... 130How to Use the System............. 133To Turn Everything Off........... 137

Climate Control System................ 138(EX model without Navigation

System)Fully-automatic Operation........ 140Semi-automatic Operation........ 142

(EX model with NavigationSystem)

Fully-automatic Operation........ 146Semi-automatic Operation........ 147Sunlight Sensor/

Temperature Sensor............. 151Rear A/C Unit............................ 152

Audio System (LX)........................ 155AM/FM/Cassette Stereo

Audio System......................... 155Operating the Radio.................. 156Adjusting the Sound.................. 159Audio System Lighting............. 160Operating the Cassette

Player...................................... 160Tape Search Functions............. 160

Operating the Optional CDPlayer/Changer..................... 163

CD Changer ErrorIndications.............................. 166

Audio System (EX)........................ 167AM/FM/CD Audio System..... 167Operating the Radio.................. 168Adjusting the Sound.................. 172Audio System Lighting............. 173Radio Frequencies..................... 173Radio Reception......................... 173Operating the CD Player.......... 175Operating the CD Changer...... 177Protecting Compact Discs........ 178CD Player Error Indications..... 179CD Changer Error

Indications.............................. 180Operating the Cassette

Player...................................... 181Tape Search Functions............. 182Caring for the Cassette

Player...................................... 184Remote Audio Controls ............ 185Theft Protection........................ 186


Heating and Cooling

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

What Each Control Does

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

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 indicatorabove the button lights when theA/C is on.

MODE BUTTONS

FAN CONTROLDIAL

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

Rear Window Defogger ButtonThis button turns the rear windowdefogger on and off (see page 71).

Rear A/C Control DialWith this dial, you can adjust therear A/C unit heating, cooling, andair flow (see page 152).


RECIRCULATIONBUTTON

REAR WINDOWDEFOGGER BUTTON

TEMPERATURECONTROL DIAL

REAR A/CCONTROL DIAL

AIR CONDITIONINGBUTTON

Heating and Cooling

Mode ButtonsUse the MODE buttons to select thevents the air flows from. Some airwill flow from the dashboard cornervents 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 orthe system automatically switches toFresh Air mode and turns on theA/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.

CORNER VENT

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

REAR CEILING VENT

There are four vents in the ceiling(see page 154).


CENTER VENTS

Heating and Cooling

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.

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 condition

FAN CONTROLDIAL

MODE BUTTONS TEMPERATURECONTROL DIAL

RECIRCULATIONBUTTON

clears.

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 sidepanels.

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


Heating and Cooling

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

button. The light above 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.

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 page63 ) when driving in stop-and-gotraffic 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 vehicle has been sitting outin cold 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.

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 corner 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.


Climate Control System

On EX modelThe automatic climate controlsystem in your Honda picks theproper combination of air condi-tioning, heating, and ventilation tomaintain the interior temperatureyou select. The system also adjuststhe fan speed and air flow levels.

Your vehicle also has a rear A/C unitthat allows the rear passengers toadjust the heating, cooling, and airflow (see page 152).

The direction of air flow from thevents in the center and each cornerof the dashboard is adjustable.Move the tab in the center of eachvent up-and-down and side-to-side.

The corner vents can be opened andclosed with the dials next to them.

CENTER VENTS

There are four vents in the ceiling(see page 154).

The climate control system draws airthrough the exterior vents at thebottom of the windshield. Keepthese vents clear of leaves and otherdebris.

CORNERVENT

For the climate control system toprovide heating and cooling, theengine must be running.



REAR CEILING VENT



EX model without Navigation SystemFully-automatic OperationTo put the Automatic ClimateControl in fully-automatic mode,press the AUTO button and set thefan control dial to AUTO, then setthe desired temperature by turningthe temperature control dial. You willsee FULL AUTO in the system'sdisplay. The light above the

button also shows you whichmode, Recirculation or Fresh Air, isselected.

The system automatically selects theproper mix of conditioned and/orheated air that will, as quickly aspossible, raise or lower the interiortemperature from its current level tothe set temperature.


FULL AUTODISPLAY

FAN CONTROL DIAL

AUTO BUTTON


OFF BUTTON


When you set the temperature to itslower limit (60°F/18°C) or its upperlimit (90°F/32°C), the system runsat full cooling or heating only. It doesnot regulate the interior temperature.When the temperature is setbetween the lower and upper limits,the system regulates the interiortemperature to the set value.

In cold weather, the fan will notcome on automatically until thevehicle has been driven for a shorttime and the heater starts to developwarm air.

Pressing the OFF button shuts theclimate control system completelyoff. Keep the system completely offonly for short periods. To keep staleair and mustiness from collecting,you should have the fan running atall times.


FULL AUTODISPLAY

FAN CONTROL DIAL

AUTO BUTTON


OFF BUTTON


Semi-automatic OperationYou can manually select variousfunctions of the Climate Controlsystem when it is in FULL AUTO.All other features remain auto-matically controlled. Making anymanual selection causes the wordFULL to go out.

Air Conditioning (A/C) ButtonPress the A/C button to turn the airconditioning on and off. You will seeA/C ON or A/C OFF in the display.

When you turn the A/C off, the sys-tem cannot regulate the inside tem-perature if you set the dial below theoutside temperature. With the A/Con, use the temperature control dialto adjust the temperature of the airflow to a comfortable setting.



RECIRCULATION BUTTON

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

You can, for example, manually putthe system in recirculation modewhen driving through an area ofsmoke or fumes.



Fan Control DialYou can manually select the fanspeed by turning the fan control dial.When you turn the dial clockwise,the fan is taken out of automaticmode and starts to run at its lowestspeed. Turning the dial fullyclockwise increases the fan's speed,which increases air flow.

Rear A/C Control DialWith this dial, you can adjust therear A/C unit heating, cooling, andair flow (see page 152).

Mode ButtonUse the MODE button to select thevents the air flows from. Some airwill flow from the dashboard cornervents in all modes. Each time youpress the MODE button, the displayshows the mode selected. Press thebutton four times to see all themodes.

MODE BUTTON

REAR A/C CONTROL DIAL

CONTINUED


FAN CONTROL DIAL


The main air flow is dividedbetween the floor vents and de-froster vents at the base of the wind-shield.

The main air flow comesfrom the floor vents.

The main air flow is dividedbetween the dashboard vents andthe floor vents.

The main air flow comesfrom the dashboard vents.



The button directs the mainair flow to the windshield for fasterdefrosting. It also overrides anyMODE selection you may have made.

When you select the A/Cturns on automatically and thesystem selects Fresh Air mode. Forfaster defrosting, manually set thefan speed to high. You can alsoincrease air flow to the windshield byclosing the side vents in thedashboard.

When you turn off bypressing the button again, thesystem returns to its former settings.


REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER BUTTON



EX model with Navigation SystemFully-automatic OperationTo put the Automatic ClimateControl in fully-automatic mode,press the AUTO button. Then setthe desired temperature by pressingeither side of the TEMP button:to raise the temperature above thedisplayed value, or to lower thetemperature.

The system automatically selects theproper mix of conditioned and/orheated air that will, as quickly aspossible, raise or lower the interiortemperature from its current level tothe set temperature.

When you set the temperature to itslower limit (60°F/18°C) or its upperlimit (90°F/32°C), the system runsat full cooling or heating only. It doesnot regulate the interior temperature.When the temperature is setbetween the lower and upper limits,the system regulates the interior

TEMPERATURE BUTTON

AUTO BUTTON

TEMPERATURE DISPLAY

temperature to the set value.

In cold weather, the fan will notcome on automatically until thevehicle has been driven for a shorttime and the heater starts to developwarm air.

Pressing the OFF button shuts theclimate control system completelyoff. Keep the system completely offonly for short periods. To keep staleair and mustiness from collecting,you should have the fan running atall times.


OFF BUTTON


Semi-automatic OperationYou can manually select variousfunctions of the Climate Controlsystem when it is in FULL AUTO.All other features remain auto-matically controlled. Some of thesefunctions appear in the NavigationSystem display. Press the A/Cbutton next to the display to showthese functions.

Air Conditioning (A/C) ButtonsPressing "ON" or "OFF" in thedisplay turns the air conditioning onand off. You will see A/C ON or A/COFF activated in the display.

When you turn the A/C off, thesystem cannot regulate the insidetemperature if you set it below theoutside temperature. With the A/Con, use the temperature buttons toadjust the temperature of the airflow to a comfortable setting.

TEMPERATURE BUTTONS

AIR CONDITIONING (A/C) BUTTONS

CONTINUED




Recirculation ButtonThis button controls the source ofthe air going into the system. Whenthe indicator above this button is lit,air from the vehicle's interior is sentthrough the system again (Recircula-tion mode). When the indicator is off,air is brought in from outside thevehicle (Fresh Air mode).You can, for example, manually putthe system in recirculation modewhen driving through an area ofsmoke or fumes.

Fan Control IconsYou can manually select the fanspeed by pressing any of the fancontrol icons.

Mode IconsUse the MODE icons to select thevents the air flows from. Some airwill flow from the dashboard cornervents and the side vents in all modes.



MODE ICONS

FAN CONTROL ICONS


The main air flow is dividedbetween the floor vents and de-froster vents at the base of the wind-shield.

The main air flow comesfrom the floor vents.

The main air flow is dividedbetween the dashboard vents andthe floor vents.

The main air flow comesfrom the dashboard vents.

CONTINUED



The button directs the mainair flow to the windshield for fasterdefrosting. It also overrides anyMODE selection you may have made.

When you select the A/Cturns on automatically and thesystem selects Fresh Air mode. Forfaster defrosting, manually set thefan speed to high. You can alsoincrease air flow to the windshield byclosing the side vents in thedashboard.

When you turn off bypressing the button again, thesystem returns to its former settings.



DEFROST BUTTON

REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER BUTTON


Sunlight Sensor/TemperatureSensor

The climate control system has twosensors. A sunlight sensor is locatedin the top of the dashboard and atemperature sensor is next to thesteering column. Do not cover thesensors or spill any liquid on them.

TEMPERATURE SENSOR


SUNLIGHT SENSOR


Rear A/C UnitYour vehicle has two controls for therear A/C unit. The rear A/C controldial is located on the climate controlpanel, and the rear A/C passengercontrol panel is on the ceiling behindthe driver's seat.

You can adjust the heating, cooling,and air flow of the rear A/C unit withthese control dials. The rearpassengers can also adjust thedirection and the amount of air flowwith the rear ceiling vents.

REAR CEILING VENT REAR A/C PASSENGERCONTROL PANEL

REAR A/CCONTROL DIAL



Rear A/C Control Dial

When this dial is in the OFF position,no air flows to the rear vents, and therear control panel is turned off.

Turning the dial counterclockwisefrom the OFF position increases therear fan speed and air flow. The airflows from the rear ceiling vents.

When this dial is in the RR position,the rear A/C passenger controlpanel is enabled. A second rowpassenger can then adjust the fanspeed and air flow.

Turning the dial clockwise from theRR position turns off the rear A/Cpassenger control panel, andincreases the rear fan speed. The airflows from the rear floor vents.

Rear A/C Passenger Control Panel

When the rear A/C control dial onthe front panel is in the RR position,the passenger in the second row canuse the rear A/C passenger controlpanel to adjust the fan speed and airflow.

The fan speed control dial changesthe speed of the rear fan; turn itclockwise to increase fan speed andair flow.


REAR A/C CONTROL DIALFAN SPEEDCONTROL DIAL

HEATING/COOLING/AIR FLOWCONTROL DIAL

CONTINUED


The heating/cooling/air flow controldial selects the temperature andlevel of the air flow.When the dial is in the

position, heated air flowsfrom the rear floor vents.When the dial is in the

position cooled air flowsfrom the rear ceiling vents. Cooledair can be selected when the A/Cswitch on the front control panel isturned on.

Rear Ceiling Vents

The direction and quantity of air flowfrom each rear ceiling vent isadjustable.

To adjust the direction of the aircoming from a rear ceiling vent,move the tab in the center of eachvent back-and-forth, and rotate thevent with the tab. The lever next toeach vent can be opened and closedto regulate the amount of air flow.


TAB

LEVER

Audio System

AM/FM/Cassette Stereo AudioSystemOn LX modelYour Honda's audio system providesclear reception on both AM and FMbands, while the preset buttons allowyou to easily select your favoritestations.

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

* Dolby noise reduction manufactured under

license from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corpo-

ration. "DOLBY" and the double-D symbol

are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories

Licensing Corporation.


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 by turning thePWR/VOL 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.

TUNE — Use the TUNE bar to tunethe radio to a desired frequency.Press the upper part ( ) to tuneto a higher frequency, or the lowerpart ( ) 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, pushthe SEEK switch up or down, thenrelease it. Depending on which wayyou push the switch, the systemscans upward or downward from thecurrent frequency. It stops when itfinds a station with a strong signal.


Audio System

SCAN — The SCAN functionsamples all the stations with strongsignals on the selected band. Toactivate it, press the SCAN button,then release it. SCN shows in thedisplay. The system will scan up theband for a station with a strongsignal. When it finds a strong signal,it will stop and 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.

AM/FMBUTTON

SCAN BUTTON SCN INDICATOR

PWR/VOLKNOB

TUNE BAR

CONTINUED


SEEK SWITCH

Audio System

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.

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.

AM/FM BUTTON

SEEK SWITCH PRESETBUTTONS

TUNE BAR

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 vehicle's battery goes dead, isdisconnected, or the radio fuse isremoved.


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.

Radio Frequencies and ReceptionFor information, See page 173 .


BASS/FADERCONTROL

TREBLE/BALANCECONTROL

Audio System

Audio System LightingYou can use the instrument panelbrightness control knob to adjust theillumination of the audio system (seepage 67 ). The audio systemilluminates when the parking lightsare on, even if the radio is turned off.

Operating the Cassette PlayerTurn the audio system ON. Makesure the tape opening on the cassetteis facing to the right, then insert thecassette most of the way into the slot.The system will pull it in the rest ofthe way, and begin to play.

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 button.

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.

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

FF/REW — Fast Forward and Re-wind move the tape rapidly. To re-wind the tape, push the REW button.You will see REW in the display. Tofast forward the tape, push the FFbutton. You will see FF displayed.Press the PLAY button to take thesystem out of rewind or fast forward.

If the system reaches the end of thetape while in fast forward or rewind,it automatically stops that function,reverses direction, and begins to play.

SKIP — The Skip Function allowsyou to find the beginning of a songor passage. To find the beginning ofthe song or passage currentlyplaying, push the SKIP switch down.You will see REW flashing in thedisplay as the tape rewinds. To findthe beginning of the next song, pushthe SKIP switch up. You will see FFflashing in the display as the tapefast forwards. When the systemfinds the beginning of a song orpassage, it goes back to PLAY mode.


Audio System

REPEAT — The Repeat functioncontinuously replays the currentsong or passage. Press the RPTbutton 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.

CONTINUED


EJECT BUTTON CASSETTE SLOT TAPE DIRECTIONINDICATOR

FF BUTTONREW BUTTONRPT BUTTON

SKIP BUTTON PROG BUTTON

PLAY BUTTON

DOLBY BUTTON

Audio System

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 a selection.

Caring for CassettesDamaged cassettes can jam insidethe drive or cause other problems.See page 184 for information oncassette care and protection.


EJECT BUTTON CASSETTE SLOT TAPE DIRECTIONINDICATOR

REW BUTTON FF BUTTONRPT BUTTON

PLAY BUTTON

PROG BUTTON

DOLBY BUTTON

SKIP BUTTON

Audio System

Operating the Optional CDPlayer/ChangerA Compact Disc changer is availablefrom your dealer. It holds up to sixdiscs, providing several hours ofcontinuous entertainment. Youoperate the CD changer with thesame controls used for the radio andcassette player.

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.

Using 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.

CONTINUED


AM/FM BUTTON

TAPE/CD BUTTON

RANDOM INDICATOR

REPEAT INDICATOR

PRESET BUTTONS

SKIP SWITCH

PWR/VOL KNOB

RPT BUTTON

Audio System

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

Press the CD button until "CD"appears in the display. The systemwill start to play the first track of thefirst disc in the magazine. Play onlystandard round discs.

When that disc ends, the next disc inthe magazine is loaded and played.After the last disc finishes, thesystem 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.

You can use the SKIP switch toselect tracks within a disc. If youpush and release the SKIP switch,the system will move to thebeginning of a track. Push the switchup to move to the beginning of thenext track, and push the switchdown to move to the beginning ofthe current track.

If you push and hold the SKIP switch,you will hear a beep and the systemwill continue to move across tracks.Release the switch when you think ithas reached the desired place on thedisc.

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.

RANDOM PLAY — This feature,when activated, plays the tracks on aCD in random order, rather than inthe order they are recorded on theCD. To activate Random Play, pressand hold the RPT button until yousee RDM in the display. The systemwill then select and play tracksrandomly on the current disc. Whenall tracks on that disc have beenplayed, the next disc is loaded andplayed randomly. This continuesuntil you deactivate Random Play bypressing RPT again.


Audio System

If the system is in Repeat mode, youmust turn it off by pressing RPTbefore you can select Random Play.Then press the button again untilyou see RDM displayed.

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 TAPE button. When you returnto CD mode, play will continue at thesame disc and track.

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

Protecting Compact DiscsFor information on how to handleand protect compact discs, see page178.


AM/FM BUTTON

PRESET BUTTONS

SKIP SWITCH

PWR/VOL KNOB

RPT BUTTON

RANDOM INDICATOR

REPEAT INDICATORTAPE/CD BUTTON

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 modelYour 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 thevehicle's battery. To get the systemworking again, you must enter acode number (see page 186).


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.

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.


Audio System

SCAN — The SCAN functionsamples all the stations with strongsignals on the selected band. Toactivate it, press the SCAN button,then release it. SCAN shows in thedisplay. The system will scan up theband for a station with a strongsignal. When it finds a strong signal,it will stop and 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 FM band.

CONTINUED


PWR/VOLKNOB

AM/FM BUTTON STEREO INDICATOR

TUNE BAR

SCANBUTTON

SEEK BARPRESET BUTTONS

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 vehicle's battery goes dead, isdisconnected, or the radio fuse isremoved.


AM/FM BUTTON SEEK BAR

TUNE BAR

PRESET BUTTONS

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.


TUNE BAR SEEK BAR

SCAN BUTTONA. SEL BUTTON

AUTO SELECT INDICATOR

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 knob to adjust theillumination of the audio system (seepage 67). The audio systemilluminates when the parking lightsare on, even if the radio is turned off.

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 will

go 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.


CONTINUED

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.


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. 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.

CONTINUED


AM/FM BUTTON CD SLOT TUNE BAR

EJECT BUTTON

SEEK/SKIPBAR

A.SEL/RDM BUTTON

RPT BUTTONCD BUTTON

Audio System

You can switch to the radio while aCD is playing by pressing the AM/FM button. Press the CD button toreturn to playing the CD. The CDwill begin playing where it left off.

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 continuouslyreplays 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 vehicle toyour Honda 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 vehicle toyour Honda 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/VOLKNOB

AM/FMBUTTON

CDBUTTON

TAPE DIRECTION INDICATOR

TUNE BAR

SEEK/SKIP BAR

PLAYBUTTON

PROGBUTTON

NRBUTTON

REPEAT 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 RPTbutton 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(LX model)/

(EX model) on the display, press theEJECT button and remove thecassette from the unit. Make surethe tape is not damaged. If thecassette will not eject or the errorindication stays on after the cassetteejects, take the vehicle to yourHonda dealer.

On LX modelIf 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

Remote Audio Controls

On EX modelTwo controls for the audio systemare mounted in the steering wheelhub. These let you control basicfunctions without removing yourhand from the wheel.

The top and bottom buttons adjustthe volume up or downPress the proper button and hold ituntil the desired volume is reached,then release it.

The AUDIO/CH button has threefunctions, depending on whether youare listening to the radio, or playing acassette or CD.

If you are listening to the radio, usethe AUDIO/CH button to changestations. Each time you press thisbutton, the system advances to thenext preset station on the band youare listening to. You will see thenumber of the selected Preset buttonin the display. To change bands,press the AM/FM button on theaudio system's front panel.

If you are playing a cassette, use theAUDIO/CH button to advance to thenext selection. You will see "FF"blinking in the display when youpress the AUDIO/CH button. Thesystem fast forwards until it senses asilent period, then goes back toPLAY.

If you are playing a CD, the systemskips to the beginning of the nexttrack each time you push theAUDIO/CH button. You will see thedisc and track number in the display.


AUDIO/CHBUTTON

Audio System

Theft ProtectionOn EX modelYour vehicle's audio system willdisable itself if it is disconnectedfrom electrical power for any reason.To make it work again, the usermust enter a specific five-digit codein the Preset buttons. Because thereare hundreds of numbercombinations possible from fivedigits, making the system workwithout knowing the exact code isnearly 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 vehicle's battery is discon-nected or goes dead, or the radiofuse is removed, the audio systemwill disable itself. If this happens,you will see in thefrequency display the next time youturn on the system. Use the Presetbuttons to enter the five-digit code. Ifit is entered correctly, the radio willstart playing.

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.


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 vehicle,please read the information in thissection first.

Break-in Period.............................. 188Gasoline.......................................... 188Service Station Procedures .......... 189

Filling the Fuel Tank................. 189Opening the Hood..................... 190

Oil Check................................ 192Engine Coolant Check.......... 193

Fuel Economy................................ 194Vehicle Condition...................... 194Driving Habits............................ 194

Accessories and Modifications.... 195Carrying Cargo.............................. 197

Before Driving

Break-in Period, Gasoline

Break-in PeriodHelp assure your vehicle'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 replaced.

We also recommend that you shouldnot tow a trailer during the first 500miles (800 km).

GasolineYour Honda is designed to operateon unleaded gasoline with a pumpoctane number of 86 or higher. Useof a lower octane gasoline can causea persistent, heavy metallic rappingnoise in the engine that can lead tomechanical damage.

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

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

Before Driving

Gasoline, Service Station Procedures

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.

Filling the Fuel Tank

1. Because the fuel fill cap is on thedriver's side of the vehicle, parkwith that side closest to theservice station pumps.

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

Before refueling, make sure the rearsliding door on the driver's side isclosed. CONTINUED

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

Service Station Procedures

3. Remove the fuel fill cap slowly.You may hear a hissing sound aspressure inside the tank escapes.Place the cap in the holder on thefuel fill door.

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.

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 309 ).

6. Push the fuel fill door closed untilit latches.

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 vehicle,put your fingers under the frontedge of the hood. The hood latchhandle is above the "H" logo. Pullup on this handle until it releasesthe hood. Lift the hood.

Before Driving

HOOD RELEASE HANDLE

LATCH


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 254).

SUPPORT ROD

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

To close the hood, lift it up slightly toremove the support rod from thehole. Put the support rod back intoits holding clip. Lower the hood toabout a foot (30 cm) above thefender, then let it drop.After closing the hood, make sure itis securely latched.

CONTINUED

Before Driving


Oil Check

Check the engine oil level every timeyou fill the vehicle with fuel. Wait afew minutes after turning the engineoff before you check the oil.

1. Remove the dipstick (orangehandle).

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

3. Insert it all the way back in its tube.

Before Driving

DIPSTICK


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 239 .

Engine Coolant Check

MAX RESERVE TANK

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 243 forinformation on adding the propercoolant.

Refer to Owner MaintenanceChecks on page 237 for informationon checking other items in yourHonda.

Before Driving

MIN

UPPER MARKLOWER MARK

Fuel Economy

The condition of your vehicle andyour driving habits are the two mostimportant things that affect the fuelmileage you get.

Vehicle ConditionAlways maintain your vehicle accord-ing to the maintenance schedule.This will keep it in top operatingcondition.

An important part of that mainte-nance is the Owner MaintenanceChecks (see page 237 ). 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 vehicle's underside adds weightand rolling resistance. Frequentcleaning helps your fuel mileage andreduces the 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 vehicle 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 vehicle, or installingsome non-Honda accessories, canmake your vehicle unsafe. Beforeyou make any modifications or addany accessories, be sure to read thefollowing information.

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

Non-Honda accessories are usuallydesigned for universal applications.Although aftermarket accessoriesmay fit on your vehicle, they may notmeet factory specifications, andcould adversely affect your vehicle'shandling and stability. (See"Modifications" on page 196 foradditional information.)

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

However, if electronic accessoriesare improperly installed, or exceedyour vehicle's electrical systemcapacity, they can interfere with the

operation of your vehicle, or evencause the airbags to deploy.

Before installing any accessory:

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

Be sure electronic accessories donot overload electrical circuits(see page 311).

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 yourvehicle'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 vehicle inany way that would alter its design oroperation. This could make yourvehicle unsafe and illegal to drive.

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

Such modifications can adverselyaffect handling, and interfere withthe operation of the vehicle's anti-lock brakes 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 vehicleand hurt someone.

Before Driving

Carrying Cargo

Your vehicle 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 cargo area is intended for larger,heavier items. In addition, the seatsin the second row can be removedand the bench seat in the third rowcan be folded into the floor to allowyou to carry more cargo or longeritems.

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

Before Driving

REAR COMPARTMENT FRONT DOOR POCKET

CENTER POCKET

SEAT-BACK POCKET

STORAGE BOX*

GLOVE BOX*EX model onlyCARGO AREA

Carrying Cargo

Load LimitThe maximum load for your vehicleis 1,277 Ibs (580 kg).

This figure includes the total weightof all occupants, cargo, accessories,and the tongue weight if you aretowing a trailer.

To figure out how much cargo youcan carry:

Add up the weight of all occupants.

If you are towing a trailer, add thetongue weight to the numberabove.

Subtract the total from 1,277 Ibs(580 kg).

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

When you load luggage, the totalweight of the vehicle, all passengers,cargo, and trailer tongue load mustnot exceed the Gross VehicleWeight Rating (GVWR). The loadfor the front and rear axles also mustnot exceed the Gross Axle WeightRating (GAWR). The GVWR andGAWR are printed on the tireinformation label attached to thedriver's doorjamb (see page 322).

Carrying Items in the PassengerCompartment

Store or secure all items that couldbe thrown around and hurtsomeone during 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 Cargo Areaor on a Roof Rack

Distribute cargo evenly on thefloor of the cargo area, placing theheaviest items on the bottom andas far forward as possible. Tiedown items that could be thrownabout the vehicle during a crash orsudden stop.

If you carry large items thatprevent you from closing thetailgate, exhaust gas can enter thepassenger area. To avoid thepossibility of carbon monoxidepoisoning, follow the instructionson page 53 .

If you can carry any items on aroof rack, be sure the total weightof the rack and the items on itdoes not exceed 150 Ib.

If you use an accessory roof rack,the roof rack weight limit may belower. Refer to the information thatcame with your roof rack.

Side Cargo Net

The side cargo net can be installedon the driver's side panel in thecargo area to secure small items. Toinstall the side cargo net, hook eachloop on the four corners of the net tothe tabs on the left side panel. Whenyou fold down the third seat, storethe head restraints in the side cargonet.

Before Driving

Carrying Cargo

On EX modelYou can use the cargo net to secureitems in the cargo area, and storesmall items between the two halvesof the net. To install the cargo net,hook the loops on the four corners ofthe net to the tabs at both sides ofthe tailgate sill.

Before Driving

Cargo Net

Driving

This section gives you tips onstarting the engine under variousconditions, and how to operate theautomatic transmission. It alsoincludes important information onparking your vehicle, the brakingsystem, the Traction Control System,and facts you need if you areplanning to tow a trailer.

Preparing to Drive......................... 202Starting the Engine........................ 203

Starting in Cold Weatherat High Altitude..................... 203

Automatic Transmission............... 204Shift Lever Position Indicator.. 204Shift Lever Positions................. 205Engine Speed Limiter............... 207Shift Lock Release..................... 207

Parking............................................ 209The Braking System...................... 210

Brake Wear Indicators.............. 210Brake System Design................ 211Anti-lock Brakes........................ 211

Important SafetyReminders.......................... 212

ABS Indicator......................... 212Traction Control System............... 213

TCS ON/OFF Switch................ 214TCS Indicator............................. 215

Driving in Bad Weather................ 216Towing a Trailer............................ 218

Driving

Preparing to Drive

You should do the following checksand adjustments every day beforeyou drive your vehicle.

1. Make sure all windows, mirrors,and outside lights are clean andunobstructed. Remove frost, snow,or ice.

2. Check that the hood and tailgateare fully closed.

3. Visually check the tires. If a tirelooks low, use a gauge to check itspressure.

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 100).

6. Check the adjustment of theinside and outside mirrors (seepage 115).

7. Check the adjustment of thesteering wheel (see page 72).

8. Make sure the doors and tailgateare securely closed and locked.

9. Fasten your seat belt. Check thatyour passengers have fastenedtheir seat belts (see page 15).

10. Turn the ignition switch ON (II).Check the indicator lights in theinstrument panel.

11. Start the engine (see page 203).

12. Check the gauges and indicatorlights in the instrument panel (seepage 57).

Driving

Starting the Engine

1. Apply the parking brake.

2. In cold weather, turn off allelectrical accessories to reducethe drain on the battery.

3. 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 (2,400meters) 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

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.

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 Hondadealer as soon as possible.

The malfunction indicator lamp maycome on along with the "D 4 "indicator if there is a problem in theautomatic transmission controlsystem.

Driving


Shift Lever Positions

The shift lever has seven positions.It must be in Park or Neutral to startthe engine. When you are stopped inD4, D3, 2 ,1 , N or R, press firmly onthe brake pedal, and keep your footoff the accelerator pedal.

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. Pull the shift levertowards you, then move it out ofPark.

If you have done all of the above andstill cannot move the lever out ofPark, see Shift Lock Release on page208.

You must also pull the shift levertowards you to shift into Park. Toavoid transmission damage, come toa complete stop before shifting intoPark. The shift lever must be in Parkbefore you can remove the key fromthe ignition switch.

CONTINUED

Driving

SHIFT LEVER


Reverse (R) — To shift to Reversefrom Park, see the explanation underPark. To shift to Reverse fromNeutral, come to a complete stop andthen shift. Pull the shift levertowards you before shifting intoReverse from Neutral.

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 vehiclefor any reason. Press on the brake pe-dal when you are moving the shiftlever from 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 whentowing a trailer in hilly terrain, or toprovide engine braking when goingdown a steep hill. D3 can also keepthe transmission from cyclingbetween third and fourth gears instop-and-go driving.

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.

Driving


Second (2) — To shift to Second,pull the shift lever towards you, thenshift to the lower gear. This positionlocks the transmission in secondgear. It does not downshift to firstgear when you come to a stop.Second gives you more power whenclimbing, and increased enginebraking when going down steep hills.Use second gear when starting outon a slippery surface or in deep snow.It will help reduce wheelspin.When driving down hill with a trailer,use the Second position.

First (1) — To shift from Second toFirst, pull the shift lever towards you,then shift to the lower gear. With thelever in this position, the transmis-sion locks in First gear. By upshift-ing and downshifting through 1, 2,D3 and D4, you can operate thistransmission much like a manualtransmission without a clutch pedal.

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 pulling the shift lever doesnot work.

1. Set the Parking brake.

2. Remove the key from the ignitionswitch.

3. Place a cloth on the edge of theshift lock release slot cover on thesteering column. Remove thecover by carefully prying on theedge with a small flat-tippedscrewdriver (not included in thetoolkit).

Driving

CONTINUED


4. Insert the key in the Shift LockRelease slot.

5. Push down on the key while youpull the shift lever towards youand move it out of Park to Neutral.

6. Remove the key from the ShiftLock Release slot, then install anew cover. Depress the brakepedal and restart the engine.

If you need to use the Shift LockRelease, it means your vehicle isdeveloping a problem. Have thevehicle checked by your Hondadealer.

Driving

SHIFT LOCK RELEASE SLOT COVER

Parking

Always use the parking brake whenyou park your vehicle. The indicatoron the instrument panel shows thatthe parking brake is not fullyreleased; it does not indicate that theparking brake is firmly set. Makesure the parking brake is set firmlyor your vehicle may roll if it isparked on an incline.

Set the parking brake before you putthe transmission in Park. This keepsthe vehicle from moving and puttingpressure on the parking mechanismin the transmission — making iteasier to move the shift lever out ofPark when you want to drive away.

If the vehicle is facing uphill, turnthe front wheels away from the curb.

If the vehicle is facing downhill, turnthe front wheels toward the curb.

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 windows are closed.

Turn off the lights.

Place any packages, valuables, etc.,in the cargo area or take themwith 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

Your Honda is equipped with frontdisc brakes. The brakes on the rearwheels are drum. A power assisthelps reduce the effort needed onthe brake pedal. The ABS helps youretain steering control when brakingvery hard.

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 vehicleshave 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 BrakesYour vehicle has an Anti-lock BrakeSystem (ABS) as standardequipment. ABS helps to prevent thewheels from locking up and skiddingduring hard braking, allowing you toretain steering control.

When the front tires skid, you losesteering control; the vehiclecontinues straight ahead eventhough you turn the steering wheel.The ABS helps to prevent lock-upand helps you retain steering controlby pumping the brakes rapidly; muchfaster than a person can do it.

The ABS also balances the front-torear braking distribution accordingto vehicle loading.

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."

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.

Driving

CONTINUED

Front

The Braking System

Important Safety RemindersABS does not reduce the time ordistance it takes to stop thevehicle, it only helps with steeringcontrol during braking. You shouldalways maintain a safe followingdistance from 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 vehicle to veerinto oncoming 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.

ABS Indicator

The ABS is self-checking. If anythinggoes wrong, the ABS indicator onthe instrument panel comes on (seepage 59). 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 vehicle as soon aspossible.

Driving

ABS INDICATOR*

* U.S. indicator shown

The Braking System, Traction Control System

If the ABS indicator and the brakesystem indicator come on together,and the parking brake is fullyreleased, the front-to-rear brakingdistribution system may also shutdown.

Test your brakes as instructed onpage 310. If the brakes feel normal,drive slowly and have your vehiclerepaired by your dealer as soon aspossible. Avoid sudden hard brakingwhich could cause the rear wheels tolock up and possibly lead to a loss ofcontrol.

On EX modelThe TCS indicator will come onalong with the ABS indicator.

Traction Control SystemOn EX modelYour Honda is equipped with aTraction Control System (TCS) toassist you in maintaining tractionwhile driving slowly on loose orslippery surfaces. The TCS assistsonly in low-speed, low-tractionconditions; up to approximately 18mph (30km/h).

The TCS monitors the speed of allfour wheels. When it senses a frontwheel losing traction, it appliesbraking to that wheel. The TCSindicator flashes when this occurs.

Driving with TCS requires no specialskills or technique. The TCS doesnot control your vehicle's wholebraking system and cannot preventskidding if you enter a corner toofast. It is still your responsibility todrive at reasonable speeds and toleave a sufficient margin of safety.

Driving

CONTINUED

TRACTION COTROLSYSTEM INDICATOR

Traction Control System

When starting out or driving at lowspeeds on a loose or slippery roadsurface, you may notice that thevehicle does not respond to theaccelerator in the same way it doesat other times. This is a sign the TCSis activating. You will see the TCSindicator light flash.

You should still install winter tires onyour vehicle during the winter. Makesure to use the same size originallysupplied with vehicle. Exercise thesame caution in winter driving as youwould if your vehicle was notequipped with TCS.

Driving with the compact spare tireinstalled (see page 292) mayactivate the TCS. You should turn offthe system.

If the brakes overheat while the TCSis activating, the TCS indicator willstop flashing and stay on temporarily.This indicates that the TCS systemhas turned off. After the brakes havecooled down (usually for about 10minutes), the TCS will turn back onand the indicator will turn off.

TCS ON/OFF Switch

This switch is under the side vent. Itlets you turn the Traction ControlSystem on and off. You cannot turnoff the TCS while the TCS indicatorlight is flashing.

Deactivate the system by pressingthe TCS On/Off switch. The TCSindicator light comes on as areminder. Pressing the switch againturns the system back on.

Driving

TCS ON/OFF SWITCH

Traction Control System

The Traction Control System turnson every time you start the engine,even if you turned it off the last timeyou drove the vehicle.

TCS IndicatorThe TCS indicator comes on orflashes under the following condi-tions:

When you turn the ignition switchto ON (II).

When you manually turn off theTCS.

It flashes when the TCS isregulating wheelspin.

If the system's diagnostics sensesa problem in the TCS, the indica-tor will come on and stay on.

If the brakes overheat, theindicator will come on.

If the TCS indicator comes on andstays on for more than 10 minuteswhile driving, pull to the side of theroad when it is safe and turn off theengine. Reset the system byrestarting the engine, and watch theTCS indicator. If the indicatorremains on, or comes back on whiledriving, have the system inspectedby your Honda dealer. You can stilldrive the vehicle without TCS.

This indicator will come on alongwith the ABS indicator if there is aproblem in the anti-lock brakesystem (see ABS Indicator on page212).

The TCS indicator may occasionallycome on for one or two seconds andthen go out. This is normal.

Driving

Driving in Bad Weather

Rain, fog, and snow conditions re-quire a different driving techniquebecause of reduced traction andvisibility. Keep your vehicle 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 vehicle longerto react, 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 thewindshield washer reservoir full ofthe proper fluid. Have the windshieldwiper blades replaced if they start tostreak the windshield or leave partsunwiped. Use the defroster and airconditioning to keep the windowsfrom fogging up on the inside (seepages 135 and 145/150).

Driving

Driving in Bad Weather

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.

Driving

Towing a Trailer

Your Odyssey has been designed totow a trailer, as well as for carryingpassengers and their cargo.

To safely tow a trailer, you mustobserve the load limits, use theproper equipment, and follow theguidelines in this section.

Load LimitsTotal Trailer Weight: As shownin the load limits table, how muchweight you can tow is limited bythe number of occupants in yourvehicle and whether or not youhave installed a transmission fluidcooler. (See page 220 forinformation about transmissionfluid coolers.) Towing a load thatis too heavy can seriously affectyour vehicle's handling andperformance. It can also damagethe engine and drivetrain.

*: Including driver. Based on 150 Ibs (70 kg) per occupant.

* *: Weight limited to avoid exceeding rear GAWR (see page 219).

Tongue Load: The weight thatthe tongue of a fully-loaded trailerputs on the hitch should beapproximately 10 percent of thetrailer weight. Too little tongueload can make the trailer unstableand cause it to sway. Too muchtongue load reduces front-tiretraction and steering control.

To achieve a proper tongue load,start by loading 60 percent of theload toward the front of the trailerand 40 percent toward the rear, thenreadjust the load as needed.

Driving

Towing a Trailer

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating(GVWR):The total weight of the vehicle, alloccupants, all cargo, and thetongue load must not exceed:5,565 Ibs (2,525 kg)

Gross Axle Weight Rating(GAWR):The total weight of the vehicle, alloccupants, all cargo, and thetongue load must not exceed:

2,775 Ibs (1,260 kg)on the front axle

2,840 Ibs (1,290 kg)on the rear axle

Gross Combined Weight Rating(GCWR):The total weight of the vehicle, alloccupants and cargo, and thetrailer and everything in or on it,must not exceed:

8,160 Ibs (3,700 kg)with transmission fluid cooler

6,660 Ibs (3,025 kg)without transmission fluid cooler

Checking LoadsThe best way to confirm that vehicleand trailer weights are within limitsis to have them checked at a publicscale.

Using a suitable scale or a specialtongue load gauge, check the tongueload the first time you set up atowing combination (a fully-loadedvehicle and trailer), then recheck thetongue load whenever the conditionschange.

Driving

Exceeding load limits orimproperly loading your vehicleand trailer can cause a crash inwhich you can be seriouslyinjured or killed.

Check the loading of yourvehicle and trailer carefullybefore starting to drive.

Towing a Trailer

Towing Equipment andAccessoriesTowing can require a variety ofequipment, depending on the size ofyour trailer, how it will be used, andhow much load you are towing.

Discuss your needs with your trailersales or rental agency, and follow theguidelines in the rest of this section.Also make sure that all equipment isproperly installed and that it meetsfederal, state, province, and localregulations.

HitchesAny hitch used on your vehicle mustbe properly bolted to the underbody,using the six threaded holesprovided. A hitch designed especiallyfor your Odyssey can be obtainedfrom your Honda dealer.

Weight Distributing HitchIf the total trailer weight is morethan 2,000 Ibs (900 kg), you mustalso use a weight distributing hitch.This device transfers weight fromthe vehicle's rear wheels to the frontwheels, and to the trailer's wheels.Carefully follow the hitch maker'sinstructions for proper installationand adjustment.

Safety ChainAlways use a safety chain. Makesure that it is secured to both thetrailer and hitch, and that it crossesunder the tongue so it can catch thetrailer if it becomes unhitched.Leave enough slack to allow thetrailer to turn corners easily, but donot let the chain drag on the ground.

Sway ControlIf the total trailer weight exceeds2,000 Ibs (900 kg), you should installa sway control device to minimizeswaying that can occur in crosswindsand in normal and emergencydriving maneuvers. Your trailermaker can tell you what kind of swaycontrol you need and how to install it.

Transmission Fluid CoolerIf the total trailer weight is morethan 2,000 Ibs (900 kg), you mustalso have a transmission fluid coolerinstalled. This device will helpprevent transmission overheating,which could cause serious damage.A transmission fluid cooler designedfor your Odyssey can be obtainedfrom your Honda dealer.

Driving

Towing a Trailer

Trailer BrakesHonda recommends that any trailerhaving a total weight of 1,000 Ibs(450 kg) or more be equipped withits own electric or surge-type brakes.

If you choose electric brakes, besure they are electronically actuated.Do not attempt to tap into yourvehicle's hydraulic system. Nomatter how successful it may seem,any attempt to attach trailer brakesto your vehicle's hydraulic systemwill lower braking effectiveness andcreate a potential hazard. Your vehicle has a trailer lighting

connector located behind the leftside panel in the cargo area. Refer tothe drawing above for the wiringcolor code and purpose of each pin.

To use the trailer lighting connector,you will need a wiring harness andconverter. This comes with theHonda hitch (see page 220), or itmay be obtained separately fromyour dealer.

If you use a non-Honda trailerlighting harness and converter, youcan get the connector and pins thatmate with the connector in yourvehicle from your Honda dealer.

Since lighting and wiring vary withtrailer type and brand, you shouldalso have a qualified technicianinstall a suitable connector betweenthe vehicle and the trailer.

Driving

CONTINUED

Trailer Lights

GROUND(BLACK)

RIGHT TURN SIGNAL(GREEN/YELLOW)

BACK-UP LIGHT(GREEN/BLACK)

LEFT TURN SIGNAL(GREEN/BLUE)

BRAKE LIGHT(WHITE/BLACK)

TAILLIGHT(RED/BLACK)

Towing a Trailer

Spare Vehicle TireWhen towing a trailer, you shouldcarry a full-size wheel and tire as aspare in case you have a flat. If youuse the compact spare tire that camewith the vehicle, it may adverselyaffect vehicle handling. See page317 for information on proper tiresize, and page 299 for information onhow to store a full-size tire. Whenstoring a full-size spare tire in thetrailer, follow the trailer maker'sinstructions.

Additional Trailer EquipmentMany states and Canadian provincesrequire special outside mirrors whentowing a trailer. Even if they don't,you should install special mirrors ifyou cannot clearly see behind you, orif the trailer creates a blind spot.

Ask your trailer sales or rentalagency if any other items arerecommended or required for yourtowing situation.

Pre-Tow ChecklistWhen preparing to tow, and beforedriving away, be sure to check thefollowing:

The vehicle has been properlyserviced, and the tires, brakes,suspension, and cooling systemare in good operating condition.

All weights and loads are withinlimits (see pages 218 and 219).

The hitch, safety chain, and anyother attachments are secure.

All items on and in the trailer areproperly secured and cannot shiftwhile you drive.

The lights and brakes on yourvehicle and the trailer are workingproperly.

Your vehicle tires and spare areproperly inflated (see page 323),and the trailer tires and spare areinflated as recommended by thetrailer maker.

You may want to fill the fuel tankwith premium fuel. Premium fuelprovides improved performance.

Driving

Towing a Trailer

Driving Safely With a TrailerThe added weight, length, andheight of a trailer will affect yourvehicle's handling and performance,so driving with a trailer requiressome special driving skills andtechniques.

For your safety and the safety ofothers, take time to practice drivingmaneuvers before heading for theopen road, and follow the guidelinesdiscussed below.

Towing Speeds and GearsDriving slower than normal in alldriving situations, and obey postedspeed limits for vehicles with trailers.Use the D4 position when towing atrailer on level roads. D3 is theproper shift lever position to usewhen towing a trailer in hilly terrain.(See "Driving on Hills" in the nextcolumn for additional gearinformation.)

Making Turns and BrakingMake turns more slowly and widerthan normal. The trailer tracks asmaller arc than your vehicle, and itcan hit or run over something thevehicle misses. Allow more time anddistance for braking. Do not brake orturn suddenly as this could cause thetrailer to jackknife or turn over.

Driving on HillsWhen climbing hills, closely watchyour temperature gauge. If it nearsthe red mark, turn the airconditioning off, reduce speed and, ifnecessary, pull to the side of theroad to let the engine cool.

If the automatic transmission shiftsfrequently between 3rd and 4thgears while going up a hill, shift toD3.

If you must stop when facing uphill,use the foot brake or parking brake.Do not try to hold the vehicle inplace by pressing on the accelerator,as this can cause the automatictransmission to overheat.

When driving down hills, reduceyour speed and shift down to 2ndgear. Do not "ride" the brakes, andremember it will take longer to slowdown and stop when towing a trailer.

Driving

CONTINUED

Towing a Trailer

Handling Crosswinds and BuffetingCrosswinds and air turbulencecaused by passing trucks can disruptyour steering and cause trailerswaying. When being passed by alarge vehicle, keep a constant speedand steer straight ahead. Do not tryto make quick steering or brakingcorrections.

Backing UpAlways drive slowly and havesomeone guide you when backing up.Grip the bottom of the steeringwheel; then turn the wheel to the leftto get the trailer to move to the left,and turn the wheel right to move thetrailer to the right.

ParkingFollow all normal precautions whenparking, including putting thetransmission in Park and firmlysetting the parking brake. Also, placewheel chocks at each of the trailer'stires.

Driving

Maintenance

This section explains why it isimportant to keep your vehicle 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 337 for information on how toobtain a copy, or see your Hondadealer.

Maintenance Safety....................... 226Important Safety Precautions.. 227

Maintenance Schedule.................. 228Required Maintenance Record.... 235Owner Maintenance Checks........ 237Fluid Locations............................... 238Engine Oil....................................... 239

Adding Oil................................... 239Recommended Oil..................... 239Synthetic Oil............................... 240Additives..................................... 241Changing the Oil and Filter...... 241

Cooling System.............................. 243Adding Engine Coolant............. 243Replacing Engine Coolant........ 245

Windshield Washers..................... 248Automatic Transmission Fluid..... 249Brake Fluid..................................... 250

Brake System............................. 250Power Steering............................... 251Air Cleaner Element...................... 252Hood Latch..................................... 254Spark Plugs..................................... 254

Replacement............................... 254Specifications............................. 256

Battery............................................ 257

Wiper Blades.................................. 259Air Conditioning System............... 261Air Conditioning Filter.................. 262Drive Belts...................................... 262Timing Belt..................................... 263Tires................................................ 263

Inflation....................................... 263Inspection................................... 265Maintenance............................... 266Tire Rotation.............................. 266Replacing Tires and Wheels.... 267Wheels and Tires....................... 268Winter Driving........................... 268

Snow Tires.............................. 269Tire Chains............................. 269

Lights.............................................. 270Headlight Aiming...................... 272Replacing Bulbs......................... 272

Storing Your Vehicle..................... 281

Maintenance

Maintenance Safety

Regularly maintaining your vehicle isthe best way to protect yourinvestment. Proper maintenance isessential to your safety and thesafety of your passengers. It will alsoreward you with more economical,trouble-free driving and help reduceair 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 thisvehicle or failing to correct aproblem before driving cancause a crash in which you canbe seriously 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 vehicle 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 yourvehicle serviced and what thingsneed attention. It is essential thatyou have your vehicle serviced asscheduled to retain its high level ofsafety, dependability, and emissionscontrol performance.

The services and time or distanceintervals shown in the maintenanceschedule assume you will use yourvehicle as normal transportation forpassengers and their possessions.You should also follow theserecommendations:

Avoid exceeding your vehicle'sload limit. This puts excess stresson the engine, brakes, and manyother parts of your vehicle. Theload limit is shown on the tireinformation label on the driver'sdoorjamb.

Operate your vehicle onreasonable roads within the legalspeed limit.

Drive your vehicle regularly over adistance of several miles(kilometers).

Always use unleaded gasoline withthe proper octane rating (see page188).

Which Schedule to Follow:Service your vehicle 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 vehicle best and canprovide competent, 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.

#: See information on maintenance and emissions warranty, last column, page 229.

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.

NOTE:Check engine oil and coolant at each fuel stop.Check and adjust valve clearance, cold engine, if noisy.

Maintenance

#: See information on maintenance and emissions warranty, lastcolumn, page 229.

page 266

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.Trailer towing, driving with aroof top carrier, or driving inmountainous conditions.Driving on muddy, dusty, orde-iced roads.

* 1 : Refer to page 263 for replacement

information under special driving

conditions.

* 2 : Refer to page 262 for replacement

information under special driving

conditions.

# : See page 229.

Canadian OwnersFollow the MaintenanceSchedule for Severe Conditions.

Maintenance

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, D as required for each distance/time.Severe Conditions:

Driving less than 5 miles (8 km) per trip or, in freezing temperatures, driving less than 10 miles (16 km) per trip.Driving in extremely hot (over 90°F/32°C) conditions.Extensive idling or long periods of stop-and-go driving.Trailer towing, driving with a rooftop carrier, or driving in mountainous conditions.Driving on muddy, dusty, or de-iced roads.

MaintenanceCONTINUED

page 266

# : See information on maintenance and emissions warranty, lastcolumn, page 229.

* 1: See Timing Belt on page 263 to determine need for replacement.* 2: See Air Conditioning Filter on page 262 for replacement

information under special conditions.

NOTE:Check engine oil and coolant at each fuel stop.Check and adjust valve clearance, cold engine, if noisy.

Maintenance

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 230) or severeconditions (page 232). Keep the receipts for all work done on your vehicle.

Maintenance

CONTINUED

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 fil l the fuel tank. Seepage 192.

Engine coolant level — Check theradiator reserve tank every timeyou fi l l the fuel tank. See page 193.

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 248.

Automatic transmission — Checkthe fluid level monthly. See page249.

Brakes — Check the fluid levelmonthly. See page 250.

Tires — Check the tire pressuremonthly. Examine the tread forwear and foreign objects. See page263.

Lights — Check the operation ofthe headlights, parking lights,taillights, high-mount brake light,turn signals, brake lights, andlicense plate light monthly. Seepage 270.

Maintenance

Fluid Locations

Maintenance

ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK(Orange loop)

WASHER FLUID(Blue cap)

COOLANTRESERVOIR

POWER STEERINGFLUID (Red cap)

RADIATOR CAP ENGINE OIL FILL CAP

AUTOMATICTRANSMISSIONFLUID DIPSTICK(Yellow loop)

BRAKE FLUID(Gray cap)

Engine Oil

Adding Oil

To add oil, unscrew and remove theengine oil fill cap on top of the valvecover. Pour in the oil, and replace theengine oil f i l l cap. Tighten it securely.Wait a few minutes and recheck theoil level. Do not fill above the uppermark; you could damage 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

Maintenance

CONTINUED

ENGINE OIL FILL CAP

Engine Oil

The oil container may also displaythe API Certification seal. Make sureit says "For Gasoline Engines."

API CERTIFICATION SEAL

The SAE numbers tell you the oil'sviscosity or weight. Select the oil foryour vehicle 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.

Maintenance

Ambient Temperature

Engine Oil

AdditivesYour Honda does not need any oiladditives. Purchasing additives forthe engine or transmission will notincrease your vehicle's performanceor longevity. It only increases thecost of operating your vehicle.

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 vehicle. The vehicleshould be raised on a service station-type hydraulic lift for this service.Unless you have the knowledge andproper equipment, you should havethis maintenance done by a skilledmechanic.

1. Run the engine until it reachesnormal operating temperature,then shut it off.

2. Open the hood and remove theengine oil fi l l cap. Remove the oildrain bolt and washer from thebottom of the engine. Drain the oilinto an appropriate container.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

WASHER DRAIN BOLT

Engine Oil

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.

5. Put a new washer on the drain bolt,then reinstall the drain bolt.Tighten it to:29 Ibf.ft (39 N.m ,4.0 kgf.m)

6. Refill the engine with the recom-mended oil.Engine oil change capacity(including filter):4.6 US qt (4.4 ,3.9 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

OIL FILTER 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

RESERVE TANK

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.

Cooling System

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.

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 vehicle'scooling system. They may not becompatible with the coolant orengine components.

Maintenance

RADIATOR CAP RESERVE TANK

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 vehicle.Unless you have the tools andknowledge, you should have thismaintenance done by a skilledmechanic. 1. Turn the ignition ON (II). Turn

the heater temperature controldial fully clockwise. Turn theignition off.Open the hood. Make sure theengine and radiator are cool to thetouch.

2. Remove the radiator cap.

3. Loosen the drain plug on thebottom of the radiator. Thecoolant will drain through thesplash guard. Loosen the drainbolt.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

DRAIN PLUG

DRAIN BOLT

Cooling System

4. Install a rubber hose on the drainbolt in the back of the engineblock. Loosen the drain bolt.

5. Remove the reserve tank from itsholder by pulling it straight up.Drain the coolant, then put thetank back in its holder.

6. When the coolant stops draining,tighten the drain plug at thebottom of the radiator.

7. Tighten the drain bolt at the rearof the engine cylinder blocksecurely.Tightening torque:7 lbf.ft (10 N.m,1.0 kgf.m)

8. Mix the recommended antifreezewith an equal amount of purifiedor distilled water in a cleancontainer. The cooling systemcapacity is:1.74 US gal (6.6 l,1.45 Imp gal)

Maintenance

RESERVE TANK RESERVETANK CAP

HOLDER

Cooling System

10. Fill the reserve tank to the MAXmark. Install the reserve tank cap.

11. Install the radiator cap, andtighten it to the first stop.

12. Start the engine and let it run untilthe radiator cooling fan comes onat least twice. Then stop theengine.

13. Remove the radiator cap. Fill theradiator with coolant up to thebase of the filler neck.

14. Install the radiator cap, andtighten it fully.

Maintenance

9. Pour coolant into the radiator upto the base of the filler neck.

FILLER NECK

Fill up to here

Windshield Washers

Check 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. This reservoir supplies thewindshield and rear window washers.

The windshield washer reservoir islocated behind the passenger's sideheadlight.Check the reservoir's fluid level byremoving the cap and looking at thelevel gauge attached to the cap.

On Canadian modelsThe low washer level indicator willlight when the level is low (see page61).

Fill the reservoir with a good-qualitywindshield washer fluid. Thisincreases the cleaning capability andprevents freezing in cold weather.

When you refill the reservoir, cleanthe edges of the windshield wiperblades with windshield washer fluidon a clean cloth. This will help tocondition the blade edges.

Do not use engine antifreeze or avinegar/water solution in thewindshield washer reservoir.

Antifreeze can damage your vehicle'spaint, while a vinegar/water solutioncan damage the windshield washerpump.

Use only commercially-availablewindshield washer fluid.

Maintenance

LEVEL GAUGE

NOTICE

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Check the fluid level with the engineat normal operating temperature.

1. Park the vehicle on level ground.Shut off the engine.

2. Remove the dipstick (yellow loop)from the transmission and wipe itwith a clean cloth.

3. Insert the dipstick all the way intothe transmission.

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 to bring it to theupper mark. Remove the fill plugto add fluid. Always use HondaPremium Formula Automatic

Transmission Fluid (ATF). If it isnot available, you may use aDEXRON® III automatictransmission fluid as a temporaryreplacement. However, continueduse can affect shift quality. Havethe transmission drained andrefilled with Honda ATF as soonas it is convenient.

6. Insert the dipstick all the way backin the transmission.

The transmission should be drainedand refilled with new fluid accordingto the time and distance recommen-dations in the maintenance schedule.

If you are not sure how to add fluid,contact your Honda dealer.

Maintenance

DIPSTICK

UPPER MARKLOWER MARK

Brake Fluid

Check the fluid level in the brakefluid reservoir monthly.

The brake fluid should be replacedaccording to the time and distancerecommendations in the mainte-nance schedule.

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 vehicle'sbraking system and can causeextensive damage.

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.

Maintenance

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.

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

UPPER LEVEL

LOWER LEVEL

NOTICE

Air Cleaner Element

The air cleaner element should becleaned or replaced according to thetime and distance recommendationsin the maintenance schedule.

Cleaning (Severe Conditions)Clean the air cleaner element byblowing compressed air through it inthe opposite direction to normal airflow. If you do not have access tocompressed air (such as a servicestation), ask your Honda dealer to dothis service.

Follow the replacement procedurefor removal and reinstallation.

Replacement

The air cleaner element is inside theair cleaner housing on the driver'sside of the engine compartment.To replace it:

1. Remove the two pins holding theair intake cover by pulling thehead on each pin. Remove the airintake cover.

2. Loosen the four bolts by using aPhillips-head screwdriver.

Maintenance

AIRINTAKECOVER

BOLTS

Air Cleaner Element

3. Disconnect the clip from the bolton the air cleaner housing, thenremove the air cleaner housingcover.

4. Remove the old air cleanerelement.

5. Carefully clean the inside of theair cleaner housing with a damprag.

The coolant lines inside the aircleaner housing may be warm.

Do not open the hot air valve whencleaning the inside of the air cleanerhousing.

6. Place the new air cleaner elementin the air cleaner housing.

7. Reinstall the air cleaner housingcover. Reinstall the clip on thebolt; make sure the clip is underthe washer. Tighten the four bolts.

8. Reinstall the air intake cover.Reinstall the two pins and securethem by pushing on the headsuntil they lock.

Maintenance

CLIPHOT AIRVALVE AIR CLEANER ELEMENT

Hood Latch, Spark Plugs

Hood Latch

Clean the hood latch assembly with amild cleaner, then lubricate it with amultipurpose grease. Lubricate allthe moving parts (pointed by arrows),including the pivot. Follow the timeand distance recommendations inthe Maintenance Schedule. If youare not sure how to clean and greasethe latch, contact your Honda dealer.

Spark PlugsThe spark plugs in your vehicle are aspecial platinum-tipped design forlonger life. The spark plugs shouldbe replaced according to the timeand distance recommendations inthe maintenance schedule.

Replacement

1. Loosen the two holding clips byturning the heads one-quarter turncounterclockwise with a flat-tippedscrewdriver. Remove the cover onthe front cylinder bank by pullingit straight up.

2. Clean up any dirt and oil that havecollected around the ignition coils.

Maintenance

LATCH ASSEMBLY

HOLDING CLIP

Spark Plugs

3. Disconnect the wire connectorfrom the ignition coil by pushingon the lock tab and pulling on theconnector. Pull on the plasticconnector, not the wires.

4. Use a wrench to remove thehexagon socket head cap boltholding the ignition coil. Removethe ignition coil by pulling itstraight out.

5. Remove the spark plug witha five-eighths inch (16 mm) sparkplug socket.

6. 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

HEXAGON SOCKET HEAD CAP BOLT

Spark Plugs

7. 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.

8. Install the ignition coil. Reinstallthe hexagon socket head cap bolt.

9. Push the wire connector onto theignition coil. Make sure it locks inplace.

10. Repeat this procedure for theother five spark plugs.

11. Reinstall the cover on the frontcylinder bank while putting itsmounting clip in the hole on thepassenger's side. Secure the coverby turning the heads of the twoholding clips one-quarter turnclockwise with a flat-tippedscrewdriver.

Specifications:

NGK:DENSO:

PZFR5F-11PKJ16CR-L11

Spark Plug Gap:0.04 in (1.1 mm)

Maintenance

NOTICE

Battery

Check the condition of your vehicle'sbattery monthly. You should checkthe color of the test indicator window,and for corrosion on the terminals.

TEST INDICATOR WINDOW

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.

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.

Maintenance

CONTINUED

Battery

If you need to connect the battery toa charger, disconnect both cables toprevent damage to the vehicle'selectrical system.

On EX modelIf your vehicle's battery isdisconnected or goes dead, the audiosystem will disable itself. The nexttime you turn on the radio you willsee in the frequencydisplay. Use the Preset buttons toenter the five-digit code (see page186).

Charging the battery with the cablesconnected can seriously damage yourvehicle's electronic controls. Detachthe battery cables before connectingthe battery to a charger.

On EX modelIf your vehicle's battery isdisconnected or goes dead while thesliding doors are open, the powersliding door system needs to beresynchronized (see page 93).

Maintenance

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.

NOTICE

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 a wiper blade:

1. Raise the wiper arm off thewindshield.Front windshield: Raise the driver'sside first, then the passenger'sside.

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

WIPER ARMS

LOCK TAB

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.Front windshield: Lower thepassenger's side first, then thedriver's side.

Maintenance

BLADE

REINFORCEMENT

BLADE

Air Conditioning System

Your vehicle's air conditioning is asealed system. Any major mainte-nance, such as recharging, should bedone by a qualified mechanic. Youcan do a couple of things to makesure the air conditioning worksefficiently.

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 page322.)

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

NOTICE

AIR CONDITIONINGCONDENSER

NOTICE

Air Conditioning Filter, Drive Belts

Air Conditioning FilterThe air conditioning filter removespollen and dust that is brought infrom the outside through the heatingand cooling system/climate controlsystem.

This filter should be replaced every30,000 miles (48,000 km) undernormal conditions. It should bereplaced every 15,000 miles (24,000km) if you drive primarily in urbanareas that have high concentrationsof soot in the air from industry anddiesel-powered vehicles. Replace itmore often if air flow from theheating and cooling system/climatecontrol system becomes less thanusual. Have the air conditioning filterreplaced by your Honda dealer.

Drive Belts

Check the condition of the two drivebelts (power steering belt andalternator belt). Examine the edgesof each belt for cracks or fraying.

Check the tension of the powersteering belt by pushing on it withyour thumb midway between thepulleys.

The belt should have the following"play" or deflection.

Power steering belt:0.51 — 0.65 in (13.0 —16.5 mm)

If you see signs of wear or looseness,have your dealer adjust or replacethe belts.

Maintenance

ALTERNATOR BELT

POWER STEERING BELT

Timing Belt, Tires

Timing BeltThe timing belt should normally bereplaced at the intervals shown inthe maintenance schedule.

Replace the belt at 60,000 miles (U.S.)or 100,000 km (Canada) if you regu-larly drive your vehicle in one ormore of these conditions:

In very high temperatures(over 110°F,43°C).In very low temperatures(under — 20°F, — 29°C).

TiresTo safely operate your vehicle, yourtires must be the proper type andsize, in good condition with adequatetread, and correctly inflated. Thefollowing pages give more detailedinformation on how and when tocheck air pressure, how to inspectyour tires for damage and wear, andwhat to do when your tires need tobe 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 yourvehicle ride more harshly, are moreprone to damage from road hazards,and wear unevenly.

We recommend that you visuallycheck your tires every day. If youthink a tire might be low, check itimmediately with a tire gauge.

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

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 vehiclehas been parked for at least threehours. If you have to drive thevehicle before checking the tirepressure, the tires can still beconsidered "cold" if you drive lessthan 1 mile (1.6 km).

If you check the pressure when thetires are hot (the vehicle has beendriven several miles), you will seereadings 4 to 6 psi (30 to 40 kPa, 0.3to 0.4 kgf/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. Tire pressures for highspeed driving are the same as fornormal driving.

The compact spare tire pressure is:60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm2)

Maintenance

Tires

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.

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 vehicle's tires have wear indica-tors molded 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

INDICATOR LOCATION MARKS

TREAD WEAR INDICATORS

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 vehicle'soriginal tires were dynamic or "spin"balanced at the factory. For bestresults, have the installer perform adynamic balance.

On some modelsImproper wheel weights can damageyour vehicle's aluminum wheels. Useonly Genuine Honda wheel weights forbalancing.

Tire Rotation

(For Non-directional (For DirectionalTires and Wheels) Tires and Wheels)

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

FrontFront

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 yourvehicle were selected to match theperformance capabilities of thevehicle while providing the bestcombination of handling, ridecomfort, and long life. You shouldreplace them with radial tires of thesame size, load range, speed rating,and maximum cold tire pressurerating (as shown on the tire'ssidewall). Mixing radial and bias-plytires on your vehicle can reduce itsbraking ability, traction, and steeringaccuracy.

It is best to replace all four tires atthe 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 vehicle's han-dling.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

Installing improper tires on yourvehicle 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 vehicle. Tire sizeand construction can affect wheelspeed and may cause the system towork inconsistently.

If you ever need to replace a wheel,make sure the wheel's specificationsmatch those of the original wheelthat came on your vehicle. Re-placement wheels are available atyour Honda dealer.

Wheels and TiresWheel:

16 x 6 1/2 JJ

Tire:P215/65R16 96T

See page 324 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 vehicle's handling in all weatherconditions. Keep in mind the tractionprovided by snow tires on dry roadsmay not be as high as your vehicle'soriginal equipment tires. You shoulddrive cautiously even when the roadsare clear. Check with the tire dealerfor maximum speed recommenda-tions.

Tire ChainsBecause your Honda has limited tireclearance, mount only SAE Class "S"cable-type traction devices on thefront tires. Use traction devices onlywhen required by driving conditionsor local laws. Make sure they are thecorrect size for your tires.

Metal link-type "chains" should notbe used. No matter how tight theyseem to be installed, they can comeinto contact with the body andsuspension, causing serious damage.

When installing cables, follow themanufacturer's instructions andmount them as tightly as you can.Drive slowly with them installed. Ifyou hear them coming in contactwith the body or chassis, stop andinvestigate. Make sure the cables areinstalled tightly, and that they arenot contacting the brake lines orsuspension.Remove them as soon as you begin

driving on cleared roads.

Traction devices that are the wrongsize or improperly installed candamage your vehicle's brake lines,suspension, body, and wheels. Stopdriving if they are hitting any part ofthe vehicle.

Maintenance

NOTICE

Lights

Check the operation of your vehicle'sexterior lights at least once a month.A burned out bulb can create anunsafe condition by reducing yourvehicle's visibility and the ability tosignal your intentions to otherdrivers.

HEADLIGHT TURN SIGNAL/SIDE MARKER/PARKING LIGHTS

Maintenance

Lights

STOP/TAILLIGHTS/SIDE MARKER LIGHTS

TAILLIGHT HIGH-MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT

TURN SIGNAL LIGHT BACK-UP LIGHT

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 323 todetermine what type of replacementbulb is needed.

Maintenance

LICENSE PLATE LIGHT

Lights

Headlight AimingThe headlights were properly aimedwhen your vehicle was new. If youregularly carry heavy items in thecargo area or pull a trailer,readjustment may be required.Adjustment of the headlights shouldbe performed by a Honda technicianor other qualified mechanic.

Replacing a Headlight BulbYour vehicle 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 air intake cover (seepage 252).

2. Remove the electrical connectorfrom the bulb by pulling theconnector straight back.

3. Remove the rubber weather sealby pulling on the tab.

4. Unclip the end of the hold-downwire from its slot. Pivot it out ofthe way and remove the bulb.

Maintenance

NOTICEBULB CONNECTOR

WEATHERSEAL

HOLD-DOWN WIRE

Lights

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 new bulb.Turn on the headlights to test thenew bulb.

8. (Driver's side)Reinstall the air intake cover.

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 two holding clips fromthe inner fender.

3. Pull the inner fender away fromthe fender and bumper.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

HOLDING CLIP

Lights

4. Remove the socket from theheadlight assembly by turning itone-quarter turn counterclockwise.

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 in place.Install the two holding clips. Lockeach clip in place by pushing onthe center.

Replacing Rear Bulbs(in Fenders)

1. Open the tailgate. Release thecovers by inserting a flat-tipscrewdriver into the slot until thecover bows slightly. Then pivotthe screwdriver 90° and pull itstraight out of the slot.

2. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver toremove the taillight assemblymounting screw under each cover.

3. Pull the taillight assembly out ofthe body by sliding it backward.

4. Determine which of the two bulbsis burned out: stop/taillight/sidemarker light or turn signal light.

Maintenance

Lights

5. Remove the socket by turning itone-quarter turn counterclockwise.

6. Pull the bulb straight out of itssocket.Push the new bulb straight intothe socket until it bottoms.

7. Reinstall the socket into the lightassembly by turning it clockwiseuntil it locks.


9. When reinstalling the taillightassembly, align and pop the snapfasteners in place. Tighten the twomounting screws and reinstall thecovers in place.

Replacing Rear Bulbs(in Tailgate)

1. Open the tailgate. Place a cloth onthe edge of the taillight cover.Remove it by carefully prying inthe notch on its edge with a smallflat-tipped screwdriver.

2. Determine which of the two bulbsis burned out: taillight or back-uplight.

3. Remove the socket by turning itone-quarter turn counterclockwise.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

TAILLIGHT COVER

Lights


5. Insert the socket back into thelight assembly. Turn it clockwiseto lock it in place.


7. Reinstall the taillight cover.

Replacing a High-mount BrakeLight Bulb

1. Place a cloth on the middle edgeof a part of the lens on thepassenger's side. Remove a part ofthe lens by carefully prying on itsedge with a small flat-tippedscrewdriver.

2. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver toremove the screw under the lens.

3. Pull the light assembly out of thetailgate.

4. Remove the socket from the lightassembly by turning it one-quarterturn counterclockwise.


Maintenance

SCREW

Lights

6. Put the socket back into the lightassembly and turn it clockwise tolock it in place.

7. Test the light to make sure thenew bulb is working.

8. Put the light assembly back intothe tailgate. Install the screw andtighten it securely. Reinstall thelens piece.

Replacing a Rear License Bulb

1. Remove the license light assemblyby carefully prying on the leftedge of the lens with a flat-tipscrewdriver and pulling theassembly out.

2. Remove the lens from the bulbholder by pulling the lens whilesqueezing the tabs on both sidesof the holder.

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. Put the lens back on the bulbholder and push it until it latches.

6. Slide the left side of the lightassembly into the hole. Push onthe right side to latch theassembly into place.

Replacing Bulbs in the InteriorLightsThe individual map lights, cargo arealight, and the vanity mirror lightscome apart the same way. They donot all use the same bulb.

FRONT INDIVIDUAL MAP LIGHT

1. Remove the lens by carefullyprying on the edge of the lens witha fingernail file or a small flat-tipscrewdriver. Do not pry on theedge of the housing around thelens.

Maintenance

Lights

Front individual map light:Pry on the front edge in front of bothmap lights.

Rear individual map light:Pry on the middle edge of the lensnear the vent.

Cargo area light:Pry on the rear edge to the left andright of center.

REAR INDIVIDUAL MAP LIGHT

2. Remove the bulb by pulling itstraight out of its metal tabs.

CARGO AREA LIGHT

3. Push the new bulb into the metaltabs. Snap the lens back in place.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

Lights

Maintenance

SUN VISOR

Storing Your Vehicle

If you need to park your vehicle foran extended 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 vehicle back on the road. Ifpossible, store your vehicle indoors.

Fill the fuel tank.

Change the engine oil and filter(see page 241).

Wash and dry the exteriorcompletely.

Clean the interior. Make sure thecarpeting, floor mats, etc. arecompletely dry.

Leave the parking brake off. Putthe transmission in Park.

Block the rear wheels.

If the vehicle is to be stored for alonger period, it should besupported on jackstands so thetires are off the ground.

Leave one window open slightly (ifthe vehicle is being storedindoors).

Disconnect the battery.

Support the front and rear wiperblade arms with a folded towel orrag so they do not touch thewindshield.

To minimize sticking, apply asilicone spray lubricant to all doorand tailgate seals. Also, apply avehicle body wax to the paintedsurfaces that mate with the doorand tailgate seals.

Cover the vehicle with a"breathable" cover, one madefrom a porous material such ascotton. Nonporous materials, suchas plastic sheeting, trap moisture,which can damage the paint.

If possible, run the engine for awhile periodically (preferably oncea month).

If you store your vehicle for 12months or longer, have your Hondadealer perform the inspections calledfor in the 24 months/30,000 miles(48,000 km) maintenance schedule(Normal Conditions) as soon as youtake it out of storage (see page 230).The replacements called for in themaintenance schedule are notneeded unless the vehicle hasactually reached that time or mileage.

Maintenance

282

Appearance Care

Regular cleaning and polishing ofyour Honda helps to keep it "new"looking. This section gives you hintson how to clean your vehicle andpreserve its appearance: the paint,brightwork, wheels and interior. Alsoincluded are several things you cando to help prevent corrosion.

Exterior Care.................................. 284Washing...................................... 284Waxing........................................ 285Aluminum Wheels..................... 285Paint Touch-up........................... 285

Interior Care................................... 286Carpeting.................................... 286Fabric.......................................... 286Vinyl............................................ 286Seat Belts.................................... 286Windows..................................... 287Air Fresheners........................... 287

Corrosion Protection..................... 288Body Repairs.................................. 289

Appearance Care

Exterior Care

WashingFrequent washing helps preserveyour vehicle's beauty. Dirt and gritcan scratch the paint, while tree sapand bird droppings can permanentlyruin the finish.

Wash your vehicle in a shady area,not in direct sunlight. If the vehicle isparked in the sun, move it into theshade and let the exterior cool downbefore you start.

Only use the solvents and cleanersrecommended in this Owner'sManual.

Chemical solvents and strong cleanerscan damage the paint, metal, andplastic on your vehicle.

Rinse the vehicle thoroughly withcool water 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 vehicle using the waterand detergent 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 vehicle 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 vehicle, inspect it forchips and scratches that could allowcorrosion to start. Repair them withtouch-up paint (see page 285).

The radio antenna on your vehicle doesnot need to be removed when you use a"drive-through' car wash. However, ifyou remove the antenna, make sure toreinstall it and tighten it securely usingan appropriate tool.

Appearance Care

NOTICE

NOTICE

Exterior Care

WaxingAlways wash and dry the wholevehicle before waxing it. You shouldwax your vehicle, including the metaltrim, whenever water sits on thesurface in large patches. It shouldform into beads or droplets afterwaxing.

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.

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 remove

the 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 vehicle doesnot need waxing.

Aluminum WheelsOn some modelsClean 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 vehicle'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 vehicle frequently forchips or scratches in the paint.Repair them right away to preventcorrosion of the metal underneath.Use the touch-up paint only on smallchips and scratches. More extensivepaint damage should be repaired bya professional.

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 Belts

If 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 vehicle.

Appearance Care

LOOP

Interior Care

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.

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 yourvehicle, it is best to use a solid type.Some liquid air fresheners containchemicals that may cause parts ofthe interior trim and fabric to crackor discolor.

If you use a liquid air freshener,make sure you fasten it securely so itdoes not spill as you drive.

Appearance Care

NOTICE

Corrosion Protection

Two factors normally contribute tocausing corrosion in your vehicle:

1. Moisture trapped in body cavities.Dirt and road salt that collects inhollows on the underside of thevehicle stays damp, promotingcorrosion in that area.

2. Removal of paint and protectivecoatings from the exterior andunderside of the vehicle.

Many corrosion-preventive measuresare built into your Honda. You canhelp keep your vehicle fromcorroding by performing somesimple periodic maintenance:

Repair chips and scratches in thepaint as soon as you discover them.

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 vehicle. Thisis especially important in areasthat use road salt in winter. It isalso a good idea in humid climatesand areas subject to salt air. Becareful of the ABS wheel sensorsand wiring at each wheel.

Have the corrosion-preventivecoatings on the underside of yourvehicle inspected and repairedperiodically.

Appearance Care

Body Repairs

Body repairs can affect your vehicle'sresistance to corrosion. If yourvehicle needs repairs after a collision,pay close attention to the parts usedin the 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 vehicle 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

290

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 vehicle towed.

Compact Spare Tire....................... 292Changing a Flat Tire..................... 293If Your Engine Won't Start........... 302

Nothing Happens or theStarter Motor Operates

Very Slowly......................... 302The Starter Operates

Normally................................. 303Jump Starting................................. 303If Your Engine Overheats............. 305Low Oil Pressure Indicator.......... 307Charging System Indicator........... 308Malfunction Indicator Lamp ........ 309Brake System Indicator................ 310Fuses............................................... 311

Checking and Replacing........... 312Emergency Towing....................... 317


Compact Spare Tire

Your vehicle has a compact sparetire that takes up less space. Use thisspare tire as a temporary replace-ment only. Get your regular tirerepaired or replaced and put back onyour vehicle 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.

Do not use the compact spare tireif you are towing a trailer.

The wheel of the compact sparetire is designed especially to fityour vehicle. Do not use yourspare tire on another vehicleunless it is the same make andmodel.

On EX modelTurn off the Traction ControlSystem (see page 213 ). Drivingwith the compact spare tire mayactivate the TCS.

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 vehicle on firm, level andnon-slippery ground away fromtraffic. Put the transmission inPark. Apply the parking brake.

2. Turn on the hazard warning lightsand turn the ignition switch toLOCK (0). Have all thepassengers get out of the vehiclewhile you change the tire.

CONTINUED


The vehicle can easily roll offthe jack, seriously injuringanyone underneath.

Follow the directions forchanging a tire exactly, andnever get under the vehiclewhen it is supported only by thejack.

TOOLS

JACK VINYL BAG

SPARE TIRE


3. Open the tailgate.Remove the cargo net.

4. The tools and jack are behind acover in the cargo area on thedriver's side. Remove the cover byturning the handlecounterclockwise, then pulling outthe cover.

5. Take the tools out of the storagecompartment.

6. Turn the jack's end bracketcounterclockwise to loosen it, thenremove the jack.

7. The spare tire is stored under thefloor between the first and secondrow of seats. If the front seats areadjusted to the rear-most position,move the seats forward slightlyand adjust the seat-backs to anupright position (see page 100).

Lift up the center table (see page117).


COVER


8. Open either of the rear slidingdoors. Pull the floor carpet up bylifting up on the edge, then raisethe floor lid by pulling up on thehandle. To keep the floor carpetand lid out of the way, pull out thehook on the back of the floor lidand attach it into the seat-backhandle on the driver's seat.

9. On EX modelRemove the spare tire basket.

10. Unscrew the wing bolt and takethe spare tire out of its well. Afteryou have removed the spare tire,screw this wing bolt back intoplace.

11. On EX modelIf you are changing a rear tire,close the sliding door. Then turnoff the sliding door MAIN switch.

12. Loosen the five wheel nuts 1/2turn with the wheel wrench.

CONTINUED


HOOK

WHEEL NUTS

HANDLE

SPARE TIREBASKET

SPARE TIRE WING BOLT


13. Locate the jacking point nearestthe tire you need to change. It ispointed to by a mark moldedinto the underside of the body.Place the jack under the jackingpoint. Turn the end bracketclockwise until the top of the jackcontacts the jacking point. Makesure the jacking point tab isresting in the jack notch.

14. Use the extension and wheelwrench as shown to raise thevehicle until the flat tire is off theground.

15. 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.


JACKING POINT

EXTENSION

WHEELWRENCH


On LX modelDo not attempt to forcibly pry thewheel cover off with a screwdriver orother tool. The wheel cover cannotbe removed without first removingthe wheel nuts.

16. 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.

17. 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.

CONTINUED


BRAKE HUB

WHEELCOVER


18. Lower the vehicle to the groundand remove the jack.

19. 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)

20. Put the flat tire in the suppliedvinyl bag. This bag is stored in therear compartment on the driver'sside panel in the third row. Knotthe top of the vinyl bag.



21. Storing the flat tire behind the thirdseatWhen the third seat is not folded,the flat tire is secured behind thethird seat.

On EX modelTurn on the sliding door MAINswitch so you can open the door.

Remove the bracket and the wingbolt from the spare tire lid byunscrewing the bracket mountingbolt.

22. You will find a u-shaped slit on thecarpet behind the seat bottom ofthe third seat. Pull up the carpet atthe slit and remove the plasticscrew with a coin.

CONTINUED


WING BOLT

BRACKET

BRACKET MOUNTING BOLT

BRACKETMOUNTINGBOLT

PLASTICSCREWBRACKET


Adjust the seat-back of the thirdseat to the upright position (seepage 101). Install the bracket andthe bracket mounting bolt to theattachment point as shown, andtighten the bolt. Make sure thebracket is securely locked.

23. Storing the Flat Tire on the FloorWhen the third seat is folded, theflat tire is secured to the floor ontop of the folded seat. Pull up thecarpet on the attachment point andremove the plastic screw asdescribed in the previousprocedure.

Remove the wing bolt from thebracket that is attached to thespare tire lid.


BRACKET

TIRE MOUNTING WING BOLT

Install the flat tire on the bracketwith the inside of the wheel facingtoward you. Put the tire mountingwing bolt in the attachment pointthrough one of the five wheel nutholes and the bracket as shown.Poke holes in the vinyl bag. Securethe flat tire by tightening the wingbolt.


TIRE MOUNTING WING BOLT

ATTACHMENT POINT

Place the flat tire face down on theattachment point. Put the tiremounting wing bolt in theattachment point through one ofthe five wheel nut holes as shown.Poke holes in the vinyl bag. Securethe flat tire by tightening the wingbolt.

24. Store the jack in its holder. Turnthe jack's end bracket clockwise tolock it in place. Store the tools.Replace the cover.

25. Close the tailgate.

26. Store the plastic screw in the sparetire well.

On LX modelStore the wheel cover in the sparetire well. Make sure it will not getscratched or damaged.

On EX modelStore the spare tire basket in thespare tire well.

27. Unclip the hook from the seatback handle on the driver's seatand lower the floor lid and thecarpet.

Make sure to adjust the frontseats properly before you startdriving (see page 100).


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:

Your vehicle has the ImmobilizerSystem. You should use aproperly-coded master or valet keyto start the engine (see page 77).A key that is not properly codedwill cause the immobilizer systemindicator in the dash panel to blinkrapidly.

Check the transmission interlock.The transmission must be in Parkor Neutral or the starter will notoperate.

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 303 .

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 317.)

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 257). You canthen try jump starting the vehiclefrom a booster battery (see page303).


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 203 .

Do you have fuel? Turn theignition switch to ON (II) for aminute and watch the fuel gauge.The low fuel level warning lightmay not be 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 311).

If you find nothing wrong, you willneed a qualified technician to findthe problem. See EmergencyTowing on page 317.

Jump StartingIf your vehicle's battery has rundown, you may be able to start theengine by using a booster battery.Although this seems like a simpleprocedure, you should take severalprecautions.

You cannot start a Honda by pushingor pulling it.

To jump start your vehicle, followthese directions closely:

1. Open the hood and check thephysical condition of the battery(see page 257). 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, climatecontrol, stereo system, lights, etc.Put the transmission in Neutral orPark and set the parking brake.

CONTINUED


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.

NOTICE

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 vehicle. If the startermotor still operates slowly, checkthe jumper cable connections tomake sure they have good metal-to-metal contact.

7. Once your vehicle is running,disconnect the negative cable fromyour vehicle, then from thebooster battery. Disconnect thepositive cable from your vehicle,then the booster battery.


BOOSTERBATTERY

If Your Engine Overheats

The pointer of your vehicle'stemperature gauge should stay inthe midrange under most conditions.It may go higher if you are driving upa long steep hill on a very hot day. Ifit climbs to the red mark, you shoulddetermine the reason.

Driving with the temperature gaugepointer at the red mark can causeserious damage to your engine.

Your vehicle 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 cooling/climate control system and allother accessories. Turn on thehazard warning indicators.

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 317).

7. If you don't find an obvious leak,check the coolant level in theradiator reserve tank (see page193). If the level is below the

MIN 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 (climate control toFULL AUTO at 90°F/32°C). Addcoolant to the radiator up to thebase of the filler neck. If you donot have the proper coolantmixture available, you can addplain water. Remember to havethe cooling system drained andrefilled with the proper mixture assoon as you can.

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 317.)

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 vehicle stopped.

1. Safely pull off the road and shutoff the engine. Turn on the hazardwarning indicators.

2. Let the vehicle sit for a minute.Open the hood and check the oillevel (see page 192). Although oillevel and oil pressure are notdirectly connected, an engine thatis very low on oil can lose pressureduring cornering and other drivingmaneuvers.

3. If necessary, add oil to bring thelevel back to the full mark on thedipstick (see page 239).

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 317.)


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,climate control, rear defogger, cruisecontrol, etc. Try not to use otherelectrically-operated controls such asthe power windows. Keep the enginerunning and take extra care not tostall it. Starting the engine willdischarge the battery rapidly.

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

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 yourvehicle's performance, it can reduceyour fuel economy and cause yourvehicle to put out excessiveemissions. Continued operation maycause serious damage.

If you have recently refueled yourvehicle, 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 vehiclechecked 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 vehicle 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 vehicle's emissionscontrols and engine. Those repairs maynot be covered by your vehicle'swarranties.

This indicator may also come onalong with the "D4" indicator.


NOTICE

Brake System Indicator

The Brake System Indicator comeson when you turn the ignition ON(II). If the parking brake is not set, itgoes off after you start the engine. Ifthe parking brake is set, it goes offwhen you fully release the parkingbrake with the engine running.

If it comes on at any other time, itindicates a problem with the vehicle'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 aservice station (see page 250). If thefluid level is low, take the vehicle toyour dealer and have the brakesystem inspected for leaks or wornbrake pads.

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 thevehicle begins to slow down, and youwill have to press harder on thepedal. The distance needed to stopwill be much 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 vehicle. Youshould have it towed, and repaired assoon as possible. (See EmergencyTowing on page 317.)

If you must drive the vehicle a shortdistance in this condition, driveslowly and cautiously.

If the ABS indicator and the TCSindicator (on EX model) come onwith this indicator, have the vehicleinspected by your dealerimmediately.


BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR*

*U.S. indicator shown

Fuses

All the electrical circuits in yourvehicle have fuses to protect themfrom a short circuit or overload.These fuses are located in three fuseboxes.

The interior fuse boxes are locatedunderneath the dashboard on eachside.

To open the fuse box on thepassenger's side, pull the right edgeof the cover.

CONTINUED


DRIVER'S SIDE INTERIOR PASSENGER'S SIDEINTERIOR

Fuses

The primary under-hood fuse box islocated in the back of the enginecompartment on the passenger's side.To open it, push the tabs as shown.

The secondary fuse box is in theengine compartment next to thebattery.

Checking and Replacing FusesIf something electrical in yourvehicle stops working, the first thingyou should check for is a blown fuse.Determine from the chart on pages315 and 316, or the diagram on thefuse box lid (the diagram for thedriver's side interior fuse box is onthe kick panel below the fuse box),which fuse or fuses control thatcomponent. Check those fuses first,but check all the fuses beforedeciding that a blown fuse is not thecause. Replace any blown fuses andcheck the component's operation.

1. Turn the ignition switch to LOCK(0). Make sure the headlights andall other accessories are off.

2. Remove the cover from the fusebox.


UNDER-HOOD UNDER-HOOD

Fuses

3. Check each of the large fuses inthe primary under-hood fuse boxby looking through the top at thewire inside. Removing these fusesrequires a Phillips-head screw-driver.

4. Check the smaller fuses in theunder-hood fuse box and all thefuses in the interior fuse boxes bypulling out each fuse with the fusepuller provided in the primaryunder-hood fuse box.

5. Look for a burned wire inside thefuse. If it is burned, replace it withone of the spare fuses of the samerating or lower.

CONTINUED


BLOWN FUSE PULLER

BLOWN

Fuses

If you cannot drive the vehiclewithout fixing the problem, and youdo not have a spare fuse, take a fuseof the same rating or a lower ratingfrom one of the other circuits. Makesure you can do without that circuittemporarily (such as the accessorypower socket 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 vehicle.Leave the blown fuse in thatcircuit and have your vehiclechecked by a qualified mechanic.

On EX modelIf the radio fuse is removed, theaudio system will disable itself. Thenext time you turn on the radio youwill see in the frequencydisplay. Use the Preset buttons toenter the five-digit code (see page186).


NOTICE

Fuses

PRIMARY UNDER-HOOD FUSE BOX

SECONDARY UNDER-HOOD FUSE BOX

* : EX model

* : EX model

CONTINUED


Fuses

INTERIOR FUSE BOXDriver's Side

* : On Canadian models

Passenger's Side

*1 : EX

*2 : Canadian models


FrontFront

Emergency Towing

If your vehicle needs to be towed,call a professional towing service or,if you belong to one, an organizationthat provides roadside assistance.Never tow your vehicle behindanother vehicle with just a rope orchain. It is very dangerous.

There are three popular types ofprofessional towing equipment:

Flat-bed Equipment — The operatorloads your vehicle on the back of atruck. This is the best way to trans-port your 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 vehicleoff the ground. Your vehicle's sus-pension and body can be seriouslydamaged. This method of towingis unacceptable.

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 vehicle must be towedwith the front wheels on the ground,do the following.

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, your vehicle must be trans-ported with the front wheels off theground.

With the front wheels on the ground,it is best to tow the vehicle no fartherthan 50 miles (80 km), and keep thespeed below 35 mph (55 km/h).

CONTINUED


NOTICE

Emergency Towing

If you decide to tow your vehiclewith all four wheels on the ground,make sure you use a properly-designed and attached tow bar.Prepare the vehicle for towing asdescribed above, and leave theignition switch in Accessory (I) sothe 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 vehicle by thebumpers will cause serious damage.The bumpers are not designed tosupport the vehicle'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................. 320Specifications................................. 322DOT Tire Quality Grading........... 324

Treadwear.................................. 324Traction....................................... 324Temperature.............................. 325

Oxygenated Fuels.......................... 326Driving in Foreign Countries....... 327Emissions Controls........................ 328

The Clean Air Act...................... 328Crankcase Emissions Control

System..................................... 328Evaporative Emissions Control

System..................................... 328Exhaust Emissions Controls.... 329

PGM-FI System..................... 329Ignition Timing Control

System................................. 329Exhaust Gas Recirculation

(EGR) System.................... 329Three Way Catalytic

Converter............................ 329Replacement Parts..................... 329

Three Way Catalytic Converter... 330


Identification Numbers

Your vehicle has several identifyingnumbers located in various places.

The Vehicle Identification Number(VIN) is the 17-digit number yourHonda dealer uses to register yourvehicle for warranty purposes. It isalso necessary for licensing andinsuring your vehicle. The easiestplace to find the VIN is on a platefastened to the top of the dashboard.You can see it by looking throughthe windshield on the driver's side. Itis also on the Certification label at-tached to the driver's doorjamb, andis stamped on the engine com-partment bulkhead. The VIN is alsoprovided in bar code on theCertification label.

VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

CERTIFICATION LABEL


Identification Numbers

The Engine Number is stamped intothe engine block. It is on the front.

The Transmission Number is on alabel on top of the transmission.

ENGINE NUMBER

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NUMBER


Specifications

* 1 : Including the coolant in the reserve tank and that remaining in theengine.Reserve tank capacity:0.16 US gal (0.6 ,0.13 Imp gal)

* 2 : Excluding the oil remaining in the engine.


* 1 : LX* 2 : EX

Specifications


page 316

page 316

page 315

page 256.

DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)

The tires on your vehicle meet allU.S. Federal Safety Requirements.Al l 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.

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.


DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)

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)You vehicle was not designed to usefuel 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 vehicle backinto compliance will require the re-placement of several components,such as the oxygen sensors and thethree way catalytic converter. Thesereplacements are not covered underwarranty.

Emissions Controls

The burning of gasoline in yourvehicle's engine produces several by-products. Some of these are carbonmonoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen(NOx) and hydrocarbons (HC).Gasoline evaporating from the tankalso produces hydrocarbons. Con-trolling the production of NOx, CO,and HC is important to the environ-ment. Under certain conditions ofsunlight and climate, NOx and HCreact to form photochemical "smog."Carbon monoxide does not contri-bute to smog creation, but it is apoisonous gas.

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 maintainthem. This section summarizes howthe emissions controls work.Scheduled maintenance is on page230.

* In Canada, Honda vehicles complywith the Canadian Motor VehicleSafety Standards (CMVSS) forEmissions valid at the time they aremanufactured.

Crankcase Emissions ControlSystemYour vehicle has a PositiveCrankcase Ventilation System. Thiskeeps gasses that build up in theengine's crankcase from going intothe atmosphere. The Positive Crank-case Ventilation valve routes themfrom the crankcase back to theintake manifold. They are thendrawn into the 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.


Emissions Controls

Exhaust Emissions ControlsThe exhaust emissions controlsinclude four systems: PGM-FI,Ignition Timing Control, ExhaustGas Recirculation and Three WayCatalytic Converter. These foursystems work together to control theengine's combustion and minimizethe amount of HC, CO, and NOx thatcomes out the tailpipe. The exhaustemissions control systems areseparate 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 Powertrain Control Module(PCM) uses various sensors todetermine how much air is goinginto the engine. It then controls howmuch fuel to inject under all operat-ing conditions.

Ignition Timing Control SystemThis system constantly adjusts theignition timing, reducing the amountof HC, CO and NOx produced.

Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR)SystemThe 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 vehicle.

The emissions control systems arecovered by warranties separate fromthe rest of your vehicle. 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 vehicle away from highgrass, dry leaves, or other flamma-bles.

A defective three way catalyticconverter contributes to air pollution,and can impair your engine's per-formance. Follow these guidelines toprotect your vehicle's three waycatalytic converter.

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 vehicle diagnosed andrepaired if it is misfiring, back-firing, stalling, or otherwise notrunning properly.


THREE WAY CATALYTIC CONVERTER

Warranty and Customer Relations

Customer RelationsInformation................................. 332

U.S. Zone Office Map.................... 333Canada Zone Office Map.............. 334Warranty Coverages..................... 335Reporting Safety Defects

(U.S. Vehicles)........................... 336Authorized Manuals...................... 337


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 320)Name and address of the dealerwho services your vehicleDate of purchaseMileage on your vehicleYour name, address, and tele-phone numberA detailed description of theproblemName of the dealer who sold thevehicle to you


U.S. Zone Office Map

Western Zone

P.O. Box 2260

700 Van Ness Avenue

Torrance, California

90509-2260

(310) 781-4565

Northwestern Zone

P.O. Box 20186

12439 N.E. Airport Way

Portland, Oregon 97230

(503) 256-0943

(also includes Alaska and

Hawaii)

Mid-Atlantic Zone

902 Wind River Ln., Suite 200

Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878

(301) 990-2020

Southeastern Zone

1500 Morrison Parkway

Alpharetta, Georgia 30004

(770) 442-2045

North Central Zone

601 Campus Drive, Suite A-9

Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004

(847) 870-5600

The addresses and telephone numbers are subject to change. If you cannotreach your Zone office, ask your Honda dealer for the current information.

Northeastern Zone

P.O. Box 337

Eastgate Industrial Park

115 Gaither Drive

Moorestown, New Jersey 08057

(609) 235-5533

Includes: NYC Metro area and

Fairfield County, CT area

New England Zone

555 Old County Road

Windsor Locks, Connecticut 06096

(860) 623-3310

See Zone 5 for:

NYC Metro area and

Fairfield County, CT area

West Central Zone

1600 South Abilene Street, Suite D

Aurora, Colorado 80012

(303) 696-3935

Puerto Rico and U.S. V.I.

Bella International

P.O. Box 190816

San Juan, PR 00919-0816

(787) 250-4318


South Central Zone

4529 Royal Lane

Irving, Texas 75063

(972) 929-5481

Central Zone

101 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 thevehicle.

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 can

pay by check or money order, or charge to your credit card. Mail to

Helm Incorporated at the address shown on the back of the order form.

61S0X01

61S0X01 EL

61S0X30

31SOX610

31SOX710

Authorized Manuals

These Publications cannot be returned for credit without receiving advance authorization within 14days of delivery. On returns, a restocking fee may be applied against the original order.

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.... 195Accessories................................. 195Additional Safety Precaution.... 196Modifications............................. 196

ACCESSORY (Ignition KeyPosition)........................................ 79

Accessory Power Sockets............. 124Adding

Automatic TransmissionFluid........................................ 249

Brake Fluid................................. 250Engine Coolant........................... 243Engine Oil.................................. 239Power Steering Fluid................. 251Windshield Washer Fluid......... 248

Additional Information AboutYour Seat Belts........................ 45

Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 45Seat Belt Maintenance................ 47Seat Belt System Components... 45

Additional Information AboutYour SRS ................................ 48

Additional Safety Precautions.... 52

How the Automatic Seat BeltTensioners Work..................... 50

How the SRS IndicatorWorks........................................ 50

How Your Airbags Work............ 48SRS Components......................... 48

Additives, Engine Oil..................... 241Adjustments

Head Restraints......................... 104Mirrors........................................ 115Seats............................................ 100Steering Wheel............................ 72

Airbag (SRS)............................... 9, 49Air Cleaner Element...................... 252Air Conditioning Filter.................. 262Air Conditioning System....... 130, 138

Maintenance............................... 261Rear A/C Control...................... 152Usage................................. 130, 138

Air Outlets (Vents)............... 132, 138Air Pressure, Tires........................ 263Alcohol in Gasoline........................ 326Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning........ 285Antifreeze....................................... 243Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)

Indicator Light..................... 59, 212

Operation.................................... 211Anti-theft, Audio System............... 186Anti-theft Steering Column Lock.. 78Appearance Care........................... 283Armrests......................................... 103Audio Controls, Remote................ 185Audio System........................ 155, 167Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners.... 50Automatic Lighting Off Feature.... 67Automatic Speed Control................ 73Automatic Transmission............... 204

Capacity, Fluid........................... 322Checking Fluid Level................ 249Shifting........................................ 205Shift Lever Position Indicator.. 204Shift Lever Positions................. 205Shift Lock Release..................... 208

CONTINUED

Index

BatteryCharging System

Indicator............................ 58, 308Jump Starting............................. 303Maintenance............................... 257Specifications............................. 323

Before Driving............................... 187Belts, Seat..................................... 8, 45Beverage Holder............................ 118Body Repair.................................... 289Brakes

Anti-lock System (ABS)............ 211Break-in, New Linings .............. 188Fluid............................................ 250Light, Burned-out...................... 274Parking........................................ 116System Indicator.................. 58, 310Wear Indicators......................... 210

Brakes, ABSOperation.................................... 211System Indicator.................. 59, 212

Braking System.............................. 210Break-in, New Vehicle .................. 188Brightness Control, Instruments... 67

Brights, Headlights......................... 66Bulb Replacement

Back-up Lights........................... 275Brake Lights............................... 274Cargo Area Light....................... 278Front Parking Lights................. 273Front Side Marker Lights......... 273Headlights.................................. 272High-mount Brake Light.......... 276Individual Map Lights............... 278License Plate Light.................... 277Rear Bulbs.......................... 274, 275Specifications............................. 323Turn Signal Lights..................... 273

Bulbs, Halogen............................... 272

Cables, Jump Starting With.......... 304Cancel Button................................... 75Capacities Chart............................. 322Carbon Monoxide Hazard.............. 53Cargo Area Light........................... 127Cargo Net ...................................... 200Carrying Cargo.............................. 197

Cassette PlayerCare............................................. 184Operation........................... 160, 181

CAUTION, Explanation of............... iiCD Changer.......................... 163, 177CD Player.............................. 163, 175Center Pocket ............................... 122Center Table................................... 117Certification Label......................... 320Chains............................................. 269Change Oil

How to ...................................... 241When to .................................... 230

Changing a Flat Tire ..................... 293Changing Engine Coolant............. 245Charging System Indicator.... 58, 308Checking

Automatic TransmissionFluid........................................ 249

Battery Condition...................... 257Brake Fluid................................. 250Drive Belts.................................. 262Engine Coolant........................... 193Engine Oil................................... 192Fuses.......................................... 312Power Steering Fluid................. 251

Index

Checklist, Before Driving............. 202Childproof Door Locks................... 85Child Safety...................................... 22Cleaner Element, Air..................... 252Cleaning

Aluminum Wheels.................... 285Carpeting.................................... 286Exterior....................................... 284Fabric.......................................... 286Interior........................................ 286Seat Belts.................................... 286Vinyl............................................ 286Windows..................................... 287

Climate Control System................ 138Clock, Setting the.......................... 117Coat Hook....................................... 123Code, Audio System ..................... 186CO in the Exhaust ........................ 328Coin Holder.................................... 122Cold Weather, Starting in............. 203Compact Spare............................... 292Consumer Information*................ 332Controls, Instruments and.............. 55Coolant

Adding ........................................ 243Checking .................................... 193

Proper Solution.......................... 243Replacing.................................... 245Temperature Gauge.................... 63

Corrosion Protection..................... 288Crankcase Emissions Control

System......................................... 328Cruise Control Operation .............. 73Customer Relations Office........... 332

DANGER, Explanation of................. iiDashboard.................................... 2, 56Daytime Running Lights................. 67Dead Battery, What to Do............ 303Defects, Reporting Safety............. 336Defogger, Rear Window................. 71Defrosting the Windows...... 135, 145DEXRON® III Automatic

Transmission Fluid.................... 249Dimensions..................................... 322Dimming the Headlights................ 66Dipstick

Automatic Transmission........... 249Engine Oil................................... 192

Directional Signals........................... 68

Disabled, Towing YourVehicle If..................................... 317

Disc Brake Wear Indicators ........ 210Disposal of Used Oil ................... 242Doors

Locking and Unlocking ............. 79Lockout Prevention ................... 80Manual Sliding Doors.................. 88Monitor Light .............................. 60Power Door Locks....................... 79Power Sliding Doors .................. 90

DOT Tire Quality Grading........... 324Drive Belts..................................... 262Driver and Passenger Safety .......... 5Driving............................................ 201

Economy.................................... 194In Bad Weather ....................... 216In Foreign Countries ............... 327

Economy, Fuel............................... 194Emergencies on the Road............. 291

Battery, Jump Starting.............. 303

CONTINUED

Index

Emergencies on the RoadBrake System Indicator............ 310Changing a Flat Tire................. 293Charging System Indicator...... 308Checking the Fuses................... 311Low Oil Pressure Indicator...... 307Malfunction Indicator Lamp.... 309Overheated Engine................... 305

Emergency Brake.......................... 116Emergency Flashers....................... 70Emergency Towing....................... 317Emissions Controls........................ 328Engine

Coolant Temperature Gauge ..... 63Drive Belts.................................. 262Malfunction Indicator

Lamp................................. 58, 309Oil Pressure Indicator......... 58, 307Oil, What Kind to Use............... 239Overheating................................ 305Specifications............................. 323

Ethanol in Gasoline....................... 326Evaporative Emissions Controls.. 328Exhaust Fumes................................ 53Exhaust Gas Recirculation

System.........................................329

Expectant Mothers, Use of SeatBelts by......................................... 20

Exterior, Cleaning the .................. 284

Fabric, Cleaning............................. 286Fan, Interior.......................... 130, 142Features, Comfort and

Convenience............................... 129Filling the Fuel Tank..................... 189Filters

Air................................................ 252Air Conditioning........................ 262Oil................................................ 241

First Gear Position......................... 207Flashers, Hazard Warning.............. 70Flat Tire, Changing a.................... 293Fluids

Automatic Transmission.......... 249Brake........................................... 250Power Steering........................... 251Windshield Washer................... 248

FM Stereo RadioReception........................... 156, 168

Folding the Third Seat ................. 109

Foreign Countries, Driving in...... 327Four-way Flashers........................... 70Front End, Towing by Emergency

Wrecker...................................... 316Fuel.................................................. 188

Fill Door and Cap....................... 189Gauge............................................ 63Octane Requirement................. 188Oxygenated................................ 326Reserve Indicator......................... 61Tank, Filling the......................... 189

Fuses, Checking the...................... 312

Gas Mileage, Improving................ 194Gasohol .......................................... 324Gasoline ......................................... 186

Fuel Reserve Indicator................ 61Gauge............................................ 63Octane Requirement................. 186Tank, Filling the......................... 189

Gas Station Procedures................. 189Gauges

Engine Coolant Temperature .... 63Fuel ............................................... 63

Index

GAWR (Gross Axle WeightRating)........................................ 219

GCWR (Gross Combined WeightRating)........................................ 219

Gearshift Lever Positions............. 205Glass Cleaning............................... 287Glove Box......................................... 87GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight

Rating)........................................ 219

Halogen Headlight Bulbs.............. 272Hazard Warning Flashers............... 70Headlights......................................... 66

Aiming......................................... 272Automatic Lighting Off............... 67Daytime Running Lights............. 67High Beam Indicator .................. 61High Beams, Turning on ........... 66Low Beams, Turning on ............ 66Reminder Chime.......................... 66Replacing Halogen Bulbs ......... 272Turning on.................................... 66

Head Restraints ............................ 104Heated Mirror ............................... 116

Heating and Cooling ..................... 130High Altitude, Starting at.............. 203High-Low Beam Switch .................. 66HomeLink Universal

Transmitter.................................. 95Hood Latch..................................... 254Hood, Opening the ........................ 190Horn................................................... 65Hot Coolant, Warning about........ 243Hydroplaning.................................. 217

Identification Number, Vehicle.... 320If Your Vehicle Has to be

Towed ........................................ 317Ignition

Keys............................................... 76Switch............................................ 78Timing Control System............. 329

Immobilizer System......................... 77Important Safety Precautions.......... 6Indicator Lights, Instrument

Panel.............................................. 57Individual Map Lights.................. 127Infant Restraint................................ 30

Inflation, Proper Tire .................... 263Inside Mirror.................................. 115Inspection, Tire.............................. 265Instrument Panel......................... 2, 56Instrument Panel Brightness......... 67Interior Cleaning............................ 286Interior Lights................................ 125Introduction ....................................... i

Jacking up the Vehicle.................. 296Jack, Tire........................................ 294Jump Starting................................. 303

Keys................................................... 76

Label, Certification........................ 320Lane Change, Signaling.................. 68Lap/Shoulder Belts................... 15, 45

CONTINUED

Index

Leaking of Exhaust into Vehicle ... 53Light Control Switch..................... 125Lights

Bulb Replacement..................... 272Indicator........................................ 57Interior........................................ 125Parking.......................................... 66Turn Signal................................... 68

Load Limits............................. 198, 218LOCK (Ignition Key Position)....... 78Locks

Anti-theft Steering Column........ 78Fuel Fill Door............................. 189Glove Box..................................... 87Lockout Prevention..................... 80Power Door.................................. 79Sliding Doors................................ 88Tailgate......................................... 85

Low Coolant Level......................... 193Low Fuel Indicator.......................... 61Low Oil Pressure Indicator.... 58, 307Lubricant Specifications Chart.... 322Luggage.......................................... 197

Maintenance................................... 225Owner Maintenance Checks.... 237Record.................................. 235-236Required Indicator....................... 64Safety........................................... 226Schedule.............................. 230-234

Malfunction Indicator Lamp.. 58, 309Manual Sliding Doors...................... 88Maximum Allowable Speeds........ 207Meters, Gauges................................ 62Methanol in Gasoline.................... 326Mirrors, Adjusting......................... 115Moving the Second Row Bucket

Seat.............................................. 106

Neutral Gear Position.................... 206New Vehicle Break-in ................... 188NOTICE, Explanation of.................... iNumbers, Identification................ 320

Octane Requirement, Gasoline.... 188Odometer.......................................... 62Odometer, Trip................................ 63Oil

Change, How to......................... 241Change, When to....................... 230Checking Engine....................... 192Pressure Indicator............... 58, 307Selecting Proper Viscosity

Chart....................................... 240ON (Ignition Key Position)............ 79Opening the Hood......................... 190Operation in Foreign Countries... 327Outside Mirrors............................. 115Overheating, Engine..................... 305Owner Maintenance Checks........ 237Oxygenated Fuels.......................... 327

Paint Touch-up............................... 285Panel Brightness Control............... 67Park Gear Position......................... 205Parking............................................ 209

Index

Parking Brake................................ 116Parking Lights.................................. 66Parking Over Things that Burn... 209PGM-FI System.............................. 330Polishing and Waxing................... 285Power

Door Locks................................... 79Mirrors........................................ 115Seats ........................................... 102Sliding Doors................................ 90Steering....................................... 251Windows..................................... 112

Power Sliding DoorsIndicator.................................. 60, 94Operation...................................... 90Switches........................................ 90

Pre-Drive Safety Checklist............. 11Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts.......... 20Protecting Adults............................. 12

Additional Safety Precautions.... 20Advice for Pregnant Women...... 20

Protecting Children......................... 22Protecting Infants........................ 30Protecting Larger Children........ 39Protecting Small Children.......... 35

Using Child Seats withTethers...................................... 43

Radiator Overheating.................... 305Radio/CD Sound System.............. 167Rear A/C Unit................................ 152Rear Compartment........................ 122Rear End Towing........................... 317Rear Lights, Bulb

Replacement....................... 274, 275Rear View Mirror........................... 115Rear Window Defogger.................. 71Rear Windows................................ 114Rear Window Wiper and Washer.. 70Reclining the Seat Backs...... 101, 103Reclining the Second Seats.......... 101Reclining the Third Seat .............. 101Reminder Lights.............................. 57Remote Audio Controls................. 185Remote Transmitter........................ 81Removing the Second

Seats............................................ 108Replacement Information

Air Cleaner Element.................. 252

Coolant........................................ 245Engine Oil and Filter................. 241Fuses........................................... 310Light Bulbs................................. 272Schedule..................................... 228Spark Plugs................................. 254Timing Belt................................. 263Tires............................................ 267Wiper Blades.............................. 259

Replacing Seat Belts After aCrash............................................. 47

Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant.... 193Reverse Gear Position................... 206Rotation, Tire................................. 266

Safety Belts................................... 8, 45Safety Defects, Reporting*.......... 338Safety Features.................................. 7

Air bags........................................... 9Door Locks................................... 10Head Restraints........................... 10Seat Belts........................................ 8Seats & Seat-Backs...................... 10

CONTINUED

Index

Safety Labels, Location of.............. 54Safety Messages................................ iiSeat Belt, Additional Information.. 45

Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 45Seat Belt Maintenance................ 47Seat Belt System Components... 45

Seat Belts...................................... 8, 45Cleaning...................................... 286Maintenance................................. 47Reminder Light and

Beeper................................. 45, 57System Components.................... 45Tether Attachment Points.......... 43Use During Pregnancy................ 20Wearing a Lap/Shoulder Belt.... 15

Seats................................................. 99Adjustments............................... 100Folding the Third Seat .............. 109Head Restraints ........................ 104Passenger Seating....................... 99Reclining the Second Seat ....... 101Reclining the Third Seat ........... 101Removing the Second

Seats........................................ 108Third Seat Access ...................... 105

Serial Number................................ 320

Service Intervals............................ 230Service Manual*............................ 337Service Station Procedures .......... 189Setting the Clock .......................... 117Shifting the Automatic

Transmission.............................. 205Shift Lever Position Indicator...... 204Shift Lock Release......................... 207Side Marker Lights, Bulb

Replacement in.......................... 273Signaling Turns................................ 68Sliding Doors.................................... 88Snow Tires...................................... 269Solvent-type Cleaners.................... 284Sound System........................ 155, 167Spare Tire

Inflating....................................... 292Specifications............................. 323

Spark Plugs..................................... 254Specifications Charts..................... 322Speed Control................................... 73Speedometer.................................... 62SRS, Additional Information........... 48

Additional Safety Precautions.... 52How the Automatic Seat Belt

Tensioners Work..................... 50

How the SRS IndicatorWorks........................................ 50

How Your Airbags Work............ 48SRS Components ........................ 48SRS Service ................................. 51

SRS Indicator ............................. 50, 58START (Ignition Key Position)..... 79Starting the Engine........................ 203

In Cold Weather at HighAltitude................................... 203

With a Dead Battery................. 303Steam Coming from Engine......... 305Steering Wheel

Adjustment................................... 72Anti-theft Column Lock.............. 78

Stereo Sound System........... 155, 167Storing Your Vehicle.................... 281Storage Box.................................... 123Sunglasses Holder......................... 120Sun Visor......................................... 121Supplemental Restraint System

Servicing....................................... 51SRS Indicator......................... 50, 58System Components.................... 48

Synthetic Oil................................... 240

Index

Tachometer...................................... 62Tailgate............................................. 85

Opening the.................................. 85Open Monitor Light.................... 60

Taillights, Changing Bulbs in....... 275Taking Care of the Unexpected .. 291Tape Player ........................... 160, 181Technical Descriptions

DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 324Driving in Foreign Countries... 327Emissions Control Systems...... 328Oxygenated Fuels...................... 326Three Way Catalytic

Converter................................ 330Temperature Gauge........................ 63Tensioners, Seat Belts.................... 50Tether Attachment Points.............. 43Theft Protection............................. 186Three Way Catalytic Converter... 330Time, Setting the........................... 117Timing Belt..................................... 263Tire Chains..................................... 269Tire, How to Change a Flat.......... 293

Tires................................................ 263Air Pressure............................... 263Balancing.................................... 266Checking Wear.......................... 265Compact Spare........................... 292DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 324Inflation....................................... 263Inspection................................... 265Replacing.................................... 267Rotating....................................... 266Snow............................................ 269Specifications............................. 323Tire Chains................................. 269

TowingA Trailer ................................. 218Emergency Wrecker................. 317

Traction Control System (TCS)... 213Transmission

Checking Fluid Level................ 249Fluid Selection............................ 249Identification Number............... 321Shifting the Automatic.............. 205

Treadwear...................................... 324Trip Meter......................................... 63Turn Signals..................................... 68Tools, Tire Changing ................... 293

Underside, Cleaning...................... 288Unexpected, Taking Care

of the .......................................... 291Uniform Tire Quality Grading .... 324Unleaded Gasoline......................... 188Upholstery Cleaning...................... 286Used Oil, How to Dispose of........ 242

Vanity Mirror................................. 121Vehicle Capacity Load.......... 198, 218Vehicle Dimensions....................... 322Vehicle Identification Number..... 320Vehicle Storage.............................. 281Ventilation............................. 133, 138VIN ................................................. 320Vinyl Cleaning ............................... 286Viscosity, Oil................................... 240

CONTINUED

Index

Warning BeepersHeadlights on............................... 66Key in Ignition.............................. 79Seat Belts................................ 45, 57

WARNING, Explanation of.............. iiWarning Labels, Location of.......... 54Warranty Coverages*................... 335Washer, Windshield

Checking the Fluid Level......... 248Level Indicator............................. 61Operation...................................... 70

Washing.......................................... 284Waxing and Polishing................... 285Wheels

Adjusting the Steering................ 72Alignment and Balance............. 266Compact Spare........................... 292Wrench....................................... 295

WindowsCleaning...................................... 287Operating the Power................. 112Rear............................................. 114Rear, Defogger............................ 71

WindshieldCleaning........................................ 68Defroster............................ 135, 145

Wipers, WindshieldChanging Blades........................ 259Operation...................................... 68Rear Windshield Wiper and

Washer...................................... 70Worn Tires..................................... 265Wrecker, Emergency Towing...... 317

* : U.S. and Canada only

Service Information Summary

Gasoline:Unleaded gasoline, pump octanenumber of 86 or higher.

Fuel Tank Capacity:20.00 US gal (75.7 l, 16.65 Imp gal)

Recommended Engine Oil:API Service SJ "EnergyConserving" oil, SAE 5W-30viscosity (see page 239).

Oil change capacity (includingfilter):

4.6 US qt (4.4 l, 3.9 Imp qt)

Automatic Transmission Fluid:Honda Premium FormulaAutomatic Transmission Fluidpreferred, or a DEXRON® III ATFas a temporary replacement (seepage 249).

Power Steering Fluid:Genuine Honda Power SteeringFluid preferred, or another brandof power steering fluid as atemporary replacement. Do notuse ATF (see page 251).

Brake Fluid:Genuine Honda DOT 3 Brake Fluidpreferred, or a DOT 3 or DOT 4brake fluid as a temporaryreplacement (see page 250).

Tire Pressure (measured cold):Front/Rear:

35 psi (240 kPa , 2.4 kgf/cm2)Compact Spare Tire:

60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm2)

Documents

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