2001 cr-v online reference owner's manual...

2001 CR-V Online Reference Owner's Manual Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through this reference.

For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.helminc.com.

Contents

Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... i A Few Words About Safety ................................................................................................................. ii

Important Handling Information .....................................................................................................iii

Your Vehicle at a Glance .....................................................................................................................2 Driver and Passenger Safety ..............................................................................................................5 Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restraint System. Instruments and Controls ................................................................................................................. 51Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls. Comfort and Convenience Features .............................................................................................. . 97How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features. Before Driving.................................................................................................................................. 151What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo. Driving .............................................................................................................................................. 163The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, plus towing a trailer. Maintenance ..................................................................................................................................... 197The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer. Appearance Care.............................................................................................................................. 255Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your vehicle ever needs body repairs. Taking Care of the Unexpected ...................................................................................................... 265This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, and how to handle them. Technical Information..................................................................................................................... 291ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information. Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada) ................................................................ 305A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact us. Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)...................................................................................................... 311How 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 Form

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 2001 Honda CR-V 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.

California Proposition 65 Warning

WARNING: This product contains or emits chemicals known to the State ofCalifornia to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

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 Safety.Instructions — how to use this vehicle correctly and safely.

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

Important Handling Information

Your CR-V has higher ground clearance than a passenger vehicle designed for use only on pavement. Higher groundclearance has many advantages for off-highway driving. It allows you to travel over bumps, obstacles, and roughterrain. It also provides good visibility so you can anticipate problems earlier.

These advantages come at some cost. Because your vehicle is taller and rides higher off the ground, it has a highcenter of gravity. This means your vehicle can tip or roll over if you make abrupt turns. Utility vehicles have asignificantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles. In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantlymore likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt. As a reminder, make sure you and your passengers always wearseat belts.

For information on how to reduce the risk of rollover, read "Driving Guidelines" on page 164 of this manual and theOff-Highway Guidelines section on page 191. Failure to operate this vehicle correctly may result in loss of control or anaccident.

Your Vehicle at a Glance

POWER WINDOWSWITCHES(P.84)

MIRROR CONTROLS(P.86)

AUDIO SYSTEM(P.106)

TAILGATE RELEASE(P.75)

HOOD RELEASEHANDLE(P. 154)

FUEL FILL DOOR RELEASE(P.153)

HEATING/COOLING CONTROL(P.98)

Your Vehicle at a Glance

HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS(P.60)

SHIFT LEVER(P.170)

HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS(P.63)

WINDSHIELDWIPERS/WASHERS(P.62)

HORN BUTTONS

TILT ADJUSTMENT(P.64)

POWER WINDOW SWITCHES(P.84)


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..... 187. Maintain a Proper Sitting

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

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

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

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

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

Children.................................... 24If a Child Requires Close

Attention...................................24

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

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

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

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

Additional Information About YourAirbags...................................... 45

SRS Components........................ 45How Your Airbags Work............ 45How the Automatic Seat Belt

Tensioners Work..................... 47How the SRS Indicator Light

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

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


Important Safety Precautions

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

Always Wear Your Seat BeltA seat belt is your best protection inall types of collisions. Airbagssupplement seat belts, but airbagsare designed to inflate only in amoderate to severe frontal collision.So even though your 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 the back seat,not the front seat. A child who is toosmall for a seat belt must be properlyrestrained in a child safety seat. (Seepage 21.)

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

7.)

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

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

Keep Your 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 200.)


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 to

wear 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. In arollover crash, an unbelted personis more likely to die than a personwearing a seat belt. Your airbag

can only be helpful in a moderateto 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 includesan indicator light on the

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

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

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

Airbags 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.


SRS


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 the back seat (see page 21).

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

Seat-backs are upright (see page13).

Head restraints are properlyadjusted (see page 14).

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

All cargo is properly stored orsecured (see page 160).

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

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


Protecting Adults

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

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

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

Your vehicle has a tailgateopen indicator light on the

instrument panel to indicate whenthe tailgate is not tightly closed.

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 70 for how to lock thedoors.

2.Adjust the Front Seats

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


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 77 for how to adjust thefront seats.

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

A front passenger should also adjustthe seat-back to an upright position,but as far from the dashboard aspossible. A passenger who sits tooclose to the dashboard could beinjured if the airbag inflates.

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

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 78 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.

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

See page 79 for how to adjust thehead restraints.


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

Make sure head restraints arein place and positioned properlybefore driving.

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

5.Fasten and Position the SeatBelts

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

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

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

CONTINUED


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

Make sure all seat belts areproperly positioned beforedriving.

Protecting Adults

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.

To adjust the height of a front seatbelt anchor, press the release buttonand slide 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.

Using the Lap Belt

Insert the latch plate into the bucklemarked CENTER.

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


Protecting Adults

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

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

If a Seat Belt Doesn't 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 42 for additionalinformation about your seat beltsystem and how to take care of yourbelts.


Protecting Adults

6. Adjust the Steering Wheel

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

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

See page 64 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.

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

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

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

Additional Safety 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.

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

CONTINUED


Protecting Adults

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

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

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

the airbags inflate.


Protecting Children

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

So if you have children, or if you everneed to drive with a grandchild orother children in your 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 page25.)

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


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

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

Protecting Children

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

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

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

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

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

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


Protecting Children

U.S. ModelsTo remind you of the passenger'sairbag hazards, and that childrenmust be properly restrained in 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 AIRBAG.DO NOT PLACE ANY OBJECTS OVER THEAIR BAG OR BETWEEN THE AIR BAGAND YOURSELF.SEE THE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR FURTHERINFORMATION AND EXPLANATIONS.

PRECAUTIONS: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 three seatingpositions in the back seat wherechildren can be properly restrained.

If you ever have to cany more thanthree children in your vehicle:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Additional Safety PrecautionsUse childproof door locks toprevent children from opening thedoors. Using this feature willprevent children from opening thedoors and accidentally falling out(see page 75).

Use the main power windowswitch to prevent children fromopening the rear windows. Usingthis feature will prevent childrenfrom playing with the windows,which could expose them tohazards or distract the driver (seepage 84).


Protecting Children

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.

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

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

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

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

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

CONTINUED


Protecting Children

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

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.


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 34).

Back SeatInfants: Recommended positions.

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

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


CONTINUED

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. All child seatsmust be secured to the vehiclewith the lap belt or the lap part ofa lap/shoulder belt. A child whoseseat is not properly secured to thevehicle can be endangered in acrash. See pages 30 and 32 forinstructions on how to secure childseats in this vehicle.

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 be 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 the back, 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 inthe back seat with the baby.

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

CONTINUED


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

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

Protecting Children

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

The following pages provideinstructions and tips on how tosecure a rear-facing child seat withthis type of seat belt.

See page 32 for how to secure a rear-facing child seat in the center backseat with the lap belt.

For tips on installing a rear-facingchild seat with either type of seatbelt, see page 32 .

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


Protecting Children

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

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

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

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

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


CONTINUED

Protecting Children

Installing a Rear-Facing Child Seatwith the Lap Belt

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

Rear-Facing Child Seat InstallationTips

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

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

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

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


Protecting Children

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

If you are wearing a seat belt, theinfant can be torn from your armsduring a crash. For example, ifyour vehicle crashes into a parkedvehicle at 30 mph (48 km/h), a 20-Ib (9 kg) infant will become a 600-Ib (275 kg) force, and you will notbe able to hold on.

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

Protecting Small Children

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

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

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

Child Seat PlacementIn this vehicle, the best place toinstall a forward-facing child seat isin one of the seating positions in theback 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 the back seatwith the child.


CONTINUED

Protecting Children

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

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

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

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

1. With the child seat in the 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 with the LapBelt

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

Additional Precautions for SmallChildren

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

If you are wearing a seat belt, thechild can be torn from your armsduring a crash. For example, ifyour 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 Children

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

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

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

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

CONTINUED


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

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

Protecting Children

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

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

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

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

Do not put any accessories on a seatbelt. Devices intended to improveoccupant comfort or reposition theshoulder part of a seat belt, severelycompromise the protective capabilityof 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.

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.


Protecting Children

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.

Physical SizePhysically, a child must be largeenough for the lap/shoulder belt toproperly fit over the hips, chest, andshoulder (see pages 15 and 37). 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.

CONTINUED


Protecting Children

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

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

Move the vehicle seat to the rear-most position.

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

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

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

Using Child Seats with Tethers

Your Honda has three attachmentpoints for securing a tether-stylechild seat to the vehicle.

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


Protecting Children


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

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

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

The seat belt system alsoincludes a light on the

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

Lap/Shoulder Belt

This seat belt has a single belt thatgoes over your shoulder, across yourchest and across your hips.To fasten the belt, insert the latchplate into the buckle, then tug on thebelt to make sure the buckle islatched.To unlock the belt, push the redPRESS button on the buckle.Guide the belt across your body tothe door pillar. After exiting thevehicle, be sure the belt is out of the

way and will not get closed in thedoor.

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

All the lap/shoulder belts except thedriver's have an additional lockingmechanism that must be activated tosecure a child seat. (See pages30 and 34 for instructions on how tosecure child seats with this type ofseat belt.)

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



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

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

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

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

To unlock the belt, push the redPRESS button.

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

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

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

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

CONTINUED



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 261.


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 Airbags

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 tensioners(see page 47).

Sensors that can detect amoderate to severe frontalcollision.

A sophisticated electronic systemthat continually monitorsinformation about the sensors, thecontrol unit, the airbag activators,and driver and passenger seat beltuse when the ignition is ON (II).

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

Emergency backup power in caseyour 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.

CONTINUED



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 car as soon as it is safe to do so.

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

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



How the 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.

When you turn the ignition ON (II),this indicator will light briefly thengo out. This tells you that the systemis working properly.

If the light comes on at any othertime, or does not come on at all, youshould have the system checked byyour dealer. For example:

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

If the light stays on after theengine starts.

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

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


SRS

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

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


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.

Additional Safety PrecautionsDo not attempt to deactivate yourairbags. Together, airbags, seatbelt tensioners and seat beltsprovide the best protection in amoderate to severe frontalcollision.

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

See page 159 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 as shown below.

If you must sit in your parked vehicle,even in an unconfined area, with theengine running, adjust the heatingand cooling system as follows:

1. Select the Fresh Air mode.2. Select the mode.3. Turn the fan on high speed.4. Set the temperature control to a

comfortable setting.


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

Avoid any enclosed areas oractivities that expose you tocarbon monoxide.

Safety Labels

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

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

HOODU.S. models


DASHBOARDU.S. models only

SUN VISORU.S. models

SUN VISORU.S. models

RADIATOR CAP

Canadian models

Canadian models

Instruments and Controls

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

Control Locations............................ 52Indicator Lights................................ 53Gauges.............................................. 56

Speedometer................................ 56Tachometer.................................. 56Odometer...................................... 56Trip Meter.................................... 56Fuel Gauge................................... 57Temperature Gauge.................... 57Maintenance Required

Indicator.................................... 58Controls Near the Steering

Wheel........................................59Headlights.................................... 60

Daytime Running Lights............. 60Instrument Panel Brightness..... 61Turn Signals................................. 61Windshield Wipers...................... 62Windshield Washers................... 62Rear Window Wiper and

Washer......................................63Hazard Warning........................... 63Rear Window Defogger.............. 63Steering Wheel Adjustment....... 64

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

Keys and Locks................................ 69Keys.............................................. 69Ignition Switch............................. 69Door Locks................................... 70Power Door Locks....................... 71Remote Transmitter.................... 72Childproof Door Locks............... 75Tailgate......................................... 75Glove Box..................................... 77

Seats.................................................. 77Front Seat Adjustments.............. 77Driver's Seat Height

Adjustment............................... 78Head Restraints........................... 79

Rear Seat-back Adjustment........ 80Rear Seat Armrest....................... 80Reclining the Front and

Rear Seat-backs....................... 81Folding Rear Seat........................ 82

Power Windows............................... 84Mirrors.............................................. 85

Adjusting the Power Mirrors..... 86Parking Brake.................................. 86Digital Clock..................................... 87Center Table.................................... 87Beverage Holder.............................. 88Built-in Table.................................... 89Center Pocket.................................. 91Storage Box...................................... 91Cargo Floor Pockets........................ 92Accessory Power Socket................ 92Tailgate Pocket................................ 93Cargo Hooks..................................... 93Ashtrays............................................ 94Interior Lights.................................. 94

Ceiling Light................................. 94Spotlights...................................... 95Cargo Area Light......................... 95Ignition Switch Light................... 95


Control Locations


AUDIO SYSTEM(P.106)


POWER WINDOWSWITCHES(P.84)

TAILGATERELEASE(P.75)

HOOD RELEASEHANDLE(P.154)

FUEL FILL DOOR RELEASE(P.153)

HEATING/COOLING CONTROL(P.98)

Indicator Lights


HIGH BEAM INDICATOR

CHARGING SYSTEM INDICATOR

LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR

SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINTSYSTEM INDICATOR

CRUISE CONTROLINDICATOR

MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP PARKING BRAKE AND BRAKE SYSTEMINDICATOR*

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEMINDICATOR*

LOW FUEL INDICATOR

SEAT BELT REMINDER LIGHT

TAILGATE-OPEN INDICATOR

Indicator Lights

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

The U.S. instrument panel isshown. Differences for the Canadianmodels are noted in the text.

Low Oil PressureIndicator

The engine can be severely damagedif this light flashes or stays on whenthe engine is running. For completeinformation, see page 281.

Charging SystemIndicator

If this light comes on when theengine is running, the battery is notbeing charged. For completeinformation, see page 282 .

Malfunction IndicatorLamp

See page 283.

Parking Brake andBrake SystemIndicator

This light has two functions:

1. This indicator comes on when youturn the ignition switch ON (II). Itis a reminder to check the parkingbrake. Driving with the parkingbrake not fully released candamage the brakes and tires.

2. If the indicator remains lit afteryou have fully released theparking brake while the engine isrunning, or if it comes on whiledriving, it can indicate a problemin the brake system. For completeinformation, see page 284 .

Supplemental RestraintSystem Indicator

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

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.


SRS

U.S. Canada

BRAKE

Indicator Lights

Anti-lock BrakeSystem (ABS)Indicator

Only on models equipped with ABS (seepage 177)This light normally comes on whenyou turn the ignition switch ON (II)and goes off after the engine starts.If it comes on at any other time,there is a problem in the ABS. If thishappens, take the vehicle to yourdealer to have it checked. With thelight on, your vehicle still has normalbraking ability but no anti-lock.

Low Fuel Indicator

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

High Beam Indicator

This light comes on with the highbeam headlights. See page 60 forinformation on the headlightcontrols.

On Canadian models, this indicatorcomes on with reduced brightnesswhen the Daytime Running Lights(DRL) are on (see page 60).

Cruise Control Indicator

This lights when you set the cruisecontrol. See page 66 for informationon operating the cruise control.

Tailgate-open Indicator

This light comes on if the tailgate isnot closed tightly.

Turn Signal and Hazard WarningIndicatorsThe 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 247 ). 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.


CRUISECONTROL

ABSU.S. Canada

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(rpni). 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.

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


TACHOMETER TRIP METER SPEEDOMETER FUEL GAUGE

TEMPERATUREGAUGE

TRIP METERRESET BUTTON

MAINTENANCEREQUIRED INDICATOR

ODOMETER

Gauges

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

Temperature GaugeThis shows the temperature of theengine's coolant. During normaloperation, the pointer should risefrom the bottom white mark to aboutthe middle of the gauge. In severedriving conditions, such as very hotweather or a long period of uphilldriving, the pointer may rise to theupper white zone. If it reaches thered (Hot) mark, pull safely to theside of the road. Turn to page 279 forinstructions and precautions onchecking the engine's coolingsystem.


ODOMETER TRIP METERRESET BUTTON

TEMPERATUREGAUGE

FUEL GAUGESPEEDOMETERTRIP METERTACHOMETER

Gauges

Maintenance Required Indicator

SLOT INDICATOR

This indicator reminds you that it isnearing 7,500 miles (12,000 km)since the last scheduled maintenance.Refer to the Maintenance Schedulesfor Normal and Severe DrivingConditions on pages 202 — 206.

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

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


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 hazard warning lights switch ison the dashboard between thecenter air vents.

The controls near the left air ventare for the power windows andpower mirrors.

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


HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS(P.60)

HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS(P.63)

SHIFT LEVER(P.170)MIRROR CONTROLS

(P.86)

WINDSHIELDWIPERS/WASHERS(P.62)

HORN BUTTONS

TILT ADJUSTMENT(P.64)

POWER WINDOW SWITCHES(P.84)


Headlights

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



Instrument Panel Brightness

The dial on the dashboard to the leftof the instrument panel is used toadjust the brightness of theinstrument panel lights. Turn the dialto adjust the brightness.

Turn Signals

TURN SIGNAL LEVER

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

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

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

Windshield Washers

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

The wipers run at low speed whileyou're pulling the lever, thencomplete one more sweep of thewindshield after you 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". The wiperoperates intermittently. It you wishto use the wiper and washer, turnand hold the switch one position upfrom "ON". To use the washer only,turn and hold the switch one positiondown from "OFF".

Hazard Warning

Push the red button between thecenter air vents to turn on the hazardwarning lights (four-way flashers).This causes all four outside turnsignals and both indicators in theinstrument panel to flash. Use thehazard warning lights if you need topark in a dangerous area near heavytraffic, or if your 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 in thebutton lights to show the defogger ison. If you do not turn it off, thedefogger will shut itself off afterabout 25 minutes. It also shuts offwhen you turn off the ignition. Youhave to turn it on again when yourestart the vehicle.


CONTINUED


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

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

Steering Wheel AdjustmentSee page 18 for important safetyinformation about how to properlyposition the steering wheel.

Make any steering wheel adjustmentbefore you start driving.


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.


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.


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.

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

Using the Cruise Control

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

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


Improper use of the cruisecontrol can lead to a crash.

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

NOTICE


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

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

cruise control. To resume the setspeed, press the RESUME/accelbutton. The CRUISE CONTROLlight on the instrument panelcomes 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 car will acceler-ate. When you reach the desiredcruising speed, release the button.

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

To increase your speed in verysmall amounts, tap the RESUME/

accel button repeatedly. Each 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.


CONTINUED

RESUME/accel

SET/decel


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 ControlYou can cancel the cruise control inany of these ways:

Tap the brake pedal.

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

Press the Cruise Control MasterSwitch.

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

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

the RESUME/accel button until theCRUISE CONTROL light comes on.The vehicle will accelerate to thesame cruising 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.


Keys and Locks

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

When replacing keys, use onlyHonda-approvecl key blanks.

Remote TransmitterSome models also come with tworemote transmitters; see page 72 foran explanation of their operation.

Ignition Switch

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

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

CONTINUED


MASTER KEYS VALET KEY

KEYNUMBERPLATE

Keys and Locks

LOCK (0) — You can insert orremove the key only in this position.To switch from ACCESSORY toLOCK, you must push the key inslightly as you turn it. If your vehiclehas an automatic transmission, itmust 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.

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.

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

Door Locks

Each door has a lock tab on the top.Push the tab down to lock the doorand pull it up to unlock.

To lock any passenger's door whengetting out of the vehicle, push thelock tab down and close the door. Tolock the driver's door, pull theoutside door handle and push thelock tab down. Release the handle,then close the door.


LOCK TAB

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

Remove the key from theignition switch only whenparked.

Keys and Locks

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

Power Door Locks

MASTER DOOR LOCK SWITCH

The master door lock switch allowscontrol of all door locks from thedriver's door. Push the switch downto lock all doors, and up to unlockthem.

All doors lock when you push downthe lock tab on the driver's door, orlock the driver's door from theoutside with the key. Only the driver'sdoor unlocks when you use the keyor lock tab. To unlock the passen-gers' doors, use the master door lockswitch or the lock tab on each door.


Keys and Locks

Remote Transmitter

On EX and SE modelsYou can lock and unlock your vehiclewith the remote transmitter. Whenyou push the LOCK button, all doorslock.

When you push the UNLOCK buttononce, only the driver's door unlocks.The remaining doors unlock whenyou push the button a second time.

The ceiling light (if the ceiling lightswitch is in the center position) willcome on when you press theUNLOCK button. If you do not openany of the doors, the light will go outin about 30 seconds and the doorswill automatically relock. If yourelock the doors with the remotetransmitter before 30 seconds haveelapsed, the light will go offimmediately.

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

To open the tailgate, push and holdthe TAILGATE RELEASE buttonfor approximately one second.

Horn OperationThe horn will sound when you pushthe LOCK button twice within fiveseconds after first push.


LED LOCKBUTTON

TAILGATERELEASEBUTTON

PANICBUTTON

UNLOCKBUTTON

Keys and Locks

Panic ModePanic mode allows you to remotelyactivate your vehicle's securitysystem to attract attention. Whenactivated, the horn will sound 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 ignition switch.

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

Battery type: CR2025

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

CONTINUED


Open

Close

Keys and Locks

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 cushion ring. Align themark on the cover with themark on the transmitter,

then set the cover in place and turn itclockwise.

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.


BATTERY ROUNDCOVER

CUSHIONRING

Keys and Locks

Childproof Door Locks

The childproof door locks aredesigned to prevent children seatedin the rear from accidentally openingthe rear doors. Each rear door has alock lever near the edge. With thelever in the LOCK position, the doorcannot be opened from the insideregardless of the position of the locktab. To open the door, pull the locktab up and use the outside doorhandle.

Tailgate

1. You can open the tailgate in two ways:

Use the ignition key to open thetailgate lock.

TAILGATE UNLOCK BUTTON

Push the tailgate unlock buttonon the dashboard under the leftair vent.

CONTINUED


LEVER

LOCK

KEY

Keys and Locks

HATCH GLASS

2. The hatch glass will pop upslightly.

3. Lift up the hatch glass fully.

HANDLE

DOOR

4. Pull the handle on the door andpull the door open.

To close the tailgate, always closethe lower door first. Then, lower thehatch glass and press on it until itlatches.Make sure the door and the hatchglass are locked securely beforedriving.

STOP

To keep the tailgate door open on anincline, use the stop in the tool kit.The tool kit is in the right cargo floorpocket. Put the stop on the supportstrut as shown.


Keys and Locks, Seats

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

Front Seat AdjustmentsSee pages 12 — 14 for important safetyinformation and warnings about how toproperly position seats and seat-backs.

Make all seat adjustments beforeyou start driving.

CONTINUED


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.

Seats

To adjust the seat forward andbackward, pull up on the lever underthe seat cushion's front edge. Movethe seat to the desired position andrelease the lever. Try to move theseat to make sure it is locked inposition.

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

Driver's Seat Height Adjustment

The height of your driver's seat isadjustable. Turn the front dial on theoutside of the seat cushion to raisethe front of the seat bottom and turnthe rear dial to raise the rear.

Make all seat adjustments beforeyou start driving.


Seats

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

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.


RELEASE BUTTON

Seats

Rear Seat-back AdjustmentSee pages 12 — 14 for important safetyinformation and warnings about how toproperly position seats and seat-backs.

The angle of the rear seat-backs canbe adjusted separately. To changethe angle of the seat-back, pull up onthe knob on the top of the seat-back.Move the seat-back to the desiredposition, then release the knob.Make sure the seat-back latches inthe new position.

Rear Seat Armrest

The rear seat armrests are located atthe center of the rear seat. Pivotthem down to use them.


Seats

Reclining the Front and RearSeat-backs

You can recline the seal-backs on thefront and rear seats to make a largecushioned area. To do this:

1. Remove the front seat headrestraint and put it in the pocket ofthe seat-back.

2. Lift the slide lever and slide thefront seat forward as far as it willgo. Pull up the seat-back angleadjustment lever, then pivot theseat-back backward. Release thelever when the seat-back is evenwith the cushion on the rear seat.

EX and SE models

3. Pull up the lever on the side of therear seat. Lift the rear edge of theseat bottom until the seat latches.

CONTINUED


Seats

4. Pull up on the knob on top of theseat-back and pivot the rear seat-back backward. Release the knobwhen the seat-back is reclined asfar as it will go.

Reverse this procedure to return theseats to their upright positions.Make sure you install the headrestraints, and that the seats arelocked securely in place beforedriving.

Folding Rear Seat

The left and right halves of the rearseat can be folded up separately tocreate more cargo space.

1. Store the latch plate for the centerlap belt by rolling up the belt andpushing it into the seat pocket.


Seats

STRAP

2. Pull the strap to release the seatbottom. Pivot the seat bottomforward.

3. Remove the head restraint andpull up on the knob on the top ofthe seat-back. Pivot the seat-backforward.

Put the head restraint behind theseat bottom as shown.Pass the fastening strap through thehole of the head restraint and fastenit with the velcro strap.

Reverse this procedure to return theseat to the upright position. Makesure that the seat is locked securelybefore driving.


CONTINUED

Seats, Power Windows

Make sure any items stored in thecargo area are secured. Loose itemscan fly forward and cause injury ifyou have to brake hard.

Power WindowsYour vehicle's windows are electri-cally-powered. Turn the ignitionswitch to ON (II) to raise or lowerany window.

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

DRIVER'S WINDOW SWITCH

MAIN SWITCH

There is a master power windowcontrol panel on the dashboard. Toopen any of the passengers' windows,push down on the appropriate switchand hold it down until the windowreaches the desired position. Toclose the window, push up on thewindow switch. Release the switchwhen the window gets to the positionyou want.


Power Windows, Mirrors

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, pushthe window switch up briefly.To open the driver's window onlypartially, push the window switchclown 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 push thewindow switch up and hold it untilthe window reaches the desiredposition.

The MAIN switch controls power tothe passengers' windows. With thisswitch off, the passengers' windowscannot be raised or lowered. TheMAIN switch does not affect thedriver's window. Keep the MAINswitch off when you have children inthe vehicle so they do not injurethemselves by operating thewindows unintentionally.

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.


CONTINUED

TAB

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

Make sure your passengers areaway from the windows beforeclosing them.

Mirrors, Parking Brake

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.

Parking Brake

PARKING BRAKE LEVER

To apply the parking brake, pull thelever up fully. To release it, pull upslightly, push the button, and lowerthe lever. The parking brake light onthe instrument panel should go outwhen the parking brake is fullyreleased (see page 54).

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


SELECTOR SWITCH ADJUSTMENT SWITCH

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 desiredtime.

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

You can use the RESET button toquickly set the time to the nearesthour. If the displayed time is beforethe half hour, pressing the RESETbutton sets the clock back to theprevious hour. If the displayed timeis after the half hour, pressing theRESET button sets the clock for-ward to the beginning of the nexthour.

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


H M R(RESET)

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.

Beverage Holder

Automatic Transmission model onlyTo use the beverage holder, pull onthe front. Push the holder all the wayin to close it.

The center table also has a beverageholder.


Beverage Holder, Built-in Table

There is another beverage holder oneach rear door for the rear seatpassengers. Pivot it down to use it.

Be careful when you are using thebeverage holder. A spilled liquid thatis very hot can scald you or yourpassengers. Liquid can also spillfrom the rear seat beverage holderswhen you close the rear doors.

Spilled liquids can also damage theupholstery, carpeting, and electricalcomponents in the interior.

Built-in Table

The cargo area floor can be takenout and used as a table.

CONTINUED


Built-in Table

To remove the table, pull up thecarpet. Lift and pull on the handle toslide the table out.

Unfold the legs. Lock them in placeby pushing on the middle of thelocking arms. Make sure all four arelocked.

To fold the legs, pull on the middleof each locking arm.


HANDLE

Built-in Table, Center Pocket, Storage Box

Put the projections on the table intothe holes in the cargo area floor.

Using the Built-in TableBe sure to lock the legs of thetable.Do not stand on the table.Do not put a weight of over 44 Ibs(20 kg) on the table.Hot items such as pots, pans, orkettles should not be placeddirectly on the table.

Center Pocket

Automatic Transmission model onlyOpen the center pocket by pushingthe handle down. Close it with a firmpush.

Storage Box

A storage box is located under thefront passenger's seat. To use it, pullupward slightly on the front centeredge of the box to disengage thelocking tabs then pull forward toslide the box out.


Cargo Floor Pockets, Accessory Power Socket

Cargo Floor Pockets

You can store small items in thepockets located on both sides of thecargo area.

Accessory Power Socket

There are two accessory powersockets: one in the dashboard by thefront ashtray and the other on theleft side of the cargo area.

To use the accessory power socket,pull down 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).


Tailgate Pocket, Cargo Hooks

Tailgate Pocket

To use the tailgate pocket, turn theknobs and remove the lid. Itemsstored in this pocket can be securedby the belts inside the pocket.

Cargo Hooks

The hooks on the floor of the cargoarea enable you to tie down itemsstored in the back. Make sure allstored items are secured beforedriving.

The hook on the tailgate door pivots,allowing items to be stored indifferent ways. Make sure any itemsput on this hook weigh less than 6.5Ibs (3 kg), or you could damage thehook.

Do not open or close the tailgatedoor with cargo on this hook.


HOOKS

Ashtray, Interior Lights

Ashtray

Open the front ashtray by pulling onthe bottom edge. Push it in to close it.To remove the ashtray for emptying,push down on the metal plate inside,then pull the ashtray out completely.

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

Ceiling Light

DOOR ACTIVATED

The ceiling light has a three-positionswitch. In the OFF position, the lightdoes not come on. In the centerposition, the ceiling light comes onwhen you open any door. In the ONposition, the ceiling light stays oncontinuously.


ASHTRAY

NOTICE

Interior Lights

Spotlights

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

On EX and SE modelsThe ceiling light (with the switch inthe center position) also comes onwhen you unlock the door with theremote transmitter (see page 72).

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, the light comes onwhen you open the tailgate. In theON position, the light stays oncontinuously.

Ignition Switch Light

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


DOOR ACTIVATED

IGNITION SWITCH LIGHT

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.)

Heating and Cooling........................ 98What Each Control Does............ 98How to Use the System............. 100To Turn Everything Off........... 105

Audio System................................. 106Audio System

AM/FM/Cassette StereoAudio System (LX Model).... 107

Operating the Radio.................. 108Adjusting the Sound.................. 111Audio System Lighting............. 112Operating the Cassette

Player...................................... 112Operating the Optional CD

Player/Changer..................... 115CD Changer Error

Indications.............................. 118Audio System

AM/FM/CD Audio System(EX Model)............................. 119

Operating the Radio.................. 120Adjusting the Sound.................. 124Audio System Lighting............. 125Radio Frequencies..................... 125Radio Reception......................... 125Operating the CD Player.......... 127

Operating the CD Changer...... 129Protecting Compact Discs........ 130CD Player Error Indications..... 131CD Changer Error

Indications.............................. 132Operating the Cassette

Player...................................... 133Tape Search Functions............. 134Caring for the Cassette

Player...................................... 136Theft Protection........................ 137

Audio SystemAM/FM/Cassette/CD stereo

Audio System (SE Model).... 138Operating the Radio.................. 139Adjusting the Sound.................. 143Operating the CD Player.......... 144CD Player Error Indications..... 146CD Changer Error

Indications.............................. 147Operating the Cassette

Player...................................... 148Tape Search Functions............. 149


Heating and Cooling

Proper 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 indicatorin the button lights when the A/C ison.

Recirculation ButtonThis button controls the source ofthe air going into the system. Whenthe indicator in this button is lit, airfrom the 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).


MODE CONTROL DIAL

FAN CONTROL DIAL TEMPERATURE CONTROL DIAL

RECIRCULATIONBUTTON

AIRCONDITIONINGSWITCH

Heating and Cooling

Mode Control DialUse the MODE control dial to selectthe vents the air flows from.

Air flows from the centerand corner vents in the dashboard.

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

Air flows from the floorvents.

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

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

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


Heating and Cooling

Vent Controls

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

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

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

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


CENTER VENT SIDE VENT

Open

Close

Heating and Cooling

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

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

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

1. Turn the temperature control dialall the way to the left.Make sure the A/C is off.

2. Select and Fresh Air mode.3. Set the fan to the desired speed.

CONTINUED


AIR CONDITIONING SWITCH

FAN CONTROL DIAL TEMPERATURECONTROL DIAL

MODE CONTROLDIAL

Heating and Cooling

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

button. The light in the buttoncomes on when a fan speed isselected.

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.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 all the way tothe left.

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

and Fresh Air mode.

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 page57) when driving in stop-and-go

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


MODE CONTROL DIAL

RECIRCULATIONBUTTON


REARDEFOGGERSWITCH

TEMPERATURE CONTROL DIALFAN CONTROL DIAL

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.


MODE CONTROL DIAL

RECIRCULATIONBUTTON


REARDEFOGGERSWITCH

TEMPERATURE CONTROL DIALFAN CONTROL DIAL

Heating and Cooling

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

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

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

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


Audio System

Your vehicle should have one of theaudio systems described in thissection. Read the appropriate pagesin this section for operation of theaudio systems installed in yourvehicle.

pages 107 to 118 for LX Modelpages 119 to 134 for EX Modelpages 138 to 150 for SE Model

Also, read page 114 or 136 for how totake care of your cassette player.

If your vehicle has a different audiosystem from these two types, readthe radio manufacturer's manual thatcame with your vehicle for itsoperation.

LX Model

EX Model

SE Model


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

are trademarks of Dolby LaboratoriesLicensing 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. When the system isin the SCAN mode, SCN shows inthe display. The system will scan upthe band for a station with a strongsignal. When it finds one, it will stopand play that station forapproximately five seconds. If you donothing, the system will then scanfor the next strong station and playthat for five seconds. When it plays astation that you want to continuelistening to, press the SCAN buttonagain.

CONTINUED


AM/FMBUTTON

SCAN BUTTON SCN INDICATOR

PWR/VOLKNOB

SEEK SWITCH TUNE BAR

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.

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 SWITCH PRESETBUTTONS

TUNE BAR

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 125 .


BASS/FADERCONTROL

TREBLE/BALANCECONTROL

Audio System

Audio System LightingYou can use the instrument panelbrightness control knob to adjust theillumination of the audio system (seepage 61). 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

RPT BUTTON REW BUTTON FF BUTTON

TAPE DIRECTIONINDICATOR

CASSETTE SLOT

SKIP SWITCH

DOLBY BUTTON

PROG BUTTON

PLAY 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 136 for information oncassette care and protection.


EJECT BUTTON CASSETTE SLOT TAPE DIRECTIONINDICATOR

RPT BUTTON REW BUTTON FF BUTTON

PLAY BUTTON

PROG BUTTON

DOLBY BUTTON

SKIP SWITCH

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

PWR/VOL KNOB

RPT BUTTON

SKIP SWITCH

PRESET BUTTONS

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 page130.

AM/FM BUTTON RANDOM INDICATOR

REPEAT INDICATOR


TAPE/CD BUTTON

PRESET BUTTONS

SKIP SWITCH

RPT BUTTON

PWR/VOL KNOB

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 137).


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.


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


CONTINUED


PWR/VOLKNOB

PRESET BUTTONSSCANBUTTON

SEEK BAR

AM/FM BUTTON STEREO INDICATOR

TUNE BAR

Audio System





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

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.


PRESET BUTTONS

AM/FM BUTTON

TUNE BAR

SEEK BAR

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.

TUNE BAR

AUTO SELECT INDICATOR SCAN BUTTON

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.


A. SEL BUTTON

SEEK BAR

Audio System



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.





BASS/FADERCONTROL


Audio System

Audio System LightingYou can use the instrument panelbrightness control knob to adjust theillumination of the audio system (seepage 61). 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 BUTTONCD BUTTON

RPT BUTTON

Audio System

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

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 and release theside of the SEEK/SKIP bar,

the system skips forward to thebeginning of the next track. Pressthe side to skip backward to thebeginning of the current track. Pressit again to skip to the beginning ofthe previous track.

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



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.



CONTINUED


AM/FMBUTTONPWR/VOL

KNOB CDBUTTON

TAPE DIRECTION INDICATOR

TUNE BAR

SEEK/SKIP BAR

PLAYBUTTON

NRBUTTON

REPEAT BUTTONPROGBUTTON

Audio System


Dolby noise reduction turns on whenyou insert a cassette. If the tape wasnot recorded with Dolby noisereduction, turn it off by pressing theNR 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.


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.



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

Theft ProtectionOn EX and SE modelsYour 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.


Audio System

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


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 orFM button. On the FM band, ST willbe displayed if the station is broad-casting in stereo. Stereoreproduction on AM is not available.

PWR/VOL KNOB PRESET BUTTONS TUNE KNOB

SCAN BUTTON FM BUTTON SEEK BUTTONS

AM BUTTON

CONTINUED


Audio System


TUNE — Use the TUNE knob totune the radio to a desired frequency.Turn the knob clockwise to tune to ahigher frequency, orcounterclockwise to tune to a lowerfrequency.

SEEK — The SEEK functionsearches the band for a station witha strong signal. To activate it, presseither SEEK button or thenrelease it. Depending on whichSEEK button you press, the systemscans upward or downward from thecurrent frequency. It stops when itfinds a station with a strong signal.

SCAN — The SCAN functionsamples all the stations with strongsignals on the selected band. Toactivate it, press the SCAN button,then release it. The system will scanup the band for a station with astrong signal. When it finds one, itwill 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.






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.


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.

A. SEL INDICATOR

A. SEL BUTTON


CONTINUED

Audio System

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.

SCAN BUTTON PRESET BUTTONS SEEK BUTTONS


TUNE KNOB

Audio System



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.

BASS/FADERCONTROL






Audio System

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

With the system on, insert the discinto the CD slot. Push the disc inhalfway, the drive will pull it in therest of the way and begin to play.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.

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


CD SLOT SKIP BUTTONS

RDM BUTTONCD BUTTONREPEAT BUTTON

Audio System

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

Press the eject button to remove thedisc from the drive.

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

You can use the SKIP buttons whilea disc is playing to select passagesand change tracks.

To move rapidly within a track, pressand hold an appropriate SKIP button.Press the button to move forward,or the button to move backward.Release the button when the systemreaches the point you want.

Each time you press the buttonand release it, the system skipsforward to the beginning of the nexttrack. Press and release thebutton to skip backward to thebeginning of the current track. Pressand release it again to skip to thebeginning of the previous track.

REPEAT — To activate the Repeatfeature, press and release the Repeatbutton. You will see REPEAT in thedisplay. The system continuouslyreplays the current track. Press theRepeat 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, pressthe RDM button. You will see RDMin the display. The system will thenselect and play tracks randomly.This continues until you deactivateRandom Play by pressing the RDMbutton again.


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



Audio System

Operating the Cassette PlayerThe 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.



CONTINUED


FF BUTTONPLAYBUTTON

REWBUTTON DOLBY BUTTON

REPEAT BUTTON

PROG BUTTON CD BUTTON

SKIP BUTTONS

Audio System


Dolby noise reduction turns on whenyou insert a cassette. If the tape wasnot recorded with Dolby noisereduction, turn it off by pressing theNR 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.

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 tape will begin playingwhere it left off.

To switch to the radio or CD playerwhile a tape is playing, press the AM,FM or CD button. To change back tothe cassette player, push the TAPEbutton.


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.

CONTINUED


Audio System

SKIP — The SKIP function allowsyou to find the beginning of a songor passage. To skip to the beginningof a song or passage currentlyplaying, push the button. You willsee REW flashing in the display asthe tape rewinds. To skip to thebeginning of the next song, push the

button. You will see FF flashing inthe display as the tape fast forwards.When the system finds the begin-ning of a song or passage, it goesback to PLAY.

REPEAT — The Repeat functioncontinuously replays the currentsong or passage. Press the REPEATbutton to activate it; you will seeREPEAT displayed as a reminder.When the system reaches the end ofthe song or passage currentlyplaying, it will automatically go intorewind. When it senses thebeginning of the same song orpassage, the system returns to PLAYmode. It will continue to repeat thissame program until you deactivateREPEAT by pressing the buttonagain.



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.............................. 152Gasoline.......................................... 152Service Station Procedures .......... 153

Filling the Fuel Tank................. 153Opening the Hood..................... 154

Oil Check................................ 155Engine Coolant Check.......... 156

Fuel Economy................................ 157Vehicle Condition...................... 157Driving Habits............................ 157

Accessories and Modifications.... 158Carrying Cargo.............................. 160

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).

Do not change the oil until therecommended time or mileageinterval shown in the maintenanceschedule.

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

GasolineYour Honda is designed to operateon unleaded gasoline 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.

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.

Before Driving

Service Station Procedures

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 at the outside of thedriver's seat.

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

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

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 283).

6. Push the fuel fill door closed until it latches.

Before Driving

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

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

Pull

FUEL FILL CAP


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 to the right ofcenter. Slide your hand to the leftuntil you feel the hood latchhandle. Push this handle up until itreleases the hood. Lift the hood.

If you can open the hood withoutlifting the hood latch handle, or thehood latch handle moves stiffly ordoes not spring back as before, themechanism should be cleaned andlubricated (see page 227).

Before Driving

HOOD RELEASE HANDLE LATCH


SUPPORT ROD

3. Pull the support rod out of its clipand insert the end into the hole onthe front of the hood around thecenter.

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.

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.

CONTINUED

Before Driving

DIPSTICK


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

UPPER MARK

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 211.

Engine Coolant Check

MIN

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 215 forinformation on adding the propercoolant.

Refer to Owner MaintenanceChecks on page 209 for informationon checking other items in yourHonda.

Before Driving

LOWER MARK

RESERVE TANK

MAX

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 209). 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 159 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 284).

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 backseat can be folded down to allow youto carry more cargo or longer items.

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

Before Driving

CARGO FLOOR POCKET

TAILGATEPOCKET

SEAT UNDER-BOX

DOOR POCKET

CARGO AREA CENTER POCKET GLOVE BOX

Carrying Cargo

Load LimitThe maximum load for your vehicleis 850 Ibs (395 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 850 Ibs(395kg).

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

Carrying Items in the PassengerCompartment

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

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 49.

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

Before Driving

Driving

This section gives you tips onstarting the engine under variousconditions, and how to operate the5-speed manual and automatictransmissions. It also includesimportant information on parkingyour vehicle, the braking system,and facts you need if you are plan-ning to tow a trailer or drive off-highway.

Driving Guidelines......................... 164Preparing to Drive......................... 165Starting the Engine........................ 166

Starting in Cold Weatherat High Altitude ..................... 167

5-speed Manual Transmission..... 168Recommended Shift Points...... 169Engine Speed Limiter............... 169

Automatic Transmission............... 170Shift Lever Position Indicator.. 170Shift Lever Positions................. 170Engine Speed Limiter ............... 173Shift Lock Release..................... 174

Parking............................................ 175The Braking System...................... 176

Brake Wear Indicators.............. 176Brake System Design................ 177Anti-lock Brakes........................ 177

Important SafetyReminders.......................... 178

ABS Indicator......................... 179Driving in Bad Weather................ 180Towing a Trailer............................ 182Towing Your Vehicle Behind a

Motorhome................................. 189

Off-Highway Guidelines............... 191General Information.................. 191Important Safety

Precautions............................. 192Driving Tips................................ 193

Driving

Driving Guidelines

Your CR-V has higher groundclearance than a passenger vehicledesigned only for use on pavement.Higher ground clearance has manyadvantages for off-highway driving.It allows you to travel over bumpsand unpaved roads. It also providesgood visibility so you can anticipateproblems earlier.

These advantages come at some cost.Because your vehicle is taller andrides higher off the ground, it has ahigh center of gravity. This meansthat your vehicle can tip or roll overif you make abrupt turns. Utilityvehicles have a significantly higherrollover rate than other types ofvehicles.

To prevent the risk of rollover orloss of control:

Take corners at slower speedsthan you would with a passengervehicle.

Avoid sharp turns and abruptmaneuvers whenever possible.

Do not modify your vehicle in anyway that would raise the center ofgravity.

Do not carry heavy cargo on theroof.

Four-wheel Drive ModelsYour CR-V is equipped with a uniquefour-wheel drive (4WD) system.Normally, power is delivered only tothe front wheels. When the systemsenses a loss of front-wheel traction,it automatically transfers somepower to the rear wheels. This givesyou better traction and mobility.

While this system can provideincreased traction on slipperysurfaces, you still need to exercisethe same care when accelerating,steering, and braking that you wouldin a two-wheel drive vehicle.

See page 191 for additional guidelinesfor driving off-highway.

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 77).

6. Check the adjustment of theinside and outside mirrors (seepage 85).

7. Check the adjustment of thesteering wheel (see page 64).

8. Make sure the doors are securelyclosed 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 166).

12.Check the gauges and indicatorlights in the instrument panel (seepage 53).

Driving

Starting the Engine

1. Apply the parking brake.

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

3. Manual Transmission:Push the clutch pedal down all theway. START (III) does notfunction unless the clutch pedal isdepressed.

Automatic Transmission: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.

Driving

Starting the Engine

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

5-speed Manual Transmission

The manual transmission is syn-chronized in all forward gears forsmooth operation. It has a lockout soyou cannot shift directly from Fifthto Reverse. When shifting up ordown, make sure you push the clutchpedal down all the way, shift to thenext gear, and let the pedal upgradually. When you are not shifting,do not rest your foot on the clutchpedal. This can cause your clutch towear out faster.

Come to a full stop before you shiftinto Reverse. You can damage thetransmission by trying to shift intoReverse with the vehicle moving.Push down the clutch pedal, andpause for a few seconds beforeshifting into Reverse, or shift intoone of the forward gears for amoment. This stops the gears sothey won't "grind."

When slowing down, you can getextra braking from the engine byshifting to a lower gear. This extrabraking can help you maintain a safespeed and prevent your brakes fromoverheating while going down asteep hill. Before downshifting,make sure engine speed will not gointo the tachometer's red zone in thelower gear.

Driving

Rapid slowing or speeding-upcan cause loss of control onslippery surfaces. If you crash,you can be injured.

Use extra care when driving onslippery surfaces.


Recommended Shift PointsDrive in the highest gear that letsthe engine run and acceleratesmoothly. This will give you the bestfuel economy and effective emis-sions control. The following shiftpoints are recommended:

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.

Before downshifting, make sure theengine will not go into thetachometer's red zone.

Driving

Automatic Transmission

Your Honda's transmission has fourforward speeds, and is electronicallycontrolled for smoother shifting. Italso has a "lock-up" torque converterfor better fuel economy. You mayfeel what seems like another shiftwhen the converter locks.

Shift Lever Position Indicator

This indicator on the instrumentpanel shows which position the shiftlever is in.The "D" indicator comes on for afew seconds when you turn theignition switch ON (II). It it flasheswhile driving (in any shift position),it indicates a possible problem in thetransmission. Avoid rapid accelera-tion and have the transmissionchecked by an authorized Hondadealer as soon as possible.

Shift Lever Positions

SHIFT LEVER

The shift lever has six positions. Itmust be in Park or Neutral to startthe engine. When you are stopped inD, 2,1, N or R, press firmly on thebrake pedal, and keep your foot offthe accelerator pedal.

Driving


Park (P) — This position mechani-cally locks the transmission. UsePark whenever you are turning off orstarting the engine. To shift out ofPark, you must press on the brakepedal and have your foot off theaccelerator pedal. Pull the shift levertowards you, then move it out ofPark.

If you have clone all of the above andstill cannot move the lever out ofPark, see Shift Lock Release on page162.

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.

Driving

CONTINUED


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 (D) — 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.

For faster acceleration, you can getthe transmission to automaticallydownshift by pushing the acceleratorpedal to the floor. The transmissionwill shift down one or two gears,depending on your speed.

Over-Drive (O/D) Mode

The Over-Drive (O/D) is onwhenever you turn the ignition ON(II). You can turn it off by pressingthe O/D switch on the edge of theshift lever. The O/D OFF indicatoron the instrument panel next to theshift lever position indicator willcome on.

Driving


When the Over-Drive is off thetransmission selects only the firstthree gears, but not the fourth. Turnthe O /D off to provide enginebraking when going down a steep hill.You can also avoid the transmissionfrom cycling between third andfourth gears in stop-and-go 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.

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, D,you can operate this transmissionmuch like a manual transmissionwithout 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.

Driving


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 thetool kit).

4. Insert the key in the Shift LockRelease slot on the steeringcolumn.

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

SHIFT LOCK RELEASE SLOT

6. Remove the key from the ShiftLock Release slot, then reinstallthe cover.Depress the brake pedal andrestart the engine.

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

Driving

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.

If your vehicle has an automatictransmission, set the parking brakebefore you put the transmission inPark. This keeps the vehicle frommoving and putting pressure on theparking mechanism in thetransmission — making it easier tomove the shift lever out of Parkwhen you want to drive away.

If the vehicle is facing uphill, turnthe front wheels away from the curb.If you have a manual transmission,put it in first gear.

If the vehicle is facing downhill, turnthe front wheels toward the curb. Ifyou have a manual transmission, putit in reverse gear.

Make sure the parking brake is fullyreleased before driving away.Driving with the parking brakepartially set can overheat or damagethe rear brakes.

Parking TipsMake sure the windows are closed.

Turn off the lights.

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

Lock the doors.

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. The brakingsystem is power-assisted to reducethe effort needed on the brake pedal.

Put your foot on the brake pedal onlywhen you intend to brake. Restingyour foot on the pedal keeps thebrakes applied lightly, causing themto build up heat. Heat build-up canreduce how well your brakes work. Italso keeps your brake lights on allthe time, confusing drivers behindyou.

Constant application of the brakeswhen going clown 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 BrakesU.S. EX, Canadian LX and EX models,and SE modelsABS helps to prevent the wheelsfrom locking up and skidding duringhard braking, allowing you to retainsteering control.

When the front tires skid, you losesteering control; the 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.

CONTINUED

Driving

Front

The Braking System

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.

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.

Driving

The Braking System

Driving

ABS Indicator

ABS INDICATOR*

The ABS is self-checking. If anythinggoes wrong, the ABS indicator onthe instrument panel comes on (seepage 55). This means the anti-lockfunction of the braking system hasshut down. The brakes still work likea conventional system without anti-lock, providing normal stoppingability. You should have the dealerinspect your car as soon as possible.

*U.S. indicator shown

Driving in Bad Weather

Rain, fog, and snow conditions re-quire a different driving techniquebecause of reduced traction andvisibility. Keep your 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 the wind-shield washer reservoir full of theproper fluid. Have the windshieldwiper blades replaced if they start tostreak the windshield or leave partsunwiped. Use the defrosters and airconditioning to keep the windowsfrom fogging up on the inside (seepage 103).

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 Honda has been designedprimarily to carry passengers andtheir cargo. You can use it to tow atrailer if you carefully observe theload limits, use the proper equipment,and follow the guidelines in thissection.

Load Limits

Total Trailer Weight: The totalweight of the trailer andeverything loaded in it must notexceed 1,000Ibs (450kg).Towinga load that is too heavy canseriously affect your vehicle'shandling and performance. It canalso damage the engine anddrivetrain.

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.

Driving

Towing a Trailer

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

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating(GVWR):The total weight of the vehicle, alloccupants, all cargo, and thetongue load must not exceed:4,165 Ibs (1,900 kg)

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

2,030 Ibs (930 kg)on the front axle

2,155 Ibs (990 kg)on the rear axle

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

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.

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.

Safety ChainsAlways use safety chains. Make surethey are secured to both the trailerand hitch, and that they cross underthe tongue so they can catch thetrailer if it becomes unhitched.Leave enough slack to allow thetrailer to turn corners easily, but donot let the chains drag on the ground.

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.

Trailer Lights

Your vehicle has a trailer lightingconnector located behind the leftside panel in the cargo area. Refer tothe drawing above for the wiringcolor code and purpose of each pin.

If you use a converter, you can getthe connector and pins that matewith the connector in your vehiclefrom your Honda dealer.

Since lighting and wiring vary intrailer type and brand, you shouldalso have a qualified mechanic installa suitable connector between thevehicle and the trailer.

Driving

GROUND(BLACK)

BACK-UP LIGHT(GREEN/BLACK)

LEFT TURN SIGNAL(GREEN/RED)

RIGHT TURN SIGNAL(GREEN/YELLOW)

BRAKE LIGHT(GREEN/WHITE)

TAILLIGHT(RED/GREEN)

Towing a Trailer

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 182 and 183).

The hitch, safety chains, 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 235),and the trailer tires and spare areinflated as recommended by thetrailer maker.

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 GearsDrive slower than normal in alldriving situations, and obey postedspeed limits for vehicles with trailers.If you have an automatictransmission, use the Over-Drive(O/D) mode when towing a traileron level roads. Turn off the Over-Drive (O/D) mode when towing atrailer in hilly terrain (see page 152).(See "Driving on Hills" in the nextcolumn for additional gear

information.)

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, turn offthe Over-Drive (O/D) mode (seepage 172).

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.

CONTINUED

Driving

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 firmly setting theparking brake and putting thetransmission in Park (automatic) orin 1st or Reverse (manual). Also,place wheel chocks at each of thetrailer's tires.

Driving

Towing Your Vehicle Behind a Motorhome

Your CR-V can be towed behind amotorhome at legal highway speedsup to 65 mph (100 km/h). To avoiddamage to the 4WD system it mustbe "flat towed" with all four wheelson the ground.

When purchasing a tow bar, makesure you select a reputablemanufacturer and installer. Followthe manufacturer's attachmentinstructions carefully.

After attaching the tow bar to yourmotorhome, do the following toprepare your CR-V for "flat towing":

5-speed Manual TransmissionWhen preparing to tow your CR-V,make sure the transmission isfilled to the correct level (see page222). Do not overfill.

Release the parking brake.

Shift the transmission to Neutral.

Leave the key in the ignitionswitch and the ignition switch inACCESSORY (I) so the steeringwheel does not lock. Make surethe radio and any items pluggedinto the accessory power socketsare turned off so you do not rundown the battery.

Automatic TransmissionWhen preparing to tow your CR-V,make sure the transmission is full offluid. Maintaining the correct level isvery important. Do not overfill. Dothe following every day immediatelybefore you begin towing. Follow theprocedure exactly. Otherwise, severeautomatic transmission damage willoccur.

CONTINUED

Driving

Towing Your Vehicle Behind a Motorhome

Start the engine.

Press on the brake pedal. Shift thelever through all the positions (P,R, N, D, 2,1)

Shift to D, then to N. Let theengine run for three minutes, thenturn off the engine.

Release the parking brake.

Leave the ignition switch inACCESSORY (I) so the steering-wheel does not lock. Make surethe radio and any items pluggedinto the accessory power socketsare turned off so you do not rundown the battery.

Extended TowingIf you tow more than 8 hours in oneday, repeat the above procedure atleast every 8 hours, (when you stopfor fuel, etc.)

The steering system can be damaged ifthe steering wheel is locked. Leave theignition switch in Accessory (I), andmake sure the steering wheel turnsfreelv before you begin towing.

Failure to follow the above instructionsexactly will result in severe automatictransmission damage. If vou cannotshift the transmission or start theengine, your vehicle must betransported on a flat-bed truck ortrailer.

Severe automatic transmission damagewill occur if the vehicle is shifted fromreverse to neutral and then towed withthe drive wheels on the ground.

If you tow a CR-V with an automatictransmission, the transmission fluidmust be changed every two years or30,000 miles (50,000 km), whichevercomes first.

Driving

NOTICE

NOTICE

NOTICE

Off-Highway Guidelines

General InformationYour CR-V has been designedprimarily for use on pavement. Butits higher ground clearance allowsyou to occasionally travel on unpavedroads, to campgrounds, picnic sites,and similar locations. It is notdesigned for trailblazing, mountainclimbing, or other challenging off-road activities.

If you decide to drive on unpavedroads, you will find that it requiressomewhat different driving skills.Your CR-V will also handlesomewhat differently than it does onpavement. So be sure to read thisowner's manual, pay special attentionto the precautions and tips in thissection, and get acquainted withyour vehicle before you leave thepavement.

Driving


Important Safety PrecautionsRemember that your CR-V hashigher ground clearance and ahigher center of gravity thanpassenger vehicles designed for useonly on pavement. This means yourvehicle can more easily tip or rollover if you make abrupt turns ordrive on slopes.

Utility vehicles have a significantlyhigher rollover rate than other typesof vehicles. To avoid loss of controlor rollover, be sure to follow allrecommendations and precautionson page 164 and in this section.

Seat belts are just as important off-road as on paved roads. Whereveryou drive, make sure you and yourpassengers always wear seat belts. Ifchildren or infants are along for theride, see that they are properlysecured. In a rollover crash, anunbelted person is more likely to diethan a person wearing a seat belt.

On many unpaved roads, you won'tfind lane markers, traffic signals, orsigns to warn you of possible troubleahead. It's up to you to continuallyassess the situation and drive withinlimits.

The route presents limits (someroads are too steep and bumpy forexample). You have limits (in drivingskills and comfort). And your vehiclealso has limits (traction, stability, andpower, for instance).

Driving off-highway can behazardous if you fail to recognizelimits and take proper precautions.For example, you can have anaccident or rollover duringmaneuvers such as turning, drivingon hills, or over large obstacles.

Be sure to store cargo properly, anddo not exceed your CR-V's cargo ortrailer load limits (see pages 161 and182).

Driving

Improperly operating thisvehicle on or off-pavement cancause an accident or rollover inwhich you and your passengerscould be seriously injured orkilled.

Follow all instructions andguidelines in the owner'smanual.Keep your speed low anddon't drive faster thanconditions permit.


Driving TipsThe following pages contain practicaltips on basic off-highway operation.

Check Out Your VehicleDriving off-highway can be hard on avehicle. Before you leave thepavement, be sure all scheduledmaintenance and service has beendone, and that you have inspectedyour vehicle. Pay special attention tothe condition of the tires, and use agauge to check the tire pressures.

After you return to the pavement,carefully inspect your vehicle tomake sure there is no damage thatcould make driving it unsafe. Checkthe tires for damage and for properpressure.

Controlling SpeedOff-highway, the general rule is tokeep your speed low. Of course,you'll need enough speed to keepmoving forward. But at higherspeeds, you have less time to assessconditions and make good decisions.There's also a greater chance ofsliding if you brake or turn tooquickly on wet soil, gravel, or ice. Inany situation, never go faster thanconditions allow.

Accelerating and BrakingFor better traction on all surfaces,accelerate slowly and gradually buildup speed. If you try to start too faston wet soil, mud, snow, or ice, youmight not have enough traction toget underway. You may even digyourself into a hole.

Generally, the best off-pavementbraking technique is to gentlydepress the brake pedal, thenincrease pressure as more braking isneeded. Avoid hard braking. Keep inmind that you will usually need moretime and distance to brake to a stopon unpaved surfaces.

Test your brakes from time to timeto make sure they are operatingproperly. This will also give you afeel for how much traction you haveon a given surface.

CONTINUED

Driving


TurningOff-highway, the basic turningtechnique is to drive at low speedand gradually adjust the amount ofsteering to suit the surface.

You should have no problem makingsharp turns at low speed on levelground. But never make an abruptturn at higher speeds, on or offpavement. With a higher center ofgravity, your vehicle can more easilytip or roll over.

Driving on SlopesBefore driving up or down a hill, stopand assess the situation. If you can'tclearly see all road conditions (goodtraction, no bumps, holes or otherobstacles, a safe way out, etc.) walkthe slope before you drive on it. Ifyou have any doubt about whetheryou can safely drive on the slope,don't do it. Find another route.

If you are driving up a hill and findthat you cannot continue (because ofthe steepness, a large obstacle, etc.),do not try to turn around. Your vehiclecould roll over. Slowly back down thehill, following the same route youtook up the hill.

Avoiding ObstaclesBumps, holes, rocks, and otherobstacles can be hazardous. Debrisin the road can damage yoursuspension or other components.Even small rocks can cut your tires.

More important, because yourvehicle has a high center of gravity,driving over a large obstacle, orallowing a wheel to drop into a deephole, can cause your vehicle to tip orroll over.

Drive slow enough to observeobstacles ahead and maneuveraround them. If you can't avoid aserious obstacle, turn around andlook for a better route.

Driving


If You Encounter WaterAvoid driving through deep water. Ifyou encounter water in your route (asmall stream or large puddle, forexample), evaluate it carefully beforegoing ahead. Make sure it is shallow,flowing slowly, and has firm groundunderneath. If you are not sure ofthe depth or the ground, turn aroundand find another route.

Driving through deep water can alsodamage your vehicle. The water canget into the transmission anddifferential, diluting the lubricantand causing an eventual failure. Itcan also wash the grease out of thewheel bearings.

If You Get StuckAvoid driving on soft sand, deep mud,or other surfaces where you couldget stuck. If you do happen to getstuck because of inclement weather

or other conditions, choose a safeand appropriate course of action.

You should never use a jack to trygetting unstuck. A jack only workson firm, level ground. Also, yourvehicle could easily slip off the jackand hurt you or someone else.

4-Wheel Drive VehiclesIf you spin the wheels excessivelytrying to get unstuck, you mayoverheat the components of the4-wheel drive system. If this happens,the 4-wheel drive system shuts offand only the front wheels receivepower. If this happens, stop andallow everything to cool clown. The4-wheel drive system will work againafter its temperature drops.

If you slip the clutch for a long timewhile trying to get unstuck, you mayoverheat and damage it.

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 309 for information on how toobtain a copy, or see your Hondadealer.

Maintenance Safety....................... 198Important Safety Precautions.. 199

Maintenance Schedule.................. 200

Required Maintenance Record.... 207Owner Maintenance Checks........ 209Fluid Locations............................... 210Engine Oil....................................... 211

Adding Oil................................... 211Recommended Oil..................... 211Synthetic Oil............................... 212Additives..................................... 212Changing the Oil and Filter...... 213

Cooling System.............................. 215Adding Engine Coolant............. 215Replacing Engine Coolant........ 217

Windshield Washers..................... 220Transmission Fluid........................ 221

Automatic Transmission........... 2215-speed Manual

Transmission.......................... 222Rear Differential Fluid.................. 223Brake and Clutch Fluid................. 224

Brake System............................. 224Clutch System............................ 225

Power Steering............................... 225Air Cleaner Element...................... 226Hood Latch..................................... 227Spark Plugs..................................... 227

Replacement............................... 227

Specifications............................. 228Battery............................................ 229Wiper Blades.................................. 231Air Conditioning System............... 233Air Conditioning Filter.................. 234Drive Belts...................................... 234Timing Belt..................................... 235Tires................................................ 235

Inflation....................................... 235Recommended Tire

Pressures for NormalDriving............................ 236

Inspection................................... 237Maintenance............................... 237Tire Rotation.............................. 238Replacing Tires and Wheels .... 239Wheels and Tires....................... 240Winter Driving........................... 240

Snow Tires.............................. 240Tire Chains............................. 241

Lights.............................................. 242Headlight Aiming...................... 244Replacing Bulbs......................... 246

Storing Your Vehicle..................... 253

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

Failure to properly followmaintenance instructions andprecautions can cause you tobe seriously hurt or killed.

Always follow the proceduresand precautions in this owner'smanual.

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.

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 label onthe driver's doorjamb.

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 page152).

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

201.

* 1 : See timing belt on page 231 to

determine need for replacement.

* 2 : Replace every 120,000 miles (192,000

km) or 72 months

* 3 : Replace at 120,000 miles (192,000km)

or 72 months, then every 90,000 miles

(144,000 km) or 60 months

Maintenance

service at the indicated distance or time, whichever comes first. Do the items in A, B, C as required for each distance/time interval. Follow thisschedule if the severe driving conditions described in the Severe Conditions Schedule on the next page do not apply.Canadian owners: Follow the schedule for Severe Conditions.

Maintenance

# : See information on maintenance and emissions warranty, lastcolumn, page 201.

* 1: See timing belt on page 235 to determine need for replacement.* 2 : Replacement every 120,000 miles (192,000 km) or 72 months.* 3 : Replace at 120,000 miles (192,000km) or 72 months, then every

90,000 miles (144,000 km) or 60 months.* : Check oil and coolant at each fuel stop.* : Adjust valve clearance: cold engine, only if noisy.

page 238

# : See information on maintenance and emissions warranty, last column, page 201 .

* 1 : Refer to page 235 for replacement information under special driving conditions.

* 2 : Refer to page 234 for replacement information under special driving conditions.

* 3 : Replace every 60,000 miles (96,000 km) or 36 months.

* 4 : Replace at 60,000 miles (96,000 km) or 36 months, then every 30,000 miles (48,000 km) or 24 months.

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 trijDriving in extremely hot[over 90° F (32° C)] conditionExtensive idling or longperiods of stop-and-go drivingTrailer towing, driving with aroof rack, or driving inmountainous conditions.Driving on muddy, dusty, orde-iced roads.

Canadian OwnersFollow the MaintenanceSchedule for Severe Conditions

Maintenance

fsethis schedule if your vehicle is MAINLY driven in any of the following Severe Conditions; otherwise use the Normal Schedule. Service at theidicated 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 roof rack, or driving in mountainous conditions.. Driving on muddy, dusty, or de-iced roads.

MaintenanceCONTINUED

page 238

# : See information on maintenance and emissions warranty, lastcolumn, page 201.

* 1 : See timing belt on page 235 to determine need for replacement.* 2 : See Air Conditioning Filter on page 234 for replacement

information under special driving conditions.* : Check oil and coolant at each fuel stop.* : Check and adjust valve clearance, cold engine, only 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 202 ) or severeconditions (page 204). Keep the receipts for all work done on your vehicle.

CONTINUEDMaintenance

Required Maintenance Record (for Normal and Severe Schedules)

Maintenance

Owner Maintenance Checks

You should check the followingitems at the specified intervals. Ifyou are unsure of how to performany check, turn to the page given.

Engine oil level — Check everytime you fill the fuel tank. Seepage 155.

Engine coolant level — Check theradiator reserve tank every timeyou fill the fuel tank. See page 156.

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 220.

Automatic transmission — Checkthe fluid level monthly. See page221.

Brakes and clutch — Check thefluid level monthly. See page 224.

Tires — Check the tire pressuremonthly. Examine the tread forwear and foreign objects. See page235.

Lights — Check the operation ofthe headlights, parking lights,taillights, high-mount brake light,turn signals, brake lights, andlicense plate lights monthly. Seepage 242.

Maintenance

Fluid Locations

ENGINE OILFILL CAP

AUTOMATICTRANSMISSIONFLUID DIPSTICK(Yellow loop)

COOLANTRESERVOIR

BRAKE FLUID(Gray cap)

CLUTCH FLUID(5-speed ManualTransmission only)(Gray cap)

WASHER FLUID(Blue cap)

Maintenance

ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK(Orange loop)

POWER STEERINGFLUID (Red 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 install theengine oil fill 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 major contributor to yourengine's performance and longevity.Always use a premium-gradedetergent oil displaying the APICertification Seal. This seal indicatesthe oil is energy conserving, and thatit meets the American PetroleumInstitute's latest requirements. It ishighly recommended that you useHonda Motor Oil in your vehicle foras long as you own it.

Make sure the API Certification Sealsays "For Gasoline Engines."

API CERTIFICATION MARK

CONTINUED

Maintenance

ENGINE OIL FILL CAP

Engine Oil

The numbers on the container's labeltell you the oil's viscosity or weight.Select the oil for your car accordingto 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 a conventional motor oil: itdisplays the API Certification Seal,and it is the proper weight as shownon the chart. When using syntheticoil, you must follow the oil and filterchange intervals given in themaintenance schedule.

AdditivesYour Honda does not require any oiladditives. Additives may adverselyaffect your engine's or transmission'sperformance and durability.

Maintenance

Ambient Temperature

Engine Oil

Changing the Oil and FilterAlways change the oil and filteraccording to the time and distance(miles/kilometers) recommenda-tions in the maintenance schedule.The oil and filter collect contami-nants that can damage your engine ifthey are not removed regularly.

Changing the oil and filter requiresspecial tools and access fromunderneath the 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.

OIL DRAIN BOLT WASHER

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

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

OIL FILTER

3. Remove the oil filter and let theremaining oil drain. A specialwrench (available from yourHonda dealer) is required toremove the filter.

4. Install a new oil filter according toinstructions that come with it.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

Engine Oil

5. Put a new washer on the drain bolt,then reinstall the drain bolt.Tighten it to:33 lbf.ft (44 N.m, 4.5 kgf.m)

6. Refill the engine with the recom-mended oil.Engine oil change capacity(including filter):4.0 US qt (3.8l , 3.3 Imp qt)

7. Replace the engine oil fill cap.Start the engine. The oil pressureindicator light should go out withinfive seconds. If it does not, turn offthe engine and reinspect yourwork.

8. Let the engine run for severalminutes and check the drain boltand oil filter for leaks.

9. Turn off the engine, let it sit forseveral minutes, then check the oillevel. If necessary, add oil to bringthe level to the upper mark on thedipstick.

Improper disposal of engine oil can beharmful to the environment. If youchange your own oil, please dispose ofthe used oil properly. Put it in a sealedcontainer and take it to a recyclingcenter. Do not discard it in a trash binor dump it on the ground.

Maintenance

NOTICE

Cooling System

Adding Engine Coolant

If the coolant level in the reservetank is at or below the MIN line, addcoolant to bring it up to the MAX line.Inspect the cooling system for leaks.This coolant should always be amixture of 50 percent antifreeze and50 percent water. Never add straightantifreeze or plain water.

Always use Honda All SeasonAntifreeze/Coolant Type 2. Thiscoolant is pre-mixed with 50 percentantifreeze and 50 percent water. Itdoes not require any additionalmixing. If it is not available, you mayuse another major-brand non-silicatecoolant as a temporary replacement.Make sure it is 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.

1. Make sure the engine and radiatorare cool.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

Removing the radiator capwhile the engine is hot cancause the coolant to spray out,seriously scalding you.

Always let the engine andradiator cool down beforeremoving the radiator cap.

RESERVE TANK

Cooling System

RADIATOR CAP

2. Turn the radiator cap counter-clockwise, without pressing downon it, until it stops. This relievesany pressure remaining in thecooling system.

3. Remove the radiator cap bypushing down and turningcounterclockwise.

RESERVE TANK

4. The coolant level should be up tothe base of the filler neck. Addcoolant if it is low.

5. Put the radiator cap back on.Tighten it fully.

6. Pour coolant into the reserve tank.Fill it to halfway between the MAXand MIN marks. Put the cap backon the reserve tank.

Do not add any rust inhibitors orother additives to your vehicle'scooling system. They may not becompatible with the coolant orengine components.

Maintenance

Cooling System

Replacing Engine CoolantThe cooling system should becompletely drained and refilled withnew coolant according to the timeand distance recommendations inthe maintenance schedule. Only useHonda All Season Antifreeze/Coolant Type 2.

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). Turnthe heater temperature controldial fully clockwise. Turn theignition off.

2. Open the hood. Make sure theengine and radiator are cool to thetouch.

3. Remove the radiator cap.

DRAIN BOLT

DRAIN PLUG

4. Loosen the drain plug on thebottom of the radiator. Thecoolant will drain through thesplash guard. Remove the drainbolt and washer from the engineblock.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

Cooling System

RESERVE TANK CAP

HOLDER RESERVE TANK

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.Apply non-hardening sealant to thedrain bolt threads, put a newwasher on the drain bolt, andreinstall the bolt in the engineblock. Tighten it securely.Tightening torque:61 lbf.ft (83 N.m,8.5 kgf.tn)

7. Mix the recommended antifreezewith an equal amount of purifiedor distilled water in a cleancontainer. The cooling systemcapacity is:

Automatic Transmission:1.03 US gal (3.9 l, 0.86 Imp gal)

Manual Transmission:1.06 US gal (4.0 l, 0.88 Imp gal)

FILLER NECK

Fill up to here

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

Maintenance

Cooling System

9. Start the engine and let it run forabout 30 seconds. Then turn offthe engine.

10. Check the level in the radiator,add coolant if needed.

RESERVE TANK

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

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

13. Start the engine and let it run untilthe radiator fan comes on twotimes. Then stop the engine.

14. Remove the radiator cap.

15. Pour coolant into the radiator upto the base of the filler neck andinto the reserve tank up to theMAX mark.

16. Start the engine and hold it at1,500 rpm until the radiator fancomes on. Turn off the engine.Check the coolant level in theradiator and add coolant if needed.

17. Install the radiator cap, andtighten it fully.

18. If necessary, fill the reserve tankto the MAX mark. Install thereserve tank cap.

Maintenance

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.

LEVEL GAUGE

The windshield washer reservoir islocated behind the driver's sideheadlight. Check the reservoir's fluidlevel by removing the cap andlooking at the level gauge attachedto the cap.

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

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

NOTICE

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 into the filler holeto bring it to the upper mark.Always use Honda ATF-Z1(Automatic Transmission Fluid). Ifit is not available, you may use aDEXRON® III automatictransmission fluid as a temporaryreplacement. However, continueduse can affect shift quality. Havethe transmission flushed andrefilled with Honda ATF-Z1 assoon as it is convenient.

To thoroughly flush the transmission,the technician should drain and refillit with Honda ATF-Z1 (AutomaticTransmission Fluid), then drive thevehicle a short distance. Do thisthree times. Then drain and refill thetransmission a final time.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

DIPSTICK

UPPER MARKLOWER MARK

Transmission Fluid

6. Insert the dipstick all the way backinto the transmission securely asshown in the illustration.

The transmission should be drainedand refilled with new fluid accordingto the time and distance recommen-dations in the maintenance schedule.


Correct level FILLER BOLT

Check the fluid level with thetransmission at normal operatingtemperature and the vehicle sittingon level ground. Remove thetransmission filler bolt and carefullyfeel inside the bolt hole with yourfinger. The fluid level should be upto the edge of the bolt hole. If it isnot, add Honda Manual Transmis-sion Fluid (MTF) until it starts torun out of the hole. Reinstall thefiller bolt and tighten it securely.

If Honda MTF is not available, youmay use an API service SG, SH or SJgrade motor oil with a viscosity ofSAE 10W-30 or 10W-40 as atemporary replacement. An SGgrade is preferred, but an SH or SJgrade may be used if SG is notavailable. However, motor oil doesnot contain the proper additives andcontinued use can cause stiffershifting. Replace as soon as it isconvenient.

The transmission should be drainedand refilled with new fluid accordingto the time and distance recommen-dations in the maintenance schedule.

Maintenance

Rear Differential Fluid

(4WD models only)

FILLER BOLT

Check the fluid level with the reardifferential at normal operatingtemperature and the vehicle sittingon level ground. Remove thedifferential fluid filler bolt andwasher and carefully feel inside thebolt hole with your finger. The fluidlevel should be up to the edge of thebolt hole. If it is not, slowly addHonda Dual Pump Fluid until itstarts to run out of the hole. Reinstalllthe filler bolt and tighten it securely.

If the Dual Pump Fluid is notavailable, you may use HondaPremium Formula AutomaticTransmission Fluid (ATF) or aquality DEXRON® III ATF as atemporary replacement. However,continued use can cause noise,vibration and performance problems.Have the differential drained andrefilled with Honda Dual Pump Fluidas soon as it is convenient.

The rear differential should bedrained and refilled with new fluidaccording to the time and distancerecommendations in the mainte-nance schedule.

Maintenance

Correctlevel

Brake and Clutch Fluid

Check the fluid level in the reser-voirs monthly. There are up to tworeservoirs, depending on the model.They are:

Brake fluid reservoir (all models)Clutch fluid reservoir(manual transmission only)

The brake fluid should be replacedaccording to the time and distancerecommendations in the mainte-nance schedule.

Always use Honda Heavy DutyBrake Fluid DOT 3. If it is notavailable, you should use only DOT 3or DOT 4 fluid, from a sealedcontainer, as a temporaryreplacement. However, the use ofany non-Honda brake fluid can causecorrosion and decrease the life of thesystem. Have the brake systemflushed and refilled with HondaHeavy Duty Brake Fluid DOT 3 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

Brake and Clutch Fluid, Power Steering

Clutch System

MIN MAX

The fluid should be between theMIN and MAX marks on the side ofthe reservoir. If it is not, add brakefluid to bring it up to that level. Usethe same fluid specified for thebrake system.

Low fluid level can indicate a leak inthe clutch system. Have this systeminspected as soon as possible.

Power Steering

UPPER LEVEL

LOWER LEVEL

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 Honda Power SteeringFluid. If it is not available, you mayuse another power steering fluid asan 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

NOTICE

Air Cleaner Element

The air cleaner element should bereplaced according to the time anddistance recommendations in themaintenance schedule.

Replacement

CLIPS

The air cleaner element is inside theair cleaner housing on the right sideof the engine compartment.

To replace it:

1. Unsnap the two clips and removethe air cleaner housing cover.

AIR CLEANERELEMENT

2. Remove the old air cleanerelement.Carefully clean the inside of theair cleaner housing with a damprag.

3. Place the new air cleaner elementin the air cleaner housing.

4. Align the tabs and reinstall the aircleaner housing cover, snap thetwo clips back into place.

Maintenance

Hood Latch, Spark Plugs

Hood Latch

Clean the hood latch assembly with amild cleaner, then lubricate it with amultipurpose grease. Lubricate allthe moving parts, including the pivot.Follow the time and distancerecommendations in theMaintenance Schedule. If you arenot sure how to clean and grease thelatch, contact your Honda dealer.

Spark PlugsThe spark plugs in your vehicleshould be replaced according to thetime and distance recommendationsin the maintenance schedule.

Replacement

SPARK PLUG CAP

1. Clean up any dirt and oil aroundthe spark plug caps.

2. Remove the spark plug cap bypulling it straight out.

3. Remove the spark plug witha five-eighths inch (16 mm) sparkplug socket.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

Spark Plugs

4. Put the new spark plug into thesocket; then screw it into the hole.Screw it in by hand so you do notcrossthread it.

5. Torque the spark plug. (If you donot have a torque wrench, tightenthe spark plug two-thirds of a turnafter it contacts the cylinder head.)Tightening torque:13 lbf.ft (18 N.m,1.8 kgf.m)

Tighten The spark plugs carefully. Aspark plug that is too loose canoverheat and damage the engine.Overtightening can cause damage tothe threads in the cylinder head.

6. Install the spark plug cap.

7. Repeat this procedure for theother three spark plugs.

Specifications:

NGK:DENSO:

ZFR6F-11KJ20CR-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.

WARNING: Battery posts,terminals and related accessoriescontain lead and lead compounds.Wash hands after handling.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

Battery

If the terminals are severely cor-roded, clean them with baking sodaand water. Then use a wrench toloosen and remove the cables fromthe terminals. Always disconnect thenegative (—) cable first and recon-nect it last. Clean the battery termi-nals with a terminal cleaning tool orwire brush. Reconnect and tightenthe cables, then coat the terminalswith grease.

If you need to connect the battery toa charger, disconnect both cables toprevent damage to the vehicle'selectrical system.

On EX and SE modelsIf your vehicle's battery isdisconnected or goes dead, the audiosystem will disable itself. The nexttime you turn on the radio you willsee " Code " in the frequencydisplay. Use the Preset buttons toenter the five-digit code (see page137).

Charging the battery with the cablesconnected can seriously damage yourvehicle's electronic controls. Detachthe battery cables before connectingthe battery to a charger.

Maintenance

NOTICE

The battery gives off explosivehydrogen gas during normaloperation.

A spark or flame can cause thebattery to explode with enoughforce to kill or seriously hurt you.

Wear protective clothing and aface shield, or have a skilledmechanic do the batterymaintenance.

Wiper Blades

Check the condition of the wiperblades at least every six months.Look for signs of cracking in therubber, or areas that are gettinghard. Replace the blades if you findthese signs, or they leave streaksand unwiped areas when used.

WIPER ARMS

To replace the blade:

1. Raise the wiper arm off thewindshield.

LOCK TAB

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 Blades

BLADE

3. Remove the blade from its holderby grasping the tabbed end of theblade. Pull firmly until the tabscome out of the holder.

BLADE

4. Examine the new wiper blades. Ifthey have no plastic or metal rein-forcement along the back edge,remove the metal reinforcementstrips from the old wiper blade andinstall them in the slots along theedge of the new blade.

5. Slide the new wiper blade into theholder until the tabs lock.

6. Slide the wiper blade assemblyonto the wiper arm. Make sure itlocks in place.

7. Lower the wiper arm down againstthe windshield.

Maintenance

REINFORCEMENT

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 page295.)

Whenever you have the air conditioningsystem serviced, make sure the servicefacility uses a refrigerant recyclingsystem. This system captures therefrigerant for reuse. Releasingrefrigerant into the atmosphere candamage the environment.

Maintenance

AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER

NOTICE

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.

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 becomesless than usual. Have the airconditioning filter replaced by yourHonda dealer.

Drive Belts

Check the condition of the threedrive belts. Examine the edges ofeach belt for cracks or fraying.Check the tension of each belt bypushing on it with your thumbmidway between the pulleys.

The belts should have the following"play" or deflection.

Alternator belt:0.33—0.45 in (8.5—11.5 mm)Compressor belt:0.30—0.41 in (7.5—10.5 mm)Power steering belt:0.43—0.57 in (11.0—14.5 mm)

If you see signs of wear or looseness,have your dealer adjust or replacethe belts.

Maintenance

POWER STEERING BELT

COMPRESSORBELT ALTERNATOR 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 (1.6km).

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.

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.

Maintenance

Tires

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.

INDICATOR LOCATION MARKS

TREAD WEAR INDICATORS

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.

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.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

Tires

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.

(Only on vehicles equipped withaluminum wheels)Improper wheel weights can damageyour vehicle's aluminum wheels. Useonly genuine Honda wheel weights forbalancing.

(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.

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.

Maintenance

Front Front

Tire Rotation

NOTICE

Tires

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.

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.

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

Wheels and Tires

Wheels:15 x 6J J

Tires:205/70R1595S

See page 296 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.

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.

Maintenance

Tires

Tire ChainsMount snow chains on your vehiclewhen warranted by driving condi-tions or required by local laws.

Use only SAE class "S" chains. Onlycertain brands of chains will fit yourCR-V without coming in contact withthe body or causing mechanicaldamage. Before buying any types ofchains, you should consult with yourHonda dealer about the designs andbrands that will work on your CR-V.Also, make sure you purchase thecorrect size for your tires.

Install the chains only on the fronttires. Mounting any type of chains onthe rear tires will damage the bodyand suspension. When installing thechains, follow the manufacturer'sinstructions and mount them astightly as you can. Drive slowly whenthey are installed. If you hear themcoming in contact with the body,stop and investigate them. Makesure the chains are installed tightly,and that they are not contacting thebrake lines or suspension. Removethe chains as soon as you begindriving on cleared roads.

Chains that are the wrong size ordesign, or are 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.

FRONT PARKING LIGHT

HEADLIGHT TURN SIGNAL/SIDE MARKER LIGHTS

Maintenance

Lights

Check the following:

Headlights (low and high beam)Parking lightsTaillightsBrake lightsHigh-mount brake lightTurn signalsBack-up lightsHazard light functionLicense plate lightSide marker lightsDaytime running lights(Canadian models)

If you find any bulbs are burned out,replace them as soon as possible.Refer to the chart on page 295 todetermine what type of replacementbulb is needed.

Maintenance

HIGH-MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT STOP/TAILLIGHTS

LICENSE PLATE LIGHT BACK-UP LIGHT SIDE MARKER 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.

To check these settings:

1. Make sure the fuel tank is full.Park the vehicle on level ground.

2. The driver or someone whoweighs the same should be sittingin the driver's seat for all checksand adjustments.Load your vehicle with the itemsyou normally cany.

HORIZONTAL ANGLE GAUGE

3. Open the hood.

4. Pull the inner fender off (see page247).

5. Check the horizontal angle gauge.The line on the adjustment screwindicator should line up with the"0" mark on the gauge.

Maintenance

Lights

VERTICAL ANGLE GAUGE

6. Check the vertical angle gauge.The bubble should be centeredunderneath the longest scribemark on the gauge.

HORIZONTAL ADJUSTMENT

7. If either indicator is not alignedwith its "0" mark as described, anadjustment can be made using aPhillips-head screwdriver torealign it with the "0" mark. Pleaserefer to the illustrations.

VERTICAL ADJUSTMENT

8. If you cannot get an indicator toalign, have your Honda dealer-inspect the vehicle for bodydamage or suspension problems.

Maintenance

Lights

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.

2. Remove the electrical connectorfrom the bulb by squeezing theconnector on both sides to unlockthe tab. Pull the connector straightoff.

3. Remove the rubber weather sealby pulling on the tab.

Maintenance

NOTICE

Lights

4. Unclip the end of the hold-downwire from its slot. Pivot it out ofthe way and remove the bulb.

5. Insert the new bulb into the hole,making sure the tabs are in theirslots. Pivot the hold-down wireback in place and clip the end intothe slot.

6. Install the rubber seal over theback of the headlight assembly.Make sure it is right side up; it ismarked "TOP."

7. Push the electrical connector ontothe new bulb.Turn on the headlights to test thenew bulb.

Replacing the Front Side Marker/Turn Signal and Parking LightBulb1. If you are changing the bulb on

the 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-tip screwdriver toremove the fastener from theinner fender.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

FASTENER

Lights

3. Pull the inner fender cover back.

4. Remove the socket from theheadlight assembly by turning itone-quarter turn counterclockwise.

5. To remove the turn signal/sidemarker bulb, push it in slightly andturn it counterclockwise. Toremove the parking light bulb, pullit straight out of its socket.

6. Install the new bulb into thesocket.

7. Insert the socket back into theheadlight assembly. Turn itclockwise to lock it in place.

8. Test the lights to make sure thenew bulb is working.

9. Put the inner fender cover in place.Install the fastener and push onthe center until it locks (the centeris flush with the head).

Replacing Rear Bulbs

1. Open the tailgate. Remove thethree screws and remove the rearlight assembly from the rear pillar.

2. Determine which of the threebulbs is burned out: stop/taillight,turn signal light or back-up light.

Maintenance

Lights

3. Remove the socket by turning itone-quarter turn counterclockwise.

4. Remove the bulb from the socketby pulling it straight out.

5. Install the new bulb in the socket.

6. Reinstall the socket. Turn it clock-wise until it locks.


8. Reinstall the rear light assemblyinto the rear pillar. Reinstall thethree screws and tighten themsecurely.

Replacing a Rear License PlateBulb

1. Remove the cover by carefullyprying on the edge of the cover inthe middle with a small flat-tipscrewdriver.

2. Remove the socket from the lightassembly by turning it one-quarterturn counterclockwise.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

Lights

3. Pull the bulb straight out of itssocket. Push the new bulb in untilit bottoms in the socket.

4. Turn on the parking lights andcheck that the new bulb isworking.

5. Reinstall the socket. Snap thecover back in place.

Replacing a Rear Side MarkerLight Bulb

1. The rear side marker lightassembly is behind the rear wheel.You can reach the light assemblyfrom the rear wheel housing.

2. Remove the outer three screwsholding the mudguard and pivotthe mudguard out of the way.

3. Remove the socket from the rearside marker assembly by turning itone-quarter turn counterclockwise.

4. Pull the bulb straight out of itssocket.

Maintenance

Lights

5. Install the new bulb in the socket.

6. Insert the socket back into therear side marker light assembly.Turn it clockwise to lock it in place.


8. Put the mudguard back in placeand secure it with the threescrews.

Replacing a High-mount BrakeLight Bulb

1. Remove the light assembly coverby pushing the tabs on both sidesand pulling the cover down.

2. Remove the socket from the lightassembly by turning it one-quarterturn counterclockwise.

3. Pull the bulb straight out of itssocket.Push the new bulb straight intothe socket until it bottoms.


5. Put the socket back into the lightassembly and turn it clockwise tolock it in place.

6. Put the cover back onto the lightassembly. Push it up until it locksin place.

Maintenance

Lights

Replacing Ceiling/Cargo AreaLights and Spotlight BulbsThe ceiling light, cargo area lightand spotlight come apart the sameway. They do not all use the samebulb.

CEILING/CARGO AREA 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.

2. Remove the bulb by pulling itstraight out of its metal tabs.

3. Push the new bulb into the metaltabs. Snap the lens back in place.

Maintenance

SPOTLIGHT

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 213 ).

Wash and dry the exteriorcompletely.

Clean the interior. Make sure thecarpeting, floor mats, etc. arecompletely dry.

Leave the parking brake off. Putthe transmission in Reverse(5-speed manual) or Park(automatic).

Block the rear wheels.

If the 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 202 ).The replacements called for in themaintenance schedule are notneeded unless the vehicle hasactually reached that time or mileage.

Maintenance

Appearance Care

Regular cleaning and polishing ofyour Honda helps to keep it "new"looking. This section gives you hintson how to clean your vehicle andpreserve its appearance: the paint,brightwork, wheels and interior. Alsoincluded are several things you cando to help prevent corrosion.

Exterior Care.................................. 256Washing...................................... 256Waxing....................................... 257Aluminum Wheels..................... 257Paint Touch-up........................... 258

Interior Care................................... 259Carpeting.................................... 259Floor Mats.................................. 259Fabric.......................................... 260Vinyl............................................ 260Seat Belts.................................... 261Windows..................................... 261Air Fresheners........................... 261

Corrosion Protection..................... 262Body Repairs.................................. 263

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 258 ).

Appearance Care

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 removethe top layer of the finish. Youshould use a polish on your Honda ifthe finish does not have its originalshine after using a wax.

Cleaning tar, insects, etc. withremovers also takes off the wax.Remember to re-wax those areas,even if the rest of the 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.

Appearance Care

Exterior Care

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.

Floor Mats

On EX and SE modelsThe Genuine Honda driver's floormat that came with your vehicle wasdesigned to be hooked over the floormat anchor. This keeps the floor matfrom sliding forward and possiblyinterfering with the pedals.

If you remove the floor mat, makesure to re-anchor it when you put itback in your vehicle.

If you replace it, use a genuineHonda floor mat that is designed tobe used with the floor mat anchor inyour car.

If you use a non-Honda floor mat inthe driver's footwell, make sure itfits properly and that it can be usedwith the floor mat anchor.

Do not put additional floor mats ontop of the anchored mat, otherwisethe additional mats may slideforward and interfere with the pedals.

Appearance Care

Interior Care

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.

LeatherSE modelVacuum dirt and dust from theleather frequently. Pay particularattention to the pleats and seams.Clean the leather with a soft clothdampened with clear water, thenbuff it with a clean, dry cloth. Iffurther cleaning is needed, use asoap specifically for leather, such assaddle soap. Apply this soap with adamp, soft cloth. Wipe down andbuff as described above.

Appearance Care

Interior Care

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.

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 orebonded 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

LOOP

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.Vehicles equipped with ABS havea sensor and wiring at each wheel.Be careful not to damage them.

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

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.

Changing a Flat Tire ..................... 266If Your Engine Won't Start........... 275

Nothing Happens or the StarterMotor Operates VerySlowly..................................... 275

The Starter OperatesNormally................................. 276

Jump Starting................................. 277If Your Engine Overheats............. 279Low Oil Pressure Indicator .......... 281Charging System Indicator........... 282Malfunction Indicator Lamp ........ 283Brake System Indicator................ 284Fuses............................................... 285

Checking and Replacing........... 286Emergency Towing....................... 290


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 (automatic) or Reverse(manual). Apply the parking brake.

2. Turn on the hazard warning lightsand turn the ignition switch toLOCK (0). Have all thepassengers get out of the vehiclewhile you change the tire.

3. Pull up the cargo area carpet andopen the cargo area floor. To keepthe cargo area floor out of the way,attach the hook to the tailgate sillas shown.

4. The tool kit is in the right cargofloor pocket. Open the cover andtake out the tool kit.


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.

TOOLKIT

SPARE TIREJACK

HOOK


CLIPS

STOP

5. The jack is under the cargostorage bin. Remove each of thefour clips holding the bin bypulling straight up on the ring.Remove the bin.

To keep the tailgate door open onan incline, use the stop in the toolkit.The tool kit is in the right cargofloor pocket. Put the stop on thesupport strut as shown.

6. Turn the jack's end bracketcounterclockwise to loosen it, thenremove the jack by lifting itstraight up.

Soft type spare tire coverLX and EX models

7. Zip the cover open.

CONTINUED



8. Pull out the cover's two lower flaps.Don't pull the top of the cover, oryou will tear it.

9. Pull the upper flaps out bygradually working your hands upthe sides of the cover.

10. Remove the cover.

Hard type spare tire coverOn SE model

CENTER SPACER

11. Unfasten the magic tape on theleft side.

12. Unzip the cover around the upperedge of the cover.

13. Pull out the upper edge of thecover gradually.

14. Peel off the spare tire cover fromthe back of the spare tire andremove the cover. Do not forciblypull off the cover or you maydamage it.

15. Pull off the center spacer. Usingthe wheel wrench, remove thethree wheel nuts. Remove thespare tire from the holder.


CENTER SPACER


16. Loosen the five wheel nuts 1/2turn with the wheel wrench.

JACKING POINT

17. Locate the jacking point nearestthe tire you need to change. It ispointed to by an arrow molded intothe underside of the body. Placethe jack under the jacking point.Turn the end bracket clockwiseuntil the top of the jack contactsthe jacking point. Make sure thejacking point tab is resting in thejack notch.

EXTENSION

WHEEL WRENCH

18. Use the extension and wheelwrench as shown to raise thevehicle until the flat tire is off theground.

CONTINUED


WHEEL NUTS


19. 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.

BRAKE HUB

20. 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.

21. 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.



22. Lower the vehicle to the groundand remove the jack.

23. 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(108N.m,11 kgf.m)

CENTER SPACER

24. Put the flat tire on the spare tireholder. Put the wheel nuts onfinger-tight, then tighten themwith the wheel wrench.Put the center spacer in the centerof the wheel.

25. Store the jack in its holder. Turnthe jack's end bracket to lock it inplace. Store the tool kit.


CONTINUED


Soft type spare tire coverLX and EX models

TOP SLIT

26. Hold the cover at the 10 o'clockand 2 o'clock positions, then placethe top of it over the spare tire,making sure the top slit on theback of the cover is vertical.

Make sure the cover is at roomtemperature before you install it. If it'stoo cold, it won't fit easily over the tire.

27. Step back to check the alignmentof the logo. If needed, move thecover left or right until the logo isstraight.


NOTICE

Loose items can fly around theinterior in a crash and couldseriously injure the occupants.

Store the wheel, jack and toolssecurely before driving.


OUTSIDE SEAM

28. Unhook the cargo area floor andlower it. Replace the cargo areacarpet.

UPPER FLAP

SLIT

29. Pull the bottom of the cover overthe tire, and make sure the twoslits on the lower flaps of the coverare horizontal and the two upperflaps touch the spare tire bracket.

30. If needed, readjust the cover tosmooth out any wrinkles.

31. Zip the cover closed.

CONTINUED


SPARE TIRE BRACKET


Hard type spare tire coverOn SE model

TOP SLIT

32. Hold the cover, then place thebottom of it over the spare tire.

33. Make sure the cover is horizontal.If needed, move the cover left orright until the cover is horizontal.

34. Zip the cover closed and fasten themagic tape.

35. Replace the cargo storage bin.Secure it with the four clips. Pusheach clip down securely, and pivotthe ring down flat.

36. Unhook the cargo area floor andlower it. Replace the cargo areacarpet.


If Your Engine Won't Start

Diagnosing why your engine won'tstart falls into two areas, dependingon what you hear when you turn thekey to START (III):

You hear nothing, or almostnothing. The engine's startermotor does not operate at all, oroperates very slowly.

You can hear the starter motoroperating normally, or the startermotor sounds like it is spinningfaster than normal, but the enginedoes not start up and run.

Nothing Happens or the StarterMotor Operates Very SlowlyWhen you turn the ignition switch toSTART (III), you do not hear thenormal noise of the engine trying tostart. You may hear a clicking soundor series of clicks, or nothing at all.Check these things:

Check the transmission interlock.If you have a manual transmission,the clutch pedal must be pushedall the way to the floor or thestarter will not operate. With anautomatic transmission, it must bein Park or Neutral.

Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).Turn on the headlights and checktheir brightness. If the headlightsare very dim or don't light at all,the battery is discharged. SeeJump Starting on page 277.

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 290.)

CONTINUED


If Your Engine Won't Start

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 of thebattery and terminal connections(see page 229). You can then tryjump starting the vehicle from abooster battery (see page 277).

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 166.

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 286).

If you find nothing wrong, you willneed a qualified technician to findthe problem. See EmergencyTowing on page 290.


Jump Starting

If 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 with anautomatic transmission 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 229). In very coldweather, check the condition ofthe electrolyte. If it seems slushyor like ice, do not try jump startinguntil it thaws.

If a battery sits in extreme cold, theelectrolyte inside can freeze.Attempting to jump start with a frozenbattery can cause it to rupture.

2. Turn off all the electrical acces-sories: heater, A/C, stereo system,lights, etc.

Put the transmission in Neutral orPark and set the parking brake.

3. Connect one jumper cable to thepositive ( + ) terminal on yourHonda's battery. Connect theother end to the positive (+)terminal on the booster battery.

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

4. Connect the second jumper cableto the negative ( — ) terminal onthe booster battery. Connect theother end to the ground wire onthe right side of the engine asshown. Do not connect this jumpercable to any other part of theengine.

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.

Keep the ends of the jumper cablesaway from each other and any metalon the car until all are disconnected.Otherwise, you may cause anelectrical short.


BOOSTER BATTERY

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 coolingsystem and all other accessories.Turn on the hazard warningindicators.

2. If you see steam and/or spraycoming from under the hood, turnoff the engine.

3. If you do not see steam or spray,leave the engine running andwatch the temperature gauge. Ifthe high heat is due to overloading(climbing a long, steep hill on ahot day with the A/C running, forexample), the engine should startto cool down almost immediately.If it does, wait until the tempera-ture gauge comes down to the mid-point then continue driving.

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.

CONTINUED


Steam and spray from anoverheated engine canseriously scald you.

Do not open the hood if steamis coming out.

NOTICE

If Your Engine Overheats

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 290).

7. If you don't find an obvious leak,check the coolant level in theradiator reserve tank (see page144). 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 pointerreaches the middle of the tempera-ture gauge, or lower, before check-ing the radiator.

9. Using gloves or a large heavycloth, turn the radiator capcounterclockwise, without pushingdown, to the first stop. Thisreleases any remaining pressure inthe cooling system. After thepressure releases, push down onthe cap and turn it until it comesoff.

10. Start the engine and set thetemperature control dial tomaximum. Add coolant to theradiator up to the base of the fillerneck. If you do not have theproper coolant mixture available,you can add plain water.Remember to have the coolingsystem drained and refilled withthe proper mixture as soon as youcan.

11. Put the radiator cap back ontightly. Run the engine and watchthe temperature gauge. If it goesback to the red mark, the engineneeds repair. (See EmergencyTowing on page 290.)

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 155). 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 211).

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 290.)


NOTICELOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR

Charging System Indicator

This indicator should come on whenthe ignition switch is ON (II), and goout after the engine starts. If itcomes on brightly when the engineis running, it indicates that thecharging system has stoppedcharging the battery.

Immediately turn off all electricalaccessories: radio, heater, A/C, reardefogger, cruise control, etc. Try notto use other electrically-operatedcontrols such as the power windows.Keep the engine running and takeextra care not to stall it. Starting theengine will discharge the batteryrapidly.

By eliminating as much of theelectrical load as possible, you candrive several miles (kilometers)before the battery is too dischargedto keep the engine running. Drive toa service station or garage whereyou can get technical assistance.


CHARGING SYSTEM INDICATOR

Malfunction Indicator Lamp

This indicator comes on for a fewseconds when you turn the ignitionswitch ON (II). If it comes on at anyother time, it indicates one of theengine's emissions control systemsmay have a problem. Even thoughyou may feel no difference in 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.


NOTICE

MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP

Brake System Indicator

The Brake System Indicatornormally comes on when you turnthe ignition switch ON (II). It is areminder to check the parking brake.It comes on and stays lit if you do notfully release the parking brake.

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 210). 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 290.)

If you must drive the vehicle a shortdistance in this condition, driveslowly and cautiously.


BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR*

100'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 two orthree fuse boxes.

The under-hood fuse box is locatedin the engine compartment. To openit, push the tab as shown.

The interior fuse box is underneaththe dashboard on the driver's side.Remove the fuse box lid by swingingthe lid down and pulling it straightout of its hinges.

Vehicles equipped with ABS have athird fuse box for the ABS. It is inthe engine compartment on thepassenger's side.


UNDER-HOOD TAB INTERIOR ABS FUSE BOX

Fuses

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 pages271 and 272 , or the diagram on thefuse box lid, which fuse or fusescontrol that component. Check thosefuses first, but check all the fusesbefore deciding that a blown fuse isnot the cause. Replace any blownfuses and check the component'soperation.

1. Turn the ignition switch to LOCK(0). Make sure the headlights andall other accessories are off.

2. Remove the cover from the fusebox.

BLOWN

3. Check each of the large fuses inthe under-hood fuse box bylooking through the top at the wireinside. Removing these fusesrequires a Phillips-head screw-driver.

FUSEPULLER

4. Check the smaller fuses in theunder-hood fuse box and all thefuses in the interior fuse box bypulling out each fuse with the fusepuller provided in the door of theinterior fuse box.


Fuses

BLOWN

5. Look for a burned wire inside thefuse. If it is burned, replace it withone of the spare fuses of the samerating or lower.

If you cannot drive the 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 and SE modelsIf the radio fuse is removed, theaudio system will disable itself. Thenext time you turn on the radio youwill see "Code" in the frequencydisplay. Use the Preset buttons toenter the five-digit code (see page137).


CONTINUED

NOTICE

Fuses

INTERIOR FUSE BOX

* : Canadian model


Fuses

UNDER-HOOD FUSE BOX

ABS FUSE BOX (For some types)


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 only way totransport your vehicle. Any othermethod of towing will damage thedrive system. When you contact thetowing agency, inform them that aflat-bed is required.

Towing a 4WD CR-V with only twotires on the ground will damage partsof the 4WD system. It should betransported on a flat-bed truck ortrailer.

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.Never tow your vehicle withwheel lift equipment.

Sling-type Equipment — The towtruck uses metal cables with hookson the ends. These hooks go aroundparts of the frame or suspension andcables lift that end of the vehicle offthe ground. Your vehicle'ssuspension and body can beseriously damaged. This method oftowing your CR-V is unacceptable.

Refer to Towing Your VehicleBehind a Motorhome on page189 for non-emergency towinginformation.


NOTICE

Technical Information

The diagrams in this section giveyou the dimensions and capacities ofyour Honda, and the locations of theidentification numbers. It alsoincludes information you shouldknow about your vehicle's tires andemissions control systems.

Identification Numbers................. 292Specifications................................. 294DOT Tire Quality Grading........... 296

Uniform Tire QualityGrading................................... 296

DOT Quality Grades................. 296Treadwear.................................. 296Traction....................................... 296Temperature.............................. 297

Oxygenated Fuels.......................... 298Driving in Foreign Countries....... 299

Emissions Controls........................ 300The Clean Air Act...................... 300Crankcase Emissions Control

System..................................... 300Evaporative Emissions Control

System..................................... 300Exhaust Emissions Controls.... 301

PGM-FI System..................... 301Ignition Timing Control

System................................. 301Three Way Catalytic

Converter............................ 301Replacement Parts..................... 301

Three Way Catalytic Converter... 302State Emissions Testing............... 303


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.

The Transmission Number is on alabel on top of the transmission.

TRANSMISSION NUMBER

ENGINE NUMBER


Specifications

*1 : Including the coolant in the reserve tank and that remaining in theengine.Reserve tank capacity:0.16 US gal (0.6 l,0.13 Imp gal)

*2 : Excluding the oil remaining in the engine.


page 228 .

Specifications


page 287

page 288

DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)

The tires on your vehicle meet allU.S. Federal Safety Requirements.All tires are also graded fortreadwear, traction, and temperatureperformance according toDepartment of Transportation(DOT) standards. The followingexplains these gradings.

Uniform Tire Quality GradingQuality grades can be found whereapplicable on the tire sidewallbetween the tread shoulder and themaximum section width. Forexample:

Treadwear 200Traction AATemperature A

All passenger car tires must conformto Federal Safety Requirements inaddition to these grades.

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 one-half (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.

Traction — AA, A, B, CThe 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 surfacesof asphalt and concrete. A tiremarked C may have poor tractionperformance.

Warning: The traction gradeassigned to this tire is based onstraight-ahead braking traction tests,and does not include acceleration,cornering, hydroplaning, or peaktraction characteristics.


DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)

Temperature — A, B, CThe 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 buildup and possible tirefailure.


Oxygenated Fuels

Some conventional gasolines arebeing blended with alcohol or anether compound. These gasolinesare collectively referred to asoxygenated fuels. To meet clean airstandards, some areas of the UnitedStates and Canada use oxygenatedfuels to help reduce emissions.

If you use an oxygenated fuel, besure it is unleaded and meets theminimum octane rating requirement.

Before using an oxygenated fuel, tryto confirm the fuel's contents. Somestates/provinces require thisinformation to be posted on thepump.

The following are the U.S. EPA andCanadian CGSB approvedpercentages of oxygenates:

ETHANOL (ethyl or grain alcohol)You may use gasoline containing upto 10 percent ethanol by volume.Gasoline containing ethanol may bemarketed under the name "Gasohol."

MTBE (Methyl Tertiary ButylEther)You may use gasoline containing upto 15 percent MTBE by volume.

METHANOL (methyl or woodalcohol)Your vehicle was not designed 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 page188.

* 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 three systems: PGM-FI,Ignition Timing Control and ThreeWay Catalytic Converter. Thesethree systems work together tocontrol the engine's combustion andminimize the amount of HC, CO, andNOx that comes out the tailpipe. Theexhaust emissions control systemsare separate from the crankcase andevaporative emissions controlsystems.

PGM-FI SystemThe PGM-FI System uses sequentialmultiport fuel injection.It has three subsystems: Air Intake,Engine Control, and Fuel Control.The Engine Control Module (ECM)or 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.

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

State Emissions Testing

Testing of Readiness CodesIf you take your vehicle for a stateemissions test shortly after thebattery has been disconnected orgone dead, it may not complete thetest. This is because of certain"readiness codes" that must be set inthe on-board diagnostics for theemissions systems. These codes areerased when the battery isdisconnected, and set again onlyafter several days of driving under avariety of conditions.

If the testing facility determines thatthe readiness codes are not set, youwill be requested to return at a laterdate to complete the test. If you mustget the vehicle re-tested within thenext two or three days, you cancondition the vehicle for re-testingby doing the following.

Make sure the gas tank is nearly,but not completely, full (around3/4).

Make sure the vehicle has beenparked with the engine off for 8hours or more.

Make sure the ambienttemperature is between 20° and95°F.

Without touching the acceleratorpedal, start the engine and let itidle for 20 seconds.

Keep the vehicle in Park(automatic transmission) orNeutral (manual transmission).Increase the engine speed to 2,000rpm and hold it there until thetemperature gauge rises to at least1/4 of the scale (approximately 3minutes).

CONTINUED


State Emissions Testing

Select a nearby lightly traveledmajor highway where you canmaintain a speed of 50 to 60 mph(80 to 97 km/h) for at least 20minutes. Drive on the highway inD4 (A/T) or 5th (M/T). Do notuse the cruise control. Whentraffic allows, drive for 90 secondswithout moving the acceleratorpedal. (Vehicle speed may varyslightly; this is okay.) If you cannotdo this for a continuous 90seconds because of trafficconditions, drive for at least 30seconds, then repeat it two moretimes (for a total of 90 seconds).

Then drive in city/suburbantraffic for at least 10 minutes.When traffic conditions allow, letthe vehicle coast for severalseconds without using theaccelerator pedal or the brakepedal.

If the testing facility determines thereadiness codes are still not set, seeyour Honda dealer.


Warranty and Customer Relations

Customer RelationsInformation................................. 306

U.S. Zone Office Map.................... 307Canada Zone Office Map.............. 308Warranty Coverages..................... 309Reporting Safety Defects

(U.S. Vehicles)........................... 310Authorized Manuals...................... 311


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 292)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 ZoneP.O. Box 2260

700 Van Ness AvenueTorrance, California90501-1490(310)781-4565

Northwestern ZoneP.O. Box 20186

12439 N.E. Airport WayPortland, Oregon 97230(503) 256-0943(also includes Alaska andHawaii)

South Central Zone4529 Royal Lane

Irving, Texas 75063(972) 929-5481

The addresses and telephone numbers are subject to change. If you cannotreach your Zone office, ask your Honda dealer for the current information.

Northeastern Zone115 Gaither Drive

Mt. Laurel, New Jersey 08054(856) 235-5533Includes: NYC Metro area andFairfield County, CT area

Mid-Atlantic Zone902 Wind River Ln., Suite 200

Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878(301)990-2020

Southeastern ZoneP.O. Box 1606

1500 Morrison ParkwayAlpharetta, Georgia 30009-1606(770) 442-2045

North Central Zone601 Campus Drive, Suite A-9

Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004(847) 870-5600

New England Zone555 Old County Road

Windsor Locks, Connecticut 06096(860)623-3310See Zone 5 for: NYC Metro area andFairfield County, CTarea

West Central Zone1600 South Abilene Street, Suite D

Aurora, Colorado 80012(303) 696-3935

Puerto Rico and U.S. V.I.Bella International

P.O. Box 190816San Juan, PR 00919-0816(787)250-4318


Central Zone101 South Stanfield Road

Troy, Ohio 45373(937) 332-6250

Canada Zone Office Map

CUSTOMER RELATIONSRELATIONS AVEC LA CLIENTELE

Honda Canada Inc.715 Milner AvenueToronto, ONM1B2K8

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 Vehicle Limited Warranty —covers your new vehicle, except forthe battery, emissions controlsystems and accessories, againstdefects in materials andworkmanship.

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 2001 WarrantyManual that came with your vehicle.


Reporting Safety Defects (U.S. Vehicles)

If you believe that your vehicle has adefect which could cause a crash orcould cause injury or death, youshould immediately inform theNational Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration (NHTSA) in additionto notifying American Honda MotorCo., Inc.

If NHTSA receives similar com-plaints, it may open an investigation,and if it finds that a safety defectexists in a group of vehicles, it mayorder a recall and remedy campaign.However, NHTSA cannot becomeinvolved in individual problemsbetween you, your dealer, orAmerican Honda Motor Co., Inc.

To contact NHTSA, you may eithercall the Auto Safety Hotline toll-freeat 1-800-424-9393 (or 366-0123 inWashington D.C. area) or write to:NHTSA, U.S. Department ofTransportation, Washington,D.C, 20590. You can also obtainother information about motorvehicle safety from the Hotline.


Authorized Manuals

Purchasing Factory Authorized Manuals(U.S. only)The following publications covering the operation andservicing of your vehicle can be obtained from HelmIncorporated, either by filling out the attached form or,for credit card holders, calling the toll-free phone numberon the form. For manuals prior to the year shown below,contact Helm Incorporated, P.O. Box 07280, Detroit,Michigan 48207, or call 1-800-782-4356.

Valid only for sales within the U.S. Canadian owners shouldcontact their authorized Honda dealer.

By completing this form you can order the materials desired. You canpay by check or money order, or charge to your credit card. Mail toHelm Incorporated at the address shown on the back of the order form.

61S1004

61S1004EL

61S1030

31S10640

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.... 158Accessories................................. 158Additional Safety Precautions.. 159Modifications............................. 159

ACCESSORY (Ignition KeyPosition)........................................ 70

Accessory Power Socket................ 92Additives, Engine Oil..................... 212Airbag (SRS)...................................... 9Air Cleaner Element...................... 226Air Conditioning............................... 98

Maintenance............................... 233Usage............................................. 98

Air Conditioning Filter.................. 234Air Outlets (Vents)........................ 100Air Pressure, Tires........................ 235

Normal Driving.......................... 236Alcohol in Gasoline........................ 298Antifreeze....................................... 215Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)

Indicator Light.................... 55, 179Operation.................................... 177

Anti-theft Steering ColumnLock.............................................. 69

Appearance Care........................... 225Ashtrays............................................ 94Audio System................................. 106Automatic Speed Control................ 66Automatic Transmission............... 170

Capacity, Fluid........................... 294Checking Fluid Level................ 221Shifting........................................ 170Shift Lever Position Indicator.. 170Shift Lever Positions................. 170Shift Lock Release..................... 174

BatteryCharging System

Indicator............................ 54, 281Jump Starting............................. 277Maintenance............................... 229Specifications............................. 294

Before Driving............................... 151Belts, Seat........................................... 8Beverage Holder.............................. 88Body Repair.................................... 263Brakes

Anti-lock System (ABS)............ 177

Break-in, New Linings .............. 152Fluid............................................ 224Bulb Replacement..................... 247Parking.......................................... 86System Indicator.................. 54, 284Wear Indicators......................... 176

Braking System.............................. 176Break-in, New Car......................... 152Brightness Control, Instruments... 61Brights, Headlights......................... 60Built-in Table.................................... 89Bulb Replacement

Back-up Lights........................... 248Brake Lights............................... 248Cargo Area Light....................... 252Ceiling Light............................... 252Front Parking Lights................. 247Front Side Marker Lights......... 247Headlights.................................. 246High-mount Brake Light.......... 251Interior Light.............................. 252License Plate Lights.................. 249Rear Side Marker Lights.......... 248Specifications.............................. 295

CONTINUED

Index

Bulb ReplacementSpotlight...................................... 252Turn Signal Lights..................... 247

Bulbs, Halogen............................... 246

Capacities Chart............................. 294Carbon Monoxide Hazard.............. 49Cargo Area Light............................. 95Cargo Floor Pockets........................ 92Cargo Hooks..................................... 93Carrying Cargo.............................. 160Cassette Player

Care.......................................... 136Operation.................... 112, 133, 148

CAUTION, Explanation of .............. iiCD Changer........................... 115, 129CD Player....................... 115, 127, 144Center Pocket.................................. 91Center Table..................................... 87Certification Label......................... 292Chains............................................. 241Change Oil...................................... 213

How to......................................... 213When to....................................... 202

Changing a Flat Tire ..................... 266Changing Engine Coolant............. 217Charging System Indicator .... 54, 282Checklist, Before Driving............. 151Childproof Door Locks................... 75Child Safety...................................... 21Child Seats........................................ 21

Tether Anchorage Points........... 40Cleaner, Air................................... 226Cleaning

Aluminum Wheels..................... 257Carpeting..................................... 259Exterior......................................... 256Fabric............................................ 260Interior........................................ 259Seat Belts.................................... 261Vinyl............................................ 260Windows....................................... 260

Clock, Setting the ........................... 87Clutch Fluid................................... 224CO in the Exhaust......................... 300Cold Weather, Starting in............. 167Consumer Information*................ 306Controls, Instruments and.............. 51Coolant

Adding......................................... 215

Checking..................................... 156Proper Solution.......................... 215Replacing.................................... 217Temperature Gauge.................... 57

Corrosion Protection..................... 262Crankcase Emission Control

System......................................... 300Cruise Control Operation............... 66Customer Relations Office........... 306

DANGER, Explanation of................. iiDashboard........................................ 52Daytime Running Lights................. 60Defects, Reporting Safety............. 310Defog and Defrost......................... 103Defogger, Rear Window................. 63Defrosting the Windows............... 103Dimensions..................................... 294Dimming the Headlights ................ 60Dipstick

Automatic Transmission........... 221Engine Oil................................... 155

Directional Signals........................... 61Disc Brake Wear Indicators......... 176

Index

Disposal of Used Oil...................... 214Doors

Locking and Unlocking............... 70Power Door Locks....................... 71

DOT Tire Quality Grading........... 296Downshifting, 5-speed Manual

Transmission.............................. 168Drive Belts...................................... 234Driving............................................ 163

Economy..................................... 157In Bad Weather.......................... 180In Foreign Countries................. 299

Driving Guidelines......................... 164

Economy, Fuel............................... 157Emergencies on the Road............. 265

Battery, Jump Starting.............. 276Brake System Indicator............ 284Changing a Flat Tire................. 266Charging System Indicator...... 282Checking the Fuses................... 286Low Oil Pressure Indicator...... 281Malfunction Indicator Lamp.... 283Overheated Engine................... 279

Emergency Brake............................ 86Emergency Flashers....................... 63Emergency Towing....................... 290Emission Controls......................... 300Engine

Coolant Temperature Gauge ..... 57Malfunction Indicator

Lamp.................................... 54, 282Oil Pressure Indicator......... 54, 281Oil, What Kind to Use............... 211Overheating................................ 279Specifications............................. 294Starting........................................ 166

Ethanol in Gasoline ....................... 298Evaporative Emission Controls.... 300Exhaust Fumes................................ 49Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat

Belts by......................................... 19Exterior, Cleaning the................... 256

Fabric, Cleaning............................. 260Fan, Interior...................................... 98Features, Comfort and

Convenience................................. 97

Filling the Fuel Tank..................... 157Filters

Air................................................ 226Air Conditioning........................ 234Oil................................................ 213

5-speed Manual TransmissionChecking Fluid Level................ 222Shifting the................................. 169

Flashers, Hazard Warning.............. 63Flat Tire, Changing a.................... 213Fluids

Automatic Transmission........... 221Brake........................................... 224Clutch.......................................... 224Manual Transmission............... 222Power Steering........................... 225Rear Differential........................ 223Windshield Washer................... 220

FM Stereo RadioReception.................................... 125

Folding Rear Seat............................ 82Foreign Countries, Driving in...... 299Four-way Flashers........................... 63

CONTINUED

Index

Fuel.................................................. 152Fill Door and Cap....................... 153Gauge............................................ 57Octane Requirement................. 152Oxygenated................................ 298Reserve Indicator......................... 55Tank, Filling the......................... 153

Fuses, Checking the...................... 285

Gas Mileage, Improving................ 157Gasohol........................................... 298Gasoline.......................................... 152

Fuel Reserve Indicator................ 55Gauge............................................ 57Octane Requirement................. 152Tank, Filling the......................... 153

Gas Station Procedures................. 153Gauges

Engine Coolant Temperature .... 57Fuel................................................ 57Speedometer................................ 56Tachometer.................................. 56

Gearshift Lever PositionsAutomatic Transmission........... 170

5-speed ManualTransmission.......................... 169

Glass Cleaning............................... 261Glove Box......................................... 77

Halogen Headlight Bulbs.............. 246Hazard Warning Flashers............... 63Headlights

Aiming......................................... 244Daytime Running Lights............. 60High Beam Indicator................... 55Reminder Beeper......................... 60Replacing Halogen Bulbs ......... 246Turning on.................................... 60

Head Restraints............................... 79Heating and Cooling........................ 98High Altitude, Starting at.............. 167High-Low Beam Switch .................. 60High-mount Brake Light............... 237Hood Latch..................................... 227Hood, Opening the ........................ 154Horn................................................... 59Hydraulic Clutch............................ 224Hydroplaning.................................. 180

Identification Number, Vehicle.... 292Ignition

Keys............................................... 69Switch............................................ 69Timing Control System............. 285

Important Safety Precautions .......... 6Indicator Lights, Instrument

Panel.............................................. 53Infant Restraint................................ 29Infant Seats....................................... 29

Tether Anchopage Point............. 40Inflation, Proper Tire .................... 235

Normal Driving.......................... 236Inside Mirror.................................... 85Inspection, Tire.............................. 237Instrument Panel............................. 53Instrument Panel Brightness......... 61Interior Cleaning............................ 259Interior Light.................................... 94Introduction......................................... i

Jacking up the Vehicle.................. 269

Index

Jack, Tire........................................ 266Jump Starting................................. 277

Keys................................................... 69

Label, Certification........................ 292Lane Change, Signaling.................. 61Lap Belt............................................. 43Lap/Shoulder Belts......................... 42Lights

Bulb Replacement..................... 246Indicator........................................ 53Parking.......................................... 60Turn Signal................................... 61

LOCK (Ignition Key Position)....... 70Locks

Anti-theft Steering Column........ 70Fuel Fill Door............................. 153Glove Box..................................... 77Power Door.................................. 71Tailgate......................................... 75

Low Coolant Level......................... 156

Low Fuel Indicator .......................... 57Low Oil Pressure Indicator.... 54, 281Lubricant Specifications Chart.... 294

Maintenance................................... 197Owner Maintenance Checks.... 209Record................................. 207-208Required Indicator....................... 58Safety........................................... 198Schedule.............................. 202-206

Malfunction Indicator Lamp.. 54, 281Manual Transmission.................... 168Manual Transmission Fluid ......... 222Meters, Gauges................................ 56Methanol in Gasoline.................... 282Mirrors, Adjusting........................... 86

Neutral Gear Position.................... 172New Vehicle Break-in ................... 152Normal Shift Speeds...................... 169NOTICE, Explanation of................... iiNumbers, Identification................ 292

Octane Requirement, Gasoline.... 152Odometer.......................................... 56Odometer, Trip................................ 56Off-Highway Guidelines............... 191Oil

Change, How to ......................... 213Change, When to....................... 202Checking Engine....................... 155Pressure Indicator............... 54, 281Selecting Proper Viscosity

Chart....................................... 212ON (Ignition Key Position)............ 70Opening the Tailgate....................... 75Operation in Foreign Countries... 299Outside Mirrors............................... 86Over-Drive...................................... 173Overheating, Engine..................... 279

Paint Touch-up............................... 258Panel Brightness Control............... 61

CONTINUED

Index

Park Gear Position......................... 171Parking............................................ 175Parking Brake.................................. 86Parking Lights.................................. 60Parking Over Things that Burn... 175PGM-FI System.............................. 304Polishing and Waxing................... 257Pre-Drive Safety Checklist............. 11Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts.......... 19Protecting Adults............................. 12

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

Protecting Children......................... 21Protecting Infants........................ 29Protecting Larger Children........ 37Protecting Small Children.......... 33Using Child Seats with

Tethers...................................... 40

Radiator Overheating.................... 279Radio/Cassette Sound System .... 106Rear Differential Fluid.................. 223Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement... 248Rear Seat, Folding........................... 82

Rear View Mirror............................. 85Rear Window Defogger.................. 63Rear Window Wiper and Washer.. 63Reclining the Seat Backs................ 81Recommended Shift Speeds ........ 169Reminder Lights.............................. 53Remote Transmitter........................ 72Replacement Information

Air Cleaner Element.................. 226Air Conditioning Filter.............. 234Coolant........................................ 217Engine Oil and Filter................. 213Fuses........................................... 285Light Bulbs................................. 246Schedule..................................... 202Spark Plugs................................. 227Timing Belt................................. 235Tires............................................ 239Wiper Blades.............................. 231

Replacing Seat Belts After aCrash............................................. 43

Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant.... 156Restraint, Child................................ 21Reverse Gear Position................... 172Rotation, Tire................................. 238

Safety Belts......................................... 8Safety Defects, Reporting* .......... 310Safety Checklist, Pre-Drive............ 11Safety Features.................................. 7

Airbags............................................ 8Door Locks................................... 10Head Restraints........................... 10Seat Belts........................................ 8Seats & Seat-Backs...................... 10

Safety Labels, Location of.............. 50Safety Messages............................... iiSeat Belts............................................ 8

Additional Information................ 42Advice for Pregnant Women...... 19Automatic Seat Belt

Tensioners................................ 47Child Seat Anchor Plate.............. 40Cleaning...................................... 261Frayed or Torn............................. 43Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 42Maintenance................................ 43Reminder Light and

Beeper................................. 42, 54Replacement................................. 43

Index

System Components.................... 42Use During Pregnancy................ 19Wearing a Lap/Shoulder Belt.... 15Wearing the Lap Belt.................. 16

Seats, Adjusting the......................... 77Serial Number................................ 292Service Intervals............................ 202Service Manual* ............................ 311Service Station Procedures .......... 153Setting the Clock............................. 87Shifting

The 5-speed ManualTransmission.......................... 169

Shift Lever Position Indicator...... 170Shift Lock Release......................... 174Side Marker Lights, Bulb

Replacement............................... 247Signaling Turns................................ 61Snow Tires...................................... 240Solvent-type Cleaners.................... 259Sound System................................. 106Spark Plugs, Replacing................. 227Specifications Charts..................... 294Speed Control................................... 66Speedometer.................................... 56

SRS, Additional Information........... 45Additional Safety Precautions.... 48How the Automatic Seat Belt

Tensioners Work..................... 47How the SRS Indicator Light

Works........................................ 47How Your Airbags Work............ 45SRS Components......................... 45SRS Service................................... 48

SRS Indicator............................. 47, 54START (Ignition Key Position)..... 70Starting the Engine........................ 166

In Cold Weather at HighAltitude................................... 167

With a Dead Battery................. 277Steam Coming from Engine......... 279Steering Wheel

Adjustment................................... 64Anti-theft Column Lock.............. 70

Stereo Sound System.................... 106Storage Box...................................... 91Storing Your Vehicle..................... 253Supplemental Restraint System....... 9

Service Precautions..................... 48Servicing....................................... 48SRS Indicator............................... 47

System Components.................... 45Tensioners, Seat Belts................ 47

Synthetic Oil................................... 212

Tachometer...................................... 56Tailgate

Opening the.................................. 75Open Indicator............................. 55

Taillights, Changing Bulbs in....... 248Taking Care of the Unexpected .. 265Tape Player ........................... 112, 133Technical Descriptions

Emission Control Systems........ 284Three Way Catalytic

Converter................................ 286Temperature Gauge........................ 57Tensioners, Seat Belts .................... 47Tether Attachment Points.............. 40Three Way Catalytic Converter... 304Time, Setting the............................. 87Timing Belt..................................... 235Tire Chains..................................... 241

CONTINUED

Index

Tire, How to Change a Flat.......... 266Tires................................................ 235

Air Pressure............................... 235Checking Wear.......................... 237DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 296Inflation....................................... 235Inspection................................... 237Maintenance............................... 237Replacing.................................... 239Rotating....................................... 238Snow............................................ 240Specifications............................. 279

Technical Information................... 291Emission Controls..................... 300Identification Numbers............. 292Specifications............................. 294Three Way Catalytic

Converter................................ 302Tools,Tire Changing.................... 266Torn Seat Belts ................................ 43Towing

A Trailer...................................... 182Behind a Motorhome................ 189Emergency................................. 290

TransmissionChecking Fluid Level,

Automatic............................... 221Checking Fluid Level,

Manual.................................... 222Fluid Selection ................... 221, 222Identification Number............... 292Shifting the Automatic.............. 170Shifting the Manual................... 169

Treadwear...................................... 237Trip Meter........................................ 56Turn Signals..................................... 61

Underside, Cleaning...................... 262Unexpected, Taking Care

of the........................................... 265Uniform Tire Quality Grading..... 296Unleaded Gasoline......................... 152Upholstery Cleaning...................... 259Used Oil, How to Dispose of........ 214

Vehicle Capacity Load .................. 161

Vehicle Dimensions....................... 294Vehicle Identification Number..... 292Vehicle Storage.............................. 253Ventilation...................................... 101VIN.................................................. 292Vinyl Cleaning................................ 260Viscosity, Oil................................... 212

WARNING, Explanation of.............. iiWarning Labels, Location of.......... 50Warranty Coverages*................... 307Washer, Windshield

Checking the Fluid Level......... 220Operation...................................... 62

Washing.......................................... 256Waxing and Polishing ................... 257Wheels

Adjusting the Steering................ 64Alignment and Balance............. 237Wrench...................................... 268

WindowsCleaning...................................... 261Operating the Power................... 84Rear, Defogger............................ 63

Index

WindshieldCleaning........................................ 62Defroster...................................... 103Washers...................................... 220

Wipers, WindshieldChanging Blades........................ 231Operation...................................... 62

Worn Tires..................................... 237Wrecker, Emergency Towing...... 290

* : U.S. and Canada only

Service Information Summary

Gasoline:Unleaded gasoline, pump octanenumber of 86 or higher.

Fuel Tank Capacity:15.3 US gal (58 l,12.8 Imp gal)

Recommended Engine Oil:API Service SJ "EnergyConserving" oil, SAE 5W-30viscosity (see page 211 ).

Oil change capacity (includingfilter):

4.0 US qt (3.8 l, 3.3 Imp qt)

Automatic Transmission Fluid:Honda ATF-Z1 (AutomaticTransmission Fluid) preferred, ora DEXRON® III ATF as atemporary replacement (see page221).

5-speed Manual TransmissionFluid:Honda Manual TransmissionFluid preferred, or an API serviceSG, SH or SJ, SAE 10W-30 or10W-40 motor oil as a temporaryreplacement (see page 222 ).

Capacity (including differential):1.8 US qt (1.7 l,1.5 Imp qt)

Rear Differential Fluid:Honda Dual Pump Fluid preferred,or a DEXRON® III ATF as atemporary replacement (see page223).

Capacity:1.1US qt(1.0 l,0.9 Imp qt)

Power Steering Fluid:Honda Power Steering Fluidpreferred, or another brand ofpower steering fluid as atemporary replacement. Do notuse ATF (see page 225 ).

Brake Fluid:Honda Heavy Duty Brake FluidDOT 3 preferred, or a DOT 3 orDOT 4 brake fluid as a temporaryreplacement (see page 224).

Tire Pressure (measured cold):Front/Rear:

26 psi (180 kPa,1.8kgf/cm2)

2001 cr-v online reference owner's manual...

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