2001 passport online reference owner's...

2001 Passport 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

A Word to the Owner ........................................................................................................................... i

Important Handling Information ...................................................................................................... ii

A Few Words About Safety ................................................................................................................ iv

Driver and Passenger Safety .............................................................................................................. 3 Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restraint System.

Off to a Good Start ............................................................................................................................. 49

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

Seats .................................................................................................................................................... 89

Interior Features ............................................................................................................................... 99

Comfort and Convenience Features .............................................................................................. 119How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features.

Driving Tips ...................................................................................................................................... 155The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, what gasoline to use, how to break -in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.

In Case of Emergency ...................................................................................................................... 183This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, and how to handle them.

Care and Maintenance .................................................................................................................... 195The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer and tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your car ever needs body repairs.

Technical Data ................................................................................................................................. 231ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.

Owner Assistance ............................................................................................................................. 245A summary of the warranties covering your new Honda, and how to contact us.

Authorized Manuals ........................................................................................................................ 253How to order manuals and other technical literature. Index ....................................................................................................................................................

I

Supplemental Restraint SystemOff Road Driving Information

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

A Word to the Owner

We urge you to carefully read this manual and follow itsrecommendations to help assure enjoyable and trouble-free operation.Please keep this Owner's Manual in the glove box of your Passport aspermanent reference material.

While reading this manual you wi ll notice that specifications are givenin both metric and English measurements. Where accuracy is notneeded, some conversions have been rounded off for your convenience.

When it comes to service, remember that your Honda dealer knowsyour vehicle best and is interested in your complete satisfaction.

We thank you for choosing a Honda product, and want to assure youthat we will continue to be interested in your motoring pleasure andsatisfaction.

American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

California Proposition 65 WarningWARNING: This product contains or emits chemicals known to theState of California to cause cancer and birth defects or otherreproductive harm.

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

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

Preface

NOTICEa

Important Handling InformationYour Passport has higher ground clearance than a passenger car designed for use only on pavement. Higherground clearance has many advantages for off-road driving. It allows you to travel over bumps, obstacles, andrough terrain. It also provides good visibility so you can anticipate problems earlier.

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

For information on how to reduce the risk of rollover, read "Driving Guidelines" on page 156 of this manual andthe Off-Road Driving Information booklet that came with your vehicle. Failure to operate this vehicle correctlymay result in loss of control or an accident.

Preface

Preface

A Few Words About Safety

Your safety, and the safety ofothers, is very important. Andoperating this vehicle safely is animportant responsibility.

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 operatingor maintaining your vehicle. Youmust use your own good judgment.

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

Safety Labels — on the vehicle.

Safety Messages — preceded by a safety alert symbol and one ofthree signal words: DANGER, WARNING, or CAUTION.

These signal words mean:You WILL be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if youdo not follow instructions.

You CAN be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if youdo not follow instructions.

You CAN be HURT if you do not follow instruction

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

Safety Section — such as Driver and Passenger Safety.

Instructions — how to use this vehicle correctly and safely.

This entire book is filled with important safety information - please readit carefully.

Preface

Magesh

Driver and Passenger SafetyThis section gives you importantinformation about how to protectyou and your passengers. It showshow to use seat belts properly. Itexplains the SupplementalRestraint System. And it tells youhow to properly restrain infantsand children in your vehicle.

Important Safety Precautions . . 4Your Vehicle's Safety Features 5

Seat Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Seats and Seat-Backs . . . . . . 8Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . 8Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Pre-Drive Safety Checklist . 9

Protecting Adults . . . . . . . . . . 101. Close and Lock the Doors 102. Adjust the Front Seats . . 103. Adjust the Seat-Backs . . 114. Adjust the Head Restraints 12

5. Fasten and Positionthe Seat Belts . . . . . . . . . 13

6. Adjust the Steering Wheel 157. Maintain a Proper

Sitting Position . . . . . . . 16Advice for Pregnant Women 16Additional Safety Precautions 17

Protecting Children . . . . . . . . 18All Children MustBe Restrained . . . . . . . . . . 18

Children Should Sit inthe Back Seat . . . . . . . . . . 19

The Passenger's Airbag PosesSerious Risks to Children 19

If You Must Drive WithSeveral Children . . . . . . . 20

If a Child RequiresClose Attention . . . . . . . . 21

Additional Safety Precautions 21General Guidelines forUsing Child Seats . . . . . . 21

Protecting Infants . . . . . . . 26

Protecting Small Children . 31Protecting Larger Children 34Using Child SeatsWith Tethers . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Additional Information AboutYour Seat Belts . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Seat Belt SystemComponents . . . . . . . . . . . 41Lap/Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . 41Lap Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42Seat Belt Maintenance . . . . 42

Additional Information AboutYour SRS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

SRS Components . . . . . . . . 43How Your Airbags Work . . 44How Your SRS IndicatorLight Works . . . . . . . . . . . 45

SRS Service . . . . . . . . . . . . 46Additional Safety Precautions 46

Carbon Monoxide Hazard . . . 47Safety Labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Driver and Passenger Safety

Important Safety PrecautionsYou'll find many safetyrecommendations throughout thissection, and throughout thismanual. The recommendations onthis page are the ones we considerto be the most important.

Always Wear Your Seat BeltA seat belt is your best protectionin all types of collisions. Airbagssupplement seat belts, but airbagsare designed to inflate only in amoderate to severe frontalcollision. So even though yourvehicle is equipped with airbags,make sure you and yourpassengers always wear your seatbelts, and wear them properly.(See page 13.)

Restrain AH ChildrenChildren are safest when they areproperly restrained in the backseat, not the front seat. A childwho is too small for a seat belt

must be properly restrained in achild safety seat. (See page 18.)

Be Aware of Airbag HazardsWhile airbags save lives, they cancause serious or fatal injuries tooccupants who sit too close tothem, or are not properlyrestrained. Infants, youngchildren, and short adults are atthe greatest risk. Be sure to followall instructions and warnings inthis manual. (See page 7.)

Don't Drink and DriveAlcohol and driving don't mix.Even one drink can reduce yourability to respond to changingconditions, and your reaction timegets worse with every additionaldrink. So don't drink and drive,and don't let your friends drinkand drive either.

Control Your SpeedExcessive speed is a major factorin crash injuries and deaths.Generally, the higher the speedthe greater the risk, but seriousaccidents can also occur at lowerspeeds. Never drive faster than issafe for current conditions,regardless of the maximum speedposted.

Keep Your Vehicle in SafeConditionHaving a tire blowout or amechanical failure can beextremely hazardous. To reducethe possibility of such problems,check your tire pressure andcondition frequently, and performall regularly scheduledmaintenance. (See page 204.)


Your Vehicle's Safety Features

AIRBAGS

POWER DOORLOCKS

SEAT BELTS

SAFETY CAGE

COLLAPSIBLESTEERINGCOLUMN

CRUSHZONES

Your vehicle is equipped withmany features that work togetherto protect you and yourpassengers during a crash.

Some safety features do notrequire any action on your part.These include a strong steelframework that forms a safetycage around the passengercompartment; front and rear crushzones that are designed tocrumple and absorb energy duringa crash; and a collapsible steeringcolumn.

These safety features are designedto reduce the severity of injuriesin a crash. However, you and yourpassengers can't take fulladvantage of these safety featuresunless you remain sitting in aproper position and always wearyour seat belts properly. In fact,


some safety features cancontribute to injuries if they arenot used properly.

Seat BeltsFor your safety, and the safety ofyour passengers, your vehicle isequipped with seat belts in allseating positions.

Your seat belt systemalso includes a light on

the instrument panel to remindyou and your passengers to fastenyour seat belts.

Why Wear Seat BeltsSeat belts are the single mosteffective safety device for adultsand larger children. (Infants andsmaller children must berestrained in child seats.)

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

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

When properly worn, seat belts:Keep you connected to thevehicle so you can takeadvantage of the vehicle'sbuilt-in safety features.Help protect you in almostevery type of crash, includingside and rear impacts androllovers. In a rollover crash,an unbelted person is morelikely to die than a personwearing a seat belt. Your airbagcan only be helpful in amoderate to severe frontalcollision.Help keep you from beingthrown against the inside of thevehicle and against otheroccupants.Keep you from being thrownout of the vehicle.


Not wearing a seat beltproperly increases the chanceof serious injury or death in acrash, even if you haveairbags.

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

Magesh

Help keep you in a goodposition should the airbags everdeploy. A good positionreduces the risk of injury froman inflating airbag, and allowsyou to get the best advantagefrom 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: Alwayswear your seat belt, and makesure you wear it properly.

Airbags

Your vehicle has a SupplementalRestraint System (SRS) withfrontal airbags to help protect thedriver and a front seat passenger.

This system alsoincludes an indicator

light on the instrument panel toalert you to a possible problemwith the system.

The most important things youneed to know about your airbagsare:

Airbags do not replace seatbelts. The seat belts are theoccupants' primary protectionin all types of collisions. Theairbags supplement the seatbelts by providing extraprotection for the head andchest of each front seatoccupant in a moderate tosevere frontal collision.

Airbags offer no protection inside impacts, rear impacts,rollovers, or minor collisions.Airbags are designed to deploy


AIRBAG

only during a moderate tosevere frontal collision.

Airbags can pose serioushazards. To do their job,airbags must inflate withtremendous force and speed. Sowhile airbags save lives, theycan cause serious injuries toadults and larger children whoare not wearing seat belts, arenot wearing them properly, aresitting too close to the airbag,or are not sitting in a properposition. Infants and smallchildren are at an even greaterrisk of injury or death.

What you should do: Alwayswear your seat belt properly, andsit upright and as far back aspossible from the steering wheelor dashboard.

Seats and Seat-BacksYour vehicle's seats are designedto keep you in a comfortable,upright position so you can takefull advantage of the protectionoffered by seat belts and theenergy-absorbing materials in theseats.

How you adjust your seats andseat-backs can also affect yoursafety. For example, sitting tooclose to the steering wheel ordashboard increases the risk ofyou or your passenger beinginjured by striking the inside ofthe vehicle, or by an inflatingairbag.

Reclining a seat-back too farreduces the seat belt'seffectiveness and increases thechance that the seat's occupantwi ll slide under the seat belt in acrash and be seriously injured.

What you should do: Move thefront seats as far back as possible,and keep adjustable seat-backs inan upright position whenever thevehicle is moving.

Head RestraintsHead restraints can help protectyou from whiplash and otherinjuries. For maximum protection,the back of your head should restagainst the center of the headrestraint.


Door LocksKeeping your doors lockedreduces the chance of beingthrown out of the vehicle duringa crash. It also helps preventoccupants from accidentallyopening a door and falling out,and outsiders from unexpectedlyopening your doors.

Pre-Drive Safety ChecklistTo make sure you and yourpassengers get the maximumprotection from your vehicle'ssafety features, check thefollowing each time before youdrive away.

All adults, and children whohave outgrown child safetyseats, are wearing their seatbelts and wearing themproperly (see page 13).

Any infant or small child isproperly restrained in a childseat in the back seat (see page18).

Front seat occupants are sittingupright and as far back aspossible from the steeringwheel and dashboard (see page10).

Seat-backs are upright (seepage 11).

Head restraints are properlyadjusted (see page 12).

All doors and the tailgate areclosed and locked (see page10).

All cargo is properly stored orsecured (see page 175).

The rest of this section gives moredetailed information about howyou can maximize your safety.

Remember, however, that nosafety system can prevent allinjuries or deaths that can occur insevere crashes, even when seatbelts are properly worn and theairbags deploy.


Protecting AdultsIntroductionThe 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 34for important additionalguidelines on how to properlyprotect larger children.)

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

For safety, locking the doorsreduces the chance that apassenger, especially a child, wi llopen a door while the vehicle ismoving and accidentally fall out.

It also reduces the chance ofsomeone being thrown out of thevehicle during a crash.

For security, locked doors canprevent an outsider fromunexpectedly opening a doorwhen you come to a stop.

See page 104 for how to lock thedoors.

2. Adjust the Front Seats

Any driver who sits too close tothe steering wheel is at risk ofbeing seriously injured or killedby striking the steering wheel, orfrom being struck by the inflatingairbag during a crash.


To reduce the chance of injury,wear your seat belt properly, situpright with your back against theseat, and move the seat as far backas possible from the steeringwheel while still maintaining fullcontrol of the vehicle. Also makesure your front seat passengermoves the seat as far to the rear aspossible. Most shorter drivers can get far

enough away from the steeringwheel and still reach the pedals.However, if you are concernedabout sitting too close, werecommend that you investigatewhether some type of adaptiveequipment may help.

Once your seat is adjustedcorrectly, rock it back and forth tomake sure the seat is locked inposition.

See pages 91 and 92 for how toadjust the front seats.

3. Adjust the Seat-Backs

Adjust the driver's seat-back toa comfortable, upright position,leaving ample space between yourchest and the airbag cover in thecenter of the steering wheel. Ifyou sit too close to the steeringwheel, you could be injured if theairbag inflates.

A front passenger should alsoadjust the seat-back to an uprightposition, but as far from the


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

Always sit as far back from theairbags as possible.

Magesh

dashboard as possible. Apassenger who sits too close to thedashboard could be injured if theairbag inflates.

Reclining a seat-back so that theshoulder part of the belt no longerrests against the occupant's chestreduces the protective capabilityof the belt. It also increases thechance of sliding under the belt ina crash and being seriouslyinjured. The farther a seat-back isreclined, the greater the risk ofinjury.

See pages 92 and 93 for how toadjust seat-backs.

4. Adjust the Head Restraints

Before driving, make sureeveryone with an adjustable headrestraint has properly positionedthe head restraint. The restraintshould be positioned so the backof the occupant's head restsagainst the center of the restraint.A taller person should adjust therestraint as high as possible.


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

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

Magesh

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

See page 93 for how to adjust thehead restraints.

5. Fasten and Position theSeat Belts

Using a Lap/Shoulder BeltInsert the latch plate into thebuckle, then tug on the belt tomake sure the belt is securelylatched. Also check that the belt isnot twisted, because a twisted beltcan cause serious injuries in acrash.

Position the lap part of the belt aslow as possible across your hips,then pull up on the shoulder partof the belt so the lap part fitssnugly. This lets your strongpelvic bones take the force of acrash and reduces the chance ofinternal injuries.If necessary, pull up on the beltagain to remove any slack fromthe shoulder part, then check thatthe belt rests across the center ofyour chest and over your shoulder.This spreads the forces of a crashover the strongest bones in yourupper body.


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

Make sure head restraints arein place and positionedproperly before driving.

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

Make sure all seat belts areproperly positioned before youdrive.

Magesh

Magesh

If the seat belt touches or crossesyour neck, or if it crosses yourarm instead of your shoulder, youneed to adjust the seat belt anchorheight.

To adjust the height of a seat beltanchor in the front or the rear,press the release button and slidethe anchor up or down as needed(it has four positions).

Never place the shoulder portionof a lap/shoulder belt under yourarm or behind your back. Thiscould cause very serious injuriesin a crash.

Using the Lap Belt

Insert the latch plate into thebuckle marked CENTER.

If the belt is too short, hold thelatch plate at a right angle andpull on the plate to extend thebelt. Then insert the latch plate


into the buckle, and tug on thebelt to make sure the belt issecurely latched.

Position the belt as low aspossible across your hips. Thislets your strong pelvic bones takethe force of a crash and reducesthe chance of internal injuries.

Pull on the loose end of the beltfor a snug but comfortable fit.

If a Seat Belt Doesn't WorkProperlyIf a seat belt does not seem towork as it should, it may notprotect the occupant in a crash.No one should sit in a seat withan inoperative seat belt. Anyoneusing a seat belt that is notworking properly can be seriouslyinjured or killed. Have yourHonda dealer check the belt assoon as possible.

See page 41 for additionalinformation about your seat beltsystem and how to take care ofyour belts.

6. Adjust the Steering Wheel

Adjust the steering wheel, ifneeded, so that the wheel pointstoward your chest, not towardyour face.

Pointing the steering wheeltoward your chest providesoptimal protection from theairbag.

See page 115 for how to adjust thesteering wheel.


7. Maintain a Proper SittingPosition

After all occupants have adjustedtheir seats and put on seat belts, itis very important that theycontinue to sit upright, well backin their seats, with their feet onthe floor, until the vehicle isparked and the engineis off.

Sitting improperly can increasethe chance of injury during acrash. For example, if an occupantslouches, lies down, turnssideways, sits forward, leansforward or sideways, or puts oneor both feet up, the chance ofinjury during a crash is greatlyincreased.

In addition, an occupant who isout of position in the front seatcan be seriously or fatally injuredby striking interior parts of the

vehicle, or by being struck by aninflating airbag.

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

Advice for Pregnant Women

Because protecting the mother isthe best way to protect her unbornchild, a pregnant woman shouldalways wear a seat belt whenevershe drives or rides in a vehicle.


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.

Magesh

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

Pregnant women should also sit asfar back as possible from thesteering wheel or dashboard. Thiswill reduce the risk of injuries toboth the mother and her unbornchild that can be caused by acrash or an inflating airbag.

Each time you have a checkup,ask your doctor if it's okay foryou to drive.

Additional SafetyPrecautions

Two people should never usethe same seat belt. If they do,they could be very seriouslyinjured in a crash.

Do not put any accessories onseat belts. Devices intended toimprove occupant comfort, orreposition the shoulder part of aseat belt, can severelycompromise the protectivecapability of the seat belt andincrease the chance of seriousinjury in a crash.

Do not place hard or sharpobjects between yourself andan airbag. Carrying hard orsharp objects on your lap, ordriving with a pipe or othersharp object in your mouth, canresult in injuries if your airbagsinflate.

Keep your hands and armsaway from the airbag covers.If your hands or arms are closeto the SRS covers in the centerof the steering wheel or on top

of the dashboard, they could beinjured if the airbags inflate.

Never let passengers ride inthe cargo area or on top of afolded-down back seat. A l lpassengers must sit in locked,upright seats and be properlyrestrained by seat belts.

Do not attach or place objectson the airbag covers. Anyobject attached to or placed onthe covers marked "SRSAIRBAG" in the center of thesteering wheel and on top ofthe dashboard could interferewith the proper operation of theairbags. Or, if the airbagsinflate, the objects could bepropelled inside the car andhurt someone.


Protecting Children

Children depend on adults toprotect them. However, despitetheir best intentions, many parentsand other adults may not knowhow to properly protect youngpassengers.

So if you have children, or if youever need to drive with agrandchild or other children inyour vehicle, be sure to read thissection.

AH Children Must BeRestrainedEach year, many children areinjured or killed in vehicle crashesbecause they are eitherunrestrained or not properlyrestrained. In fact, vehicleaccidents are the number onecause of death of children ages 12and under.

To reduce the number of childdeaths and injuries, every staterequires that infants and childrenbe restrained whenever they ridein a vehicle.

Any child who is too small towear a seat belt should beproperly restrained in a childseat. (See page 21.)

A larger child should always berestrained with a seat belt. (Seepage 34.)

Additional Precautions toParents

Never hold an infant or childon your lap. If you are notwearing a seat belt in a crash,you could be thrown forwardinto the dashboard and crushthe child.


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.

Magesh

If you are wearing a seat belt,the child can be torn from yourarms. For example, if yourvehicle crashes into a parkedvehicle at 30 mph (48 km/h), a20 Ib (9 kg) infant will becomea 600 Ib (275 kg) force, andyou will not be able to hold on.

Never put a seat belt overyourself and an infant orchild. During a crash, the beltcould press deep into the childand cause very serious injuries.

Children Should Sit in theBack SeatAccording to accident statistics,children of all ages and sizes aresafer when they are restrained inthe back seat, not the front seat.The National Highway TrafficSafety Administrationrecommends that all children ages12 and under be properlyrestrained in the back seat.

In the back seat, children are lesslikely to be injured by strikinghard interior parts during acollision or hard braking. Also,children cannot be injured by aninflating airbag when they ride inthe back.

The Passenger's AirbagPoses Serious Risks toChildrenAirbags have been designed tohelp protect adults in a moderateto severe frontal collision. To dothis, the passenger's airbag isquite large, and it inflates withtremendous speed.

InfantsNever put a rear-facing childseat in the front seat of a vehicleequipped with a passenger'sairbag. If the airbag inflates, itcan hit the back of the child seatwith enough force to ki ll or veryseriously injure an infant.


Small ChildrenPlacing a forward-facing childseat in the front seat of a vehicleequipped with a passenger'sairbag can be hazardous. If thevehicle seat is too far forward, orthe child's head is thrown forwardduring a collision, an inflatingairbag can strike the child withenough force to kill or veryseriously injure a small child.

Larger ChildrenChildren who have outgrownchild seats are also at risk ofbeing injured or killed by aninflating passenger's airbag.Whenever possible, largerchildren should sit in the backseat, properly restrained with aseat belt. (See page 34 forimportant information aboutprotecting larger children.)

To remind you of the passenger'sairbag hazards, and that childrenmust be properly restrained in theback seat, your vehicle haswarning labels on the dashboard,and on the driver's and frontpassenger's visors. Please readand follow the instructions onthese labels.

If You Must Drive WithSeveral ChildrenYour vehicle has three seatingpositions in the back seat wherechildren can be properlyrestrained.

If you ever have to carry morethan three children in yourvehicle:

Place the largest child in thefront seat, provided the child islarge enough to wear a seat beltproperly (see page 34).Move the vehicle seat as far tothe rear as possible (see page10).Have the child sit upright andwell back in the seat (see page16).

Make sure the seat belt isproperly positioned andsecured (see page 13).


If a Child Requires CloseAttentionMany parents say they prefer toput an infant or small child in thefront passenger seat so they canwatch the child, or because thechild requires attention.

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

If a child requires physicalattention or frequent visualcontact, we strongly recommendthat another adult ride with thechild in the back seat. The backseat is far safer for a child than thefront.


Use child-safe door locks toprevent children from openingthe doors. Using this featurewill prevent children fromopening the doors andaccidentally falling out (seepage 105).

Use the main power windowswitch to prevent childrenfrom opening the rearwindows. Using this featurewill prevent children fromplaying with the windows,which could expose them tohazards or distract the driver(see page 107).

Do not leave children alone inyour vehicle. Leaving childrenwithout adult supervision isillegal in most states and can bevery hazardous. For example,infants and small children leftin a vehicle on a hot day candie from heat stroke. Andchildren left alone with the keyin the ignition can accidentallyset the vehicle in motion,possibly injuring themselves orothers.

General Guidelines forUsing Child SeatsThe following pages give generalguidelines for selecting andinstalling child seats for infantsand small children.


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

1. The child seat should meetsafety standards. The childseat should meet FederalMotor Vehicle Safety Standard213 (FMVSS 213). Look forthe manufacturer's statementof compliance on the box andseat.

2. The child seat should be ofthe proper type and size to fitthe child.

Infants: Children up to about oneyear old should be restrained in arear-facing, reclining child seat.Only a rear-facing seat providesthe proper support to protect aninfant's head, neck, and back. Seepage 26 for additional informationon protecting infants.

Small Children: A child who istoo large for a rear-facing childseat, and who can sit up withoutsupport, should be restrained in aforward-facing child seat. Seepage 31 for additional informationon protecting small children.

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


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

However, Honda is confident thatone or more child seat models canfit and be properly installed in allrecommended seating positions inyour vehicle.

Before purchasing a child seat, werecommend that parents test thechild seat in the specific vehicleseating position (or positions)where they intend to use the seat.If a previously purchased childseat does not fit, you may need tobuy a different one that will fit.

Your vehicle has loweranchorages installed for use withChild Restraint AnchorageSystem-compatible child seats.For more information, see page 39.


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

Front Passenger's Seat

Infants: Never in the front seat,due to the passenger's airbaghazard.

Small children: Notrecommended, due to thepassenger's airbag hazard. If asmall child must ride in front,move the vehicle seat to therear-most position and secure afront-facing child seat with theseat belt (see page 31).

Back SeatsInfants: Recommended positions.Properly secure a rear-facing childseat (see page 27).

Small children: Recommendedpositions. Properly secure afront-facing child seat (see page31).


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-facing child seat is also at risk.If the vehicle seat is too farforward, or the child's head isthrown forward during acollision, an inflating airbag cankill or seriously injure the child.If a small child must ride in thefront, follow the instructionsprovided in this section.

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

1. Properly secure the child seatto the vehicle. All child seatsare designed to be secured tothe vehicle with the lap part ofa lap/shoulder belt. Somechild seats can be secured tothe vehicle's lower anchoragesinstead. A child whose seat isnot properly secured to thevehicle can be endangered in acrash. See pages 34, 38, and39 for instructions on how toproperly secure child seats inthis vehicle.

2. Make sure the child seat isfirmly secured. Afterinstalling a child seat, pushand pull the seat forward andfrom side to side to verify thatit is secure.

To provide security during normaldriving maneuvers, as well asduring a collision, we recommendthat parents secure a child seat asfirmly as possible.

However, a child seat does notneed to be "rock solid." In somevehicles or seating positions, itmay be difficult to install a childseat so that it does not move at all.Some side-to-side or back-and-forth movement can be expectedand should not reduce the childseat'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 firmlysecured in the desired seatingposition.


3. Secure the child in the childseat. Make sure the child isproperly strapped in the childseat according to the child seatmaker's instructions. A childwho is not properly secured ina child seat can be thrown outof the seat in a crash andseriously injured.

Storing a Child SeatWhen you are not using a childseat, either remove it and store itin a safe place, or make sure it isproperly secured. An unsecuredchild seat can be thrown aroundthe vehicle during a crash orsudden stop and injure someone.

Protecting Infants

Child Seat TypeOnly a rear-facing child seatprovides proper support for ababy's head, neck, and back.Infants up to about one year ofage must be restrained in arear-facing child seat.

Two types of seats may be used:a seat designed exclusively for

infants, or a convertible seat usedin the rear-facing reclining mode.

We recommend that an infant berestrained in a rear-facing childseat until the infant reaches theseat maker's weight or heightlimit and is able to sit up withoutsupport.


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.

Magesh

Rear-Facing Child SeatPlacementIn this vehicle, a rear-facing childseat can be placed in any seatingposition in the back seat, but notin the front seat.

Never put a rear-facing childseat in the front seat. If thepassenger's airbag inflates, it canhit the back of the child seat withenough force to kill or seriouslyinjure an infant. If an infant mustbe closely watched, werecommend that another adult sitin the back seat with the baby.

Do not put a rear-facing childseat in a forward-facing position.If placed facing forward, an infantcould be very seriously injuredduring a frontal collision.

When properly installed, a rear-facing child seat may prevent adriver or a front seat passengerfrom moving the seat as far backas recommended (see page 10).Or it may prevent them fromlocking the seat-back in thedesired upright position (see page11).

In either case, we recommend thatyou place the child seat directlybehind the front passenger seat,move the front seat as far forwardas needed, and leave itunoccupied. You may also wish toget a smaller child seat that allowsyou to safely carry a frontpassenger.

Installing a Rear-Facing ChildSeat With a Lap/Shoulder BeltThe lap/shoulder belts in the outerback seats have a lockingmechanism that must be activatedto secure a child seat.

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

See page 30 for how to secure arear-facing child seat in the centerback seat with the lap belt. Fortips on installing an infant seatwith either type of seat belt, seepage 31.


If you have a child seat designedto attach to the vehicle's loweranchorages, follow theinstructions on page 39.

1. With the child seat in thedesired back seating position,route the belt through the childseat according to the seatmaker's instructions, theninsert the latch plate into thebuckle.

2. To activate the lockableretractor, slowly pull theshoulder part of the belt all theway out until it stops, then letthe belt feed back into theretractor (you might hear aclicking noise as the beltretracts).


3. After the belt has retracted,tug on it. If the belt is locked,you will not be able to pull itout. If you can pull the beltout, it is not locked and youwill need to repeat these steps.

4. After confirming that the beltis locked, grab the shoulderpart of the belt near the buckleand pull up to remove anyslack from the lap part of thebelt.

Remember, if the lap part ofthe belt is not tight, the childseat will not be secure. Toremove slack, it may help toput weight on the child seat, orpush on the back of the seat,while pulling up on the belt.

5. Push and pull the child seatforward and from side to sideto verify that it is secureenough to stay upright duringnormal driving maneuvers.If the child seat is not secure,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.

Installing a Rear-Facing ChildSeat With the Lap Belt

To install a rear-facing child seatin the center back seat with thelap belt, follow instructionnumber 1 on page 28 for routingand latching the seat belt. Thenpull hard on the loose end of the

belt to remove any slack (it mayhelp to put weight on the childseat while pulling on the belt).Finally, follow instruction number5 on page 29 to verify that thechild seat is secure.


Infant Seat Installation Tips

For proper protection, an infantmust ride in a reclined, orsemi-reclined position. Todetermine the proper recliningangle, check with the baby'sdoctor, or follow the seat maker'srecommendations.

To achieve the desired recliningangle, it may help to put a rolled-up towel under the toe of the childseat, as shown.

Protecting Small Children

Child Seat TypeA child who can sit up withoutsupport, and who fits within thechild seat maker's weight andheight limits, should be restrainedin a forward-facing, upright childseat.

Of the different seats available,we recommend those that have afive-point harness system asshown.

We also recommend that a smallchild stay in the child seat as longas possible, until the child reachesthe weight or height limit for theseat.

Child Seat PlacementIn this vehicle, the best place toinstall a forward-facing child seatis in one of the seating positionsin the back seat.

Placing a forward-facing childseat in the front seat of a vehicleequipped with a passenger'sairbag can be hazardous. If thevehicle seat is too far forward, orthe child's head is thrown forwardduring a collision, an inflatingpassenger's airbag can strike the


child with enough force to causevery serious or fatal injuries. If asmall child must be closelywatched, we recommend thatanother adult sit in the back seatwith the child.

If it is necessary to put a forward-facing child seat in the front,

move the vehicle seat as far to therear as possible, be sure the childseat is firmly secured to thevehicle, and that the child isproperly strapped in the seat.

Installing a Child Seat With aLap/Shoulder BeltThe lap/shoulder belts in the outerback and front passenger seatingpositions have a lockingmechanism that must be activatedto secure a child seat.

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

If you have a child seat designedto attach to the vehicle's loweranchorages, follow theinstructions on page 39.

See page 34 for how to secure aforward-facing child seat in thecenter back seat with the lap belt.

1. With the child seat in thedesired seating position, routethe belt through the child seataccording to the seat maker'sinstructions, then insert thelatch plate into the buckle.


Improperly placing aforward-facing child seat in thefront seat can result in seriousinjury or death if the airbagsinflate.

If you must place a forward-facing child seat in the front,move the vehicle seat as farback as possible and properlyrestrain the child.

Magesh

2. To activate the lockable retractor,slowly pull the shoulder part ofthe belt all the way out until itstops, then let the belt feed backinto the retractor (you mighthear a clicking noise as the beltretracts).

3. After the belt has retracted,tug on it. If the belt is locked,you wi ll not be able to pull itout. If you can pull the belt

out, it is not locked and youwi ll need to repeat these steps.

4. After confirming that the beltis locked, grab the shoulderpart of the belt near the buckleand pull up to remove anyslack from the lap part of thebelt. Remember, if the lap partof the belt is not tight, thechild seat will not be secure. It

may help to put weight on thechild seat, or push on the backof the seat, while pulling upon the belt.

5. Push and pull the child seatforward and from side to sideto verify that it is secureenough to stay upright duringnormal driving maneuvers. Ifthe child seat is not secure,


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 thebelt fully retract.

Installing a Child Seat With theLap Belt

To install a forward-facing childseat in the center back seat withthe lap belt, follow instructionnumber 1 on page 32 for routingand latching the seat belt. Thenpull hard on the loose end of thebelt to remove any slack (it mayhelp to put weight on the childseat while pulling on the belt).

Finally, follow instruction number5 on page 33 to verify that thechild seat is secure.

Protecting Larger ChildrenWhen a child reaches therecommended weight or heightlimit for a forward-facing childseat, the child should sit in one ofthe outer back seats and wear alap/shoulder belt. Thelap/shoulder belt provides betterprotection than the lap belt.

If a child is too short for theshoulder part of the belt to fitproperly, we recommend that thechild use a booster seat until thechild is tall enough to use the seatbelt without a booster.


The following pages giveinstructions on how to checkproper seat belt fit, what kind ofbooster seat to use if one isneeded, and important precautionsfor a child who must sit in thefront seat.

Checking Seat Belt Fit

To determine if a lap/shoulder beltproperly fits a child, have thechild put on the seat belt. Followthe instructions on page 13. Thencheck how the belt fits.

If the shoulder part of the beltrests over the child's collarboneand against the center of the chest,as shown, the child is largeenough to wear 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 resultin serious neck injuries during acrash.

Do not let a child put theshoulder part of a seat beltbehind the back or under thearm. This could cause veryserious injuries during a crash. Italso increases the chance that thechild wi ll slide under the belt in acrash and be injured.


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 beltproperly.

Magesh

Do not put any accessories on aseat belt. Devices intended toimprove occupant comfort, orreposition the shoulder part of aseat belt, severely compromise theprotective capability of the seatbelt and increase the chance ofserious injury in a crash.

Two children should never usethe same seat belt. If they do,they could be very seriouslyinjured in a crash.

Using a Booster Seat

If a child needs a booster seat, werecommend choosing a style thatallows the child to use thelap/shoulder belt directly, withouta shield, as shown.

Whichever style you select,follow the booster seat maker'sinstructions.

A child may continue using abooster seat until the tops of theears are even with the top of theseat-back. A child of this height,should be tall enough to use thelap/shoulder belt without abooster.

When Can a Larger Child Sit inFrontThe National Highway TrafficSafety Administrationrecommends that all children ages12 and under be properlyrestrained in the back seat.


The back seat is the safest placefor a child of any age or size.

In addition, the passenger's airbagposes serious risks to children. Ifthe seat is too far forward, or thechild's head is thrown forwardduring a collision, or the child isunrestrained or out of position, aninflating airbag can ki ll orseriously injure the child.

Of course, children vary widely.And while age may be oneindicator of when a child cansafely ride in the front, there areother important factors you shouldconsider.

Physical Size — Physically, a childmust be large enough for thelap/shoulder belt to properly fitover the hips, chest, and shoulder(see page 13 and 36). If the seatbelt does not fit properly, the childshould not sit in the front.

Maturity — To safely ride infront, a child must be able tofollow the rules, including sittingproperly, and wearing the seat beltproperly throughout a ride.

If you decide that a child cansafely ride up front, be sure to:

Carefully read the owner'smanual, and make sure youunderstand all seat beltinstructions and all safetyinformation.

Move the vehicle seat to therear-most position.

Have the child sit up straight,back against the seat, and feeton or near the floor.

Check that the child's seat beltis properly positioned andsecured.

Supervise the child. Evenmature children sometimesneed to be reminded to fastentheir seat belts or sit properly.


Using Child Seats WithTethers

Your vehicle has two attachmentpoints in the rear floor forsecuring a tether-style child seatto the vehicle.

Since a tether can provideadditional security, werecommend using a tetherwhenever one is required oravailable. Check with the child

seat maker to determine whether atether is available for a particularchild seat.

The tether anchorage points arelocated under plastic covers. Useyour finger to push the latch, thenpivot the cover backward toaccess the anchorage point.

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


ATTACHMENT POINTS

REARFLOOR

COVER LATCH

ANCHORAGEPOINT

TETHER FROMCHILD SEAT

Using the Lower Anchorages

Your vehicle is equipped withlower anchorages at the outer rearseats. These anchorages arelocated between the seat-back andthe seat bottom, and are to be usedonly with a child seat designed toattach to the lower anchorages.

To install a child seat designed toattach to the lower anchorages:

1. Move the seat belt buckle orcenter seat belt away from theanchorages.

2. Make sure there are no foreignobjects around the anchorages.Foreign objects could get inthe way of a secure connectionbetween the child seat and theanchorage.

3. Put the child seat in the rearleft or right vehicle seat andattach the child seat to thelower anchorages according tothe child seat maker'sinstructions.


LOWERANCHORAGES

RIGID TYPE

4. Follow the child seat maker'sinstructions for any additionaladvice on adjusting ortightening the fit.

5. Attach the tether strap hook tothe tether anchorage point andtighten the strap according tothe child seat maker'sinstructions.

6. Push and pull the child seatforward and from side to sideto verify that it is secureenough to stay upright duringnormal maneuvers.


FLEXIBLE TYPE

CHILDSEATTETHER

COVER

ANCHORAGEPOINT

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

To unlock the belt, push the redPRESS button on the buckle.Guide the belt across your body tothe door pillar. After exiting thevehicle, be sure the belt is out ofthe way and will not get closed inthe door.

All lap/shoulder belts have anemergency locking retractor. Innormal driving, the retractor letsyou move freely in your seatwhile it keeps some tension on thebelt. During a collision or suddenstop, the retractor automaticallylocks the belt to help restrain yourbody.


Additional Information About Your Seat BeltsLap/Shoulder BeltSeat Belt System

ComponentsYour seat belt system includeslap/shoulder belts in the frontseats and the outer back seats, anda lap belt in the center back seat.

The system also includesa light on the instrument

panel to remind you and yourpassengers to fasten your belts. Ifthe driver's seat belt is notfastened before the ignition isturned ON(II), the light will comeon and a beeper will also sound.The beeper will stop after a fewseconds, but the light will stay onuntil the driver's seat belt isfastened.

This seat-belt has a single belt thatgoes over your shoulder, acrossyour chest, and across your hips.

All the lap/shoulder belts exceptthe driver's have an additionallocking mechanism that must beactivated to secure a child seat.(See pages 27 and 32 forinstructions on how to securechild seats with this type of seatbelt.)

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

To deactivate the lockingmechanism, unlatch the buckleand let the seat belt fully retract.To refasten the belt, pull it outonly as far as needed.

See page 13 for instructions onhow to wear the lap/shoulder beltproperly.

Lap BeltThe lap belt has one manuallyadjusted belt that fits across thehips.

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

To unlock the belt, push the redPRESS button.

See page 14 for how to lengthenthe lap belt, and how to properlyposition the belt.

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

Pull each belt out fully and lookfor frays, cuts, burns, and wear.Check that the latches worksmoothly and that the lap/shoulderbelts retract easily. Any belt not ingood condition or not workingproperly will not provide goodprotection and should be replacedas soon as possible.


Honda provides a lifetimewarranty on seat belts. Honda willrepair or replace any seat beltcomponent that fails to functionproperly during normal use.Please see your Honda WarrantyInformation booklet for details.

If a seat belt is worn during acrash, you should have yourdealer inspect the belt, and replaceit if necessary. A belt that hasbeen worn during a crash may notprovide the same level ofprotection in a subsequent crash.The dealer should also inspect theanchors for damage and replacethem if needed.

For information on how to cleanyour seat belts, see page 229.

The SRS is designed to provideprotection under a wide range ofdriving conditions, includingoff-road driving. When drivingoff-road, it is important thateveryone wear their seat beltsproperly, and that you drive atspeeds that are safe for the terrainand conditions. Refer to theOff-Road Driving Informationbooklet for tips on properoperation.

SRS ComponentsYour Supplemental RestraintSystem (SRS) includes:

Two frontal airbags. Thedriver's airbag is stored in thecenter of the steering wheel;the front passenger's airbag isstored in the dashboard. Bothare marked "SRS AIRBAG."


Additional InformationAbout Your SRS

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.

Magesh

Sensors that can detect amoderate to severe frontalcollision.

A sophisticated electronicsystem that continuallymonitors the sensors, controlunit, the airbag activators andall related wiring when theignition is ON (II).

An indicator light on theinstrument panel to alert you toa possible problem with thesystem (see page 45).

Emergency backup power incase your vehicle's electricalsystem is disconnected in acrash.

How Your Airbags Work

If you ever have a moderate tosevere frontal collision, thesensors wi ll detect rapiddeceleration and signal the controlunit to instantly inflate theairbags.

During a crash, your seat belthelps restrain your lower bodyand torso. Your airbag provides a

cushion to help restrain andprotect your head and chest.

Since both airbags use the samesensors, both airbags normallyinflate at the same time. However,it is possible for only one airbagto inflate.

This can occur when the severityof a collision is at the margin, orthreshold, that determines whetheror not the airbags will deploy. Insuch cases, the seat belt willprovide sufficient protection andthe supplemental protectionprovided by the airbag would beminimal.


After inflating, the airbagsimmediately deflate so they won'tinterfere with the driver'svisibility, or the ability to steer oroperate other controls.

The total time for inflation anddeflation is approximatelyone-tenth of a second, so fast thatmost occupants are not aware thatthe airbags deployed until theysee them lying in their laps.

After a crash, you may see whatlooks like smoke. This is actuallypowder from the airbag's surface.Although the powder is notharmful, people with respiratoryproblems may experience sometemporary discomfort. If thisoccurs, get out of the vehicle assoon as it is safe to do so.

For additional information on howyour airbags work, see the booklettitled SRS: What You Need toKnow About Airbags that camewith your owner's manual.

How Your SRS IndicatorLight Works

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 blink seventimes, then go out. This tells youthat the system is workingproperly.

However, if the light comes on atany other time, you should havethe system checked by yourdealer. For example:

If the SRS indicator light doesnot come on after you turn theignition ON (II).


AIRBAG

If the light stays on after theengine starts.If the light comes on or flasheson and off while you drive.

If you see any of theseindications, your airbags may notdeploy when you need them. Seeyour Honda dealer as soon aspossible.

SRS ServiceYour Supplemental RestraintSystem is virtually maintenance-free, and there are no parts youcan safely service. However, youmust have your vehicle servicedif:

Your airbags ever inflate. Theairbags and control unit mustbe replaced. Do not try toremove or replace the airbagsyourself. This must be done bya Honda dealer or aknowledgeable body shop.

The SRS indicator light alertsyou to a problem. Take yourvehicle to an authorized Hondadealer as soon as possible. Ifyou ignore this indication, theairbags might not inflate whenyou need them.


Do not attempt to deactivateyour airbags. Together, airbagsand seat belts provide the bestprotection in a moderate tosevere frontal collision.

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

See page 174 for furtherinformation and precautionsrelating to your SRS.


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

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

Magesh

Carbon Monoxide HazardYour vehicle's exhaust containscarbon monoxide gas. You shouldhave no problem with carbonmonoxide entering the vehicle innormal driving if you maintainyour vehicle properly. Have theexhaust system inspected for leakswhenever:

The vehicle is raised for an oilchange.

You notice a change in thesound of the exhaust.

The vehicle was in an accidentthat may have damaged theunderside.

High levels of carbon monoxidecan collect rapidly in enclosedareas, such as a garage. Do notrun the engine with the garagedoor closed. Even with the dooropen, run the engine only longenough to move the vehicle out ofthe garage.

With the tailgate glass open, airflow can pull exhaust gas into theinterior. This can create ahazardous condition. If you must

drive with the tailgate glass open,open all the windows and set theheating and cooling system asshown below.

If you must sit in your parkedvehicle, even in an unconfinedarea, with the engine running,adjust the heating and coolingsystem as follows:

1. Slide the lever to

2. Turn the dial to mode.

3. Turn the fan on high speed.

4. Set the temperature control toa comfortable setting.


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

Avoid any enclosed areas oractivities that expose you tocarbon monoxide.

Magesh

These labels are in the locationsshown. They warn you ofpotential hazards that could causeserious injury.

If a label comes off or becomeshard to read, contact your Hondadealer for a replacement.


DRIVER'S SUNVISOR SUN VISOR

DASHBOARD

UNDER-HOOD

Safety Labels

Off to a Good StartTo make it easier for you to enjoyyour new Passport, we'vegathered together the bits andpieces of information that will getyou "off to a good start." Eachitem in this section refers you to apage of the manual for detailedinstructions on that aspect ofvehicle operation. While youshould take the time to becomefamiliar with all the informationin this manual, we hope that thissection saves some time in gettingyou safely behind the wheel.

Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51Engine Compartment . . . . . . . 53

Off to a Good Start

Seats

C - TILT STEERING WHEEL

B - SEAT BELT

A SEAT ADJUSTMENT

See pages 91 and 92.

B SEAT BELT

See pages 13 - 15.

C TILT STEERING WHEEL

See page 115.

A - SEAT ADJUSTMENT(LX and EX shown)

Off to a Good Start

Interior

N - MAP LIGHT AND MOONROOFG - ADJUSTING REAR AND

SIDE VIEW MIRRORS

F - GAUGES

L - TURN SIGNALS

J - HEADLIGHTS

E - STARTING THEENGINE

M - HEATER CONTROLS

K - WINDSHIELD WIPERS

H - SHIFTING

I - PARKINGBRAKE

Off to a Good Start

D - IGNITIONSWITCH

InteriorD IGNITION SWITCH

See page 101.

E STARTING THE ENGINE

See page 157.

F GAUGES

See page 58.

G ADJUSTING REAR ANDSIDE VIEW MIRRORS

See page 105.

H SHIFTING

For automatic, see page 76.For manual, see page 83.For four-wheel drive, see pages80 and 84.

I PARKING BRAKE

See page 86.

J HEADEIGHTS

See page 72.

K WINDSHIEED WIPERS

See page 70.

L TURN SIGNALS

See page 75.

M HEATER CONTROLS

See page 120.

N MAP LIGHT ANDMOONROOF

See pages 112.

O PUTTING FUEL INTHE VEHICLE

See page 197.

Off to a Good Start

P ENGINE OIL DIPSTICKSee pages 200, 213.

Q WINDSHIELD WASHERRESERVOIRSee page 71.

R RADIATOR CAPSee page 218.

S ENGINE OIL FILL CAPSee page 212.

T BRAKE MASTERCYLINDERRESERVOIRSee page 219.

U CLUTCH MASTERCYLINDER RESERVOIRSee page 223.

V RADIATOR RESERVE TANKSee page 218.

W POWER STEERINGRESERVOIRSee page 223.

X AIR CLEANERSee page 214.

Off to a Good Start

S- ENGINE OIL FILL CAPP- ENGINE OIL

DIPSTICK

Q - WINDSHIELDWASHER RESERVOIR

R - RADIATOR CAPV- RADIATOR

RESERVE TANK

X- AIR CLEANER

U- CLUTCH MASTERCYLINDER RESERVOIR

W - POWER STEERINGRESERVOIR

T- BRAKE MASTERCYLINDER RESERVOIR

Engine Compartment

Instruments and ControlsThis section explains the controlsand displays that contribute to thedaily operation of your Honda.All the essential controls arewithin easy reach.

Control Locations . . . . . . . . . 56Indicators and Gauges . . . . . . 57Gauges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . 58Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . 58Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58Trip Odometer/

Reset Knob . . . . . . . . . . . 58Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . 59Engine CoolantTemperature Gauge . . . . 60

Indicator Lights . . . . . . . . . . . 61Switches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Windshield Wiper/Washer 70Headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72Illumination Control . . . . . 73Rear Window Defogger . . 74Rear Window Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Turn Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . 75Hazard Warning Flasher . . 76

Automatic Transmission . . . . 76Transfer Control

(4WD Models) . . . . . . . . . 805-Speed Manual Transmission 83

Transfer Control(4WD Models) . . . . . . . . . 84

Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . 86Accelerator Pedal . . . . . . . . . . 87Clutch Pedal . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Instruments and Controls

Control Locations

METERS AND GAUGES

TRANSMISSION ANDTRANSFER CONTROLLEVERS

PARKING BRAKE LEVER


Indicators and Gauges


HIGH BEAM INDICATOR LIGHTBRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR LIGHT

TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR LIGHT

REDUCED POWERINDICATOR LIGHT

A/T OIL TEMPINDICATOR LIGHT(A/T only)

SRS INDICATOR LIGHT

CHECK ENGINEINDICATOR LIGHT

LOW OIL PRESSUREINDICATOR LIGHT

CHECK TRANSINDICATOR LIGHT(A/T only)

TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR LIGHT

SPEEDOMETERTRIP ODOMETER

POWER DRIVEINDICATOR LIGHT

WINTER DRIVEINDICATOR LIGHT

LOW FUELINDICATOR LIGHT

CRUISE SETINDICATOR LIGHT

FUEL GAUGEODOMETER TRIP ODOMETER

RESET KNOBANTI-LOCK BRAKESYSTEM INDICATOR

4-WHEEL DRIVE (4WD)INDICATOR LIGHT

TACHOMETER

ENGINE COOLANTTEMPERATURE GAUGE

CHARGING SYSTEMINDICATOR LIGHT

SEAT BELTREMINDERLIGHT

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

SpeedometerThe speedometer shows vehiclespeed in miles per hour (mph).

OdometerThe odometer indicates the totaldistance your vehicle has beendriven.

Trip Odometer/Reset ButtonThere are two trip odometers.Each odometer worksindependently, so you can keeptrack of two different distances.Switch between them and the


TACHOMETER

TRIP ODOMETERODOMETER-

SPEEDOMETER

TRIP ODOMETERRESET KNOB

odometer by repeatedly pressingand releasing the reset button.

To reset a trip odometer, displayit, then press and hold the resetbutton until the odometer clears tozero.

Fuel GaugeThe fuel gauge will register theapproximate fuel level in the tankwhen the key is in the "ON"position. The following conditionsmay be considered normal:

Gas station pumps may shut offbefore the fuel gauge indicates"F" (FULL).

The amount of fuel required fora fill-up may not exactlycorrespond to the gauge.

The needle may not move awayfrom "F" (FULL) until sometime after fill-up.


ENGINE COOLANTTEMPERATURE GAUGE

FUEL GAUGE

The needle may move duringturning, stopping andacceleration.

Fuel DoorThis is a reminder that the fuel f i lldoor is on the left side of thevehicle. Always park with thatside closest to the service stationpumps.

Engine CoolantTemperature GaugeWhen the key is in the "ON"position, the engine coolanttemperature gauge indicates thetemperature of the engine coolant.The letters "C" and " H" on thegauge represent "Cold" and"Hot," respectively.

The gray area indicates thenormal engine coolanttemperature.

If the pointer reaches the " H "mark, pull safely to the side of theroad. Turn to page 217 forinstructions and precautions onchecking the engine's coolingsystem.

Driving with the temperaturegauge pointer at "H" can causeserious damage to the engine.


NOTICENORMALRANGE

OVERHEATING

Indicator LightsSeat Belt Reminder

As a reminder to you and yourpassengers, this light will comeon for about six seconds each timethe key is turned to the "ON"position.

The beeper will also operate forabout six seconds after turning thekey to the "ON" position if thedriver's seat belt is not fastened.

Brake SystemThe service braking system is asplit system designed so that onepart wi ll provide some brakingaction if there is a loss ofhydraulic pressure in the otherpart of the system.

To serve as a reminder, the"BRAKE" system light isdesigned to come on while theparking brake is set and the key isturned to the "ON" position. Have


BRAKE

HIGH BEAM INDICATOR LIGHT

BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR LIGHT

SEAT BELT REMINDER LIGHT

CHARGING SYSTEM INDICATOR LIGHT

the system repaired if the lightdoes not come on when the key isturned to the "ON" positionwithout the engine running orwhen the parking brake is set.

This light does not eliminate theneed for brake inspection andmaintenance. The brake fluidlevel must be checked regularly.See the maintenance section ofthis manual for other brakechecks.

If the light remains on afterengine start up with the parkingbrake released, or comes onduring operation of the vehicle, itmay mean that there is somethingwrong with the brake system.

What to do?1. Check to see if the parking

brake has been fully released.

2. If it has, pull off the road andstop carefully. Remember that:

Stopping distances may belonger.You may have to pushharder on the pedal.The pedal may go downfarther than normal.

3. Have the vehicle towed to thenearest Honda dealer forrepair.

Do not continue to drive with thebrake system light on. There maybe a serious problem with thebraking system. Driving underthis condition is hazardous andcould lead to an accident.

The brake system light does notindicate that the parking brake isfully set. When applying theparking brake, always pull it up asfar as possible.

High BeamThe headlight high beam indicatorlights up when the headlights areon high beam.

Charging SystemThis light should come on whenthe key is turned to the "ON"position and the alternator is notcharging. The light may stay on atengine idle; however, it should gooff and stay off above the normalengine idle speed. If the lightcomes on while driving, thecharging system should bechecked at once so the battery wi llnot completely discharge. Stop theengine, and check for a brokendrive belt. If it is broken, or if thedrive belt is not responsible forthe trouble, have your Hondadealer inspect and correct thefault. If the drive belt is broken,


overheating of the engine couldresult. Have the system checkedas soon as possible.

Malfunction IndicatorLamp

The indicator light should turn onwhen the key is turned to the"ON" position, but should go outafter the engine is started. (Thelight wi ll stay on a short time afterthe engine starts.) If the light stayson, or comes on while driving, itindicates a problem in the engineemissions control system. Haveyour Honda dealer inspect thesystem and correct the problem. Ifthis indicator starts flashing asyou drive, engine misfiring hasbeen detected. Misfiring candamage the catalytic converterand the engine. Stop as soon as itis safe, turn off the engine, andcall for assistance.


CHECKENGINE

LOW OILPRESSUREINDICATOR TURN SIGNAL INDICATORS

REDUCEDPOWERINDICATOR

LOW FUELINDICATOR

MALFUNCTIONINDICATOR

If you keep driving with themalfunction indicator lamp on,you can damage your vehicle'semissions controls and engine.Those repairs may not be coveredby your vehicle's warranties.

Reduced PowerIndicator

This light comes on for a fewseconds when you turn the key tothe "ON" positionIf it comes on at any other time, itindicates that there is a problem inthe throttle "drive-by-wire"system. With the light on, yourvehicle goes into "limp home"mode — the engine runs on threecylinders, and the acceleratorpedal no longer controls enginespeed.

As soon as it is safe, pull off theroad and turn off the engine.Restart the engine to reset thesystem. If the light remains on, orcomes on again while driving,have the vehicle towed to yourHonda dealer for repair.

Turn SignalIndicators

A green light flashing on theinstrument panel lets you knowthat the front and rear turn signallights are working. If the lightstays on and does not flash, checkfor a burned out bulb. If there isno light when the lever is moved,check the fuse and bulb.Whenever the Hazard WarningFlasher Switch is on, both turnsignals will flash.

Low Fuel Indicator

This light comes on when the tankbecomes nearly empty. Fill up thetank as soon as possible.If the low fuel indicator lightcomes on when the fuel tank isnot nearly empty, have the fueltank sensing unit and relatedcomponents inspected andrepaired by your Honda dealer.Driving on a road with manysharp curves may cause the fuelindicator light to blinkintermittently. This is normal.

Low OilPressure Indicator

This light is designed to come onto provide a "bulb check" whenthe key is turned to the "ON"position, but should go out after


NOTICE

REDUCEDPOWER

the engine is started. If the lightfails to come on with the keyturned to the "ON" position, itcould indicate a burned out bulbor a blown fuse. Have the systemrepaired if the light does not comeon when checking.

Occasionally, this light mayflicker momentarily while theengine is idling, but this will notharm the system. However, if thelight remains on during normalengine operation, the engineshould be stopped until the causeof the trouble can be located andcorrected. The source of thetrouble could be either of thefollowing:

Low engine oil levelLoss of engine oil pressure

Running the engine with low oilpressure can cause seriousmechanical damage almostimmediately. Turn off the engineas soon as you can safely get thevehicle stopped.


NOTICE

Automatic Transmission

4-WHEEL DRIVE (4WD)INDICATOR LIGHT

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEMINDICATOR

Manual Transmission

UPSHIFT INDICATOR LIGHT

Upshift Indicator

Manual transmission onlyA "U/S" (upshift) light will comeon to indicate that you can getbetter fuel economy by shifting tothe next higher gear if conditionspermit. Best fuel economy can beachieved by accelerating slowlyand shifting to the next higher gearwhen the "U/S" light comes on.

Safe operation of the vehicle mayrequire a different shiftingschedule than indicated by the"U/S" light to adapt to weather,road, or traffic conditions. The"U/S" light should be ignoredwhen downshifting or when hardacceleration is required forsatisfactory performance.

For the best compromise betweenvehicle performance and fueleconomy, upshift the transmission


U/S

as indicated by the "U/S" (upshift)light on the instrument panel.

If vehicle speed drops below20 mph (30 km/h), or if theengine is not running smoothly,you should downshift to the nextlower gear. You may need todownshift two or more gears tokeep the engine running smoothlyor for satisfactory performance.

This indicator comes on for a fewseconds when you turn theignition switch to the "ON"position.

4-Wheel Drive(4WD) Indicator

4WD models onlyThis indicator lights when the4-Wheel Drive system is engaged.

With the 4WD-2WD switch in the"OFF" or 2WD position, this lightwill come on to provide a "bulbcheck" when the key is turned tothe "ON" position, but should goout after the engine is started.

If the 4WD-2WD switch is in the"ON" or 4WD position, this lightwill come on when the key isturned to the "ON" position andremain on after the engine isstarted.

Anti-Lock Indicator

This light will come on and go outwhen the ignition switch is turnedto the "ON" position. (If the lightdoes not come on, see your Hondadealer to have the systemrepaired.)

If the light remains on afterengine start-up or comes onduring operation of the vehicle,stop as soon as possible and turnthe key off. Then start the engineto reset the system. If the lightstays on, or it comes on againwhile you're driving, the anti-lockbrake system should be checkedat your Honda dealer.

Until you get it fixed, you'll havenormal brakes, but you won'thave anti-lock.


ABS

Check AutomaticTransmission IndicatorThe indicator light comes on for afew seconds when the ignitionswitch is turned to the "ON"position.

If the light flashes, it means thecomputer controlling thetransmission has found a problem.Have the automatic transmission

checked by your Honda dealer assoon as possible. You can safelydrive the vehicle while the light isflashing, but the computer mayput the transmission into its"backup mode."

In the backup mode, thetransmission may not shiftautomatically. If the transmissiondoes not shift automatically, youmust move the shift lever tochange gears. This chart showsthe shift Sever position and thegear range that wi ll result.

" L " position First gear" 2" position Third gear"3" position Fourth gear"D" position Fourth gear

When the transmission is inbackup mode and does not shiftautomatically, you should movethe selector lever to theappropriate position for yourdriving needs, as follows:

Select "3" or "D" for high speeddriving (over 50 mph, 80 km/h).

Select "2" for moderate speeddriving (between 15 mph [25km/h] and 50 mph [80 km/h]).

Select "L" when starting from astop, driving up or down a steephill, or for engine braking whentowing a trailer downhill.

Do not exceed 65 mph (45 mph iftowing a trailer).


Depending on the type of problem,the "CHECK TRANS" light willflash but the transmission maycontinue to shift automatically. Ifthe transmission is shiftingnormally, you do not have tochoose gears with the shift lever.However, continued operation ofthe vehicle with this light flashingcan cause serious mechanicaldamage. You should have thevehicle serviced by your Hondadealer as soon as possible.

Winter Drive IndicatorAutomatic Transmission onlyThe "Winter Drive" light willcome on when you push theWinter Drive button with theengine running and thetransmission lever in the "D"range.

It also comes on for a few secondswhen you turn the ignition switchto the "ON" position.

Refer to "Driving PatternSelector" later in this section.

Power Drive IndicatorAutomatic Transmission only

The "Power Drive" light willcome on when you push the

Power Drive button with theengine running.

It also comes on for a few secondswhen you turn the ignition switchto the "ON" position.

Refer to "Driving PatternSelector" later in this section.


NOTICE

Automatic TransmissionFluid Temperature IndicatorThe "A/T OIL TEMP" indicatorlight warns that the automatictransmission fluid temperature ishigh.

The indicator light should turn onwhen the ignition switch is turnedto the "ON" position, but shouldgo out after a few seconds.

If this light comes on while you aredriving, slow down and pull off theroad. Stop the vehicle at a safeplace and put the shift lever in "P"position. With the engine idling,wait until the light goes off. If thelight goes off, you can drive thevehicle again. If the light does notgo off, have the automatictransmission lubricating systemchecked as soon as possible byyour Honda dealer.

Driving with the "A/TOIL TEMP"light constantly on will causeserious mechanical damage to theautomatic transmission.

Switches

Windshield Wiper/WasherThe lever on the right side of thesteering column controls thewindshield wipers. Move the leverdown to select the variouswindshield wiper speeds.

In INT, the wipers operate everyfew seconds. In LO and HIGH, thewipers ran continuously.

In INT, you can vary how often the


NOTICE

wipers sweep the windshield byturning the INT TIME ring. Theinterval can be adjusted within arange of approximately 3 to 17seconds.

Windshield Washer Operation

To operate the windshieldwashers, pull back on thewindshield wiper control lever.The washers will spray, and thewipers will run at low speed, foras long as you hold the lever. Thewipers will continue to run for ashort time after you release thelever.

Windshield Washer FluidCheck the washer fluid levelregularly. Do it more oftenduring poor weatherconditions.

Use windshield washer fluid toprevent freezing and for bettercleaning.


Do not use engine antifreeze ora vinegar/water solution in thewindshield washer reservoir.Antifreeze can damage yourvehicle's paint, while avinegar/water solution candamage the windshield washerpump. Use only commerciallyavailable windshield washer fluid.

In cold weather, warm thewindshield with the defrostersbefore using the washers. Thiswill help prevent icing of thewindshield that may block yourvision.

Headlights

The rotating switch on the leftlever controls the lights. Rotatingthis switch to the positionturns on the instrument panellights and all exterior lightsexcept the headlights. Rotatingthe switch to the position turnson the headlights.

To change between low beamsand high beams, pull back on the

lever until you hear a click, thenlet go. The high beam indicatorwi ll light (see page 62) when thehigh beams are selected.

To flash the high beams, pull thelever back about half way andthen let it go. The high beams wi llstay on for as long as you hold thelever back, no matter whatposition the headlight switch is in.


NOTICE

Headlights-On ReminderYou will hear a continuous tonewhen the key is out of the ignitionswitch and the driver's door isopened with the headlight switchin the "ON" position. This willremind you to turn the headlightsoff. Never leave the headlights onwhen the engine is not running.They can rapidly discharge thebattery.

Fog Lights

When fog or heavy mist reducesyour forward vision, push thisswitch to turn the fog lights on.The indicator light in the switchturns on. Push the switch again toturn off the fog lights.

The fog lights operate only whenthe headlight low beams are inuse.

Illumination ControlThe instrument panel lights turnon when the light switch is on.Brightness of the instrument panellights is controlled by turning theillumination control knobclockwise for brighter orcounterclockwise for dimmer.


EX model only

Rear Window and MirrorDefoggersWith the ignition "ON," push thedefogger switch to use the rearwindow and mirror defoggers.

The indicator light in the switchlights to show the defogger is on.The defogger wi ll shut itself offafter 10 minutes. If the rearwindow or mirrors are notcompletely clear, press the switch

again to turn on the defogger foranother 10 minutes. It also shutsoff when you turn off the ignition.You have to turn it on again whenyou restart the vehicle.

Make sure the rear window isclear and you have good visibilitybefore starting to drive.

The defogger wires on the insideof the rear window can be easilydamaged. When cleaning theglass, always wipe side to side.Do not use any abrasive cleaners.

Rear Window Wiper/WasherTo operate the rear window wiper,press the wiper button. The wiperruns in intermittent mode untilyou press the button again.

To wash the rear window, pushand hold the rear window washerbutton. The washer and wiper wi llrun until you release the button.

The rear window wiper cannot beoperated when the rear window isnot latched.


REAR WASHERBUTTON

REAR WIPERBUTTON

Turn Signal LeverPush the lever fully up to signal aright turn. Push it fully down tosignal a left turn. Lights on thefront and rear of the vehicle willflash.

The turn signal wi ll cancel itself asthe turn is completed. In somedriving maneuvers, such aschanging lanes on an expressway,

the steering wheel is not turnedback sufficiently after completingthe turn to automatically cancel theturn signal. In such maneuvers thedriver should manually return thelever to the neutral or canceledposition when the turn iscompleted.

Lane Change SignalIn some turns, such as changinglanes, the steering wheel is notturned far enough to cancel theturn signal. For convenience, youcan flash the turn signal bymoving the lever part way (to thefirst stop) and holding it there.The lever wi ll return to thehorizontal position when yourelease it.

A green light on the instrumentpanel flashes to indicate properoperation of the front and rearturn signal lights. If the greenlight remains on, but does notflash, check for defective bulbsIf the green light does not lightwhen the lever is moved, checkthe fuse and indicator bulb.


Hazard Warning FlasherPush the button to turn on thehazard warning lights (four-wayflashers). A ll four outside turnsignal lights and both indicators inthe instrument panel wi ll flash.Push the button again to turn themoff.

The turn signals do not workwhen the hazard warning lightsare on.

Use the hazard warning lights towarn other drivers that yourvehicle is a potential road hazard.Avoid stopping on the roadway ifpossible.

Cruise ControlRefer to page 147 for operation ofthis system.

Automatic Transmission

The shift lever position indicatoris in the instrument panel. Theappropriate letter or numberilluminates to show what positionthe shift lever is in.

The 4-speed automatictransmission shift lever isarranged with "P" (Park) positionat one end, followed in sequenceby "R" (Reverse), " N " (Neutral)


and the forward driving ranges.The shift lever can be shiftedfreely into any position indicatedby the arrow The levercannot be shifted into any positionindicated by the arrowwithout pushing the buttonlocated on the end of the shiftlever.

In this 4-speed automatictransmission, the following threemodes can be selected by pressingthe "POWER" or "WINTER"switch on the floor console, withthe key switch in the "ON"position:

NORMAL modePOWER modeWINTER mode

P (Park) — Used to lock thetransmission when the vehicle isparked or while starting theengine. Never move the shift leverto Park until your vehicle is fullystopped. Use this positiontogether with the parking brake.The shift lever can be moved fromPARK position if the regular brakeis applied.

Refer to "Starting" in this section.

R (Reverse) — Used for backingthe vehicle. Bring your vehicle toa complete stop before shifting toReverse.

N (Neutral) — The out-of-gearposition. You may restart a stalledengine while the vehicle is stillmoving with the selector inNeutral. Refer to "Starting" in thissection. This position is also usedwhen towing the vehicle. See "InCase of Emergency" for towinginformation.

D (Drive) (First to FourthGear) — This position is for allnormal forward driving. Fornormal driving, we recommendthat you put the shift lever in the" D" range. This wi ll reducevehicle noise and improve fueleconomy.


3 (Third) — When operating yourvehicle on slippery roads, on along descending slope, or on aroad with many sharp curves, youwi ll want to use engine braking.At this time, put the shift leverinto this range.

2 (Second) — You may choose thisposition when traveling down amoderate grade where you want toslow down a little without usingthe brake itself. Change back tothe " D" position to return tonormal driving. With the shiftlever in "2," the vehicle will startin first gear and automatically shiftto second gear.

L (First) — This position may beselected for maximum brakingdown severe grades. Return theselector lever to the " D" positionto resume normal driving. It ispossible to move the lever into

first gear at any speed. However,the transmission will not actuallyshift to first gear until vehiclespeed is below 35 mph (PowerMode) or 25 mph (Normal Mode).When starting out in "L ," thetransmission will not upshift.

Starting — Start the engine withthe lever in the "P" or " N"position. It wi ll not start in anyother position. If it does, haveyour vehicle checked by yourHonda dealer.

Always apply the foot brakebefore shifting into any drivingposition. This prevents the vehiclefrom creeping.

Do not press the accelerator pedalwhile shifting from "P" or "N" toany driving position.

Shift Lock — As a safety measurefor vehicles with an automatictransmission, you cannot shiftfrom "P" (Park) position into anyother position unless the brakepedal is depressed when the keyswitch is in the "ON" position orthe engine is running.

The shift lever may not move ifthe pushbutton on the shift lever ispressed before the brake pedal isdepressed. In this case, releasethe pushbutton, press the brakepedal and try again.

If the shift lever won't move fromthe "P" position even when theseinstructions are followed, performthe following steps:


1. Check that the parking brakeis fully applied.

2. Turn the key switch to "ACC"position.

3. Move the shift lever from "P"to " N" position, depress thebrake pedal, and start theengine again.

4. Operate the shift lever.

Have the transmission checked byyour Honda dealer as soon aspossible.

Driving TipsBefore going down a steep or longgrade, reduce speed and shift thetransmission into a lower gear orrange to control the vehicle'sspeed. This wi ll provide enginebraking to help slow the vehicle.Try not to hold the brake pedaldown too long or too often. Thiscould cause the brakes to get hotand not work properly.

Downshifting to a lower gear isespecially important when towinga trailer in mountainous terrain.

Do not hold the vehicle on a hillby pressing on the accelerator. Donot press on the accelerator pedaland brake pedal at the same time.Either of these actions canoverheat the automatictransmission and cause damage.

Always keep your foot off theaccelerator pedal when shiftingfrom "P" or " N" to another gear.

Do not shift to "P" (Park) whenthe vehicle is moving; you coulddamage the automatictransmission. Always come to acomplete stop.

Be careful that you do not exceedthe following maximum allowablespeeds when accelerating.


Transfer Control4WD ModelsThe "4WD" indicator lightilluminates when 4WD is engagedwith the 4WD-2WD switch.

"2H" (High Range, 2-WheelDrive)Use this for normal driving on drypavement. This position givesgreater economy, quieter ride andthe least drivetrain wear.

"4H" (High Range, 4-WheelDrive)Use this for normal driving ongravel, wet, icy or snow-coveredroads. This position providesgreater traction than two-wheeldrive. Top speed is limited to 65mph (105 km/h).

"4L" (Low Range, 4-WheelDrive)Use this for maximum power andtraction. Top speed is limited to

65 mph (105 km/h). Use "4L" forclimbing or descending steephills, off-road driving, and hardpulling in sand, mud or deepsnow.

Operating the 4WD-2WD Switch2H 4H: To shift between

ranges, push the switchwith the vehicle going ina straight line at anyspeed below 65 mph(105 km/h). The 4WDindicator will blink for ashort time as the systemcompletes the shift.Taking your foot off theaccelerator pedal for amoment will help toengage the new range.

If the vehicle is stopped,you should let it rollforward slightly tocomplete the shift.


Shifting the Transfer ControlLever4H 4L: Stop the vehicle. Place

the transmission lever in" N" (Neutral) position.Then move the transfercontrol lever from 4H to4L, or 4L to 4H.

Move the transfer control leverquickly and securely betweenpositions. Do not stop midway.The transfer gear box can bedamaged if the control lever is notfirmly in gear. Some noise isnormal when shifting.

Always stop the vehicle beforeshifting between low and highrange (4H 4L or 4L 4H).

If the 4WD indicator continues toblink rapidly, it indicates that thesystem was shifted out ofsequence. Stop the vehicle, select4WD with the 4WD-2WD switch,

shift the lever from 4L to 4H, thenselect 2WD. Drive in a straightline to reset the system. If theindicator continues to blink, seeyour Honda dealer.

Do not use 4-wheel drive fordriving on dry pavement. Thiscauses noise and wear, and takingtight turns can damage thetransfer case and driveshafts. Italso reduces fuel economy.

Be careful that you do not exceedthe following maximum allowablespeeds when accelerating.

Driving Pattern SelectorYou can select a driving patternsuitable for existing drivingconditions.

When neither "POWER" nor"WINTER" lights are illuminated,the normal driving program forgeneral driving conditions isoperative.


When more powerful accelerationis needed, select the "POWER"driving program. The "POWERDRIVE" indicator light comes onwhen the driving pattern selectoris set in the "POWER" position.Push the button again to turn itoff.

Under inclement weatherconditions that cause slipperyroads, activating the "WINTER"

mode will improve drivingoperation. The "WINTER" modemay be activated while driving atspeeds of 6 mph (10 km/h) or less.With the transmission lever in the"P," "R," "N ," or "D" position,push the "WINTER" button on theconsole.

The "WINTER DRIVE" indicatorlight will illuminate whenever the"WINTER" mode system isactivated, and the vehicle willstart off in third gear.

The "WINTER" mode isdeactivated when the vehiclereaches approximately 19 mph(30 km/h), when the transmissionis shifted into "3," "2," or "L ," bypushing the "WINTER" buttonagain, or by turning the ignitionkey to the "OFF" position.

Operation of the "WINTER"mode should be limited toslippery road conditions only.Operation of the "WINTER"mode during normal drivingconditions will cause decreasedperformance and sluggishacceleration.


5-Speed Manual TransmissionThe transmission has five fullysynchronized forward speeds. Thegear shift pattern is provided onthe transmission lever knob. Thebackup lights turn on whenshifted into the reverse gear.

Driving TipsAlways depress and release theclutch pedal fully when shifting.

Do not rest your foot on the clutchpedal while driving; this cancause the clutch to slip, resultingin damage to the clutch.

When you are stopped on anupgrade, do not hold the vehiclein place by letting the clutch pedalup part-way. Use the foot brake orthe parking brake.

Never shift into reverse gear untilthe vehicle is completely stopped.

Do not "over-speed" the enginewhen shifting down to a lower gear.

The shift lever cannot be shifteddirectly from fifth gear intoReverse. When shifting intoReverse gear from fifth gear,depress the clutch pedal and shiftcompletely into Neutral position,then shift into Reverse gear.


Shift Speed ChartThe lower gears of thetransmission are used for normalacceleration of the vehicle to thedesired cruising speed. Thehighest gear of the transmission isused to maintain the desiredspeed. The fifth gear isrecommended for use inmaintaining highway cruisingspeeds. Use of the fifth gear incity traffic is not recommended.The shift speed chart shows thespeeds at which each upshift ofthe transmission should be madeto get the best vehicleperformance and fuel economy.

For cruising, choose the highestgear for that speed (cruising speedis defined as a relatively constantspeed operation).The upshift indicator (U/S) lightsto show recommended upshiftpoints. (Refer to "IndicatorLights.")If the engine is "lugging" (thespeed you are traveling at is tooslow for the gear the transmissionis in), downshift to the next lowergear. You may need to downshifttwo or more gear positions tokeep the engine from "lugging" orto keep the performance at asatisfactory level.

Transfer Control4WD ModelsThe "4WD" indicator lightilluminates when 4WD is engagedwith the 4WD-2WD switch.

"2H" (High Range, 2-WheelDrive)Use this for normal driving on drypavement. This position givesgreater economy, quieter ride andleast drivetrain wear.


"4H" (High Range, 4-WheelDrive)Use this for normal driving ongravel, wet, icy or snow-coveredroads. This position providesgreater traction than two-wheeldrive. Top speed is limited to 65mph (105 km/h).

"4L" (Low Range, 4-WheelDrive)Use this for maximum power andtraction. Top speed is limited to65 mph (105 km/h). Use "4L" forclimbing or descending steephills, off-road driving, and hardpulling in sand, mud or deepsnow.

Operating the 4WD-2WD Switch2H 4H: To shift between

ranges, push the switchwith the vehicle going ina straight line at anyspeed below 65 mph(105 km/h). The 4WDindicator will blink for ashort time as the systemcompletes the shift.Taking your foot off theaccelerator pedal for amoment will help toengage the new range.

Shifting the Transfer ControlLever4H 4L: Stop the vehicle.

Depress the clutch, thenmove the transfer controllever from 4H to 4L, or4L to 4H.

Move the transfer control leverquickly and securely betweenpositions. Do not stop midway.The transfer gear box can bedamaged if the control lever is notfirmly in gear. Some noise isnormal when shifting.

If the 4WD indicator continues toblink rapidly, it indicates that thesystem was shifted out ofsequence. Stop the vehicle, select4WD with the 4WD-2WD switch,shift the lever from 4L to 4H, thenselect 2WD. Drive in a straightline to reset the system. If theindicator continues to blink, seeyour Honda dealer.


Parking BrakeOperationTo set the parking brake, fullypull up on the handle between theseats. To release the parkingbrake, pull upward slightly. Thendepress the pushbutton and pushdown all the way.

To help remind you, the brakesystem warning light is designedto come on if the parking brake

control is not fully released whenthe key is on.

Always pull the parking brakelever as far up as possible to makesure it sets fully. If the parkingbrake is not fully set, the vehiclecould roll if it is parked on anincline.

Parking TipsNever drive away with theparking brake still set. This mayoverheat the rear brakes, reducingtheir effectiveness and causingexcessive wear or damage.

Always apply the parking brakewhenever you leave the vehicle,whether it is equipped with amanual or automatic transmission.

If your vehicle is equipped withan automatic transmission, youshould set the parking brakewhenever you leave the driver'sseat. If the vehicle is parked on agrade and the shift lever is placedin "P" (Park) position before theparking brake is set, the weightof the vehicle may exert so muchforce on the parking mechanismin the transmission that you mayhave difficulty moving the shiftlever out of "P" (Park).

To prevent this, apply the parkingbrake BEFORE you move theshift lever to "P" (Park) position.When preparing to drive away,move the shift lever out of the"P" (Park) position BEFORE yourelease the parking brake. It isgood driving practice to set the


RELEASE

parking brake first, then place thetransmission in "P" (Park)position, even on level surfaces.

When parking a vehicle equippedwith a manual transmission on anupward slope or on a levelsurface, place the shift lever in the" 1 " (first gear) position.

When parking a vehicle equippedwith a manual transmission on adownward slope, place the shiftlever in the "R" (Reverse)position.

Accelerator PedalThe accelerator pedal is used tovary engine power and thusregulate engine and vehicle speed.

Clutch PedalManual TransmissionThe clutch pedal is used to engageor disengage the clutch, therebyconnecting or disconnecting theengine from the manualtransmission and driveline to thedriving wheels.

When the pedal is fully released,the clutch is engaged, driving thetransmission and the drive wheels.

Do not allow your foot to rest onthe clutch pedal when not usingthe clutch.


ACCELERATORPEDAL

CLUTCHPEDAL

SeatsSeat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . 90

Manual Front SeatAdjustments . . . . . . . . . . . 91Driver's SeatFull Power Adjustments . . 92Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . .

Rear Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94Folding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94Unfolding . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

Seats

93

Seat Adjustment

HEAD RESTRAINT

FORE/AFT SEATADJUSTMENT(LX, EX shown)

FRONT SEATLAP/SHOULDER BELT

RECLININGADJUSTMENT(LX, EX shown)

Seats

The EX-L model has a poweradjustable driver's seat. On theother models, the driver's seatadjusts manually.

The front passsenger's seat andthe rear seat in all models adjustmanually.

Manual Front SeatAdjustmentsSee pages 10-11 for importantsafety information and warningsabout how to properly positionseats and seat-backs.

The front seats may be adjustedforward or backward by pullingup on the lever at the front of theseat and then using body pressure

to move the seat to the desiredposition.

Let go of the lever and the seatwill lock into the desired position.

After adjusting the seat, use yourbody weight to try to move itforward and backward. Seatmovement indicates that at leastone of the seat adjusters did notlatch. Lift the lever and readjustthe seat. If the seat will not latchfirmly in position after severalattempts, take the vehicle to yourdealer for service. An unlatchedseat could increase your chance ofinjury in an accident.

Always adjust the seat before youstart driving. Trying to move theseat while the vehicle is movingcould cause you to lose control.

Seats

The front seat-backs can be tiltedbackward if so desired, using thelever on the door side of eachfront seat.

Raise the lever and use bodypressure to move the seat-back tothe desired position. Let go of thelever and the seat-back wi ll lockinto the desired position.

Keep the seat belt's webbing andlatch clear of the seat parts whenyou tilt the folding seats forwardor backward. This helps toprevent damage to the seat beltsystem.

Adjust the seat-back before youstart driving. Trying to adjust theseat-back with the vehicle inmotion could cause you to losecontrol.

Driver's Seat Full PowerAdjustmentsSee pages 10-11 for importantsafety information and warningsabout how to properly positionseats and seat-backs.

The two power seat adjustmentswitches are on the outside of theseat bottom. The horizontalswitch adjusts the seat bottomforward and backward. The shortvertical switch adjusts theseat-back angle.

You can adjust the seat with theignition switch in any position.Make all adjustments before youstart driving.

Seats

Push the horizontal switchforward or backward to move theseat forward or backward.

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

Head RestraintsSee page 12 for important safetyinformation and warnings abouthow to properly position the headrestraints.

Head restraints are designed tohelp reduce the risk of neckinjuries.

Seats

They are most effective when youadjust them so the back of theoccupant's head rests against thecenter of the restraint. A tallerperson should adjust the restraintas high as possible.

Push the lock knob to unlock thehead restraint. Move the restraintup or down as required.

Adjust the head restraint beforeyou start driving. Trying to adjustit while driving could cause youto lose control of the vehicle.To remove a head restraint forcleaning or repair, push therelease button and pull therestraint out of the seat-back.

Rear SeatThe rear seat can be foldedforward to provide additionalcargo area.

Folding1. Pull the strap toward the

outside of the seat and fold theseat cushion up.

Seats

Pull thestrap.Push to

releasethe lock.

2. To remove a head restraint,press the release knob and pullup on the restraint.

3. Fold the seat-back down bypulling the release knob, andpulling the seat-back forward.

4. Unsnap the strap on the seatbottom. Thread it through thebuckle on the seat-back andpull it tight.

Seats

Push to releasethe lock.

Pull thereleaseknob.

5. Insert the head restraintsbetween the seat-back and seatcushion.

Make sure the head restraints aresecured properly between theseat-back and seat cushion.

Never let passengers ride in thecargo area or on top of thefolded-down seat. Carrypassengers in the rear only whenthey are sitting on the locked,upright seat and properlyrestrained by seat belts.

Unfolding

1. To raise the seat-back, pull itup to the locked uprightposition. Pull on the seat-backto verify both latches arelocked.

2. When latching the rear seatcushion to the floor, push thecushion with enough force tolock it.

After this, confirm it is lockedby pulling the seat belt buckleupward.

3. Make sure that the headrestraints are properlyreinstalled on the top of theseat-backs.

4. Verify that the seat belts arerouted properly and nottwisted.

Seats

Driving your vehicle withouthead restraints can lead toserious injury to you and yourpassenger in a crash.

Make sure the head restraintsare in place and adjustedproperly before driving.

Magesh

Reclining AdjustmentThe angle of each section of therear seat-back can be adjustedthrough three positions.

Pull up on the release knob, movethe seat-back to the desiredposition, then release the knob.Push and pull on the seat-back tomake sure it is locked in position.

Seats

Interior FeaturesKeys and Ignition . . . . . . . . . 101

Steering Column Lock/Ignition Switch . . . . . . . 101

LOCK . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101ACC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101ON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101START . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Key Removal . . . . . . . . . . 102Key Reminder . . . . . . . . . 102Guard Against Theft . . . . 102

Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103Power Door Locks . . . . . . 104Child-Safe Door Locks . . 105

Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105Interior Mirror . . . . . . . . . 105Power Mirrors . . . . . . . . . 105Vanity Mirrors . . . . . . . . . 106

Power Windows . . . . . . . . . . 107Checking the Circuit

Breaker . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108Tailgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108Hood Release . . . . . . . . . . . . 109Interior Lights . . . . . . . . . . . 110

Luggage Light . . . . . . . . . 110Dome Light . . . . . . . . . . . 111Courtesy Lights . . . . . . . . 112Map Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

Moonroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

Conveniences . . . . . . . . . . . . 113Beverage Holder . . . . . . . 113Sun Visor . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . 114Assist Grip . . . . . . . . . . . . 115Horn Button . . . . . . . . . . . 115Tilt Steering Wheel . . . . . 115Cigarette Lighter . . . . . . . 116Ashtrays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116Accessory Power Outlets . 117

Interior Features

Interior Features

SUN VISORHORN

FUEL FILL CAP

TAILGATE OPERATION

STEERING COLUMNLOCK/IGNITION SWITCH

INTERIOR MIRROR

SUN VISORVANITY MIRROR

EXTERIOR MIRRORS

GLOVE BOX

Keys and IgnitionYour Passport comes with twokeys.

The key code number is stampedon the metal plate attached to thekey ring.

For vehicle security:Record the key code number.Keep the key code numberplate in a safe place, NOT INTHE VEHICLE.

If the original keys are lost,duplicates can be made using thekey code number. Contact anyHonda dealer or a locksmith.

Steering ColumnLock/Ignition SwitchThe ignition switch, on the rightside of the steering column, hasfive positions:

LOCK — The normal parkingposition. This locks the steeringand prevents normal use of thesteering wheel.

The key can be removed onlywhen the ignition is in thisposition. On automatictransmission models, the ignitionswitch cannot be turned to the"EOCK" position unless the shiftlever has first been placed in the"P" position. The shift lever isthen locked.

ACC (Accessory) — In thisposition, you can use someelectrical accessories when theengine is not running.ON — The normal drivingposition.START—This position starts theengine. The switch returns to ONwhen you release the key.

Interior Features

METAL PLATEWITH KEY CODE

The anti-theft steering columnlock is not interconnected with theparking brake. You must alwaysset the parking brake whenleaving the vehicle.

To prevent discharging the battery,avoid use of electrical accessorieswith the engine shut off.

For easier key operation whenunlocking, rotate the steeringwheel slightly to relieve pressureon the steering lock.

Key RemovalManual TransmissionWith the vehicle fully stopped,remove the key from the switchby turning it to the "LOCK"position and removing it.

Automatic TransmissionWith the vehicle fully stopped, placethe automatic transmission shiftlever in "P" (Park) position. Turnthe key to the "LOCK" position.

Key ReminderThe key reminder circuit causes abeeper to sound when the door isheld open with the key left in theignition switch. This is to helpprevent accidentally locking thekey inside the vehicle.

The beeper stops when the door isclosed or when the key is removed.

Guard Against TheftYour new Passport has features tohelp prevent theft of the vehicle,its equipment, and its contents.These anti-theft features workdepending on how well you usethem.

Park in a well-lighted areawhenever possible.

Lock the steering column andtake the key with you.

- Turn the ignition switch to"LOCK" and remove the key.This locks both the ignitionswitch and steering control.

Interior Features

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

Remove the key from theignition switch only whenparked.

Magesh

Fully close all windows andlock all doors. This activatesthe anti-theft system (see page152).

Keep costly items out of sight.— Never leave things of value in

plain sight on the seat or floor.— The glove box offers a place

to hide small items (and iflocked, protects them evenmore).

Locks

Interior Features

POWER EXTERIORMIRRORS

CHILD-SAFEDOOR LOCKS

DOOR LOCKS

Power Door LocksThe power door lock system haslock buttons on the driver's andfront passenger's door armrests.Either button controls all fourdoor locks and the tailgate.

Press the front of the lock buttonto lock all the doors, and the rearof the button to unlock all doors.

The lock knob on each doorcontrols only that door. Push thelock knob down to lock, and pullit up to unlock. To lock anypassenger's door from the outside,push the lock knob down andclose the door.

Locking the driver's door fromthe outside with the key locksall the doors and the tailgate. Tounlock only the driver's doorfrom the outside, turn the key andrelease it. To unlock theremaining doors, turn the key asecond time within three seconds.

Unlocking the passenger's doorwith the key unlocks only thatdoor. To unlock the remainingdoors, open the door and use thearmrest lock button.

Interior Features

LOCK

UNLOCK

DRIVER'S SIDEDOOR LOCK

LOCK

UNLOCK

PASSENGER'SSIDE DOORLOCK

Child-Safe Door LocksThe rear doors can be locked toprevent children from opening thedoor from the inside.

This is done by depressing thelever shown in the illustration. Todisengage the lock, open the doorfrom the outside and raise thelever.

MirrorsInterior MirrorTo adjust, move the mirror rightor left and up or down.

Pull the lever to switch the mirrorto night operation. This reducesthe glare from the headlights offollowing vehicles.

Power MirrorsAdjust the outside mirrors withthe adjustment switch on thedashboard.

1. Turn the ignition switch to ON.

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

Interior Features

NIGHT

DAY

ADJUSTMENTSWITCH

SELECTORSWITCH

3. Push the appropriate edge ofthe adjustment switch to movethe mirror right, left, up, ordown.

4. When you finish, move theselector switch to the center(off) position. This turns offthe adjustment switch so amirror will not be moved outof position if you accidentallybump the switch.

The outside mirror on thepassenger's side has curved glass.

Objects look farther away thanthey really are. Use this mirror toget a "wide view." Do not use it tojudge the distance of thingsbehind you.

Vanity MirrorsThe vanity mirrors are on the backof the sun visors.

The light next to the mirror wi llcome on when the headlightswitch is in either ON position.

Interior Features

Power WindowsAll the windows can be operatedby the window control switcheson the driver's door panel. Theignition key must be in the "ON"position.

DRIVER'SWINDOWCONTROL

DOWN

The passengers' windows can alsobe operated by the windowcontrol switch on eachpassenger's door.

To lower a window, press on thefront edge of the window controlswitch. Hold the switch down untilthe window reaches the desiredposition. To raise a window, pullback on the front edge of the switch.

REARPASSENGER'SWINDOWCONTROL

The driver's window can belowered automatically by pressingthe window switch down firmlyand releasing it. To stop thewindow from going down all theway, pull back on the switchbriefly. If you press lightly on thewindow switch and hold it, thewindow will stop when yourelease the switch.

Interior Features

Closing a power window onsomeone's hands or fingers cancause serious injury.Make sure your passengers areaway from the windows beforeclosing them.

UP

DOWN

UP

DOWNFRONTPASSENGER'SWINDOW CONTROLAUTO DOWN

DOWN

UP

UP

Magesh

The LOCK button on the driver'sdoor panel removes power fromthe passengers' windows. Onlythe driver's window can be raisedand lowered.

PASSENGERS'WINDOW LOCK

Checking the Circuit BreakerIn the event the power windowsdo not operate, check the circuitbreaker.

To reset the circuit breaker, firstturn the ignition switch off, andthen push the knob on the circuitbreaker. The windows shouldnow operate.If the circuit breakerimmediately goes off again orthe windows do not operate,have the electrical systemchecked by a dealer as soon aspossible.

OperationThe tailgate has a hatch glass anda door. The hatch glass must beraised before opening the door.

To unlock the hatch glass, use theignition key in the outside tailgatelock. The outside tailgate lockalso locks and unlocks with thepower door locks.

Interior Features

Lock

Unlock

Tailgate

OFF ON

Make sure the rear window wiperis off and in its parked position.Turn the key clockwise and pushthe outside lock to unlock theglass. Raise the glass, then pullthe door handle to unlock thedoor.

Hood ReleaseThe hood release lever is on theleft side of the instrument panel.

To Open1. Pull the lever to release the

hood lock.

2. Lift the under-hood leverwhile lifting the hood slightly.

Interior Features

Pull

3. Raise the hood, and hold itopen with the hood supportrod in the hole on the rightside of the hood.

To Close1. Lift the hood slightly to

remove tension from thesupport rod.

2. Place the support rod in itsretaining clip and lower thehood.

Make sure the hood is latchedsecurely before beginning todrive.

Luggage LightThe cargo compartment lightswitch is built into the lighthousing.

The switch has three positions:

ON — Light turns on and remainson regardless of tailgate opening.

DOOR — Light turns on whenthe hatch glass is opened.

Interior Features

ON

DOOR

Interior Lights

OFF

OFF — Light remains offregardless of tailgate opening.

To prevent the light from beingleft on, keep the switch set inDOOR position.

Dome LightThe dome light switch is built intothe light housing. The switch hasthree positions:

ON — The light will turn on andstay on regardless of doorposition.

OFF — The light stays offregardless of door position.

DOOR — The light turns onwhen any of the doors or thehatch glass is opened.

It is best to set the switch in theDOOR position, so the lightcomes on when you enter thevehicle.

EX model only

The ceiling light (with the switchin the DOOR position) also comeson when you unlock the door withthe remote transmitter (see page151).

Interior Features

OFF DOOR

ON

Courtesy LightsThere is a courtesy light in eachfront door panel. Both courtesylights come on when any door isopened.

Map LightsThe map lights are in the bottomof the rear view mirror. To turn ona light, push the switch.

EX model only

The moonroof has two positions:it can be tilted up in the back forventilation, or it can be slid backinto the roof. Use the switchabove the rear view mirror tooperate the moonroof. Theignition must be ON.

To tilt up the back of themoonroof, push the switchforward and hold it. To close themoonroof, pull the switchbackward.

Interior Features

OPEN

OFF ON

TILT

CLOSE

Moonroof

To slide the moonroof back, pullthe switch backward and releaseit. The moonroof will slide openautomatically. To stop themoonroof at the desired position,push the switch in either direction,then release it.

To close the moonroof, push theswitch forward and hold it.Release it when the moonroofreaches the desired position.When the moonroof nears thefully closed position, it will stopautomatically. Make sure yourpassengers are clear of themoonroof, then release the switchand push it forward again to closethe moonroof completely.

Beverage HolderThe front beverage holder is in thefront console.

The rear beverage holder is in theback of the front console. To usethis beverage holder, pivot the liddown, then pivot up the wirerings. Reverse this procedure toclose the beverage holder.

Interior Features

Conveniences

Be careful when you are using thebeverage holder. A spilled liquidthat is very hot can scald you oryour passengers. Spilled liquidscan also damage the upholstery,carpeting, and electricalcomponents in the interior.

Sun VisorThe sun visor can be pivoted tothe side when unhooked.

Glove BoxOpen the glove box by pulling thehandle.

The glove box can be locked andunlocked with the ignition key.

Interior Features

An open glove box cancause serious injury to yourpassenger in a crash, even ifthe passenger is wearing theseat belt.

Always keep the glove boxclosed while driving.

Magesh

Assist GripAn assist grip is located aboveeach window.

Horn ButtonTo sound the horn, press thecenter of the steering wheelairbag.

HORN AREA

Tilt Steering WheelSee page 15 for importantinformation about how to properlyposition the steering wheel.

The release lever for the tiltsteering wheel is on the left sideof the steering column.

To adjust the height of thesteering wheel, push up on thelever. The steering wheel has six

Interior Features

positions. Move the steeringwheel to the desired position, thenrelease the lever. Try to move thesteering wheel up and down tomake sure it is locked in position.

Make sure the steering wheel doesnot block your view of any of theinstrument panel gauges orindicators.

Cigarette LighterThe cigarette lighter is on theinstrument panel. The ignitionswitch must be in ACCESSORYor ON for the cigarette lighter towork. To operate, push it in.When it heats, it automaticallypops out ready for use. Avoidholding the lighter in by handwhile it is heating, as damage tothe heating element may result.

AshtraysTo open either ashtray, pull it out.

To remove the front ashtray forcleaning, open it, then remove theinner part of the ashtray by liftingup on both sides near the front.

Interior Features

Adjusting the steering wheelposition while driving maycause you to lose control ofthe vehicle and be seriouslyinjured in a crash.

Adjust the steering wheel onlywhen the vehicle is stopped.

Magesh

To remove the rear ashtray forcleaning, open the ashtray, pushthe metal plate down, then pivotthe ashtray out and up.

Accessory Power OutletsThere are two accessory poweroutlets. One is located in the frontconsole. The other is located inthe left rear of the cargocompartment.

To use an accessory power socket,the ignition switch must be inACC or ON.

These sockets are intended tosupply power for 12 volt DCaccessories that are rated 120watts or less (10 amps). They wi llnot power an automotive-typecigarette lighter element.

Interior Features

Press down onthe metal tab.

Comfort and Convenience FeaturesThe heating and air conditioningsystem in your vehicle provides acomfortable driving environmentin all weather conditions.

The audio system has manyfeatures. This section describesthose features and how to usethem.

Heating and Cooling . . . . . . 120Ventilation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122Audio System . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

AM/FM/Cassette StereoAudio System (LX, EX) 125

Operating the Radio . . 125Adjusting the Sound . . 127Operating the

Cassette Player . . . . . 128Caring for theCassette Player . . . . . 130

Operating the OptionalCD Changer . . . . . . . . 131

AM/FM/Cassette/CD Changer StereoAudio System (EX-L) . . 133

Operating the Radio . . 133Adjusting the Sound . . 135Radio Frequencies . . . 136Operating theCassette Player . . . . . 138

Caring for theCassette Player . . . . . 141

Comfort and Convenience Features

Operating theCD Changer . . . . . . . . 142

ProtectingCompact Discs . . . . . . 146

Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . 147Keyless Entry . . . . . . . . . . . 151Anti-Theft System . . . . . . . . 152Digital Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . 153

Heating and CoolingThis system combines heating andcooling capabilities for comfort inall weather conditions.

During air conditioning operation,slight increases and decreases inengine speed/power may benoticed. This is normal, as thesystem is designed to cycle thecompressor ON and OFF tomaintain desired cooling. Thereduced compressor operationshould benefit fuel economy.

Air Conditioning SwitchPush this switch to operate the airconditioning system. The light-emitting diode in this switch lightsto show the system is operating.To turn off the air conditioning,push this switch in again.

Air conditioning will not operatewithout the fan control lever inone of the "ON" positions.


FAN CONTROL LEVERAIR SELECTOR KNOB

AIR CONDITIONING BUTTON

TEMPERATURECONTROL KNOB

DEFROSTFOOT/DEFROST

FOOTBI-LEVEL

FACEOUTSIDE AIR

AIR-SOURCESELECTOR LEVER

RECIRCULATED AIR

USE BI-LEVEL IN THISRANGE FOR COOLUPPER LEVEL AIR ANDWARM FLOOR LEVEL AIR

Fan Control LeverThe fan control lever(OFF-1-2-3-4) provides speedcontrol of the blower fan in all AirSelector Lever positions.

Temperature Control KnobThe temperature control knobregulates the temperature of the airentering the passengercompartment in all air selectorlever positions.

Air-Source Selector LeverThe intake of outside air and thecirculation of inside air iscontrolled by sliding this lever leftor right.

Circulating only inside air foran extended period with the airconditioning "OFF" may causewindshield clouding. For effectiveventilation, switch to outside air assoon as possible.

Air Selector KnobThe air selector knob regulates airflow from the upper, floor anddefroster outlets.

Face — A ir isconditioned as it passes

through the system and isdischarged from the upper outletsand knee level outlet. Thisposition is used for most airconditioning situations.

Bi-Ievel — Air isconditioned and

discharged from the upper outletsand the floor outlets. The air fromthe floor outlets is warmer thanthe air from the upper outlets inthis position. However, when thetemperature control knob ismoved to either the full "HOT" orthe full "COLD" position, the airfrom the floor outlets and the air

from the upper outlets wi ll be thesame temperature. This positiongives cool upper level air andwarm floor level air when thetemperature control is adjustedbetween COLD and HOT.

This is useful in cool weather withbright sunlight conditions.

Foot — Air isdelivered from the floor

outlets with a small amount fromthe windshield defroster outletsand the side window defrosteroutlets.


Foot/Defrost — Aircomes from the floor

outlets, windshield defrosteroutlets and side window defrosteroutlets. When you selectFoot/Defrost, the A/C turns on (ifit is not already on), and outsideair is selected automatically.Because of the automaticoperation, you will not see thelight in the A/C button. Thesystem goes back to your formersettings when you move the knobto any other position.

When the windshield glass anddoor glass are foggy or frosty, usethis Foot/Defrost mode to clearoff the glass while maintaining theheating performance.

Defrost — Air isconditioned and

delivered from the windshielddefroster outlets with a small

amount delivered from the sidewindow defroster outlets. Thisposition is recommended forconditions of severe fogging andicing only. When you selectDefrost, the A/C turns on (if it isnot already on), and outside air isselected automatically. Because ofthe automatic operation, you willnot see the light in the A/C button.The system goes back to yourformer settings when you movethe knob to any other position.

Operating Tips - Use the heaterwith the air-source selector leverat the outside air position. Thiswill minimize windshieldclouding while quickly warmingthe interior of the vehicle. Forbest results, engage the A/Ccompressor to minimizewindshield clouding.

VentilationYour vehicle has a flow-throughventilation system that providesa supply of outside air into thevehicle when it is moving and theair-source selector lever is in theoutside air position. When thevehicle is not in motion, you canget a steady flow of outside airwith the heater or air conditioningblower running.

With the side windows closed andthe air-source selector lever in theoutside air position, the flow-through ventilation systemprovides outside air flow into thefront air inlet grilles, through thevehicle and out the rear airexhaust outlet.


Operating TipsClear snow and ice from thehood and air inlet in front ofthe windshield. This helps theheater and defroster workbetter and reduces the chanceof fogging the inside of thewindshield.

Always keep the front inletgrilles clear of obstructions(leaves, ice, snow, etc.).

Always keep the underseatair path clear of objects.


SIDE VENTSCENTER VENTS

SIDE VENTS

Air Vents

Center and Side Air OutletsThe direction of air flow canbe controlled horizontally andvertically with the knobs.


Audio SystemAM/FM/Cassette StereoAudio SystemFor LX and EX models

Your Honda's audio systemprovides clear reception on bothAM and FM bands, while thepreset buttons allow you to easilyselect your favorite stations.

The cassette system featuresDolby B* noise reduction,automatic sensing of chromium-dioxide (CrO2) tape, andautoreverse for continuous play.

* Dolby noise reduction manufactured underlicense from Dolby Laboratories LicensingCorporation. "DOLBY" and the symbolare trademarks of Dolby LaboratoriesLicensing Corporation.

Operating the RadioThe ignition switch must be inACCESSORY or ON. Turn thesystem on by pressing the PWR/VOL knob. Adjust the volume byturning the PWR/VOL knob.

The band and frequency that theradio was last tuned to isdisplayed. To change bands, pressthe AM or FM button. On the FMband, ST wi ll be displayed if thestation is broadcasting in stereo.Stereo reproduction on AM is notavailable.

You can use any of three methodsto find radio stations on theselected band: TUNE, SEEK, orthe Preset buttons.

TUNE — Use the TUNE bar to tunethe radio to a desired frequency.Press the right side to tune toa higher frequency, or the left side

to tune to a lower frequency.The frequency numbers will startto change rapidly. Release the barwhen the display reaches thedesired frequency. To change thefrequency in small increments,press and release the TUNE barquickly.

SEEK — The SEEK functionsearches the band for a stationwith a strong signal. To activate it,press and release the SEEK/SCANbutton. The system scans upwardfrom the current frequency. Itstops when it finds a station witha strong signal.

Preset — You can store thefrequencies of your favorite radiostations in the six preset buttons.Each button will store onefrequency on the AM band, andtwo on the FM band (FM1 andFM2).


To store a frequency:

1. Select the desired band: AM,FM1, or FM2.

2. Use the TUNE or SEEKfunction to find a desiredstation.

3. Pick the preset button youwant for that station. Press thebutton and hold it until youhear a beep.

4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 to store atotal of six stations on AM andtwelve on FM.

Once a station's frequency isstored, simply press and releasethe proper preset button to tune toit. The number of the presetbutton you have selected is shownin the display.

The preset frequencies will be lostif your vehicle's battery goes deador is disconnected.

SCAN — The SCAN functionsamples all the stations withstrong signals on the selectedband. To activate it, press theSEEK/SCAN button until you heara beep, then release it. The systemwill scan up the band for a station

with a strong signal. When it findsone, it wi ll stop and play thatstation for approximately fiveseconds. If you do nothing, thesystem will then scan for the nextstrong station and play that forfive seconds. When it plays astation that you want to continuelistening to, press theSEEK/SCAN button again.


ON/OFF/VOL KNOB

SEEK/SCAN BUTTON

TUNE BUTTON

PRESET BUTTONSDISPLAYAM/FM1/FM2 BUTTON

Adjusting the SoundBass, Treble, Balance, and Faderare each adjustable. You selectwhich of these you want to adjustby pressing the MODE buttonseveral times. The selected mode,BAS, TRE, FAD, or BAL is shownin the display.

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

Select BAL or FAD by pressingthe MODE button. Adjust theBalance or Fader to your liking bypressing the or key by theMODE button. The number in thedisplay (from R7 to L7 for BAL,from R7 to F7 for FAD) showsyou the current setting.

Treble/Bass — Use these modes toadjust the tone to your liking.Select TRE or BAS by pressingthe MODE button. Adjust thedesired mode by pressing theor key. The displayed number(from — 5 to 5) shows you thecurrent setting.

The system wi ll automaticallyreturn the display to normal modeabout seven seconds after you stopadjusting a mode with the keys.

Radio Frequencies andReceptionFor information, see page 136.


MODE ADJUST BUTTONS

DISPLAYMODE

Operating the Cassette PlayerThe ignition switch must be inACCESSORY or ON. Make surethe tape opening on the cassette isfacing to the right, then insert thecassette most of the way into theslot. The system will pull it in therest of the way, and begin to play.

The tape direction indicator willlight to show you which side ofthe cassette is playing. Theindicates the side you insertedfacing upward is now playing. Ifyou want to play the other side,press the (preset 2) button.

If the cassette was recorded usingDolby noise reduction, turn it onby pressing the (preset 5)button. You will see in thedisplay.

You can switch between thecassette and the radio by pressing

the FM/AM and TAPE buttons.When you press the FM/AMbutton with a cassette playing, theradio begins to play and thecassette stops but does not eject.To begin playing the cassette atthe same point, press the TAPEbutton.

When the system reaches the endof the tape, it will automaticallyreverse direction and play theother side. If you want to removethe cassette from the drive, pressthe EJECT button.

When you turn off the ignitionswitch, the system stops the tapebut does not eject the cassette. Itwill begin to play when you turnthe ignition switch back on. Toeject the tape, even with theignition switch off, press theEJECT button.

Tape Search FunctionsWith a cassette playing, you canuse the FF, REW, or APS functionto find a desired program.

FF/REW — Fast Forward andRewind move the tape rapidly.Press and release the button(preset 1) to rewind, or thebutton (preset 3) to fast forward.You will see REW or FF in thedisplay. Press the button toreturn to PLAY mode. If thesystem reaches the end of the tapewhile in fast forward or rewind, itautomatically stops that function,reverses direction, and begins toplay.


APS — The Automatic ProgramSearch function allows you to findthe beginning of a song or

CASSETTE SLOT

TAPE DIRECTION BUTTON

REWIND BUTTON

EJECT BUTTON

FAST FORWARDBUTTON

AUTOMATIC PROGRAMSEARCH BUTTON

AUTOMATIC PROGRAMSEARCH BUTTON

TAPE BUTTON

If the system reaches the end ofthe tape before finding theselected song or passage, itreverses direction and returns toPLAY mode.

DOLBY BUTTON

To cancel APS, press thebutton.

The APS function uses silentperiods on the tape to find the endof a song or passage. This featuremay not work to your satisfaction


passage. Use the (preset 4) or(preset 6) buttons to activate

APS.

For example, the first song on thecassette is playing, and you wishto listen to the third song. Press

twice; you will see FF and 2displayed. The system will fastforward the tape to the beginningof the third song, then return toPLAY mode.

To return to the beginning of thecurrent song or passage, pressonce. To return to the beginningof the previous song, presstwice.

if there is almost no gap betweenselections, a high noise levelbetween selections, or a silentperiod in the middle of aselection.

Caring for the CassettePlayerDamaged cassettes can jam insidethe drive or cause other problems.See page 141 for information oncassette care and protection.


Operating the Optional CDChangerAn in-dash Compact Disc changeris available through your dealer. Itholds up to six discs, providingseveral hours of continuousentertainment. You operate theCD changer with the controls onthe front of the changer and on thefront of the radio.

To operate the CD changer, theignition switch must be inACCESSORY (I) or ON (II).

Loading the CDs in the ChangerTo load a CD in the changer, pressthe button on the front of thechanger for the CD number youwant to load (1, for example). Thelight next to the button will beginflashing. When the green lightsnext to the CD slot begin flashing,insert the CD part way into the


CD BUTTON

BACKWARDBUTTON

FORWARDBUTTON

TRACK SELECTOR BUTTONS

CD LOADING SLOT EJECT BUTTON

CD SELECTOR BUTTONS

slot. The drive will pull it in therest of the way, and begin playingthe first track. The light next tothe button will stay on as areminder that a CD is loaded inthat position.

Repeat this procedure to load CDsin the remaining positions in thechanger. The positions thatcontain CDs wi ll display a greenlight next to their buttons. The CDposition that is currently loadedand ready to play will display anorange light.

Playing CDsPress the CD button on the frontof the radio. The CD that iscurrently loaded will beginplaying. The disc and tracknumbers wi ll be shown in theradio display. When the systemreaches the end of that CD, it willload and play the next CD.

To select a different disc, push theappropriate button (1-6) on thefront of the CD changer. The lightnext to the button wi ll flash as thecurrent CD is stored and the newCD is loaded. The light wi ll thenturn orange, and the CD willbegin playing from the first track.

You can also press theTUNE/DISC button on the front ofthe radio: to select theprevious disc, or to select thenext disc.

To change tracks, press andrelease either the button(preset 4), or the button(preset 6). Each time you press

the system wi ll advance onetrack. Pressing once wi llreturn the system to the beginningof the current track. Press it againto select the previous track.

To move rapidly within a track,press and hold the button(preset 3) to move forward, or the

button (preset 1) to movebackward. Release the buttonwhen the system reaches the pointyou want.

You can switch to the radio orcassette player by pressing theFM/AM or TAPE buttons on thefront of the radio. To switch backto the CD changer, press the CDbutton. The CD will begin playingwhere it left off.

To eject a CD, select it with thebutton on the front of the CDchanger (the light turns toorange), then press the EJECTbutton.

Protecting Compact DiscsFor information on how to handleand protect compact discs, seepage 146.


AM/FM/Cassette/CDChanger StereoAudio SystemFor EX-L model

Your Honda's audio systemprovides clear reception on bothAM and FM bands, while thepreset buttons allow you to easilyselect your favorite stations.

The CD changer holds up to sixdiscs, providing several hours ofcontinuous entertainment.

The cassette system featuresDolby B* noise reduction,automatic sensing of chromium-dioxide (CrO2) tape, andautoreverse for continuous play.

* Dolby noise reduction manufactured underlicense from Dolby Laboratories LicensingCorporation. "DOLBY" and the symbolare trademarks of Dolby LaboratoriesLicensing Corporation.

Operating the RadioThe ignition switch must be inACCESSORY or ON. Turn thesystem on by pressing thePWR/VOL knob. Adjust thevolume by turning the PWR/VOLknob.The band and frequency that theradio was last tuned to isdisplayed. To change bands, pressthe AM or FM button. Press theFM button again to switchbetween FM1 and FM2. On theFM band, ST will be displayed ifthe station is broadcasting instereo. Stereo reproduction onAM is not available.

You can use any of four methodsto find radio stations on theselected band: TUNE, SEEK,SCAN, or the Preset buttons.

TUNE —Use the TUNE bar totune the radio to a desired

frequency. Press the right sideto tune to a higher frequency,

or the left side to tune to alower frequency. The frequencynumbers will start to changerapidly. Release the bar when thedisplay reaches the desiredfrequency. To change thefrequency in small increments,press and release the TUNE barquickly.SEEK — The SEEK functionsearches the band for a stationwith a strong signal. To activate it,press and release theSEEK/SCAN button. The systemscans up the band from the currentfrequency. It stops when it finds astation with a strong signal.

SCAN — The SCAN functionsamples all the stations withstrong signals on the selectedband. To activate it, press andhold the SEEK/SCAN button until


you hear a beep, then release it.SCAN shows in the display. Thesystem scans up the band for astation with a strong signal. Whenit finds one, it stops and plays thatstation for approximately fiveseconds. If you do nothing, thesystem scans for the next strongstation and plays that for fiveseconds. When it finds a stationthat you want to continuelistening to, press theSEEK/SCAN button again.

Preset — You can store thefrequencies of your favorite radiostations in the six preset buttons.Each button wi ll store onefrequency on the AM band, andtwo on the FM band (FM1 andFM2).

To store a frequency:1. Select the desired band; AM,

FM1, or FM2.


PWR/VOLKNOB

FMBUTTON

AMBUTTON

AUDIOCONTROLKNOB

SCAN/SEEKBUTTON

PRESET BUTTONSTUNE BAR

2. Use the TUNE, SEEK, orSCAN function to find adesired station.

3. Pick the Preset button youwant for that station. Press thebutton and hold it until youhear a beep.

4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 to store atotal of six stations on AMand twelve on FM.

Once a station's frequency isstored, simply press and releasethe proper preset button to tune toit. The number of the presetbutton you have selected is shownin the display.

Adjusting the SoundBass, Treble, Balance, and Faderare each adjustable. You selectwhich you want to adjust bypushing the Audio Control knobseveral times. The selected mode,BAS, TRE, BAL, or FAD, isshown in the display.

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

Select BAL or FAD by pressingthe Audio Control knob. Adjustthe Balance or Fader to yourliking by turning the knob(without pressing in on it). Thenumber in the display (from R7 toL7 for BAL, from R7 to F7 forFAD) shows you the currentsetting.

Treble/Bass — Use these modes toadjust the tone to your liking.Select TRE or BAS by pressingthe Audio Control knob. Adjustthe displayed mode to your likingby turning the knob (withoutpressing in on it). The displayednumber (from -5 to 5) shows youthe current setting.

The system automatically returnsthe display to normal mode aboutseven seconds after you stoppressing or turning the AudioControl knob.


Radio FrequenciesYour Honda's radio can receivethe complete AM and FM bands.Those bands cover thesefrequencies:

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

Radio stations on the AM band areassigned frequencies at least 10kilohertz 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 commonfor stations to round-off thefrequency in their advertising, soyour radio could show afrequency of 100.9 even thoughthe announcer may call the station"FM 101."

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

A radio station's signal getsweaker as you get farther awayfrom its transmitter. If you arelistening to an AM station, youwill notice the sound volumebecoming weaker, and the stationdrifting in and out. If you arelistening to an FM station, youwill see the stereo indicatorflickering off and on as the signalweakens. Eventually, the stereoindicator will go off and the soundwill fade completely as you getout of range of the station'ssignal.

Driving very near the transmitterof a station that is broadcasting ona frequency close to the frequencyof the station you are listening tocan also affect your radio'sreception. You may temporarilyhear both stations, or hear onlythe station you are close to.


Radio signals, especially on theFM band, are deflected by largeobjects such as buildings andhills. Your radio then receivesboth the direct signal from thestation's transmitter and thedeflected signal. This causes thesound to distort or flutter. Thisis a main cause of poor radioreception in city driving.

Radio reception can be affectedby atmospheric 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 frompassing vehicles and stationarysources can cause temporaryreception problems.

As required by the FCC:Changes or modifications notexpressly approved by the partyresponsible for compliance couldvoid the user's authority tooperate the equipment.


Operating the Cassette PlayerThe ignition switch must be inACCESSORY or ON. Make surethe tape opening on the cassette isfacing to the right, then insert thecassette most of the way into theslot. The system will pull it in therest of the way, and begin to play.

The tape direction indicator willlight to show you which side ofthe cassette is playing. Theindicates the side you insertedfacing upward is now playing. Ifyou want to play the other side,press the (preset 3) button.

If the cassette was recorded usingDolby noise reduction, turn it onby pressing the (preset 4)button.

You can switch from the cassetteto the radio or CD changer bypressing the FM, AM, or DISCbutton. When you switch, the

TAPE DIRECTIONINDICATOR

TAPE DIRECTIONBUTTON

TAPE BUTTON

DOLBYBUTTON


cassette stops playing, but it doesnot eject. To begin playing thecassette at the same point, press theTAPE button.

When the system reaches the endof the tape, it automaticallyreverses direction and plays theother side. If you want to removethe cassette from the drive, pressthe EJECT button.

When you turn off the ignitionswitch, the system stops the tapebut does not eject the cassette. Itwi ll begin to play when you turnthe ignition switch back on. Toeject the tape, even with theignition switch off, press theEJECT button.

Tape Search FunctionsWith a cassette playing, you canuse the FF, REW, or APS functionto find a desired song or passage.

FAST FORWARD/REWIND

EJECTBUTTON

AUTOMATICPROGRAMSEARCH

REPEATBUTTON

SKIPBUTTON


FF/REW — Fast Forward andRewind move the tape rapidly.Press and release the REW side ofthe TUNE bar to rewind, or theFF side to fast forward. You willsee REW or FF in the display.Press the same side of the tune barto return to PLAY mode.

If the system reaches the end ofthe tape while in fast forward orrewind, it automatically stops thatfunction, reverses direction, andbegins to play.

APS - The Automatic ProgramSearch (APS) function allows youto find the beginning of a song orpassage. Use the (preset 1) or

(preset 2) button to activateAPS.

For example, the first song on thecassette is playing, and you wantto listen to the third song. Press

twice; you will see FF and 2 inthe display. The system will fastforward the tape to the beginning ofthe third song, then return to PLAYmode.

To return to the beginning of thecurrent song or passage, pressonce. To return to the beginning ofthe previous song, press twice.

If the system reaches the end ofthe tape before finding theselected song or passage, itreverses direction and returns toPLAY mode.

To cancel APS before it finds thedesired song, press the orbutton again.

REPEAT — The Repeat functioncontinuously repeats the currentsong or passage. Press the RPT(preset 5) button to activate it.

You will see RPT in the display.When the system reaches the endof the current song or passage, itautomatically goes into rewind.When it gets to the beginning ofthe same song or passage, thesystem returns to PLAY mode.This continues until youdeactivate Repeat by pressing theRPT button again.

SKIP — The SKIP function fastforwards over areas of blank tape.Press the SKIP (preset 6) buttonto activate it. You wi ll see SKIPin the display. After the systemfinds approximately 15 seconds ofblank tape, it goes into fastforward. When it senses thebeginning of the next song orpassage, or reaches the end of thetape, it returns to PLAY mode.


The APS, Repeat, and Skipfunctions use silent periods on thetape to find the end of a song orpassage. These features may notwork to your satisfaction if thereis almost no gap betweenselections, a high noise levelbetween selections, or a silentperiod in the middle of aselection.

Caring for the Cassette PlayerThe cassette player picks up dirtand oxides from the tape. Thiscontamination builds up over timeand causes the sound quality todegrade. To prevent this, youshould clean the player after every30 hours of use. Your dealer has acleaning kit available.

If you do not clean the cassetteplayer regularly, it may eventuallybecome impossible to remove the

contamination with a normalcleaning kit.

Use 100-minute or shortercassettes. Cassettes longer thanthat use thinner tape that maybreak or jam the drive.

Look at a cassette before youinsert it. If the tape is loose,tighten it by turning one of thehubs with a pencil or your finger.If the label is peeling off, removeit from the cassette or it couldcause the cassette to jam in theplayer. Never try to insert awarped or damaged cassette in theplayer.

The player automatically ejectscassettes that do not play properly.If it ejects a cassette before itbegins to play, it is probablydefective and should not be

inserted again. You may have acassette suddenly stop playing,reverse directions once or twice,and then eject. This is normally anindication the tape is woundunevenly. It should play after thetape is manually rewound.

When they are not in use, storecassettes in their cases to protectthem from dust and moisture.Never place cassettes where theywill be exposed to direct sunlight,high heat, or high humidity. If acassette is exposed to extremeheat or cold, let it reach amoderate temperature beforeinserting it in the player.

Never try to insert foreign objectsinto the cassette player.


Operating the CD ChangerTo operate the CD changer, theignition switch must be inACCESSORY or ON.

Loading CDs in the ChangerTo load a CD in the changer, pressthe LOAD button. The numberedlight for the first empty slot in thechanger wi ll begin flashing in theupper right corner of the display.When you see LOAD in thedisplay, insert the CD part wayinto the slot, the drive wi ll pull itin the rest of the way. Thenumbered light wi ll stop flashing,and remain lit as a reminder that aCD is loaded in that position. Thesystem wi ll begin playing the firsttrack on that CD.


DISCSELECTOR

CD SLOTDISCINDICATORS

LOADBUTTON

TRACKSELECTOR

CD BUTTON SOUNDRETRIEVALSYSTEM

Repeat this procedure to load CDsin the remaining positions in thechanger.

To load more than one CD in asingle operation, press and holdthe LOAD button until you hear abeep. Load the first CD asdescribed above. After the firstCD loads, the light for the nextopen position will begin blinking.Insert the next CD part way intothe slot. Continue this procedureuntil all six slots are loaded. Ifyou do not want to load CDs intoall six positions, press the LOADbutton again after the last CD hasloaded. That CD will beginplaying.

Playing CDsPress the DISC button to switch tothe CD changer. The CD that iscurrently loaded will begin

playing. The disc and tracknumbers are shown in the display.

To select a different disc, press theTUNE/DISC button: to selectthe next disc, or to select theprevious disc.

To change tracks, press andrelease the (preset 2) button toadvance one track at a time, or the

(preset 1) button to return tothe beginning of the current track.Press again to select theprevious track.

To move rapidly within a track,press and hold the button tomove forward, or the buttonto move backward. Release thebutton when the system reachesthe point you want.

You can switch to the radio or thecassette player by pressing theFM, AM, or TAPE button. To

switch back to the CD changer,press the DISC button. The CDwill begin playing where it leftoff.To remove a CD from thechanger, select the CD with theTUNE/DISC button, then pressand release the EJECT buttonnext to the slot.To remove all the CDs from thechanger, press and hold theEJECT button until you hear abeep. The CDs wi ll eject in order.

Sound Retrieval System - TheSound Retrieval System functionadds richness to the sound of theCDs. To activate it, press the

button. This turns on the firstlevel of sound expansion. Pressthe button a second time to take itto the second level. Press thebutton again to turn off thefeature.


SCAN — Use the SEEK/SCANbutton to sample the tracks on adisc, or to sample all the discs inthe changer.

To sample the tracks on the CDcurrently loaded, press and releasethe SEEK/SCAN button. You willsee SCAN in the display. Thesystem will play the first track onthe disc for approximately tenseconds. If you do nothing, it wi llselect the second track and playthat for ten seconds. When itplays a track that you want tocontinue listening to, press theSEEK/SCAN button again.

To sample the discs, press andhold the SEEK/SCAN button untilyou hear a beep. You will seeD-SCAN in the display. Thesystem loads the next disc in thechanger, and plays the first trackon that disc for approximately

EJECTBUTTON SCAN

BUTTON

REPEATBUTTON

RANDOMBUTTON


ten seconds. If you do nothing, itwill load the second disc and playthe first track for ten seconds.When it plays a disc that you wantto continue listening to, pressSEEK/SCAN again.

REPEAT — Use the RPT (preset5) button to continuously play thecurrent track or disc.

To keep repeating the currenttrack, press and release the RPTbutton. You will see RPT in thedisplay. The system willcontinuously replay the currenttrack. Press the RPT button againto turn it off.

To repeat the current disc, pressand hold the RPT button until youhear a beep. You will see D-RPTin the display. The system plays

through the disc currently loaded.At the end of the disc, instead ofloading the next disc in thechanger, it wi ll return to thebeginning of the current disc.Press the RPT button again to turnit off.

RANDOM — Use the RAND(preset 6) button to randomlyplay, or "shuffle" the tracks on thedisc or discs in the changer. Withthis activated, the system playsthe tracks in random order, ratherthan in the order they are recordedon the CD or CDs.

To shuffle the tracks on the CDcurrently loaded, press and releasethe RAND button. You will seeRAND in the display. The systemplays the tracks on the current

disc in random order. When allthe tracks have been played, itwi ll load the next CD and playthose tracks in random order. Toturn off random play, press theRAND button again.

To include all the loaded CDs inthe random selection, press andhold RAND until you hear a beep.You will see D RAND in thedisplay. With this activated, thesystem randomly selects whattrack to play next from all theCDs in the changer. After playinga track, it may select another trackon that same disc, or it may load adifferent CD and play a track onit. This continues until you turnoff random play by pressing theRAND button again.


Protecting Compact DiscsHandle 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,store it in its case to protect it fromdust and other contamination. Toprevent warpage, keep CDs out ofdirect sunlight and extreme heat.

To clean a disc, use a clean softcloth. Wipe across the disc fromthe center to the outside edge.

A new CD may be rough on theinner and outer edges. The smallplastic pieces causing thisroughness can flake off and fallon the recording surface of thedisc, causing skipping or otherproblems. Remove these piecesby rubbing the inner and outeredges with the side of a pencilor pen.

Never try to insert foreign objectsin the CD player.


Cruise control allows you tomaintain a set speed above 25mph (40 km/h) without keepingyour foot on the accelerator pedal.It should be used for cruising onstraight open highways. It is notrecommended for conditions suchas city driving, winding roads,slippery roads, heavy rain, or badweather. You should have fullcontrol of the vehicle under thoseconditions.

Operation

Setting a Desired Speed1. Turn on the cruise control

system by pressing theCRUISE ON/OFF button onthe dashboard. The light in thebutton wi ll come on.

2. Accelerate to your desiredspeed using the acceleratorpedal.

3. When you reach the desiredspeed, quickly press and releasethe "SET/COAST" button. TheCRUISE SET light in theinstrument panel wi ll come on,and the system wi ll retain thatcruising speed.


Cruise Control

Improper use of the cruisecontrol can lead to a crash.

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

Magesh

Accelerating (While CruiseControl System Is in Use)Depress the accelerator pedal foracceleration.

When you release the acceleratorpedal, the vehicle's speed wi llgradually return to the preset speed.

Resetting to Higher Cruising SpeedYou can accelerate by turning andholding the knob at the"RESUME/ACCEL" position formore than one second.

The cruise control system will bereset to the speed you aretravelling when you release theknob.

For a quick reset, accelerate withthe accelerator pedal to thedesired speed, then press andrelease the "SET/COAST" button.

Decelerating (While CruiseControl System Is in Use)Press and hold the "SET/COAST"button to decelerate. Release thebutton when you reach the desiredspeed; the cruise control systemwill be set to that speed. Thelowest speed to which the systemmay be set is 25 mph (40 km/h).

When it is necessary to make aquick reset, depress the brakepedal. Press the "SET/COAST"button when you reach the desiredspeed.

The cruise control system cannotbe set to speeds below 25 mph (40km/h).

Tap Up (While Cruise ControlSystem Is in Use)Quickly turning and releasing theknob at the "RESUME/ACCEL"position with the cruise controlengaged allows you to "tap up"the preset cruising speed. Eachturn increases the preset cruisingspeed by one mile per hour (1.6km/h). The preset cruising speedcan be increased by up to 10 milesper hour (16 km/h) in this manner.


Tap Down (While Cruise ControlSystem Is in Use)Quickly pressing and releasing the"SET/COAST" button with thecruise control engaged allows youto "tap down" the preset cruisingspeed. Each depression decreasesthe preset cruising speed by onemile per hour (1.6 km/h). Thepreset cruising speed can bedecreased to a minimum of 25miles per hour (40 km/h) in thismanner.

DisengagingDisengage the cruise controlsystem by depressing the brakepedal, or the clutch pedal onmanual transmission vehicles.

You can also turn off the systemby turning the knob to "CANCEL,"then releasing it, or by pressing theCRUISE ON/OFF button.

Clearing the SystemThe cruise control system will becanceled when any of thefollowing conditions apply:

1. When the brake pedal isdepressed.

2. When the clutch pedal isdepressed (manualtransmission) or when theautomatic transmission isshifted to the " N" position.

3. When cruising speed reachesapproximately 16 mph (26km/h) or lower.

4. When cruising speed is lowerthan preset speed by 12 mph(19 km/h) or more.

5. When you depress theCRUISE ON/OFF button.

6. When the ignition switch isturned to the "OFF" position.


7. If you press the"SET/COAST" button at thesame time as you turn theknob to the"RESUME/ACCEL" position.

8. When trouble develops in thesystem.

9. When the knob is turned to the"CANCEL" position.

On steep upgrades, the vehiclemay not be able to maintain thepreset speed. This may cause thecruise control system to cancel.

Recovering the Set SpeedIf the cruise control is cancelledas described by items 1 thru 4above, the originally set cruisespeed can be recovered by quicklyturning and releasing the knob atthe "RESUME/ACCEL" position.Your current speed must beapproximately 25 mph (40 km/h)or higher.

Keep the CRUISE ON/OFF button"OFF" unless you are using thesystem.


(Standard on the EX model)

You can lock and unlock yourvehicle with the remotetransmitter. When you push theLOCK button, all the doors andthe tailgate lock. The parkinglights, taillights, and license platelight will flash once. If you pressthe LOCK button a second time,the horn will honk to confirm thateverything locked.

When you push the UNLOCKbutton once, only the driver'sdoor unlocks. Push the button asecond time, within three seconds,to unlock the remaining doors andthe tailgate. The parking lights,taillights, and license plate lightwill flash twice when you pushthe UNLOCK button the firsttime.

The dome light will come on (ifthe dome light switch is in thecenter position) when you pressthe UNLOCK button. If you donot open any of the doors or thehatch glass, the light will go out inabout 30 seconds, the doors andtailgate automatically relock, andthe anti-theft system sets.

You cannot lock or unlock thevehicle with the remote

transmitter if any door, thetailgate, or the hood is not fullyclosed, or the key is in the ignitionswitch. When you push the LOCKbutton, the horn will beep sixtimes to notify you that somethingis ajar.

You cannot lock or unlock thevehicle with the remotetransmitter if the key is in theignition switch.

Panic ModePanic mode allows you toremotely sound the vehicle's hornto attract attention. To activatethis mode, press and hold thePANIC button for about onesecond. Your vehicle's horn wi llsound for about 30 seconds.


Keyless Entry

LOCKUNLOCK

PANIC

To cancel panic mode before 30seconds, press any button on theremote transmitter. You can alsoturn the ignition switch toACCESSORY.

The anti-theft system is designedto protect your vehicle and itscontents from theft. Any attemptto forcibly open any door, thetailgate, or the hood without usingthe key or the remote transmitterwi ll cause the system to alarm.

The horn sounds and theheadlights flash for approximatelythree minutes. The starter motorcircuit is disabled so the enginecannot be started. After threeminutes, the system resets.

Activating the System

The system activatesautomatically when all the doors,the tailgate, and the hood are fullyclosed and locked.

Lock the doors with the key, theremote transmitter, or the doorlock button/knob. The anti-theftsystem indicator wi ll come on toshow that it is activating. Afterabout 10 seconds, the light wi ll


Anti-Theft System

begin blinking rapidly to indicatethe system is active.

Deactivating the SystemUnlocking the doors or thetailgate with the key or the remotetransmitter turns off the system.You can also turn the ignitionswitch to the ACCESSORYposition.

Doing any of the above will alsoreset an alarming system beforethe three minutes have elapsed.

The digital clock displays the timeat all times, regardless of ignitionswitch position.

To set the time:Press and hold the H button toset the hours. The numbers wi lladvance rapidly. Release thebutton when the desired time isreached.

Press and hold the M button toset the minutes. The numberswill advance rapidly. Releasethe button when the desiredtime is reached.


Digital Clock

HOUR MINUTE

Driving TipsBefore Driving . . . . . . . . . . . 156

Starting the Engine . . . . . 157New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . 158Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163

Inflation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . 165Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . 166Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . 166Replacing Tires

and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . 166Wheels and Tires . . . . . . 167Traction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168

Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . 168Wheel Replacement

Considerations . . . . . . . 169Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . 170Three-Way Catalytic

Converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172

Operation inForeign Countries . . . . . . . 173

Accessories & Modifications 173Carrying Cargo . . . . . . . . . . . 175Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . 178

Trailer Hitches . . . . . . . . 180Safety Chain . . . . . . . . . . 181Trailer Lights . . . . . . . . . . 181Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181Trailer Brakes . . . . . . . . . 181Equipment Check . . . . . . 182

Limited Slip Differential . . . 182

Driving Tips

Before DrivingDriving GuidelinesYour Honda has higher groundclearance than a passenger cardesigned for use only onpavement. Higher groundclearance has many advantagesfor off-road driving. It allows youto travel over bumps, obstacles,and rough terrain. It also providesgood visibility so you cananticipate problems earlier.

These advantages come at somecost. Because your vehicle istaller and rides higher off theground, it has a high center ofgravity. This means that yourvehicle can tip or roll over if youmake abrupt turns. Utilityvehicles have a significantlyhigher rollover rate than othertypes of vehicles.

To prevent rollover or loss ofcontrol:

Take corners at slower speedsthan you would with apassenger car.

Avoid sharp turns and abruptmaneuvers whenever possible.

Do not modify your vehicle inany way that would raise thecenter of gravity (see page 174).

Do not carry heavy cargo onthe roof (see page 177).

For off-road driving guidelines,see the Off-Road DrivingInformation booklet that camewith your vehicle.

Before Entering the Vehicle1. Check that the windows,

mirrors, lights and reflectorsare clean and unobstructed.

2. Check the tires to see if theyare low or flat. You will needa pressure gauge to tell if tiresare properly inflated.

3. Check that all lights work.

4. Check for fluid leaks.

5. Be sure everything is properlystowed.

6. Check the area behind thevehicle if you are about toback up.

Before Driving the Vehicle1. Lock all doors.2. Adjust the seat and any

movable head restraints.3. Adjust the inside and outside

mirrors.4. Check that all the indicator

lights work when the key

Driving Tips

switch is turned to the "ON"or "START" position.

5. Check all gauges (includingthe fuel gauge).

6. Release the parking brake(and make sure the "BRAKE"light turns off).

See related topics in this manual ifyou find any problems.

Starting the Engine1. Apply the parking brake.

2. Manual Transmission: Pressthe clutch pedal to the floorand shift the transmission tothe Neutral position. Hold theclutch pedal to the floor whileyou are starting the engine. Astarter safety switch keeps thestarter from operating if theclutch pedal is not fullydepressed.

Automatic Transmission:Place the shift lever in "P"or " N " position ("P" ispreferred). A starter safetyswitch prevents the starterfrom operating if the shiftlever is in any drive position.If it is necessary to restart theengine with the vehiclemoving, place the shift leverin " N " (never in "P").

3. Do not touch the acceleratorpedal. Start the engine byturning the ignition switch to"START."

If the engine does not start in10 seconds, wait 15 seconds to letthe starter cool down. Then crankthe engine at wide open throttlefor a maximum of 10 seconds. Ifthe engine still does not start, waitanother 15 seconds and repeat theentire procedure.

Do not crank the engine for morethan 10 seconds at a time. Wait 15seconds before trying again.

4. Return the ignition switch tothe "ON" position as soon asthe engine starts.

5. Apply the regular brakes andshift into the proper gear.Release the parking brake andbrake pedal and drive off.

In models with an automatictransmission, you cannot shiftfrom "P" (Park) position toany other position unless thebrake pedal is applied.

Driving Tips

You may drive your new vehiclefrom its very first mile/kilometerwithout following a formal"break-in" schedule. However,there are things you can do duringthe first few hundred miles/kilometers of driving that will addto the future performance andeconomy of your vehicle.

It is recommended that your speedduring the first 500 miles (800kilometers) be limited to amaximum of 55 mph (90 km/h)and that you do not drive for longperiods at any one constant speed,either fast or slow. During thisperiod, avoid full-throttle startsand, if possible, avoid hard stops;especially during the first 200miles (320 kilometers) of driving.Always drive at moderate speeduntil the engine has completelywarmed up.

ParkingWhen leaving your vehicleunattended:

Set the parking brake.

Place the shift lever in "P"(Park) position for automatictransmission.

When parking a vehicle equippedwith a manual transmission on anupward slope, or on a levelsurface, place the shift lever inthe "1st" position.

When parking a vehicleequipped with a manualtransmission on a downwardslope, place the shift lever inthe "R" (Reverse) position.

Turn the key to the "LOCK"position.

Remove the key. The beeperwill remind you.

Close all windows and lock alldoors.

Check to make certain thelights are turned off. Thebeeper wi ll remind you.

If your vehicle is equipped witha transfer case (4WD), makesure the shift lever is in 4H or4L.

Parking TipsNever drive the vehicle withthe parking brake set. This canoverheat the rear brakes,reducing their effectiveness andcausing excessive wear ordamage.

Always apply the parking brakewhenever you leave the vehicle,whether it is equipped with amanual or automatic transmission.

Driving Tips

New Vehicle Break-In

If your vehicle is equipped withan automatic transmission, setthe parking brake before youleave the driver's seat. If thevehicle is parked on a gradeand the transmission shift leveris placed in "P" (Park) positionbefore you set the parkingbrake, the weight of the vehiclemay exert so much force on thetransmission that you may havedifficulty moving the shiftlever out of "P" (Park)position. To prevent this, applythe parking brake BEFOREmoving the shift lever to "P"(Park). When you want to driveaway, move the shift lever outof the "P" (Park) positionBEFORE releasing the parkingbrake. It is good drivingpractice to set the parkingbrake first, then place thetransmission in "PARK"

position, even on levelsurfaces.

If the parking brake does notseem to hold the vehicle aswell as before, have the vehicleserviced by your Honda dealer.

Do not park your vehicle overhigh grass, dry leaves or othercombustible materials. Thecatalytic converter gets veryhot and could set fire to thesematerials.

Anti-Lock BrakesYour vehicle has an Anti-lockBrake System (ABS) as standardequipment. ABS helps to preventthe wheels from locking up andskidding during hard braking,allowing you to retain steeringcontrol.

When the front tires skid, youlose steering control; the vehiclecontinues straight ahead eventhough you turn the steeringwheel. The ABS helps to preventlock-up and retain steering controlby pumping the brakes rapidly;much faster than a person can do it.

You should never pump thebrake pedal, this defeats thepurpose of the ABS. Let the ABSwork for you by always keepingfirm, steady pressure on the brakepedal as you steer away from the

Driving Tips

Brakes

hazard. This is sometimes referredto as "stomp and steer."

You wi ll feel a pulsation in thebrake pedal when the ABSactivates, and you may hear somenoise. This is normal, it is theABS rapidly pumping the brakes.

Activation varies with the amountof traction your tires have. On drypavement, you wi ll need to presson the brake pedal very hardbefore you activate the ABS.However, you may feel the ABSactivate immediately if you aretrying to stop on snow or ice.

Important Safety RemindersABS does not reduce the timeor distance it takes to stop thevehicle, it only helps with steeringcontrol during braking. Youshould always maintain a safe

following distance from othervehicles.

ABS will not prevent a skid thatresults from changing directionabruptly, such as trying to take acorner too fast or making asudden lane change. Always driveat a safe, prudent speed for theroad and weather conditions.

ABS cannot prevent a loss ofstability. Always steer moderatelywhen you are braking hard.Severe or sharp steering wheelmovement can still cause yourvehicle to veer into oncomingtraffic or off the road.

A vehicle with ABS may requirea longer distance to stop onloose or uneven surfaces, such asgravel or snow, than a vehiclewithout anti-lock. Slow down and

allow a greater distance betweenvehicles under those conditions.

ABS IndicatorThe ABS is self-checking. Youmay feel a slight movement of thebrake pedal just after you start theengine. This is the ABS performinga check. It also checks itselfwhenever you use the brakes.

Driving Tips

If anything goes wrong, the ABSindicator on the instrument panelcomes on (see page 67). Thismeans the anti-lock function ofthe braking system has shut down.The brakes still work like aconventional system withoutanti-lock, providing normalstopping ability. You should havethe dealer inspect your vehicle assoon as possible if this light stayson after you start the engine, orcomes on while driving.

Driving With Wet BrakesDriving through deep water mayget the brakes wet and reducetheir effectiveness. As a result, thevehicle may not slow downnormally or may pull in onedirection or the other.

If you drive through deep water,apply the brakes lightly to see ifthe water has affected them. Todry the brakes quickly, presslightly on the brake pedal whilemaintaining the same speed withthe accelerator pedal. Continuethis until the brakes operatenormally.

Power BrakesThe braking system uses enginevacuum to provide power assist. Ifthe power assist fails because of astalled engine or other reason, thereserve vacuum in the system willusually allow you to apply thebrakes at least one time.

The reserve vacuum is partly usedup each time the brake pedal isapplied and released. Do notpump the brakes when the powerassist has been lost, except whenneeded to maintain steeringcontrol on slippery surfaces.

You can still stop the vehiclewithout the power assist by pushingharder on the brake pedal.However, the stopping distancemay be longer, even though thebrakes themselves remain fullyoperational.

Driving Tips

Self-Adjusting BrakesThe brakes on this vehicle areself-adjusting. They have beendesigned so that periodic brakeadjustment is not needed.

The brakes adjust themselves eachtime you firmly apply them.

Thus, if the brake pedal goes downfarther than normal due to a lack ofadjustment, drive backward andforward a few times. Apply thebrakes intermittently.

See your Honda dealer if thebrake pedal height does not returnto normal or if there is a rapidincrease in pedal travel. Either is asign of other brake trouble. Also,see your Honda dealer if theparking brake needs adjustment.

Braking TipsControl your vehicle's speed on asteep or long downhill grade byshifting the transmission to alower gear. Constantly using thebrakes can cause them to overheatand lose effectiveness.

Resting your foot on the brakepedal when you are not intendingto brake ("riding the brakes") cancause them to overheat. Thisreduces their effectiveness, wearsthem out faster, and can reducefuel mileage. It also causes yourbrake lights to stay on all the time,confusing drivers behind you.

Brake Wear IndicatorsThe front and rear brakes havebuilt-in wear indicators. These

make a high-pitched squealing orcricket-like warning sound whenthe brake pads or linings are wornto the point of replacement. Thesound may come and go or beheard all the time when the vehicleis moving, but may stop when thebrake pedal is pushed down firmly.Expensive damage can result ifpads or linings are not replacedimmediately when needed.

Driving on Slippery SurfacesDriving, steering, and brakingtraction are reduced when theroad is coated with water, snow,ice, gravel, or other materials.

Slow down and adjust yourdriving to such conditions. It isimportant to slow down when it isslippery because stopping

Driving Tips

distances wi ll be longer andvehicle control more limited.While driving on a surface withreduced traction, avoid maneuversinvolving sudden steering,acceleration, or braking (includingengine braking due to shifting tolower gear), that could cause thetires to skid.

Drivers may not realize thesurface is slippery until thevehicle is skidding.

Learn to recognize warningclues—such as enough water orice on the road to make a"mirrored surface"—and slowdown when there is any doubt.Also see "Traction" under "Tires"in this section.

To safely operate your vehicle,your tires must be the proper typeand size, in good condition withadequate tread, and correctlyinflated. The following pages givemore detailed information on howand when to check air pressure,how to inspect your tires fordamage and wear, and what to dowhen your tires need to bereplaced.

Driving Tips

Rapid slowing down orspeeding-up can cause lossof control on slipperysurfaces. If you crash, youcan be injured.

Use extra care when drivingon slippery surfaces.

Using tires that are excessivelyworn or improperly inflated cancause a crash in which youcan be seriously hurt or killed.

Follow all instructions in thisowner's manual regarding tireinflation and maintenance.

Tires

Magesh

Magesh

InflationKeeping the tires properly inflatedprovides the best combination ofhandling, tread life, and ridingcomfort. Underinflated tires wearunevenly, adversely affect handlingand fuel economy, and are morelikely to fail from being overheated.Overinflated tires can make yourvehicle ride more harshly, aremore prone to damage from roadhazards, and wear unevenly.

We recommend that you visuallycheck your tires every day. If youthink a tire might be low, check itimmediately with a tire gauge.Use a gauge to measure the airpressure at least once a month.Even tires that are in goodcondition may lose one to two psiper month. Remember to checkthe spare tire at the same time youcheck all the other tires.

Check the pressure in the tireswhen they are cold. This meansthe vehicle has been parked for atleast three hours. If you have todrive the vehicle before checkingthe tire pressure, the tires can stillbe considered "cold" if you driveless than 1 mile (1.6 km).

If you check the pressure whenthe tires are hot (the vehicle hasbeen driven several miles), youwill see readings 4 to 6 psi (28 to41 kPa, 0.3 to 0.4 kg/cm2) higherthan the cold reading. This isnormal. Do not let air out tomatch the specified cold pressure.The tire will be underinflated.

You should get your own tirepressure gauge and use it at alltimes. That makes it easier foryou to tell if a pressure loss iscaused by a tire problem and not avariation between gauges.

Recommended Tire Pressures forNormal Driving

The following chart shows therecommended cold tire pressuresfor most normal drivingconditions and speeds.

Driving Tips

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 lookclosely for punctures if a tirestarts losing pressure.

InspectionEvery time you check inflation,you should also examine the tiresfor damage, foreign objects, andwear.

You should look for:Bumps or bulges in the tread orside of the tire. Replace the tireif you find either of theseconditions.

Cuts, splits, or cracks in theside of the tire. Replace the tireif you can see fabric.

Excessive tread wear.

Your vehicle's tires have wearindicators molded into the tread.

When the tread wears down to thatpoint, you wi ll see a 1/2 inch (12.7mm) wide band running across thetread. This shows that there is lessthan 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) of treadleft on the tire. A tire that is thisworn gives very little traction onwet roads. You should replace thetire if you can see the tread wear

Driving Tips

LABEL

TREADWEARINDICATORS

indicator in three or more placesaround the tire.

MaintenanceIn addition to proper inflation,correct wheel alignment helps todecrease tire wear. You should getyour vehicle's suspension partsinspected often, and aligned whenneeded.

The tires were properly balancedat the factory. They may need tobe rebalanced at some time beforethey are worn out. Have yourdealer check the tires if you feel aconsistent vibration while driving.A tire should always berebalanced if it is removed fromthe wheel for repair.

Make sure the installer balancesthe wheels when you have newtires installed. This increases

riding comfort and tire life. Yourvehicle's original tires weredynamic or "spin" balanced at thefactory. For best results, have theinstaller perform a dynamicbalance.

Tire RotationTo help increase tire life anddistribute wear more evenly, youshould have the tires rotated every7,500 miles (12,000 km).

Move the tires to the positionsshown in the diagram each timethey are rotated.

Replacing Tires and WheelsThe tires that came with yourvehicle were selected to match itsperformance capabilities whileproviding the best combination ofhandling, ride comfort, and longlife. You should replace them withradial tires of the same size, loadrange, speed rating, and maximumcold tire pressure rating (as shownon the tire's sidewall). Mixingradial and bias-ply tires on yourvehicle can reduce its brakingability, traction, and steeringaccuracy.

Driving Tips

FRONT

5 WHEEL4 WHEEL

We urge you not to installoversize tires and wheels thatwould change your vehicle'sride height and possibly affecthandling and stability.

It is best to replace all four tires atthe same time. If that is notpossible or necessary, then replacethe two front tires or the two reartires as a pair. Replacing just onetire can seriously affect yourvehicle's handling.

The ABS works by comparing thespeed of the wheels. Whenreplacing tires, use the same sizeoriginally supplied with thevehicle. Tire size and constructioncan affect wheel speed and maycause the system to workinconsistently.

If you ever need to replace awheel, make sure thereplacement's specificationsmatch the wheels that originallycame on your Honda.

Replacement wheels are availableat your Honda dealer.

Wheels and TiresWheels:

16 x 7 JJ

Tires:Standard on LX 2WD

225/75R16

Standard on all other models245/70R16

See page 251 for informationabout DOT Tire Quality Grading.

Driving Tips

Installing improper tires onyour vehicle can affecthandling and stability. Thiscan cause a crash in whichyou can be seriously hurt orkilled.

Always use the size and typeof tires recommended in thisowner's manual.

Magesh

TractionA decrease in driving, cornering,and braking traction occurs whenwater, snow, ice, gravel, or othermaterials are on the road. Vehiclespeed should be adjusted to theroad conditions.

When driving on wet or slushyroads, a wedge of water can buildup between the tire and road. Thisis known as hydroplaning andmay cause partial or complete lossof traction, vehicle control, andstopping ability. To reduce thechance of traction loss, followthese tips:

1. Slow down during rainstormsor when roads are slushy.

2. Slow down if the road hasstanding water or puddles.

3. Replace tires when they areworn to a point where 1/16inch (1.6 mm) or less treadremains, or cord or fabriccan be seen.

4. Keep the tires properlyinflated.

If your vehicle has snow tires, besure they are the same size, loadrange and construction type as yourother tires. Vehicle speed should belimited to a maximum of 75 mph(120 km/h) when equipped witheither passenger vehicle-type ortruck-type snow tires.

Tire ChainsTo prevent tire chains fromdamaging your vehicle:

Install the chains on the reartires as tightly as possible.

Tighten them again afterdriving 1/4 to 1/2 mile (0.4 to0.8 kilometer). Using chains onthe front tires is notrecommended. They maycontact the body and possiblydamage the vehicle. If youintend to use chains on thefront tires, be sure there isenough clearance.

Do not exceed 45 mph(70 km/h) or the chainmanufacturer's suggested speedlimit if it is lower.

Drive in a restrained mannerand avoid large bumps,potholes, severe turns or othermaneuvers that could cause thevehicle to bounce up and down.

Follow the chainmanufacturer's instructions.

Driving Tips

Wheel ReplacementConsiderationsDamaged wheels must bereplaced. For example, replacewheels if they are bent, cracked orheavily rusted, or if wheel nutsoften become loose. Also replacewheels that leak air (except somealuminum wheels that can berepaired). See your Honda dealer.

Do not use bent wheels that havebeen straightened, and do not usetubes in leaking wheels designedfor tubeless tires. Such wheelsmay have structural damage andcould fail without warning.

Maximum loads, maximuminflation pressures, wheelidentification codes, and wheelsizes are stamped on each wheel.Service-tested and approved

wheels are available from yourHonda dealer.

When obtaining wheels for anyreason from any other source, thereplacement wheels should beequal in load capacity, inflationpressure capacity, diameter, width,offset and mounting configurationto those originally installed onyour vehicle. A wheel of thewrong size or type may adverselyaffect load carrying capacity,wheel and bearing life, brakecooling, speedometer/odometercalibration, stopping ability,headlight aim, bumper height,vehicle ground clearance, and tireor tire chain clearance to the bodyand chassis. Replacement withused wheels is not advised: Theymay have been subjected to harsh

treatment or very high mileage andcould fail without warning.

Installing wheels and/or tires thathave a higher load carrying limitthan those that originally came onyour vehicle does not increase theGAWR or GVWR of the vehicle.

Driving Tips

Fuel EconomyDriving for Best FuelEconomyHow, where, and when you driveall affect how many miles/kilometers you can get from agallon/liter of fuel. The carefulattention you give your vehicle asfar as maintenance and repairswill also help fuel economy.

Fuel SelectionUse only unleaded gasolinemeeting federal governmentregulations. The federalgovernment specifies theminimum octane rating number ofunleaded gasoline. Unleadedgasoline must be used for properemissions control systemoperation. It will also minimizespark plug fouling. The use ofleaded gasoline can damage theemissions control system and

could result in loss of warrantycoverage.

"Jackrabbit" StartsYou can save fuel (and prolongengine and tire life) by avoidingfast starts away from lights andstop signs.

Stop-and-Go DrivingFrequent stop-and-go drivingduring a trip will cut down onyour miles per gallon (kilometersper liter). Plan even your shortshopping trips to take advantageof through streets to avoid trafficlights. Pace your driving to avoidunplanned stops.

Excessive IdlingAn idling engine uses fuel, too. Ifyou're faced with more than a fewminutes wait and you're not in

traffic, it is better to turn off thekey and start the engine againlater.

Repetitive Harsh StoppingHarsh stops can also waste fuel;instead of moving the vehicle, theenergy is wasted as heat inbraking. Energy in the form offuel is also needed to accelerateback to driving speed.

LubricantsA well-lubricated vehicle meansless friction between movingparts. This manual lists the properlubrication intervals in the "Careand Maintenance" section.

Air CleanerYour vehicle gets its power from amixture of fuel and air. The air istaken into the engine through the

Driving Tips

air cleaner, so it's important toreplace the air cleaner filter atrequired intervals. See "Care andMaintenance." A dirty air cleanerfilter reduces engine performanceand can waste fuel.

Air ConditioningTurn off the air conditioning whenit is not needed. The airconditioning compressor is not onin this position and the reducedengine load can improve fueleconomy.

Tuned EngineAn engine that is properlymaintained will provide betterfuel economy than one that is not.One misfiring spark plug will cutfuel economy significantly, andwill make a difference in theamount of pollution emitted fromyour vehicle.

Excessive WeightFuel economy is related to thework the engine must do. Theheavier the load, the more fuel ittakes to run your vehicle. Keepweight to a minimum by removingunnecessary luggage or cargo.

Tire InflationUnderinflation not only causesneedless tire wear but can alsowaste fuel. It's a good idea tocheck tire pressure often and keepyour tires inflated to the pressuresshown on the tire placard locatedon the driver's doorjamb.

Wheel AlignmentImproper alignment will cause thefront tires to roll at an angle thatwill result in faster tire wear. Ittakes power to overcome thisimproper alignment, which, inturn, wastes fuel.

Use of 4-Wheel DriveIn normal driving, put the4WD-2WD switch in the 2WDposition.

Driving Tips

Three-Way Catalytic ConverterThe three-way catalytic converteris an emissions control deviceadded to the exhaust system toreduce exhaust gas pollutants. Theconverter contains a ceramicmaterial coated with noble metalcatalysts. To preventcontamination of the catalysts,unleaded gasoline must be used.Unleaded gasoline also reducescombustion chamber deposits andexhaust system corrosion.

The three-way catalytic converterrequires the use of unleadedgasoline. Use of leaded gasolinewi ll cause the converter to lose itseffectiveness.

To Help Prevent Damage1. Keep your engine properly

maintained. Enginemalfunctions involving the

electrical, electronic fuelinjection or ignition systemsmay result in unusually highconverter and exhaust systemtemperatures. Do not keepdriving your vehicle if youdetect engine misfire,noticeable loss of performance,or other unusual operatingconditions. Have it servicedpromptly. A properlymaintained engine willminimize malfunctions thatcould damage the converter. Itwill also help provide goodemissions control and fueleconomy. (See theMaintenance Schedule on page204 for information oninspecting and maintaining theengine, exhaust system andother components.)

2. Do not push or tow yourvehicle to start it. This coulddamage the converter.

3. Do not park your vehicle overhigh grass, dry leaves or othercombustible materials. Thecatalytic converter gets veryhot and could set fire to thesematerials.

Driving Tips

Operation inForeign CountriesIf you are planning to take yourHonda outside the U.S. orCanada, contact the touristbureaus in the areas you will betraveling in to find out about theavailability of unleaded gasolinewith the proper octane rating.

If unleaded gasoline is notavailable, be aware that usingleaded gasoline in your Hondawill affect performance and fuelmileage, and damage itsemissions controls. It will nolonger comply with U.S. andCanadian emissions regulations,and will be illegal to operate inNorth America. To bring yourvehicle back into compliance willrequire the replacement of severalcomponents, such as the oxygensensor and the three-way catalyticconverter. These replacementsare not covered under warranty.

Accessories & ModificationsModifying your vehicle, orinstalling some non-Hondaaccessories, can make your vehicleunsafe. Before you make anymodifications or add anyaccessories, be sure to read thefollowing information.

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

Non-Honda accessories areusually designed for universalapplications. Althoughaftermarket accessories may fit onyour vehicle, they may not meetfactory specifications, and couldadversely affect your vehicle'shandling and stability. (See

"Modifications" on the next pagefor additional information.)

When properly installed, carphones, alarms, two-way radios,and low-powered audio systemsshould not interfere with yourvehicle's computer-controlled

Driving Tips

Improper accessories ormodifications can affectyour vehicle's handling,stability and performance,and cause a crash inwhich you can be hurt orkilled.

Follow all instructions inthis owner's manualregarding accessories andmodifications.

Magesh

systems, such as the SRS andanti-lock brake system.

However, if electronic accessoriesare improperly installed, orexceed your vehicle's electricalsystem capacity, they can interferewith the operation of your vehicle,or even cause the airbags todeploy.

Before installing any accessory:

Make sure the accessory doesnot obscure any lights, orinterfere with proper vehicleoperation or performance.

Be sure electronic accessoriesdo not overload electricalcircuits (see page 240).

Have the installer contact yourHonda dealer for assistancebefore installing any electronicaccessory.

If possible, have your dealerinspect the final installation.

ModificationsDo not remove any originalequipment or modify your vehiclein any way that would alter itsdesign or operation. This couldmake your vehicle unsafe andillegal to drive.

For example, do not make anymodifications that would changethe ride height of your vehicle, orinstall wheels and tires with adifferent overall diameter.

Such modifications can adverselyaffect handling, and interfere withthe operation of the vehicle'santi-lock brakes and othersystems.

In addition, any modifications thatdecrease ground clearance

increase the chance ofundercarriage parts striking acurb, speed bump, or other raisedobject, which could cause yourairbags to deploy.

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

Additional Safety PrecautionDo not attach or place objects onthe airbag covers. Any objectattached to, or placed on, thecovers marked "SRS," 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 vehicle andhurt someone.

Driving Tips

Carrying CargoYour vehicle has severalconvenient storage areas so youcan stow cargo safely.

The glove box, the consolecompartment, and the pockets inthe front doors, seat-backs, andcargo area are designed for small,lightweight items. The cargo areais intended for larger, heavieritems. In addition, the back seatcan be folded down to allow youto carry more cargo or longeritems.

However, carrying too muchcargo, or improperly storing it,can affect your vehicle's handling,stability, and operation and makeit unsafe. Before carrying anytype of cargo, be sure to read thefollowing pages.

Driving Tins

Load LimitThe maximum load for yourvehicle is:LX2WDmanual trans: 895 Ib (407 kg)automatic trans: 840 Ib (382 kg)

LX4WDmanual trans: 905 Ib (411 kg)automatic trans: 850 Ib (386 kg)

EXmanual trans: 930 Ib (423 kg)automatic trans: 875 Ib (398 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 cargoyou can carry:

Add up the weight of alloccupants.

If you are towing a trailer, addthe tongue weight to thenumber above.

Subtract the total from themaximum load figure.

The final number is the totalweight of cargo you can carry.

Driving Tips

Overloading or improperloading can affect handlingand stability and cause acrash in which you can behurt or killed.Follow all load limits andother loading guidelines inthis manual.

Magesh

Carrying Items in thePassenger Compartment

Store or secure all items thatcould be thrown around andhurt someone during a crash.

Be sure items placed on thefloor behind the front seatscannot roll under the seatsand interfere with the driver'sability to operate the pedals,or with the proper operationof the seats.

Keep the glove box closedwhile driving. If the lid is open,a passenger could injure hisknees during a crash or suddenstop.

Carrying Cargo in the CargoArea or on a Roof Rack

Distribute cargo evenly on thefloor of the cargo area, placingthe heaviest items on thebottom and as far forward aspossible.

If you fold down the back seat,tie down items that could bethrown about the vehicleduring a crash or sudden stop.

If you carry large items thatprevent you from closing thehatch glass or rear door,exhaust gas can enter thepassenger area. To avoid thepossibility of carbon monoxidepoisoning, follow theinstructions on page 47.

If you carry any items on a roofrack, be sure the total weight ofthe rack and the items does notexceed 200 Ib (90 kg).

Driving Tips

Trailer TowingYour Honda vehicle is designedfor passenger and cargotransportation. With the properequipment installed, your vehiclecan also tow a trailer under certainconditions, as detailed in thissection. Be sure to read this entiresection and follow allrequirements.

Towing a trailer will have aneffect on handling, performance,braking, durability and fuelconsumption.

Honda recommends that you donot tow a trailer with a newHonda vehicle or one with a newpowertrain component (engine,transmission, differential) for thefirst 500 miles.

For your safety and the safetyof others, use equipmentspecifically designed for yourvehicle. Improper towingequipment and improperinstallation of same can causedamage to your vehicle and mayalso result in personal injury.

Additional care and cautiousdriving habits are essential totrailer towing.

Do not exceed 45 mph or theposted towing speed limit,whichever is lower. Higher speedmay cause loss of vehicle control.

Driving Tips

Improperly loading yourvehicle and trailer canseriously affect the steeringand braking performance,causing a crash in which youcan be seriously injured.

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

Magesh

Follow the recommendations inthis manual and ask your Hondadealer for further details beforeyou tow a trailer with yourPassport.

Towing a trailer affects vehiclemaintenance requirements dueto the additional load. Morefrequent maintenance intervalswill be required to assurecontinued satisfaction withyour vehicle. Consult yourHonda dealer for recommendedmaintenance and service.

The gross trailer weight (trailerweight plus cargo load) mustnever exceed 4,500 Ib.

Additional equipment will berequired, depending on thespecific model/load combination.See "Trailer Hitches" in thissection.

Exceeding the weight limit willcause damage to your vehicle andpossibly result in personal injury.

The Gross Vehicle WeightRating (GVWR) is thecombined weight of theunloaded vehicle, passengers,cargo, trailer hitch, trailertongue load, and optionalequipment. This value isindicated on the F.M.V.S.S.Certification Label on thedriver's doorjamb.

The Gross Combined WeightRating (GCWR) equals thecombined weight of yourvehicle (including passengersand cargo) plus the total trailerload. The following limitsapply.

2WD: 8,700 Ib4WD: 8,950 Ib

The Gross Axle Weight Rating(GAWR) is also indicated onthe Certification Label. Theload on either the front or rearaxle resulting from distributionof the gross vehicle weight onboth axles must not exceed thevalues listed. Remember toaccount for additionalequipment and tongue load.

Driving Tips

Tongue load should be between9 percent and 11 percent of thetotal trailer weight. However, itshould never exceed 450 pounds.

Never load a trailer with moreweight in the rear than in thefront. The front should beloaded with approximately60 percent and the rear withapproximately 40 percent ofthe total trailer load.

Never exceed the maximumweight limits of the traileror trailer towing equipment.Improper loading can result indamage to your vehicle andpossible personal injury.

Check the vehicle and trailerloading and the weights oneach axle at a commercial scaleor a highway patrol officeequipped with a scale.

Trailer HitchesA Class 3 hitch kit (up to4,500 Ib) is available from yourHonda dealer.

Use a trailer equipped withelectric brakes and a "WeightDistributing Hitch Attachment"when the gross trailer weightexceeds 3,500 pounds.

A special attachment that replacesthe draw bar/ball assembly is usedto distribute the proper weight tothe front axle. It uses a pair ofspring bars that are adjusted toaccomplish the distribution of theweight.

Consult your trailer'smanufacturer for assistance withselecting the proper weightdistributing hitch attachment.

Check with a recreational vehicledealer for additional requiredequipment. Have this equipmentinstalled by a trained mechanic.

Improper equipment or installationcan damage your vehicle andcause personal injury.

Do not use axle-mounted hitchesor equipment not designed foryour vehicle.

Do not make any modifications tothe vehicle's exhaust, braking, orelectrical system other than thosethat are shown in the instructionsfor the Honda Trailer Hitch Kit.Improper modifications can affectvehicle durability.

Periodic inspection of all added-on trailer towing equipment isnecessary to assure continued safeoperation.

Driving Tips

Safety ChainAlways use suitable safety chainsbetween your vehicle and thetrailer.

Check with your trailermanufacturer for the requiredequipment. Cross the safetychains under the hitch and attachthem to the trailer hitch hardware.

This will prevent the trailer fromdropping to the ground in theevent the hitch disengages. Forproper use and installation,consult your trailer manufacturer.

Trailer LightsTrailer lights and equipment mustcomply with federal, state andlocal regulations. Check with yourlocal recreational vehicle dealerfor the requirements in your area.

Use only equipment designed foryour vehicle.

Improper equipment orinstallation can cause damage toyour vehicle's electrical systemand affect your vehicle warranty.Consult your Honda dealer forinstallation.

TiresAlways check the condition ofyour vehicle's tires and trailer'stires before operation. Replaceworn or damaged tires beforeoperation.

Inflate tire pressure to therecommended cold tire pressureindicated in the tiremanufacturer's warranty bookletin the glove box packet.

Check the tire manufacturer'srequirements when replacementtires are installed on your vehicle.Trailer tire condition, size, loadrating, and proper inflationpressure should be in accordancewith the tire manufacturer'sspecifications. Improper tire sizeand inflation can cause tirefailure, possibly resulting invehicle damage and personalinjury.

Trailer BrakesTrailers with a total weight of1,000 pounds or more requiretrailer brakes. If your trailer isequipped with a braking system,make sure it conforms to federal,state, and local equipmentregulations.

Driving Tips

There are no provisions in yourvehicle to tap into its hydraulicbraking system. Any attempt toattach the trailer's brakes to yourvehicle's hydraulic brakingsystem, no matter how successfulit may seem, will lower brakingeffectiveness and create apotential hazard.

Equipment CheckBefore operating your vehicle,check all safety equipment toensure safe operation. Be sureyour vehicle is properly servicedto avoid mechanical failure.

Check that your vehicle remainslevel when the loaded or unloadedtrailer is hitched. Do not drive ifthe rear end of your vehicle isabnormally higher or lower.Check for proper tongue weight,overload, improper weight

distribution, worn suspension, orother possible causes.

Make sure the trailer load isproperly positioned and securedso its does not shift around whiledriving.

Check if your rearview mirrorscomply with federal, state andlocal regulations. If not, confirmthe proper mirrors required fortowing and have them installed.

Perform an equipment check ofall braking, lighting and safetyequipment to ensure they areworking properly.

Your safety depends on properoperation and installation ofequipment. Never operate avehicle with faulty equipment.

Standard on 4WD models

The limited slip differential isdesigned to improve traction bylimiting wheelspin. If one rearwheel begins to spin on a slipperysurface, the limited slipdifferential will automaticallytransmit driving force to the otherrear wheel.

Driving Tips

Limited Slip Differential

In Case of EmergencyThis section covers the mostcommon problems that motoristsexperience with their vehicles. Itgives you information on how tosafely evaluate those problems,with tips to help get you goingagain. Lastly, it tells you how tohave your vehicle towed.

Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . 184Changing a Tire . . . . . . . . . . 186

Lifting Points . . . . . . . . . . 187Tool Locations . . . . . . . . . . . 188Engine Overheating . . . . . . . 190Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191

Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . 191Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . 192

All Four Wheelson the Ground . . . . . . 192

Front Wheelsoff the Ground . . . . . . 192

Rear Wheelsoff the Ground . . . . . . 193

Inoperative ElectricalDevices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193

In Case of Emergency

Jump StartingDo not push or tow your vehicleto start it. Under some conditionsthis may damage the three-waycatalytic converter or other partsof the vehicle.

If your vehicle has a dischargedbattery, it can be started by usingthe battery in another vehicle; aprocedure called "jump starting."

To jump start your vehicle:

1. Position the vehicle with thegood (charged) battery so thatthe jump-starting cables willreach. Do not allow the vehiclesto touch. Check to see that thebumpers do not touch.

2. Turn off all electric motorsand accessories in bothvehicles. Turn off all lightsexcept hazard flashers andlights needed to light up thework area. Turn off theignition, apply the parkingbrake firmly, and shift anautomatic transmission to"P" (Park) and a manualtransmission to " N" (Neutral)in both vehicles.

3. Check fluid level of thebattery before attempting tocharge or jump start. (Do not

use an open flame to check,and do not smoke.)

BLUE COLORLESS

If the battery is a sealed typeand if the fluid level is belowthe lower level line on the sideof the battery, do not try tojump start the vehicle orcharge or test the battery. Donot add fluid. Instead, install anew battery.


A battery can explode if youdo not follow the correctprocedure, seriously injuringanyone nearby.

Keep all sparks, open flames,and smoking materials awayfrom the battery.

LOWERLEVEL

CHARGINGNECESSARY

CHARGETESTINDICATOR

UPPERLEVEL

OK

Magesh

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

4. Jumper Cable ConnectionInstructions:

but at a point at least 18inches (45 cm) away fromthe battery. Do not connectit to pulleys, fans, or otherparts that move. Beware oftouching hot manifolds thatcan cause burns. (Themounting brackets for thealternator or airconditioning compressorgenerally make a goodpoint for this final groundattachment point. Take carethat the jumper cable doesnot contact moving parts onor near the alternator orcompressor.)

5. Start the engine on the vehiclewith the good (charged) batteryand run the engine at moderatespeed.


and Connect the firstjumper cable from thepositive " + " (red) terminalon one battery to thepositive " +" (red) terminalon the other battery. Neverconnect " + " (red) to " - "(black) or " - " to "+ ."

Next, connect one endof the second cable to thegrounded negative " - "(black) terminal of the good(charged) battery.

Lastly, connect the otherend of the second, groundedjumper cable to a solid,stationary, metallic point onthe engine of the vehiclewith the discharged battery

NOTICE

Make connectionsin numerical order.

DISCHARGEDVEHICLE CHARGED

VEHICLE

1st CABLE

2ndCABLE

Make last connectionon engine away fromthe battery.

Do not allow thevehicles to touch.

6. Start the engine of the vehiclethat has the discharged battery.

7. Remove the battery cables byreversing the above sequenceexactly. Start by removing thelast clamp first; that is,remove the jumper cable fromthe engine of the vehicle withthe discharged battery as thefirst step.

Changing a TireIf you have a flat tire whiledriving, stop in a safe place tochange it. Stopping in traffic or onthe shoulder of a busy road isdangerous. Drive slowly along theshoulder until you get to an exit oran area to stop that is far awayfrom the traffic lanes.


1. Park on a level surface and setthe parking brake firmly. Turnon the hazard warning flasher,and turn the ignition switch toLOCK.

2. Set the automatic transmissionin "Park" (the manualtransmission in "Reverse")and transfer case in gear if itis a four-wheel drive vehicle.

3. Have your passengers get outof the vehicle.

4. Remove the jacking tools (seepage 188) and spare tire fromtheir stowage areas.

The vehicle can easily roll offthe jack, seriously injuringanyone underneath.

Follow the directions forchanging a tire exactly, andnever get under the vehiclewhen it is supported only bythe jack.

Magesh

5. Block the wheel that isdiagonally opposite the one tobe changed.

6. Loosen, but do not remove,the wheel nuts by turning thewrench counterclockwise.

7. There are two jacking pointson each side of the vehicle.Set the jack in position, asshown.

Bottom surface of the crossmember at the concave position.

Under the rear axlehousing near the wheel.

Position the jack at the correctjack point as shown.

Make sure that the jack ispositioned on a level and solidsurface.

Do not position the jack at anypoints other than those specified.


REARJACK

JACK BAR

JACK HANDLE

FRONT

8. Turn the jack handleclockwise with a slow, smoothmotion to raise the vehicle sothe inflated spare tire wi llclear the surface.

9. Remove the wheel nuts andthe wheel.

10. Install the wheel and replacethe wheel nuts with thecone-shaped end toward thewheel, then hand-tighten eachnut. The wheel must be seatedon the hub.

11. Lower the vehicle by turningthe jack handle counter-clockwise, then fully tightenthe wheel nuts in a crisscrosssequence by turning thewrench clockwise. Have thewheel nut torque checked atthe nearest automotive servicefacility.

87 Ib-ft (118 N.m)

12. Stow the jacking tools and flattire in their proper locations.

EX modelUse the screwdriver to remove thecenter cap from the wheel beforestowing the flat tire.

Tool LocationsThe jack is stored in acompartment on the driver's siderear wheel panel.

To remove the jack from itscompartment, turn the handlecounterclockwise. Disconnect thehold-down strap.


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

Store the wheel, jack, andtools securely before driving.

Magesh

The tire wrench and jack handleare concealed under the right rearseat cushion.

UNDERSIDEOF RIGHT REARSEAT CUSHION

TIRE WRENCH AND JACK HANDLE

The screwdriver is stored in apouch under the left rear seatcushion.

Spare Tire RemovalLX modelThe spare tire is mounted on therear door. To remove it, unlockthe spare tire lock (if soequipped). Use the wheel wrenchto remove the retaining bolts.

When replacing the spare tire,make sure you put it on the carrierwith the outside of the wheelfacing out. Tighten the boltssecurely.

EX modelThe spare tire is stored under thecargo area floor. To lower it, openthe rear door. Insert the jackhandle between the body and thetop of the rear bumper. Insert theend of the jack handle into the slotin the tire winch, then turn thehandle counterclockwise to lowerthe tire. Lower the tire to theground, then remove the bracketin the center of the wheel.


Reverse this procedure to storethe spare tire. Connect the sparetire to the bracket with the outsideof the wheel facing up. Make surethe tire does not catch on any partof the underbody of the vehicle asyou are raising it, and that thespare tire is stored securely beforedriving.

If the engine overheats:The engine coolant temperaturegauge pointer will move up tothe " H" or higher.

Engine "ping" wi ll becomeexcessive.

Loss of engine power wi ll benoticed.

Either steam or boiling waterwill squirt out of the radiator.

If you find that the engine isoverheating:

Stop the vehicle, and turn onthe hazard warning lights.

If you see or hear steam orcoolant coming from theengine compartment, turn offthe engine immediately.

If you do not see or hear steamor spray, turn off the A/C (ifon) and run the engine at aspeed slightly higher than idlespeed (about 1,500 rpm) forseveral minutes. Watch thecoolant temperature gauge. If itremains at the " H " mark, turnoff the engine.

Open the hood only after allsigns of steam or hot coolantspray have stopped. Look forsigns of an obvious leak, suchas a split radiator hose. If you


Steam and spray from anoverheated engine canseriously scald you.

Do not open the hood if steamis coming out.

Engine Overheating

Magesh

find a leak, it must be repairedbefore you can continuedriving. (See Towing on page191.)

If you don't find an obviousleak, check the coolant level inthe radiator reserve tank. If thelevel is below the MIN mark, addcoolant to halfway between theMIN and MAX marks.

If there was no coolant in thereserve tank, you may alsohave to add coolant to theradiator.

Let the engine cool down untilthe pointer reaches the middleof the temperature gauge, orlower, before checking theradiator.

If needed, add coolant to theradiator to bring the level up tothe filler neck, and to thereservoir up to the levelindicated on the reservoir tank.

Proper equipment must be used toprevent damage to vehicles duringany towing. State and local lawsthat apply to vehicles in tow mustbe followed. Get detailed towinginstructions from your Hondadealer.

Should it become necessary totow your vehicle, follow thesedirections.

PrecautionsBefore towing, make sure thatthe power train, axle,transmission, wheels andsteering system are in goodcondition.

If any of these items aredamaged, a flatbed trailer mustbe used.


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

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

Towing

Magesh

Use only towing equipmentspecifically designed for thispurpose, following theinstructions of the equipmentmanufacturer. A separate safetychain system must be used.

For such towing, the parkingbrake must be released, thetransmission must be in neutraland the key switch turned tothe "OFF" position (not"LOCK").

Towing attachments must bemade to main structuralmembers of the vehicle. Do notattach to bumpers or associatedbrackets.

Remember that the powerbrake assist will not beavailable when the engine isinoperative.

Towing TipsAll Four Wheels on the Ground1. Transfer case in 2H (4WD

model only).

2. Transmission in Neutralposition.

3. Maximum speed 30 mph(50 km/h).

4. Maximum distance 50 miles(80 kilometers).

If you are towing the vehicle atdistances and speeds greater thanshown, disconnect the propellershaft from the rear axle carrier.On 4WD models, also disconnectthe front propeller shaft. Safelysecure the propeller shafts so theywill not fall and scrape theground.

Front Wheels off the Ground1. Transfer case in 2H (4WD

model only).




If you are towing the vehicle atdistances and speeds greater thanshown, disconnect the propellershaft from the rear axle carrier.Safely secure the propeller shaftso it wi ll not fall and scrape theground.


Rear Wheels off the Ground1. Transfer case in 2H (4WD

model only).




If you need to tow your vehicle bythis method, secure the steeringwheel to keep the front wheelspointed straight ahead. Do notrely on the steering column lock;it is not strong enough to hold thefront wheels straight whiletowing. The ignition switch mustbe in the OFF position.

Inoperative Electrical DevicesIf you have electrical problemswithout extreme damage to anyelectrical parts, check for burnedout fuses, broken wires, poorconnections or poor grounding.Correct as necessary.

The fuse boxes are located underthe left hand side of theinstrument panel and in the righthand side of the enginecompartment. (See "Fuses" onpage 240.)

Replacing a fuse with one that hasa higher rating greatly increasesthe chances of damaging theelectrical system. If you do nothave a replacement fuse with theproper rating for the circuit,install one with a lower rating.


NOTICE

user

Care and MaintenanceThis section explains why it isimportant to keep your vehiclewell maintained and to followbasic maintenance safetyprecautions.

This section also includesMaintenance Schedules fornormal driving and severe drivingconditions, a MaintenanceRecord, and instructions forsimple maintenance tasks youmay want to take care of yourself.

If you have the skills and toolsrequired to perform more complexmaintenance tasks on your Honda,you may want to purchase theService Manual. See page 253 forinformation on how to obtain acopy, or see your Honda dealer.

Service Station Information . 197Fuel Fill Cap . . . . . . . . . . 197Fuel Recommendation . . . 198Fuel Tank Capacity . . . . . 198Engine OilRecommendation . . . . . . 198

Windshield Washer . . . . . 198Tire Inflation Pressures . . 198Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198Hood Release . . . . . . . . . . 199Engine Oil Dipstick . . . . . 200

Fuel Requirements . . . . . . . . 200Oxygenated Fuels . . . . . . 200

Maintenance Safety . . . . . . . 201Important SafetyPrecautions . . . . . . . . . . 202

Maintenance Schedule . . . . . 203Required Maintenance Record 206Owner Safety Checks . . . . . . 208Engine Oil and Filter . . . . . . 211

Proper Quality Oil . . . . . . 211

Change Interval . . . . . . . . 211Oil Change . . . . . . . . . . . 212

Oil Filter Installation . 212Oil Viscosity . . . . . . . . . . 213Oil Level Check . . . . . . . 213Engine Oil Additives . . . 214

Air Cleaner Filter . . . . . . . . 214Manual Transmission Fluid 215Automatic Transmission

Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216Front (4WD) and

Rear Axles . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216Engine Cooling System . . . 217Other Required Maintenance 219

Brake Master Cylinder . . 219Shift-on-the-Fly System . 220Front Wheel Bearings . . . 220Hood Latch and Hinges . 221Air Conditioning . . . . . . . 221Body Lubrication . . . . . . 221

Care and Maintenance

Front (4WD Only) andRear Propeller Shaft . . . 222

Exhaust System . . . . . . . 222Fuel Line and FuelTank/Cap . . . . . . . . . . . . 222

Drive Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . 222Timing Belt . . . . . . . . . . . 222Valve Clearance . . . . . . . . 222Spark Plugs . . . . . . . . . . . 223Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223Fluid or Lubricant Levels 223Power Steering . . . . . . . . 223Wheel Alignment . . . . . . 224

Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224Washing Your Vehicle . . 224Polishing and WaxingYour Vehicle . . . . . . . . . 224

Protection of ExteriorBright Metal Parts . . . . 224

Care of Aluminum Wheels 224

Foreign Material Deposits 224Finish Damage . . . . . . . . 225Corrosion Protection . . . . 225Sheet Metal Damage . . . . 225Underbody Maintenance . 225

Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226Basic StepsBefore Cleaning . . . . . . 226

Cleaning Fabric . . . . . . . . 227Cleaning General Soilageor Water Spots FromFabric Trim . . . . . . . . 227

Spot Cleaning FabricWith Solvent Cleaner 227

Removal ofSpecific Stains . . . . . . 228

Cleaning Vinylor Leather Trim . . . . . . . 229

Seat Belt Care . . . . . . . . . 229Cleaning Glass Surfaces . 230


Service Station InformationFuel Fill CapTo remove the fuel f i ll cap, turn itcounterclockwise. To close the fi llcap, turn it clockwise until youhear it click at least three times.Put the fuel f i ll cap in the capholder while refueling.

If you need a replacement, use onlya genuine Honda fuel f i l l cap. Animproper fuel f i l l cap can affect thefuel system, the emissions system,and allow fuel spillage.


Component Locations

CLUTCH MASTERCYLINDERRESERVOIR

POWERSTEERINGRESERVOIR.

BRAKE MASTERCYLINDERRESERVOIR

ENGINE OILFILLER CAP

ENGINEOIL DIPSTICK

WINDSHIELDWASHERRESERVOIR

RADIATORRESERVETANK

BATTERY RADIATOR CAP AIR CLEANER

Fuel RecommendationUse only unleaded gasoline. Foradditional information see "FuelRequirements" in this section.

Fuel Tank Capacity19.5 U.S. gallons (75 liters)

Engine OH RecommendationUse only SJ quality oil.The chart shown under "EngineOil and Filter" in this section willserve as a guide for choosing theproper viscosity oil.

Windshield WasherCheck the reservoir fluid levelregularly. Use a commerciallyavailable windshield washer fluid.

The windshield washer reservoiris located on the front right side ofthe engine compartment.

Tire Inflation PressuresCheck at least monthly, includingthe spare. Keep inflated to thepressure shown on the tire placardon the driver's doorjamb.

LABEL

BatteryYour new vehicle has a lowmaintenance battery.

CHARGE TEST INDICATOR

BLUE COLORLESS

You will never have to add water.The hydrometer (test indicator) inthe top of the battery providesinformation for testing purposesonly.

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


UPPER LEVEL

LOWER LEVEL

CHARGINGNECESSARYOK

Hood ReleaseThe hood release lever is on theleft side of the instrument panel.

To Open1. Pull the lever to release the

hood lock.

2. Lift the under-hood leverwhile lifting the hood slightly.

3. Raise the hood, and hold itopen with the hood supportrod in the hole on the rightside of the hood.


To Close

1. Lift the hood slightly to removetension from the support rod.

2. Place the support rod in itsretaining clip and lower thehood.

Always make sure the hood issecurely latched before you begindriving.

Engine Oil DipstickCheck the oil level when theengine is off and the oil is warm,such as during a fuel stop. Seepage 213.

Your Honda operates mosteffectively on unleaded gasolinewith a pump octane number of 86or higher. Use of a lower octanegasoline can cause a persistent,heavy metallic rapping noise inthe engine that can lead tomechanical damage.We recommend gasolines containingdetergent additives that help preventfuel system and engine deposits.Using gasoline containing lead willdamage your vehicle's emissioncontrols. This contributes to airpollution and can void certain partsof your warranty.

Oxygenated FuelsSome conventional gasolines arebeing blended with alcohol or anether compound. These gasolinesare collectively referred to asoxygenated fuels. To meet clean air


Fuel Requirements

standards, 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,try to confirm the fuel's contents.Some states/provinces require thisinformation to be posted on thepump.

The following are the EPA-approvedpercentages of oxygenates:

ETHANOL (ethyl or grain alcohol).You may use gasoline containing upto 10% ethanol by volume. Gasolinecontaining ethanol may be marketedunder the name "Gasohol."

MTBE (Methyl Tertiary ButylEther). You may use gasolinecontaining up to 15% MTBE byvolume.

METHANOL (methyl or woodalcohol). Your vehicle was notdesigned to use fuel that containsmethanol. Methanol can corrodemetal parts in the fuel system, andalso damage plastic and rubbercomponents. This damage would notbe covered by your 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 containingmore than the percentages ofoxygenates given above are notcovered under warranty.

Regularly maintaining yourvehicle is the best way to protectyour investment. Propermaintenance is essential to yoursafety and the safety of yourpassengers. It will also rewardyou with more economical,trouble-free driving and helpreduce air pollution.


Improperly maintaining thisvehicle or failing to correct aproblem before driving cancause a crash in which youcan be seriously hurt or killed.

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

Maintenance Safety

Magesh

This section includes instructionsfor simple maintenance tasks,such as checking and adding oil.Any service items not detailed inthis section should be performedby a Honda technician or otherqualified mechanic.

Some of the most important safetyprecautions are given below.However, we cannot warn you ofevery conceivable hazard that canarise in performing maintenance.Only you can decide whether ornot you should perform a giventask.

Important Safety PrecautionsBefore you begin anymaintenance, make sure yourvehicle is parked on level groundand that the parking brake is on.Also, be sure the engine is off.This wi ll help to eliminate severalpotential 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 unlessinstructed to do so.

Read the instructions before youbegin, and make sure you havethe tools and skills required.

To reduce the possibility of fire orexplosion, be careful whenworking around gasoline orbatteries. Use a commerciallyavailable degreaser or partscleaner, not gasoline, to cleanparts. Keep cigarettes, sparks, andflames away from the battery andall fuel-related parts.

You should wear eye protectionand protective clothing whenworking near the battery or whenusing compressed air.


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

Always follow the proceduresand precautions in this owner'smanual.

Magesh

Maintenance ScheduleThe Maintenance Schedulespecifies how often you shouldhave your vehicle serviced andwhat things need attention. It isessential that you have yourvehicle serviced as scheduled toretain its high level of safety,dependability, and emissioncontrol performance.

The services and time or distanceintervals shown in themaintenance schedule assume youwi ll use your vehicle as normaltransportation. You should:

Avoid exceeding your vehicle'sload limit. This puts excessstress on the engine, brakes, andmany other parts of your vehicle.The load limit is shown on thelabel on the driver's doorjamb.

Operate your vehicle onreasonable roads within thelegal speed limit.

Drive your vehicle regularly overa distance of several miles(kilometers).

Always use unleaded gasolinewith the proper octane rating(see page 200).

Your authorized Honda dealerknows your vehicle best and canprovide competent, efficientservice. However, service at adealer is not mandatory to keepyour warranties in effect.Maintenance may be done by anyqualified service facility or personwho is skilled in this type ofautomotive service. Keep all thereceipts as proof of completion,and have the person who does thework f i l l out the Maintenance

Record. Check your warrantybooklet for more information.

We recommend the use ofGenuine Honda parts and fluidswhenever you have maintenancedone. These are manufactured tothe same high-quality standards asthe original components, so youcan be confident of theirperformance and durability.

U.S. Vehicles:Maintenance, replacement or repairof emission control devices andsystems may be done by anyautomotive repair establishment orindividual using parts that are"certified" to EPA standards.


Maintenance ScheduleR - Replace L - Lube I - Inspect After inspection, clean, adjust, repair or replace if necessary.

Check oil and coolant level at each fuel stop. Inspect monthly:Under severe driving conditions, service these items more often. -These fluids: brake, clutch, P/S, battery, ATF,

* 1 Using SAE 10W-40 oil, or any viscosity other than those recommended, may reduce engine life and affect the warranty. windshield washer

* 2 This service is recommended only. - Tire pressure


R — Replace L — Lube I — Inspect After inspection, clean, adjust, repair or replace if necessary.

Check oil and coolant level at each fuel stop.Under severe driving conditions, service these items more often. These conditions are: Service for severe driving conditions

Repeated short trips in cold weather Frequent idling and/or frequent low-speed operation Change engine oil and filter - Every 3,750 miles (6,000 km)Driving in dusty areas Towing a trailer or 3 months

Change rear axle oil - Every 15,000 miles (24,000 km)


Required Maintenance RecordHave your servicing dealer record all Required Maintenance below. Keep receipts for all work done on your car.


Non-Scheduled Maintenance RecordRecord additional maintenance for severe driving conditions or non-scheduled maintenance on this page (see pages 204-205).


Promptly take any safetyproblems to your Honda dealerfor service advice.

Parking brake — Park on a fairlysteep hill and hold the vehiclewith the parking brake only. Thischecks its holding ability.

Starter safety switch (automatictransmission) — Check the safetyswitch by trying to start theengine in each gear. The startershould work only with the shiftlever in the "P" (Park) or " N"(Neutral) position.

Starter safety switch (manualtransmission) — To check thesafety switch, place the shift leverin "Neutral," push the clutchpedal halfway and try to start theengine. The starter should notwork. The starter should work

only when the clutch pedal is fullydepressed.

Transmission shift indicator(automatic transmission) —Check that the indicator points tothe gear chosen.

Steering — Be alert for anychanges in steering action. Aninspection or service is neededwhen the steering wheel is harderto turn or has too much free play,or if there are unusual soundswhen turning or parking.

Wheel alignment, balance andtires — Uneven or abnormal tirewear, or pulling to the right or lefton a straight and level road mayshow the need for a wheelalignment. A vibration of thesteering wheel or seat at normalhighway speeds means wheel

balancing is needed. Check tirepressures (including the spare) atleast monthly and whenever thevehicle is serviced (see page 163).

Brakes — Watch for the"BRAKE" light coming on. Othersigns of possible brake trouble aresuch things as repeated pulling toone side when braking, unusualsounds when braking or betweenbrake applications, or increasedbrake pedal travel. If you note oneof these conditions, have thesystem checked at once andrepaired if needed.


Owner Safety Checks

Sit in the driver's seat andperform these checks:

1. With the engine stopped,depress the brake pedal severaltimes; the travel distance andeffective pedal stroke shouldremain unchanged.

2. Start the engine with the brakepedal fully depressed.The brake pedal should go downa little as the engine starts.

3. Depress the brake pedal, stopthe engine and hold the pedaldepressed for about 30seconds; the brake pedalshould remain in positionwithout rising or going down.

4. Restart the engine and run itfor about a minute, then turn itoff and depress the brakepedal firmly several times; thebrake pedal travel should

decrease each time the brakepedal is depressed.

If the brakes do not operatenormally, have them checked andcorrected by your Honda dealer.

Exhaust system — Be alert to anychanges in the sound of the exhaustsystem or any smell of fumes.These are signs the system may beleaking or overheating. Have thesystem checked and/or repaired atonce if these conditions exist. (Alsosee "Carbon Monoxide Hazard" inthe "Driver and Passenger Safety"section and "Three-Way CatalyticConverter" in the "Driving Tips"section.)

Windshield wipers andwashers — Check the operationand condition of the wiper blades.Check the flow and aim of thewasher spray.

Defrosters — Check performanceby moving the controls to thedefrost setting and noting theamount of air directed against thewindshield.

Rear view mirrors and sunvisors — Check that the frictionjoints hold the mirrors and sunvisors firmly in place.

Horn — Blow the horn now andthen to be sure it works.

Lap and shoulder belts — Checkthe belt system, includingwebbing, buckles, latch plates,retractors, guide loops andanchors for proper operation anddamage.

Seat adjusters — When adjustinga seat, be sure the seat adjusterslatch securely by pushing the seatforward and backward.


Seat-back latches — Seat-backlatches are designed to preventforward motion of the seat-backwhen the vehicle stops suddenly.Check to see that the seat-backlatches are holding by pullingforward on the top of the foldingseat-back.Also check to see that thereclining seats are operatingproperly.

Lights and beepers — Checkpanel lighting, warning lights, andthe seat belt reminder light andbeeper. Also check the key beeperand interior lights. On the outside,check the license plate light, sidemarker lights, headlights, parkinglights, taillights, brake lights, turnsignals, backup lights and hazardwarning flashers. Have theheadlight aim checked promptly if

the beams seem to be aimedimproperly.

Glass — Check for broken,scratched or damaged glass thatcould reduce visibility or causeinjury.

Door latches — Check that thedoors close, latch and locksecurely.

Hood latch — Check that thehood closes firmly. Check forbroken, damaged, or missing partsthat might prevent securelatching. Make sure the secondarylatch keeps the hood fromopening all the way when firstreleased.

Fluid leaks — Check for fuel,water, oil or other fluid leaks bylooking at the surface beneath thevehicle after it has been parkedfor awhile. Water dripping fromthe air conditioning system afteruse is normal. If you noticegasoline fumes or fluid at anytime, locate the source and have itcorrected at once.

Spare tire and jack — Check thatthe spare tire and all jack gear aresecurely stowed at all times.

Tailgate latch — Check that thetailgate closes, latches and lockssecurely.


Underbody — Corrosivematerials used for road-ice, snowremoval and dust control cancollect on the underbody. If thesematerials are not removed,accelerated corrosion (rust) canoccur on underbody parts such asthe fuel line, frame, floor pan andexhaust system. At least once ayear, in the spring, flush thesematerials from the underbodywith plain water.

Take care to thoroughly clean anyareas where mud and other debriscan collect. Sediment trapped inclosed areas of the frame shouldbe loosened before being flushed.

Proper Quality OilEngine oils are labeled on thecontainers with various API(American Petroleum Institute)designations of quality.

Use Only SJ Quality OilAdditional designations of qualitymay also be present, but SJ mustbe included.

The "SJ" designation may beshown alone, or in combinationwith other designations, such as"SJ/CC," "SJ/CD," or "SJ, CC"etc.

As long as the letters "SJ" appearsomewhere in the designation ofoil quality indicated on thecontainer, the oil is of suitablequality.

Change IntervalThe oil and filter change intervalsfor your engine are based on theuse of the recommended oilquality and viscosity, as well ashigh-quality filters. Using oilsother than recommended, orextending oil change intervalslonger than those recommended,could reduce engine life.

Your engine was filled with ahigh-quality engine oil when itleft the factory. You do not haveto change this oil before thesuggested change period.

If your normal driving does notinclude one or more of the "severedriving" conditions listed below,change the oil every 7,500 miles(12,000 kilometers) or 6 months,whichever comes first.


Engine Oil and Filter

Change the oil and oil filter every3,750 miles (6,000 kilometers) orevery three months if you driveunder one or more of these"severe driving" conditions:

Driving in dusty areas

Towing a trailer

Frequent idling or idling forlong periods

Frequent short trips (4 miles [6kilometers] or less) in cold orfreezing weather, where theengine does not thoroughlywarm up.

Change the oil and oil filter assoon as possible after driving ina dust storm.

Oil ChangeChanging the oil and filter requiresspecial tools and access fromunderneath the vehicle. The vehicleshould be raised on a servicestation-type hydraulic lift for thisservice. Unless you have theknowledge and proper equipment,you should have this maintenancedone by a skilled mechanic.

1. Warm up the engine. Thismakes the oil drain faster andmore thoroughly.

2. Remove the oil filler cap.

3. Remove the drain plug anddrain oil fully.

4. Install the drain plug, with anew gasket, and tighten it.

5. Fill the engine with the properamount of new oil (see"Specifications").

Oil Filter Installation1. Remove the old oil filter with

the filter wrench.

2. Apply a light coat of engineoil to the oil filter gasket.

3. Hand-tighten the filter untilthe gasket contacts the sealingface.

4. Using the filter wrench,tighten the filter one full turn.

5. Run the engine and inspect forleaks.

6. Shut off the engine. After acouple of minutes, check theoil level. If necessary, add oilto bring it to the FULL mark.

An improperly installed oil filtercan result in severe enginedamage.


NOTICE

Oil ViscosityEngine oil viscosity (thickness) hasan effect on fuel economy. Lowerviscosity engine oils can provideincreased fuel economy; however,higher temperature weatherconditions require higher viscosityengine oils for satisfactorylubrication. To get the best fueleconomy with your vehicle, youshould use a fuel-saving engine oilof the proper viscosity. These oilscan be found in service stations and

other retail stores. They areidentified by words such as"Energy Saving," "ConservesGasoline," "Gas Saving,""Gasoline Saving," "FrictionReducing," "Improved GasolineMileage" or "Fuel Saving."

The chart lists the recommendedengine oil viscosities for thetemperature range you expectbefore the next oil change. Fortemperatures above 0°F ( — 18°C),SAE 10W-30 is the preferred

viscosity grade. If cold-weatherstarting problems are encounteredat temperatures below 0°F( — 18°C), SAE 5W-30 viscosityoils may be required.

Oil Level CheckIt is the owner's responsibility tokeep the engine oil at the properlevel. Check the oil level at regularintervals (such as every other fuelstop) and keep it above the"minimum" level mark.

Remember, your engine may usemore oil when it is new.The best time to check the engineoil level is when the oil is warm,such as during a fuel stop. Shut offthe engine and wait about 5 minutesfor the oil to drain back to the oilpan. Pull out the dipstick, wipe itclean, and push it back down all theway. Now pull out the dipstick and


look at the oil level on the dipstick.The dipstick has two markingswhich indicate the minimum andmaximum allowable oil level. If theoil level is lower than the markedarea, it indicates the need foradditional oil. Push the dipstickback down all the way after takingthe reading.

If you check the oil level whenthe oil is cold, do not run theengine first. The cold oil willnot drain into the pan fastenough to give a true reading.

Engine Oil AdditivesThere are many extra engine oiladditives for sale. Your engineshould not need these extraadditives if you use recommendedquality engine oil and change it assuggested. If you think yourengine has an oil-related problem,talk to your Honda dealer.

Air Cleaner FilterSee your Maintenance Schedule forchange intervals. If the vehicle isoperated in dusty areas it willrequire more frequent elementreplacement. Your Honda dealercan be of assistance in determiningthe proper replacement frequencyfor the conditions under which youoperate your vehicle.

Do not attempt to clean the airfilter. The filter is designed toprovide normal filteringefficiency between replacementintervals.

For maximum protection, it isadvisable to use genuine Honda aircleaner filters as replacements.


Never run the engine with the aircleaner filter removed. If theengine should backfire, it couldpossibly cause an enginecompartment fire.

Be sure to reinstall the air cleanerfilter and assembly correctly. If itis installed incorrectly, enginedamage could result.

Manual Transmission FluidSee the Maintenance Schedule tofind out how often the lubricantlevel should be checked.

Check that the fluid level reachesthe plug hole by removing thefiller plug on the transmission andtransfer case. If the fluid level islow, refill the case up to the fillerplug hole.

Use a high-quality engine oillabeled SG or SF that is of thecorrect viscosity for existingambient temperatures as follows.

(2WD)OIL FILL PLUG

DRAIN PLUG

DRAIN PLUG


(4WD)RIGHT SIDE

LEFT SIDE OIL FILL PLUG

Automatic Transmission FluidProper Fluid

Have the fluid level in theautomatic transmission checkedduring the regularly scheduledmaintenance at your Hondadealer.

If you suspect an automatictransmission fluid leak, take thevehicle to your Honda dealer forinspection and repair.Transmission damage could resultif you let the fluid level get toolow.

Drain IntervalsThe automatic transmission draininterval is not time or mileagedependent. It wi ll vary accordingto your driving habits and vehicleusage.

Your dealer wi ll check thetransmission fluid's condition andlife expectancy during regularlyscheduled maintenance, andinform you at what mileage itshould be changed.

Front (4WD)and Rear AxlesSee the Maintenance ScheduleList to determine how often thelubricant should be changed. Addlubricant, if needed, by filling tothe level of the filler plug hole.Use GL-5 gear lubricant of theproper viscosity as shown in thechart.

If your vehicle is equipped withthe optional limited slipdifferential (on the rear axle), useGL-5 Limited Slip DifferentialGear Lubricant together withLimited Slip Differential GearLubricant Additive (Part No.8-01052-358-0) or equivalent.Use the correct viscosity for theexisting ambient temperatures.


The engine cooling system isdesigned to maintain the engine atthe proper operating temperatures.The cooling system was filled atthe factory with a quality enginecoolant. The engine cooling systemis designed to use coolant (amixture of water and ethyleneglycol antifreeze) rather than plainwater. The engine coolant solutionshould be used year-round. It hasmany advantages such as:

provides freezing protection aslowas-33°F(-36°C)provides boiling protection upto262°F(128°C)protects against rust andcorrosion in the cooling systemmaintains the proper enginetemperature for efficientoperation and emission controlallows proper operation of theengine coolant temperature gauge

See the Maintenance Schedule inthis section to find out when theengine coolant must be replaced.

Checking the Coolant LevelCheck the engine coolant level atthe interval shown in theMaintenance Schedule unless thereis evidence of leaking oroverheating. The engine coolantlevel should be between themaximum and the minimum levelmarks on the radiator reserve tank.


Recommended Lubricant

Engine Cooling System

You usually do not need to removethe radiator cap to check the enginecoolant level.

Adding Engine CoolantTo add engine coolant, remove thecap on the radiator reserve tankand f i ll the tank up to themaximum level mark. Add a50/50 mixture of water and a goodquality ethylene glycol antifreeze.

If you need to add engine coolantfrequently, see your Honda dealerfor a cooling system check.

If the proper quality antifreezeis used, there is no need to addextra inhibitors or additives. Theymay be harmful to the properoperation of the system.

Cooling System ServiceThe cooling system should beserviced at the intervals specifiedin the Maintenance Schedule asfollows:

Wash the radiator cap and fillerneck with clean water.

Check the engine coolant levelin the radiator and have it testedfor freeze protection. Addethylene glycol antifreeze, ifneeded, to maintain freezeprotection at -33°F (-36°C).

Have the cooling system andradiator cap tested for apressure capacity of 15 psi (105kPa). If a replacement cap isneeded, use a cap specified foryour model.

Tighten all radiator and heaterhose clamps and inspect allhoses. Replace the hoses if theyare swollen, "checked," orotherwise worn. Carefullytighten the hose clamps at theradiator. Overtightening couldbend or collapse the radiatorfittings.

Clean the front of the radiatorcore and air conditioningcondenser.

It is the owner's responsibility to:Maintain the cooling systemfreeze protection at -33°F


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

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

Magesh

(-36°C) to ensure protectionagainst corrosion and loss ofengine coolant from boiling.This should be done even iffreezing temperatures are notexpected.

Add ethylene glycol-basedantifreeze when antifreeze hasto be added because of enginecoolant loss or if moreprotection against freezing attemperatures lower than -33°F(-36°C) is needed. Do not usean alcohol-based ormethanol-based antifreeze, orplain water. They boil at alower point, and do not providecorrosion protection.

ThermostatThe engine coolant temperature iscontrolled by a thermostat, whichstops engine coolant flow throughthe radiator until a presettemperature is reached. Thisthermostat is installed in theengine coolant inlet on the frontof the engine block. The samethermostat is used in both winterand summer.

Other RequiredMaintenanceBrake Master CylinderCheck the master cylinder fluidlevel in the reservoir every timeyou check the engine oil level.

The level should be between theMAX and ADD level line. If thelevel is lower than the ADD levelline, f i ll to the MAX level linewith DOT-3 or DOT-4 fluid.


If the diaphragm inside thereservoir cap is deformed, returnit to the original (collapsed)condition, then tighten the cap.

It is normal for the brake fluidlevel to go down slightly as thefront brake pads wear. So be sureto keep the reservoir fluid at theproper level.

If the reservoir needs frequentrefilling, it may indicate a seriousmechanical problem.

Brake fluid absorbs water fromthe air. Never use brake fluid thathas been open to the air for anextended period. Throw it awayand use new brake fluid from asealed container.

Brake fluid can damage yourvehicle's paint. Thoroughly cleanup any brake fluid spills.

Shift-on-the-Fly SystemThe fluid level in the system shouldbe checked at the intervals shownin the Maintenance Schedule.

FILLERPLUG

Remove the filler plug and makesure the fluid level is up to theedge of the hole. If it is not, addGL-5 gear oil to bring to thatlevel. Use the same GL-5 gear oilspecified for the front axle (seepage 216).

Front Wheel BearingsClean and repack the front wheelbearings whenever the front brakepads are replaced. Due to theweight of the tire and wheelassembly it is recommended thatthey be removed from the hubbefore lubricating the bearings toprevent damage to the oil seal.

"Long Fiber" grease should not beused to lubricate the wheel bearings.It can cause damage. Clean the oldgrease out of the bearings and hubsbefore repacking.


NOTICE

Hood Latch and HingesLubricate the hood latch assemblyand hood hinge assembly asfollows:

1. Wipe off any accumulation ofdirt or contamination on thelatch parts.

2. Apply multipurpose-typegrease (NLGI No. 1 or 2) tothe hood latch pin cam.

3. Apply light engine oil to allpivot points in the releasemechanism.

4. Lubricate hood hinges withmultipurpose-type grease(NLGI No. 1 or 2).

5. Check the hood hinges andlatch mechanism to assurethey are working correctly.

Air ConditioningPeriodically have your Hondadealer check your air conditioningsystem to be sure there has beenno loss in cooling output. Seeyour Honda dealer if you suspectthat the system is not performingas it should.

Body LubricationNormal use of a vehicle causesmetal-to-metal movement at certainpoints in the body. Noise, wear andimproper operation at these pointswill result when a protective filmof lubricant is not provided.

For exposed surfaces such as doorchecks, door lock bolts, lockstriker plates, etc., apply a thinfilm of light engine oil.

Any lubricant should be usedsparingly. After application, all

excess lubricant should becarefully wiped off.

The seat adjusters and seat trackshould be lubricated with water-resistant EP chassis lubricant.

There are other points on thevehicle body which mayoccasionally require lubrication.Window regulators and controlsare confined in the space betweenthe upholstery and the outsidedoor panel. Easy access to theworking parts may be made byremoving the trim. Doorweatherstrips and rubber hoodbumpers should be lightly coatedwith a rubber lubricant.


Front (4WD Only) and RearPropeller ShaftLubricate the sliding yoke withEP chassis grease. Lubricateuniversal joints with greasecontaining MoS2 (molybdenumdisulfide-type grease) at theintervals shown in theMaintenance Schedule. Alsocheck the propeller shaftflange-to-pinion bolts for propertorque of 64 N.m (46.3 Ib-ft).

Most lubrication recommendationsand procedures for four-wheel drive-equipped vehicles are the samefor the corresponding componentsin conventional drive vehicles.

Exhaust SystemCheck the complete exhaustsystem and nearby body areas fordamaged, missing, ormispositioned parts, open seams,

holes, loose connections, or otherdeterioration that could allowexhaust fumes to seep into thepassenger compartment or causeheat build-up in the floor pan. Anynecessary corrections should bemade immediately. For continuedsafety, exhaust system pipes andresonators rearward of the mufflermust be replaced whenever a newmuffler is installed.

Fuel Line and Fuel Tank/CapInspect the fuel tank, cap and linesfor damage that could causeleakage. Inspect the fuel cap andgasket for correct sealing abilityand indications of physicaldamage. Replace any damaged ormalfunctioning parts.

Drive BeltCheck the belt driving thealternator, power steering pump,and air conditioning compressor.

Look for cracks, fraying, andwear. Replace as necessary.

Timing BeltThe timing belt should normallybe replaced at the intervals shownin the Maintenance Schedule.

Valve ClearanceIncorrect valve clearance wi llresult in increased engine noiseand lower engine output, therebyadversely affecting engineperformance.


Spark PlugsReplace the spark plugs with thetype specified in the "TechnicalData" section.

ClutchCheck the clutch play at the pedal.Lubricate the clutch pedal bushingand clevis pin, at the intervalsshown in the MaintenanceSchedule, with water-resistantchassis lubricant. If you hear asqueaking noise coming from thearea of the bushing or clevis pin atthe clutch pedal arm when theclutch pedal is depressed,lubricate it with water-resistant EPchassis grease.

Check the fluid level in the clutchreservoir at the interval shown inthe Maintenance Schedule. If thefluid is low in the reservoir, it

should be filled to the maximumlevel line with DOT-3 or DOT-4fluid.

Fluid or Lubricant LevelsCheck the fluid or lubricant levelin the brake master cylinder,clutch master cylinder, powersteering reservoir, rear axle,engine and transmission,windshield washer reservoir andengine coolant at specifiedintervals.

Power SteeringCheck the fluid level in the powersteering fluid reservoir asrecommended in the MaintenanceSchedule. The fluid level shouldbe between the "MIN" and"MAX" marks on the reservoir.

Use only automatic transmissionfluid labeled DEXRON III.


Wheel AlignmentProper wheel alignment improvestire mileage. Your vehicle'ssuspension parts should beinspected often and aligned whenneeded (see the "Technical Data"section). Improper alignment willcause the front tires to roll at anangle that wi ll result in faster tirewear.

Proper tire balancing provides thebest riding comfort and helpsreduce tire tread wear.Out-of-balance tires can causeannoying vibration and uneventire wear such as cupping and flatspots.

ExteriorWashing Your VehicleThe best way to preserve yourvehicle's finish is to keep it clean byfrequent washings. Wash the vehiclewith lukewarm or cold water.

Do not use hot water or wash indirect sunlight. Do not use strongsoap or chemical detergents. A l lcleaning agents should be promptlyflushed from the surface and notallowed to dry on the finish.

Polishing and WaxingYour VehiclePolishing is recommended toremove accumulated residue andeliminate any "weathered"appearance.

Your Honda dealer offers severalpolishes and cleaners that haveproven to maintain the originalfinish appearance and durability.

Protection of ExteriorBright Metal PartsBright metal parts should be cleanedregularly to keep their luster.Washing with water is all that isusually needed. However, chromepolish may be used on chrome orstainless steel trim, if necessary. Acoating of wax, rubbed to a highpolish, is recommended for all brightmetal parts.

Care of Aluminum WheelsAluminum wheels have aclear-coat finish similar to paint.Use a chamois skin, sponge orother soft material when washingthe wheels.

Foreign Material DepositsCalcium chloride and other salts,ice melting agents, road oil andtar, tree sap, bird droppings,


chemicals from industrialchimneys, and other foreignmatter may damage your vehicle'sfinish if allowed to remain onpainted surfaces.

Prompt washing may notcompletely remove all of thesedeposits. Additional cleaners maybe needed. When using chemicalcleaners developed for thispurpose, be certain they are safefor use on painted surfaces.

Finish DamageAny stone chips, fractures or deepscratches in the finish should berepaired promptly. Exposed metalwi ll corrode quickly and maydevelop into a major repairexpense. Minor chips and scratchescan be repaired using touch-upmaterials available from yourHonda dealer.

Corrosion ProtectionYour vehicle has been designedand built to resist corrosion.Special materials and protectivefinishes were applied to mostparts of your vehicle when it wasbuilt to help maintain its goodlooks, strength and reliableoperation. However, some partsthat are normally not visible (suchas certain parts under the vehicleand under the hood) are strongenough so that surface rust wi llnot affect their reliability. Socorrosion protection is not neededor used on these parts. Byomitting unneeded rust protectionon such parts and applying extraprotection where it is neededmost, the best value is assured forthe vehicle buyer.

Sheet Metal DamageIf your vehicle is damaged andrequires sheet metal repair orreplacement, make sure the bodyrepair shop applies anti-corrosionmaterial to the parts repaired orreplaced so that corrosionprotection is restored. (Also see"Finish Damage.")

Underbody MaintenanceCorrosive materials used for iceand snow removal and dustcontrol can collect on theunderbody. If these materials arenot removed, acceleratedcorrosion (rust) can occur onunderbody parts such as fuel lines,frame, floor pan, and exhaustsystem even though they have


been coated with corrosionprotectants.

At least every spring, flush thesematerials from the underbodywith plain water. Take care tothoroughly clean any areas wheremud and other debris can collect.Sediment packed in closed areasof the frame should be loosenedbefore being flushed.

With the use of modern trimmaterials it is very important thatproper cleaning techniques andcleaners be used. Failure to dothis on the first cleaning mayresult in water spots, spot rings orsetting of stains, all of whichmake it more difficult to removeon a second cleaning.

The portion of the followingcleaning instructions that are inALL CAPITAL LETTERS areespecially important and MUSTbe followed.

Dust and loose dirt thataccumulate on interior fabricsshould be removed often with avacuum cleaner or soft brush.Vinyl or leather trim should bewiped regularly with a cleandamp cloth. Normal trim soil,spots or stains can be cleaned withconventional cleaners.

Remember These Basic StepsBefore Cleaning1. Remove stains as quickly as

possible before they become"set."

2. Use a clean cloth or spongeand change to a clean areaoften. (A SOFT brush may beused if stains persist.)

3. Use solvent-type cleaners onlyin a well ventilated area; also,do not saturate the stainedarea.

4. If a ring forms after spotcleaning, clean the entire areaIMMEDIATELY.

5. Follow specific instructions onthe cleaning products' labels.


Interior

Cleaning FabricCleaning General Soilage orWater Spots From Fabric Trim

Multipurpose powdered cleaner isexcellent for this type of cleaningand for cleaning panel sectionswhere small cleaning rings maybe left from spot cleaning.

Vacuum the area thoroughly toremove loose dirt.

ALWAYS clean a full trimassembly or complete trimsection. Mask surrounding trimalong stitch or welt-lines.

Mix the multipurposepowdered cleaner in strictaccordance with the directionson the label of its container.Mix in proportion for smallerquantities.

USE SUDS ONLY ON ACLEAN SPONGE OR SOFTBRISTLE BRUSH. DO NOTSATURATE FABRIC OR RUBHARSHLY WITH THEBRUSH.

IMMEDIATELY AFTERCLEANING, WIPE OFFEXCESS CLEANER WITH ASLIGHTLY DAMP ABSORBENTTOWEL OR CLOTH.

IMMEDIATELY AFTERWIPING, FORCE-DRY THEFABRIC WITH AN AIR HOSE,HEAT DRYER, OR HEATLAMP. Use caution if you areusing a heat dryer or heat lampso you do not damage thefabric.

When trim materials that have asheen or lustrous finish are dry,wipe them with a soft, cleancloth to restore the sheen.

Spot Cleaning FabricWith Solvent Cleaner

Before trying to remove a spot orstain from fabric, determine asaccurately as you can what kind ofspot or stain it is and how long ithas been there. Some spots orstains can be removed with wateror mild soap solution (see"Removal of Specific Stains").Spots or stains should always beremoved as soon as possible.

Some types of stains or soilage,such as lipstick, inks and grease,are very difficult (sometimesimpossible) to completely remove.When cleaning this type of stain orsoilage be sure not to enlarge thesoiled area. Fabric cleaner (solventtype) is excellent for spot-cleaninggrease, oil or fat stains.


Gently scrape the stain off trimmaterial with a clean, DULLknife or scraper. USE VERYLITTLE CLEANER, lightpressure, and a clean cloth(preferably cheesecloth).Cleaning should be from theoutside of the stain,"FEATHERING" towards thecenter. Keep changing to a cleansection of the cloth.

When the stain is cleaned fromthe fabric, immediately dry thearea with an air hose, heat dryeror heat lamp to help prevent acleaning ring. (Use caution witha heat dryer or lamp to preventdamage to fabric.)

If a ring forms, immediatelyrepeat the cleaning operationover a slightly larger area withemphasis on "FEATHERING"towards its center. If a ring still

remains, mask off surroundingtrim sections and clean the entireaffected area with amultipurpose powered cleaner(as described under "CleaningGeneral Soilage or Water SpotsFrom Fabric Trim").

Removal of Specific Stains

Grease or Oil StainsThese include grease, oil, butter,margarine, shoe polish, coffeewith cream, chewing gum,cosmetic creams, vegetable oils,wax crayon, tar and asphalts.

Carefully scrape off excessstain; then use fabric cleaner(solvent type) as previouslydescribed.

Shoe polish, wax crayons, tarand asphalt wi ll stain if allowedto remain on trim; they shouldbe removed as soon as possible.Use caution as cleaner wi lldissolve them and may causethem to "bleed."

Non-Greasy StainsThese include catsup, coffee(black), egg, fruit juice, milk, softdrinks, wine, vomit and blood.

Carefully scrape off excessstain; then sponge stain withcool water.

If a stain remains, use amultipurpose powdered cleaner(foam type) as previouslydescribed.


If an odor persists aftercleaning vomit or urine, treatarea with a water-baking sodasolution: 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters)baking soda to 1 cup (250milliliters) of warm water.

Finally, if needed, clean lightlywith a fabric cleaner (solventtype).

Combination StainsThese include candy, ice cream,mayonnaise, chili sauce andunknown stains.

Carefully scrape off excessstain; then clean with coolwater and allow to dry.

If stain remains, clean with afabric cleaner (solvent type).

Cleaning Vinyl or Leather Trim

Ordinary soilage can be removedfrom vinyl or leather with warmwater and a mild soap such assaddle soap, oil soap orequivalent.

Apply a small amount of soapsolution and allow it to soak fora few minutes to loosen dirt;then rub briskly with a clean,damp cloth to remove dirt andtraces of soap. (This may berepeated several times, ifnecessary.)

Some compounds such as tar,asphalt, shoe polish etc. willstain if allowed to remain ontrim. They should be wiped offas quickly as possible and thearea cleaned with a clean clothdampened with vinyl cleaner(solvent type).

Seat Belt CareClean seat belts only with mildsoap and lukewarm water.

Do not bleach or dye beltssince this may severely weakenthem.


Cleaning Glass SurfacesGlass surfaces should be cleanedon a regular basis. Use of glasscleaner wi ll remove normaltobacco smoke and dust filmssometimes caused by ingredientsused in vinyls and interiorplastics.

Never use abrasive cleaners toclean the glass. They may causescratches or damage the defoggerwires in the rear window.

Tinted GlassTinted, heat-reflecting glass has ametal coating on the interior side.Always clean this metal coatingwith plain water or a neutraldetergent, not harsh chemicals.Wipe with a clean, soft cloth or apaper towel.


Technical DataVehicle Identification . . . . . . 232Vehicle Loading . . . . . . . . . . 233Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . 235

Technical Data

Vehicle IdentificationVehicle IdentificationNumber (VIN)This is the legal identification of thevehicle. It appears on a plate attachedto the left top of the instrument paneland can be easily seen through thewindshield from outside the vehicle.

Engine type — W; 6VD1 3.2L

The VIN also appears on thevehicle's Certification Label onthe driver's door lock pillar.

Engine IdentificationYou can identify your engine fromthe VIN. The eighth character ofthe VIN is the engine code thatgives the engine model (refer tothe illustration).

Some information in this sectionmay refer to the engine model.The engine number is stamped onthe left side of the cylinder blocknear the starter.

Service Parts IdentificationThe Vehicle Information Plate(Service Parts ID Plate) isprovided on all vehicle models.

It is located on the center dashwall inside the enginecompartment. The plate lists theVIN (Vehicle IdentificationNumber), paint information andall production options and special

Technical Data

equipment on the vehicle when itwas shipped from the factory. Besure to provide this information toyour authorized Honda dealerwhen it is necessary to orderparts.

Vehicle LoadingVehicle Loading InformationThe components of your vehicleare designed to providesatisfactory service only if thevehicle is not loaded in excess ofeither the Gross Vehicle WeightRating (GVWR) or the maximumfront and rear Gross Axle WeightRatings (GAWRs). These ratingsare listed on the VehicleCertification Label located on theleft door lock pillar.

Your Honda dealer can advise youof the proper loading conditionsfor your vehicle. The use ofselected heavier suspensioncomponents for added durabilitypurposes does not increase any ofthe weight ratings printed on theVehicle Certification Label.

Maximum Front and RearAxle WeightThe weight of the cargo load mustbe properly distributed over boththe front and rear axles. TheCertification Label shows themaximum weight that the frontaxle (front GAWR) can carry. Italso shows the maximum weightthat the rear axle (rear GAWR) cancarry. The GVWR represents themaximum permissible loadedweight of the vehicle and takesinto account the engine,transmission, frame, springs,brake, axle, and tire capabilities.

Actual loads on the front and rearaxles can only be determined byweighing the vehicle. This can bedone at highway weight stationsor other such commercial weighstations. Consult your Hondadealer for assistance. The cargo

Technical Data

load should be distributed on bothsides as equally as possible.

Effect on WarrantyYour Limited Warranty on yournew Honda vehicle does not applyto any part of your vehicle thathas been subject to misuse. Anypart which fails because ofoverloading is considered misuse.

Vehicle Certification LabelThe Certification Label showsthe GVWR and the front and rearGAWRs for your vehicle.

Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) isthe weight of the originallyequipped vehicle and all itemsadded to it after it has left thefactory. This includes the driverand all occupants, and the load thevehicle is carrying. The GVWmust not exceed the GVWR. Also,the front and rear gross axleweight must not exceed the frontand rear GAWRs.

Technical Data

These specifications are given here for information only. Before using them, see the cautions and other instructionsthroughout this manual. For further information, see the Service Manual covering the chassis or body parts in question.Your Honda dealer may also be able to help.

* Oil capacities shown are approximate refill capacities.* After refill, recheck oil level.

Technical Data

Specifications

Cooling System

Air Conditioning

Clutch

Technical Data

Manual Transmission and Transfer Case Automatic Transmission and Transfer Case

Fuel Tank Capacity

Technical Data

Front SuspensionIndependent wishbone arms, torsion bar springs withstabilizer bar.

Front Wheel Alignment

Rear Suspension5-link, coil spring type with stabilizer bar and directdouble-acting shock absorbers.

SteeringRack and pinion.

Service BrakeHydraulic Front: Disc brake.

Rear: Self-adjusting drum brake,leading-trailing (2WD model).Disc brake (4WD model).

Parking BrakeMechanical, operating on rear wheels (2WD model).

Mechanical, drum in disc, duo-servo, manual-adjusting,operating on rear wheels (4WD model).

Technical Data

BatteryRear Wheel Alignment

Rear Axle

Front Axle (4WD Model)

Wheels and Tires

Shift-on-the-FIy System

Technical Data

FusesFuse boxes are installed on the left side of theinstrument panel and the right side of the enginecompartment. Each fuse box contains spare fusecartridges.

Replacing a fuse with one that has a higher ratinggreatly increases the chances of damaging theelectrical system. If you do not have a replacementfuse with the proper rating for the circuit, install onewith a lower rating.

Technical Data

NOTICE

Fuse Box: Instrument Panel

Technical Data

Fuse Box: Engine Compartment

Technical Data

Light Bulbs Dimensions and Weights

Note: GVWR — Gross Vehicle Weight Rating

Technical Data

Owner AssistanceCustomer RelationsInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . 246

U.S. Zone Office Map . . . . . 247Warranty Coverages . . . . . . 248Reporting Safety Defects . . . 249Emissions Controls . . . . . . . 249

DOT Uniform Tire QualityGrading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251

Authorized Manuals . . . . . . 253

Owner Assistance

Customer Relations InformationYour satisfaction and goodwill areimportant to your Honda dealerand to us, American Honda MotorCo., Inc. Honda dealershippersonnel are trainedprofessionals. They should beable to answer all your questions.If you encounter a problem thatyour dealership does not solve toyour satisfaction, please discuss itwith the dealership'smanagement. The ServiceManager or General Manager canhelp. Almost all problems aresolved in this way.

If you are dissatisfied with thedecision made by the dealership'smanagement, contact your HondaCustomer Relations Zone Office.Refer to the U.S. Zone Office mapon the following page.

When you call or write, pleasegive us this information:

1. Your name, address andtelephone number

2. Vehicle Identification Numbe:(see page 232)

3. The name and address of thedealer who services yourvehicle

4. Date of purchase

5. Mileage on your vehicle

6. Name and address of thedealer who sold you thevehicle

7. A detailed description of theproblem

Owner Assistance

U.S. Zoee Office MapWestern ZoneP.O. Box 2260

Torrance, California90501-1490(310)781-4565

Northwestern ZoneP.O. Box 20186

12439 N.E. Airport WayPortland, Oregon 97230(503) 256-0943(also includes Alaskaand Hawaii)

South Central Zone4529 Royal Lane

Irving, Texas 75063(972) 929-5481

Central Zone101 South Stanfield Road

Troy, Ohio 45373(937) 332-6250

Mid-Atlantic Zone902 Wind River Ln., Suite 200

Gaithcrsburg, Maryland 20878(301)990-2020

Southeastern Zone1500 Morrison Parkway

P.O. Box 1606Alpharetta, Georgia 30009-1606(770) 442-2045

North Central Zone601 Campus Drive, Suite A-9

Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004(847) 870-5600

New England Zone555 Old County Road

Windsor Locks, Connecticut 06096(860)623-3310See Zone 5 for: NYC Metro areaand Fairfield County, CT area

Northeastern Zone115 Gaithcr Drive

Ml. Laurel, New Jersey OS054(856) 235-5533Includes: NYC Metro area andFairfield County, CT area

West Central Zone1600 South Abilene Street, Suite D

Aurora, Colorado 80012(303) 696-3935

Puerto Rico and U.S. V.I.Bella International

P.O.Box 190816San Juan, PR 00919-0816(787)250-4318

The above addresses and telephone numbers are subject to change. If you cannot reach your Zone office, askyour Honda dealer for the current information.

Owner Assistance

Your new Honda is covered bythese warranties:

New Vehicle Limited Warranty — Covers your new vehicle, exceptfor the battery, emissions controlsystems and accessories, againstdefects in materials andworkmanship.

Emission Control SystemsDefects Warranty and EmissionsPerformance Warranty — Thesetwo warranties cover yourvehicle's emission controlsystems. Time, mileage, andcoverage are conditional. Pleaseread the warranty manual forexact information.

Original Equipment BatteryLimited Warranty — Thiswarranty gives up to 100% credittoward a replacement battery.

Seat Belt Limited Warranty —A seat belt that fails to functionproperly is covered for the usefullife of the vehicle.

Rust Perforation LimitedWarranty - A ll exterior bodypanels are covered for rust-throughfrom the inside for the specifiedtime period with no mileage limit.

Accessory Limited Warranty —Genuine Honda Accessories arecovered under this warranty. Timeand mileage limits depend on thetype of accessory and otherfactors. Please read your warrantymanual for details.

Replacement Parts LimitedWarranty — Covers all GenuineHonda replacement parts againstdefects in materials andworkmanship.

Replacement Battery LimitedWarranty — Provides proratedcoverage for a replacementbattery purchased from a Hondadealer.

Replacement Muffler LifetimeLimited Warranty — Providescoverage for as long as thepurchaser of the muffler ownsthe vehicle.

Restrictions and exclusions applyto all these warranties. Please readthe 2001 Honda Warranty bookletthat came with your vehicle forprecise information on warrantycoverages. Your Honda's originaltires are covered by theirmanufacturer. Tire warrantyinformation is in a separatebooklet.

Owner Assistance

Warranty Coverages

If you believe that your vehiclehas a defect which could cause acrash or could cause injury ordeath, you should immediatelyinform the National HighwayTraffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) in addition to notifyingAmerican Honda Motor Co., Inc.

If NHTSA receives similarcomplaints, it may open aninvestigation, and if it finds that asafety defect exists in a group ofvehicles, it may order a recall andremedy campaign. However,NHTSA cannot become involvedin individual problems betweenyou, your dealer, or AmericanHonda Motor Co., Inc.

To contact NHTSA, you mayeither call the Auto Safety Hotlinetoll free at 1-800-424-9393 (or202-366-0123 in the Washington,D.C. area) or write to:NHTSAU.S. Department of TransportationWashington, D.C. 20590

You can also obtain otherinformation about motor vehiclesafety from the Hotline.

The burning of gasoline in yourvehicle's engine produces severalby-products. Some of these arecarbon monoxide (CO), oxides ofnitrogen (NOx), and hydrocarbons(HC). Gasoline evaporating fromthe tank also produceshydrocarbons. Controlling theproduction of NOx, CO, and HC isimportant to the environment.Under certain conditions ofsunlight and climate, NOx and HCreact to form photochemical"smog." Carbon monoxide doesnot contribute to smog creation,but it is a poisonous gas.

The Clean Air ActThe United States Clean Air Actsets standards for automobileemissions. It also requires thatautomobile manufacturers explainto owners how their emissionscontrols work and what to do to

Owner Assistance

Reporting Safety Defects Emissions Controls

maintain them. This sectionsummarizes how the emissionscontrols work. Scheduledmaintenance is on page 204.

Crankcase EmissionsControl SystemYour vehicle has a PositiveCrankcase Ventilation System.This keeps gasses that build up inthe engine's Crankcase from goinginto the atmosphere. The PositiveCrankcase Ventilation valve routesthem from the crankcase back tothe intake manifold. They are thendrawn into the engine and burned.

Evaporative EmissionsControl SystemAs gasoline evaporates in the fueltank, an evaporative emissioncontrol canister filled withcharcoal adsorbs the vapor. It isstored in this canister while the

engine is off. After the engine isstarted and warmed up, the vaporis drawn into the engine andburned during driving.

Onboard Refueling VaporRecoveryThe Onboard Refueling VaporRecovery (ORVR) system capturesthe fuel vapors during refueling.The vapors are adsorbed in acanister filled with activatedcarbon. While driving, the fuelvapors are drawn into the engineand burned off.

Exhaust Emissions ControlsThe exhaust emission controlsinclude four systems: FuelInjection, Ignition Timing Control,Exhaust Gas Recirculation, andThree-Way Catalytic Converter.These four systems work togetherto control the engine's combustion

and minimize the amount of HC,CO, and NOx that comes out thetailpipe. The exhaust emissioncontrol systems are separate fromthe crankcase and evaporativeemission control systems.

Fuel Injection SystemThe Fuel Injection System usessequential multiport fuel injection.It has three subsystems: AirIntake, Engine Control, and FuelControl. The Engine ControlModule (ECM) uses varioussensors to determine how muchair is going into the engine. It thencontrols how much fuel to injectunder all operating conditions.

Ignition Timing Control SystemThis system constantly adjusts theignition timing, reducing the amountof HC, CO and NOx produced.

Owner Assistance

Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR)SystemThe Exhaust Gas Recirculation(EGR) system takes some of theexhaust gas and routes it back intothe intake manifold. Addingexhaust gas to the air/fuel mixturereduces the amount of NOxproduced when the fuel is burned.

Three-Way Catalytic ConverterThe Three-Way CatalyticConverter is in the exhaustsystem. Through chemicalreactions, it converts HC, CO, andNOx in the engine's exhaust tocarbon dioxide (CO2), dinitrogen(N2), and water vapor.

Replacement PartsThe emissions control systems aredesigned and certified to worktogether in reducing emissions tolevels that comply with the CleanAir Act. To make sure theemissions remain low, you shoulduse only new Genuine Hondareplacement parts or theirequivalent for repairs. Usinglower quality parts may increasethe emissions from your vehicle.

The emissions control systems arecovered by warranties separatefrom the rest of your vehicle.Read your warranty manual formore information.

The tires on your vehicle meet allU.S. Federal SafetyRequirements. All tires are alsograded for treadwear, traction, andtemperature performanceaccording to Department ofTransportation (DOT) standards.The following explains thesegradings.

Uniform Tire QualityGradingQuality grades can be foundwhere applicable on the tiresidewall between the treadshoulder and the maximumsection width. For example:

Treadwear 200Traction AATemperature A

A l l passenger car tires mustconform to Federal SafetyRequirements in addition to thesegrades.

Owner Assistance

DOT TireQuality Grading

TreadwearThe treadwear grade is acomparative rating based on thewear rate of the tire when testedunder controlled conditions on aspecified government test course.For example, a tire graded 150would wear one-and-a-half(1-1/2) times as well on thegovernment course as a tiregraded 100. The relativeperformance of tires dependsupon the actual conditions of theiruse, however, and may departsignificantly from the norm due tovariation in driving habits, servicepractices and differences in roadcharacteristics and climate.

Traction - AA, A, B, CThe traction grades from highestto lowest are AA, A, B, and C.Those grades represent the tire's

ability to stop on wet pavement asmeasured under controlledconditions on specifiedgovernment test surfaces ofasphalt and concrete. A tiremarked C may have poor tractionperformance.

Warning: The traction gradeassigned to this tire is based onstraight-ahead braking tractiontests, and does not includeacceleration, cornering,hydroplaning, or peak tractioncharacteristics.

Temperature - A, B, CThe temperature grades are A (thehighest), B and C, representingthe tire's resistance to thegeneration of heat and its abilityto dissipate heat when testedunder controlled conditions on a

specified indoor laboratory testwheel. Sustained high temperaturecan cause the material of the tireto degenerate and reduce tire lifeand excessive temperature canlead to sudden tire failure. Thegrade C corresponds to a level ofperformance which all vehicletires must meet under the FederalMotor Vehicle Safety StandardNo. 109. Grades B and Arepresent higher levels ofperformance on the laboratory testwheel than the minimum requiredby law.

Warning: The temperature gradefor this tire is established for a tirethat is properly inflated and notoverloaded. Excessive speed,underinflation, or excessiveloading either separately or incombination, can cause heatbuild-up and possible tire failure.

Owner Assistance

Authorized ManualsPurchasing Factory-Authorized ManualsThe following publications covering the operation andservicing of your vehicle can be obtained from HelmIncorporated, either by filling out the form or, forcredit card holders, by calling toll free. For manualsprior to the year shown below, contact HelmIncorporated, P.O. Box 07280, Detroit, MI 48207 orcall 1-800-782-4356.

By completing this form you can order the materialsdesired. You can pay by check or money order or chargeto your credit card. Mail to Helm, Incorporated at theaddress shown on the back of the order form.

61 S3L06

61S3L07

61S3L06EL

31S3L630

These publications cannot he returned for credit without receiving advance authorization within 14 days ofdelivery. On returns, a restocking fee may he applied against the original order.

P.O. BOX 07280 DETROIT, MI48207 1-800-782-4356

Service ManualThis manual covers maintenance and recommendedprocedures for repair to engine and chassiscomponents. It is written for the journeymanmechanic, but is simple enough for most mechanicallyinclined owners to understand.

Electrical Troubleshooting ManualThis manual complements the Service Manual byproviding in-depth troubleshooting information foreach electrical circuit in your car.

Index

ABS. See Anti-Lock BrakeSystem

Accessories, Installation . . . . 173

ACCESSORY(Ignition Key Position) . . . . . 101

Accessory Power Outlets . . . . . 117Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Adults, Protecting . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Airbags (SRS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Serious Risk to Children . . . . 19

Air Cleaner Filter . . . . . . 170, 214

Air ConditioningMaintenance . . . . . . . . . . . 221

Usage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120

Air Filter. See Air Cleaner Filter

Air Outlets (Vents) . . . . . . . . . 124

Air Pressure, Tires . . . . . . . . . 239

Alcohol and Driving . . . . . . . . 4

Alcohol in Gasoline . . . . . . . . 200

Alternator Belt. See Drive Belts

Antifreeze . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217

Anti-Lock Brake SystemIndicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159

Anti-TheftSteering Column Lock . . . . 102System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152

Appearance Care. See Cleaning

Ashtray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

Assist Grip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

Audio System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

Automatic Transmission . . . . 76Capacity, Fluid . . . . . . . . . . 237Driving Pattern Selector . . 81Fluid Temperature Indicator 70

Oil Temperature Indicator . 70Shift LeverPosition Indicator . . . . . . . 76

Shift Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78Transfer Control, 4WD . . . 80

Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198Charging System Indicator 62Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . 184Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . 198Specifications . . . . . . . . . . 238

Before Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 156

Belts, Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Additional Information . . . 41

Beverage Holder . . . . . . . . . . 113

Body Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225Brakes

Anti-Lock Brake System . . 159Brake System Indicator . . . 61

Break-in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161Wear Indicators . . . . . . . . . 162

Break-in, New Vehicle . . . . . . 158

Brightness Control, InstrumentPanel. See Illumination Control

Brights, Headlights . . . . . . . . 62

Bulb ReplacementSpecifications . . . . . . . . . . . . 243

Capacity Charts . . . . . . . . . . . 235

Carbon Monoxide Hazard . . . 47

Care and Maintenance . . . . . . 195

CargoLoading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233Carrying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175

Cassette PlayerCare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

Catalytic Converter,Three-Way . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172

CAUTION, Explanation of . . . iv

CD Changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

Certification Label . . . . . . . . . 234

Chains, Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168

Changing OilHow to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212When . . . . . . . . . 204, 205, 211

Changing a Flat Tire . . . . . . . 186

Lifting Points . . . . . . . . . . . 187

Changing Engine Coolant . . . 218

Charging System Indicator . . 62

Check Engine Light . . . . . . . . 63

Checklist, Before Driving . . . 156

Children, Protecting . . . . . . . . 18

Child-Safe Door Locks . . . . . 105

Child Seats,General Guidelines . . . . . . . 21

Cigarette Lighter . . . . . . . . . . 116

Circuit Breaker, Checking the 108

Cleaner, Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214

CleaningExterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226Seat Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229Vinyl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229

Clock, Setting the . . . . . . . . . . 153

Clutch Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223

CO in the Exhaust . . . . . . 47, 249

Consumer Information . . . . . . 246

Control Locations . . . . . . . . . 56

Controls, Instruments and . . . 55

Controls Nearthe Steering Wheel

Hazard Warning . . . . . . . . . 76Headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72Illumination Control . . . . . 73Rear Window Defogger . . . 74Steering Wheel Adjustment 115Turn Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . 75Windshield Wiper/Washer . 70

Rear Window Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

CoolantAdding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218Capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236Checking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217Proper Solution . . . . . . . . . 218Temperature Gauge . . . . . . 60

Corrosion Protection . . . . . . . 225

Courtesy Lights . . . . . . . . . . . 112

Crankcase EmissionControl System . . . . . . . . . . 250

Cruise Control Operation . . . . 147

Customer RelationsInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246

DANGER, Explanation of . . . . iv

Dashboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Defects, Reporting Safety . . . 249

Defogger, Rear Window . . . . 74

Defrosting the Windows . . . . 122

Digital Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153

Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243

Dimming the Headlights . . . . 72

Dipstick, Engine Oil . . . 200, 213

Directional Signals . . . . . . . . . 75

Disc Brake Wear Indicators . . 162

Dome Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

Doors, Close and Lock . . . . . . 10

DOT Tire Quality Grading . . . 251Downshifting, 5-Speed

Manual Transmission . . . . . 84

Drive Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222

Driving, On-RoadFuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . 170In Bad Weather . . . . . . . . . 168In Foreign Countries . . . . . 173On Slippery Surfaces . . . . . 162

Economy, Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . 170

EGR System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251

Emergency Brake . . . . . . . . . . 86

Emergency Flashers . . . . . . . . 76

Emergency, In Case of . . . . . . 183Charging System Indicator 62Check Engine Light . . . . . . 63Checking the Fuses . . . . . . 193Engine Overheating . . . . . . 190Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . 184Malfunction Indicator Lamp 63Oil Pressure Indicator . . . . 64

Emissions Controls . . . . . . . . 249

EngineBelts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222Break-in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158Check Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 63Coolant Temperature Gauge 60Identification Number . . . . 232Malfunction Indicator Lamp 63Oil

Capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235Recommendation . . . . . . 198

Oil Pressure Indicator . . . . 64Specifications . . . . . . . . . . 235Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157

Ethanol in Gasoline . . . . . . . . 201

EvaporativeEmission Controls . . . . . . . . 250

Exhaust Fumes . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Expectant Mothers,Use of Seat Belts by . . . . . . 16

Exterior, Cleaning the . . . . . . 224

Fabric, Cleaning.See Interior Cleaning

Fan Control Lever . . . . . . . . . 121

Features,Comfort and Convenience . . 119

Filling the Fuel Tank . . . . . . . 197

FiltersAir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212

5-Speed Manual TransmissionChecking Fluid Level . . . . 215Shifting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . 76

Flat Tire, Changing a . . . . . . . 186

FluidsAutomatic Transmission . . 216

Capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2235-Speed Manual

Transmission . . . . . . . . . . 215Capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237

Power Steering . . . . . . . . . . 223Windshield Washer . . . . . . 71

FM StereoRadio Reception . . . . . . . . . 136

Folding the Rear Seat . . . . . . . 94

Foreign Countries,Operation in . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173

FuelFilling the Fuel Tank . . . . . 197Fuel Fill Cap . . . . . . . . . . . 197Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59Low Fuel Indicator . . . . . . 64Octane Requirement . . . . . 200Oxygenated . . . . . . . . . . . . 200Recommendation . . . . . . . . 198Tank Capacity . . . . . . 198, 237

Fuel Injection System . . . . . . 250

FusesChecking the . . . . . . . 193, 240Locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240

Gasohol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200

Gasoline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200See also FuelOctane Requirement . . . . . 200Tank,

Filling the . . . . . . . . . . . . 197

Gas Station Procedures . . . . . 197

GaugesEngine Coolant

Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . 60Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . 58Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

GAWR (Gross AxleWeight Rating) . . . . . . . . . . . 233

Gearshift Lever PositionsAutomatic Transmission . . 765-Speed Transmission . . . . 83

Glass Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . 230

Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

GVWR (Gross VehicleWeight Rating) . . . . . . . . . . 233

Halogen Headlight Bulbs . . . . 243

Hazard Warning Flasher . . . . 76

Head Restraints . . . . . . . 8, 12, 93

Headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72High Beam Indicator . . . . . 62High Beams . . . . . . . . . . . . 72On, Reminder . . . . . . . . . . 73Replacing Halogen Bulbs . 243Turning on . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Heating and Cooling . . . . . . . 120

High-Low Beam Switch . . . . 72

Hood Release . . . . . . . . . 109, 199

Florn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

Hydroplaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168Gas Mileage, Improving . . . . 170

Identification Number,Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232

IgnitionKeys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101Timing Control System . . . 250

Illumination Control . . . . . . . 73

Important Safety Precautions . . . 4

Indicators,Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . 57

Indicators and Gauges . . . . . . 57

Infants, Protecting . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Inflation, Proper Tire . . . 164, 239

Inside Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Inspection, Tire . . . . . . . . . . . 165

Instrument Panel Brightness.See Illumination Control

Interior Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . 226

Interior Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

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

Jack, Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187

Jacking up the Vehicle . . . . . . 187

Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184

Keyless Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Label, Certification . . . . . . . . 234

Labels, Safety, Location of . . 48

Lane Change, Signaling . . . . . 75

Lap Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Lap/Shoulder Belts . . . . . . . . 41

Lever, Transfer . . . . . . . . . . 80, 84

Lifting Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187

Lighter, Cigarette . . . . . . . . . . 116

LightsBulb Replacement . . . . . . . 243Dome Light . . . . . . . . . . . 111Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61Luggage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110Turn Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Limited Slip Differential . . . . 182

Loading Cargo . . . . . . . . . . . . 233

LOCK (Ignition Key Position) 101

Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103Anti-Theft Steering Column 102Child-Safe Door . . . . . . . . . 105Power Door . . . . . . . . . . . . 104Tailgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

Low Coolant Level . . . . . . . . 217

Low Oil Pressure Indicator . . 64

Lower Gear, Downshifting to a 84

LubricantSpecifications Charts . . . . . . 235

Luggage, Loading . . . . . 175, 233

Luggage Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195Periodic Checks.

See Owner Safety ChecksRecord . . . . . . . . . . . . 206, 207Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201Schedule . . . . . . 203, 204, 205

Malfunction Indicator Lamp . 63

Map Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

Meters, Gauges . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Methanol in Gasoline . . . . . . . 201

MirrorAdjusting the . . . . . . . . . . . 105Defogger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74Vanity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Moonroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

Neutral Gear Position . . . . . . . 77

New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . 158

Normal Shift Speeds . . . . . . . 84

NOTICE, Explanation of . . . . . . i

Numbers, Identifications . . . . 232

Octane Requirement,Gasoline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200

Odometer, Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Off-Road Driving. See theOff-Road Driving Informationbooklet in your owner's packet.

OilChange

How to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212When to . . . . . 204, 205, 211

Checking Engine . . . . . . . . 213Front and Rear Axle . . . . . 216Pressure Indicator . . . . . . . 64Selecting Proper

Viscosity Chart . . . . . . . . 213

ON (Ignition Key Position) . . 101

Opening the Hood . . . . . . . . . 109

Opening the Tailgate . . . . . . . 108

Opening the Windows . . . . . . 107

Operation inForeign Countries . . . . . . . . 173

Ordering Service Parts . . . . . . 232

Overheating, Engine . . . . . . . 190

Owner Assistance . . . . . . . . . 245

Owner Safety Checks . . . . . . . 208

Panel Brightness Control . . . . 73

Park Gear Position . . . . . . . . . 77

Parking Brake andBrake System Light . . . . . 61, 86

Parking Over ThingsThat Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172

Polishing and Waxing . . . . . . 224

Power Drive Indicator . . . . 69, 81

Power Outlets, Accessory . . . . . 117

Power Steering Belt.See Drive Belts

Pre-Drive Safety Checklist . . . . . 9

Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts . 16

Proper Seat Belt Usage . . . . . 13

Protecting Adults . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

AdditionalSafety Precautions . . . . . . . . 17

Adjust the Front Seat . . . . . . 10

Adjust the Head Restraints . 12

Adjust the Seat-Backs . . . . . 11

Adjust theSteering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . 15

Advice for Pregnant Women 16

Close and Lock the Doors . . 10

Fasten andPosition the Seat Belts . . . . 13

Protecting Children . . . . . . . . . . 18

AdditionalSafety Precautions . . . . . . . 21

All ChildrenMust Be Restrained . . . . . . 18

Children ShouldSit in the Back Seat . . . . . . 19

General Guidelines forUsing Child Seats . . . . . . . . 21

If a Child RequiresClose A t t e n t i o n . . . . . . . . .. 21

If You Must DriveWith Several Children . . . . 20

Passenger's Airbag PosesSerious Risks to Children . 19

Protecting Infants . . . . . . . . . 26Protecting Larger Children . 34Protecting Small Children . . 31Using Child Seats

With Tethers . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Radiator Overheating . . . . . . . 190

Radio/CassetteSound System . . . . . . . . . . . 125

Radio/Cassette/CDSound System . . . . . . . . . . . 133

Rear Lights,Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . 243

Rear Seat, Folding . . . . . . . . . 94

Rear View Mirror . . . . . . . . . . 105

Rear Window Defogger . . . . . 74

Rear Window Wiperand Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Reclining the Seat-BacksFront . . . . . . . . . . . . 11, 92, 93

Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

Recommended Shift Speeds . 84

Reduced Power Indicator . . . 64

Replacement InformationAir Cleaner Element . . . . . 214Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . 204, 218Engine Oil and Filter . . . . . 211Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240Light Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . 243Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204Spark Plugs . . . . . . . . . . . . 235

Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166

Replacing Seat BeltsAfter a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Reporting Safety Defects . . . . 249

Reserve Tank, Coolant . . . . . . 217

Restraint, Child . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Reverse Gear Position . . . . . . 77

Rotation, Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166

Rust Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . 225

Safety Defects, Reporting . . . 249

Safety Labels, Location of . . . 48

Safety Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . iv

Seat Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 6Additional Information . . . . . 41

Maintenance . . . . . . . . . 42System Components . . . . 41

Advice for Pregnant Women 16Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229Fasten and Position . . . . . . . 13Lap Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42Lap/Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . 41Reminder Light . . . . . 6, 41, 61

Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8, 89Adjusting the . . . . . . . . . . . 90Seat-Backs . . . . . . . . . . 8, 92, 93

Self-Adjusting Brakes . . . . . . 162Serial Number . . . . . . . . . . . . 232ServiceIntervals . . . . . 204, 205, 206, 207

Service Manual . . . . . . . . . . . 253Service Station Information . . 197Setting the Clock . . . . . . . . . . 153Shift Lever Position Indicator 76Shift-on-the-Fly System . . . . . 220

Fluid Capacity . . . . . . . . . . 239Side Marker Lights

Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . 243

Signaling Turns.See Lane Change, Signaling

Small Children, Protecting . . . 31

Snow Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168

Snow Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168

Solvent-Type Cleaners . . 226, 227

Sound System . . . . . . . . 125, 133

Spare TireInflating (Pressure) . . 164, 239Removal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189Specifications . . . . . . . . . . 239

Spark PlugsReplacing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223Specifications . . . . . . . . . . 235

Specifications Charts . . . . . . . 235

Speed Control . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

START (Ignition Key Position) 101

Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . 157With a Dead Battery . . . . . 184

Steam Coming From Engine . 190

Steering ColumnIgnition Lock Switch . . . . . . 101

Steering WheelAdjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

Anti-Theft Column Lock . . 102

Stereo Sound System . . . 125, 133

Sun Visor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114Supplemental

Restraint System . . . . . . . . . . 7Additional Information . . . . 43Additional

Safety Precautions . . . . . . . 46Components . . . . . . . . . . . . 41Hazards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 8How the Airbag Works . . . 44How the SRSIndicator Light Works . . . 45

Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Tailgate Operation . . . . . . . . . 108

Tape Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . 60

Three-WayCatalytic Converter . . . . . . . 172

Tilt Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . 115

Time, Setting the . . . . . . . . . . 153

Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168

Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163Air Pressure . . . . 164, 198, 239Checking Wear . . . . . . . . . 165DOT Tire Quality Grading 251How to Change a Flat . . . . 186Inflation . . . . . . . 164, 171, 198Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165

Replacing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166Snow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168Spare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189Specifications . . . . . . . . . . 239Wear Indicators . . . . . . . . . 165

Tire Wrench . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188

Tools, Tire Changing . . . . . . . 188

Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191Emergency Wrecker

(Tow Truck) . . . . . . . . . . . 191Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178

Transfer Control LeverAutomatic Transmission . . 805-Speed

Manual Transmission . . . 84

TransmissionChecking Fluid Level

5-Speed ManualTransmission . . . . . . 215

Fluid Selection . . . . . . . . . . 216Shifting the Automatic . . . 76Shifting the 5-Speed Manual 83

Tread Wear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165

Trip Meter. See Trip Odometer

Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Turn Signal Indicators . . . . . . 64

Underside, Cleaning . . . . . . . . 225

Uniform Tire Quality Grading 251

Unleaded Gasoline . . . . . 198, 200

Upholstery Cleaning . . . . . . . 226

Upshift Indicator . . . . . . . . . . 66

Vanity Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Vehicle Dimensions . . . . . . . . 243

Vehicle Identification . . . . . . . 232

Vehicle Loading Information . 233

Ventilation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122

VIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232

Vinyl, Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . 229

Viscosity, Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213

WARNING, Explanation of . . . iv

Warning Labels, Location of . 48

Warranty Coverages . . . . . . . . 248

Washer, Rear Window . . . . . . 74

Washer, WindshieldChecking the

Fluid Level . . . . . . . . 71, 198

Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Washing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224

Waxing and Polishing . . . . . . 224

WheelAdjusting the Steering . . . . 115Alignment

and Balance . . . . . . . 171, 224Replacement . . . . . . . 167, 169

WindowsCleaning . . . . . . . . . 70, 74, 230Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

WindshieldCleaning . . . . . . . . . 70, 74, 230Defroster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122

Washers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Winter Drive Indicator . . . . 69, 81

Wiper, Rear Window . . . . . . . 74

Wipers, Windshield, Operation 70

Worn Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165

Wrecker, Emergency Towing . 191

Wrench, Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188

2000 Passport Online Off Road Driving Information SupplementUse 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. Refer to 2000 Passport for topics not covered.

Contents

Introduction

Get to Know Your Vehicle.............................................................................................................................2

Off-Road Precautions ....................................................................................................................................3

Getting Ready to Drive Off-Road...................................................................................................................4

Off-Road Driving Considerations...................................................................................................................9

Driving Off-Road............................................................................................................................................ 12

If You Get Stuck............................................................................................................................................21

Parking............................................................................................................................................................23 Inspection and Cleaning ...........................................................................................................................24

...........................................................................................................................i

IntroductionWelcome to the off-road world! Your new sport-utilityvehicle is your passport to adventure. It can take youfar from ordinary sights to places you can't reach witha passenger car.

But it's a whole new world when you leave thepavement. Off-road driving requires different skillsand different ways of looking at things. So please readthis booklet. It supplements your Owner's Manualwith important facts, precautions, and tips that canmake your off-road travels safer and more enjoyable.

This booklet is a brief introduction to drivingoff-pavement, intended mainly for those who expectto drive off-road occasionally. If you plan on drivingin competitions or taking on challenging terrain, askyour authorized Honda dealer about driving clubs andother sources of information in your area.

Please consider this booklet a permanent part of thevehicle and pass it along to the new owner if you sellthe vehicle.

Get to Know Your VehicleBecause every vehicle operates alittle differently, be sure to readyour owner's manual and getacquainted with your vehiclebefore you drive off-road.

If you have 4-wheel drive, you canuse it for better traction and greatermobility off-road, but remember toswitch back to 2-wheel drive beforeyou return to pavement.

Whether you have 2-wheel or4-wheel drive, you need to knowthat your vehicle has higher groundclearance than passenger carsdesigned for use only on pavement.Higher ground clearance has manyadvantages off-road. It allows youto travel over bumps, obstacles andrough terrain and helps protectundercarriage components. Sinceyou sit higher off the ground, youhave a better view of thesurroundings.

These advantages come at somecost. Because your vehicle istaller and rides higher off theground, it has a higher center ofgravity than conventional cars.This means your vehicle can moreeasily tip or roll over if you makeabrupt turns or drive on slopedterrain.

Utility vehicles have asignificantly higher rollover ratethan other types of vehicles. Toavoid loss of control or rollover,be sure to follow allrecommendations and precautionsin this booklet.

Off-Road Driving Information

Off-Road PrecautionsFor your safety and the safety ofyour passengers, please followthese precautions:

Don't Modify Your VehicleWe urge you not to installaftermarket "lift kits," oversizewheels and tires, or alter yourvehicle in any other way thatwould change the vehicle'ssuspension or ride height. Suchmodifications can make handlingdifficult and unpredictable, andthey could cause you to losecontrol, roll over and be seriouslyhurt or killed.

Wear Seat Belts

Seat belts are just as importantoff-road as on pavement. Seatbelts can hold you in position onrough and bumpy trails and whendriving on hills. If you don't wearyour seat belt, you could bouncearound and strike the interior ofthe vehicle, or even lose controland crash. Whenever you drive,make sure you and your

passengers always wear seat belts.If children or infants are along forthe ride, see that they are properlysecured, and never let a passengerride in the cargo compartment. Ina rollover crash, an unbeltedperson is more likely to die than aperson wearing a seat belt.

Drive SmartOff-road surfaces and conditionscan change quickly andunexpectedly. It takes time tolearn how to read the terrain anddevelop off-road driving skills. Soalways use good judgment. Don'tdrive faster than conditionswarrant, and if you ever feeluncomfortable about a givensituation, don't do it.


Don't Drink and DriveAlcohol is a leading cause ofdeath and injury off-road as wellas on-road. Alcohol reduces yourability to think clearly and reactquickly. Fatigue and drugs, legalor illegal, can have similar effects.If you aren't sober or in goodphysical and mental condition,don't drive.

Getting Ready to Drive Off-RoadBefore leaving on a brief off-roadexcursion or an extendedovernight trip, you need to makesure you and your vehicle are bothprepared.

When making your plans,remember that it's best to travelwith at least one other vehicle in

case you have trouble, and alwayslet someone else know whereyou're going and when youexpect to return.

Whatever your destination, werecommend that you get maps ofyour route so you can study theterrain, talk with other driverswho are familiar with the location,and find out in advance if youneed any special permits. Then,shortly before you leave, get thelatest weather predictions for yourdestination, and check on anyclosures that could affect yourplans.

There are many sources that canhelp you plan a trip. The U.S.Forest Service, Bureau of LandManagement, motor vehiclebureaus, and park and recreationdepartments can provide maps


Planning a Trip

and other useful information.Recreational vehicle clubs can putyou in touch with other drivers,and off-road magazines publishfirst-hand descriptions of drivinglocations.

To help keep off-road drivingareas open, stay on roads, trailsand open areas approved foroff-highway vehicles (OHVs).Please respect no trespassingsigns, and don't drive on privateproperty without permission.

Check Out Your Vehicle

Off-road driving can be hard on avehicle, requiring extra attentionto maintenance. Before drivingoff-road, be sure all scheduledmaintenance and service has beendone, and that you have alsoinspected your vehicle. Payspecial attention to the conditionof the tires and use a gauge tocheck the tire pressures.

Improperly inflated tires can bemore easily damaged by rocksand other hard or sharp objects.Do not let air out of your tiresunless you can reinflate themsoon after returning to pavement,and remember to periodicallyinspect the tires for signs ofdamage, especially if you hit alarge or sharp rock.


Carrying CargoYou'll probably take a cooler,picnic supplies or other cargo on anoff-road trip. Since some bouncingis almost inevitable when drivingoff-road, it's very important to storeand secure cargo properly. Followthese guidelines and limits:

The maximum load you cancarry in and on your vehiclecan be found on the chartopposite.These figures include theweight of all occupants, cargo,accessories, and the tongueweight if you are towing atrailer (see next page).

Distribute cargo evenly on thefloor of the cargo area, placingthe heaviest items on thebottom and as far forward aspossible.


Secure all items so they cannotfly forward and injure you oryour passengers if you brakehard, hit an obstacle, or areinvolved in a collision.

If you want to put cargo on theroof, use a roof rack, secure allitems, and make sure the cargodoes not exceed 200 pounds.

Towing a Trailer

You may be able to safely tow alightweight trailer (such as amotorcycle trailer or small tenttrailer) off-road if you followthese guidelines:

Do not exceed a trailer weightof 1,000 pounds (includingcargo) or a tongue weight of100 pounds. (Tongue weight

should be about 10% of thetrailer weight.)

Try to stay on smooth, leveldirt roads, and avoid driving inhilly terrain.

Allow extra room for starting,stopping, and turning.

Slow down if you encounterbumps or other obstacles.

Extra Equipment and SuppliesWe strongly recommend that youDO NOT carry extra fuel. Gasolineis highly flammable andexplosive. It cannot be safelycarried inside the vehicle orstrapped to the top or rear. Thebest thing to do is fill up your tankbefore you leave pavement.


It's always wise to take alongwater, food, blankets, a flashlight,and matches. You may also wantto take:

A towing rope, strap or chain —in case you or someone you'rewith gets stuck.Wheel chocks — to help keepyour vehicle from rolling whenyou park.First aid kit — a good ideawhenever you travel far frommedical support.Flag — to help others see you(except in forests or areas withtall bushes).Portable phone or citizens band(CB) radio — should you needto call for help.Shovel — in case you need todig yourself out.


Off-Road Driving ConsiderationsWhen you leave paved roads, youleave a generally predictable andorderly world behind. You won'tfind lane markers or trafficsignals. No one will be there towarn you of trouble ahead. It's upto you to assess situations anddrive within limits. The terrainhas limits (some hills are toosteep, for example). You havelimits (in skills and comfortlevel). And off-road vehicles alsohave limits (traction, stability, andpower, for instance).

Following are some important tipson how to deal with some of thechallenges of driving off-road.

Using Your Senses You need to use your senses alittle differently off-road. Keepyour eyes moving, constantlywatching for obstacles andevaluating the terrain. Check yourgauges frequently. Listen forunusual sounds from your engineand tires. Pay attention to thesmell of overheated brakes. Andwhen you feel excessivevibrations or bouncing, the terrainis telling you to slow down.


Reading the TerrainIn nature, visual information comesin unpredictable ways. That meansyou need to stay alert, constantlysurvey the terrain, and go slowenough to analyze situations andmake good decisions.

As your eyes search the terrainahead, watch for changes insurface conditions. Surfaces canvary widely, and traction canchange quite suddenly. Oneminute you can be on firm soiland the next minute in soft sandor deep mud. A trail or road canquickly change from level tobumpy. It can suddenly slope at adangerous angle, or evendisappear in an unexpecteddrop-off.

Roads and trails aren't banked forturns, and the edges can be steepberms or drop-offs. When youdrive down a graded road, watchahead for ruts, potholes andwashouts. Some trails can offermore surprises. A smooth,inviting trail can suddenly twistup or down, become very narrow,be blocked by a fallen tree,tangled with roots, or dwindle to atight dead-end.

Some areas don't have roads ortrails - just wide open spaceswhere you must carefully chooseyour path.

Controlling SpeedOff-road, the general rule is tokeep your speed low. Of course,you'll need enough speed to keepmoving forward, especially onsand, mud, soft snow, and whenstarting up a hill. But too muchspeed leads to problems.

At higher speeds you have lesstime to read the terrain and makegood decisions. You'll alsobounce more, which makescontrolling the vehicle moredifficult. And there's a greaterchance of sliding if you brake orturn quickly on wet soil, gravel orice. In any situation, never gofaster than conditions allow.


Test your brakes from time totime to make sure they areoperating properly. This will alsogive you a feel for how muchtraction you have on a givensurface.

Controlling Steering Unlike driving on pavement,off-road terrain has a way of"kicking back." If you hit a rock,pothole or a sudden change insurface, it can make the steeringwheel turn rapidly andunexpectedly. To maintaincontrol, hold the outside of thesteering wheel firmly with bothhands. Don't hold the spokes orhook your thumbs inside thewheel. You could hurt your handsas well as lose control.


Driving Off-RoadDriving off-road can be hazardousif you fail to take the properprecautions. For example, you canhave an accident or roll overduring maneuvers such as turning,driving on hills, or over obstacles.

The following pages containpractical tips on basic off-roadoperations. They also giveimportant guidelines aboutdriving on hills, avoidingobstacles, and other situations youmay encounter.

Starting Off

For better traction on all surfaces,accelerate slowly and graduallybuild up speed. If you start toofast on wet soil, mud, snow or ice,you might not have enoughtraction to get underway. On softsand, you could dig yourself intoa hole.


Improperly operating thisvehicle off-road can cause anaccident or rollover in whichyou and your passengerscould be seriously injured orkilled.

Follow all instructions andguidelines in this booklet.Keep your speed low anddon't drive faster thanconditions permit.Don't take chances and beespecially careful on hillsand rough terrain.

Magesh

Turning

Off-road, the basic turningtechnique is to drive at low speedand gradually adjust the amountof steering to suit the surface.

You should have no problemmaking sharp turns on levelground - if you keep speed low.But one thing you should NOT do,off-road or on pavement, is make

abrupt turns at higher speeds.With a higher center of gravity,your vehicle can more easily tipor roll over in a turn.

BrakingThe best off-road brakingtechnique to use with anti-lockbrakes is to gently depress thebrake pedal at first, then increasethe pressure as more braking isneeded.

Avoid hard braking. Light tomoderate braking is usually allthat is necessary on soft surfacessuch as soft sand, loose dirt orgravel, powdery snow, or mud.

If you need to brake hard becauseof an emergency, apply steadyeven pressure to the brake pedal.Do not pump the brakes; let the

anti-lock braking system pumpthem for you. If you pump thebrakes, the anti-lock cannot workas efficiently, and your stoppingdistance may be increased.

Keep in mind that, in general, youneed more time and distance tobrake to a stop when drivingoff-road.


Driving in Hilly TerrainHills, and trails through hills,present some of the greatestchallenges and most serioushazards off-road. If you're new tooff-road driving, start with gentleinclines, take time to learn howyour vehicle handles on slopes,and read the information thatfollows. If you're an experiencedoff-roader, consider the guidelinesbelow as important reminders thatcan enhance your driving, or evensave your life.

Approaching a Hill

When you approach a hil l, youneed to decide whether it's onethat you and your vehicle canhandle. For example, ask yourself:

Is the hill too steep? Is theincline constant, or are thereplaces where it gets suddenlysteeper? If a hill is too steep inany section, you may run out ofpower and not be able to

continue forward. If youaccelerate suddenly on a verysteep hill, the vehicle may tipover backwards.Is there enough traction for youto make it to the top? Withoutadequate traction,you can stallor even slide backwards.Are there obstacles, such asrocks, ruts or ditches that couldblock your path? Hitting abump could upset your vehicle,and turning to avoid an obstaclecould make it roll over.If there's no safe predeterminedpath, can you drive straight upthe hill without turning? Unlessa hill is very gently sloped, itmay not be safe to turn on a hill.Do you know what's on theother side of the hill? Once youreach the top, you'll need a saferoute to get down or out.


If you don't know the answers tothese questions before beginningan ascent, stop, walk up the hilland find out.

If you decide that it is safe todrive up a hill:

Select a suitable low gear andfirmly grip the steering wheel.

Approach the hill with enoughspeed to smoothly start up thehill.

Maintain a steady speed as youclimb the hill.

Reduce speed as you approachthe top, and watch for othervehicles that may beapproaching the top from theother side of the hill.

If You Stall Going Up a HillIf a hill is steeper than youexpected, traction is poorer,or you don't maintain sufficientspeed, you may begin to stall. Ifthat happens:

Consider downshifting if youare just beginning to slowdown.

If you can't downshift, or ifdownshifting doesn't help, stopthe vehicle and set the parkingbrake.If you have passengers, youmay want to have them get outand move away from thevehicle.If you are headed straight upthe hill, shift into reverse,release the parking brake, andslowly back straight down thehill, using the brake pedal tocontrol speed.If you are not headed straightuphill or you don't feelcomfortable backing down,don't. If the engine is stillrunning, leave the parkingbrake on, shift to Park(automatic transmission) or


Driving Up a Hill

First (manual transmission),then turn the engine off. Seethat any passengers carefullyget out and clear of the vehicle,then go get help.

Driving Down a Hill

Before driving down a hill, aswith driving up a hill, you need toevaluate whether you can make it

safely to the bottom and awayfrom the slope. Ask:

Is the hill too steep to maintainspeed and steering control?

Is the surface too rough or tooslippery?

Can you drive straight downwithout turning?

Is there a safe exit when youreach the bottom of the hill?

If you decide you can safelydescend a hill:

Shift into a low gear. This letsengine compression (or enginebraking) help control speed andkeep your brakes fromoverheating.

Hold the steering wheel firmlyand drive straight down thehill.Gently apply the brakes to helpcontrol speed, but do not "ride"the brakes. If you smell hotbrakes or feel brake fade, shiftto a lower gear or stop and letthe brakes cool down.

Try not to brake hard. If you doapply the brakes hard, do notpump the brake pedal. Pumpingdoes not allow the anti-lockbrake system to work as


efficiently, which may increaseyour stopping distance.

Driving Across Slopes

There may be times when younotice a trail begin to slope to oneside or another. Or you may bedriving in open country and see ahill or slope you want to considercrossing at an angle. Crossing ordriving on a smooth, low-angle dirt

slope or trail may be no problem.But before you drive on any slopedterrain, consider these facts:

A slope that you can drivestraight up or down can be toosteep to drive across.When you drive straight up ordown a slope, the length of thewheel base reduces the chanceof your vehicle tipping overbackward or forward.

When you drive across a slope,your vehicle's higher center ofgravity and narrower trackincreases the chance of tippingor rolling over.Driving across a slope putsmore weight on the downhillwheels, which increases thechance of tipping.

If you drive across a slope andan uphill wheel hits a bump, orif a downhill wheel drops into arut or hole, your vehicle willtip downward even more.

If you can't clearly see all terrainconditions (good traction, nobumps, holes or other obstacles, asafe way down and out, etc.), stopand walk the slope or trail beforeyou drive on it. If you have anydoubt whether you can safelydrive across a slope or slopingtrail, don't do it. Find anotherroute.


Obstacles

It's very common to encounterrocks, bumps, holes and logsoff-road. Here are a few tips onhow to deal with them.

Rocks: Large rocks candamage your suspension orother components, and evensmall, sharp rocks can cut yourtires. Always go slow in rockyterrain, and carefully maneuveraround any rock that may betoo large.

Bumps and Holes: Largebumps and holes can bounceyou around and cause you tolose control or get stuck. Slowdown when the terrain getsrough so you can keep controlof the vehicle.

Logs: Driving over a large logmight damage your vehicle orcause you to get stuck. If youcan't drive around the log, youmay be able to back up andlook for a better path.


Crossing a Stream

Before driving through water, stopand make sure that:

The water is never deep enoughto cover your wheel hubs, axlesor exhaust pipe. You couldstall, and not be able to restartthe engine. The water couldalso damage important vehiclecomponents.

The water is not flowing toofast. Deep rushing water cansweep you downstream. Evenvery shallow rushing watercan wash the ground fromunder your tires and cause youto lose traction and possiblyroll over.

The banks are sloped so youcan drive out.

The banks and surface underthe water provide goodtraction. The water may hidehazards such as rocks, holes, ormud.

If you decide it's safe to drivethrough water, choose a low gearand suitable speed, then proceedwithout shifting or changingspeed. At fast speeds, water canmore easily splash on yourignition system, which couldmake the engine stall.

After driving through water, testyour brakes. If the brakes got wet,drive slowly while gentlypumping the brakes until theyoperate normally.


Driving in Bad WeatherDriving in light rain should causeno special driving problems. Butheavy rain can impair visibility,make off-road surfaces slippery,swell streams and cause flooding.Avoid streambeds and canyonswhenever rain is heavy or thereare thunderstorms in flash-floodareas. Find a safe place to stop ifyou can't continue driving safely.

Driving in snow can also impairvisibility. As snow covers theground, it can conceal rocks, ruts,ditches and other hazards. Snowcan make it impossible to follow atrail or choose a safe path. If snowthreatens to become heavy, werecommend that you leave thearea as soon as possible and returnto pavement. Should you need tostop while it's snowing, do not letthe engine idle for a prolongedtime unless you have goodventilation. Carbon monoxide cancollect in the vehicle and causeillness or death.


If you Get StuckIf you ever get stuck off-road,stop, assess the situation, considerall your options, then choose asafe and appropriate course ofaction.

Always put your safety and yourpassengers' safety first. Theremay be times when quick action isnecessary, but it's generally best ifyou do not over-react. Trying tomuscle your way out bycontinuing to spin the wheelsrarely helps, and it can make iteven harder to get out.

Other things you should not doare:

Do not use a jack. A jack onlyworks on firm, level terrain.Also, your vehicle could easilyslip off the jack and hurt you orsomeone else.

Do not "rock" the vehicleforward and backward byshifting back and forth betweenFirst and Reverse. This candamage your transmission.

Following are a few tips on howyou might deal with threedifferent situations.

Stuck in Mud or LooseTerrainHere are some options for you toconsider if you get stuck in softsand, loose soil or gravel, or deepmud:

Shift into 4-wheel drive if youhave 4-wheel drive and aren'talready in it. If you aren't intoo deep, this may be all youneed to get going.

Letting some air out of the tiresmay help you get bettertraction.

You may want to use a shovelto dig out some soil around thetires. If you do, keep a safedistance from the vehicle incase it moves.


Get a tow from another vehicleby using a towing rope, strap orchain. To be successful, thepulling vehicle will needadequate power and traction.Be sure the rope, strap or chainis attached to the frames (notbumpers) of both vehicles, andkeep people away in case theconnecting device breaks.

Use a winch. If you have awinch, you might be able toattach it to another vehicle or asturdy, fixed object (such as atree). Or another vehicle with awinch may be able to attach itto your vehicle and pull youout.

Get experienced help. This isoften the best solution,especially if you have dug indeep, are stuck in mud or onsloped terrain.

Grounded on a Bump or LogYou have fewer options if youbottom out (or high-center) on abump, log, or other raisedobstacle. You can try getting atow (forward or backward) fromanother vehicle, use a winch (seeabove for additional tips), or getexperienced help.

Flat TireChange a flat tire only if thevehicle is on firm, level groundthat can safely support the jack. Ifthis is not the case, your optionsare: drive slowly and carefullyuntil you reach firm, level ground;get a tow from another vehicle (asdescribed above); or send forexperienced help.


When you decide to stop off-road,whether for a brief rest or tospend the night, choose a firm,level place to park. Do not parkon a soft surface, on damp,marshy land, or in streambeds orgullies in flash-flood areas. If theground is not level, you shouldblock the wheels to prevent thevehicle from rolling.


Parking

Before returning to pavement:

Check the condition of yourtires. Damaged tires are morelikely to fail and should not beused on pavement.

If you let air out of your tires,inflate them to therecommended levels beforegoing any distance onpavement. If you must drivewith underinflated tires, do notexceed 30 mph.

Remove any mud that mayhave stuck to the tires, wheels,or driveshafts. Mud can causeimbalance and damageimportant vehicle components.

Remove any twigs, rocks orother objects you might havepicked up along the way.

Follow all procedures forshifting back to 2-wheel driveif you've been traveling in4-wheel drive.

When you get home, thoroughlywash your vehicle and inspect itclosely for signs of damage. Givespecial attention to the tires, rims,suspension and other underbodycomponents, and correct anyproblem you find. Also make sureall nuts, bolts and other criticalfasteners are properly secured.

Driving off-road causes morewear-and-tear on the paint andexterior trim. Stones and otherdebris thrown up by your tires,and the tires of other off-roadvehicles you are following, canchip the paint and chrome. Bushesand tree branches can causehairline scratches. Although thereare some protective devicesavailable (mud guards, etc.) avehicle that is driven off-road willincur more damage than one thatis not. Frequent washing andwaxing may help to minimize thedamage caused by off-roaddriving.


Inspection and Cleaning

T H I S BROCHURE WAS PREPARED TO

ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT

FRONTAL A I R B A G S. PLEASE TAKE A

FEW M O M E N TS TO READ IT, BECAUSE

WE BELIEVE THAT THE MORE YOU

KNOW ABOUT HOW YOUR A IRBAGS

W O R K, THE SAFER YOU AND YOUR

PASSENGERS W I LL B E.

Restraint System (SRS). The key word

here is "supplemental," because airbags

are designed to work with, not replace,

the "primary" restraint system — seat belts.

So even if your car has airbags, be sure

you and your passengers always buckle up.

Together, seat belts and airbags helprestrain and protect front-seat occupantsduring a severe frontal collision.

Did you know that chances are you will be

involted in a car crash once every six years?

You can't do much to change the odds.

But with seat belts and airbags, you can

greatly reduce the chance of injury in a crash.

Seat belts are your first line of defense.

A properly worn seat belt can help protect

you in all types of collisions, including frontal

crashes, side and rear impacts, and rollovers.

Airbags can also contribute to your safety.

Airbags are part of a vehicle's Supplemental

In a 30-mph head-on crash into a barrier, a car stops inabout 1/10th of a second—less time than the blink of aneye. What happens to an occupant during this time?

However, if the occupant iswearing a seat belt, the belt willrestrain them and reduce thechance of injury. An airbag canfurther reduce the risk of injuriesto the occupant's head and chest.

Without a seat belt or an airbag,the occupant will continueforward at 30 mph until theystrike the car's interior, andpotentially suffer very seriousinjuries.

"Speed kills," a saying goes. While the risk

of injury generally increases with speed,

not all auto injuries occur at high speeds,

and speed alone does not cause injuries. In

fact, the main cause of collision injuries is

a rapid decrease in speed, or rapid

deceleration.

For example, if a car collides head-on

with a solid barrier at 30 mph, the car will

decelerate to a stop almost instantly. Since

a person inside the car travels as fast as the

car, they will continue forward at 30 mph

until they are stopped by something.

If a person is not stopped by a seat belt

or airbag, they will strike the interior of the

car with a force equivalent to falling out of a

third-story window and landing face-first on

pavement. However, if the person is wearing

a seat belt, the belt will allow them to

decelerate at a slower rate. And the airbag

will provide additional protection for their

head and chest.

If a car crashes head-on into a solidbarrier at 30 mph, an unbeltedoccupant can strike the interior of thecar with a force equal to falling out ofa third-story window onto pavement.

Crush zones, located in the front and rearof a vehicle, are designed to crumple andabsorb energy in a front or rear-end collision.

A collapsible steering column,smooth or recessed controls, andenergy-absorbing materials arepart of a car's occupant protectionsystem.

Seat belts help restrain occupants,keep them in position, and givethem more time to slow downin a crash

Airbags are designed togive added protection forthe head and chest in asevere frontal collision.

To help automobile occupants survive the

tremendos forces of a crash, vehicle

designers have developed numerous safety

features and systems.

For example, modern automobiles have

front and rear "crush zones" that are

designed to deform or crumple in a crash.

The crumpling lengthens the duration of the

crash, and helps absorb and dissipate crash

energy, which lowers the rate of deceleration

in the passenger compartment.

The dashboard, seats, headrests and other

interior parts of automobiles also use energy-

absorbing materials to help protect the

occupants. In addition, the steering column is

designed to collapse if struck during a

collision.

Seat belts have proven to be the single

most effective device in reducing automobile

fatalities and injuries in all types of accidents.

When properly worn, seat belts help restrain

occupants from striking interior parts of the

car, they keep occupants connected to the car

so they can take advantage of the energy

absorption built into the car, and they

allow occupants to decelerate more slowly

during a crash.

Airbags are a recent addition to a

car's occupant protection system. Airbags

have an important but limited role—to

help protect the heads and chests of

front-seat occupants during a severe

frontal collision.

However, you can't get the full

benefit of these life-saving features

unless you buckle up. In short, it's better

to let the car absorb the energy. It's built

to take it.

When sensors detect a severe frontal

collision, the airbags instantly inflate

to provide extra protection for an

occupant's head and chest.

After inflating, the airbags immediately

deflate. The entire process of inflation,

protection, and deflation takes place in a

fraction of a second—so fast that many

people involved in accidents say they did not

realize their airbag had deployed until they

saw the deflated bag lying in front of them.

The fact that an airbag can automatically

help protect you is quite remarkable, yet the

underlying principle is quite simple.

When an airbag equipped car is involved

in a severe frontal collision, sensors detect the

crash and instantly inflate the airbags. While

your seat belt restrains your torso, the airbag

provides a cushion for your chest and head,

which cannot be fully restrained by a seat

belt.

SRS sensors are designed to react to a frontal impact that generates more force thana 25-mph head-on crash into a parked vehicle of comparable size and weight.

Airbags are only one part of a car's total

occupant protection system, and they have

one simple but very important role—to

supplement seat belts and help protect front-

seat occupants during a severe frontal

collision.

A frontal collision can be either head-on

or at an angle, with another vehicle or a solid

object.

Airbags are designed to deploy in a severe head-

on or angled frontal collision with another

vehicle, stopped or moving.

Airbags are also designed to deploy in a severe frontal collision with an objectof equal or greater mass.

Airbags can povide life-saving protection,

but only in a severe frontal collision.

Airbags cannot be helpful, and they are

not intended to deploy, in any other type of

collision, including side or rear impacts,

rollovers, and minor or moderate frontal

collisions.

If the airbags deployed in any of these

situations, they would only cause additional

replacement expense, and they might even

cause additional injuries.

Seat belts, and the car's ability to absorb

crash energy, offer adequate protection in

minor and moderate frontal collisions.

Airbags cannot be very helpful, and are notdesigned to deploy, if your car is hit in the rear.

Because of their frontal location, airbagsoffer little if any protection in side impacts.

Airbags usually cannot be helpful andrarely deploy in rollovers.

By now you know that airbags are designed to

deploy in a severe frontal collision with

another vehicle or a solid object. But did you

know your airbags can also deploy if you hit a

pothole or a raised object, they might or

might not deploy if you crash into a pole or

tree, and they rarely deploy if you underride

another vehicle?

If a wheel drops into a deep pothole, or youstrike a hard, raised object such as a curb orspeed bump, a brief high rate of decelerationmay cause the airbags to deploy.

Colliding head-on with a pole or tree is lesslikely to cause airbag deployment than if youstrike the object off-center near harder, morerigid structural pans.

When a car underrides another vehicle atrelatively low speed, the impact usually involvesonly crushable body pans, and the airbagsrarely deploy.

The framework inside a passenger vehicle ismade of strong, rigid steel to provide a "safetycage" around the occupants and a sturdyplatform for the drive train and othercomponents. Frontal collisions involving rigidparts can produce high rates of deceleration andairbag deployment.

To wear a seat belt properly, you should

sit up, well back in your seat, with the lap

portion of the belt pulled snugly across your

hips and the shoulder portion resting against

your chest and shoulder.

Before driving away, it's very important to

move the driver's seat as far back as you can

while still allowing good control of the vehicle.

If you have a front passenger, have them move

their seat as far back as possible. Why?

You can get the maximum protection offered

by airbages by following a few simple rules.

First, always wear a seat belt. A seat belt is

your best protection in any accident.

A properly worn seat belt will also help keep

you in a good position should your airbags

ever deploy.

To do their job, airbags inflate with

tremendous speed—over 100 mph. So while

airbags can save your life and reduce the

severity of injuries, they can also cause

abrasions and bruises. And if you sit too

close, or don't wear a seat belt, or don't sit in

a proper position, an inflating airbag can

cause broken bones or more serious injuries.

Wearing a seat belt, and sitting up, well back

from the steering wheel or dashboard, reduces

the chance of injuries caused by a crash or an

inflating airbag.

It's well-known that all children are safer

when they are properly restrained in the back

seat, not the front seat.

To avoid the possiblity of an infant being seriously injured or killed by

an inflating passenger airbag, a rear-facing child seat should always

be secured in the back seat, never in the front.

We also know that passenger airbags pose

additional risks to infants and children who

ride in the front. As a result, we urge you to

follow these rules:

Never put a rear-facing child seat in the

front seat of a car with a passenger airbag. If

the airbag inflates, it can hit the back of the

child seat with enough force to kill or severely

injure an infant.

Placing a forward-facing child seat in the

front seat of a car with a passenger airbag

can also be hazardous. If the vehicle seat is

too far forward, or the child's head is thrown

forward during a collision, an inflating airbag

can strike the child and possibly cause serious

or fatal injuries.

If a small child absolutely must ride in the

front, to reduce the risk of injury be sure to

move the vehicle seat as far to the rear as

possible, secure the child seat to the vehicle

with the seat belt, and strap the child in the

child seat according to the child seat maker's

instructions.

We also recommend that children who

have outgrown child seats sit in the back seat

and wear a lap/shoulder belt. If a child

slouches, scoots forward on the seat, leans

forward, turns sideways or puts their feet up

on the back of the seat in front of them, their

chance of being injured in any kind of crash

is greatly increased.

In addition, if a child is out of position in

the front seat, the child could be seriously or

fatally injured if they are struck by an

inflating airbag. If a larger child must sit in

the front, move the vehicle seat as far back as

possible, have the child sit up straight with

their back against the seat, and make sure the

seat belt is properly and securely fastened.

With or without airbags, toddlers and

larger children are safer when they are

properly restrained in the back seat.

If an automobile is badly damaged in a crash,

does this mean that the airbags should have

deployed?

Not necessarily. Someone who views vehicle

damage after a crash cannot accurately

determine whether or not the airbags should

have inflated. Actually, extensive damage to

crushable body parts usually indicates that the

car absorbed crash energy and reduced the

rate of deceleration to a level where the

airbags would not have been needed or

helpful.

Can airbags prevent all collision injuries?

Unfortunately, no safety system can provide

complete protection.

Airbags are designed to save your life

and reduce the severity of injuries to your

head and chest. But airbags cannot prevent all

injuries. During a severe frontal collision,

contacting an inflating airbag can result in

abrasions or bruises. Depending on the angle

of impact and other factors, you can also get

bumps, cuts, or even broken bones from

striking the windshield or other vehicle parts.

Of course, very severe collisions can

cause more serious injuries, including fatal

injuries—even when seat belts are properly

worn and the airbags deploy.

After an airbag deploys, there is smoke in the

air. Is this harmful?

The smoke or powder you may see is not

harmful to most people. However, people

with breathing problems may experience some

respiratory distress. If this is the case, get out

of the car, or open the windows or doors, as

soon as it is safe to do so.

Can an airbag be used more than once?

Airbags are designed for one-time use only.

In a collision with multiple impacts, the

airbags will deploy only during the first

severe frontal impact. After airbags deploy,

the bags and associated parts must be

replaced. Any seat belts worn will also

need to be replaced.

bumper, or pounding on the steering wheel or

dashboard will not make the airbags deploy.

Therefore, the chance of your airbags

deploying accidentally is extremely rare.

If your airbags ever deploy for no apparent

reason, have the vehicle inspected by your

dealer. More than likely, the dealer will find

undercarriage damage indicating that you hit

a pothole or hard raised object in the road,

and the airbags deployed because the sensors

detected a momentary rapid deceleration.

Can the airbags go off accidentally?

The airbag system is extremely

sophisticated and highly reliable. An

electronic system continually monitors the

sensors and other components whenever

the ignition is on, and the SRS indicator

light will alert you to any problem. Hard

braking, slamming the doors, kicking the

2001 passport online reference owner's...

Documents