2001 integra hatchback online reference owner's manual...

2001 Integra Hatchback Online Reference Owner's Manual Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through this reference. For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.helminc.com.

Contents

Owner's Identification Form Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... i A Few Words About Safety ................................................................................................................. ii Your Vehicle at a Glance .....................................................................................................................2 Driver and Passenger Safety ..............................................................................................................5 Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restraint System. Instruments and Controls ................................................................................................................. 51 Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls. Comfort and Convenience Features .............................................................................................. 93 How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features. Before Driving.................................................................................................................................. 121 What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo. Driving .............................................................................................................................................. 135 The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, plus towing a trailer. Maintenance ..................................................................................................................................... 159 The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer. Appearance Care.............................................................................................................................. 217 Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your vehicle ever needs body repairs. Taking Care of the Unexpected ...................................................................................................... 225 This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, and how to handle them. Technical Information..................................................................................................................... 251 ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information. Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada) ................................................................ 265 A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact us. Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)...................................................................................................... 271 How to order manuals and other technical literature. Index...................................................................................................................................................... I

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

Owner's Identification

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

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

OWNER

ADDRESSSTREET

CITY STATE/PROVINCE ZIP CODE /POSTAL CODE

V. I. N.

DELIVERY DATE(Date sold to original retail purchaser)

DEALER NAME DEALER NO.

ADDRESSSTREET

CITY STATE/PROVINCE ZIP CODE/POSTAL CODE

OWNER'S SIGNATURE

DEALER'S SIGNATURE

Introduction

Congratulations! Your selection of a 2001 Acura Integra was a wiseinvestment. It will give you years of driving pleasure.

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

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

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

NOTICEa

A Few Words About Safety

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You CAN be HURT if you don't followinstructions.

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

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

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

Rajesh

Your Car at a Glance

DOOR LOCK SWITCHES/HATCH LOCK SWITCH(P. 75)

HOOD RELEASE HANDLE(P. 125)

PARKING BRAKE(P. 87)

SHIFT LEVER(P.138, 140)

AUDIO SYSTEM(P. 102)

HEATING/COOLINGCONTROLS(P. 94)

DIGITAL CLOCK(P. 88)

INDICATOR LIGHTS (P. 53)GAUGES (P. 58)

MIRROR CONTROLS(P. 86)

POWER WINDOWSWITCHES(P. 84)

FUEL FILLDOOR RELEASE(P. 124)

Your Car at a Glance

CRUISE CONTROL(P. 67)

INSTRUMENT PANELBRIGHTNESS(P. 63)

HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS(P. 65)

REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER(P. 65)

MOONROOF(P. 85)

HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS(P. 62/63)

TILT ADJUSTMENT(P. 66)

HORN BUTTONS

WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS(P. 64)

Driver and Passenger Safety

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

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

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

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

Protecting Adults............................. 121. Close and Lock the Doors...... 122. Adjust the Front Seats............ 133. Adjust the Seat-Backs............. 144. Adjust the Head Restraints.... 155. Fasten and Position the Seat

Belts...................................... 166. Adjust the Steering Wheel..... 177. 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.................................... 25

If a Child Requires CloseAttention................................... 25

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

Child Seats................................ 26Protecting Infants........................ 30Protecting Small Children.......... 34Protecting Larger Children........ 38Using Child Seats with

Tethers...................................... 41Additional Information About Your

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

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

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

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

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


Important Safety Precautions

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

Always Wear Your Seat BeltA seat belt is your best protection inall types of collisions. Airbagssupplement seat belts, but airbagsare designed to inflate only in amoderate to severe frontal collision.So even though your car is equippedwith airbags, make sure you andyour passengers always wear yourseat belts, and wear them properly.(See page 16.)

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

9 .)

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

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

Keep Your Car in Safe ConditionHaving a tire blowout or amechanical failure can be extremelyhazardous. To reduce the possibilityof such problems, check your tirepressures and condition frequently,and perform all regularly scheduledmaintenance. (See page 164.)


Your Car'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) Door Locks

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

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

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



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

Your seat belt system alsoincludes a light on the

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

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

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

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

When properly worn, seat belts:

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

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

collision.)

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

Keep you from being thrown outof the vehicle.

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

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

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


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

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

Rajesh


Airbags

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

This system also includesan indicator light on the

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

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

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

Airbags 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 arenot 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.


S R S


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

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

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

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

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

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



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

All adults, and children who haveoutgrown child safety seats, arewearing their seat belts andwearing them properly (see page16).

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 13).

Seat-backs are upright (see page14).

Head restraints are properlyadjusted (see page 15).

Both doors and the hatch areclosed and locked (see page 12).

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

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

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


Protecting Adults

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

These instructions also apply tochildren who have outgrown childseats and are large enough to wearlap/shoulder belts. (See page 38 forimportant additional guidelines onhow to properly protect largerchildren.)

1. Close and Lock the DoorsAfter everyone has entered the car,be sure the doors and the hatch areclosed and locked.

Your car has a doormonitor light on the

instrument panel to indicate wheneither door is not tightly closed.

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

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

See page 75 for how to lock thedoors.


Protecting Adults

2.Adjust the Front Seats

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

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

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 79 for how to adjust thefront seats.


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

Always sit as far back from theairbags as possible.

Rajesh

Protecting Adults

3.Adjust the Seat-Backs

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

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

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

See page 79 for how to adjust seat-backs.


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.

Rajesh

Protecting Adults

4 Adjust the Head Restraints

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

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

See page 82 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.

Rajesh

Protecting Adults

5.Fasten and Position the SeatBelts

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

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

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.


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

Make sure all seat belts areproperly positioned beforedriving.

Rajesh

Protecting Adults

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

If 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 yourAcura dealer check the belt as soonas possible.

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

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 66 for how to adjust thesteering wheel.


Protecting Adults

7.Maintain a Proper SittingPosition

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

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

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

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


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

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

Rajesh

Protecting Adults

Advice for Pregnant Women

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

Remember to keep the lap portion ofthe belt as low as possible acrossyour hips.

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

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

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

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

CONTINUED


Protecting Adults

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

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

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


Protecting Children

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

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

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

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

CONTINUED


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.

Rajesh

Protecting Children

Any child who is too small to wear aseat belt should be properlyrestrained in a child seat. (See page26.)

A larger child should always berestrained with a seat belt. (See page38.)

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.


Protecting Children

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 38 for importantinformation about protecting largerchildren.)

CONTINUED


Protecting Children

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

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


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

PRECAUTION:POUR EVITER DES BLESSURES GRAVES:POUR PROFITER D'UNE PROTECTIONMAXIMALE LORS D'UNE COLLISION BOUCLEZTOUJOURS VOTRE CEINTURE DE SECURITE.N'lNSTALLEZ JAMAIS UN SIEGE POURENFANTS FAISANT FACE A L'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 car has two seating positions inthe back seat where children can beproperly restrained.

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

Place the largest child in the frontseat, provided the child is largeenough to wear a seat beltproperly (see page 38).

Move the vehicle seat as far to therear as possible (see page 13).

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

Make sure the seat belt is properlypositioned and secured (see page16).

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 PrecautionsDo 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.

Lock both doors and the hatchwhen your vehicle is not in use.Children who play in cars canaccidentally get trapped inside thecar. Teach your children not toplay in or around cars.


Protecting Children

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

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

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

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

Infants: Children up to about oneyear old should be restrained in arear-facing, reclining child seat. Onlya rear-facing seat provides theproper support to protect an infant'shead, neck, and back. See page30 for additional information onprotecting infants.


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 34 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, Acura is confident that oneor more child seat models can fit andbe properly installed in allrecommended seating positions inyour car.

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

CONTINUED


Protecting Children

Placing a Child SeatThis page briefly summarizes Acura'srecommendations on where to placerear-facing and forward-facing childseats in your car.

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 35).

Back SeatsInfants: Recommended positions.

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

Small children: Recommendedpositions. Secure a front-facingchild seat with the seat belt (seepage 35).


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 carwith a seat belt. All child seatsmust be secured to the car withthe lap part of a lap/shoulder belt.A child whose seat is not properlysecured to the car can beendangered in a crash. See pages31 and 35 for instructions on howto secure child seats in this car.

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 car during acrash or sudden stop and injuresomeone.


Protecting Children

Protecting Infants

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

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

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

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

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

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


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.

Rajesh

Protecting Children

Rear-Facing Child Seat InstallationThe lap/shoulder belts in the backseats have a locking mechanism thatmust be activated to secure a childseat.

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

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

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.


CONTINUED

Protecting Children

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 childseat, unlatch the buckle, unroutethe seat belt, and let the belt fullyretract.


Protecting Children

Rear-Facing Child Seat InstallationTips

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

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

When properly installed, a rear-facing child seat may prevent thedriver or a front-seat passenger frommoving the seat as far back asrecommended (see page 13). Or itmay prevent them from locking theseat-back in the desired uprightposition (see page 14).

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.

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 car crashes into a parkedvehicle at 30 mph (48 km/h), a20-lb (9 kg) infant will become a600-lb (275 kg) force, and you willnot be able to hold on.

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


Protecting Children

Protecting Small Children

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

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

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

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

Placing a forward-facing child seat inthe front seat of a vehicle equippedwith a passenger'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.


Protecting Children

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

Child Seat InstallationThe lap/shoulder belts in the backand front passenger seating positionshave a locking mechanism that mustbe activated to secure a child seat.

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

CONTINUED


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.

Rajesh

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.


Protecting Children

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

Additional Precautions for SmallChildren

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

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

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


Protecting Children

Protecting Larger ChildrenWhen a child reaches therecommended weight or height limitfor a forward-facing child seat, thechild should sit in one of the backseats and wear a lap/shoulder belt.

If a child is too short for the shoulderpart of the belt to properly fit, werecommend that the child use abooster seat until 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 Fit

To determine if a lap/shoulder beltproperly fits a child, have the childput on the seat belt. Follow theinstructions on page 16. Then checkhow the belt fits.


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.

Rajesh

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.

CONTINUED


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 16 and38). Ifthe seat belt does not fit properly,the child should not sit in the front.

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

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

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

Move the vehicle seat to the rear-most position.

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

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

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


Protecting Children

Using Child Seats with Tethers

Your Acura has two tetheranchorages on the rear panel forsecuring a tether-style child seat tothe car.

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

Attach the tether strap hook to thetether anchorage point as shown inthe illustration, then tighten thestrap according to the child seatmaker's instructions.

When you reinstall the tetherhardware after replacing the tail/stoplight or back-up light bulb, makesure the toothed washer is on thebottom of the bolt, Tighten the boltto:16 lbf.ft (22 N.m,2.2 kgf.m)

If a torque wrench was not used, seeyour Acura dealer as soon aspossible to verify properreinstallation.

If you are not sure how to reinstallthe tether hardware, contact yourAcura dealer.


CARGO AREA

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

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

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 the car,be sure the belt is out of the way andwill not get closed in the door.



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

The seat belts in all seating positionsexcept the driver's have an additionallocking mechanism that must beactivated to secure a child seat. (Seepages 31 and 35 for instructions onhow to secure child seats with thistype of seat belt.)

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

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

See page 16 for instructions on howto wear the lap/shoulder beltproperly.

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. ModelsAcura provides a lifetime warrantyon seat belts. Acura will repair orreplace any seat belt component thatfails to function properly duringnormal use. Please see your AcuraWarranty 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 221.


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.

Rajesh

Additional Information About Your SRS

SRS ComponentsYour Supplemental Restraint System(SRS) includes:

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

Sensors that can detect amoderate to severe frontalcollision.

A sophisticated electronic systemthat continually monitorsinformation about the sensors, thecontrol unit, and the airbagactivators 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 car's electrical system isdisconnected in a crash.

How Your Airbags Work

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

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


CONTINUED


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

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

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

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

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

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

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



How the SRS Indicator LightWorks

The purpose of the SRSlight is to alert you to a

potential problem with yourSupplemental Restraint System.

When you turn the ignition ON (II),this indicator will light 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 may not deploy whenyou need them. See your Acuradealer as soon as possible.

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

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

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


S R S

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.

Rajesh


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

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

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


Carbon Monoxide Hazard

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

Have the exhaust system inspectedfor leaks whenever:

The car is raised for an oil change.

You notice a change in the soundof the exhaust.

The car was in an accident thatmay have damaged the underside.

High levels of carbon monoxide 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 hatch open, air flow canpull exhaust gas into your car'sinterior and create a hazardouscondition. If you must drive with thehatch open, open all the windowsand set the heating and coolingsystem as shown below.

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

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

comfortable setting.


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

Avoid any enclosed areas oractivities that expose you tocarbon monoxide.

Rajesh

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 Acura dealerfor a replacement.


DASH BOARDU.S. models only

SUN VISOR

U.S. models

HOOD

RADIATOR CAP

Canadian models

Instruments and Controls

This section gives information aboutthe controls and displays thatcontribute to the daily operation ofyour Acura. All the essential controlsare within easy reach.

Control Locations............................ 52Indicator Lights................................ 53

Gauges.............................................. 58Speedometer................................ 58Tachometer.................................. 58Odometer...................................... 58Trip Meter.................................... 58Fuel Gauge................................... 59Temperature Gauge.................... 59Maintenance Required

Indicator.................................... 60Controls Near the Steering

Wheel........................................ 61Headlights.................................... 62Daytime Running Lights............. 62Instrument Panel Brightness..... 63Turn Signals................................. 63Windshield Wipers...................... 64Windshield Washers................... 64Rear Window Wiper and

Washer...................................... 65Hazard Warning........................... 65Rear Window Defogger.............. 65Steering Wheel Adjustment....... 66

Steering Wheel Controls................ 67Cruise Control.............................. 67

Keys and Locks................................ 71Keys............................................... 71

Immobilizer System..................... 72Ignition Switch............................. 73Door Locks................................... 75Power Door/Hatch Locks.......... 75Hatch............................................. 76Glove Box..................................... 78

Seat Adjustments............................. 79Front Seat Adjustments.............. 79Driver's Seat Height

Adjustment............................... 80Driver's Lumbar Support............ 80Rear Seat Access......................... 81Head Restraints........................... 82

Folding Rear Seat............................ 83Cargo Area Cover............................ 83Power Windows............................... 84Moonroof.......................................... 85Mirrors.............................................. 86

Adjusting the Power Mirrors..... 86Parking Brake.................................. 87Digital Clock..................................... 88Beverage Holder.............................. 89Console Compartment.................... 90Cigarette Lighter............................. 90Ashtrays............................................ 91Interior Lights.................................. 92


Control Locations


DOOR LOCK SWITCHES/HATCH LOCK SWITCH(P. 75)

MIRROR CONTROLS(P. 86)

INDICATOR LIGHTS (P. 53)GAUGES (P. 58)

DIGITAL CLOCK(P. 88)

HEATING/COOLINGCONTROLS(P. 94)

AUDIO SYSTEM(P. 102)

SHIFT LEVER(P.138, 140)

PARKING BRAKE(P. 87)

HOOD RELEASE HANDLE(P. 125)

FUEL FILLDOOR RELEASE(P. 124)

POWER WINDOWSWITCHES(P. 84)

Indicator Lights

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

HIGH BEAM INDICATOR (P.57)

CHARGING SYSTEM INDICATOR (P.55) PARKING BRAKE AND BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR* (P.54)

DOOR-OPEN INDICATOR (P.56)

ANTI-LOCK BRAKESYSTEM INDICATOR* (P.55)

LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR (P.55)

MALFUNCTION INDICATORLAMP (P.240)

SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINTSYSTEM INDICATOR (P.55)

CRUISE CONTROL INDICATOR (P.56]

MAINTENANCE REQUIRED INDICATOR (P.60)

SEAT BELT REMINDER LIGHT (P.54)

LOW FUEL INDICATOR (P.54)

HATCH-OPEN INDICATOR (P.56)IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM INDICATOR (P.57)


Indicator Lights

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

Low Fuel Indicator

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

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.

Parking Brakeand BrakeSystemIndicator

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 241.


CanadaU.S.

BRAKE

Indicator Lights

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.

Charging SystemIndicator

If this light conies on when theengine is running, the battery is notbeing charged. For completeinformation, see page 239.

Low Oil PressureIndicator

The engine can be severely damagedif this light flashes or stays on whenthe engine is running. For completeinformation, see page 238.

Malfunction IndicatorLamp

See page 240.

Anti-lock BrakeSystem (ABS)Indicator

Only on models equipped with ABS (seepage 146)This light normally comes on for afew seconds when you turn theignition switch ON (II), and whenthe ignition switch is turned toSTART (III).

If this light comes on at any othertime, there is a problem in the ABS.If this happens, take the car to yourdealer to have it checked. With thelight on, your car still has normalbraking ability but no anti-lock. Forcomplete information, see page 148.


S R S U.S. Canada

A B S

Indicator Lights

Turn Signal andHazard WarningIndicators

The left or right turn signal lightblinks when you signal a lane changeor turn. If the light does not blink orblinks rapidly, it usually means oneof the turn signal bulbs is burned out(see page 210). Replace the bulb assoon as possible, since other driverscannot see that you are signalling.

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

Cruise Control Indicator

Only on models equipped with CruiseControl SystemThis lights when you set the cruisecontrol. See page 67 for informationon operating the cruise control.

Hatch-open Indicator

This light comes on if the hatch isnot closed tightly.

Door-open Indicator

This light conies on if either door isnot closed tightly.


CRUISECONTROL

Indicator Lights

High Beam Indicator

This light comes on with the highbeam headlights. See page 62 forinformation on the headlightcontrols.

On Canadian models, this indicatorcomes on with reduced brightnesswhen the Daytime Running Lights(DRL) are on (see page 62 ).

Immobilizer SystemIndicator

This indicator comes on for a fewseconds when you turn the ignitionswitch ON (II). It will then go off ifyou have inserted a properly-codedignition key. If it is not a properly-coded key, the indicator will blinkand the engine will not start (seepage 72 ).

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


Gauges

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

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

TachometerThe tachometer shows the enginespeed in revolutions per minute(rpm). To protect the engine fromdamage, never drive with thetachometer needle in the red zone.

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

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


TEMPERATUREGAUGE

TACHOMETER SPEEDOMETER FUEL GAUGE

TRIP METERRESET BUTTON ODOMETER TRIP METER

Gauges

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

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

Temperature GaugeThis shows the temperature of theengine's coolant. During normaloperation, the pointer should risefrom the bottom white mark to aboutthe middle of the gauge. In severedriving conditions, such as very hotweather or a long period of uphilldriving, the pointer may rise to nearthe upper white mark. If it reachesthe red (Hot) mark, pull safely to theside of the road. Turn to page 236 forinstructions and precautions onchecking the engine's coolingsystem.


TEMPERATUREGAUGE

TACHOMETER SPEEDOMETER FUEL GAUGE

TRIP METERTRIP METERRESET BUTTON ODOMETER

Gauges

Maintenance Required Indicator

This indicator reminds you that it istime to take your car in forscheduled maintenance.Refer to the Maintenance Schedulesfor Normal and Severe DrivingConditions on pages 164 — 168 .

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

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

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

Your dealer will reset this indicatorafter completing the scheduledmaintenance. If this maintenance isdone by someone other than yourAcura dealer, reset the indicator bypressing the reset button. Thisbutton is located on the bottom ofthe dashboard to the right of thesteering column.


MAINTREQD

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 controls on the dashboard to theright of the steering column are forthe instrument panel brightness,hazard warning lights and rearwindow defogger.

The moonroof switch and cruisecontrol switch are to the left of thesteering column.

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


CRUISECONTROL

INSTRUMENT PANELBRIGHTNESS

HAZARD WARNINGLIGHTS

REAR WINDOWDEFOGGER

MOONROOF

HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS

HORNBUTTONS

TILT ADJUSTMENT WINDSHIELDWIPERS/WASHERS


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 57).

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 knob on the dashboard to theright of the steering column controlsthe brightness of the instrumentpanel lights. Turn the knob to adjustthe brightness.

Turn Signals

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

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


TURN SIGNAL LEVER


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

To turn on the rear window wiper,turn the ring clockwise to ON. Toalso use the rear window washer,turn the ring clockwise past ON. Thewasher will spray as long as you holdthe ring in this position. If you turnthe ring counterclockwise from theOFF position, the washer will spraywithout activating the rear windowwiper.

Hazard Warning

Push the red button under the centerair vent to turn on the hazard warn-ing lights (four-way flashers). Thiscauses all four outside turn signalsand both indicators in the instrumentpanel to flash. Use the hazardwarning lights if you need to park ina dangerous area near heavy traffic,or if your car is disabled.

Rear Window Defogger

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


CONTINUED

WIPER/WASHER


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 17 for important safetyinformation about how to properlyposition the steering wheel.

Make any steering wheel adjustmentbefore you start driving.

To adjust the steering wheel upwardor downward:

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


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

Adjust the steering wheel onlywhen the car is stopped.

Rajesh

Controls Near the Steering Wheel, Steering Wheel Controls

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.

Cruise ControlLS, GS and GS-R modelsCruise control allows you to maintaina set speed above 25 mph (40 km/h)without keeping your foot on theaccelerator pedal. It should be usedfor cruising on straight, openhighways. It is not recommended forconditions such as city driving,winding roads, slippery roads, heavyrain, or bad weather. You shouldhave full control of the car underthose conditions.

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

CONTINUED


NOTICE

Improper use of the cruisecontrol can lead to a crash.

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

Rajesh

Steering Wheel Controls

Using the Cruise Control

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

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

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

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

When climbing a steep hill, theautomatic transmission maydownshift to hold the set speed.


RESUME/accel

SET/decel


Changing the Set SpeedYou can increase the set cruisingspeed in either of two 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.

You can decrease the set cruisingspeed in either of two ways:

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

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

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

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

CONTINUED



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

Tap the brake or clutch pedal.

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

Press the Cruise Control MasterSwitch.

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

If you use the brake or clutch pedalto cancel cruise control, the systemremembers the previously-setcruising speed. To return to thatspeed, accelerate to above 25 mph(40 km/h), then press theRESUME/accel button. TheCRUISE CONTROL light comes on,and the car will accelerate to thesame cruising speed as before.

If you cancel cruise control bypressing the SET and RESUMEbuttons at the same time, thepreviously-set cruising speed iserased. To use the cruise control,accelerate to the desired cruisingspeed and press the SET/decelbutton.

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

IgnitionDoorsHatchGlove box

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

You should have received a keynumber plate with your set of keys.You will need this number if youhave to get a lost key replaced. Keepthe plate stored in a safe place.When replacing keys, use onlyAcura-approved key blanks.

CONTINUED


VALET KEY(GREY)

MASTER KEY(BLACK)

KEY NUMBER PLATE

Keys and Locks

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

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

Do not drop the keys or set heavyobjects on them.

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

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

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

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

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

Do not keep other immobilizerkeys on the same key ring.

Use a plastic or leather key fob,not metal.

Keep other keys away from yourcar's key and the ignition switchwhile trying to start the engine.

If the system repeatedly does notrecognize the coding of your key,contact your Acura dealer.

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


Keys and Locks

Do not attempt to alter this systemor add other devices to it. Electricalproblems could result that may makeyour car undriveable.

If you have lost your key and youcannot start the engine, contact yourAcura dealer.

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

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

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

Ignition Switch

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

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

CONTINUED


Keys and Locks

LOCK (0) — You can insert orremove the key only in this position.To switch from ACCESSORY toLOCK, you must push the key inslightly as you turn it. If your car hasan automatic transmission, the shiftlever must also be in Park. The anti-theft lock will lock the steeringcolumn when you remove the key.

If the front wheels are turned, theanti-theft lock may sometimes makeit difficult to turn the key fromLOCK to ACCESSORY. Firmly turnthe steering wheel to the left or tothe right as you turn the key.

ACCESSORY (I) — In this position,you can operate the audio systemand the cigarette lighter.

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

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

The engine will not start if theImmobilizer System does notrecognize the key's coding (see page72).

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.


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

Remove the key from theignition switch only whenparked.

Rajesh

Keys and Locks

Door Locks

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

To lock the passenger's door whengetting out of the car, push the locktab in and close the door. To lock thedriver's door, pull the door handleand push the lock tab in. Release thehandle, then close the door.

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

SE modelWhen you push in the lock tab onthe driver's door, that door and thehatch will lock.

LS, GS, GS-R and Type-R modelsWhen you push in the lock tab onthe driver's door, both doors and thehatch will lock.

Power Door/Hatch Locks

SE modelThe driver's door has a hatch lockswitch. The switch locks and unlocksthe hatch. Push the switch down tolock the hatch and up to unlock thehatch.

The hatch can also be locked fromthe outside by using the key indriver's door.


CONTINUED

LOCK TAB MASTER DOOR AND HATCHLOCK SWITCH

Keys and Locks

LS, GS, GS-R and Type-R modelsEach door has a master door andhatch lock switch. Either switchlocks and unlocks both doors and thehatch. Push the switch down to lockboth doors and the hatch and up tounlock them.

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

Both doors and the hatch can belocked from the outside by using thekey in either door or the hatch.To unlock only the driver's doorfrom the outside, insert the key inthe driver's door lock, turn the keyand release it. If you turn the keyand hold it, both doors and the hatchwill unlock. Both doors and thehatch will unlock when you unlockthe passenger's door or the hatchwith the key.

HatchUse the master key to lock andunlock the hatch. The valet key doesnot work in this lock.To lock the hatch, insert the masterkey in the hatch lock, turn the keycounterclockwise.To unlock the hatch, turn itclockwise and release it.

LS, GS, GS-R and Type-R modelsYou can lock and unlock the frontdoors by using the key in the hatch.


Keys and Locks

To open the hatch, slide the leverbehind the hatch's back edge until itreleases the hatch and lift the hatch.To close the hatch, push down onthe hatch's back edge.

See page 132 for cargo loading andweight limit information. Keep thehatch closed at all times whiledriving to avoid damaging the hatchand to prevent exhaust gas fromgetting into the interior. See CarbonMonoxide Hazard on page 49.

If an unlocked hatch does not open,turn the key clockwise past theunlock position. Open the hatch asyou hold the key in that position.

If you need to use this procedure toopen the hatch, your car may bedeveloping a problem. Have thevehicle checked by your Acuradealer.


LEVER

MASTER KEYUNLOCKPOSITION

LOCK

Keys and Locks

Glove Box

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

LS, GS, GS-R and Type-R modelsThe glove box light comes on onlywhen the instrument panel lights areon.


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.

Rajesh

Seat Adjustments

Front Seat AdjustmentsSee pages 13 — 14 for important safetyinformation and warnings about how toproperly position seats and seat-backs.

Make all seat adjustments beforeyou start driving.

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

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


Seat Adjustments

Driver's Seat Height AdjustmentExcept SE and Type-R modelsSee pages 13 — 14 for important safetyinformation and warnings about how toproperly position seats and seat-backs.

Make all adjustments before youstart driving.

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.

Driver's Lumbar Support

Vary the lumbar support by movingthe lever on the right side of theseat-back.


Seat Adjustments

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

To get into the back seat on thepassenger's side, push forward onthe release lever at the base of theseat-back. The entire seat will slideforward at the same time to alloweasier entry to the back seat. Afteryou return the seat-back to theupright position, push the whole seatbackwards until it latches. Makesure the seat is fully latched beforesitting in it.


RELEASE LEVER

Seat Adjustments

Head RestraintsSee page 15 for important safetyinformation and a warning about how toproperly position the head restraints.

The front head restraints helpprotect you and your passenger fromwhiplash and other injuries. They aremost effective when you adjust themso the back of the occupant's headrests against the center of therestraint. A taller person shouldadjust the restraint as high aspossible.

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

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


RELEASEBUTTON

Folding Rear Seat, Cargo Area Cover

Folding Rear Seat

The back of the rear seat folds downto give you more cargo space. Eachside folds down separately. With onlyhalf the seat folded, you can stillcarry a passenger in the back seat.

To unlatch either side of the seat-back, pull up on the release tab.Move the seat belt out of the wayand fold the seat-back down.

To lock the seat-back upright, pushthe seat-back firmly against its latch.Tug on the seat-back to make sure itis latched.

Do not put any heavy items on theseat-back when it is folded.

Make sure all items in the cargo areaare secured. Loose items can flyforward and cause injury if you haveto brake hard. See Carrying Cargoon page 132.

Cargo Area Cover

The cargo area cover may beremoved to give you more cargoheight. Place your hands, palms up,under the cover near the outsideedges. Lift it straight up.

To install the cover, line up themounting rods with the slots, thenpush down on the cover until it clipsinto place. Make sure it is securelylatched so it will not come loosewhile you are driving.


RELEASETAB

MOUNTING ROD

Power Windows

Your car's windows are electrically-powered. Turn the ignition switch toON (II) to raise or lower any 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.

The driver's armrest has a masterpower window control panel. Toopen the passenger's window, pushdown on the switch and hold it downuntil the window reaches the desiredposition. To close the window, pushup on the window switch. Releasethe switch when the window gets tothe position you want.


MAIN SWITCH

DRIVER'S WINDOW SWITCH

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

Make sure your passengers areaway from the windows beforeclosing them.

Rajesh

Power Windows, Moonroof

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 switchdown lightly and hold it. The windowwill stop as soon as you release theswitch.

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

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

Moonroof

On some modelsUse the switch on the dashboard toopen and close the moonroof. Theignition switch must be ON (II).Push and hold the switch toopen the moonroof. Release theswitch when the moonroof reachesthe desired position. To close themoonroof, press and hold the

switch.


CONTINUED

Moonroof, Mirrors

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

Mirrors

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

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

Adjusting the Power Mirrors

Adjust the outside mirrors with theadjustment switch on the driver'sdoor:

1. Turn the ignition switch ON (II).

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


NOTICE TAB

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

Make sure passengers areclear of the moonroof beforeclosing it.

Rajesh

Mirrors, Parking Brake

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

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


PARKING BRAKE LEVERADJUSTMENTSWITCH

NOTICE

Digital Clock

The digital clock displays the timewith the ignition switch ON (II). Tosee the time with the ignition off,press and hold the wide button nextto the clock.

To set the clock:

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

2. Swing down the front cover of thewide button next to the clockdisplay. You will see H, M, andRESET buttons.

3. Press and hold the H button untilthe hour advances to the desiredtime.

4. 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.


M H RESET

Beverage Holder

To open the beverage holder, pushon the front to get it to pop outslightly. Then pull it out the rest ofthe way. To close it, push it until itlatches.

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


Push

Console Compartment, Cigarette Lighter

Console Compartment

To open the console compartment,pull up the front edge of the lid.

To close, lower the lid and push itdown until it latches.

The pocket on the underside of theconsole compartment lid can be usedto hold cards.

Cigarette Lighter

The ignition switch must be inACCESSORY (I) or ON (II) for thecigarette lighter to work. To heat upthe lighter, push it in. It will pop outwhen it is ready for use. Do not holdthe lighter in while it is heating up,you could cause it to overheat.


CIGARETTE LIGHTERCARD HOLDERCONSOLE COMPARTMENT

Ashtrays

Open the front ashtray by pulling onthe front. 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.

The rear ashtray is at the rear end ofthe center console. Open the ashtrayby swinging the upper edge of the liddown. To remove the ashtray foremptying, open it, then lift up andout.

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


ASHTRAY

ASHTRAY

NOTICE

Interior Lights

Ceiling Light

The ceiling light has a three-positionswitch. In the OFF position, the lightdoes not come on. In the centerposition, the ceiling light conies onwhen you open either door. In theON position, the ceiling light stayson continuously.

Spotlights

LS, GS and GS-R modelsTurn on the spotlight by pushing thebutton next to each light. Push thebutton again to turn it off. You canuse the spotlights at all times.

Cargo Area Light

The cargo area light has a two-position switch. In the OFF (down)position, the light does not come on.In the ON (up) position, the lightcomes on when you open the hatch.


DOOR ACTIVATED

Comfort and Convenience Features

The heating and air conditioning*systems in your Acura provide a com-fortable driving environment in allweather 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.)

Your Acura has an anti-theft audiosystem that requires a code numberto enable it.

* Air conditioning is optional on theType-R model in Canada.

Heating and Cooling........................ 94What Each Control Does............ 94How to Use the System............... 96To Turn Everything Off........... 101

Audio System................................. 102Operating the Radio.................. 103Adjusting the Sound.................. 106Radio Frequencies..................... 107Radio Reception......................... 107Operating the CD Player.......... 109Operating the CD Changer...... 111Protecting Compact Discs........ 112CD Player Error Indications..... 113CD Changer Error

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

Player...................................... 115Tape Search Functions............. 116Caring for the Cassette

Player...................................... 118Theft Protection........................ 119


Heating and Cooling

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

(Canadian Type-R model only)If your car does not have airconditioning, it can be installed atany time. Your dealer will install aGenuine Acura air conditioningsystem that meets Acura's highquality standards and is designed toexactly fit your car. Please contactyour dealer for more information.

What Each Control Does

Fan Control LeverSliding this lever to the rightincreases the fan's speed, whichincreases air flow.

Temperature Control LeverSliding this lever to the rightincreases the temperature of the airflow.

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

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


MODE BUTTONS RECIRCULATIONBUTTON

AIR CONDITIONINGBUTTON

TEMPERATURECONTROL LEVER

FAN CONTROLLEVER

Heating and Cooling

Mode ButtonsUse the MODE buttons to select thevents the air flows from. Some airwill flow from the dashboard cornervents in all modes.

Air flows from the centerand corner vents in the dashboard.

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

Air flows from the floorvents.

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

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


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 underneath 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

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 hatch.

1. Slide the temperature control leverall 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





FAN CONTROLLEVER

Heating and Cooling

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

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

2. Make sure the temperaturecontrol lever is set to maximumcool.

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

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

5. Set the fan to the desired speed.





FAN CONTROLLEVER

Heating and Cooling

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 lever 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 page59 ) 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.

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 lever.

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

lever 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).

CONTINUED


Heating and Cooling

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

1. Switch the fan on.2. Turn on the air conditioning.3. Select Fresh Air mode and4. Adjust the temperature control

lever so the air flow from thedefroster vents feels warm.

5. Turn on the rear window defoggerto help clear the rear window.


MODE BUTTONS


RECIRCULATIONBUTTON


FAN CONTROLLEVER

Heating and Cooling

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

1. Start the engine.2. Select the Fresh Air mode and

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.

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 dialunderneath 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,slide the fan speed and temperaturecontrol levers 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

AM/FM/CD Audio SystemYour Acura'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 119).


AM/FM 1-2 BUTTON TUNE BAR

PWR/VOL KNOB SEEK BARPRESET BUTTONS

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 antenna extends automatically.The system turns off and the anten-na retracts when you turn the igni-tion switch to LOCK (0).

The band and frequency that theradio was last tuned to is displayed.To change bands, press the AM/FM1-2 button. On the FM band, ST willbe displayed if the station is broad-casting in stereo. Stereo reproduc-tion on AM is not available.

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

TUNE —- Use the TUNE 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.

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

CONTINUED


Audio System

To store a frequency:

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

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

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

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

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


AM/FM 1-2 BUTTON TUNE BAR

SEEK BARPRESET BUTTONS

Audio System

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

To activate Auto Select, press theA. SEL/RPT button. A. SEL willflash in the display, and the systemwill go into scan mode for severalseconds. It automatically scans bothbands, looking for stations withstrong signals. It stores the frequen-cies of six AM stations and twelveFM stations in the preset buttons.You can then use the preset buttonsto select 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.

With Auto Select on, you cannotmanually store any frequencies inthe preset buttons. If you do not likethe stations found by Auto Select,you can use the TUNE and SEEKfunctions to find other stations.

Auto Select does not erase thefrequencies that you preset pre-viously. When you return home, turnoff Auto Select by pressing theA. SEL/RPT button. The presetbuttons will then select the fre-quencies you originally set.


SEEK BARTUNE BAR

AUTO SELECT/REPEAT BUTTON

PRESET BUTTONS

Audio System

Adjusting the SoundBass, Treble, Balance, and Fader areeach adjustable. You select which ofthese you want to adjust by pressingthe MODE button several times. Theselected mode, BAS, TRE, FAD, orBAL is shown in the display.

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

Select BAL or FAD by pressing theMODE button. Adjust the Balance orFader to your liking by turning thePWR/VOL knob. The number in thedisplay (from — 9 to 9) shows you thecurrent setting.

Treble/Bass — Use these modes toadjust the tone to your liking. SelectTRE or BAS by pressing the MODEbutton. Adjust the desired mode byturning the PWR/VOL knob. Thedisplayed number (from — 5 to 5)shows you the current setting.

The system will automatically returnthe display to normal mode aboutseven seconds after you stopadjusting a mode with the PWR/VOL knob. You can also continuepressing the MODE button until thefrequency is displayed.


MODE BUTTON

PWR/VOL KNOB

Audio System

Radio FrequenciesYour Acura'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 Acura's radio receivesstations is dependent on manyfactors, such as the distance fromthe station's transmitter, nearbylarge objects, and atmosphericconditions.

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

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

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 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.

Do not play discs with discaccessories such as protective sealsor rubbers. Using them may alsocause the audio system tomalfunction.

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

AM/FM1-2BUTTON

CD SLOT CD INDICATOR

REPEAT/RANDOMPLAY BUTTON

CONTINUED


PWR/VOLKNOB

EJECT BUTTON

CD BUTTON

Audio System

You can switch to the radio while aCD is playing by pressing the A M /FM1.2 button. Press the CD buttonto return 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 SEEKbars while a disc is playing to selectpassages and change tracks.

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

side to move forward, or theside to move backward.

Release the bar when the systemreaches the point you want.

Each time you press the side ofthe SEEK bar, the system skipsforward to the beginning of the nexttrack. Press the side to skipbackward to the beginning of thecurrent track. Press it again to skipto the beginning of the previoustrack.

REPEAT — To activate the Repeatfeature, press and release the Repeatbutton. You will see RPT 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, pressand hold the A. SEL/RPT buttonuntil you see A. SEL in the display.The system will then select and playtracks randomly. This continuesuntil you deactivate Random Play bypressing A. SEL/RPT again.

If the system is in Repeat mode, youmust turn it off by pressing A. SEL/RPT before you can select RandomPlay. Then press and hold the buttonagain until you see A. SEL displayed.


Audio System

Operating the CD Changer(Optional)A Compact Disc changer is availablefor your car. It holds up to six discs,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. A "0" willflash for the track number as the CDis loaded, then it will change to anon-flashing " 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.

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

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

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

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


Audio System

Protecting Compact Discs

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

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

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

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

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


Audio System

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


Audio System

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


Audio System

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

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

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

are trademarks of Dolby LaboratoriesLicensing Corporation.

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

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

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 tape will begin playingwhere it left off.

To switch to the radio or CD playerwhile a tape is playing, press theAM/FM1-2 or CD button. To changeback to the cassette player, push theCD button.


Audio System

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

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

FAST FORWARD/REWIND

PLAY BUTTON


PROG BUTTON DOLBY ON/OFFBUTTON

REPEAT BUTTON

TMS

Audio System

TMS — The Tape Music Searchfunction allows you to find thebeginning of a song or passage. Toactivate TMS, press the SEEK bar.Press the side to advance to thebeginning of the next song orpassage, or the side to return tothe beginning of the current song orpassage. FF or REW will flash in thedisplay as the tape moves. When thesystem reaches the beginning of thenext song or passage (FF), or thebeginning of the current one (REW),it goes back to PLAY mode.

REPEAT — The Repeat functioncontinuously replays the currentsong or passage. Press the REPEATbutton to activate it; you will see RPTdisplayed as a reminder. When thesystem reaches the end of the songor passage currently playing, it willautomatically go into rewind.When it senses the beginning of thesame song or passage, the systemreturns to PLAY mode. It will

FAST FORWARD/REWIND

PLAY BUTTON

continue to repeat this sameprogram until you deactivateREPEAT by pressing the buttonagain.

The TMS 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.


TMS

PROG BUTTON DOLBY ON/OFF BUTTON REPEAT BUTTON

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.

The player automatically ejectscassettes that do not play properly. Ifit ejects a cassette before it begins toplay, it is probably defective andshould not be inserted again. Youmay have a cassette suddenly stopplaying, reverse directions once ortwice and then eject. This is normallyan indication the tape is woundunevenly. It should play after the

tape is manually rewound.

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.


Audio System

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

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

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

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

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


Before Driving

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

General Precautions...................... 122Break-in Period.............................. 123Gasoline.......................................... 123Service Station Procedures.......... 124

Filling the Fuel Tank................. 124Opening the Hood..................... 125

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

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

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

Before Driving

General Precautions

Type-R modelYour Acura is designed to give youoptimum handling and performanceon well-maintained roads. As part ofthis design, your car has a minimumof ground clearance.

Use caution if you should driveyour car on very rough or ruttedroads. You could damage thesuspension and underbody bybottoming out. Going too fast overparking lot "speed bumps" canalso cause damage.

Curbs and steep inclines coulddamage the front and rearbumpers. Low curbs that do notaffect the average car may be highenough to hit the bumper on yourAcura. The front or rear bumpermay scrape when trying to driveonto an incline, such as a steepdriveway or trailer ramps.

Before Driving

Break-in Period, Gasoline

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

Avoid full-throttle starts and rapidacceleration.

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

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 Acura is designed to operate onunleaded gasoline.

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

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

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

(SE, LS and GS models)Use an unleaded gasoline with apump octane number of 86 or higher.Use of a lower octane gasoline cancause a persistent, heavy metallicrapping noise in the engine that canlead to mechanical damage.

(GS-R and Type-R models)Use a premium unleaded gasolinewith a pump octane number of 91 orhigher.

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

Before Driving

Service Station Procedures

Filling the Fuel Tank

Pull

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

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

FUEL FILL CAP

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

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

Your car has an on-board refuelingvapor recovery system to help keepfuel vapors from going into theatmosphere. If the fuel pump keepsclicking off even though the tank isnot full, there may be a problem withthis system. Consult your dealer.

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.

Rajesh


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 240).

6. Push the fuel fill door closed untilit latches.

Opening the Hood

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

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

CONTINUED

Before Driving

HOOD RELEASE HANDLE

LATCH


If you can open the hood withoutlifting the hood latch handle, or thehood latch handle moves stiffly ordoes not spring back as before, themechanism should be cleaned andlubricated (see page 189).

SUPPORT ROD

CLIP

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

To close the hood, 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.

Before Driving


Oil Check

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

1. Remove the dipstick (orangehandle).

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

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

CONTINUED

Before Driving


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 173.

Engine Coolant Check

RESERVE TANK

Look at the coolant level in theradiator reserve tank. Make sure it isbetween the MAX and MIN lines. Ifit is below the MIN line, see AddingEngine Coolant on page 178 forinformation on adding the propercoolant.

Refer to Owner MaintenanceChecks on page 171 for informationon checking other items in yourAcura.

Before Driving

LOWER MARK

MAXMIN

Fuel Economy

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

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

An important part of that mainte-nance is the Owner MaintenanceChecks (see page 171 ). Forexample, an under-inflated tirecauses more "rolling resistance,"which uses fuel. It also wears outfaster, so check the tire pressure atleast monthly.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Before Driving

Accessories and Modifications

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

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

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

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

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

of your car, or even cause theairbags to deploy.

Before installing any accessory:

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

Be sure electronic accessories donot overload electrical circuits(see page 243).

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

If possible, have your dealer inspectthe final installation.

Before Driving

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

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

Rajesh

Accessories and Modifications

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

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

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

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

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

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

Before Driving

Carrying Cargo

CONSOLE COMPARTMENT

CARGO AREA GLOVE BOX

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

The glove box, and the pockets inthe doors are designed for small,lightweight items. The cargo area isintended for larger, heavier items. Inaddition, the back seat can be foldeddown to allow you to carry morecargo or longer items.

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

Before Driving

DOOR POCKET

Carrying Cargo

Load LimitThe maximum load for your car is700 lbs (325 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 700 Ibs(325 kg).

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

Carrying Items in the PassengerCompartment

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

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.

Rajesh

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.

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

Do not place items on the cargoarea cover, or stack objects higherthan the top of the back seat. Theycould block your view and bethrown about the car during acrash or sudden stop.

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

If you can carry any items on aroof rack, be sure the total weightof the rack and the items does notexceed the maximum allowableweight. Please contact your Acuradealer 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 car, the braking system, andfacts you need if you are planning totow a trailer.

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

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

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

Automatic Transmission............... 140Shift Lever Position Indicator.. 140Shift Lever Positions................. 140Engine Speed Limiter............... 142Shift Lock Release..................... 143

Parking............................................ 144The Braking System...................... 145

Brake Wear Indicators.............. 145Brake System Design................ 146Anti-lock Brakes........................ 146

Important SafetyReminders.......................... 147

ABS Indicator......................... 148Limited Slip Differential............... 148Driving in Bad Weather................ 149Towing a Trailer............................ 151

Driving

Preparing to Drive

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

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

2. Check that the hood and hatch arefully 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 79 ).

6. Check the adjustment of theinside and outside mirrors (seepage 86 ).

7. Check the adjustment of thesteering wheel (see page 66 ).

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

9. Fasten your seat belt. Check thatyour passengers have fastenedtheir seat belts (see page 16 ).

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

11. Start the engine (see page 137).

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.

Starting in Cold Weather at HighAltitude (Above 8,000 feet/2,400 meters)An engine is harder to start in coldweather. The thinner air found athigh altitude above 8,000 feet (2,400

meters) adds to the problem.Use the following procedure:

1. Turn off all electrical accessoriesto reduce the drain on the battery.

2. Push the accelerator pedal half-way to the floor and hold it therewhile starting the engine. Do nothold the ignition key in START(III) for more than 15 seconds.When the engine starts, releasethe accelerator pedal gradually asthe engine speeds up and smoothsout.

3. If the engine fails to start in step 2,push the accelerator pedal to thefloor and hold it there while youtry to start the engine for no morethan 15 seconds. If the enginedoes not start, return to step 2.

Driving

5-speed Manual Transmission

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

Come to a full stop before you shiftinto Reverse. You can damage thetransmission by trying to shift intoReverse with the car moving. Pushdown the clutch pedal, and pause fora few seconds before shifting intoReverse, or shift into one of theforward gears for a moment. Thisstops the gears so they 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.

Rajesh


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

Shift Lever Position Indicator

This indicator on the instrumentpanel shows which position the shiftlever is in.The "D4" indicator comes on for afew seconds when you turn theignition switch ON (II). If it flasheswhile driving (in any shift position),it indicates a possible problem in thetransmission. Avoid rapid acceler-ation and have the transmissionchecked by an authorized Acuradealer as soon as possible.

Shift Lever Positions

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

Driving

SHIFTLEVER

RELEASEBUTTON


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

If you have done all of the above andstill cannot move the lever out ofPark, see Shift Lock Release on page143.

You must also press the releasebutton to shift into Park. To avoidtransmission damage, come to acomplete stop before shifting intoPark. The shift lever must be in Parkbefore you can remove the key fromthe ignition switch.

Reverse (R) — To shift to Reversefrom Park, see the explanation underPark. To shift to Reverse fromNeutral, come to a complete stop andthen shift. Press the release buttonbefore shifting into Reverse fromNeutral.

Neutral (N) — Use Neutral if youneed to restart a stalled engine, or ifit is necessary to stop briefly withthe engine idling. Shift to Park posi-tion if you need to leave the car forany reason. Press on the brake pedalwhen you are moving the shift leverfrom Neutral to another gear.

Drive (D4) — Use this position foryour normal driving. The transmis-sion automatically selects a suitablegear for your speed and acceleration.You may notice the transmissionshifting up at higher speeds whenthe engine is cold. This helps theengine warm up faster.

Driving

CONTINUED


Drive (D3) — This position is similarto D4, except only the first threegears are selected. Use D3 whentowing a trailer in hilly terrain, or toprovide engine braking when goingdown a steep hill. D3 can also keepthe transmission from cyclingbetween third and fourth gears instop-and-go driving.

For faster acceleration when in D3 orD4, you can get the transmission toautomatically downshift by pushingthe accelerator pedal to the floor.The transmission will shift down oneor two gears, depending on yourspeed.

Second (2) — To shift to Second,press the release button on the sideof the shift lever. This position locksthe transmission in second gear. Itdoes not downshift to first gearwhen you come to a stop. Secondgives you more power when climbing,and increased engine braking when

going down steep hills. Use secondgear when starting out on a slipperysurface or in deep snow. It will helpreduce wheelspin.

First (1) — To shift from Second toFirst, press the release button on theside of the shift lever. With the leverin this position, the transmissionlocks in First gear. By upshifting anddownshifting through 1,2, D3 and D4,

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 thetachometer's red zone. If thisoccurs, you may feel the enginecut in and out. This is caused by alimiter in the engine's computercontrols. The engine will runnormally 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 pressing the releasebutton does not work.

1. Set the Parking brake.

2. Remove the key from the ignitionswitch.

3. Put a cloth on the edge of the ShiftLock Release slot cover next tothe shift lever.Use a small flat-tipped screwdriveror small metal plate (neither areincluded in the tool kit) to removethe cover. Carefully pry off theedge of the cover.

4. Insert the key in the Shift LockRelease slot.

5. Push down on the key while youpress the release button on theshift lever and move the shift leverout of Park to Neutral.

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 car isdeveloping a problem. Have the carchecked by your Acura dealer.

Driving

RELEASE BUTTON

SHIFT LOCKRELEASE SLOT

Parking

Always use the parking brake whenyou park your car. The indicator onthe instrument panel shows that theparking brake is not fully released; itdoes not indicate that the parkingbrake is firmly set. Make sure theparking brake is set firmly or yourcar may roll if it is parked on anincline.

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

If the car is facing uphill, turn thefront wheels away from the curb. Ifyou have a manual transmission, putit in first gear.

If the car is facing downhill, turn thefront wheels toward the curb. If youhave a manual transmission, put it inreverse gear.

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

Parking TipsMake sure the moonroof and thewindows are closed.

Turn off the lights.

Place any packages, valuables, etc.,in the 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 Acura is equipped with discbrakes at all four wheels. A powerassist helps reduce the effort neededon the brake pedal. The ABS helpsyou retain steering control whenbraking very hard.

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

Constant application of the brakeswhen going down a long hill buildsup heat and reduces their effective-ness. Use the engine to assist thebrakes by downshifting to a lowergear and taking your foot off theaccelerator pedal.

Check your brakes after drivingthrough deep water. Apply thebrakes moderately to see if they feelnormal. If not, apply them gently andfrequently until they do. Since alonger distance is needed to stopwith wet brakes, be extra cautiousand alert in your driving.

Brake Wear IndicatorsAll four brakes have audible brakewear 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 BrakesThe Integra LS, GS, GS-R andType-R models have an Anti-lockBrake System (ABS) as standardequipment.

ABS helps to prevent the wheelsfrom locking up and skidding duringhard braking, allowing you to retainsteering control.

When the front tires skid, you losesteering control; the car continuesstraight ahead even though you turnthe steering wheel. The ABS helps toprevent lock-up and helps you retainsteering control by pumping thebrakes rapidly; much faster than aperson can do it.

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 the car, itonly helps with steering controlduring braking. You should alwaysmaintain a safe following distancefrom other vehicles.

ABS will not prevent a skid thatresults from changing directionabruptly, such as trying to take acorner too fast or making a suddenlane change. Always drive at a safe,prudent speed for the road andweather conditions.

ABS cannot prevent a loss ofstability. Always steer moderatelywhen you are braking hard. Severeor sharp steering wheel movementcan still cause your car to veer intooncoming traffic or off the road.

A vehicle with ABS may require alonger distance to stop on loose oruneven surfaces, such as gravel orsnow, than a vehicle without anti-lock. Slow down and allow a greaterdistance between vehicles underthose conditions.

CONTINUED

Driving

The Braking System, Limited Slip Differential

ABS Indicator

* U.S. indicator shown

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.

Limited Slip DifferentialType-R model onlyYour Acura is equipped with aLimited Slip Differential (LSD). Ifone front wheel slips, the LSD helpstraction by automaticallytransmitting driving force to theother front wheel. You may feel thetransfer through the steering wheel.

Driving

ABS INDICATOR*

Driving in Bad Weather

Rain, fog, and snow conditionsrequire a different driving techniquebecause of reduced traction andvisibility. Keep your car well-maintained and exercise greatercaution when you need to drive inbad weather. The cruise controlshould not be used in theseconditions.

Driving Technique — Always driveslower than you would in dryweather. It takes your car longer toreact, even in conditions that mayseem just barely damp. Applysmooth, even pressure to all thecontrols. Abrupt steering wheelmovements or sudden, hard appli-cation of the brakes can cause loss ofcontrol in wet weather. Be extracautious for the first few miles(kilometers) of driving while youadjust to the change in drivingconditions. This is especially true insnow. A person can forget somesnow-driving techniques during thesummer months. Practice is neededto relearn those skills.

Exercise extra caution when drivingin rain after a long dry spell. Aftermonths of dry weather, the firstrains bring oil to the surface of theroadway, making it slippery.

Visibility — Being able to seeclearly in all directions and beingvisible to other drivers are importantin all weather conditions. This ismore difficult in bad weather. To beseen more clearly during daylighthours, turn on your headlights.

Inspect your windshield wipers andwashers frequently. Keep the wind-shield washer reservoir full of theproper fluid. Have the windshieldwiper blades replaced if they start tostreak the windshield or leave partsunwiped. Use the defrosters and airconditioning to keep the windowsfrom fogging up on the inside (seepage 100).

CONTINUED

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 Acura 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.

On Type-R modelYour vehicle is not designed to tow atrailer. Attempting to do so can voidyour warranties.

Load Limits

Total Trailer Weight: The totalweight of the trailer andeverything loaded in it must notexceed 1,000 Ibs (450 kg). 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.

CONTINUED

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:3,680 Ibs ( 1,670 kg)

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

1,985 lbs (900 kg)on the front axle

1,740 Ibs (790 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.

Rajesh

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.

CONTINUED

Driving

Towing a Trailer

Trailer BrakesAcura 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

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

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.

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/BLUE)

TAILLIGHT(RED/BLACK)

BRAKE LIGHT(GREEN/WHITE)

RIGHT TURN SIGNAL(GREEN/YELLOW)

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 151 and 152).

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 255),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 D4 position whentowing a trailer on level roads. D3 isthe proper shift lever position to usewhen towing a trailer in hilly terrain.(See "Driving on Hills" in the nextcolumn for additional gearinformation.)

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

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

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

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

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

Driving

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

Maintenance

This section explains why it isimportant to keep your car wellmaintained and to follow basicmaintenance safety precautions.

This section also includesMaintenance Schedules for normaldriving and severe driving conditions,a Maintenance Record, and instruc-tions for simple maintenance tasksyou may want to take care ofyourself.

If you have the skills and tools to per-form more complex maintenancetasks on your Acura, you may wantto purchase the Service Manual. Seepage 271 for information on how toobtain a copy, or see your Acuradealer.

Maintenance Safety....................... 160Important Safety Precautions.. 161

Maintenance Schedule.................. 162Maintenance Record..................... 169Owner Maintenance Checks........ 171Fluid Locations............................... 172Engine Oil....................................... 173

Adding Oil................................... 173Recommended Oil..................... 173Synthetic Oil............................... 175Additives..................................... 175Changing the Oil and Filter...... 175

Cooling System.............................. 178Adding Engine Coolant............. 178Replacing Engine Coolant........ 180

Windshield Washers..................... 182Transmission Fluid........................ 183

AutomaticTransmission.......................... 183

5-speed ManualTransmission.......................... 185

Brake and Clutch Fluid................. 185Brake System............................. 186Clutch System............................ 186

Power Steering............................... 187Air Cleaner Element...................... 188

Hood Latch..................................... 189Spark Plugs..................................... 189

Replacement............................... 189Specifications............................. 191

Battery............................................ 191Wiper Blades.................................. 194Air Conditioning System............... 196Drive Belts...................................... 197Timing Belt..................................... 197Tires................................................ 198

Inflation....................................... 198Inspection................................... 199Maintenance............................... 200Tire Rotation.............................. 201Tire Wear.................................... 201Replacing Tires and Wheels.... 202Wheels and Tires....................... 203Winter Driving........................... 203

Snow Tires.............................. 204Tire Chains............................. 204

Lights.............................................. 205Headlight Aiming...................... 207Replacing Bulbs......................... 209

Storing Your Car............................ 216

Maintenance

Maintenance Safety

Regularly maintaining your car is thebest way to protect your investment.Proper maintenance is essential toyour safety and the safety of yourpassengers. It will also reward youwith more economical, trouble-freedriving and help reduce air pollution.

This section includes instructions forsimple maintenance tasks, such aschecking and adding oil. Any serviceitems not detailed in this sectionshould be performed by an Acuratechnician or other qualifiedmechanic.

Some of the most important safetyprecautions are given here. However,we cannot warn you of everyconceivable hazard that can arise inperforming maintenance. Only youcan decide whether or not youshould perform a given task.

Maintenance

Improperly maintaining this caror failing to correct a problembefore driving can cause acrash in which you can beseriously hurt or killed.

Always follow the inspectionand maintenancerecommendations andschedules in this owner'smanual.

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

Always follow the proceduresand precautions in this owner'smanual.

Rajesh

Rajesh

Maintenance Safety

Important Safety PrecautionsBefore you begin any maintenance,make sure your car is parked onlevel ground and that the parkingbrake is set. Also, be sure the engineis off. This will help to eliminateseveral potential hazards:

Carbon monoxide poisoningfrom engine exhaust. Be surethere is adequate ventilationwhenever you operate the engine.

Burns from hot parts. Let theengine and exhaust system coolbefore touching any parts.

Injury from moving parts. Donot run the engine unless in-structed to do so.

Read the instructions before youbegin, and make sure you have thetools and skills required.

To reduce the possibility of fire orexplosion, be careful when workingaround gasoline or batteries. Use acommercially available degreaser orparts cleaner, not gasoline, to cleanparts. Keep cigarettes, sparks, andflames away from the battery and allfuel-related parts.

You should wear eye protection andprotective clothing when workingnear the battery or when usingcompressed air.

Maintenance

Maintenance Schedule

The Maintenance Schedule specifieshow often you should have your carserviced and what things needattention. It is essential that you haveyour car serviced as scheduled toretain its high level of safety,dependability, and emissions controlperformance.

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

Avoid exceeding your car's loadlimit. This puts excess stress onthe engine, brakes, and manyother parts of your car. The loadlimit is shown on the label on thedriver's doorjamb.

Operate your car on reasonableroads within the legal speed limit.

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

Always use unleaded gasoline withthe proper octane rating (see page123).

Which Schedule to Follow:Service your car according to thetime and mileage periods on one ofthe Maintenance Schedules on thefollowing pages. Select the schedulefor "Severe Conditions" if most ofyour driving is done under one ormore of the conditions listed on thatpage. Otherwise, follow the schedulefor "Normal Conditions."

Maintenance

Maintenance Schedule

Your authorized Acura dealer knowsyour car best and can providecompetent, efficient service.However, service at a dealer is notmandatory to keep your warrantiesin effect. Maintenance may be doneby any qualified service facility orperson who is skilled in this type ofautomotive service. Keep all thereceipts as proof of completion, andhave the person who does the workfill out the Maintenance Record.Check your warranty booklet formore information.

We recommend the use of GenuineAcura 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, Acurarecommends 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 163.

Maintenance

Service at the indicated distance or time, whichever comes first. Do the items in A, B, C, D 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.

#'. See information on maintenance and emissions warranty, lastcolumn, page 163.

* 1 : On Automatic transmission, thereafter replace transmission fluid every 90,000 mi/144,000 km/5 yrs.

* 2 : Thereafter replace engine coolant every 60,000 mi/96,000 km/5 yrs.

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

Maintenance

page 201

U.S. OwnersFollow the Severe ConditionsMaintenance Schedule if youdrive your vehicle MAINLYunder one or more of thefollowing conditions:

Driving less than 5 miles (8km) per trip or, in freezingtemperatures, driving lessthan 10 miles (16 km) per trip.Driving in extremely hot[over 90°F (32°C)] conditions.Extensive idling or longperiods of stop-and-go driving.Trailer towing, driving with aroof rack, or driving inmountainous conditions.Driving on muddy, dusty, orde-iced roads.

Canadian OwnersFollow the MaintenanceSchedule for Severe Conditions.

* : Refer to page 197 for replacement information under special driving conditions.# : See information on maintenance and emissions warranty, last column, page 163.

Maintenance

Use this schedule if your vehicle is MAINLY driven in any of the following Severe Conditions, or normally driven in Canada; otherwise use the NormalSchedule. Service at the indicated distance or time, whichever comes first. Do the items in A, B, C, D, E 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.

# : See information on maintenance and emissions warranty, last column, page 163.

* : See timing belt on page 197 to determine need for replacement.NOTE:

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

CONTINUED

page 201

Maintenance

# : See information on maintenance and emissions warranty, lastcolumn, page 163.

* 1: See timing belt on page 197 to determine need for replacement.

* 2: Thereafter replace engine coolant every 60,000 mi/96,000 km/5 yrs.

NOTE:Check engine 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 164) or severeconditions (page 166). Keep the receipts for all work done on your vehicle.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

Required Maintenance Record (for Normal and Severe Schedules)

Maintenance

Owner Maintenance Checks

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

Engine oil level — Check everytime you fill the fuel tank. Seepage 127.

Engine coolant level — Check theradiator reserve tank every timeyou fill the fuel tank. See page 128.

Windshield washer fluid — Checkthe level in the reservoir monthly.If weather conditions cause you touse the washers frequently, checkthe reservoir each time you stopfor fuel. See page 182.

Automatic transmission — Checkthe fluid level monthly. See page183.

Brakes — Check the fluid levelmonthly. See page 185.

Tires — Check the tire pressuremonthly. Examine the tread forwear and foreign objects. See page198.

Lights — Check the operation ofthe headlights, parking lights,taillights, high-mount brake light,turn signals, brake lights, andlicense plate lights monthly. Seepage 205.

Maintenance

Fluid Locations

Maintenance

AUTOMATICTRANSMISSIONFLUID DIPSTICK(Yellow loop)

ENGINE COOLANTRESERVOIR

BRAKE FLUID(Gray cap)

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

ENGINE OILFILL CAP(Black cap)

WASHER FLUID(Blue cap)

POWER STEERINGFLUID (Red cap)

ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK(Orange loop)

RADIATOR 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 a major contributor to yourengine's performance and longevity.Always use a premium-grade deter-gent oil. It is highly recommendedthat you use Honda Motor Oil inyour vehicle for as long as you own it.

You can determine an oil's SAEviscosity and Service Classificationfrom the API Service label on the oilcontainer.

A fuel-efficient oil is recommendedfor your Acura. This is shown on theAPI Service label by the words"Energy Conserving." This oil isformulated to help your engine useless fuel.

The API Service label also tells youthe service classification of the oil.Always use an oil that is labeled "APIService SJ." This service rating mayinclude other classifications, such asCD. These additional classificationsare not a problem, as long as thelabel also carries the SJ classification.

API SERVICE LABEL

CONTINUED

Maintenance

ENGINE OIL FILL CAP

Engine Oil

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

API CERTIFICATION SEAL

The SAE numbers tell you the oil'sviscosity or weight. Select the oil foryour car according to this chart.

An oil with a viscosity of 5W-30 ispreferred for improved fuel economyand year-round protection in yourAcura. You may use a 10W-30 oil ifthe temperature in your area nevergoes below 20°F (— 7°C).

Maintenance

Ambient Temperature

Engine Oil

Synthetic OilYou may use a synthetic motor oil ifit meets the same requirementsgiven for conventional motor oil:energy conserving, a serviceclassification of SJ, and the properweight as shown on the chart. Whenusing synthetic oil, you must followthe oil and filter change intervalsgiven in the maintenance schedule.

AdditivesYour Acura does not need any oiladditives. Purchasing additives forthe engine or transmission will notincrease your car's performance orlongevity. It only increases the costof operating your car.

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

Changing the oil and filter requiresspecial tools and access fromunderneath the car. The car shouldbe raised on a service station-typehydraulic lift for this service. Unlessyou have the knowledge and properequipment, you should have thismaintenance done by a skilledmechanic.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

Engine Oil

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

OIL DRAIN BOLT WASHER

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.

3. Remove the oil filter and let theremaining oil drain. A specialwrench (available from your Acuradealer) is required to remove thefilter.

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

Maintenance

OIL FILTER

Engine Oil

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

6. Refill the engine with the recom-mended oil.Engine oil change capacity(including filter):

(SE, LS, GS)4.0 US qt (3.8 ,3.3 Imp qt)

(GS-R,Type-R)4.2 US qt (4.0 , 3.5 Imp qt)

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

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

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

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

Maintenance

NOTICE

Cooling System

Adding Engine Coolant

RESERVE TANK

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.

Maintenance

MIN MAX

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.

Rajesh

Cooling System

1. Make sure the engine andradiator are cool.

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

3. Remove the radiator cap bypushing down and turningcounterclockwise.

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

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

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

CONTINUED

Maintenance

RESERVE TANK

RADIATOR CAP

Cooling System

Do not add any rust inhibitors orother additives to your car's coolingsystem. They may not be compatiblewith the coolant or engine compo-nents.

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 car. Unlessyou have the tools and knowledge,you should have this maintenancedone by a skilled mechanic.

1. Turn the ignition ON (II). Slidethe heater temperature controllever to maximum heat. Turn theignition off.

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

3. Remove the radiator cap.

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

Maintenance

DRAIN PLUG

DRAINBOLT

Cooling System

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. Put a newwasher on the drain bolt, thenreinstall the drain bolt in theengine block. Tighten it securely.

Tightening torque:58 Ibf.ft (78 N.m , 8.0 kgf.m)

7. Pour Honda All SeasonAntifreeze/Coolant Type 2 intothe radiator up to the base of thefiller neck. This coolant is amixture of 50 percent antifreezeand 50 percent water. Pre-mixingis not required.

The cooling system capacity is:

With 5-speed manual transmission:(SE, LS, GS)1.16 US gal (4.4 , 0.97 Imp gal)

(GS-R, Type-R)1.24 US gal (4.7 , 1.03 Imp gal)

With automatic transmission:1.24 US gal (4.7 , 1.03 Imp gal)

Maintenance

CONTINUED

Fill up to hereRESERVETANK CAPHOLDER

RESERVE TANK FILLER NECK

Cooling System, Windshield Washers

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

9. Fill the radiator with coolant up tothe base of the filler neck.

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

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

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

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

14. 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.

15. Install the radiator cap, andtighten it fully.

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

Windshield WashersCheck the level in the windshieldwasher reservoir at least monthlyduring normal usage. In bad weather,when you use the washers often,check the level every time you stopfor fuel. This reservoir supplies thewindshield and rear window washers.

Maintenance

Windshield Washers, Transmission Fluid

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.

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

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

Antifreeze can damage your car's paint,while a vinegar/water solution candamage the windshield washer pump.

Use only commercially-availablewindshield washer fluid.


Check the fluid level with the engineat normal operating temperature.

1. Park the car on level ground. Shutoff the engine.

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

CONTINUED

Maintenance

DIPSTICK

LEVEL GAUGE

WINDSHIELD WASHER RESERVOIR

NOTICE

Transmission Fluid

3. Insert the dipstick all the way intothe transmission securely asshown in the illustration.

4. Remove the dipstick and checkthe fluid level. It should bebetween the upper and lowermarks.

5. If the level is below the lowermark, add fluid into the filler holeto bring it to the upper mark.

Always use Honda ATF-Z1(AutomaticTransmission Fluid). If itis not available, you may use aDEXRON® III automatictransmission fluid as a temporaryreplacement. However, continueduse can affect shift quality. Have thetransmission flushed and refilledwith Honda ATF-Z1 as soon as it isconvenient.

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

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.

Maintenance

UPPER MARKLOWER MARK

Transmission Fluid, Brake and Clutch Fluid


Check the fluid level with thetransmission at normal operatingtemperature and the car sitting onlevel ground. Remove thetransmission filler bolt and carefullyfeel inside the bolt hole with yourfinger. The fluid level should be upto the edge of the bolt hole. If it isnot, add 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 ofSAE10W-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.

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

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

The brake fluid should be replacedaccording to the time recommenda-tion in the maintenance schedule.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

FILLER BOLT

Correct level

Brake and Clutch Fluid

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 car's brakingsystem and can cause extensivedamage.

Brake System

The fluid level should be betweenthe MIN and MAX marks on the sideof the reservoir. If the level is at orbelow the MIN mark, your brakesystem needs attention. Have thebrake system inspected for leaks orworn brake pads.

Clutch System

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

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

Maintenance

MAXMINMINMAX

Power Steering

Check the level when the engine iscold. Look at the side of thereservoir. The fluid should bebetween the UPPER LEVEL andLOWER LEVEL. If it is below theLOWER LEVEL, add power steeringfluid to the UPPER LEVEL.

Always use 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

LOWER LEVEL

UPPER LEVEL

Air Cleaner Element

The air cleaner element should becleaned or replaced according to thetime and distance recommendationsin the maintenance schedule.

Cleaning (Severe Conditions)Clean the air cleaner element byblowing compressed air through it inthe opposite direction to normal airflow. If you do not have access tocompressed air (such as a servicestation), ask your Acura dealer to dothis service.

Follow the replacement procedurefor removal and reinstallation.

ReplacementThe air cleaner element is inside theair cleaner housing on the passenger'sside of the engine compartment.

To replace it:

1. Loosen the three bolts and removethe air cleaner housing cover.

2. Lift up the old air cleaner elementand pull it out of the duct.

3. Carefully clean the inside of theair cleaner housing with a damprag.

4. Attach the new air cleanerelement to the duct. Make surethe tab on the duct fits in thenotch on the air cleaner element.Install the new air cleaner elementin the air cleaner housing correctlyplacing the square part of theflange on the element in themating recess on the housing.

5. Reinstall the air cleaner housingcover, and tighten the three bolts.

Maintenance

AIR CLEANER ELEMENT

BOLTS

Hood Latch, Spark Plugs

Hood Latch

Clean the hood latch assembly with amild cleaner, then lubricate it with amultipurpose grease. Lubricate allthe moving parts (as shown),including the pivot. Follow the timeand distance recommendations inthe Maintenance Schedule. If youare not sure how to clean and greasethe latch, contact your Acura dealer.

Spark PlugsThe spark plugs in your car are aspecial platinum-tipped design forlonger life. They need to be replacedevery 7 years or 105,000 miles(168,000 km), whichever comes first.

Replacement

SPARK PLUG CAP

1. GS-R and Type-R only:Remove the four nuts, thenremove the plug wire cover.

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

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

CONTINUED

Maintenance

LATCH ASSEMBLY

Spark Plugs

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

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

6. 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.

7. Install the spark plug cap.

8. Repeat this procedure for theother three spark plugs.

(GS-R and Type-R)Reinstall the plug wire cover, andtighten the four nuts.

Maintenance

NOTICE

Spark Plugs, Battery

Specifications:

(SE, LS, GS)NGK: PZFR5F-11DENSO: PKJ16CR-L11

Plug Gap:0.04 in (1.1 mm )

(GS-R)NGK: PFR6G-13DENSO: PK20PR-L13


(Type-R)NGK: PFR6G-11DENSO: PK20PR-L11


BatteryCheck the condition of your car'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.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

Battery

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.

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

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

Maintenance

Battery

Charging the battery with the cablesconnected can seriously damage yourcar's electronic controls. Detach thebattery cables before connecting thebattery to a charger.

If your car's battery is disconnectedor goes dead, the audio system willdisable itself. The next time you turnon the radio you will see "Code" inthe frequency display. Use thePreset buttons to enter the five-digitcode (see page 119).

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.

Rajesh

Wiper Blades

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

To replace the blade:

1. Raise the wiper arm off thewindshield.

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.

Maintenance

WIPER ARMS

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.

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

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

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

7. Lower the wiper arm down againstthe windshield.

Maintenance

BLADE

REINFORCEMENT

Air Conditioning System

Optional for Canadian Type-R modelYour car's air conditioning is a sealedsystem. Any major maintenance,such as recharging, should be doneby a qualified mechanic. You can doa couple of things to make sure theair conditioning works efficiently.

Periodically check the engine'sradiator and air conditioningcondenser for leaves, insects, anddirt stuck to the front surface. Theseblock the air flow and reduce coolingefficiency. Use a light spray from ahose or a soft brush to remove them.

The condenser and radiator fins bendeasily. Only use a low-pressure sprayor soft-bristle brush to clean them.

Run the air conditioning at least oncea week during the cold weathermonths. Run it for at least tenminutes while you are driving at asteady speed with the engine atnormal operating temperature. Thiscirculates the lubricating oil con-tained in the refrigerant.

If the air conditioning does not get ascold as before, have your dealercheck the system. Recharge thesystem with Refrigerant HFC-134a(R-134a). (See Specifications on page254.)

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

NOTICENOTICEAIR CONDITIONING

CONDENSER

Drive Belts, Timing Belt

Drive Belts

Check the condition of the two orthree drive belts. Examine the edgesof each belt for cracks or fraying.Check the tension of each belt bypushing on it with your thumbmidway between the pulleys.

The belts should have the following"play" or deflection.Alternator belt:

0.35 — 0.43 in (9.0 — 11.0 mm)Power steering belt:

0.45 — 0.53 in (11.5 — 13.5 mm)Compressor belt(On cars with A/C):

0.30 — 0.37 in (7.5 — 9.5 mm)

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

Timing BeltThe timing belt should normally bereplaced at the intervals shown inthe maintenance schedule.

Replace this belt at 60,000 miles (U.S.)or 100,000 km (Canada) if youregularly drive your car in one ormore of these conditions:

In very high temperatures(over 110°F, 43°C).In very low temperatures(under — 20°F, — 29°C).

Maintenance

COMPRESSOR BELT

POWERSTEERINGBELT

ALTERNATOR BELT

Tires

To safely operate your car, your tiresmust be the proper type and size, ingood condition with adequate tread,and correctly inflated. The followingpages give more detailed informationon how and when to check airpressure, how to inspect your tiresfor damage and wear, and what to dowhen your tires need to be replaced.

InflationKeeping the tires properly inflatedprovides the best combination ofhandling, tread life and ridingcomfort. Underinflated tires wearunevenly, adversely affect handlingand fuel economy, and are morelikely to fail from being overheated.Overinflated tires can make your carride more harshly, are more prone todamage from road hazards, and wearunevenly.

We recommend that you visuallycheck your tires every day. If youthink a tire might be low, check itimmediately with a tire gauge.

Use a gauge to measure the airpressure at least once a month. Eventires that are in good condition maylose one to two psi (10 to 20 kPa, 0.1to 0.2 kgf/cm2) per month.Remember to check the spare tire atthe same time you check all theother tires.

Check the pressure in the tires whenthey are cold. This means the carhas been parked for at least threehours. If you have to drive the carbefore checking the tire pressure,the tires can still be considered"cold" if you drive less than 1 mile(1.6km).

If you check the pressure when thetires are hot (the car has been drivenseveral miles), you will see readings4 to 6 psi (30 to 40 kPa, 0.3 to 0.4kgf/cm2) higher than the coldreading. This is normal. Do not letair out to match the specified coldpressure. The tire will beunderinflated.

You should get your own tirepressure gauge and use it wheneveryou check your tire pressures. Thiswill make it easier for you to tell if apressure loss is due to a tire problemand not due to a variation betweengauges.

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.

Rajesh

Tires

Recommended Tire Pressures forNormal DrivingThe following chart shows therecommended cold tire pressures formost normal driving conditions andspeeds. Tire pressures for highspeed driving are the same as fornormal driving.

The compact spare tire pressure is:60 psi (420 kPa , 4.20 kgf/cm2)

These pressures are also given onthe tire information label on thedriver's doorjamb.

Tubeless tires have some ability toself-seal if they are punctured.However, because leakage is oftenvery slow, you should look closelyfor punctures if a tire starts losingpressure.

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.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

Tires

INDICATORLOCATIONMARKS

Your car's tires have wear indicatorsmolded into the tread. When thetread wears down to that point, youwill see a 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) wideband running across the tread. Thisshows there is less than 1/16 inch(1.6 mm) of tread left on the tire. Atire that is this worn gives very littletraction on wet roads. You shouldreplace the tire if you can see thetread wear indicator in three or moreplaces around the tire.

MaintenanceIn addition to proper inflation,correct wheel alignment helps todecrease tire wear. If you find a tireis worn unevenly, have your dealercheck the wheel alignment.

The tires were properly balanced bythe factory. They may need to berebalanced at some time before theyare worn out. Have your dealercheck the tires if you feel a consis-tent vibration while driving. A tireshould always be rebalanced if it isremoved from the wheel for repair.

Make sure the installer balances thewheels when you have new tiresinstalled. This increases ridingcomfort and tire life. Your car'soriginal tires were dynamic or "spin"balanced at the factory. For bestresults, have the installer perform adynamic balance.

(Only on cars equipped with aluminumwheels)Improper wheel weights can damageyour car's aluminum wheels. Use onlyGenuine Acura wheel weights forbalancing.

Maintenance

TREAD WEARINDICATORS

NOTICE

Tires

Tire Rotation

To help increase tire life anddistribute wear more evenly, youshould have the tires rotated every7,500 miles (12,000 km). Move thetires to the positions shown in thechart each time they are rotated.

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.

Tire WearType-R model onlyThe tires on your Type-R weredesigned and constructed to providesuperior grip during acceleration,braking, and cornering. They willwear more rapidly than normalpassenger vehicle tires. Tire life maybe less than 15,000 miles (24,000km), depending on how you drive.

You should carefully inspect yourvehicle's tires for wear, damage, andproper inflation every 2,000 miles(3,200 km), see page 199.

These tires are not suitable forwinter driving. Refer to WinterDriving, page 203.

Maintenance

Front Front

(For Non-directionaltires and Wheels)

(For DirectionalTires and Wheels)

Tires

Replacing Tires and WheelsThe tires that came with your carwere selected to match the perform-ance capabilities of the car whileproviding the best combination ofhandling, ride comfort, and long life.You should replace them with radialtires of the same size, load range,speed rating, and maximum cold tirepressure rating (as shown on thetire's sidewall). Mixing radial andbias-ply tires on your car can reduceits braking ability, traction, andsteering accuracy. It is best to replace all four tires at

the same time. If that is not possibleor necessary, then replace the twofront tires or the two rear tires as apair. Replacing just one tire canseriously affect your car's handling.

The ABS works by comparing thespeed of the wheels. When replacingtires, use the same size originallysupplied with the car. Tire size andconstruction can affect wheel speedand may cause the system to workinconsistently.

If you ever need to replace a wheel,make sure the wheel's specificationsmatch those of the original wheelthat came on your car. Replacementwheels are available at your Acuradealer.

Maintenance

Installing improper tires on yourcar can affect handling andstability. This can cause a crashin which you can be seriouslyhurt or killed.

Always use the size and type oftires recommended in thisowner's manual.

Rajesh

Tires

Wheels and Tires

Wheels:(SE)

14x51/2JJ

(LS,GS,GS-R,Type-R)15x6JJ

Tires:(SE)

P195/60R1485H

(LS, GS, GS-R)P195/55R1584V

(Type-R)195/55R1584V

See page 256 for information aboutDOT Tire Quality Grading.

Winter DrivingSE, LS, GS and GS-R modelsTires 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.

Type-R modelYou should mount winter tires onyour Type-R before winter starts(before consistent sub-freezingtemperatures). Change back to"summer" tires after winter weatherhas stopped.

Maintenance

CONTINUED

Tires

Snow TiresSE, LS, GS and GS-R modelsIf you mount snow tires on yourAcura, make sure they are radialtires of the same size and load rangeas the original tires. Mount snowtires on all four wheels to balanceyour car's handling in all weatherconditions. Keep in mind the tractionprovided by snow tires on dry roadsmay not be as high as your car'soriginal equipment tires. You shoulddrive cautiously even when the roadsare clear. Check with the tire dealerfor maximum speed recommen-dations.

Type-R modelMount winter tires on all four wheels.The performance capabilities of thewinter tires may not be the same asyour vehicle's original-equipmenttires. Check with the tire dealer formaximum speed recommendations.

Tire ChainsMount traction devices (link-type orcable-type) only when required bydriving conditions or local laws.Make sure they are the correct sizefor your tires. Install them only onthe front tires.

SE modelIf link-type traction devices are used,they must be SAE class "S". Cable-type traction devices can also beused.

LS, GS, GS-R, and Type-R modelsBecause your Acura has limited tireclearance, mount only SAE class "S"cable-type traction devices.

Link-type "chains" should not beused. No matter how tight they seemto be installed, they can come intocontact with the body andsuspension, causing serious damage.

All ModelsWhen installing traction devices,follow the manufacturer'sinstructions and mount them astightly as you can. Drive slowly withthem installed. If you hear themcoming in contact with the body orchassis, stop and investigate. Makesure the traction devices areinstalled tightly, and that they arenot contacting the brakes orsuspension.Remove them as soon as you startdriving on cleared roads.

Traction devices that are the wrongsize or improperly installed candamage your car's brake lines,suspension, body, and wheels. Stopdriving if they are hitting any part ofthe car.

Maintenance

NOTICE

Lights

Check the operation of your car'sexterior lights at least once a month.A burned out bulb can create anunsafe condition by reducing yourcar's visibility and the ability tosignal your intentions to otherdrivers.

HEADLIGHT HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHT LOW BEAM

PARKING/TURN SIGNAL LIGHT SIDE MARKER LIGHT

Maintenance

CONTINUED

Lights

BACK-UP LIGHT TURN SIGNAL SIDE MARKER LIGHT

LICENSE PLATE LIGHT TAILLIGHT/BRAKE LIGHT

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

If you find any bulbs are burned out,replace them as soon as possible.Refer to the chart on page 255 todetermine what type of replacementbulb is needed.

Maintenance

Lights

Headlight AimingThe headlights were properly aimedwhen your car was new. You shouldcheck their aim if you regularly carryheavy items in the cargo area or pulla trailer. Each headlight assemblyhas horizontal and vertical adjust-ment indicators. These are set totheir "0" positions after the head-lights are aimed at the factory.

To check these settings:

1. Make sure the fuel tank is full.Park the car 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 carry.

If you usually pull a trailer, load it asyou would normally and attach it tothe car. Push down on the front andrear bumpers several times to makesure the car is sitting normally.

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

CONTINUED

Maintenance

HORIZONTAL ANGLE GAUGE

Left headlight Right headlight

3. Open the hood.

Lights

VERTICAL ANGLE GAUGE

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

HORIZONTAL ADJUSTMENT

6. 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

7. If you cannot get an indicator toalign, have your Acura dealerinspect the car for body damage orsuspension problems.

Maintenance

Lights

Replacing a Headlight BulbYour car has two bulbs on each side,four in total. Make sure you arereplacing the bulb that is burned out.Your car uses halogen headlightbulbs. When replacing a bulb, handleit by its plastic case and protect theglass from contact with your skin orhard objects. If you touch the glass,clean it with denatured alcohol and aclean cloth.

Halogen headlight bulbs get very hotwhen lit. Oil, perspiration, or a scratchon the glass can cause the bulb tooverheat and shatter.

1. Open the hood.If you need to change the highbeam headlight bulb on thepassenger's side, remove theradiator reserve tank by pulling itstraight up.

2. To disconnect the bulb from theelectrical harness, push on the endof the lock tab to release theconnector then push the connec-tor straight down.

3. Turn the bulb about one-eighthturn counterclockwise to unlock itfrom the headlight assembly.

4. Remove the bulb by pulling itstraight out of its recess.

5. Align the tabs on the new bulbwith the slots in the headlightassembly and push it into place.

6. Turn the bulb clockwise to lock itin place. Do not force it. Check theseating of the bulb's tabs in theslots if the bulb will not return toits original position.

7. Reinstall the harness connector onthe bulb connector. Make sure itlocks in place.Turn on the headlights to test thenew bulb.

8. (Passenger's side)Reinstall the radiator reserve tank.

Maintenance

NOTICE

Lights

Replacing Front Turn Signal/Parking and Side Marker LightBulbs

1. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver toloosen the light assembly'smounting screw.

2. Remove the light assembly fromthe bumper.

3. Remove the socket of the burned-out bulb from the light assemblyby turning it one-quarter turncounterclockwise.

4. To remove the front bulb, push itin slightly and turn it counterclock-wise. To remove the side bulb, pullit straight out of its socket.

5. Install the new bulb in the socket.

6. Insert the socket back into thelight assembly. Turn it clockwiseto lock it in place.

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

8. Put the light assembly into thebumper. Make sure the tab on thelight assembly fits into the bumperslot. Tighten the mounting screw.

Maintenance

SCREW

Lights

Replacing a High-mount BrakeLight BulbLS model

1. Undo the cover fasteners bypushing on the center of eachfastener's head until it pops in.Remove the cover.

2. Determine which bulb is burnedout.

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


5. Reset each fastener by pushing onthe pointed end until it pops backalmost flush with the fingers onthe housing.

6. Reinstall the cover. Secure eachfastener by pushing on the centeruntil it locks (the center is flushwith the head).

Maintenance

Lights

Replacing Rear Turn Signal andSide Marker Light Bulbs

1. Open the hatch and remove thelight assembly cover by pulling theedge.

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

3. If the turn signal light bulb isburned out, remove it by pushingit in and turning counterclockwise.If the side marker light bulb isburned out, remove it by pulling itstraight out of its socket.

4. Install the new bulb in the reverseorder of removal.

5. Push the socket into the lightassembly and turn it clockwiseuntil it locks.


7. Install the light assembly cover.Make sure it locks in place.

Replacing Tail/Stoplight andBack-up Light Bulbs

1. Open the hatch. Remove thetether hardware cover with a smallflat-tip screwdriver and tetheranchor plate with a wrench byturning the bolt counterclockwise.

When reinstalling tether hardware,see Protecting Children on page41.On Type-R modelYou cannot replace these bulbsyourself, contact your Acura dealer.

Maintenance

Lights

2. Undo the seven cover fasteners bypushing on the center of eachfastener's head until it pops in.Remove the taillight cover panel.

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

4. Try the tail/stoplights and back-uplight to verify which bulb needsreplacing. Remove the bulb byturning it counterclockwise.

5. Install the new bulb in the socket.Test it to make sure it works.

6. Reinstall the socket into the lightassembly.

7. Reinstall the tether anchorhardware.Make sure the toothed washer ison the bottom of the bolt. Tightenthe bolt to:16 lbf.ft (22 N.m,2.2 kgf.m)

If a torque wrench was not used,see your Acura dealer as soon aspossible to verify properinstallation.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

Lights

8. Reset each fastener by pushing onthe pointed end until it pops backalmost flush with the fingers onthe housing.

9. Reinstall the cover. Secure eachfastener by pushing on the centeruntil it locks (the center is flushwith the head).

Replacing a Rear License PlateBulb

1. Remove the two screws andremove the license plate lightassembly.

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

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

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

5. Reinstall the license light assem-bly. Install the two screws andtighten them securely.

Maintenance

Lights

Replacing Ceiling, Spot and CargoArea Light BulbsThe ceiling, spot and cargo arealights come apart the same way.They do not use the same type ofbulb.

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.

LS, GS and GS-R models

Maintenance

SPOTLIGHTS

CARGO AREA LIGHT

CEILING LIGHT

Storing Your Car

If you need to park your car for anextended period (more than onemonth), there are several things youshould do to prepare it for storage.Proper preparation helps preventdeterioration and makes it easier toget your car back on the road. Ifpossible, store your car indoors.

Fill the fuel tank.

Change the engine oil and filter(see page 175).

Wash and dry the exteriorcompletely.

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

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

Block the rear wheels.

If the car is to be stored for alonger period, it should besupported on jackstands so thetires are off the ground.

Leave one window open slightly (ifthe car is being stored indoors).

Disconnect the battery.

Support the front 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 hatch seals. Also, apply a bodywax to the painted surfaces thatmate with the door and hatch seals.

Cover the car with a "breathable"cover, one made from a porousmaterial such as cotton.Nonporous materials, such asplastic sheeting, trap moisture,which can damage the paint.

If possible, run the engine for awhile periodically (preferably oncea month).

If you store your car for 12 monthsor longer, have your Acura dealerperform the inspections called for inthe 24 months/30,000 miles (48,000km) maintenance schedule (NormalConditions) as soon as you take itout of storage (see page 164). Thereplacements called for in themaintenance schedule are notneeded unless the car has actuallyreached that time or mileage.

Maintenance

Appearance Care

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

Exterior Care.................................. 218Washing...................................... 218Power Antenna Cleaning.......... 218Waxing........................................ 219Aluminum Wheels..................... 219Paint Touch-up........................... 219

Interior Care................................... 220Carpeting.................................... 220Floor Mats.................................. 220Fabric.......................................... 221Vinyl............................................ 221Leather........................................ 221Seat Belts.................................... 221Windows..................................... 222Air Fresheners........................... 222

Corrosion Protection..................... 223Body Repairs.................................. 224

Appearance Care

Exterior Care

WashingFrequent washing helps preserveyour car's beauty. Dirt and grit canscratch the paint, while tree sap andbird droppings can permanently ruinthe finish.

Wash your car in a shady area, not indirect sunlight. If the car is parked inthe sun, move it into the shade andlet the exterior cool down before youstart.

Only use the solvents and cleanersrecommended in this Owner'sManual.

Chemical solvents and strong cleanerscan damage the paint, metal, andplastic on your car.

Rinse the car thoroughly with coolwater to remove loose dirt.

Fill a bucket with cool water. Mixin a mild detergent, such asdishwashing liquid or a productmade especially for car washing.

Wash the car using the water anddetergent solution and a soft-bristle brush, sponge, or soft cloth.Start at the top and work your waydown. Rinse frequently.

Check the body for road tar, treesap, etc. Remove these stains withtar remover or turpentine. Rinse itoff immediately so it does notharm the finish. Remember to re-wax these areas, even if the rest ofthe car does not need waxing.

When you have washed and rinsedthe whole exterior, dry it with achamois or soft towel. Letting itair-dry will cause dulling and waterspots.

As you dry the car, inspect it forchips and scratches that could allowcorrosion to start. Repair them withtouch-up paint (see page 219).

Power Antenna CleaningTwice a year, clean the antenna mastwith a dry cloth and mild detergent.Scrub the antenna in upward strokesto avoid bending it. Rinse with water.

Make sure the antenna workssmoothly by turning the stereo offand on several times with theignition switch ON (II). The antennadoes not need lubricating.

If you use a "drive-through" car wash,make sure you turn the stereo offfirst. This retracts the antenna toprevent damage from the car washbrushes.

Appearance Care

NOTICE

Exterior Care

WaxingAlways wash and dry the whole carbefore waxing it. You should waxyour car, including the metal trim,whenever water sits on the surfacein large patches. It should form intobeads or droplets after waxing.

You should use a quality liquid orpaste wax. Apply it according to theinstructions on the container. Ingeneral, there are two types ofproducts:

Waxes — A wax coats the finish andprotects it from damage by exposureto sunlight, air pollution, etc. Youshould use a wax on your Acurawhen 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. You

should use a polish on your Acura ifthe finish does not have its originalshine after using a wax.

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

Aluminum WheelsOn some modelsClean your Acura's aluminum alloywheels as you do the rest of theexterior. Wash them with the samesolution, and rinse them thoroughly.

The wheels have a protective clear-coat that keeps the aluminum fromcorroding and tarnishing. Usingharsh chemicals, including somecommercial wheel cleaners, or stiffbrushes can damage this clear-coat.Only use a mild detergent and softbrush or sponge to clean the wheels.

Paint Touch-upYour dealer has touch-up paint tomatch your car's color. The colorcode is printed on a sticker on thedriver's doorjamb. Take this code toyour dealer so you are sure to getthe correct color.

Inspect your car frequently for chipsor scratches in the paint. Repairthem right away to prevent corrosionof the metal underneath. Use thetouch-up paint only on small chipsand scratches. More extensive paintdamage should be repaired by aprofessional.

Appearance Care

Interior Care

CarpetingVacuum the carpeting frequently toremove dirt. Ground-in dirt will makethe carpet wear out faster.Periodically shampoo the carpet tokeep it looking new. Use one of thefoam-type carpet cleaners on themarket. Follow the instructions thatcome with the cleaner, applying itwith a sponge or soft brush. Keepthe carpeting as dry as possible bynot adding water to the foam.

Floor Mats

The Genuine Acura driver's floormat that came with your car 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 car.

If you replace it, use a genuine Acurafloor mat that is designed to be usedwith the floor mat anchor in your car.

If you use a non-Acura 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.

LeatherOn some modelsVacuum 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.

Seat Belts

LOOPIf your seat belts get dirty, you canuse a soft brush with a mixture ofmild soap and warm water to cleanthem. Do not use bleach, dye, orcleaning solvents. They can weakenthe belt material. Let the belts air-dry before you use the car.

CONTINUED

Appearance Care

Interior Care

Dirt build-up in the loops of the seatbelt anchors can cause the belts toretract slowly. Wipe the insides ofthe loops with a clean clothdampened in mild soap and warmwater or isopropyl alcohol.

WindowsClean the windows, inside and out,with a commercially-available glasscleaner. You can also use a mixtureof one part white vinegar to ten partswater. This will remove the haze thatbuilds up on the inside of thewindows. Use a soft cloth or papertowels to clean all glass and clearplastic surfaces.

The rear window defogger wires arebonded to the inside of the glass.Wiping vigorously up-and-down candislodge and break the defogger wires.When cleaning the rear window, usegentle pressure and wipe side-to-side.

Air FreshenersIf you want to use an air freshener/deodorizer in the interior of your car,it is best to use a solid type. Someliquid air fresheners contain chemi-cals that may cause parts of theinterior trim and fabric to crack ordiscolor.

If you use a liquid air freshener,make sure you fasten it securely so itdoes not spill as you drive.

Appearance Care

NOTICE

Corrosion Protection

Two factors normally contribute tocausing corrosion in your car:

1. Moisture trapped in body cavities.Dirt and road salt that collects inhollows on the underside of thecar stays damp, promotingcorrosion in that area.

2. Removal of paint and protectivecoatings from the exterior andunderside of the car.

Many corrosion-preventive measuresare built into your Acura. You canhelp keep your car from corrodingby performing some simple periodicmaintenance:

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 car. This isespecially important in areas thatuse road salt in winter. It is also agood idea in humid climates andareas subject to salt air. Carsequipped with ABS have a sensorand wiring at each wheel. Becareful not to damage them.

Have the corrosion-preventivecoatings on the underside of yourcar inspected and repairedperiodically.

Appearance Care

Body Repairs

Body repairs can affect your car'sresistance to corrosion. If your carneeds repairs after a collision, payclose attention to the parts used inthe repair and the quality of thework.

Make sure the repair facility usesGenuine Acura replacement bodyparts. Some companies make sheetmetal pieces that seem to duplicatethe original Acura 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 Acura parts used inthe repair. Although most insurersrecognize the quality of originalparts, some may try to specify thatthe repairs be done with otheravailable parts. You should investi-gate this before any repairs havebegun.

Take your car to your authorizedAcura dealer for inspection after therepairs are completed. Your dealercan make sure that quality materialswere used, and that corrosion-preventive coatings were applied toall repaired and replaced parts.

Appearance Care

Taking Care of the Unexpected

This section covers the more-common problems that motoristsexperience with their vehicles. Itgives you information about how tosafely evaluate the problem and whatto do to correct it. If the problem hasstranded you on the side of the road,you may be able to get going again.If not, you will also find instructionson getting your car towed.

Compact Spare Tire....................... 226Changing a Flat Tire..................... 227If Your Engine Won't Start........... 231

Nothing Happens or theStarter Motor OperatesVery Slowly............................. 232

The Starter OperatesNormally................................. 233

Jump Starting................................. 233If Your Engine Overheats............. 236Low Oil Pressure Indicator.......... 238Charging System Indicator........... 239Malfunction Indicator Lamp........ 240Brake System Indicator................ 241Closing the Moonroof................... 242Fuses............................................... 243

Checking and Replacing........... 244Emergency Towing....................... 248


Compact Spare Tire

Your car has a compact spare tirethat takes up less space. Use thisspare tire as a temporary replace-ment only. Get your regular tirerepaired or replaced and put it backon your car as soon as you can.

Check the inflation pressure of thecompact spare tire every time youcheck the other tires. It should beinflated to:60 psi (420 kPa , 4.20 kgf/cm2)

Follow these precautions wheneveryou are using the compact spare tire:

Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)under any circumstances.

This tire gives a harsher ride andless traction on some road sur-faces than the regular tire. Usegreater caution while driving onthis tire.

Do not mount snow chains on thecompact spare.

The wheel of the compact sparetire is designed especially to fityour car. Do not use your sparetire on another vehicle unless it isthe same make and model.

Type-R model onlyDo not drive with the compactspare tire mounted on the frontwheels for a long period; it willdamage the Limited SlipDifferential.

INDICATOR LOCATION MARK

The compact spare tire has a shortertread life than a regular tire. Replaceit when you can see the tread wearindicator bars. The replacementshould be the same size and designtire, mounted on the same wheel.The compact spare tire is notdesigned to be mounted on a regularwheel, and the compact wheel is notdesigned for mounting a regular tire.


TREAD WEAR INDICATOR BAR

Changing a Flat Tire

If you have a flat tire while driving,stop in a safe place to change it.Stopping in traffic or on the shoulderof a busy road is dangerous. Driveslowly along the shoulder until youget to an exit or an area to stop thatis far away from the traffic lanes.

JACK

SPARE TIRE TOOL KIT

1. Park the car on firm, level andnon-slippery ground away fromtraffic. Put the transmission inPark (automatic) or Reverse(manual). Apply the parking brake.If you are towing a trailer, unhitchthe trailer.

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

3. Open the hatch. Pull up the floormat and remove the spare tirecover.

4. Take the tool kit out of the sparetire well.

5. Unscrew the wing bolt and takethe spare tire out of its well.

CONTINUED


The car can easily roll off thejack, seriously injuring anyoneunderneath.

Follow the directions forchanging a tire exactly, andnever get under the car when itis supported only by the jack.

Rajesh


6. Turn the jack's end bracketcounterclockwise to loosen it, thenremove the jack.

7. (Except Type-R)Loosen the four wheel nuts 1/2turn with the wheel wrench.

(Type-R)Loosen the five wheel nuts 1/2turn with the wheel wrench.

8. Find the jacking point nearest thewheel you are removing. Place thejack under the jacking point. Turnthe end bracket clockwise untilthe top of the jack contacts thejacking point. Make sure thejacking point tab is resting in thejack notch.


JACK WHEEL WRENCH JACKING POINT


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

10. Remove the wheel nuts and flattire. Temporarily place the flat tireon the ground with the outsidesurface of the wheel facing up.You could scratch the wheel if youput it face down.

11. Before mounting the spare tire,wipe any dirt off the mountingsurface of the wheel and hub witha clean cloth. Wipe the hubcarefully, it may be hot fromdriving.

CONTINUED


EXTENSION

WHEEL WRENCH BRAKE HUB


12. Put on the spare tire. Put thewheel nuts back on finger-tight,then tighten them in a crisscrosspattern with the wheel wrenchuntil the wheel is firmly againstthe hub. Do not try to tightenthem fully.

13. Lower the car to the ground andremove the jack.

14. Tighten the wheel nuts securely inthe same crisscross pattern. Havethe wheel nut torque checked atthe nearest automotive servicefacility.Tighten the wheel nuts to:80 lbf.ft (108 N.m , 11 kgf.m)


(Except Type-R)

(Type-R)

Changing a Flat Tire, If Your Engine Won't Start

15. Remove the wheel cover or centercap.Place the flat tire face down in thespare tire well.

16. Remove the spacer cone from thewing bolt, turn it over, and put itback on the bolt.

17. Secure the flat tire by screwingthe wing bolt back into its hole.

18. Store the jack in its holder withthe end bracket facing to the right.Turn the jack's end bracket to lockit in place. Store the tool kit.

19. Store the wheel cover or centercap in the cargo area. Make sure itwill not get scratched or damaged.

20. Reinstall the floor mat and sparetire cover, then close the hatch.

If Your Engine Won't StartDiagnosing 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.


WING BOLTSPACERCONE

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

Store the wheel, jack and toolssecurely before driving.

Rajesh

If Your Engine Won't Start

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

Your car has the ImmobilizerSystem. You should use aproperly-coded master or valet keyto start the engine (see page 72 ).A key that is not properly codedwill cause the immobilizer systemindicator in the dash panel to blinkrapidly.

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 233.

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 248.)

If the headlights dim noticeably orgo out when you try to start theengine, either the battery is dis-charged or the connections arecorroded. Check the condition ofthe battery and terminal connec-tions (see page 189 ). You canthen try jump starting the car froma booster battery (see page 233 ).


If Your Engine Won't Start, Jump Starting

The Starter Operates NormallyIn this case, the starter motor'sspeed sounds normal, or even fasterthan normal, when you turn theignition switch to START (III), butthe engine does not run.

Are you using the proper startingprocedure? Refer to Starting theEngine on page 137.

Do you have fuel? Turn theignition switch to ON (II) for aminute and watch the fuel gauge.The low fuel level warning lightmay not 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 243).

If you find nothing wrong, you willneed a qualified technician to findthe problem. See EmergencyTowing on page 248.

Jump StartingIf your car's battery has run down,you may be able to start the engineby using a booster battery. Althoughthis seems like a simple procedure,you should take several precautions.

You cannot start an Acura with anautomatic transmission by pushingor pulling it.

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.

Rajesh

Jump Starting

To jump start your car, follow thesedirections closely:

1. Open the hood and check thephysical condition of the battery(see page 191 ). 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 yourAcura's battery. Connect the otherend to the positive (+ ) terminalon the booster battery.

4. Connect the second jumper cableto the negative (—) terminal onthe booster battery. Connect theother end to the grounding strapas shown. Do not connect thisjumper cable to any other part ofthe engine.

5. If the booster battery is in anothervehicle, have an assistant startthat vehicle and run it at a fast idle.


NOTICE

Jump Starting

The numbers in the illustration showyou the order to connect the jumpercables. Make sure to disconnect thecables in the reverse order.

6. Start your car. If the starter motorstill operates slowly, check thejumper cable connections to makesure they have good metal-to-metal contact.

7. Once your car is running, discon-nect the negative cable from yourcar, then from the booster battery.Disconnect the positive cable fromyour car, then the booster battery.

Keep the ends of the jumper cablesaway from each other and any metalon the vehicle until all aredisconnected. Otherwise, you maycause an electrical short.


BOOSTER BATTERY

If Your Engine Overheats

The pointer of your car's tempera-ture gauge should stay in the mid-range under most conditions. It maygo higher if you are driving up a longsteep hill on a very hot day. If itclimbs to the red mark, you shoulddetermine the reason.

Driving with the temperature gaugepointer at the red mark can causeserious damage to your engine.

Your car can overheat for severalreasons, such as lack of coolant or amechanical problem. The onlyindication may be the temperaturegauge climbing to or above the redmark. Or you may see steam orspray coming from under the hood.In either case, you should takeimmediate action.

1. Safely pull to the side of the road.Put the transmission in Neutral orPark and set the parking brake.Turn off the heating and coolingsystem and all other accessories.Turn on the hazard warningindicators.

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

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

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.


Steam and spray from anoverheated engine canseriously scald you.

Do not open the hood if steamis coming out.

NOTICE

Rajesh

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 248).

7. If you don't find an obvious leak,check the coolant level in theradiator reserve tank (see page128). 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 lever 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 248.)

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.

Rajesh

Low Oil Pressure Indicator

This indicator should light when theignition switch is ON (II), and go outafter the engine starts. It shouldnever come on when the engine isrunning. If it starts flashing, itindicates that the oil pressuredropped very low for a moment, thenrecovered. If the indicator stays onwith the engine running, it showsthat the engine has lost oil pressureand serious engine damage ispossible. In either case, you shouldtake immediate action.

Running the engine with low oilpressure can cause serious mechanicaldamage almost immediately. Turn offthe engine as soon as you can safely getthe car stopped.

1. Safely pull off the road and shutoff the engine. Turn on the hazardwarning indicators.

2. Let the car sit for a minute. Openthe hood and check the oil level(see page 127). Although oil leveland oil pressure are not directlyconnected, an engine that is verylow on oil can lose pressure duringcornering and other drivingmaneuvers.

3. If necessary, add oil to bring thelevel back to the full mark on thedipstick (see page 173).

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 248.)


LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR

NOTICE

Charging System Indicator

This indicator should come on whenthe ignition switch is ON (II), and goout after the engine starts. If itcomes on brightly when the engineis running, it indicates that thecharging system has stoppedcharging the battery.

Immediately turn off all electricalaccessories: radio, heater, A/C, reardefogger, cruise control, etc. Try notto use other electrically-operatedcontrols such as the power windows.Keep the engine running and takeextra care not to stall it. Starting theengine will discharge the batteryrapidly.

By eliminating as much of theelectrical load as possible, you candrive several miles (kilometers)before the battery is too dischargedto keep the engine running. Drive toa service station or garage whereyou can get technical assistance.


CHARGING SYSTEM INDICATOR

Malfunction Indicator Lamp

This indicator comes on for a fewseconds when you turn the ignitionswitch ON (II). If it comes on at anyother time, it indicates one of theengine's emissions control systemsmay have a problem. Even thoughyou may feel no difference in yourcar's performance, it can reduceyour fuel economy and cause yourcar to put out excessive emissions.Continued operation may causeserious damage.

If you have recently refueled yourcar, the cause of this indicatorcoming on could be a loose ormissing fuel fill cap. Check the capand tighten it until it clicks severaltimes. Replace the fuel fill cap if it ismissing. Tightening the cap will notmake the indicator turn offimmediately; it takes three drivingtrips.

If the indicator remains on past threedriving trips, or the fuel cap was notloose or missing, have the carchecked by the dealer as soon aspossible. Drive moderately until thedealer has inspected the problem.Avoid full-throttle acceleration anddriving at high speed.

You should also have the dealerinspect your car if this indicatorcomes on repeatedly, even though itmay turn off as you continue driving.

If you keep driving with themalfunction indicator lamp on, you candamage your car's emissions controlsand engine. Those repairs may not becovered by your car's warranties.


MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP

NOTICE

Brake System Indicator

*U.S. indicator shown

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 car'sbrake system. In most cases, theproblem is a low fluid level in thebrake fluid reservoir. Press lightly onthe brake pedal to see if it feels

normal. If it does, check the brakefluid level the next time you stop at aservice station (see page 186). If thefluid level is low, take the car to yourdealer and have the brake systeminspected for leaks or worn brakepads.

However, if the brake pedal does notfeel normal, you should takeimmediate action. Because of thebrake system's dual-circuit design, aproblem in one part of the systemwill still give you braking at twowheels. You will feel the brake pedalgo down much farther before the carbegins to slow down, and you willhave to press harder on the pedal.The distance needed to stop will bemuch longer.

Slow down by shifting to a lowergear, and pull to the side of the roadwhen it is safe. Because of thelonger distance needed to stop, it ishazardous to drive the car. Youshould have it towed, and repaired assoon as possible. (See EmergencyTowing on page 248 .)

If you must drive the car a shortdistance in this condition, driveslowly and cautiously.


BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR*

Closing the Moonroof

LS, GS and GS-R ModelsIf the electric motor will not closethe moonroof, do the following:

1. Check the fuse for the moonroofmotor (see page 243). If the fuseis blown, replace it with one of thesame or lower rating.

2. Try closing the moonroof. If thenew fuse blows immediately or themoonroof motor still does notoperate, you can close themoonroof manually.

3. Get the moonroof wrench out ofthe tool kit in the cargo area.

4. Use a screwdriver or coin toremove the round plug in thecenter of the headliner.

5. Insert the moonroof wrench intothe socket behind this plug. Turnthe wrench until the moonroof isfully closed.

6. Remove the wrench. Replace theround plug.


ROUND PLUG SOCKET

Fuses

All the electrical circuits in your carhave fuses to protect them from ashort circuit or overload. Thesefuses are located in two or three fuseboxes.

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.

UNDER-HOOD TAB

The under-hood fuse box is locatedin the engine compartment next tothe battery. To open it, push the tabas shown.

ABS FUSE BOX

Cars equipped with ABS have a thirdfuse box for the ABS. It is in thefront of the engine compartment onthe passenger's side.

CONTINUED


INTERIOR

Fuses

Checking and Replacing FusesIf something electrical in your carstops working, the first thing youshould check for is a blown fuse.Determine from the chart on pages246 and 247, or the diagram on the

fuse box lid, which fuse or fusescontrol that component. Check thosefuses first, but check all the fusesbefore deciding that a blown fuse isnot the cause. Replace any blownfuses and check the component'soperation.

1. Turn the ignition switch to LOCK(0). Make sure the headlights andall other accessories are off.

2. Remove the cover from the fusebox.

FUSE

3. Check each of the large fuses inthe under-hood fuse box bylooking through the top at the wireinside. Removing these fusesrequires a Phillips-head screw-driver.

4. Check the smaller fuses in theunder-hood fuse box and all thefuses in the interior fuse box bypulling out each fuse with the fusepuller provided in the interior fusebox.


BLOWN

FUSE PULLER

Fuses

5. Look for a burned wire inside thefuse. If it is burned, replace it withone of the spare fuses of the samerating or lower.

If you cannot drive the car withoutfixing the problem, and you do nothave a spare fuse, take a fuse of thesame rating or a lower rating fromone of the other circuits. Make sureyou can do without that circuittemporarily (such as the cigarettelighter or radio).

If you replace the blown fuse with aspare fuse that has a lower rating, itmight blow out again. This does notindicate anything wrong. Replace thefuse with one of the correct rating assoon as you can.

Replacing a fuse with one that has ahigher rating greatly increases thechances of damaging the electricalsystem. If you do not have a replace-ment fuse with the proper rating for thecircuit, install one with a lower rating.

6. If the replacement fuse of thesame rating blows in a short time,there is probably a seriouselectrical problem in your car.Leave the blown fuse in thatcircuit and have your car checkedby a qualified mechanic.

If 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 page119).

CONTINUED


BLOWN

NOTICE

Fuses

INTERIOR FUSE BOX

* : On Canadian models


Fuses

UNDER-HOOD FUSE BOX

ABS FUSE BOX


Emergency Towing

If your car needs to be towed, call aprofessional towing service or, if youbelong to one, an organization thatprovides roadside assistance. Nevertow your car behind another vehiclewith just a rope or chain. It is verydangerous.

There are three popular types ofprofessional towing equipment.

Flat-bed Equipment — The operatorloads your car on the back of a truck.This is the best way to transportyour Acura.

Wheel-lift Equipment — The towtruck uses two pivoting arms that gounder the tires (front or rear) and liftthem off the ground. The other twotires remain on the ground. This isan acceptable way to tow yourAcura.

Sling-type Equipment — The towtruck uses metal cables with hookson the ends. These hooks go aroundparts of the frame or suspension andthe cables lift that end of the car offthe ground. Your car's suspensionand body can be seriously damaged.This method of towing isunacceptable.

If your Acura cannot be transportedby flat-bed, it should be towed bywheel-lift equipment with the frontwheels off the ground. If, due todamage, your car must be towedwith the front wheels on the ground,do the following.

5-speed Manual TransmissionRelease the parking brake.Shift the transmission to Neutral.

Automatic TransmissionRelease the parking brake.Start the engine.Shift to D4, then to N.Turn off the engine.

Improper towing preparation willdamage the transmission. Follow theabove procedure exactly. If you cannotshift the transmission or start theengine (automatic transmission), yourcar must be transported with the frontwheels off the ground.

With the front wheels on the ground,it is best to tow the vehicle no fartherthan 50 miles (80 km), and keep thespeed below 35 mph (55 km/h).


NOTICE

Emergency Towing

If you decide to tow your car with allfour wheels on the ground, makesure you use a properly-designed andattached tow bar. Prepare the car fortowing as described above, and leavethe ignition switch in Accessory (I)so the steering wheel does not lock.Make sure the radio and anyelectrical accessories are turned offso they do not run down the battery.

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

Trying to lift or tow your car by thebumpers will cause serious damage.The bumpers are not designed tosupport the car's weight.


NOTICE

NOTICE

Technical Information

The diagrams in this section giveyou the dimensions and capacities ofyour Acura, and the locations of theidentification numbers. It alsoincludes information you shouldknow about your vehicle's tires andemissions control systems.

Identification Numbers................. 252Specifications................................. 254DOT Tire Quality Grading

(U.S. Cars)..............................256Treadwear.................................. 256Traction — AA, A, B, C............ 256Temperature — A, B, C.......... 257

Oxygenated Fuels.......................... 258Driving in Foreign Countries....... 259

Emissions Controls........................ 260The Clean Air Act...................... 260Crankcase Emissions Control

System..................................... 260Evaporative Emissions Control

System..................................... 260Onboard Refueling Vapor

Recovery................................. 261Exhaust Emissions Controls.... 261

PGM-FI System..................... 261Ignition Timing Control

System................................. 261Three Way Catalytic

Converter............................ 261Replacement Parts..................... 261

Three Way Catalytic Converter... 262State Emissions Testing............... 263


Identification Numbers

Your car has several identifyingnumbers located in various places.

The Vehicle Identification Number(VIN) is the 17-digit number yourAcura dealer uses to register yourcar for warranty purposes. It is alsonecessary for licensing and insuringyour car. The easiest place to findthe VIN is on a plate fastened to thetop of the dashboard. You can see itby looking through the windshieldon the driver's side. It is also on theCertification label attached to thedriver's doorjamb, and is stamped onthe engine compartment bulkhead.The VIN is also provided in bar codeon the Certification label.

VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

CERTIFICATION LABEL


Identification Numbers

The Engine Number is stamped intothe engine block.

The Transmission Number is on alabel on top of the transmission.


MANUAL TRANSMISSION NUMBER AUTOMATIC 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 ,0.13 Imp gal)

* 2 : SE, LS,GS

* 3 : GS-R,Type-R

* 4 : Excluding the oil remaining in the engine.* 1 : SE, LS, GS * 2: GS-R, Type-R * 3 : GS-R * 4: Type-R

* 1 : SE, LS, GS, GS-R * 2 : Type-R

page191 .

Specifications


page 246

page 247

* : Except high-mount brake light installed in rear spoiler

* 1 : SE * 2 : LS, GS, GS-R * 3 : Type-R

* : Type-R

* 1 : Type-R * 2 : SE, LS, GS, GS-R

DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Cars)

The tires on your car meet all U.S.Federal Safety Requirements. Alltires are also graded for treadwear,traction, and temperature perform-ance according to Department ofTransportation (DOT) standards.The following explains thesegradings.

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

DOT Quality GradesAll 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 (11/2) 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. Cars)

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 re 101ferred 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 yourAcura 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 Acura will affect perfor-mance and fuel mileage, and damageits emissions controls. It will nolonger comply with U.S. andCanadian emissions regulations, andwill be illegal to operate in NorthAmerica. To bring your car back intocompliance will require the replace-ment of several components, such asthe oxygen sensors and the threeway catalytic converter. These re-placements are not covered underwarranty.

Emissions Controls

The burning of gasoline in your car'sengine produces several byproducts.Some of these are carbon monoxide(CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOx) andhydrocarbons (HC). Gasolineevaporating from the tank alsoproduces hydrocarbons. Controllingthe production of NOx, CO, and HCis important to the environment.Under certain conditions of sunlightand climate, NOx and HC react toform photochemical "smog." Carbonmonoxide does not contribute tosmog creation, but it is a poisonousgas.

The Clean Air ActThe United States Clean Air Act*sets standards for automobileemissions. It also requires thatautomobile manufacturers explain toowners how their emissions controlswork and what to do to maintainthem. This section summarizes howthe emissions controls work.Scheduled maintenance is on page164.

* In Canada, Acura vehicles complywith the Canadian Motor VehicleSafety Standards (CMVSS) forEmissions valid at the time they aremanufactured.

Crankcase Emissions ControlSystemYour car has a Positive CrankcaseVentilation System. This keepsgasses that build up in the engine'scrankcase from going into theatmosphere. The Positive CrankcaseVentilation valve routes them fromthe crankcase back to the intakemanifold. They are then drawn intothe engine and burned.

Evaporative Emissions ControlSystemAs gasoline evaporates in the fueltank, an evaporative emissionscontrol canister filled with charcoaladsorbs the vapor. It is stored in thiscanister while the engine is off. Afterthe engine is started and warmed up,the vapor is drawn into the engineand burned during driving.


Emissions Controls

Onboard Refueling VaporRecoveryThe Onboard Refueling VaporRecovery (ORVR) system capturesthe fuel vapors during refueling. Thevapors are adsorbed in a canisterfilled with activated carbon. Whiledriving, the fuel vapors are drawninto the engine and burned off.

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 (C02), 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 Acura replacement parts ortheir equivalent for repairs. Usinglower quality parts may increase theemissions from your car.

The emissions control systems arecovered by warranties separate fromthe rest of your car. Read yourwarranty manual for more informa-tion.


Three Way Catalytic Converter

The three way catalytic convertercontains precious metals that serveas catalysts, promoting chemicalreactions to convert the exhaustgasses without affecting the metals.The catalytic converter is referred toas a three-way catalyst, since it actson HC, CO, and NOx. A replacementunit must be an original Acura partor its equivalent.

The three way catalytic convertermust operate at a high temperaturefor the chemical reactions to takeplace. It can set on fire any com-bustible materials that come near it.Park your car away from high grass,dry leaves, or other flammables.

A defective three way catalyticconverter contributes to air pollution,and can impair your engine's per-formance. Follow these guidelines toprotect your car's three way catalyticconverter.

Always use unleaded gasoline.Even a small amount of leadedgasoline can contaminate thecatalyst metals, making the threeway catalytic converter ineffective.

Keep the engine tuned-up.

Have your car diagnosed andrepaired if it is misfiring, back-firing, stalling, or otherwise notrunning properly.


THREE WAY CATALYTIC CONVERTER

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 pass the test.This is because of certain "readinesscodes" that must be set in the on-board diagnostics for the emissionssystems. These codes are erasedwhen the battery is disconnected,and set again only after several daysof driving under a variety ofconditions.

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 90 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 Acura dealer.


Warranty and Customer Relations

Customer RelationsInformation................................. 266

Canada Zone Office Map.............. 267Warranty Coverages..................... 268Reporting Safety Defects

(U.S. Vehicles)........................... 269Authorized Manuals...................... 271


Customer Relations Information

Acura 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 the AcuraCustomer Relations Office.

U.S. Owners:Acura Automobile Division

Client Services OfficeAmerican Honda Motor Co., Inc.

1919 Torrance Blvd.Torrance, CA 90501-2746

or telephone: (800) 382-2238

In Puerto Rico and the U.S. VirginIslands:

Vortex Motor Corp.Bella InternationalP.O. Box 190816

San Juan, PR 00919-0816(787) 250-4327

Canadian Owners:Refer to the Canadian Zone OfficeMap on the next page.

When you call or write, please giveus this information:

Vehicle Identification Number(see page 252)Name and address of the dealerwho services your carDate of purchaseMileage on your carYour name, address, and tele-phone numberA detailed description of theproblemName of the dealer who sold thecar to you


Warranty Coverages

U.S. OwnersYour new Acura 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 Acura 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 an Acura dealer.

Replacement Muffler LifetimeLimited Warranty — providescoverage for as long as the pur-chaser of the muffler owns the car.

Restrictions and exclusions apply toall these warranties. Please read the2001 Acura Warranty Informationbooklet that came with your car forprecise information on warrantycoverages. Your Acura's originaltires are covered by theirmanufacturer. Tire warrantyinformation is in a separate booklet.

Canadian OwnersPlease refer to the 2001 WarrantyManual that came with your car.


Reporting Safety Defects (U.S. Vehicles)

If you believe that your vehicle has adefect which could cause a crash orcould cause injury or death, youshould immediately inform theNational Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration (NHTSA) in additionto notifying Acura AutomobileDivision, American Honda Motor Co.,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, or AcuraAutomobile Division, AmericanHonda 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 1-800-7824356.

Valid only for sales within the U.S. Canadian owners shouldcontact their authorized Acura 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.

61ST705

61ST708

61ST708EL

61ST730

61ST731

31ST7670

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 1-800-782-4366

Service Manual:This manual covers maintenance and recommendedprocedures for repair to engine and chassis components.It is written for the Journeyman mechanic, but is simpleenough for most mechanically-inclined owners to under-stand.

Electrical Troubleshooting Manual:This manual complements the Service Manual byproviding in-depth troubleshooting information for eachelectrical circuit in your vehicle.

Body Repair Manual:This manual describes the procedures involved in thereplacement of damaged body parts.

Index

Accessories and Modifications.... 130Accessories................................. 130Additional Safety Precaution.... 131Modifications............................. 131

ACCESSORY (Ignition KeyPosition)........................................ 74

Additives, Engine Oil..................... 175Airbag (SRS)............................... 9, 45Air Cleaner Element...................... 188Air Conditioning System................. 94

Maintenance............................... 196Usage............................................. 94

Air Outlets (Vents).......................... 96Air Pressure, Tires........................ 198Alcohol in Gasoline........................ 258Antifreeze....................................... 178Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)

Indicator................................ 55, 148Operation.................................... 146

Anti-theft Steering ColumnLock............................................... 74

Appearance Care........................... 217Ashtrays............................................ 91Audio System................................. 102

Automatic Speed Control................ 67Automatic Transmission............... 140

Capacity, Fluid........................... 255Checking Fluid Level................ 183Shifting........................................ 140Shift Lever Position Indicator.. 140Shift Lever Positions................. 140Shift Lock Release..................... 143

BatteryCharging System

Indicator............................ 55, 239Jump Starting............................. 233Maintenance............................... 191Specifications............................. 255

Before Driving............................... 121Belts, Seat.................................... 8, 42Beverage Holder.............................. 89Body Repair.................................... 224Brakes

Anti-lock System (ABS)............ 146Break-in, New Linings.............. 123Bulb Replacement..................... 212Fluid............................................ 185

Parking.......................................... 87System Indicator................. 54, 241Wear Indicators......................... 145

Braking System.............................. 145Break-in, New Car......................... 123Brightness Control, Instruments... 63Brights, Headlights......................... 62Bulb Replacement

Back-up Lights........................... 212Brake Lights............................... 212Cargo Area Light....................... 215Ceiling Light............................... 215Front Parking Lights................. 210Front Side Marker Lights......... 210Headlights.................................. 209High-mount Brake Light.......... 211License Plate Light.................... 214Rear Side Marker Lights.......... 212Specifications............................. 255Spotlights.................................... 215Turn Signal Lights..................... 210

Bulbs, Halogen............................... 209

CONTINUED

Index

Capacities Chart.................... 254, 255Carbon Monoxide Hazard.............. 49Cargo Area Cover............................ 83Carrying Cargo.............................. 132Cassette Player

Care............................................. 118Operation.................................... 115

CAUTION, Explanation of............... iiCD Changer.................................... 111CD Player........................................ 109Certification Label......................... 252Chains............................................. 204Changing Oil

How to......................................... 175When to....................................... 162

Changing a Flat Tire..................... 227Changing Engine Coolant............. 180Charging System Indicator.... 55, 239Checklist, Before Driving............. 136Child Safety...................................... 21Child Seats........................................ 26

Tether Anchorage Points........... 41Cleaner Element, Air..................... 188

CleaningAluminum Wheels..................... 219Antenna....................................... 218Carpeting.................................... 220Exterior....................................... 218Fabric.......................................... 221Interior........................................ 220Leather........................................ 221Seat Belts.................................... 221Vinyl............................................221Windows..................................... 222

Clock, Setting the............................ 88Clutch Fluid.................................... 185Code, Audio System...................... 119CO in the Exhaust......................... 260Cold Weather, Starting in............. 137Compact Spare............................... 226Console Compartment.................... 90Consumer Information*................ 266Controls, Instruments and.............. 51Coolant

Adding......................................... 178Checking..................................... 128Proper Solution.......................... 178Replacing.................................... 180Temperature Gauge.................... 59

Corrosion Protection..................... 223Crankcase Emissions Control

System......................................... 260Cruise Control Operation............... 67Customer Relations Office........... 266

DANGER, Explanation of................. iiDashboard.................................... 2, 52Daytime Running Lights................. 62Defects, Reporting Safety............. 269Defog and Defrost......................... 100Defogger, Rear Window................. 65Dimensions..................................... 254Dimming the Headlights................ 62Dipstick

Automatic Transmission........... 183Engine Oil................................... 127

Directional Signals........................... 63Disc Brake Wear Indicators......... 145Disposal of Used Oil...................... 177Doors

Locking and Unlocking............... 75Power Door Locks....................... 75

DOT Tire Quality Grading........... 256

Index

Downshifting, 5-speed ManualTransmission.............................. 138

Drive Belts...................................... 197Driver and Passenger Safety............ 5Driving............................................ 135

Economy..................................... 129In Bad Weather.......................... 149In Foreign Countries................. 259

Economy, Fuel............................... 129Emergencies on the Road............. 225

Battery, Jump Starting.............. 233Brake System Indicator............ 241Changing a Flat Tire................. 227Charging System Indicator...... 239Checking the Fuses................... 244Low Oil Pressure Indicator...... 238Malfunction Indicator Lamp.... 240Manually Closing Moonroof.... 242Overheated Engine................... 236

Emergency Brake............................ 87Emergency Flashers....................... 65Emergency Towing....................... 248Emissions Controls........................ 260

Emissions Testing, State.............. 263Engine

Coolant Temperature Gauge..... 59Drive Belts.................................. 197Malfunction Indicator

Lamp................................. 55, 240Oil Pressure Indicator......... 55, 238Oil, What Kind to Use............... 173Overheating................................ 236Specifications............................. 254Starting........................................ 137

Ethanol in Gasoline....................... 258Evaporative Emissions Controls.. 260Exhaust Fumes................................ 49Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat

Belts by......................................... 19Exterior, Cleaning the................... 218

Fabric, Cleaning............................. 221Fan, Interior...................................... 94Features, Comfort and

Convenience................................. 93Filling the Fuel Tank..................... 124

FiltersAir Cleaner................................. 188Oil................................................ 175

5-speed Manual TransmissionChecking Fluid Level................ 185Shifting the................................. 138

Flashers, Hazard Warning.............. 65Flat Tire, Changing a.................... 227Fluids

Automatic Transmission........... 183Brake........................................... 185Clutch.......................................... 185Manual Transmission............... 185Power Steering........................... 187Windshield Washer................... 182

FM Stereo RadioReception.................................... 103

Folding Rear Seat............................ 83Foreign Countries, Driving in...... 259Four-way Flashers........................... 65

CONTINUED

Index

Fuel.................................................. 123Fill Door and Cap....................... 124Gauge............................................ 59Octane Requirement................. 123Oxygenated................................ 258Reserve Indicator......................... 54Tank, Filling the......................... 124

Fuses, Checking the...................... 243

Gas Mileage, Improving................ 129Gasohol........................................... 258Gasoline.......................................... 123

Fuel Reserve Indicator................ 54Gauge............................................ 59Octane Requirement................. 123Tank, Filling the......................... 124

Gas Station Procedures................. 124Gauges

Engine Coolant Temperature.... 59Fuel................................................ 59Speedometer................................ 58Tachometer.................................. 58

Gearshift Lever PositionsAutomatic Transmission........... 140

5-speed ManualTransmission.......................... 138

Glass Cleaning............................... 222Glove Box......................................... 78

Halogen Headlight Bulbs.............. 209Hatch................................................. 76

Opening the.................................. 76Open Monitor Light.................... 56

Hazard Warning Flashers............... 65Headlights

Aiming......................................... 207Daytime Running Lights............. 62High Beam Indicator................... 57Reminder Chime.......................... 62Replacing Halogen Bulbs......... 209Turning on.................................... 62

Head Restraints............................... 82Heating and Cooling........................ 94High Altitude, Starting at.............. 137High-Low Beam Switch.................. 62High-mount Brake Light............... 211Hood Latch..................................... 189Hood, Opening the........................ 125

Horn................................................... 61Hydraulic Clutch............................ 186Hydroplaning.................................. 150

Identification Number, Vehicle.... 252Ignition

Keys............................................... 71Switch............................................ 73Timing Control System............. 261

Immobilizer System......................... 72Important Safety Precautions.......... 6Indicators, Instrument

Panel.............................................. 53Infant Restraint................................ 21Infant Seats....................................... 30

Tether Anchorage Points........... 41Inflation, Proper Tire.................... 198Inside Mirror.................................... 86Inspection, Tire.............................. 199Instrument Panel......................... 2, 52Instrument Panel Brightness......... 63Interior Cleaning............................ 220Interior Lights.................................. 92Introduction......................................... i

Index

Jacking up the Car......................... 228Jack, Tire........................................ 228Jump Starting................................. 233

Keys................................................... 71

Label, Certification........................ 252Lane Change, Signaling.................. 63Lap/Shoulder Belts.................. 16, 42Leather, Cleaning.......................... 221Lighter, Cigarette............................ 90Lights

Bulb Replacement..................... 209Indicator........................................ 53Parking.......................................... 62Turn Signal................................... 63

Limited Slip Differential............... 148Load Limit...................................... 133LOCK (Ignition Key Position)....... 74

LocksAnti-theft Steering Column........ 74Fuel Fill Door............................. 124Glove Box..................................... 78Hatch............................................. 76Power Door and Hatch............... 75

Low Coolant Level......................... 128Lower Gear, Downshifting to a.... 138Low Fuel Indicator.......................... 54Low Oil Pressure Indicator... 55, 238Lubricant Specifications

Chart................................... 254, 255Luggage.......................................... 132

Maintenance................................... 159Owner Maintenance Checks.... 171Record.................................. 169-170Required Indicator....................... 60Schedule.............................. 164-168

Malfunction Indicator Lamp. 55, 240Manual Transmission.................... 138Manual Transmission Fluid......... 185Meters, Gauges................................ 58Methanol in Gasoline.................... 258

Mirrors, Adjusting........................... 86Moonroof.......................................... 85

Closing Manually....................... 242Operation...................................... 85

Neutral Gear Position.................... 141New Vehicle Break-in................... 123Normal Shift Speeds...................... 139NOTICE, Explanation of.................... iNumbers, Identification................ 252

Octane Requirement, Gasoline.... 123Odometer.......................................... 58Odometer, Trip................................ 58

CONTINUED

Index

OilChange, How to......................... 175Change, When to....................... 164Checking Engine....................... 127Pressure Indicator.............. 55, 238Selecting Proper Viscosity

Chart....................................... 174ON (Ignition Key Position)............ 74Onboard Refueling Vapor

Recovery..................................... 261Operation in Foreign Countries... 259Outside Mirrors............................... 86Overheating, Engine..................... 236Oxygenated Fuels.......................... 258Owner Maintenance Checks........ 171

Paint Touch-up...............................219Panel Brightness Control............... 63Park Gear Position......................... 141Parking............................................ 144Parking Brake.................................. 87Parking Lights.................................. 62Parking Over Things that Burn... 144PGM-FI System.............................. 261

Polishing and Waxing................... 219Pre-Drive Safety Checklist............. 11Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts.......... 19Protecting Adults............................. 12

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

Protecting Children......................... 21Protecting Infants........................ 30Protecting Larger Children........ 38Protecting Small Children.......... 34Using Child Seats with

Tethers...................................... 41

Radiator Overheating.................... 236Radio/CD Sound System.............. 102Readiness Codes............................ 263Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement... 212Rear Seat Access............................. 81Rear Seat, Folding........................... 83Rear View Mirror............................. 86Rear Window Defogger.................. 65Rear Window Washer..................... 65Rear Window Wiper........................ 65Reclining the Seat Backs................ 79

Recommended Shift Speeds........ 139Reminder Lights.............................. 53Replacement Information

Air Cleaner Element.................. 188Coolant........................................ 180Engine Oil and Filter................. 175Fuses........................................... 243Light Bulbs................................. 209Schedule..................................... 164Spark Plugs................................. 189Timing Belt................................. 197Tires............................................ 202Wiper Blades.............................. 194

Replacing Seat Belts After aCrash............................................. 43

Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant.... 178Restraint, Child................................ 21Reverse Gear Position................... 141Rotation, Tire................................. 201

Safety Belts...................................8, 42Safety Features.................................. 7

Airbags............................................9Door Locks................................... 10

Index

Head Restraints........................... 10Seat Belts........................................ 8Seats & Seat-Backs...................... 10

Safety Labels, Location of.............. 50Safety Messages................................ iiSeat Belts..................................... 8, 42

Additional Information................ 42Cleaning...................................... 221Lap/Shoulder Belt................ 16, 42Maintenance................................. 43Reminder Light and

Beeper................................ 42, 54System Components.................... 42Use During Pregnancy................ 19Wearing a Lap/Shoulder Belt.... 16

Seats, Adjusting the................... 13, 79Serial Number................................ 252Service Intervals............................ 164Service Manual*............................ 271Service Station Procedures.......... 124Setting the Clock............................. 88Shift Lever Position Indicator...... 140Shift Lock Release......................... 143Shifting

The Automatic Transmission.. 140

The 5-speed ManualTransmission.......................... 138

Side Marker Lights, BulbReplacement in.......................... 210

Signaling Turns................................ 63Snow Tires...................................... 204Solvent-type Cleaners.................... 218Sound System................................. 102Spare Tire

Inflating....................................... 226Specifications............................. 255

Spark Plugs, Replacing................. 189Specifications Charts..................... 254Speed Control................................... 67Speedometer.................................... 58Spotlights.......................................... 92SRS, Additional Information........... 45

Additional Safety Precautions.... 48How Your Airbags Work............ 45How the SRS Indicator Light

Works........................................ 47SRS Components......................... 45SRS Service................................... 47

SRS Indicator............................. 47, 55State Emissions Testing............... 263START (Ignition Key Position)..... 74

Starting the Engine........................ 137In Cold Weather at High

Altitude................................... 137With a Dead Battery................. 233

Steam Coming from Engine......... 236Steering Wheel

Adjustment................................... 66Anti-theft Column Lock.............. 74

Stereo Sound System.................... 102Storing Your Car............................ 216Supplemental Restraint

System.................................. 9, 45Servicing....................................... 47SRS Indicator.......................... 47, 55

Synthetic Oil................................... 175

Tachometer...................................... 58Taillights, Changing Bulbs in....... 212Taking Care of the

Unexpected................................ 225Tape Player..................................... 115

CONTINUED

Index

Technical Descriptions................. 251Emissions Control Systems...... 260Oxygenated Fuels...................... 258Three Way Catalytic

Converter................................ 262Temperature Gauge........................ 59Tether Anchorage Points............... 41Three Way Catalytic Converter... 262Time, Setting the............................. 88Timing Belt..................................... 197Tire Chains..................................... 204Tire, How to Change a Flat.......... 227Tires................................................ 198

Air Pressure............................... 198Checking Wear.......................... 199Compact Spare........................... 226DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 256Inflation....................................... 198Inspection................................... 199Maintenance............................... 200Replacing.................................... 202Rotating....................................... 201Snow............................................ 204Specifications............................. 255Tire Chains................................. 204Winter Driving........................... 203

Tools, Tire Changing.................... 227Towing

A Trailer...................................... 151Emergency................................. 248

TransmissionChecking Fluid Level,

Automatic............................... 183Checking Fluid Level,

Manual.................................... 185Fluid Selection.................. 184, 185Identification Number............... 253Shifting the Automatic.............. 140Shifting the Manual................... 138

Treadwear...................................... 256Trip Meter........................................ 58Turn Signals..................................... 63

Underside, Cleaning...................... 223Unexpected, Taking Care

of the........................................... 225Uniform Tire Quality Grading..... 256Unleaded Gasoline......................... 123Upholstery Cleaning...................... 220Used Oil, How to Dispose of........ 177

Vehicle Capacity Load.................. 133Vehicle Dimensions....................... 254Vehicle Identification Number..... 252Vehicle Storage.............................. 216Ventilation......................................... 97VIN 252Vinyl Cleaning................................ 221Viscosity, Oil................................... 174

WARNING, Explanation of.............. iiWarning Labels, Location of.......... 50Warranty Coverages*................... 268Washer, Windshield

Checking the Fluid Level......... 182Operation...................................... 64

Washing.......................................... 218Waxing and Polishing................... 219Wheels

Adjusting the Steering................ 66Alignment and Balance............. 200Cleaning Aluminum Alloys....... 219

Compact Spare........................... 226Wrench....................................... 228

WindowsCleaning...................................... 222Operating the Power................... 84Rear, Defogger............................ 65

WindshieldCleaning........................................ 64Defroster.................................... 100Washers........................................ 64

Wipers, WindshieldChanging Blades........................ 194Operation...................................... 64

Worn Tires..................................... 199Wrecker, Emergency Towing...... 248

* : U.S. and Canada only

Index

Service Information Summary

Gasoline:(SE, LS, GS)Unleaded gasoline, pump octanenumber of 86 or higher.

(GS-R, Type-R)Premium unleaded gasoline,pump octane number of 91 orhigher.

Fuel Tank Capacity:13.2 US gal (50 ,11.0 Imp gal)

Recommended Engine Oil:API Service SJ "EnergyConserving" oil, SAE 5W-30viscosity (see page 173 ).

Oil change capacity (includingfilter):

(SE, LS, GS)4.0 US qt (3.8 , 3.3 Imp qt)

(GS-R, Type-R)4.2 US qt (4.0 ,3.5 Imp qt)

Automatic Transmission Fluid:Honda ATF-Z1 (AutomaticTransmission Fluid) preferred, ora DEXRON® III ATF as atemporary replacement (see page184).

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 185).

Capacity (including differential):(SE, LS, GS, GS-R)

2.3 US qt (2.2 ,1.9lmpqt)(Type-R)

2.2 US qt (2.1 ,1.8lmpqt)

Power Steering Fluid:Honda Power Steering Fluidpreferred, or another brand ofpower steering fluid as atemporary replacement. Do notuse ATF (see page 187).

Brake Fluid:Honda Heavy Duty Brake FluidDOT 3 preferred, or a DOT 3 orDOT 4 brake fluid as a temporaryreplacement (see page 186).

Tire Pressure (measured cold):(SE)Front/Rear:

29 psi (200 kPa , 2.0 kgf/cm2)

(LS, GS, GS-R, Type-R)Front:

35 psi (240 kPa , 2.4 kgf/cm2)Rear:

33 psi (230 kPa , 2.3 kgf/cm2)

2001 integra hatchback online reference owner's manual...

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