Honda Civic Si 1994 User Manual

1994 Civic Hatchback Online Reference Owner's Manual

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

Contents

Owner's Identification

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

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

Driver and Passenger Safety ..............................................................................................................3

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

Instruments and Controls.................................................................................................................29

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

Comfort and Convenience Features .............................................................................................. 63

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

Before Driving.................................................................................................................................. 85

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

Driving .............................................................................................................................................. 95

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

Maintenance.....................................................................................................................................111

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

Appearance Care..............................................................................................................................157

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

Taking Care of the Unexpected......................................................................................................165

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

Technical Information.....................................................................................................................187

ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.

Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................201

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

Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)......................................................................................................207

How to order manuals and other technical literature.

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

Gas Station Information

Information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.

Introduction

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Congratulations ! Your selection of a 1994 Honda Civic was a wise investment. It will give you years of driving
pleasure.

To enhance the enjoyment of your new car, take time to study this manual. In it, you will learn about your car's
many conveniences and useful features. Following the service interval and maintenance recommendations will
help keep your driving trouble-free while preserving your investment.

Keep this owner's manual in your car so you can refer to it at any time. Please make sure the manual stays with
the car if you sell it. The next owner will find it just as helpful.

Several warranties protect your Honda. We suggest you read the warranty booklets carefully to fully understand
the coverages and the responsibilities of ownership.

When your car needs scheduled maintenance, keep in mind that your Honda dealer's service staff is specially­trained in the service and maintenance of 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.

Best wishes and happy motoring.
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Honda Canada Inc.

Safety Messages

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Your safety and the safety of others is very important. We have provided
many important safety messages in this manual and on the vehicle.
Please read these messages carefully.

A safety message alerts you to potential hazards that could hurt you or

others. Each safety message is preceded by a safety alert symbol and

one of three words, DANGER, WARNING

or

CAUTION.

These mean:

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

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

You CAN be HURT if you don't

follow instructions.

Each safety message tells you what the hazard is, what can happen and
what you can do to avoid or reduce injury.

You will also see another important
symbol:

NOTICE

Your Honda or other property can
be damaged if you don't follow
instructions.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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This section gives you important
information about occupant
protection. It shows how to use seat
belts properly. It explains the
Supplemental Restraint System
that is standard in all U.S. models.
And it gives useful information
about how to protect infants and
children in your car.

Your Occupant Protection

System........................................ 4

The Seat Belt System

and How It Works.................... 5

Why Wear Seat Belts................... 5

Important Safety Reminders..... 5

Seat Belt System Components... 6

Lap/Shoulder Belt........................ 6

Lap Belt.......................................... 6

Wearing Seat Belts Properly...... 7

Wearing a Lap/Shoulder Belt.... 7

Wearing the Lap Belt.................. 9

Advice for Pregnant Women... 10

Seat Belt Maintenance.............. 10

Supplemental Restraint System.. 11

Important Safety Reminder..... 12

How the Driver's Airbag

Works........................................ 13

How the Passenger's Airbag

works........................................ 14

How the SRS Indicator Light

Works........................................ 15

System Service........................... 15

System Service Precautions .... 16

Additional Safety Information .... 17

Seat-back Position..................... 17

Door Locks.................................. 17

Storing Cargo Safely ................. 17

Driving with Pets....................... 18

Child Safety..................................... 18

Where Should Children Sit?..... 19

Important Safety Reminders... 19
General Guidelines

for Restraining Children

Under 18 kg (40 Ibs)............... 20

Restraining

an Infant Who Weighs

Less Than 9 kg (20 Ibs)......... 20

Restraining

a Child Who Weighs Between

9 and 18 kg (20 and 40 Ibs).... 21

Restraining a Child Who Weighs

Over 18 kg (40 Ibs).................. 22

Using a Seat Belt

Locking Clip............................ 22

Using Child Restraints

with Tethers............................ 23

Storing a Child Seat................... 24

Alcohol and Drugs.......................... 25

Carbon Monoxide Hazard ............ 26

Reporting Safety Defects

(US Cars)...................................... 27

Safety Labels................................... 28

Driver and Passenger Safety

Your Occupant Protection System

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Your Honda is equipped with seat
belts and other features that work
together to protect you and your
passengers during a crash.

Seat belts are the most important
part of your occupant protection
system. When worn properly, seat
belts can reduce the chance of
serious injury or death in a crash.

For added protection during a
severe frontal collision, your Honda
has a Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS), with airbags for the
driver and front seat passenger.
The SRS is optional on the Canadi­an CX model.

Two indicator lights are also part
of your safety system. One reminds
you to make sure you and your
passengers wear seat belts. The
other alerts you to a possible
problem with your supplemental
restraint system (see page 15).

The seats, head restraints, and door
locks also play a role in occupant
safety. For example, reclining the
seat-back can decrease the effec­tiveness of your seat belt. Head
restraints can help protect your
neck and head, especially during
rear-end impacts. Door locks help
keep your doors from being acciden­tally opened during a crash.

To get the maximum protection
from your occupant protection

system, check the following before
you drive away:

Everyone in the car is wearing a
seat belt properly (see page 7).
Infants and small children are
properly secured in child safety
seats (see page 19).
Both doors and the hatch/tailgate
are closed and locked (see page

17).

Seat-backs are upright (see page

17).

There are no loose items that
could be thrown around and hurt
someone during a crash or
sudden stop (see page 18).

By following these guidelines, you
can reduce injuries to yourself and
your passengers in many crash
situations. Remember, however,
that no safety system can prevent
all injuries or deaths that can occur
in severe crashes.

Driver and Passenger Safety

The Seat Belt System and How It Works

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Why Wear Seat Belts

Wearing seat belts, and wearing
them properly, is fundamental to
your safety and the safety of your
passengers.

During a crash or emergency stop,
seat belts can help keep you from

being thrown against the inside of

the car, against other occupants, or
out of the car.

Of course, seat belts cannot com­pletely protect you in every crash.
But, in most cases, seat belts
reduce your chance of serious
injury. They can even save your
life. That is why many states and
all Canadian provinces require you
to wear seat belts.

Not wearing a seat belt in­creases the chance of being
killed or seriously hurt in a
crash.

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

Important Safety Reminders

Seat belts are designed for adults
and larger children. All infants and
small children must be properly
restrained in child safety seats (see
page 19).

A pregnant woman needs to wear a
seat belt to protect herself and her
unborn child (see page 10).

Two people should never use the
same seat belt. If they do, they
could be very seriously injured in a
crash.

Do not place the shoulder portion of
a lap/shoulder belt under your arm
or behind your back. This could
increase the chance of serious
injuries in a crash.

Do not put shoulder belt pads or
other accessories on seat belts.
They can reduce the effectiveness
of the belts and increase the chance
of injury.

Driver and Passenger Safety

The Seat Belt System and How It Works

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Seat Belt System Components

Your Honda has seat belts in all
five seating positions. The front
seats and the outside positions of
the rear seat have lap/shoulder
belts. The center position of the
rear seat has a lap belt.

Your seat belt system also includes
a light on the instrument panel to
remind you to fasten your seat belt,
and to make sure your passengers
fasten theirs. This light comes on
when you turn on the ignition if
you have not fastened your seat
belt. A beeper also sounds for
several seconds (see page 32).

The following pages cover more
about the seat belt components and
how they work.

Lap/Shoulder Belt

LATCH
PLATE

BUCKLE

This style of seat belt has a single

belt that goes over your shoulder,

across your chest, and across your

hips.

Each lap/shoulder belt has an

emergency locking retractor. In

normal driving, the retractor lets

you move freely in your seat while

it keeps some tension on the belt.

During a collision or sudden stop,

the retractor automatically locks

the belt to help restrain your body.

Lap Belt

BUCKLE

LATCH PLATE

The lap belt has one manually­adjusted belt that fits across the
hips. It is similar to safety belts
used in airplanes.

Driver and Passenger Safety

The Seat Belt System and How It Works

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Wearing Seat Belts Properly

You can increase the effectiveness
of your seat belts if you take a little
time to read the following pages
and make sure you know how to
wear seat belts properly.

Not wearing a seat belt pro­perly increases the chance of
serious injury or death in a
crash.

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

Wearing a Lap/Shoulder Belt

Before putting on a front seat belt,
be sure your seat is adjusted
forward or backward to a good
driving or riding position and the
back of your seat is upright (see
page 51).

1. Pull the latch plate across your
body and insert it into the buckle.
Tug on the belt to make sure the
latch is securely locked.

2. Check that the belt is not twisted.

3. Position the lap portion of the
belt as low as possible across
your hips, not across your
stomach. This lets your strong
pelvic bones take the force of a
crash.

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Driver and Passenger Safety

The Seat Belt System and How It Works

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5. If the shoulder belt crosses your
neck while you are sitting in one
of the outside positions of the
rear seat, you need to adjust your
seating position. Move toward
the center of the seat until the
belt fits over your collarbone.

4. Pull up on the shoulder part of
the belt to remove any slack.
Make sure the belt goes over
your collarbone and across your
chest.

Driver and Passenger Safety

To unlatch the seat belt, push the
red PRESS button on the buckle.
Guide the belt across your body to
the door pillar. If the belt doesn't
retract easily, pull it out and check
for twists or kinks.

Wearing the Lap Belt

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The Seat Belt System and How It Works

1. Pull the latch plate across your

hips and insert it into the buckle
marked CENTER.

If the belt is too short, hold the
latch plate at a right angle and
pull to extend the belt. Insert the
latch plate into the buckle.

2. Position the belt as low as possi­ble across your hips and pelvic
bones, not across your stomach.
Pull the loose end of the belt to
adjust for a snug but comfortable
fit.

To unlatch the belt, push the red
PRESS button on the buckle.

Driver and Passenger Safety

The Seat Belt System and How It Works

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Advice for Pregnant Women

Protecting the mother is the best
way to protect her unborn child.
Therefore, a pregnant woman
should wear a properly-positioned
seat belt whenever she drives or
rides in a car.

If possible, use the lap/shoulder
seat belt, remembering to keep the
lap portion as low as possible (see
page 7).

Each time you have a check-up,
ask your doctor if it's okay for you
to drive and how you should
position a lap/shoulder seat belt.

Seat Belt Maintenance

For safety, you should check the
condition of your seat belts regu­larly.

Pull out each belt fully and look for
frays, cuts, burns, and wear. Check
that the latches work smoothly and
the lap/shoulder belts retract easily.
Any belt not in good condition or
not working properly should be
replaced.

If a seat belt is worn during a crash,
have your dealer replace the belt
and inspect the anchors for damage.

For information on how to clean
your seat belts, see page 161.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Supplemental Restraint System

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All Civics sold in the U.S. and
Canada (except the Canadian CX
model) are equipped with a Supple­mental Restraint System (SRS) as
standard equipment.
It is optional on the Canadian CX
model.

The supplemental restraint system
includes an airbag to help protect
your head and chest during a se-

vere frontal collision. This system

does not replace your seat belt. It

supplements, or adds to, the protec­tion offered by your seat belt.

Not wearing a seat belt in-

creases the chance of serious
injury or death in a crash, even
if you have an airbag.

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

INDICATOR

SRS

DRIVER'S
AIRBAG

PASSENGER'S
AIRBAG

CONTROL UNIT

The main components in your SRS
are:

One airbag in the steering wheel
for the driver and another in the
dashboard for the passenger.

A diagnostic system that, when
the ignition is ON (II), continu­ally monitors the control unit
(including the sensors), airbag
activator, and all related wiring.

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Driver and Passenger Safety

Supplemental Restraint System

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An indicator light to warn you of
a possible problem with the
system.

Emergency power backup in case
your car's electrical system is
disconnected in a crash.

Important Safety Reminder

Frontal collision range

Even with an airbag, you need to

wear a seat belt. The reasons are:

Airbags only inflate in severe

frontal collisions. They offer no

protection in rear impacts, side

impacts, rollovers, or moderate

frontal collisions.

An airbag inflates and deflates

very quickly. It cannot protect

you during any additional
impacts that can occur during a
crash.

A seat belt helps keep you in the
proper position when an airbag
inflates. An airbag opens with
considerable force and can hurt
you if you are not in the proper
position.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Supplemental Restraint System

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How the Driver's Airbag

Works

If you ever have a severe frontal
collision, your airbag will instantly
inflate to help protect your head
and chest.

When the airbag inflates, you may
hear a fairly loud noise and you
might see smoke or powder. This is
normal; it is caused by the inflation
of the airbag.

To do its job, the airbag inflates
with considerable force. So, while it
can reduce serious injuries and
even save your life, the airbag
might cause some facial abrasions
or other injuries. For this reason,
you should always sit as far back
from the steering wheel as comfort­able while still maintaining control.

After the bag completely inflates, it

immediately starts deflating so it

won't interfere with your visibility,

ability to steer, or ability to operate
other controls. The total time for
inflation and deflation takes less
than a fraction of a second. You
may not even be aware that the
airbag has been fully inflated.

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Driver and Passenger Safety

Supplemental Restraint System

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The airbag is stored in the center

of the steering wheel. For your

safety, do not attach any items to

the steering wheel. They could

interfere with the proper operation

of the airbag. Or, if the airbag

inflates, they could be propelled

inside the car and hurt someone.

How the Passenger's Airbag

Works

If you ever have a severe frontal
collision, the passenger's airbag
will inflate at the same time as the
driver's airbag.

This airbag is quite large and
inflates with considerable force. It
can seriously hurt a front seat
passenger who is not in the proper
position and wearing the seat belt
properly. Front seat passengers
should move the seat as far back as

practical and sit well back in the
seat.

Because of the airbag, we strongly
recommend that you do not put an
infant seat in the front passenger's
seat. If the airbag inflates, it can
dislodge the infant seat and
seriously injure the infant.

If a toddler seat is used in the front
passenger's seat, the vehicle seat
should be moved as far back as
possible. If the passenger's bag
inflates, it could seriously hurt a
toddler who is not in the proper
position or properly restrained.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Supplemental Restraint System

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The passenger's airbag is stored
near the top of the dashboard,
under a lid marked SRS. Do not
place any objects on top of this lid.
If the airbag inflates, those objects
can be propelled inside the car and
possibly hurt someone.

SRS

How the SRS
Indicator Light Works

The purpose of the SRS light on
your instrument panel is to alert
you of a potential problem with
your supplemental restraint system.

Have the system checked if:

The light does not come on when
you turn the ignition ON (II).

The light stays on after the
engine starts.

The light comes on or flashes
while you are driving.

System Service

Your supplemental restraint

system is virtually maintenance-

free. There are no parts you can

safely service.
You must have the system serviced

by an authorized Honda dealer:

If your airbags ever inflate. The
airbag and control unit must be
replaced. Do not try to remove or
discard the airbags by yourself.

This must be done by a Honda

dealer.

If the SRS indicator light alerts
you of a problem. Have the
supplemental restraint system
checked as soon as possible.
Otherwise, your airbag might not

inflate when you need it.

When the car is ten years old.
Have the dealer inspect the
system. The production date is
on the driver's door jamb for
your convenience.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Supplemental Restraint System

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System Service Precautions

Do not modify your steering wheel
or any other part of the supple­mental restraint system. Modifica­tions could make the system inef­fective.

Do not tamper with the system's
components or wiring. This could
cause the airbag to inflate inadver­tently, possibly injuring someone
very seriously.

Tell anyone who works on your car
that you have a supplemental
restraint system. Failure to follow
the procedures and precautions in
the official Honda service manual
could result in personal injury or
damage to the system.

Scrapping an entire car that has an
uninflated airbag can be dangerous.
Get assistance from a Honda dealer
if your car must be scrapped.

If you sell your car, please be sure
to tell the new owner that the car
has a supplemental restraint sys­tem. Alert them to the information
and precautions in this part of the
owner's manual.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Safety Information

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The seat belts and airbag are obvi­ously important parts of your occu­pant protection system.

In addition, you should know that
sitting upright, locking the doors,
and stowing things properly can
also increase your safety and
possibly even save your life.

Seat-back Position

The seat-backs should be in an
upright position for you and your
passengers to get the most protec­tion from the seat belts.

If you recline a seat-back, you
reduce the protective capability of

your seat belt. The farther a seat­back is reclined, the greater the
risk that you will slide under the
belt in a severe crash and be very
seriously injured.

For information on how to adjust
the seat-back, see page 51.

Door Locks

It is not safe to leave your car doors
unlocked. A passenger, especially a
child, could open a door and
accidentally fall out. Also, there is a
greater chance of being thrown out
of the car during a crash when the
doors are not locked.

Storing Cargo Safely

Before you drive, make sure you
first securely store or tie down any
items that could be thrown around
the car and hurt someone, or
interfere with your ability to
operate the controls.

(DX and Si)
Do not put any items on top of the
cargo area cover. They can block
your rear view, and could be
thrown about the interior in a crash.

Be sure to keep compartment doors

closed when the car is moving. If a
front passenger hits the door of an
open glove box, for example, he
could injure his knees.

For information on loading cargo,
see page 94 .

Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Safety Information, Child Safety

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Driving with Pets

Loose pets can be a hazard while
you are driving. An unrestrained
pet can interfere with your ability
to drive the car. In a crash or
sudden stop, loose pets or cages can
be thrown around inside the car
and hurt you or your passengers. It
is also for their safety that pets
should be properly restrained in
your car.

The recommended way to restrain
a medium-sized or larger dog is
with a special traveling harness.
This harness can be secured to the
rear seat with a seat belt. Travel
harnesses are available at pet
stores.

A small dog, cat, or other small
animal will be safest in a pet carrier
with rigid sides. Choose a style that
allows you to secure it to the car's
seat by routing a seat belt through
the carrier's handle.

For further information, contact
your veterinarian or local animal
protection society.

Child Safety

Children depend on adults to
protect them. To help make sure
we do, every state and Canadian
province has laws requiring infants
and young children to be properly
restrained whenever they ride in a
car.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Child Safety

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An infant or child who is not
properly restrained can be
killed or seriously injured in a
crash.

Be sure any child too small for
seat belts is properly secured
in a child restraint.

Where Should Children Sit?

According to accident statistics,

children of all sizes and ages are
safer when they are properly
restrained in the rear seat rather
than the front seat.

We recommend that, whenever
possible, you secure your child's
infant or toddler seat in the center
position of the rear seat with the

lap belt.

For cars with a passenger airbag,
we strongly recommend that you
do not put an infant seat in the
front passenger seat. If the airbag
inflates, it can hit the seat with
great force. The infant seat can be
dislodged and the baby seriously
injured.

If a toddler seat is used in the front
seat of a car equipped with a
passenger's airbag, the vehicle seat
should be moved as far back as
possible. If the passenger's bag
inflates, it could seriously hurt a
toddler who is not in the proper
position or properly restrained.

We also recommend that any child

who is too large to use an infant or

toddler seat ride in one of the out­side positions of the rear seat. The

child should then wear the lap/
shoulder belt properly for protec­tion.

Important Safety Reminders

Never hold a baby or child on your
lap when riding in a car. If you are
wearing your seat belt, the violent
forces created during a crash will
tear the child from your arms. The
child could be seriously hurt or
killed.

If you are holding a child and not
wearing a seat belt in a crash, you
could crush the child against the
car's interior.

Never put your seat belt over
yourself and a child. During a crash,
the belt could press deep into the
child, causing serious internal
injuries.

Two children should never use the
same seat belt. If they do, they
could be very seriously injured in a
crash.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Child Safety

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General Guidelines for
Restraining Children Under

18 kg (40 Ibs)

Use an approved child seat. The seat
must meet Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard 213 (FMVSS-213)
or Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards. Look for the manufac­turer's statement of compliance on
the box and seat.

Use a seat of the right size. Make
sure the seat fits your child. Check

the seat manufacturer's instruc­tions and labels for height and
weight limits.

Secure the child seat to the car. All
approved child seats are designed

to be secured to the car seat by the
lap belt or the lap belt portion of a
lap/shoulder belt. A child whose
seat is not properly secured to the
car can be endangered in a crash.

To properly route a seat belt
through a child seat, follow the seat

maker's instructions. If you use a
lap/shoulder belt, be sure you
install a locking clip on the belt (see

page 22).

Secure the child in the child seat.

Make sure the infant or child is

firmly secured to the child seat.

Use the straps provided, and
carefully follow the manufacturer's

instructions.

Restraining an Infant Who
Weighs

Less

Than 9 kg

(20 Ibs)

n infant up to about 9 kg (20 Ibs)

A
must be restrained in an infant seat
or a convertible seat designed for a
baby. Because infants must ride in
a reclining position, be sure the
infant seat always faces the REAR
of the car as shown.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Child Safety

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We recommend that, whenever
possible, you put the infant seat in
the center position of the rear seat
and secure it to the car with the lap
belt.
If you decide to put an infant seat
in any other seating position, you
must use a locking clip on the car's

lap/shoulder belt (see page 22).
We strongly recommend that you

do not put an infant seat in the
front passenger's seat of a vehicle
equipped with a passenger's airbag.
In a severe frontal collision, the
inflating airbag can hit the infant
seat with considerable force. The
infant seat can be dislodged,
causing serious injury to the infant.

Restraining a Child Who
Weighs Between 9 and 18 kg
(20 and 40 Ibs)

Toddler seats are designed for
children who weigh between 9 and
18

kg

(20 and 40 Ibs).

If a toddler seat is used in the front
seat of a car equipped with a
passenger's airbag, the vehicle seat
should be moved as far back as
possible. If the passenger's bag
inflates, it could seriously hurt a
toddler who is not in the proper
position or properly restrained.

The preferred place to put a
toddler seat is in the center position
of the rear seat. Use the car's lap
belt to secure the seat to the car.

If you decide to put a toddler seat
in any other seating position, you
must use a locking clip on the car's
lap/shoulder belt (see page 22).

Driver and Passenger Safety

Child Safety

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Restraining a Child Who
Weighs Over 18 kg (40 Ibs)

We recommend that, whenever

possible, a child who has outgrown
a toddler seat ride in one of the
outside positions of the rear seat

and use a lap/shoulder belt.

Put the seat belt on your child and

check its fit. The shoulder belt

should fit over the collarbone and

across the chest. The lap belt

should sit low on your child's hips,

not across the stomach.

If the shoulder belt crosses the

neck, have your child move toward

the center of the rear seat until the

belt fits properly. If the belt still

crosses the child's neck, you should

use a booster seat.

Several styles of booster seats are

available. We recommend a design

that allows the child to use the car's
lap/shoulder belt.

Whichever style you select, follow
the booster seat manufacturer's
instructions.

Using a Seat Belt Locking
Clip

Always use a seat belt locking clip
when you secure a child seat to
your car with a lap/shoulder belt.
This helps prevent the seat from

shifting position or overturning.

A locking clip is usually included
with the child seat. If you need a

clip, contact the seat's manufac-

turer or a store that sells child

restraints.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Child Safety

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

To install a locking clip, do the

following:

1. Place the child restraint in the
desired position. Route the lap/
shoulder belt through the
restraint according to the seat
manufacturer's instructions.

2. Insert the latch plate into the
buckle. Pull on the shoulder part

of the belt to make sure there is
no slack in the lap portion.

3. Tightly grasp the belt near the
latch plate. Pinch both parts of
the belt together so they won't
slip through the latch plate. Un­buckle the seat belt.

4. Install the locking clip as shown.
Position the clip as close as

possible to the latch plate.

5. Insert the latch plate into the
buckle. Push and pull on the
child seat to verify that it is held
firmly in place. If it is not, repeat
these steps until the restraint is
secure.

Using Child Restraints with

Tethers

500 mm (19.7 in)

270 mm (10.6 in)

Your Honda has three attachment
points for tether-style child seats.
Use the dimensions in the above
illustration to locate the attach­ment point you want to use. There
is a perforation on the lining at
each attachment point. Cut the
lining along the perforation to
make a hole.

CONTINUED

Driver and Passenger Safety

Child Safety

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

Then install the tether hardware
that came with the child seat.
Tighten the bolt to:

22 N.m (2.2 kg-m,16 Ib-ft)
If you are not sure how to install

the bracket, have it installed by
your Honda dealer.

If you need an anchor plate and
mounting hardware, you can obtain

them by writing to:
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

Consumer Affairs

1919 Torrance Blvd.

Torrance, CA 90501-2746

Canadian Cars

TOOTHED WASHER

The anchor plate and mounting
hardware for a top tether are
supplied with the car. When
installing, make sure the toothed
washer is on the bottom of the bolt.

The supplied anchor plate is
designed only for mounting a child
restraint. Do not use it for any
other purpose.

Storing a Child Seat

When you are not using an infant
seat or other child restraint, either
remove it or make sure it is

properly secured so it cannot be
thrown around the car during a
crash.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Alcohol and Drugs

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

Driving a car requires your full at-

tention and alertness. Traffic condi­tions change rapidly. You must be
able to react just as rapidly. Alcohol
or drugs directly affect your alert­ness and ability to react. Even pre-

scription and non-prescription medi-

cines can have this effect.

There are laws that deal with
drunken driving. These laws define
how much alcohol it takes in your
system to be legally "drunk." How­ever, your judgment and reaction
time get worse with every drink—
even the first one.

The safest thing you can do is

never drink and drive. This can be
done if you plan ahead. If you know
you are going to be drinking, make
plans to ride with a friend who will
not be drinking.

What if you find that you've been
drinking and cannot get a ride from

a friend? Find alternative transpor-

tation. Call a taxi. Take a bus.

Many communities have transporta-

tion services devoted to shuttling

people who have been drinking.

If you have no choice but to drive,
stop drinking and give yourself lots
of time to sober up. Time is the
only thing that can make you sober.
Things like coffee or a cold shower
don't speed up the process.

If you see friends trying to get

behind the wheel after drinking,

stop them. Drive them yourself or
arrange other transportation. If you

think you are interfering, remem­ber that your interference will keep
them from sharing the road with
you.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Carbon Monoxide Hazard

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

Your car's exhaust contains carbon
monoxide gas. You should have no

problem with carbon monoxide

entering the car in normal driving
if you maintain your car properly.
Have the exhaust system inspected
for leaks whenever:

The car is raised for an oil
change.

You notice a change in the sound
of the exhaust.
The car was in an accident that
may have damaged the under­side.

Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.
Breathing it can cause uncon­sciousness and can even kill
you.

Avoid any enclosed areas or

activities that expose you to

carbon monoxide.

High levels of carbon monoxide can
collect rapidly in enclosed areas,
such as a garage. Do not run the
engine with the garage door closed.
Even with the door open, run the
engine only long enough to move
the car out of the garage.

With the hatch open, air flow can
pull exhaust gas into your car's
interior and create a hazardous
condition. If you must drive with
the hatch open, open all the
windows and set the heating and
cooling system as shown in the
next column.

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

1. Push the button.

2. Select the mode.

3. Turn the fan on high speed.

4. Set the temperature control to a
comfortable setting.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Reporting Safety Defects (US Cars)

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

If you believe that your vehicle has
a defect which could cause a crash

or could cause injury or death, you
should immediately inform the
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) in addi­tion to notifying American Honda
Motor Co., Inc.

If NHTSA receives similar com­plaints, it may open an investiga­tion, and if it finds that a safety
defect exists in a group of vehicles,
it may order a recall and remedy
campaign. However, NHTSA can­not become involved in individual
problems between you, your dealer,
or American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

To contact NHTSA, you may
either call the Auto Safety Hotline
toll-free at 1-800-424-9393 (or 366-

0123 in Washington D.C. area) or

write to: NHTSA, U.S. Department

of Transportation, Washington,
D.C. 20590. You can also obtain
other information about motor

vehicle safety from the Hotline.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Safety Labels

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

These labels are in the locations
shown. They warn you of potential
hazards that could cause serious
injury. Read these labels carefully
and don't remove them.

If a label comes off or becomes
hard to read, contact your Honda
dealer for a replacement.

BATTERY

RADIATOR CAP

Driver and Passenger Safety

Instruments and Controls

Main Menu

▲

▼

This section gives information
about the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your Honda. All the essential
controls are within easy reach.

Control Locations........................... 30

Indicator Lights.............................. 31

Gauges.............................................. 37

Speedometer............................... 37

Tachometer................................. 37

Odometer..................................... 37

Trip Meter................................... 37

Fuel Gauge.................................. 38

Temperature Gauge.................. 38

Controls Near the Steering

Wheel........................................ 39

Headlights................................... 40

Daytime Running Lights.......... 40

Instrument Panel Brightness... 41

Turn Signals................................ 41

Windshield Wipers..................... 42

Windshield Washers.................. 42

Rear Window Wiper and

Washer..................................... 43

Hazard Warning......................... 43

Rear Window Defogger............ 43

Steering Wheel Adjustment..... 44

Steering Wheel Controls............... 45

Cruise Control............................. 45

Horn.............................................. 48

Keys and Locks.............................. 48

Keys..............................................48

Ignition Switch........................... 48

Door Locks.................................. 49

Hatch/Tailgate........................... 50

Seat Adjustments........................... 51

Rear Seat Access........................ 52

Folding Rear Seat...................... 53

Cargo Area Cover...................... 53

Moonroof......................................... 54

Sunshade...................................... 55

Mirrors............................................. 55

Parking Brake................................. 57

Glove Box........................................ 57

Digital Clock................................... 58

Beverage Holder............................. 59

Vanity Mirror.................................. 59

Cigarette Lighter........................... 60

Ashtrays........................................... 60

Coin Box........................................... 61

Interior Light.................................. 61

Cargo Area Light........................... 62

Instruments and Controls

Control Locations

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

FUEL FILL
DOOR RELEASE
(P.88)

MIRROR
CONTROLS
(P.56)

HATCH/TAILGATE
RELEASE HANDLE
(P.50)

DIGITAL CLOCK
(P.58)

HOOD RELEASE
HANDLE
(P.89)

HEATING/
COOLING
CONTROL
(P.66)

Instruments and Controls

Indicator Lights

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

The instrument panel has many
indicators to give you important
information about your car.

Lamp Check

Many of the indicator lights come
on when you turn the ignition
switch ON (II), allowing you to see
that they are working. The instru­ment panel should look like the
illustration. If an indicator does not
light during this test, it cannot alert
you if that system develops a prob­lem. Have the dealer check your
car for burned-out bulbs or other
problems.

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

** The VX model has the Upshift
Indicator in this position.

HIGH BEAM INDICATOR

CHARGING SYSTEM
INDICATOR

LOW OIL
PRESSURE
INDICATOR

MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP/
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT*

SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM INDICATOR

PARKING BRAKE AND
BRAKE SYSTEM
INDICATOR*

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE
SYSTEM INDICATOR

CRUISE CONTROL
INDICATOR

TRUNK-OPEN
INDICATOR

SEAT BELT REMINDER LIGHT

CONTINUED

Instruments and Controls

Indicator Lights

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

CHARGING SYSTEM
INDICATOR

LOW OIL
PRESSURE
INDICATOR

SEAT BELT
REMINDER
LIGHT

MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP/
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT*

HIGH BEAM INDICATOR

PARKING BRAKE AND
BRAKE SYSTEM
INDICATOR*

UPSHIFT INDICATOR

SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM INDICATOR

HATCH/TAILGATE-OPEN
INDICATOR

Seat Belt Reminder
Light

This indicator lights when you turn

the ignition ON (II). It is a reminder
to you and your passengers to
protect yourselves by fastening the
seat belts. A beeper also sounds if
you have not fastened your seat
belt.

If you do not fasten your seat belt,
the beeper will stop after a few
seconds but the light stays on until
you do. Both the light and the
beeper stay off if you fasten your
seat belt before turning on the
ignition.

* The U.S. instrument panel is

shown. Differences for the Canadi-

an model are noted in the text.

Instruments and Controls

Indicator Lights

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

Charging System
Indicator

This light indicates the battery is
not being charged. It should come
on when the ignition is ON (II), and
go out after the engine starts. If
this light comes on while driving,
the battery is not being charged.
Turn to page 177 for information
about what to do.

Low Oil Pressure
Indicator

This indicator lights when the oil

pressure in the engine drops low
enough to cause damage. It should

light when the ignition is ON (II)

and go out after the engine starts.

If this light comes on when the
engine is running, there is a possi­bility of serious engine damage.
Safely pull to the side of the road

and shut off the engine as soon as
you can. Turn to page 176 for in-
structions and precautions on
checking the engine.

US

BRAKE

Canada

Parking Brake
and Brake
System
Indicator

This light has two functions:

1. It lights as a reminder that you
have set the parking brake.
Driving with the parking brake
set can damage the brakes and
tires.

2. It can indicate the brake fluid
level is low if it remains lit after
you release the parking brake or
comes on while driving. This is
normally due to worn brake pads.
Have your dealer check the
braking system for worn pads or
fluid leaks.

Instruments and Controls

Indicator Lights

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

SRS

Supplemental
Restraint System

Indicator

Only on cars equipped with SRS

The SRS light normally comes on
for a few seconds when you turn

the ignition ON (II). If it doesn't, or
it stays on after the engine starts,
something is wrong with the
Supplemental Restraint System. It
may also flash on and off to indi­cate a problem.

If you see any of these indications,
the airbag may not work when
needed in an accident. Take the car
to your dealer promptly for diag­nosis and service.

US

ABS

Canada

Anti-lock
Brake System
(ABS)
Indicator

Only on cars equipped with ABS (see

page 106)

This light normally comes on when
you turn the ignition ON (II) and
goes off after the engine starts. If it
comes on at any other time, there is
a problem in the ABS. If this
happens, take the car to your
dealer to have it checked. With the
light on, your car still has normal
braking ability but no anti-lock.

Upshift Indicator

Only on U.S. VX and CX (except in

California) and Canadian VX models

The upshift indicator's purpose is
to help you get better fuel economy.
It does this by lighting to inform
you of the most economical point to
upshift your manual transmission.

You get the best fuel economy by
driving in the highest gear practi­cal for your road speed, and by
using light to moderate pressure on
the accelerator pedal. When you
are accelerating moderately, the
upshift indicator will light when it
is the best time to shift to the next
higher gear. By shifting as soon as
the light comes on, you will keep
the engine operating in its most
economical range. The upshift
indicator will then go out until it is
time to upshift again.

Instruments and Controls

Indicator Lights

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

Some road or traffic conditions
may require you to accelerate more
rapidly or press the accelerator
pedal almost to the floor. The light
will not come on under those
conditions.

US

Malfunction Indicator
Lamp

Canada

Check Engine Light

This light comes on for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition
switch ON (II). If it comes on at any
other time, it indicates one of the
engine's emission control systems
may have a problem. Turn to page

178 for information about what to

do.

Hatch/Tailgate-open
Indicator

This light comes on if the hatch or
tailgate is not closed tightly.

Instruments and Controls

Indicator Lights

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

Turn Signal and
Hazard Warning
Indicators

The left or right turn signal light
blinks when you signal a lane
change or turn. If the light does not

blink or blinks rapidly, it usually

means one of the turn signal bulbs
is burned out (see page 150).
Replace the bulb as soon as possible,
since other drivers cannot see that
you are signalling.

When you turn on the Hazard

Warning switch, both turn signal

lights blink. All turn signals on the

outside of the car should flash.

High Beam Indicator

This light comes on with the high
beam headlights. See page 40 for
information on the headlight
controls.

On Canadian models, this indicator
comes on with reduced brightness

when the Daytime Running Lights

(DRL) are on (see page 40).

CRUISE

CONTROL

Only on cars equipped with Cruise
Control System

Cruise Control
Indicator

This lights when you set the cruise
control. See page 45 for informa-
tion on operating the cruise control.

Shift Lever Position
Indicator

(Automatic Transmission only)

This indicator shows which shift
position the shift lever is in.

Instruments and Controls

Gauges

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

TACHOMETER

ODOMETER TRIP METER

SPEEDOMETER

Speedometer

U.S. Models

This shows your speed in miles per

hour (mph). The smaller inner

numbers are the speed in kilo-

meters per hour (km/h).

Canadian Models

This shows your speed in kilo-

meters per hour (km/h). The

smaller inner numbers are the
speed in miles per hour (mph).

FUEL GAUGE

TRIP METER
RESET BUTTON

TEMPERATURE
GAUGE

Tachometer

On VX and Si models

The tachometer shows the engine
speed in revolutions per minute
(rpm). To protect the engine from
damage, never drive with the
tachometer needle in the red zone.

Odometer

The odometer shows the total dis­tance your car has been driven. It
measures miles in U.S. models and
kilometers in Canadian models.
It is illegal under federal law (in the
U.S.) and provincial regulations (in
Canada) to disconnect, reset, or
alter the odometer with the intent
to change the number of miles or
kilometers indicated.

Trip Meter

This meter shows the number of
miles (U.S.) or kilometers (Canada)
driven since you last reset it. To
reset it, push the trip meter reset
button.

Instruments and Controls

Gauges

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

TEMPERATURE
GAUGE

ODOMETER

SPEEDOMETER

TRIP METER

Fuel Gauge

This shows how much fuel you
have. It is most accurate when the
car is on level ground. It may show
slightly more or less than the actual
amount when you are driving on
curvy or hilly roads.

FUEL GAUGE

TRIP METER
RESET BUTTON

The gauge stays at the same fuel
level reading after you turn off the

ignition. When you add fuel, the
gauge slowly changes to the new
reading after you turn the ignition
back ON (II).

Temperature Gauge

This shows the temperature of the
engine's coolant. During normal
operation, the pointer should rise
from the bottom white mark to
about the middle of the gauge. In
severe driving conditions, such as
very hot weather or a long period
of uphill driving, the pointer may
rise to the upper white mark. If it
reaches the red (Hot) mark, pull
safely to the side of the road. Turn
to page 174 for instructions and
precautions on checking the
engine's cooling system.

Instruments and Controls

Controls Near the Steering Wheel

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

The two levers on the steering

column contain controls for driving
features you use most often. The
left lever controls the turn signals,
headlights, and high beams. The
right lever controls the windshield
wipers.

The rear window defogger switch
is on the dashboard to the right of
the steering column.

The controls under the left air vent
are for the moonroof, mirrors,
cruise control and instrument panel
brightness.

The lever on the underside of the
steering column allows you to tilt
the steering wheel.

INSTRUMENT PANEL
BRIGHTNESS

MIRROR
CONTROLS

HEADLIGHTS/
TURN SIGNALS

HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS

CRUISE
CONTROL

TILT ADJUSTMENT

REAR WINDOW
DEFOGGER

WINDSHIELD

WIPERS/WASHERS

Instruments and Controls

Controls Near the Steering Wheel

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

Headlights

The rotating switch on the left
lever controls the lights. Turning
this switch to the first position " "
turns on the parking lights, tail
lights, instrument panel lights,
side-marker lights, and rear license
plate lights. Turning the switch to
the second position " " turns on
the headlights.

To change between low beams and
high beams, pull back on the turn
signal lever until you hear a click,
then let go. The blue high beam
indicator will light (see page 36).

To flash the high beams, pull back

and hold the turn signal lever.
Release the lever and the high

beams will go off.
The high beams will stay on for as

long as you hold the lever, no

matter what position the headlight

switch is in.

Daytime Running Lights

(Canadian Models)

With the headlight switch off, the
high beam headlights come on with

reduced brightness when you turn
the ignition switch to ON (II) and

release the parking brake. They

remain on until you turn the
ignition off, even if you set the
parking brake.

The headlights revert to normal

operation when you turn them on

with the switch.

Instruments and Controls

Controls Near the Steering Wheel

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

Instrument Panel Brightness

The dial on the dashboard to the

left of the instrument panel con-

trols the brightness of the instru-

ment panel lights. Turn the dial to

adjust the brightness.

Turn Signals

TURN SIGNAL LEVER

Signal a turn or lane change with
this lever. Push down on the lever
to signal a left turn, and up to
signal a right turn. If you push it up
or down all the way, the turn signal
continues to blink even when you
release the lever. It shuts off auto­matically as you complete the turn.

To signal a lane change, push
lightly on the turn signal lever in
the proper direction and hold it.
The lever will return to the center
position as soon as you release it.

Instruments and Controls

Controls Near the Steering Wheel

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

Windshield Wipers

The right lever controls the wind-

shield wipers and washers. The
rotary switch at the end of the
lever has two or three positions

depending on model:

INT-intermittent
(Except U.S. VX and CX models,
and Canadian VX model)
LO—low speed

HI— highspeed
In intermittent, the wipers operate
every few seconds. In low speed

and high speed, the wipers run
continuously.

To operate the wipers in mist mode,
push the control lever down. The

wipers run at high speed until you

release the lever. This gives you a
quick way to clear the windshield.

Windshield Washers

To clean the windshield, pull back
on the wiper control lever. The
washers spray until you release the
lever.

On Canadian models except VX

The wipers run at low speed while
you're pulling the lever, then
complete one more sweep of the
windshield after you release it.

Instruments and Controls

Controls Near the Steering Wheel

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

Rear Window Wiper and
Washer

WIPER/WASHER

Available only on DX and Si models

To turn on the rear window wiper,
turn the ring clockwise to ON. To
also use the rear window washer,
turn the ring clockwise past ON.
The washer will spray as long as
you hold the ring in this position. If
you turn the ring counterclockwise
from the OFF position, the washer
will spray without activating the
rear window wiper.

Hazard Warning

Push the red button under the
clock to turn on the hazard warn­ing lights (four-way flashers). This
causes all four outside turn signals
and both indicators in the instru­ment panel to flash. Use the hazard
warning lights if you need to park
in a dangerous area near heavy
traffic, or if your car is disabled.

Rear Window Defogger

The rear window defogger will
clear fog, frost, and thin ice from
the window. Push the defogger
button to turn it on and off. The
light in the button lights to show
the defogger is on. If you do not
turn it off, the defogger will shut
itself off after about 25 minutes. It
also shuts off when you turn off the

ignition. You have to turn it on
again when you restart the car.

CONTINUED

Instruments and Controls

Controls Near the Steering Wheel

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

Make sure the rear window is clear

and you have good visibility before

starting to drive.

The defogger wires on the inside of
the rear window can be acciden­tally damaged. When cleaning the
glass, always wipe side to side.

Steering Wheel Adjustment

Available only on DX and Si models

You can adjust the steering wheel
height to suit your preference. Do
this before you begin driving.

Adjusting the steering wheel

position while driving may
cause you to lose control of
the car and be seriously injured
in a crash.

Adjust the steering wheel only
when the car is stopped.

1. Adjust the seat so you are a
comfortable distance from the
pedals and can operate them
safely.

2. The lever to tilt the steering
wheel is under the steering
column to the left. Push this
lever all the way down.

3. Move the steering wheel up or
down to the desired position.
Position the wheel so you can see
all the instrument panel gauges
and warning lights. Push the

lever up to lock the steering
wheel in that position.

4. Make sure you have securely
locked the steering wheel in
place by trying to move it up and
down.

Instruments and Controls

Steering Wheel Controls

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

Cruise Control

Available only on Si model

Cruise control allows you to
maintain a set speed above 25 mph
(40 km/h) without keeping your
foot on the accelerator pedal. It is
for cruising on straight, open
highways. It is not recommended
for conditions such as city driving,
winding roads, slippery roads,
heavy rain, or bad weather. You
should have full control of the car
under those conditions.

Improper use of the cruise con­trol can lead to a crash.

Use the cruise control only
when traveling on open high­ways in good weather.

NOTICE

The cruise control, as it operates,
moves the accelerator pedal. You
can damage your car's accelerator
mechanism by resting your foot
under the pedal and blocking the
movement.

Using the Cruise Control

MASTER SWITCH

1. Push in the Cruise Control
Master Switch to the left of the

steering column. The indicator in
the switch will light.

2. Accelerate to the desired
cruising speed above 25 mph (40

km/h).

CONTINUED

Instruments and Controls

Steering Wheel Controls

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

3. Press and hold the SET/decel
button on the steering wheel
until the CRUISE CONTROL
light on the instrument panel
comes on. This shows the system
is now activated.

The set speed may vary slightly,
particularly on hills.

Changing the Set Speed

You can increase the set cruising
speed in either of two ways:

Press and hold the RESUME/

accel button. The car will acceler­ate slowly. When you reach the
desired cruising speed, release

the button.
Push on the accelerator pedal. Ac-

celerate to the desired cruising
speed and press the SET/decel
button.

You can decrease the set cruising
speed in either of two ways:

Press and hold the SET/decel
button. The car will decelerate.
Release the button when you
reach the desired speed.

Tap the brake or clutch pedal
lightly with your foot. The
CRUISE CONTROL light on the
instrument panel will go out.
When the car slows to the
desired speed, press the SET/
decel button. The car will then
maintain the desired speed.

Instruments and Controls

Steering Wheel Controls

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

Even with the cruise control turned
on, you can still use the accelerator
pedal to speed up for passing. After
completing the pass, take your foot
off the accelerator pedal. The car

will return to the set cruising speed.

Resting your foot on the brake or

clutch pedal will cause the cruise

control to cancel.

Cancelling the Cruise Control

Any of these actions cause the
cruise control to cancel.

Tap the brake or clutch pedal.
Press the SET/decel and RE-

SUME/accel buttons at the same
time.

Press the Cruise Control Master
Switch.

When you tap the brake or clutch
pedal, or press the SET and RE­SUME buttons at the same time,
the CRUISE CONTROL light on
the instrument panel will go out
and the car will begin to slow down.
You can use the accelerator pedal
in the normal way.

If you use the brake or clutch pedal
to cancel cruise control, the system
retains the previously-set cruising
speed. To return to that speed, ac­celerate to above 25 mph (40 km/h)

and press the RESUME/accel
button until the CRUISE CON­TROL light comes on. The car will

accelerate to the same cruising

speed as before.

If you cancel cruise control by

pressing the SET and RESUME
buttons at the same time, the
previously-set cruising speed is
erased. To use the cruise control,
accelerate to the desired cruising

speed and press the SET/decel
button.

Pressing the Cruise Control Master

Switch turns the system completely

off and erases the previous cruising
speed from memory. To use the
system again, refer to Using the

Cruise Control.

Instruments and Controls

Steering Wheel Controls, Keys and Locks

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

Horn

HORN BUTTONS

On cars equipped with SRS, press
either of the buttons on the
steering wheel spokes to sound the
horn. On other cars, press the pad
in the center of the steering wheel.

Keys

Your car comes with two identical
keys.
They fit all the locks on your car:

Ignition
Doors
Hatch/tailgate

You should have received a key
number plate with your set of keys.
You will need this key number if
you ever have to replace a lost key.
Store this plate in a safe place.

Ignition Switch

The ignition switch is on the right

side of the steering column. It has

four positions: LOCK (0), ACCES-

SORY (I), ON(II), and START (III).

Instruments and Controls

Keys and Locks

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

LOCK (0)

— You can insert or
remove the key only in this position.
When you turn the key from LOCK
to ACCESSORY, you may have to
turn the steering wheel to release
the anti-theft lock. To switch from

ACCESSORY to LOCK, you must

push the key in slightly as you turn
it. If your car has an automatic

transmission, it must also be in

Park. The anti-theft lock will lock
the steering column when you
remove the key.

Removing the key from the
ignition switch while driving
locks the steering. This can
cause you to lose control.

Remove the key from the igni­tion switch only when parked.

ACCESSORY (I) — In this

position, you can operate the audio

system and cigarette lighter.
ON (II) — This is the normal key

position when driving. All features
and accessories on the car are
usable. Several of the lights on the
instrument panel come on as a test
when you turn the ignition switch
from ACCESSORY to ON (see
page 31).

START (III) — Use this position
only to start the engine. The switch
returns to ON when you let go of
the key.

You will hear a reminder beeper if
you open either front door with the
key in the LOCK or ACCESSORY
position. Remove the key to turn it
off.

Door Locks

Each door has a lock tab next to
the inside door handle. Push the tab
in to lock the door and pull it out to
unlock.
To lock the passenger's door when
getting out of the car, push the lock

tab in and close the door. To lock

the driver's door, pull the door

handle and push the lock tab in.

Release the handle then close the

door.

CONTINUED

Instruments and Controls

Keys and Locks

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

Hatch/Tailgate

HATCH RELEASE
HANDLE

The doors can also be locked and
unlocked from the outside with the
key.

Instruments and Controls

You can open the hatch in two
ways:

Pull the hatch release handle. It

is to the left of the driver's seat.
Use the ignition key to open the

hatch lock on the tailgate.

To open the tailgate, swing the
hatch up out of the way. Push the

release lever to the left, then swing

the tailgate down.
You must close the tailgate before

closing the hatch. To close, swing

the tailgate up and push it firmly

until it latches. Lower the hatch

and push it closed.

Seat Adjustments

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

Keys and Locks, Seat Adjustments

See page 94 for cargo loading and
weight limit information. Keep the
hatch and tailgate closed at all
times while driving to avoid
damage and to prevent exhaust gas
from getting into the interior. See
Carbon Monoxide Hazard on page

26.

To adjust the seat forward and
backward, pull up on the lever
under the seat cushion's front edge.
Move the seat to the desired
position and release the lever. Try
to move the seat to make sure it is
locked in position.

To change the angle of the seat-

back, pull up on the lever on the

outside of the seat bottom. Move

the seat-back to the desired

position and release the lever. Let

the seat-back latch in the new

position.

CONTINUED

Instruments and Controls

Seat Adjustments

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

Reclining the seat-back can
decrease the protection you

get from your seat belt in a

crash.
You can slide under the seat

belt and be seriously injured.
Adjust the seat-back to an

upright position and sit well
back in the seat.

Rear Seat Access

To get into the back seat on the
driver's side, pull up on the seat­back adjustment lever.

To tilt the passenger's seat-back
out of the way, push forward on the
release lever at the base of the
seat-back.

Instruments and Controls

Folding Rear Seat, Cargo Area Cover

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

Folding Rear Seat

The back of the rear seat folds

down to give you more cargo space.

Each side folds down separately.
With only half the seat folded, you
can still carry a passenger in the
back seat.

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

To lock the seat-back upright,
move the seat belt out of the way
then push the seat-back firmly
against its latch. Tug on the seat-

back to make sure it is latched.

Make sure all items in the cargo

area are tied down. Loose items can
fly forward and cause injury if you
have to brake hard. See Loading

Cargo

on page 94.

Cargo Area Cover

Only on DX and Si models

To get to the cargo area without

opening the tailgate, lift the back of
the cover and fold it over the front

half.

CONTINUED

Instruments and Controls

Cargo Area Cover, Moonroof

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

To remove the cargo area cover,

place your hands, palms up, under

the front half of the cover near the

outside edges. Lift it straight up.
To install the cover, line up the
mounting rods with the slots then
push down on the cover until it
clips into place. Make sure it is
securely latched so it will not come
loose while you are driving.

Moonroof

Available only on Si model

Use the switches on the dashboard
under the left vent to operate the
moonroof. The ignition must be ON

(II).
To lift the rear of the moonroof for

ventilation, push the button.
To slide the moonroof back, push
the switch. Hold it until the
moonroof reaches the desired
position, then release the switch.

To close the moonroof, press and

hold the switch.

Closing the moonroof on some­one's hands or fingers can
cause serious injury.

Make sure passengers are
clear of the moonroof before
closing it.

NOTICE

If you try to open the moonroof in
below-freezing temperatures, or
when it is covered with snow or ice,
you can damage the moonroof
panel or motor.

Instruments and Controls

Moonroof, Mirrors

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

Sunshade

You can slide the sunshade to any
position when the moonroof is
closed. The sunshade slides open
with the moonroof. You must close
it manually.

Mirrors

TAB

Keep the inside and outside mirrors
clean and adjusted for best visibili­ty. Be sure to adjust the mirrors
before you start driving.

The inside mirror has day and
night positions. The night position

reduces glare from headlights
behind you. Flip the tab on the
bottom edge of the mirror to select

the day or night position.

Manual Door Mirrors

Except Si model

The outside mirror on the driver's
door can be adjusted by moving the
knob on the inside of the door.

Instruments and Controls

Mirrors

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

Adjusting the Power Mirrors

SELECTOR SWITCH

Available only on Si model

Adjust the outside mirrors with the
adjustment switch on the left side
of the dashboard:

1. Turn the ignition switch ON (II).

2. Move the selector switch to left
(driver's side) or right (passen­ger's side).

ADJUSTMENT SWITCH

3. Push the appropriate edge of the
adjustment switch to move the
mirror right or left, up or down.

4. When you finish, move the
selector switch to the center (off)
position. This turns off the

adjustment switch so you can't

move a mirror out of position by

accidentally bumping it.

The outside mirror on the passen­ger's side has curved glass. Objects
look farther away than they are.
Use this mirror to get a "wide
view". Don't use it to judge the dis­tance of things behind you.

Instruments and Controls

Parking Brake, Glove Box

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

Parking Brake

PARKING BRAKE LEVER

To apply the parking brake, pull
the lever up fully. To release it, pull

up slightly, push the button, and
lower the lever. The parking brake
light on the instrument panel
should go out when the parking
brake is fully released (see page 33).

NOTICE

Driving the car with the parking
brake applied can damage the rear
brakes and axles.

Glove Box

GLOVE BOX

Open the glove box by pulling the
handle. Close it with a firm push.

An open glove box can cause
serious injury to your passen­ger in a crash, even if the pas­senger is wearing the seat belt.

Always keep the glove box
closed while driving.

Instruments and Controls

Digital Clock

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

Available only on Si model

The digital clock displays the time
with the ignition switch ON (II). To
see the time with the ignition off,
press and hold the wide button
under the clock.

HOUR

MIN.

RESET

To set the clock:

1. Turn the ignition switch ON (II)
to display the time.

2. Swing down the front cover of
the wide button under the clock
display. You will see HOUR,
MIN., and RESET buttons.

3. To set the hour, press and hold
the HOUR button until the hour
advances to the desired hour.

4. To set the minutes, press and
hold the MIN. button until the
numbers advance to the desired
minute or minutes.

You can use the RESET button to
quickly set the time to the nearest
hour. If the displayed time is before
the half hour, pressing the RESET
button sets the clock back to the
previous hour. If the displayed time
is after the half hour, pressing the
RESET button sets the clock
forward to the beginning of the
next hour.

For example:

1:06 would RESET backward to
1:00.
1:52 would RESET forward to

2:00.

Instruments and Controls

Beverage Holder, Vanity Mirror

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

Beverage Holder

Push

To open the beverage holder, push

on the top. It is spring-loaded and
will swing open. To close it, push it
down until it latches.

Use the beverage holder only when
the car is parked. If you place cups
in the holder while driving, the
liquid may spill when you go over
bumps or around corners.

Be careful when you are using the
beverage holder. Spilled liquids can
damage the upholstery, carpeting,
and electrical components in the
interior. If the liquid is very hot, it
can scald you or your passengers.

Vanity Mirror

Available only on DX and Si model

To use the vanity mirror, pull down
the passenger's sun visor.

Instruments and Controls

Cigarette Lighter, Ashtrays

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

Cigarette Lighter

CIGARETTE
LIGHTER

The ignition switch must be in
ACCESSORY (I) or ON (II) for the
cigarette lighter to work. To heat
up the lighter, push it in. It will pop
out when it is ready for use. Do not
hold the lighter in while it is
heating up, you could cause it to
overheat.

Ashtrays

ASHTRAY

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

ASHTRAY

The rear ashtray is at the rear end
of the center console. Open the
ashtray by swinging the upper edge
of the lid down. To remove the
ashtray for emptying, open it then
lift up and out.

Instruments and Controls

Ashtrays, Coin Box, Interior Light

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

NOTICE

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

Coin Box

COIN BOX

To open the coin box, pull the
upper edge. Close it with a firm
push.

Interior Light

(Si)

DOOR ACTIVATED

ON

OFF

The interior light has a three­position switch. In the OFF
position, the light does not come on.
In the center position, the interior
light comes on when you open
either door. In the ON position, the
interior light stays on continuously.

CONTINUED

Instruments and Controls

Interior Light, Cargo Area Light

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

(Except Si)

DOOR ACTIVATED

OFF

ON

Available only on Si model

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

Instruments and Controls

Comfort and Convenience Features

Main Menu

▲

▼

The heating/ventilation system in
your car, when combined with the
optional air conditioning, provides a
comfortable driving environment in
all weather conditions.

Heating and Cooling...................... 64

What Each Control Does .......... 66

How to Use the System ............ 67

Controlling Air Flow

Direction.............................. 67

Ventilation............................... 67

To Cool with A/C ................... 68

To Heat.................................... 68

To Heat and Dehumidify

with Air Conditioning ....... 69

To Defog and Defrost............ 70

To Turn Everything off ....... 70

Audio System.................................. 71

AM/FM/Cassette Stereo

Audio System.......................... 71

Operating the Radio .................. 72

Presetting.................................... 74

Adjusting the sound................... 75

Radio Frequencies..................... 76

Operating the Cassette

Player....................................... 77

Casstte Search Functions......... 78

Operating the CD Player .......... 80

CD Error Indications ................. 82

Caring for the Cassette Player.... 83

Theft Protectioin........................... 84

Comfort and Convenience Features

Heating and Cooling

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

This system has full heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning
(optional) capabilities. You can
adjust the system controls to mix
these in various combinations. The
air flows into the interior at three
possible levels, which you can
select.

If you purchased your car without
air conditioning, it can be installed
at any time. A Genuine Honda air
conditioning system is available
from your dealer. It meets Honda's
high quality standards and is
designed to fit your car. Please
contact your dealer for more
information.

CENTER VENT

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

The side and upper vents can be
opened and closed with the dials
next to them.

SIDE VENT

CLOSE

The heating and cooling system
draws air through the exterior

vents at the bottom of the wind-

shield. Keep these vents clear of
leaves and other debris.

Comfort and Convenience Features

UPPER VENT

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

Heating and Cooling

OPEN

CLOSE

Comfort and Convenience Features

Heating and Cooling

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

What Each Control Does
Fan Control Lever

Sliding this lever to the right
increases the fan speed, which
increases air flow.

Temperature Control Lever

Sliding this lever to the right
increases the temperature of air
flowing from the system.

Mode Buttons

These buttons control the direction

of air flow. The indicator light
shows which button is controlling
air flow.

Air Conditioning (A/C) Switch

This switch turns the air condi­tioning ON and OFF. The indicator
in the switch lights when the A/C is
ON.

MODE BUTTONS FRESH AIR

TEMPERATURE
CONTROL LEVER

Fresh Air and Recirculation
Buttons

These two buttons control the

source of air going into the system.
In Fresh Air mode, air comes from
outside the car. In Recirculation
mode, the interior air recycles
through the system.

RECIRCULATED AIR

FAN CONTROL
LEVER

AIR CONDITIONING
SWITCH

Comfort and Convenience Features

Heating and Cooling

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

How to Use the System

This section covers the best way to
use the system for ventilation,
cooling, dehumidifying, defrosting
and heating. In most cases, the
mode and air source selections are
only recommendations. You may
prefer different settings.

Use mode to heat or cool the
interior more quickly, or to keep
out smoke and dust. Leaving the
system in the recirculation mode
with the A/C off can cause the
windows to fog up. Switch to

mode as soon as the interior
reaches a comfortable temperature
or the outside smoky, dusty
condition clears.

The engine must be running for the

heater and air conditioning to pro­vide hot and cold air. The heater
uses engine coolant to warm the air.

If the engine is cold, it will be sever-

al minutes before you feel warm air

circulating.

The air conditioning system does

not depend on engine temperature.

It can produce cold air almost

immediately.

Controlling Air Flow Direction

Air flows into the interior at three

levels: Toward the floor ,

through the dash vents and

toward the windshield and side
windows . You select the air
flow level or combination of levels
with the five mode buttons.

Ventilation

Your car has a flow-through

ventilation system. Air enters the

car through vents in front of the
windshield. It circulates through
the interior then exits through
vents near the hatch. This system
provides fresh air even when the
car is standing still. To bring in
outside air, press the button.
Set the fan at a comfortable speed.

CONTINUED

Comfort and Convenience Features

Heating and Cooling

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

To Cool with A/C (Optional)

To operate the air conditioning
system, press the air conditioning
switch. Set the fan to the desired
speed. You can also use the

mode button to direct air

out of the dash and heater vents.

To cool the interior down rapidly
after the car has been sitting in the
sun:

1. Start the engine.

2. Turn on the A/C by pressing the
switch.

3. Set the fan to maximum speed.

4. Open the windows partially.
Select and .

When the interior reaches a com­fortable temperature, close the
windows and set the system for
cooling as described above.

MODE BUTTONS

TEMPERATURE
CONTROL LEVER

Air conditioning places an extra

load on the engine. Watch the
engine coolant temperature gauge

(see page 38 ) when using the A/C
in heavy traffic or driving up long
hills. If it moves near the red zone,
turn off the air conditioning until
the gauge reads normally.

FAN CONTROL
LEVER

To Heat

AIR CONDITIONING
SWITCH

To warm the interior:

1. Start the engine.

2. Select and .

3. Switch the fan to the desired
speed.

4. Adjust the warmth of the air
with the temperature control
lever.

Comfort and Convenience Features

To Heat and Dehumidify with

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

Air Conditioning

Air conditioning removes moisture
from the air as it operates. When
used in combination with the
heater, it makes the interior warm
and dry.

1. Switch the fan on.

2. Turn on the air conditioning.

3. Select and any desired
mode button.

4. Adjust the temperature control
lever so the mixture of heated
and cooled air feels comfortable.

This setting is suitable for all
driving conditions whenever the
outside temperature is above 32 °F
(0°C).

MODE BUTTONS

TEMPERATURE
CONTROL LEVER

Heating and Cooling

FAN CONTROL
LEVER

AIR CONDITIONING
SWITCH

CONTINUED

Comfort and Convenience Features

Heating and Cooling

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

To Defog and Defrost

To remove fog from the inside of
the windows:

1. Switch the fan on.

2. Turn on the air conditioning.

3. Select and .

4. Adjust the temperature control
lever so the airflow from the
defroster vents feels warm.

5. Turn on the rear window
defogger to help clear the rear
window.

To remove exterior frost or ice
from the windshield and side
windows after the car has been
sitting out in cold weather:

1. Start the engine.

2. Select and .

3. Switch the fan and temperature
controls to maximum.

To rapidly remove exterior frost or
ice from the windshield (on very
cold days), first select

. Once

the windshield is clear, select

to avoid fogging the

windows.
These settings direct all the air

flow to the defroster vents at the
base of the windshield and each
front door window. The air flow
will get warmer and clear the
windows faster as the engine

warms up. You can close the side

vents with the dial beside each vent.
This will send more warm air to the

windshield defroster vents.

For safety, make sure you have a
clear view through all the windows

before driving away.

To Turn Everything Off

To shut off the system temporarily,
slide the fan speed and temperature
control levers all the way to the left.

You should shut the system com­pletely off only for the first few
minutes of driving in cold weather,
until the engine coolant warms up
enough to operate the heater. Keep
the fan on at all other times so stale
air does not build up in the interior.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Audio System

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

AM/FM/Cassette Stereo
Audio System

For Si models

The audio system described here is
standard equipment on the S model.

Your Honda audio system is easy to
use, and will give clear AM/FM
reception. The preset buttons allow

you to select six stations on AM
and twelve stations on FM.

The cassette system uses
Dolby B®* noise reduction to give
excellent sound reproduction. The
system also senses when a metal or
chromium-dioxide (CrO2) tape is
being played and adjusts accord­ingly.

The cassette player features auto­reverse for continuous play.

ON/VOL KNOB

TUNE/SEEK BAR

CASSETTE SLOT

PRESET
BUTTONS

* Dolby noise reduction manufac­tured under license from Dolby
Laboratories Licensing Corpo­ration.

"DOLBY" and the double-D symbol

are trademarks of Dolby
Laboratories Licensing Corpo­ration.

AM BUTTON

FM BUTTON

Comfort and Convenience Features

Audio System

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

Operating the Radio

The ignition switch must be in AC­CESSORY (I) or ON (II) to operate
the audio system. Turn the system
on by turning the ON/VOL knob
clockwise. The radio comes on and
displays the frequency of the
station it was last tuned to.

Adjust the volume by turning the

ON/VOL knob.

ON/VOL KNOB

Select the band you want to listen
to by pressing the AM or FM1/FM2
button. You will see the selected
band and the frequency in the
display.

AM BUTTON

FM BUTTON

STEREO INDICATOR

ST will be displayed next to the fre­quency if the station is broadcast­ing in FM stereo. The AM stereo

feature is not available.

Comfort and Convenience Features

You can use any of three methods

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

to find radio stations on the
selected band: TUNE, SEEK, or
the Preset buttons.

The TUNE function lets you find a

desired frequency.
Use the TUNE/SEEK bar to
change the frequency in small
increments. Press the right side
( ) to tune to a higher frequency,

and the left side ( ) to tune to a
lower frequency. Press and release
to change the frequency to the next
number.

Press the TUNE/SEEK bar and
hold it to change to a frequency
that is far away. The frequency
display will begin to count rapidly.
It will stop counting when you
release the bar.

TUNE/SEEK BAR

The SEEK function searches the
band for stations with a strong sig­nal. Depending on which side you
press on the TUNE/SEEK bar, the
system searches up or down from
the current frequency. Press the
bar until you hear a beep, then
release it. The system searches
until it finds a station with a strong

Audio System

signal, then stops.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Audio System

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

Presetting

The preset buttons allow you to
store radio frequencies for later
selection. Each button will store
one frequency on the AM band, and
two on the FM band by pushing
FM1 and FM2.
To store a frequency:

1. Select the desired band, AM or
FM. FM1 and FM2 let you store
two frequencies with each Preset

button.

2. Use the TUNE or SEEK func-

tion to tune the radio to a desired
station.

3. Pick the Preset button you want

for that station. Press the button
and hold it until you hear a beep.

4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 to store a

total of six stations on AM and
twelve on FM.

Comfort and Convenience Features

TUNE/SEEK BAR

PRESET BUTTONS

Once that station's frequency is
stored, simply press and release the
proper preset button to tune to it. If
you want to change any preset
button's selection, store another fre-

quency as described. The frequen­cies you preset will be lost if your
car's battery goes dead or is discon­nected.

Adjusting the Sound

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

Use the Balance and Fader controls
to adjust the sound "direction".
The Balance control moves it left­to-right. The Fader control moves
it front-to-back.

To use either control, push on the
knob to get it to pop out. Adjust the
front-to-back sound to your liking
with the outside ring.

Adjust side-to-side sound balance
with the knob. Push the knob back
in when you are done.

FAD BAL

FADER
CONTROL

BAS TRE

BALANCE
CONTROL

BASS
CONTROL

TREBLE
CONTROL

The illumination for the radio con-

trols comes on with the instrument
panel lights, even if the radio is off.
You can use the Balance control to
turn off the radio panel illumina­tion even with the radio on. Push
the control knob so it pops out, then
pull it out slightly further. Check
this control if the control panel
lights do not come on with the in-

strument panel lights.

Audio System

Use the Bass and Treble controls to
adjust the tone quality to your
liking. Push on the knob to get the
controls to pop out. Adjust the bass
level with the outer ring and the
treble level with the knob. When
finished, push the knobs back in so
there is less chance of accidentally
changing your settings.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Audio System

Main Menu

Table of Contents

▲

▼

Radio Frequencies

Your Honda's radio can tune in all

frequencies in both the AM and

FM bands.

Those bands cover these frequen-

cies:

AM band:

530 kilohertz to 1,710 kilohertz
FM band:

87.7 megahertz to 107.9 mega­hertz

Radio stations on the AM band are
assigned frequencies at least 10
kilohertz apart (530,540, 550).
Those on the FM band are assigned
frequencies at least 0.2 megahertz

apart (87.9,88.1, 88.3).

Stations must use these exact
frequencies. It is fairly common for
stations to round-off the frequency
in their advertising, so your radio
will show a frequency of 100.9 even
though the announcer may call the
station "FM101."

Comfort and Convenience Features

Audio System

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Operating the Cassette Player

Turn the system ON. Insert the
cassette into the slot with the tape
opening to the right. Push the
cassette in most of the way. The
drive will pull it in the rest of the
way and begin to play.

The or will light to show you

which side of the cassette is playing.
The indicates the side you

inserted facing upward is now
playing. To play the other side of
the tape, press the PROG button.

The system also has an Auto­reverse feature. It will automati­cally reverse direction when it
reaches the end of the cassette.

PLAY
BUTTON

TMS
BUTTON

EJECT
BUTTON

REW

BUTTON

PROG
BUTTON

If the tape was recorded with
Dolby "B" noise reduction, turn it

on by pressing the button.

FF
BUTTON

DOLBY
BUTTON

TAPE DIRECTION
INDICATOR

To remove the cassette from the
drive, press the EJECT button. The
system automatically ejects the
cassette whenever you turn off the
system or the ignition switch.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Audio System

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Cassette Search Functions

Once a cassette is playing, you can
use the FF, REW or TMS function
to look for desired songs or pas­sages.

Press the REW button to rewind
the cassette. Press the FF button to
fast forward. The cassette stops
playing and the light in the button
flashes. To stop rewind or fast
forward, press the PLAY button. If
the system reaches the end of the
cassette while in fast forward or
rewind, it automatically stops that
function, reverses direction, and
begins to play.

REW
BUTTON

PLAY
BUTTONFFBUTTON

TMS BUTTON

The TMS function lets you skip to
the beginning of a song or other
passage.

Press the TMS button and then the
FF button or REW button. The

tape will automatically advance to
the beginning of the next song, or
return to the beginning of the song

just played. When the system
senses a silent period on the tape, it
goes back to PLAY mode.

Comfort and Convenience Features

The TMS function uses silent

Main Menu

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periods on the tape to find the end

of a selection. This feature may not
work satisfactorily on tapes that
have almost no gap between songs,
a high noise level between songs, or
silent periods in the middle of songs.

Audio System

Caring For Cassettes

Damaged cassettes can jam inside
the drive or cause other problems.
See page 83 for information on
cassette care and protection.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Audio System

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Operating the CD Changer
(Optional)

A Compact Disc changer is

available for your car. It holds up to

six discs, providing several hours of

continuous programming. You

operate the CD changer with the
same controls used for the radio
and cassette player.

Load the desired CD's in the
magazine and load the magazine in
the changer according to the
instructions that came with the
unit.

To operate the CD changer, the
ignition key must be in ACCESSO­RY (I) or

ON (II).

If

you

are

listening to a cassette tape, eject it

before playing a CD.

Press the CD button until "CD"
appears on the display. Once in the
CD mode, the system will start to
play the first track of the first disc
in the magazine.

When that disc ends, the next disc
in the magazine is loaded and
played.

After disc 6 has completed, the

system will return to disc 1. To
make your own disc selection, push

one of the six preset buttons. Your
selection will appear in the display
and start playing.

You can use the TUNE/SEEK bar
while a disc is playing to select

passages and change tracks.

To move rapidly forward within a

track, press and hold the

side of

the TUNE/SEEK bar. Press and
hold the side to move rapidly

backward within a track. Keep

pressing the bar until you think the
track has advanced or returned to
the desired position. The disc will
start playing when you release the

bar.

If you press the side and release,
it the system will skip forward to
the beginning of the next track on
that CD.
It will skip backward to the begin­ning of the current track if you
press the side and release it.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Audio System

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If you change modes to radio or
tape while a CD is playing, then
change back to CD mode, the
same disc and track will play.

If you turn off the system while a
CD is playing, either with the
ON-OFF/VOL knob or by
turning off the ignition, the
system will begin at the same
disc and track when you turn it

back on.
If you try to select an empty slot

in the magazine, the system will
select and play the first track of
the next disc in the magazine.

To return to the radio function,
press the AM/FM button.

ON/VOL KNOB

TUNE/SEEK BAR

CD BUTTON

Comfort and Convenience Features

Audio System

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CD Error Indications

If you see an error indication on the
display, find the cause in the chart
to the right. If you cannot clear the
error indication, take the car to
your Honda dealer.

Comfort and Convenience

Features

Caring for the Cassette Player

Main Menu

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CLEAN INDICATOR

ANTI

THEFT

CLEAN

RESET BUTTON

The cassette drive picks up dirt
and oxides whenever you play a
tape. This builds up over time and

causes the sound quality to degrade.
To prevent this, you should clean
the cassette drive after every 30
hours of use. Your dealer has a
cleaning kit available for this
purpose.

After 30 hours of tape use, you will
see CLEAN flashing for 5 seconds
in the display when you insert a

tape into the tape slot. If you are
already regularly cleaning the tape
drive at least every 30 hours, reset
the indicator by pressing the Reset
button while the system is in the

tape operation mode. Hold the

button until the CLEAN indicator

goes out.
If you do not clean the cassette

drive regularly, it may eventually

become impossible to remove the

deposits with a normal cleaning kit.

The cassette player automatically
ejects cassettes that do not play
normally. If it ejects a cassette
before it begins to play, it is
probably defective and should not
be inserted again. You may have a
cassette suddenly stop playing,
reverse directions once or twice
and then eject. This is normally an
indication the tape is wound
unevenly. It should play normally
after being manually rewound.

Use 100-minute or shorter cas­settes. Cassettes longer than 100
minutes use thinner tape that may
break or jam the drive.

Look at a cassette before you insert

it. If the tape is loose, tighten it by

turning one of the hubs with a

pencil or your finger.
If the label is peeling off, do not put

it in the player. It may cause the
cassette to jam in the drive mecha­nism when you try to eject it.

Do not leave cassettes sitting
where they are exposed to high
heat or humidity, such as on top of

the dashboard or in the player. If a

cassette is exposed to extreme heat

or cold, let it reach a moderate

temperature before putting it in the

player.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Theft Protection

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Theft Protection is standard on the
Si model.

Your audio system is protected by a
code number. The system immedi­ately disables itself whenever the
radio/player unit is disconnected
from the battery. To make it work
again, you must enter a five-digit
code with the station Preset
buttons.

You should have received two
copies of your audio system's code
number with your car. Keep one of
these copies at home, and the other
in your wallet or a concealed place
in the car.

If your car's battery is discon­nected or goes dead, the audio
system will disable itself. The next
time you turn on the radio you will
see "Code" in the frequency display.
Use the Preset buttons to enter the
five-digit code. If entered correctly,
the radio will start to play.

You will then have to store your
favorite stations in the Preset
buttons. Your original settings
were lost when power was discon­nected.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Before Driving

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▼

Before you begin driving your
Honda, you should know what gaso­line to use, and how to check the
levels of important fluids. You also

need to know how to properly stow
luggage or packages. This section
will help you. If you plan to add any
accessories to your car, please read
the information in this section first.

Break-in Period.............................. 86

Gasoline............................................ 86

Oxygenated Fuels...................... 86

Driving in Foreign Countries .. 87

Service Station Procedures.......... 88

Filling the Fuel Tank................ 88

Opening the Hood ...................... 89

Fuel Economy................................. 92

Vehicle Condition....................... 92

Driving Habits............................ 92

Accessories...................................... 93

Loading Cargo................................ 94

Before Driving

Break-in Period, Gasoline

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Break-in Period

Help assure your car's future
reliability and performance by
paying extra attention to how you
drive during the first 1,000 km (600
miles).
During this period:

Avoid full-throttle starts and

rapid acceleration.
If you need to add oil, use the

engine oil recommended in this

owner's manual.

Avoid hard braking. New brakes
need to be broken-in by moderate
use for the first 300 km (200
miles).

You should follow these same re­commendations with an overhauled
or exchanged engine, or when the
brakes are relined.

Gasoline

Your Honda operates most effec-

tively on unleaded gasoline with a
pump octane number of 86 or

higher. Use of a lower octane

gasoline can cause a persistent,
heavy metallic rapping noise in the
engine that can lead to mechanical
damage.

We recommend gasolines con­taining detergent additives that
help prevent fuel system and

engine deposits.

Using gasoline containing lead will
damage your car's emission
controls. This contributes to air
pollution and can void certain parts
of your warranty.

Oxygenated Fuels

Some conventional gasolines are

being blended with alcohol or an

ether compound. These gasolines
are collectively referred to as
oxygenated fuels. To meet clean air
standards, some areas of the
United States and Canada use
oxygenated fuels to help reduce
emissions.

If you use an oxygenated fuel, be
sure it is unleaded and meets the
minimum octane rating require­ment.

Before using an oxygenated fuel,
try to confirm the fuel's contents.
Some states/provinces require this
information to be posted on the
pump.

Before Driving

Gasoline

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The following are the EPA-

approved percentages of oxygen-

ates:

ETHANOL (ethyl or grain alcohol)
You may use gasoline containing
up to 10% ethanol by volume.

Gasoline containing ethanol may be
marketed under the name "Gasohol."

MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl
Ether)
You may use gasoline containing
up to 15% MTBE by volume.

METHANOL (methyl or wood
alcohol)
You may use gasoline containing
up to 5% methanol by volume as
long as it also contains cosolvents
and corrosion inhibitors to protect

the fuel system. Gasoline con­taining more than 5% methanol by
volume may cause starting and/or
performance problems. It may also
damage metal, rubber and plastic
parts of your fuel system.

If you notice any undesirable
operating symptoms, try another
service station or switch to another
brand of gasoline.

Fuel system damage or perfor­mance problems resulting from the
use of an oxygenated fuel con­taining more than the percentages
of oxygenates given above are not
covered under warranty.

Driving in Foreign Countries

Using any type of leaded gasoline
in your Honda will affect perform­ance and damage its emission con­trols. Unleaded gasoline may not be
available in other countries. If you
are planning to take your car out­side the U.S. or Canada, write to
Honda at the address shown for
information about any modifica­tions your car may need. Be sure to
include the year and model of your
car.

U.S. Owners:

American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Consumer Affairs
1919 Torrance Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90501-2746

Canadian Owners:

Honda Canada Inc.
715 Milner Ave.
Scarborough, Ontario M1B 2K8

Before Driving

Service Station Procedures

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Filling the Fuel Tank

Pull

1. The fuel fill is on the driver's

side of the car. Park with that
side closest to the service station
pumps.

2. Open the fuel fill door by pulling
on the handle to the left of the
driver's seat.

Handling gasoline improperly

can cause it to ignite or ex-

plode, causing you to be seri-

ously or fatally injured.
Always put out cigarettes and

other smoking materials, and

keep all sparks and open
flames away when you are
around gasoline.

FUEL FILL CAP

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

4. Stop filling the tank after the
fuel pump automatically clicks

off.

Do

not try to "top off" the

tank, leave some room for the

fuel to expand with temperature

changes.

5. Screw the fuel fill cap back on,

tighten it until it clicks.

6. Push the fuel fill door until it

latches.

Before Driving

Opening the Hood

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Service Station Procedures

SUPPORT ROD

LATCH

HOOD RELEASE HANDLE

1. Shift to Park or Neutral and set
the parking brake. Pull the hood
release handle, located under the
left lower corner of the dash­board. The hood will pop up
slightly.

2. Standing in front of the car, put
your fingers under the front edge
of the hood to the right of center.
Slide your hand to the left until
you feel the hood latch handle.
Push this handle to the left until
it releases the hood. Lift the hood.

CLIP

3. Pull the support rod out of its clip
and insert the end into the hole
on the driver's side of the hood.

To close the hood, lift it up slightly
to remove the support rod from the
hole. Put the support rod back into
its holding clip. Lower the hood to
about a foot above the fender, then
let it drop.

CONTINUED

Before Driving

Service Station Procedures

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Oil Check

DIPSTICK

Check the engine oil level every
time you fill the car with fuel. Wait
at least two minutes after turning
the engine off before you check the

oil.

1. Remove the dipstick (orange
handle).

2. Wipe the dipstick with a clean
cloth or paper towel.

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

Before Driving

Service Station Procedures

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UPPER MARK
LOWER MARK

4. Remove it again and check the
level. It should be between the
upper and lower marks.

If it is near or below the lower
mark, see page 119 for information
on the proper oil and how to add it.

Engine Coolant Check

RESERVE TANK

MAX

MIN

Look at the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. Make sure it
is between the MAX and MIN lines.
If it is below the MIN line, see
Adding Engine Coolant on
page 124 for information on adding
the proper coolant.

Refer to Periodic Checks on
page 117 for information on check­ing other items in your Honda.

Before Driving

Fuel Economy

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The condition of your car and your

driving habits are the two most
important things that affect the

fuel mileage you get.

Vehicle Condition

Always maintain your car accord-

ing to the maintenance schedule.

This will keep it in top operating

condition.

An important part of that mainte­nance is the Periodic Checks
(see page 117). For example an
underinflated tire causes more

"rolling resistance," which uses
fuel. It also wears out faster, so
check the tire pressure at least
monthly. In winter, the build-up of
snow on your car's underside adds

weight and rolling resistance.

Frequent cleaning helps your fuel
mileage and reduces the chance of
corrosion.

Driving Habits

You can improve fuel economy by
driving moderately. Rapid acceler­ation, abrupt cornering, and hard

braking use more fuel.
Always drive in the highest gear

practical for your speed and road
conditions. Gain the best fuel
economy by using the upshift

indicator, if equipped, to direct
your shifting during acceleration
(see page 35).

Depending on traffic conditions, try
to maintain a constant speed. Every
time you slow down and speed up,
your car uses extra fuel. Use the
cruise control, when appropriate, to
increase fuel economy.

A cold engine uses more fuel than a
warm engine. It is not necessary to

"warm-up" a cold engine by letting
it idle for a long time. You can
drive away in about a minute, no
matter how cold it is outside. The
engine will warm up faster, and you
get better fuel economy. To cut

down on the number of "cold starts,"
try to combine several short trips

into one.
The air conditioning puts an extra

load on the engine which makes it
use more fuel. Turn off the A/C to
cut down on air conditioning use.
Use the flow-through ventilation
when the outside air temperature is
moderate.

Before Driving

Accessories

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Your Honda dealer has many acces­sories available to personalize your
car. Some of these are audio sys­tems, alloy wheels, air conditioning,
and color-coordinated carpet floor
mats. All Genuine Honda Acces­sories have been approved by our
engineers for installation and use
on your car, and are covered by
warranty.

Some non-Honda accessories you
can buy in the "aftermarket" are
designed for universal applications.
Although they may fit your Honda,
they may not be within factory
specifications. For example, after­market wheels may not meet
Honda's specifications for width
and offset. They could cause sus­pension problems which would not
be covered by your warranty. Im­properly-designed accessories can
adversely affect your car's han­dling and stability.

Your car has several computer­controlled systems, including the
SRS system and the engine's fuel
injection. Strong electronic inter­ference can affect their operation.

Electronic communications equip-

ment, such as cellular telephones

and two-way radios are regulated
by the FCC (DOC in Canada) and

should not interfere with your car's

systems. Improper installation, or

using electrical equipment not in-

tended for mobile use may inter-

fere with your car's operation. If

you want to install a cellular tele-

phone, other mobile communi-

cations equipment or even add-on
stereo amplifiers, please discuss it
first with your Honda dealer.

In many cases, improper instal­lation is the real cause of problems
with aftermarket accessories. Have
these accessories installed by quali­fied technicians who are familiar
with your Honda. If possible, have
your Honda dealer inspect the final
installation.

Before Driving

Loading Cargo

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The maximum load you can carry
in your Honda is 395 kg (850 Ibs). It
includes the total weight of all
passengers and their belongings,
and any accessories. This 395 kg
(850 Ibs) figure is shown as the
Vehicle Capacity Weight on the
tire information label attached to
the inside of the glove box.
To figure out how much cargo you
can carry:

Figure the total "occupant
weight" you will be transporting.
To do this, multiply the number
of people (driver and all passen­gers) by 70 kg (150 Ibs).

Subtract this number from the
Vehicle Capacity Weight (395 kg/
850 Ibs).

This final number is the total
weight of cargo you can load in or
on the car. With five occupants
(driver and four passengers), the
maximum recommended weight
for cargo is 45 kg (100 Ibs).

Where you store this cargo, and
how well you secure it, are just as
important as how much it weighs.
Make sure you load cargo so it will
not shift while driving. Store items
in the cargo area behind the rear
seat, placing them as far forward as
possible.

Do not place items on the cargo
area cover behind the rear seat or

stack objects any higher than the
back of the rear seat. They block
your rear view and can fly forward
and injure you or your passengers if
you brake hard or are involved in a
collision.

When you fold down the rear seat­back to haul large objects, place
those objects as far forward as
possible. Try to secure them with
rope or cord so they will not shift
while you are driving. Do not stack
items higher than the back of the
front seats.

If you must carry large objects that
prevent you from closing the
tailgate or hatch, be aware that
exhaust gas can enter the interior.
See Carbon Monoxide Hazard on
page 26.

You could store additional items on
the floor behind the front seats.
Make sure they cannot roll under
the front seat and interfere with
the pedals.

Before Driving

Driving

Main Menu

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This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
manual and automatic transmis­sions. It also includes important

information on your car's braking

system.

Preparing to Drive ......................... 96

Starting the Engine ....................... 97

5-speed Manual

Transmission.......................... 97

Automatic

Transmission.......................... 97

Starting in Cold Weather

at High Altitude ..................... 98

5-speed Manual Transmission..... 99

Recommended Shift Points.... 100

Maximum Speeds..................... 100

Automatic Transmission............ 101

Shift Lever Positions............... 101

Maximum Speeds..................... 104

Shift Lock Release................... 104

The Braking System.................... 105

Brake Wear Indicators............ 105

Brake System Design.............. 105

Anti-lock Brakes...................... 106

Driving in Bad Weather.............. 107

Towing a Trailer.......................... 109

Driving

Preparing to Drive

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You should do the following checks
and adjustments every day before
you drive your car.

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

2. Check that the hood and hatch/
tailgate are fully closed.

3. Visually check the tires. If a tire
looks low, use a gauge to check
its pressure.

4. Check that any items you may be

carrying with you inside are
stored properly or fastened down
securely.

5. Check the adjustment of the seat
(see page 51).

6. Check the adjustment of the
inside and outside mirrors (see
page 55).

7. Check the adjustment of the
steering wheel (see page 44).

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

9. Fasten your seat belt. Check that
your passengers have fastened

their seat belts (see page 7).

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

11.Start the engine (see page 97).

12.Check the gauges and indicator
lights in the instrument panel
(see page 31).

Driving

Starting the Engine

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5-speed Manual Transmission

1. Apply the parking brake.

2. In cold weather, turn off all
electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery.

3. Push the clutch pedal down all
the way. START (III) does not
function unless the clutch pedal
is depressed.

4. Without touching the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition key to the
START (III) position. If the
engine does not start right away,
do not hold the key in START
(III) for more than 15 seconds at
a time. Pause for at least 10
seconds before trying again.

5. If the engine does not start
within 15 seconds, or starts but
stalls right away, repeat step 4
with the accelerator pedal
pressed half-way down. If the
engine starts, release pressure on
the accelerator pedal so the
engine does not race.

6. If the engine still does not start,
press the accelerator pedal all the

way down and hold it there while

starting in order to clear flooding.

As before, keep the ignition key

in the START (III) position for

no more than 15 seconds. Return
to step 5 if the engine does not
start. If it starts, lift your foot off
the accelerator pedal so the
engine does not race.

Automatic Transmission

1. Apply the parking brake.

2. In cold weather, turn off all
electrical accessories to reduce

the drain on the battery.

3. Make sure the shift lever is in

Park. Press on the brake pedal.

4. Without touching the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition key to the
START (III) position. If the

engine does not start right away,
do not hold the key in START
(III) for more than 15 seconds at
a time. Pause for at least 10
seconds before trying again.

CONTINUED

Driving

Starting the Engine

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5. If the engine does not start
within 15 seconds, or starts but

stalls right away, repeat step 4

with the accelerator pedal

pressed half-way down. If the
engine starts, release pressure on
the accelerator pedal so the

engine does not race.

6. If the engine still does not start,
press the accelerator pedal all the

way down and hold it there while
starting in order to clear flooding.
As before, keep the ignition key
in the START (III) position for
no more than 15 seconds. Return
to step 5 if the engine does not
start. If it starts, lift your foot off
the accelerator pedal so the
engine does not race.

Starting in Cold Weather at
High Altitude (Above 2,400
meters/8,000 feet)

An engine is harder to start in cold
weather. The thinner air found at
high altitude above 2,400 meters
(8,000 feet) adds to the problem.

Use the following procedure:

1. Turn off all electrical accessories
to reduce the drain on the
battery.

2. Push the accelerator pedal half­way to the floor and hold it there
while starting the engine. Do not
hold the ignition key in START
(III) for more than 15 seconds.
When the engine starts, release
the accelerator pedal gradually
as the engine speeds up and
smooths out.

3. If the engine fails to start in step
2, push the accelerator pedal to
the floor and hold it there while
you try to start the engine for no
more than 15 seconds. If the
engine does not start, return to
step 2.

Driving

The manual transmission is syn-

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chronized in all forward gears for
smooth operation. It has a lockout
so you cannot shift directly from
Fifth to Reverse. When shifting up
or down, make sure you push the
clutch pedal down all the way, shift
to the next gear, and let the pedal
up gradually. When you are not
shifting, do not rest your foot on
the clutch pedal. This can cause

your clutch to wear out faster.

5-speed Manual Transmission

Come to a full stop before you shift
into reverse. You can damage the
transmission by trying to shift into
reverse with the car moving.
Depress the clutch pedal and pause
for a few seconds before putting it
in reverse, or shift into one of the
forward gears for a moment. This
stops the gears so they won't
"grind".

You can get extra braking from the
engine when slowing down by

shifting to a lower gear. This extra
braking can help you maintain a
safe speed and prevent your brakes
from overheating while going down
a steep hill. Before downshifting,
make sure engine speed will not go
into the red zone in the lower gear.
Refer to the Maximum Speeds
chart.

Rapid slowing or speeding-up
can cause loss of control on
slippery surfaces. If you crash,
you can be injured.

Use extra care when driving on
slippery surfaces.

CONTINUED

Driving