1996 Honda Accord Wagon Owners Manual

Fuses, Checking the . . . . ..

Gas Mileage, Improving . . . .. 87
Gas Station Procedures . . . .. 84
Gasohol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 83
Gasoline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 82

See also Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 34
Tank, Filling the . . . . . . . .. 84

Gauges

Engine Coolant Temperature

. . . . . . . . .. 34
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 34

Gearshift Lever Positions

Automatic Transmission . 97
5-Speed Transmission . .. 95
Glass Cleaning . . . . . . . . . .. 153

Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 47

Hot Coolant, Warning

About . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 121

Halogen Headlight Bulbs . 142
Hazard Warning Flashers . .. 39
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . .. 49
Headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 36
High Beam Indicator . . . .. 32
High Beams, Turning on .. 36
Low Beams, Turning on .. 36
Reminder Chime . . . . . . .. 36
Replacing Halogen Bulbs 142
Turning on . . . . . . . . . . . .. 36
Heating and Cooling . . . . . .. 61
High Altitude, Starting at . .. 95
High Beam Indicator . . . . . .. 32
High-Low Beam Switch . . . .. 36
Hood, Opening the . . . . . . . .. 85

Identification Number,

Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 176

If Your Car Has to Be

T o w e d . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

174

Ignition

Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 43
Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 44
Timing Control System . 183

Indicator Lights, Instrument

Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 29
Infant Restraint . . . . . . . . . . .. 19
Inflation, Proper Tire . . . .. 138
Inside Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 53
Inspection, Tire . . . . . . . . .. 137
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . .. 28

Instrument Panel Brightness 37
Interior Cleaning . . . . . . . .. 152
Interior Light . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 57
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

Jack, Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Jacking up the Car . . . . . .. Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . ..

156
157
162

Keys

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 43

. . . . ..

Label, Certification 176
Labels, Safety, Location of .. 25
Lane Change, Signaling . . . .. 37

Lap Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 9
Lap/Shoulder Belts . . . . . . . .. 7
Leaking of Exhaust Into Car . 24
Lighter, Cigarette . . . . . . . . .. 56
Lights

Bulb Replacement . 141, 142
Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 29
P a r k i n g . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 36
Reminder Chime . . . . . . .. 36
Turn Signal . . . . . . . . . . . .. 37
Loading Cargo . . . . . . . . . . . .. 88
LOCK (Ignition Key

Position) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 44

Locks

Anti-Theft Steering

Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 44
Childproof Door Locks . .. 46
Fuel Filler Door . . . . . . . .. 84
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 47
Power Door . . . . . . . . . . . .. 45
Tailgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 47

Index

Low Coolant Level . . . . . .. 121
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .. 30
Lower Gear,

Downshifting to a . . . . . . . .. 96

Lubricant Specifications

Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 178
Luggage, Loading . . . . . . . . .. 88

Maintenance

. . . . . . . . . . . ..

Periodic Items . . . . . . .. 116
Record . . . . . . . . . ..114, 115
Required Indicator . . . . .. 34
Schedule 112
Malfunction Indicator Lamp 167
Manual Transmission . . . . .. 95
Manually Closing Moonroof 168
Maximum Shift Speeds . . . .. 97
Meters, Gauges . . . . . . . . . . .. 33

Index

Methanol in Gasoline . . . . . .. 83
Mirrors, Adjusting . . . . . . . .. 53
Moonroof

Closing Manually . . . . .. 168
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 52

Neutral Gear Position . . . . .. 99
New Vehicle Break-in . . . . . .. 82
NOTICE, Explanation of ii Numbers, Identification .. 176

. . ..

Occupant Protection System . 4
Octane Requirement,

Gasoline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 82
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 33

Odometer, Trip . . . . . . . . . . .. 33
Oil

Change, How to . . . . . .. 119
Change, When to . . . . .. 112
Pressure Indicator . . . . . .. 30
Selecting Proper

Viscosity . . . . . . . . . . .. 119
Synthetic . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 119
ON (Ignition Key Position) .. 44
Opening the Hood . . . . . . . .. 85
Operation in Foreign

Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 83
Outside Mirrors . . . . . . . . . .. 53
Overheating, Engine . . . .. 163

Paint Touch-up . . . . . . . . .. 151
Panel Brightness Control . .. 37
Park Gear Position . . . . . . . .. 98

Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . .. 54
Parking Brake and Brake

System Light . . . . . . . . . . . .. 30
Parking Lights . . . . . . . . . . . .. 36
Parking Over Things

That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . .. 184
PGM-FI System . . . . . . . . .. 183
Polishing and Waxing . . .. 151
Power

Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . .. 45
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 53
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 129
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 50

Power Steering Belt

See Engine Belts Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts .. 9
Proper Seat Belt Usage . . . . .. 7

Light Bulbs . . . . . . . . . .. 142
SparkPlugs . . . . . . . . . .. 131
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 140
Wiper Blades . . . . . . . .. 134

Replacing Seat Belts After a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . .. 10
Reporting Safety Defects . 189
Reserve Tank, Coolant . .. 121
Restraint, Child . . . . . . . . . . .. 17
Reverse Gear Position . . . . .. 99
Rotation, Tire . . . . . . . . . .. 139

Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 5
Safety Defects, Reporting . 189
Safety Labels, Location o f . .. 25
Safety Messages . . . . . . . . . .. ii

Index

Seat Adjustments

Driver's Lumbar Support . 49
Driver's Seat Power

Height Adjustment . . . .. 49
Front Seat Adjustments .. 48
Head Restraints . . . . . . . .. 49
Rear Seat Armrest . . . . . .. 50

Seat Belts

Advice for Pregnant

Women . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 9
C l e a n i n g . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 152
Frayed or Torn . . . . . . . . .. 10
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . .. 10
Reminder Light . . . . . . . .. 30
R e p l a c e m e n t . . . . . . . . . . .. 10
System Components . . . . .. 5
Tether Attachment Points 22
Wearing a Lap/Shoulder

Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 7
Wearing the Lap B e l t . . . . .. 9
Seats, Adjusting the . . . . . . .. 48
Service Manual . . . . . . . . .. 191

Radiator Overheating . . .. 164
Radio/Cassette/CD Sound

System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 66
Radio Reception . . . . . . . . . .. 70
Rear End Towing . . . . . . .. 174
Rear Lights, Bulb

Replacement . . . . . . . . . .. 144
Rear Seat, Folding . . . . . . . .. 50
Rear View Mirror . . . . . . . . .. 53
Rear Window Defogger . . . .. 39
Reclining the Seat-Backs 16, 48
Recommended Shift Speeds 96
Remote Transmitter . .. 43, 45
Replacement Information

Air Cleaner Element . .. 129
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 122
Engine Oil and Filter . .. 119
Fuses 169

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

Index

Service Station Procedures . 84
Setting the Clock . . . . . . . . .. 54
Shift Lever Position

Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 97

Shifting

The Automatic

Transmission . . . . .. 97, 98

The 5-Speed Transmission . . . . . . . . .. 95

Side Marker Lights, Bulb

Replacement in

. . . . . . .. 143
Signaling Turns . . . . . . . . . . .. 37
Snow Chains . . . . . . . . . . .. 141
Snow Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 141
Solvent-type Cleaners . . .. 150
Sound System . . . . . . . . . . . .. 66
Spare Tire, Specifications . 179
Spark Plugs Replacing . . . . . . . . . . .. 131
Specifications . . . . . . . .. 132

Specifications Charts . . . .. 178
Speed Control . . . . . . . . . . . .. 40
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 33
Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 58
SRS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 10
START (Ignition Key

Position) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 44

Supplemental Restraint

System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 10
Service Precautions . . . .. 15
Servicing . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 15
SRS Indicator . . . . . . . . . .. 14
System Components . . . .. 11
119

. . . . . . . . . . ..

Synthetic Oil

Starting the Engine

In Cold Weather at

High Altitude . . . . . . . . .. 95
With a Dead Battery . .. 162
Steam Coming From Engine 164
Steering Wheel

Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . .. 40
Anti-Theft Column Lock .. 44

Steering Wheel Controls,

Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . .. 40
Stereo Sound System . . . . . .. 66
Storing Your Car . . . . . . . .. 148

Tachometer Taillights, Changing

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 33

Bulbs in . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 144

Taking Care of the

Unexpected . . . . . . . . . . ..

155
Tape Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 72
Technical Descriptions

Emissions Control

Systems . . . . . . . . . . . ..

182

Three-Way Catalytic

Converter . . . . . . . . . .. 184

Tire Information . . . . . .. 180
Temperature Gauge . . . . . . .. 34
Tether Attachment Points .. 22
Three-Way Catalytic

Converter

. . . . . . . . . . . .. 184
Time, Setting the . . . . . . . . .. 54
Tire, How to Change a Flat 156
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . .. 141
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 137

See also label in glove box Checking Wear . . . . . . .. 138
DOT Tire Quality

Grading . . . . . . . . . . . .. 181
Inflation . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 137
Inspection . . . . . . . . . . .. 138
Replacing . . . . . . . . . . .. 140
Rotating . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 139
141
S n o w . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 156
Spare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 179
Specifications . . . . . . . .. 156
Tools, Tire Changing . . . ..

Torn Seat Belts . . . . . . . . . . .. 10
Towing

A Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . .. 103
Emergency Wrecker

(Tow Truck) . . . . . . . .. 174

Transmission

Checking Fluid Level

Automatic

Transmission...... 125
5-Speed Manual

Transmission...... 126
Fluid Selection . . . . . . .. 126
Identification Number . 177
Shifting the Automatic . .. 98
Shifting the 5-Speed

M a n u a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 96
Transmitter, Remote . .. 43, 45
Treadwear . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 181
Trip Meter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 33
Turn Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 37

Index

Unexpected, Taking Care

of the

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 155

Uniform Tire Quality

Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 181
Unleaded Gasoline . . . . . . . .. 82
Upholstery Cleaning . . . .. 152
Used Oil, How to

Dispose of . . . . . . . . . . . .. 121

Vehicle Capacity Load . . . . .. 88
Vehicle Dimensions . . . . .. 178
Vehicle Identification

Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 176
Vehicle Storage . . . . . . . . .. 148
Ventilation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 63
VIN..................... 176

Index

Vinyl Cleaning . . . . . . . . . .. 152
118
Viscosity, Oil . . . . . . . . . . ..

Warning Beepers

Key in Ignition . . . . . . . . .. 44
Seat Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 30
Warning Labels, Location of. 25
WARNING, Explanation of . . .. ii Warranty Coverages . . . .. 188
Washer, Windshield

Checking the Fluid

Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 125
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 38
Washing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 150
Waxing and Polishing . . .. 151

Wheels

Adjusting the Steering . .. 40
Alignment and Balance 139
Wrench . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 157

Windows

C l e a n i n g . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 153
Operating the Power . . . .. 50
Rear, Defogger . . . . . . . . .. 39

Windshield

Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 38
Defroster . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 65

Wipers, Windshield

Changing Blades . . . . .. 134
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 37
Worn Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 138
Wrecker, Emergency

Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 174

Gas Station Information

Gasoline UNLEADED gasoline Pump octane of 86 or higher Fuel Tank Capacity 17.0 U.S. gal. (64.5 l ) Recommended Engine Oil API SH grade "Energy Conserving II" oil SAE 5W-30 viscosity

Tire Pressure (measured cold): Front/Rear — up to 475 Ib:

32 psi (2.2 kg/cm2, 220 kpa)

Front — up to 950 Ib:

32 psi (2.2 kg/cm2, 220 kpa)

Rear — up to 950 Ib:

38 psi (2.6 kg/cm2, 260 kpa)

Automatic Transmission Fluid: Honda Premium Formula Automatic Transmission Fluid or an equivalent DEXRON® II type Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF)