Honda Accord Sedan 2003 Owner's Manual

2003 Accord Sedan Online Reference Owner's Manual

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

Contents

Owner's Identification Form

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

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

Your Car at a Glance ...........................................................................................................................2

Driver and Passenger Safety ..............................................................................................................5

Proper use and care of your car's seat belts, and Supplemental Restraint System.

Instruments and Controls.................................................................................................................55

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

Comfort and Convenience Features ..............................................................................................111

How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features.

Before Driving..................................................................................................................................203

What gasoline to use, how to break -in your new car, and how to load luggage and other cargo.

Driving ..............................................................................................................................................217

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

Maintenance.....................................................................................................................................245

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

Appearance Care..............................................................................................................................325

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

Taking Care of the Unexpected......................................................................................................333

This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, and how to handle them.

Technical Information.....................................................................................................................361

ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.

Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................377

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

Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)......................................................................................................381

How to order manuals and other tec hnical literature.

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

Service Information Summary

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

Navigation System

Introduction

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Congratulations! Your selection of a 2003 Honda Accord was a wise investment. It will give you years of driving pleasure.

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

Several warranties protect your new Honda. Read the warranty booklet thoroughly so you understand the coverages and are aware of your rights and responsibilities.

Maintaining your car according to the schedules given in this manual helps to keep your driving trouble-free while it preserves your investment. When your car needs maintenance, keep in mind that your Honda dealer’s staff is specially trained in servicing the many systems unique to your Honda. Your Honda dealer is dedicated to your satisfaction and will be pleased to answer any questions and concerns.

California Proposition 65 Warning

WARNING:

California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

This product contains or emits chemicals known to the State of

As you read this manual, you will find inf ormation that is preceded by a symbol. This information is intended to help you avoid damage to your Honda, other property, or the environment.

AFewWordsAboutSafety

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Your safety, and the safety of others, is very important. And operating this car saf ely is an important responsibility.

To help you make informed decisions about safety, we have provided operating procedures and other information on labels and in this manual. This inf ormation alerts you to potential hazards that could hurt you or others.

Of course, it is not practical or possible to warn you about all the hazards associated with operating or maintaining your car. You must use your own good judgement.

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

Safety Labels Safety Messages

three signal words: , , or . These signal words mean:

Safety Headings

Safety Precautions.

Safety Section Instructions

This entire book is filled with important safety information please read it carefully.

−

on the car.

−

preceded by a safety alert symbol and one of

DANGER WARNING CAUTION

You WILL be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if you don’t followinstructions.

You CAN be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if you don’t followinstructions.

You CAN be HURT if you don’tfollow instructions.

−

such as Important Safety Reminders or Important

−

such as Driver and Passenger Safety.

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how to use this car correctly and safely.

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Your Car at a Glance

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MIRROR CONTROLS (P.101)

DOOR LOCK SWITCH (P.79)

POWER WINDOW SWITCHES

(P.96)

HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS (P.72)

AUDIO SYSTEM DIGITAL CLOCK

(P.134, 150, 169) (P.139, 156, 174)

HEATING/COOLING CONTROLS (P.112)

TRUNK RELEASE HANDLE/ FUEL FILL DOOR RELEASE (P.84/204)

HOOD RELEASE HANDLE (P.206)

Your Car at a Glance

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HEADLIGHTS/ TURN SIGNALS (P. 68/70)

REMOTE AUDIO CONTROLS (P. 192)

VOICE CONTROL SWITCHES

MOONROOF SWITCH (P. 100)

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Only on cars equipped with Navigation System. Ref er to the Navigation System Owner’s Manual.

INSTRUMENT PANEL BRIGHTNESS (P. 69)

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TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM (P. 232)

TILT/TELESCOPIC ADJUSTMENT (P. 73)

WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS (P. 70, 71/72)

HORN

HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS (P. 72)

CRUISE CONTROLS (P. 195)

REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER (P. 72, 112, 125, 131)

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

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This section gives you important information about how to protect yourself and your passengers. It shows you how to use seat belts properly. It explains your Supplemental Restraint System. And it tells you how to properly restrain infants andchildreninyourcar.

.........Important Safety Precautions . 6

.............Your Car’s Safety Features . 7

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

...........................................Airbags . 9

..................Seats and Seat-Backs . 10

..........................Head Restraints . 11

..................................Door Locks . 11

........Pre-Drive Safety Checklist . 11

............................Protecting Adults . 12

.....1. Close and Lock the Doors . 12

...........2. Adjust the Front Seats . 13

............3. Adjust the Seat-Backs . 14

5. Fasten and Position the Seat

.....................................Belts . 15

....6. Adjust the Steering Wheel . 18

7. Maintain a Proper Sitting

................................Position . 18

.....Advice for Pregnant Women . 19

........................Protecting Children . 21

All Children Must Be

...............................Restrained . 21

Children Should Sit in the Back

...........................................Seat . 22

The Passenger’s Front Airbag

Poses Serious Risks to

...............................Children . 22

If You Must Drive with Several

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

If a Child Requires Close

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

General Guidelines for Using

...............................Child Seats . 26

.......................Protecting Infants . 30

.........Protecting Small Children . 33

...4. Adjust the Head Restraints . 15

...Additional Safety Precautions . 20

...Additional Safety Precautions . 25

.......Protecting Larger Children . 36

Using Child Seats with

.....................................Tethers . 39

.............................Using LATCH . 40

Additional Information About Your

.................................Seat Belts . 42

..Seat Belt System Components . 42

......................Lap/Shoulder Belt . 42

Automatic Seat Belt

...............................Tensioners . 43

...............Seat Belt Maintenance . 44

Additional Information About

...........................Your Airbags . 45

........................SRS Components . 45

How Your Front Airbags

.........................................Work . 45

...How Your Side Airbags Work . 47

How Your Side Curtain

..........................Airbags Work . 48

..How the SRS Indicator Works . 48

How the Side Airbag Cutoff

...........Indicator Light Works . 49

.............................Airbag Service . 51

...Additional Safety Precautions . 51

.............Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 52

...................................Safety Labels . 53

Driver and Passenger Safety

Important Safety Precautions

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You’ll find many saf ety recommendations throughout this section, and throughout this manual. Therecommendationsonthispage are the ones we consider to be the most important.

Always Wear Your Seat Belt

A seat belt is your best protection in all types of collisions. Airbags supplement seat belts, but airbags are designed to inflate only in a moderate to severe frontal collision. So even though your car is equipped with airbags, make sure you and your passengers always wear your seat belts, and wear them properly. (See page .)

Restrain All Children

Children are safest when they are properly restrained in the back seat, notthefrontseat.Achildwhoistoo smallforaseatbeltmustbeproperly restrained in a child safety seat. (See page .)

Driver and Passenger Safety

Be Aware of Airbag Hazards Control Your Speed

While airbags can save lives, they can cause serious or fatal injuries to occupants who sit too close to them, or are not properly restrained. Infants, young children, and short adults are at the greatest risk. Be sure to f ollow all instructions and warnings in this manual. (See page

Excessive speed is a major factor in crash injuries and deaths. Generally, the higher the speed the greater the risk, but serious accidents can also occur at lower speeds. Never drive faster than is safe for current conditions, regardless of the maximum speed posted.

Keep Your Car in Safe Condition

Don’t Drink and Drive

Alcohol and driving don’t mix. Even one drink can reduce your ability to respond to changing conditions, and your reaction time gets worse with every additional drink. So don’t drink and drive, and don’t let your friends

Having a tire blowout or a mechanical failure can be extremely hazardous. To reduce the possibility of such problems, check your tire pressures and condition frequently, and perform all regularly scheduled maintenance. (See page .)

drink and drive, either.

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Your Car’s Safety Features

Your car is equipped with many features that work together to protect you and your passengers during a crash.

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Some safety features do not require anyactiononyourpart.These include a strong steel framework that forms a safety cage around the passenger compartment; f ront and rear crush zones that are designed to crumple and absorb energy during a crash; a collapsible steering column;

(6)

(7)

(5)

(1) Safety Cage (2) Crush Zones (3) Seats and Seat-Backs (4) Head Restraints (5) Collapsible Steering Column (6) Seat Belts (7) Front Airbags (8) Side Airbags (9) Side Curtain Airbags (10) Door Locks

If equipped:

(2)

(11) Seat Belt Tensioners

(11)

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and seat belt tensioners that automatically tighten the front seat belts in the event of a crash.

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Driver and Passenger Safety

Your Car’s Safety Features

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These safety features are designed to reduce the severity of injuries in a crash. However, you and your passengers can’t take full advantage of these safety features unless you remain sitting in a proper position

always wear your seat belts

and

properly.

In fact, some safety features can contribute to injuries if they are not used properly.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Seat Belts

Foryoursafety,andthesafetyof your passengers, your car is equipped with seat belts in all seating positions.

Your seat belt system also

includes a light on the instrument panel to remind you and your passengers to fasten your seat belts.

Why Wear Seat Belts

Seat belts are the single most effectivesafetydeviceforadultsand larger children. (Infants and smaller children must be properly restrained in child seats.)

Not wearing a seat belt properly increases the chance of serious injury or death in a crash, even though your car has airbags.

In addition, most states and all Canadian provinces require you to wear seat belts.

Not wearing a seat belt properly increases the chance of serious injury or death in a crash, even if you have airbags.

Be sure you and your passengers always wear seat belts and wear them properly.

When properly worn, seat belts:

Keep you connected to the car so you can take advantage of the car’s built-in safety features.

Help protect you in almost every type of crash, including frontal, side, and rear impacts and rollovers.

Your Car’s Safety Features

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Help keep you from being thrown against the inside of the car and against other occupants.

Keep you from being thrown out of the car.

Help keep you in a good position should the airbags ever deploy. A good position reduces the risk of injury from an inf lating airbag, and allows you to get the best advantage from the airbag.

Of course, seat belts cannot completely protect you in every crash.Butinmostcases,seatbelts can reduce your risk of serious injury.

What you should do:

Always wear your seat belt, and make sure you wear it properly.

Airbags

Your car has a Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) with front airbags to help protect the heads and chests of the driver and a front seat passenger during a moderate to severe f rontal collision.

Standard on V-6 and EX models. Optional on the U.S. LX model

Your car also has side airbags to help protect the upper torso of the driver or a front seat passenger during a moderate to severe side impact.

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Driver and Passenger Safety

Your Car’s Safety Features

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U.S. EX-V6 model, optional on Canadian EX-V6 model

Your car also has side curtain airbags. During a moderate to severe side impact, side curtain airbags help to protect the heads of the driver, front seat passenger, and passengers sitting in the outer rear seating positions.

The most important things you need to know about your airbags are:

Driver and Passenger Safety

Airbags do not replace seat belts.

They are designed to supplement the seat belts.

Airbags off er no protection in rear impacts, rollovers, or minor frontal or side collisions.

Airbags can pose serious hazards.

To do their job, airbags must inflate with tremendous force and speed. So while airbags help save lives, they can cause minor injuries, or more serious or even fatal injuries if occupants are not properly restrained or sitting properly.

What you should do:

Always wear your seat belt properly, and sit upright and as far back as possible from the steering wheel or dashboard.

Seats and Seat-Backs

Your car’s seats are designed to keep you in a comfortable, upright position so you can take full advantage of the protection offered by seat belts and the energy absorbing materials in the seats.

How you adjust your seats and seatbacks can also affect your safety. For example, sitting too close to the steering wheel or dashboard increases the risk of you or your passenger being injured by striking theinsideofthecar,orbyan inflating airbag.

Reclining a seat-back too f ar reduces the seat belt’s effectiveness and increases the chance that the seat’s occupant will slide under the seat belt in a crash and be seriously injured.

Your Car’s Safety Features

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What you should do:

Move the front seats as far back as possible, and keep adjustable seat-backs in an upright position whenever the car is moving.

Head Restraints

Head restraints can help protect you from whiplash and other injuries. For maximum protection, the back of your head should rest against the center of the head restraint.

Door Locks

Keeping your doors locked reduces thechanceofbeingthrownoutof the car during a crash. It also helps prevent occupants from accidentally opening a door and falling out, and outsiders f rom unexpectedly opening your doors.

Pre-Drive Saf ety Checklist

To make sure you and your passengers get the maximum protection from your car’s safety features, check the following each time before you drive away:

All adults, and children who have outgrown child safety seats, are wearing their seat belts and wearingthemproperly(seepage

Any infant or small child is properly restrained in a child seat inthebackseat(seepage ).

Frontseatoccupantsaresitting upright and as far back as possible from the steering wheel and dashboard (see page ).

Seat-backs are upright (see page

Head restraints are properly adjusted (see page ).

All doors are closed and locked (see page ).

All cargo is properly stored or secured (see page ).

Driver and Passenger Safety

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Protecting Adults

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The rest of this section gives more detailed inf ormation about how you can maximize your safety.

Remember, however, that no safety system can prevent all injuries or deaths that can occur in severe crashes, even when seat belts are properly worn and the airbags deploy.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Introduction

The f ollowing pages provide instructions on how to properly protect the driver and other adult occupants.

These instructions also apply to children who have outgrown child seats and are large enough to wear lap/shoulder belts. (See page for

important additional guidelines on how to properly protect larger children.)

Close and Lock the Doors

After everyone has entered the car, be sure the doors are closed and locked.

Your car has a door monitor light on the instrument panel to indicate when a specific door is not tightly closed.

For safety, locking the doors reduces thechancethatapassenger, especially a child, will open a door while the car is moving and accidentally fall out. It also reduces thechanceofsomeonebeingthrown out of the car during a crash.

For security, locked doors can prevent an outsider from unexpectedly opening a door when you come to a stop.

See page for how to lock the

doors.

Protecting Adults

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Adjust the Front Seats2.

Any driver who sits too close to the steering wheel is at risk of being seriously injured or killed by striking the steering wheel or from being struck by an inflating front airbag during a crash.

To reduce the chance of injury, wear your seat belt properly, sit upright with your back against the seat, and movetheseatawayfromthe steering wheel to the farthest distance that allows you to maintain full control of the car.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Transport Canada recommend that drivers adjust the seat so the center of the chest is at least 10 inches away from the center of the steering wheel. In addition to adjusting the seat, you can adjust the steering wheel in and out (see page ).

Also make sure your front seat passenger moves the seat as far to the rear as possible.

Sitting too close to a front airbag can result in serious injury or death if the front airbags inflate.

Always sit as far backfrom the front airbags as possible.

Most shorter drivers can get f ar enough away from the steering wheel and still reach the pedals. However, if you are concerned about sitting too close, we recommend that you investigate whether some type of adaptive equipment may help.

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

See page for how to adjust the

front seats.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Adults

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Adjust the Seat-Backs3.

Adjust the driver’s seat-back to a comfortable, upright position, leaving ample space between your chest and the airbag cover in the center of the steering wheel. If you sit too close to the steering wheel, you could be injured if the front airbag inflates.

Driver and Passenger Safety

A front passenger should also adjust the seat-back to an upright position, but as far f rom the dashboard as possible. A passenger who sits too close to the dashboard could be injured if the f ront airbag inflates.

Reclining a seat-back so that the shoulder part of the belt no longer rests against the occupant’s chest reduces the protective capability of the belt. It also increases the chance of sliding under the belt in a crash and being seriously injured. The farther a seat-back is reclined, the greater the risk of injury.

Reclining the seat-back too far can result in serious injury or death in a crash.

Adjust the seat-back to an upright position and sit well back in the seat.

See page for how to adjust seat-

backs.

Protecting Adults

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Adjust the Head Restraints Fasten and Position the Seat

4. 5. Belts

Before driving, make sure everyone with an adjustable head restraint has properly positioned the head restraint. The restraint should be positioned so the back of the occupant’s head rests against the center of the restraint. A taller person should adjust the restraint as high as possible.

Improperly positioning head restraints reduces their effectiveness and you can be seriously injured in a crash.

Make sure head restraints are in place and positioned properly before driving.

Properly adjusted head restraints will help protect occupants from whiplash and other crash injuries.

See page for how to adjust the

head restraints.

Insert the latch plate into the buckle, then tug on the belt to make sure the belt is securely latched. Also check that the belt is not twisted, because a twisted belt can cause serious injuries in a crash.

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Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Adults

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

If necessary, pull up on the belt again to remove any slack from the shoulder part, then check that the belt rests across the center of your chest and over your shoulder. This

Driver and Passenger Safety

spreads the forces of a crash over the strongest bones in your upper body.

Improperly positioning the seat belts can cause serious injury or death in a crash.

Make sure all seat belts are properly positioned before driving.

If the seat belt touches or crosses your neck, or if it crosses your arm instead of your shoulder, you need to adjust the seat belt anchor height.

Protecting Adults

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RELEASE BUTTONS

To adjust the height of a front seat belt anchor, squeeze the two release buttons and slide the anchor up or down as needed (it has four positions).

Never place the shoulder portion of a lap/shoulder belt under your arm or behind your back.

This could cause

very serious injuries in a crash.

If a seat belt does not seem to work as it should, it may not protect the occupant in a crash.

sit in a seat with an inoperative seat belt.

Anyone using a seat belt that is

No one should

not working properly can be seriously injured or killed. Have your Honda dealer check the belt as soon as possible.

See page for additional

information about your seat belt system and how to take care of your belts.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Adults

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Adjust the Steering Wheel Maintain a Proper Sitting

6. 7. Position

After all occupants have adjusted their seats and put on seat belts, it is very important that they continue to sit upright, well back in their seats, with their feet on the floor, until the car is parked and the engine is off.

Sitting improperly can increase the chance of injury during a crash. For example, if an occupant slouches, lies down, turns sideways, sits

forward, leans forward or sideways, Adjust the steering wheel, if needed, so that the wheel points toward your chest, not toward your face.

Pointing the steering wheel toward your chest provides optimal protection from the airbag.

or puts one or both feet up, the

chance of injury during a crash is

greatly increased.

In addition, an occupant who is out of position in the front seat can be seriously or f atally injured by striking interior parts of the car, or by being struck by an inflating front airbag. Being struck by an inflating side airbag can result in possibly serious injuries.

Sitting improperly or out of position can result in serious injury or death in a crash.

Always sit upright, well back in the seat, with your feet on the floor.

See page for how to adjust the

steering wheel.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Adults

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Remember, to get the best protection from your car’s airbags and other safety features, you must sit properly and wear your seat belt properly.

Advice for Pregnant Women

Because protecting the mother is the

best way to protect her unborn child,

a pregnant woman should always

wear a seat belt whenever she drives

or rides in a car.

Remember to keep the lap portion of

the belt as low as possible across

your hips.

Pregnant women should also sit upright and as far back as possible from the steering wheel or dashboard. This will reduce the risk of injuries to both the mother and her unborn child that can be caused by a crash or an inflating airbag.

Each time you have a check-up, ask your doctor if it’s okay for you to drive.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Adults

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Additional Safety Precautions

Two people should never use the same seat belt.

If they do, they could be very seriously injured in a crash.

Do not put any accessories on seat belts.

Devices intended to improve occupant comfort or reposition the shoulder part of a seat belt can severely compromise the protective capability of the seat belt and increase the chance of serious injury in a crash.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Do not place hard or sharp objects between yourself and a front airbag.

Carrying hard or sharp objects on your lap, or driving with a pipe or other sharp objects in your mouth, can result in injuries if your front airbag inflates.

Do not attach or place objects on the f ront airbag covers.

Any object attached to or placed on the covers marked ‘‘SRS AIRBAG’’ in the center of the steering wheel and on top of the dashboard could interfere with the proper operation of the airbags. Or, if the airbags inflate, the objects could be propelled inside the car and hurt someone.

On models with side airbags or side curtain airbags, do not attach hard objects on or near a f ront door.

If a side airbag or a side curtain airbag inflates, a cup holder or other hard object attached on or near the door could be propelled inside the car and hurt someone.

Keep your hands and arms away from the airbag covers.

If your hands or arms are close to the airbag cover in the center of the steering wheel or on top of the dashboard, they could be injured if the front airbag inflates.

Children depend on adults to protect

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them. However, despite their best intentions, many parents and other adults may not know how to

properly

protect young passengers.

So if you have children, or if you ever need to drive with a grandchild or otherchildreninyourcar,besureto read this section.

Children who are unrestrained or improperly restrained can be seriously injured or killed in a crash.

Any child too small for a seat belt should be properly restrained in a child seat. A larger child should be properly restrained with a seat belt.

Protecting Children

All Children Must Be Restrained

Each year, many children are injured or killed in car crashes because they are either unrestrained or not properly restrained. In f act, car accidents are the number one cause of death of children ages 12 and under.

To reduce the number of child deaths and injuries, every state and Canadian province requires that infants and children be restrained whenever they ride in a car.

Anychildwhoistoosmalltoweara seat belt should be properly restrained in a child seat.

A larger child should always be restrained with a seat belt, and use a booster, if needed.

(See page

(See page .)2636

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Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Children

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Additional Precautions to Parents

Neverholdaninfantorchildon your lap.

If you are not wearing a seat belt in a crash, you could be thrown forward into the dashboard and crush the child.

child can be torn from your arms during a crash. For example, if your car crashes into a parked car at 30 mph (48 km/h), a 20-lb (9 kg) infant will become a 600-lb (275 kg) force, and you will not be able to hold on.

Never put a seat belt over yourself and an infant or child.

During a crash, the belt could press deep into the child and cause very serious injuries.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Children Should Sit in the Back Seat

According to accident statistics, children of all ages and sizes are safer when they are restrained in the back seat, not the front seat. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Transport Canada recommend that all children ages 12 and under be properly restrained in the back seat.

In the back seat, children are less likely to be injured by striking hard interior parts during a collision or hard braking. Also, children cannot be injured by an inflating airbag when they ride in the back.

The Passenger’s Front Airbag Poses Serious Risks to Children

Front airbags have been designed to help protect adults in a moderate to severe f rontal collision. To do this, the passenger’s front airbag is quite large, and it inflates with tremendous speed.Ifyouarewearingaseatbelt,the

Infants Never put a rear-f acing child seat in the front seat of a car equipped with a passenger’s airbag.

If the airbag inflates, it can hit the back of the child seat with enough f orce to kill or very seriously injure an infant.

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Small Children Placing a f orward-f acing child seat in the front seat of a car equipped with a passenger’s front airbag can be hazardous.

If the car seat is too far forward, or the child’s head is thrown f orward during a collision, an inflating front airbag can strike the child with enough force to kill or very seriously injure a small child.

Larger Children Children who have outgrown child seats are also at risk of being injured or killed by an inflating passenger’s front airbag.

Whenever possible, larger children should sit in the back seat, in a booster seat if needed, and be properly restrained with a seat belt. (See page for important

information about protecting larger children.)

U.S. Models

To remind you of the passenger’s front airbag hazards, and that children must be properly restrained in the back seat, your car has warninglabelsonthedashboardand on the driver’s and front passenger’s visors. Please read and follow the instructions on these labels.

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Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Children

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Canadian Models

To remind you of the front airbag hazards, your car has warning labels on the driver’s and front passenger’s visors. Please read and follow the instructions on these labels.

Driver and Passenger Safety

If You Must Drive with Several Children

Your car has three seating positions in the back seat where children can be properly restrained.

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

Place the largest child in the front seat, provided the child is large enough to wear a seat belt properly (see page ).

Move the car seat as far to the rear as possible (see page ).3613

Have the child sit upright and well backintheseat(seepage ).

Make sure the seat belt is properly positioned and secured (see page

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If a Child Requires Close Attention

Many parents say they prefer to put an infant or small child in the front passenger seat so they can watch the child, or because the child requires attention.

Placing a child in the front seat exposes the child to hazards from the passenger’s front airbag, and paying close attention to a child distracts the driver from the important tasks of driving, placing both of you at risk.

If a child requires physical attention or frequent visual contact, we strongly recommend that another adult ride with the child in the back seat. The back seat is far safer for a child than the front.

Additional Safety Precautions

Use childproof door locks to prevent children from opening the doors.

Using this feature will prevent children from opening the doors and accidentally f alling out (see page ).

Use the main power window switch to prevent children f rom opening the rear windows.

Using this feature will prevent children from playing with the windows, which could expose them to hazards or distract the driver (see page ).

Do not leave children alone in your car.

Leaving children without adult supervision is illegal in most states and Canadian provinces, and can be very hazardous. For example, infants and small childrenleftinacaronahotday can die from heatstroke. And children left alone with the key in the ignition can accidentally set the car in motion, possibly injuring themselves or others.

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Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Children

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Lock all doors and the trunk when your car is not in use.

who play in cars can accidentally get trapped inside the trunk and be seriously injured or could die. Teach your children not to play in or around cars. Know how to operate the emergency trunk opener and decide if your children should be shown how to use this feature(seepage ).

Keep car keys/remote transmitters out of the reach of children.

Even very young

children learn how to unlock car doors, turn on the ignition, and openthetrunk,whichcanleadto accidental injury or death.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Children

General Guidelines f or Using Child Seats

The f ollowing pages give general guidelines for selecting and installing child seats for infants and small children.

Selecting a Child Seat

To provide proper protection, a child seat should meet three requirements:

The child seat should meet safety

1. standards.

The child seat should meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 (FMVSS 213) or Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 (CMVSS 213). Look for the manufacturer’s statement of compliance on the box and seat.

The child seat should be of the

2. proper type and size to f it the child.

Infants:

Childrenuptoaboutone year old should be restrained in a rear-f acing, reclining child seat. Only a rear-facing seat provides the proper support to protect an infant’s head, neck, and back. See page

for additional information on

protecting infants.

Small Children:

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A child who is too large for a rear-facing child seat, and who can sit up without support, should be restrained in a f orwardfacing child seat. See page for

additional inf ormation on protecting small children.

The child seat should f it the car

3. seating position (or positions) whereitwillbeused.

Due to variations in the design of child seats, car seats, and seat belts, all child seats will not f it all car seating positions.

However, Honda is confident that one or more child seat models can fit andbeproperlyinstalledinall recommended seating positions in your car.

Protecting Children

Before purchasing a child seat, we recommend that parents test the child seat in the specific car seating position (or positions) where they intend to use the seat. If a previously purchased child seat does not fit, you may need to buy a different one that will fit.

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Placing a Child Seat Front Passenger’s Seat

This page briefly summarizes Honda’s recommendations on where to place rear-facing and forwardfacing child seats in your car.

Airbags Pose Serious

Risks to Children

The passenger’s front airbag inflates with enough force to kill or seriously injure an infant in a rear-facing child seat.

A small child in a forward-facing child seat is also at risk. If the carseatistoofarforward,or the child’s head is thrown forward during a collision, an inflating front airbag can kill or seriously injure the child.

If a small child must ride in the front, follow the instructions provided in this section.

Infants:

Never in the front seat, due

to the front airbag hazard.

Small children:

Not recommended, due to the front airbag hazard. If a small child must ride in front, move the car seat to the rear-most position and secure a front-facing child seat with the seat belt. (see page ).33

Back Seats Infants:

Recommended positions. Properlysecurearear-facing child seat (see pages and ).

Small children:

Recommended positions. Properly secure a frontfacing child seat (see pages and

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Protecting Children

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Installing a Child Seat

After selecting a proper child seat, and a good position to install the seat, there are three main steps in installing the seat:

Properly secure the child seat to

1. the car.

All child seats are designed to be secured to the car with the lap part of a lap/shoulder belt. Some child seats can be secured to the car’s LATCH anchorage system instead. A child whose seat is not properly secured to the car can be endangered in a crash. See pages , and for

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instructions on how to properly secure child seats in this car.

Make sure the child seat is firmly

2. secured.

After installing a child seat, push and pull the seat forward and f rom side to side to verify that it is secure.

To provide security during normal driving maneuvers as well as during a collision, we recommend that parents secure a child seat as firmly as possible.

However, a child seat does not need to be ‘‘rock solid.’’ In some cars or seating positions, it may be difficult to install a child seat so that it does not move at all. Some side-to-side or back-and-f orth movement can be expected and should not reduce the child seat’s effectiveness.

If the child seat is not secure, try installing it in a different seating position, or use a different style of child seat that can be firmly secured in the desired seating position.

Secure the child in the child seat.

Make sure the child is properly strappedinthechildseat according to the child seat maker’s instructions. A child who is not properly secured in a child seat canbethrownoutoftheseatina crash and be seriously injured.

Storing a Child Seat

When you are not using a child seat, either remove it and store it in a safe place, or make sure it is properly secured. An unsecured child seat can be thrown around the car during a crash or sudden stop and injure someone.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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