1994 Honda Accord Coupe Owners Manual

You select the air

and

CONTINUED

Comfort and Convenience Features

Heating and Cooling

To Cool with A/C 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 com- fortable temperature, close the windows and set the system for cooling as described above.

Comfort and Convenience Features

AIR CONDITIONING SWITCH

FAN CONTROL DIAL

TEMPERATURE CONTROL DIAL

MODE BUTTONS

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.

To Heat To warm the interior:

1. Start the engine. 2. Select 3. Switch the fan to the desired

and

speed.

4. Adjust the warmth of the air with

the temperature control dial.

To Heat and Dehutnidify with 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

dial so the mixture of heated and cooled air feels comfortable.

Heating and Cooling

AIR CONDITIONING SWITCH

FAN CONTROL DIAL

TEMPERATURE CONTROL DIAL

MODE BUTTONS

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

CONTINUED

Comfort and Convenience Features

Heating and Cooling

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 4. Adjust the temperature control

and

dial so the air flow 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 3. Switch the fan and temperature

and

controls to maximum.

Comfort and Convenience Features

To Turn Everything Off To shut off the system temporarily, turn the fan speed and temperature control dials all the way OFF.

You should shut the system com- pletely 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.

To rapidly remove exterior frost or ice from the windshield (on very cold days), first select windshield is clear, select avoid fogging the windows.

Once the to

These settings direct all the air flow to the defroster vents at the base of the windshield and the side window defroster vents. 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.

AM/FM/Cassette Stereo Audio System For Canadian LX model only Your Honda audio system is easy to use, and will give clear A M / FM reception. The preset buttons allow you to select six stations on each band.

The cassette player features auto- reverse for continuous play.

Audio System

CASSETTE SLOT

ON/VOL KNOB SEEK BUTTON

TUNE BAR

PRESET BUTTONS

AM/FM BUTTON

Comfort and Convenience Features

Audio System

Operating the Radio The ignition switch must be in AC- CESSORY (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.

Comfort and Convenience Features

STEREO INDICATOR

ON/VOL KNOB SEEK BUTTON

TUNE BAR

PRESET BUTTONS

AM/FM BUTTON

Select the band you want to listen to by pressing the A M / FM button. You will see the selected band and the frequency in the display. STEREO will be displayed next to the frequency if the station is broadcasting in FM stereo. The AM stereo feature is not available.

Finding the Radio Station You can use any of three methods to find radio stations on the selected band: TUNE, SEEK, or the Preset buttons.

Use the TUNE bar to change the frequency in small increments. Press ) to go up, and the bottom the top ( ) to go down. Press and release to change the frequency to the next number.

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

The SEEK function searches for radio stations with strong signals. Every time you press the ON/VOL button, it advances to the next station.

Presetting The preset buttons allow you to store radio frequencies for later selection. Each button will store one frequency on the AM band, and one on the FM band.

To store a frequency:

1. Select the desired band, AM or

FM.

2. Use the TUNE or SEEK function

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. Repeat steps 1 to 3 to store a total of six stations each on AM and FM.

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 frequen- cies you preset will be lost if your car's battery goes dead or is discon- nected.

Audio System

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

Use the Tone control to adjust the bass and treble to your liking.

The radio panel illumination comes on with the instrument panel lights, even with the radio off. You can turn off this illumination even with the radio on by pulling the Balance control knob out. Check this knob if the lights do not come on with the in- strument panel lights.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Audio System

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 mega- hertz

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).

Comfort and Convenience Features

STEREO INDICATOR

ON/VOL KNOB SEEK BUTTON

TUNE BAR

PRESET BUTTONS

AM/FM BUTTON

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."

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.

or will light to show you

The 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/PLAY button.

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

Audio System

EJECT BUTTON

FF/REW BUTTONS

CASSETTE SLOT

TAPE DIRECTION INDICATOR

PROG/PLAY BUTTON

Cassette Search Functions Fast forward and rewind allow you to move the tape rapidly to find a desired program. Note which direction the tape is moving from the Tape Direction Indicator. Press the FF or REW button to move the tape in the same direction or the opposite direction. It will go back to PLAY

when you push the PLAY button.

Caring for Cassettes Damaged cassettes can jam inside the drive or cause other problems. See page 97 for information on cassette care and protection.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Audio System

AM/FM/Cassette Stereo Audio System For U.S. LX and EX models, and Canadian EX-R model Your Honda audio system is easy to use, and will give clear A M / FM reception. The preset buttons allow you to select six stations on AM and twelve stations on FM.

(US: LX)

ON/OFF/VOL KNOB

CASSETTE SLOT

TUNE/SEEK FF/REW/TMS SWITCH

AM/FM BUTTON

PRESET BUTTONS

(US: EX, Canada: EX-R)

ON/OFF/VOL KNOB

CASSETTE SLOT

TUNE/SEEK FF/REW/TMS SWITCH

AM/FM BUTTON

PRESET BUTTONS

Comfort and Convenience Features

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

) tape is

On U.S. EX and Canadian EX-R models The Anti-theft feature disables the system if it is disconnected from the car's battery. To get the system working again, you must enter a code number,

* Dolby noise reduction manufac- tured under license from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. "DOLBY" and the double-D symbol

are trademarks of Dolby

Laboratories Licensing Corporation.

(US: LX)

ON/OFF/VOL KNOB

CASSETTE SLOT

Audio System

TUNE/SEEK FF/REW/TMS SWITCH

AM/FM BUTTON

PRESET BUTTONS

(US: EX, Canada: EX-R)

ON/OFF/VOL KNOB

CASSETTE SLOT

TUNE/SEEK FF/REW/TMS SWITCH

AM/FM BUTTON

PRESET BUTTONS

Comfort and Convenience Features

Audio System

Operating the Radio The ignition switch must be in AC- CESSORY (I) or ON (II) to operate the audio system. Turn the system on by turning the ON/OFF/VOL knob clockwise. The radio comes on and displays the frequency of the station it was last tuned to. The system turns off when you turn the ignition switch to LOCK (0).

Adjust the volume by turning the ON/OFF/VOL knob.

Select the band you want to listen to by pressing the AM/FM button. You will see the selected band and the frequency in the display. ST will be displayed next to the fre- quency if the station is broadcasting in FM stereo. The AM stereo feature is not available.

Comfort and Convenience Features

(US: LX)

ON/OFF/VOL KNOB

STEREO INDICATOR

AM/FM BUTTON

(US: EX, Canada: EX-R)

ON/OFF/VOL KNOB

STEREO INDICATOR

AM/FM BUTTON

You can use any of three methods to find radio stations on the selected band: TUNE, SEEK, or the Preset buttons.

The TUNE function lets you find a desired frequency. Push the TUNE/ SEEK switch up to change to a higher frequency, and down to change to a lower frequency. To change the frequency up or down a single increment, push and release the TUNE/SEEK switch.

The SEEK function searches the band for stations with a strong signal. Depending on which way you push the TUNE/SEEK switch, the system searches up or down from the current frequency. Push the switch until you hear a beep, then release it. The system searches until it finds a station with a strong signal, then stops. If you do not want to listen to that station, push TUNE/SEEK again.

(US: LX)

Audio System

TUNE/SEEK SWITCH

PRESET BUTTONS

(US: EX, Canada: EX-R)

TUNE/SEEK SWITCH

PRESET BUTTONS

Comfort and Convenience Features

(US: LX)

Audio System

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. To store a frequency:

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

TUNE/SEEK SWITCH

AM/FM BUTTON

PRESET BUTTONS

2. Use the TUNE or SEEK function

to tune the radio to a desired station.

(US: EX, Canada: EX-R)

AUTO SELECT LIGHT

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 SWITCH

AM/FM BUTTON

PRESET BUTTONS

AUTO SELECT BUTTON

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 frequen- cies you preset will be lost if your car's battery goes dead or is discon- nected.

Audio System

AUTO SELECT does not erase the stations you have manually preset. When you return to your normal reception area, turn off AUTO SELECT by pressing the button again. The light goes out and the Preset buttons can then select the stations you originally set.

You cannot manually store radio station frequencies in the Preset buttons when AUTO SELECT is ON. If you do not like the stations found by AUTO SELECT, you can still use the TUNE or SEEK function to find other stations.

On U.S. EX and Canadian EX-R models The AUTO SELECT function allows you to find stations easily when you are in an unfamiliar area. Press the AUTO SELECT button. The system automatically scans both bands to find six strong stations on AM and twelve on FM, and stores their frequencies in the Preset buttons. You can then use the Preset buttons in the normal manner to select those stations. "A SELECT" stays displayed next to the frequency as a reminder.

If you are in a remote area, AUTO SELECT may not find enough stations to fill all the available presets. If this is the case, you will see a "0" displayed when you press any Preset button that does not have a station stored.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Audio System

Adjusting the Sound Use the Balance and Fader controls to adjust the sound "direction". The Balance control moves it left-to-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.

Comfort and Convenience Features

FAD BAL BAS TRE

FADER CONTROL

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 instrument panel lights.

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.

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 mega- hertz

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."

(US: LX)

STEREO INDICATOR

Audio System

AM/FM BUTTON

(US: EX, Canada: EX-R)

STEREO INDICATOR

AM/FM BUTTON

Comfort and Convenience Features

Audio System

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.

or will light to show you

The 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 Auto-reverse feature. It will automatically reverse direction when it reaches the end of the cassette.

Comfort and Convenience Features

(US: LX)

ON/OFF/VOL KNOB

CASSETTE SLOT

TAPE DIRECTION INDICATOR

EJECT BUTTON

PROG BUTTON

PLAY BUTTON

DOLBY BUTTON

(US: EX, Canada: EX-R)

ON/OFF/VOL KNOB

CASSETTE SLOT

TAPE DIRECTION INDICATOR

EJECT BUTTON

PROG BUTTON

PLAY BUTTON

DOLBY BUTTON

Dolby® noise reduction turns on when you insert a cassette. If the tape was not recorded with Dolby "B" noise reduction, turn it off by pressing the

button.

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.

(US: LX)

Audio System

FF/REW/TMS SWITCH

EJECT BUTTON

PROG BUTTON

PLAY BUTTON

DOLBY BUTTON

REPEAT BUTTON

(US: EX, Canada: EX-R)

FF/REW/TMS SWITCH

EJECT BUTTON

PROG BUTTON

PLAY BUTTON

DOLBY BUTTON

REPEAT BUTTON

Comfort and Convenience Features

Audio System

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

To rewind the tape, push the FF/ REW/TMS switch down then release it. You will see REW in the display. To fast forward the tape, push the switch up then release it. You will see FF displayed. 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. Press the REPEAT button to replay the current passage. You will see RPT displayed. When the system reaches the end of the song or passage that is being played, it automatically goes into rewind. When it senses the beginning of that passage, it goes back to play. The

Comfort and Convenience Features

The REPEAT and TMS functions use silent periods on the tape to find the end of a selection. These features 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.

Caring for Cassettes Damaged cassettes can jam inside the drive or cause other problems. See page 98 for information on cassette care and protection.

system will continue repeating this passage until you turn off REPEAT by pressing the button again.

The TMS function lets you skip to the beginning of a song or other passage. The tape skips forward or backward, depending on which direction you push the FF/REW/ TMS switch.

Activate TMS by pushing the FF/ REW/TMS switch and holding it until you hear a beep. If you push the switch down, you will see REW blinking in the display as the tape rewinds. If you push the switch up, you will see FF blinking in the display as the tape fast forwards. When the system senses a silent period on the tape, it goes back to PLAY mode.

Operating the CD Player Optional for U.S. LX and EX models and Canadian EX-R model A Compact Disc changer is available for your car. It holds up to six discs, providing several hours of continu- ous 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.

Your dealer has Genuine Honda accessory in-dash CD players available that are operated by the radio controls. If you have one of these units, use the directions in this section (except for multi-disc selection) to operate it.

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.

Audio System

You can use the TUNE/SEEK switch while a disc is playing to select passages and change tracks. To move rapidly forward within a track, push up and hold the TUNE/ SEEK switch. Push down and hold the switch to move rapidly backward within a track. You will hear a beep a half second after you push the switch up or down. Keep pushing the switch until you think the track has advanced or returned to the desired position. The disc will start playing when you release the switch.

If you push the TUNE/SEEK switch up and release it before you hear a beep, the system will skip forward to the beginning of the next track on that CD. If will skip backward to the begin- ning of the current track if you push the switch down and release it.

CONTINUED

Comfort and Convenience Features

Audio System

(US: LX)

ON/OFF/VOL KNOB

RPT INDICATOR

TUNE/SEEK SWITCH

CD BUTTON

REPEAT BUTTON

(US: EX, Canada: EX-R)

ON/OFF/VOL KNOB

A. SELECT INDICATOR

RPT INDICATOR

TUNE/SEEK SWITCH

CD BUTTON

A. SELECT/ REPEAT BUTTON

Comfort and Convenience Features

If you push the REPEAT button on the U.S. LX model or the A. SELECT/REPEAT button on the U.S. EX and Canadian EX-R models, the system will continuously play the track you are listening to. You will see RPT in the display. Push the switch again to turn off the REPEAT mode.

Audio System

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 U.S. EX and Canadian EX-R models You can get the CD player to randomly select tracks by pressing A. SELECT/REPEAT until you see A. SELECT in the display. With this active, the system selects and plays the tracks randomly, rather than sequentially, on each disc. When the system has played all the tracks on that disc, it loads the next disc and starts to play randomly. The system continues to select and play tracks randomly on each of the six discs until you press the A. SELECT/REPEAT button again.

To turn on random play mode while the system is in the REPEAT mode, turn off REPEAT mode first by pressing the A. SELECT/REPEAT button. Then, press the button again as explained above.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Audio System

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

For Canadian LX model only 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.

To remind you, a small red light labelled CLEAN comes on every 50
hours of tape use. If you are already regularly cleaning the tape drive at least every 30 hours, simply push the CLEAN light for five seconds to turn it off.

If you do not clean the cassette drive regularly, it may eventually become impossible to remove the deposits with a normal cleaning kit.

CLEAN LIGHT

CLEAN

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.

Caring for the Cassette Player

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 mecha- nism 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.

CONTINUED

Comfort and Convenience Features

Caring for the Cassette Player

On U.S. LX and EX models, and Canadian EX-R model

CLEAN INDICATOR

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

Comfort and Convenience Features

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 Preset 6
button while the system is in the tape operation mode. Hold the button until you hear a beep and 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 mecha- nism 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.

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

If you make a mistake entering the code, do not start over or try to correct your mistake. Complete the five-digit sequence, then enter the correct code. You have three tries to enter the correct code. If you are unsuccessful in three attempts, you must then leave the system on for one hour before trying again.

On U.S. EX and Canadian EX-R models Your car's audio system will disable itself if it is disconnected from electrical power for any reason. To make it work again, the user must enter a specific five-digit code in the Preset buttons. Because there are hundreds of number combinations possible from five digits, making the system work without knowing the exact code is nearly impossible.

You should have received two copies of a card that lists your audio system's code number and serial number. It is best to store one of these cards in a safe place at home, and to keep the other in your wallet or purse. In addition, you should write the audio system's serial number in this Owner's Manual. If you should happen to lose both cards, you must obtain the code number from your Honda dealer. To do this, you will need the system's serial number.

Theft Protection

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

Comfort and Convenience Features

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 accesso- ries to your car, please read the information in this section first.

Before Driving

Break-in Period.............................. 102
Gasoline.......................................... 102
Oxygenated Fuels...................... 102
Driving in Foreign Countries... 103
Service Station Procedures.......... 104
Filling the Fuel Tank................. 104
Opening the Hood..................... 105
Fuel Economy................................ 108
Vehicle Condition...................... 108
Driving Habits............................ 108
Accessories..................................... 109
Loading Cargo................................ 110

Before Driving

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.

Break-in Period, Gasoline

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 re- commendations with an overhauled or exchanged engine, or when the brakes are relined.

Before Driving

The following are the EPA-approved percentages of oxygenates:

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.

Gasoline

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 perform- ance 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

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.

Before Driving

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.

3. Remove the fuel fill cap slowly.

You may hear a hissing sound as pressure inside the tank escapes. Place the fuel fill cap on the inside of the door as shown.

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.

FUEL FILL CAP

Opening the Hood

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.

LATCH

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 up until it releases the hood. Lift the hood.

Service Station Procedures

SUPPORT ROD

3. Pull the support rod out of its clip and insert the end into the hole on the front of the hood around the center.

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

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).

Before Driving

2. Wipe the dipstick with a clean

cloth or paper towel.

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

Service Station Procedures

Engine Coolant Check

RESERVE TANK

Refer to Periodic Checks on page 137 for information on checking other items in your Honda.

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 139 for information on the proper oil and how to add it.

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 144 for information on adding the proper coolant.

Before Driving

Driving Habits You can improve fuel economy by driving moderately. Rapid acceler- ation, abrupt cornering, and hard braking use more fuel.

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

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.

Fuel Economy

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 according to the maintenance schedule. This will keep it in top operating condition.

An important part of that mainte- nance is the Periodic Checks (see page 137). For example an under- inflated 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.

Before Driving

Your Honda dealer has many Genuine Honda Accessories that allow you to personalize your car. These have all been approved for installation and use on your car, and are covered by warranty.

Your car has several computer- controlled systems, including the SRS system, the engine's fuel injection, and the Anti-lock brake system. Strong electronic inter- ference can affect their operation.

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, after- market wheels may not meet Honda's specifications for width and offset. They could cause suspension problems which would not be covered by your warranty. Im- properly-designed accessories can adversely affect your car's handling and stability.

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 interfere with your car's operation. If you want to install a cellular telephone, other mobile communications equipment or even add-on stereo amplifiers, please discuss it first with your Honda dealer.

Accessories

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

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, any accessories, and the tongue weight of a trailer. This 395 kg (850 Ibs) figure is shown as the Vehicle Capacity Weight on the tire infor- mation label attached to the passen- ger's door jamb.

Before Driving

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 k g/ 850 Ibs). If you are towing a trailer, subtract the tongue weight. See Towing a Trailer on page 125.

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 recom- mended 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. When storing items in the trunk, place them as far forward as possible. 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.

If you must carry large objects that prevent you from closing the trunk lid, be aware that exhaust gas can enter the interior. See Carbon Monoxide Hazard on page 27 .

Never place items on the shelf behind the back seat. Those items can fly forward and injure you or your passengers if you brake hard or are involved in a collision.

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 infor- mation on your car's braking system and facts you need if you are plan- ning to tow a trailer.

Driving

Preparing to Drive......................... 112
Starting the Engine........................ 113

5-speed Manual

Transmission.......................... 113

Automatic

Transmission.......................... 113

Starting in Cold Weather

at High Altitude ..................... 114
5-speed Manual Transmission..... 115
Recommended Shift Points...... 115
Maximum Speeds...................... 116
Automatic Transmission............... 116
Shift Lever Positions................. 117
Maximum Speeds...................... 120
Shift Lock Release..................... 120
The Braking System...................... 121
Brake Wear Indicators.............. 121
Brake System Design................ 121
Anti-lock Brakes........................ 122
Driving in Bad Weather................ 123
Towing a Trailer............................ 125

Driving

Preparing to Drive

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 trunk are

fully closed.

3. Check that any items you may be

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

4. Check the adjustment of the seat

(see page 54).

5. Check the adjustment of the

inside and outside mirrors (see page 60).

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

7. Make sure the doors are securely

closed and locked.

8. Fasten your seat belt. Check that

your passengers have fastened their seat belts (see page 7 ).

9. Turn the ignition ON (II). Check the indicator lights in the instru- ment panel.

10.Start the engine (see page 113 ).

11. Check the gauges and indicator

lights in the instrument panel (see page 33).

Driving

Starting the Engine

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

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.

Starting the Engine

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 half- way 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.

Driving

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.

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.

The manual transmission is syn- 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

Recommended Shift Points Drive in the highest gear that lets the engine run and accelerate smoothly. This will give you the best fuel economy and effective emis- sions control. The following shift points are recommended:

Driving

5-speed Manual Transmission, Automatic Transmission

Maximum Speeds The speeds in this table are the maximums for the given gears. If you exceed these speeds, the engine speed will enter into the tachometer's red zone. If this occurs, you may feel the engine cut in and out. This is caused by a limiter in the engine's computer controls. The engine will run normally when you reduce the RPM below the red zone.

(US: DX, LX, Canada: LX)

(US: EX, Canada: EX-R)

Automatic Transmission Your Honda's transmission has four forward speeds, and is electronically controlled for smoother shifting. It also has a "lock-up" torque converter for better fuel economy. You may feel what seems like another shift when the converter locks.

Driving

Shift Lever Positions

Automatic Transmission

This display is on the instrument panel between the speedometer and tachometer. It shows you the position of the shift lever. It also indicates a possible problem in the transmission if the "D4" indicator light flashes.

SHIFT LEVER

The shift lever has seven positions. It must be in Park or Neutral to start the engine. When you are stopped in D4, D3, 2, 1, N or R, press firmly on the brake pedal and keep your foot off the accelerator pedal.

CONTINUED

Driving

Automatic Transmission

Park (P) — This position mechani- cally locks the transmission. Use Park whenever you are turning off or starting the engine. To shift out of Park, you must press on the brake pedal and have your foot off the accelerator pedal. Press the release button on the side of the shift lever to move it.

You must also press the release button to shift into Park. To avoid transmission damage, come to a complete stop before shifting into Park. The shift lever must be in Park before you can remove the key from the ignition switch.

If you have done all of the above and still cannot move the lever out of Park, see Shift Lock Release on page 120.

Driving

Neutral (N) — Use Neutral if you need to restart a stalled engine, or if it is necessary to stop briefly with the engine idling. Shift to Park posi- tion if you need to leave the car for any reason. Press on the brake pedal when you are moving the shift lever from Neutral to another gear.

Drive (D4) — Use this position for your normal driving. The transmis- sion automatically selects a suitable gear for your speed and acceleration. You may notice the transmission shifting up at higher speeds when the engine is cold. This helps the engine warm up faster.

Reverse (R) — To shift to Reverse from Park, see the explanation under Park. To shift to Reverse from Neutral, come to a complete stop and then shift. Press the release button before shifting into Reverse from Neutral.

Automatic Transmission

First (1) — To shift from Second to First, press the release button on the side of the shift lever. With the lever in this position, the transmission locks in First gear. By upshifting and downshifting through 1, 2, D3 and D4, you can operate this transmission much like a manual transmission without a clutch pedal.

Drive (D3) —This position is similar to D4, except only the first three gears are selected. Use D3 when towing a trailer in hilly terrain, or to provide engine braking when going down a steep hill. D3 can also keep the transmission from cycling between third and fourth gears in stop-and-go driving.

For faster acceleration when in D3 or D4, you can get the transmission to automatically downshift by pushing the accelerator pedal to the floor. The transmission will shift down one or two gears, depending on your speed.

Second (2) — To shift to Second, press the release button on the side of the shift lever. This position locks the transmission in second gear. It does not downshift to first gear when you come to a stop. Second gives you more power when climbing, and increased engine braking when going down steep hills. Use second gear when starting out on a slippery surface or in deep snow. It will help reduce wheelspin.

Whenever you move the shift lever to a lower gear, the transmission downshifts only if the engine's redline will not be exceeded in the lower gear.

Driving

Automatic Transmission

Maximum Speeds The speeds in this table are the maximums for the given position. If you exceed these speeds, the engine speed will enter into the tachometer's red zone. If this occurs, you will feel the engine cut in and out. This is caused by a limiter in the engine's computer controls. The engine will run normally when you reduce the RPM below the red zone.

Driving

Shift Lock Release This allows you to move the shift lever out of Park if the normal method of pushing on the brake pedal and pressing the release button does not work.

1. Set the Parking brake.

2. Remove the key from the ignition

switch.

3. Insert the key in the Shift Lock

Release slot next to the shift lever.

4. Push down on the key while you

press the release button and move the shift lever out of Park to Neutral.

RELEASE BUTTON

SHIFT LOCK RELEASE SLOT

5. Remove the key from the Shift Lock Release slot. Depress the brake pedal and restart the engine.

If you need to use the Shift Lock Release, it could mean your car is developing a problem. Have the car checked by your Honda dealer.

Your Honda is equipped with front disc brakes. The brakes on the rear wheels may be disc or drum, depending on model. The braking system is power-assisted to reduce the effort needed on the brake pedal.

Put your foot on the brake pedal only when you intend to brake. Resting your foot on the pedal keeps the brakes applied lightly, causing them to build up heat. Heat build-up can reduce how well your brakes work. It also keeps your brake lights on all the time, confusing drivers behind you.

Constant application of the brakes when going down a long hill builds up heat and reduces their effective- ness. Use the engine to assist the brakes by downshifting to a lower gear and taking your foot off the accelerator pedal.

Check your brakes after driving through deep water. Apply the brakes moderately to see if they feel normal. If not, apply them gently and frequently until they do. Since a longer distance is needed to stop with wet brakes, be extra cautious and alert in your driving.

Brake Wear Indicators The front disc brakes on all cars have audible brake wear indicators. They are also on the rear brakes of cars equipped with ABS. When the brake pads need replacing, you will hear a distinctive metallic "screeching" sound when you apply the brakes. If you do not have the brake pads replaced, they will begin screeching all the time.

Your brakes may sometimes squeal or squeak when you apply them lightly. Do not confuse this with the brake wear indicators. They make a very audible "screeching".

The Braking System

Brake System Design The hydraulic system that operates the brakes has two separate circuits. Each circuit works diagonally across the car (the left-front brake is connected with the right-rear brake, etc.). If one circuit should develop a problem, you will still have braking at two wheels.

Front

CONTINUED