Maintenance

Safety Precautions

Some of the most important safety precautions are listed below however, we cannot warn you of every conceivable hazard that can arise in performing maintenance. Only you can decide whether or not you should perform a given task.

■Maintenance Safety

To reduce the possibility of fire or explosion, keep cigarettes, sparks, and flames away from the battery and all fuel-related parts.
Never leave rags, towels, or other flammable objects under the hood. Heat from the engine and exhaust can ignite them, causing a fire.
To clean parts, use a commercially available degreaser or parts cleaner, not gasoline.
Wear eye protection and protective clothing when working with the battery or compressed air.
Do not run the engine in confined spaces where carbon monoxide gas can accumulate.

■Vehicle Safety

The vehicle must be stationary and parked on level ground with the parking brake set and the engine off.
Be aware that hot parts can burn you.
Be aware that moving parts can injure you.

W

Improperly maintaining this vehicle or failing to correct a problem before driving can cause a crash in which you can be seriously hurt or killed.

Always follow the inspection and maintenance recommendations according to the schedules in this guide.

W

Failure to properly follow maintenance instructions and precautions can cause you to be seriously hurt or killed.

Always follow the procedures and precautions in this guide.

Maintenance MinderTM

When maintenance is due, the system message indicator comes on and a message appears on the display every time you turn the vehicle on.

Independent of the Maintenance Minder information, replace the brake fluid every 3 years.
Independent of the Maintenance Minder information, adjust the valves during services A, B, 1, 2, or 3 if they are noisy.

U.S. models

Maintenance, replacement, or repair of emissions control devices and systems may be done by any automotive repair establishment or individuals using parts that are certified to EPA standards.

According to state and federal regulations, failure to perform maintenance on the maintenance main items marked with # will not void your emissions warranties. However, all maintenance services should be performed in accordance with the intervals indicated by the multi-information display.

■Maintenance Minder Service Codes

These codes indicate what services are due on your vehicle.

Under the Hood

■Opening the Hood

Park the vehicle on a level surface and apply the electric parking brake.
Pull the hood release handle under the lower left corner of the dashboard.
Push the hood latch lever in the center of the hood to release the lock mechanism, and open the hood.
Lift the hood up most of the way. The hydraulic supports lift it up the rest of the way and hold it up.

When closing the hood, lower it to approximately 12 inches (30 cm) and press firmly down with your hands.

Notice Do not open the hood when the wiper arms are raised. The hood will strike the wipers, and may damage either the hood or the wipers.

■Engine Compartment Cover

The component parts in the engine compartment are protected by a cover. You may need to remove the cover when you perform certain maintenance work.

Starting at either side, lift the outermost edge of the engine compartment cover. Pull up on the cover, and remove it from the pins. Move towards the opposite side while applying uniform upward pressure.

Engine Oil

Park the vehicle on level ground. Wait approximately three minutes after turning the engine off before you check the oil.

■Checking the Oil

Open the hood see Opening the Hood. Remove the dipstick (orange loop).
Wipe the dipstick with a clean cloth or paper towel.
Insert the dipstick all the way back into its hole.
Remove the dipstick again, and check the level. It should be between the upper and lower marks.
Add oil if necessary.

■Recommended Engine Oil

Genuine Honda Motor Oil
Premium-grade 0W-20 detergent oil with an API Certification Seal on the container

This seal indicates the oil is energy conserving and that it meets the American Petroleum Institute’s latest requirements.

Use Genuine Honda Motor Oil or another commercial engine oil of suitable viscosity for the ambient temperature.

You may also use synthetic motor oil if it is labeled with the API Certification Seal and is of the specified viscosity grade.

■Adding Oil

Unscrew and remove the engine oil fill cap.
Add oil slowly.
Reinstall the engine oil fill cap and tighten it securely.
Wait for three minutes and recheck the engine oil dipstick.

Notice Do not fill the engine oil above the upper mark. Overfilling the engine oil can result in leaks and engine damage.

■Resetting the Engine Oil Life

If you change or replace the vehicle’s engine oil yourself, you must reset the engine oil life. Use the right selector wheel on the steering wheel to make selections in the MID.

Scroll to Maintenance Info and select it to display the oil life reset mode.
Select Reset. The service code disappears and the oil life returns to 100%.

Notice Failure to reset the engine oil life after a maintenance service results in the system showing incorrect maintenance intervals, which can lead to serious mechanical problems.

Engine Coolant

Park the vehicle on level ground. Check the reserve tank and the coolant level in the radiator. Use Honda Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant Type 2.

■Checking the Reserve Tank

Open the hood see Opening the Hood. Check the amount of coolant in the reserve tank.
If the coolant level is below the MIN mark, add the specified coolant until it reaches the MAX mark.
Inspect the cooling system for leaks.

Notice For vehicles used in temperatures below -31°F (-35°C), change the coolant from the standard 50:50 antifreeze:water mix to one with added antifreeze. Consult a dealer for more information.

■Adding Coolant

Make sure the engine and radiator are cool.
Turn the radiator cap counterclockwise and relieve any pressure in the coolant system. Do not push the cap down when turning.
Push down and turn the radiator cap counterclockwise to remove it.
The coolant level should be up to the base of the filler neck. Add coolant if it is low.
Put the radiator cap back on, and tighten it fully.
Pour coolant into the reserve tank until it reaches the MAX mark. Put the cap back on the reserve tank.

W

Removing the radiator cap while the engine is hot can cause the coolant to spray out, seriously scalding you.

Always let the engine and radiator cool down before removing the radiator cap.

Notice Pour the fluid slowly and carefully so you do not spill any. Clean up any spills immediately; they can damage components in the engine compartment.

Checking the Battery

The battery condition is monitored by the sensor on the negative terminal. If there is a problem with the sensor, a message appears on the multi-information display. Have your vehicle checked by a dealer.

W

The battery gives off explosive hydrogen gas during normal operation.

A spark or flame can cause the battery to explode with enough force to kill or seriously hurt you.

When conducting any battery maintenance, wear protective clothing and a face shield, or have a skilled technician do it.

W

Battery posts, terminals, and related accessories contain lead and lead compounds. Wash your hands after handling.

Window Washer Fluid

Check the amount of window washer fluid by looking at the reservoir. Fill if it is low. Pour the washer fluid carefully. Do not overflow the reservoir.

Models with washer level sensor

If the washer fluid is low, a message appears on the multi-information display.

Notice Do not use engine antifreeze or a vinegar/water solution in the windshield washer reservoir. Antifreeze can damage your vehicle’s paint. A vinegar/water solution can damage the windshield washer pump.

Brake Fluid

The fluid level should be between the MIN and MAX marks on the side of the tank. We recommend using Honda Heavy Duty Brake Fluid DOT 3.

Pour the fluid carefully.

If the fluid level is at or below the MIN mark, have a dealer inspect for leaks or worn brake pads as soon as possible.

Notice Brake fluid marked DOT 5 is not compatible with your vehicle’s braking system and can cause extensive damage.

Changing Wiper Blades

If the wiper blades leave streaks across the windshield, try cleaning them first with a paper towel or soft cloth and wiper fluid. If the wiper blade rubber has deteriorated, you should change the wiper blades.

Lift the driver side wiper arm first, then the passenger side.
Press and hold the tab, then slide the holder off the wiper arm.
Pull the end of the wiper blade to the direction of the arrow until it unfastens from the end cap.
Pull the wiper blade to the opposite direction to slide it out from its holder.
Insert the flat side of the new wiper blade onto the bottom part of the holder. Insert the blade all the way.
Install the end of the wiper blade into the end cap.
Slide the wiper holder onto the wiper arm until it locks.
Lower the passenger side wiper arm first, then the driver side.

Notice Avoid dropping the wiper arm, as it may damage the windshield.

Tire Information

To safely operate your vehicle, your tires must be of the proper type and size, in good condition with adequate tread, and properly inflated.

■Inflation Guidelines

Properly inflated tires provide the best combination of handling, tread life, and comfort. Refer to the driver’s doorjamb label or the specifications see SPECIFICATIONS for the specified pressure.
Underinflated tires wear unevenly, adversely affect handling and fuel economy, and are more likely to fail from overheating.
Overinflated tires make your vehicle ride harshly, are more prone to road hazards, and wear unevenly.
Every day before you drive, look at each of the tires. If one looks lower than the others, check the pressure with a tire gauge.
Measure the air pressure when tires are cold. This means the vehicle has been parked for at least 3 hours, or driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km). If necessary, add or release air until the specified pressure is reached. If checked when hot, tire pressure can be as much as 4-6 psi (30-40 kPa, 0.3-0.4 kgf/cm2) higher than checked when cold.
At least once a month or before long trips, use a gauge to measure the pressure in all tires, including the spare. Even tires in good condition can lose 1-2 psi (10-20 kPa, 0.1-0.2 kgf/cm2) per month.

■Inspection Guidelines

Every time you inflate the tires, check for the following:

Any damage to tires, including bumps, bulges, cuts, splits, or cracks in the side or tread. Remove any foreign objects and inspect for air leaks. Replace tires if you see fabric or cord.
Uneven or excessive tread wear. Have a dealer check the wheel alignment.
Cracks or other damage around the valve stems.

■Wear Indicators

The groove where the wear indicator is located is 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) shallower than elsewhere on the tire. If the tread has worn so low that the indicator is exposed, replace the tire. Worn out tires have poor traction on wet roads.

W

Using tires that are excessively worn or improperly inflated can cause a crash in which you can be seriously hurt or killed. Follow all instructions in the owner’s manual regarding tire inflation and maintenance.

■Tire and Loading Information Label

The label attached to the driver’s doorjamb provides necessary tire and loading information.

The number of people your vehicle can carry.
The total weight your vehicle can carry. Do not exceed this weight.
The original tire sizes for front, rear, and spare.
The proper cold tire pressure for front, rear, and spare.

■Tire and Wheel Replacement

Replace your tires with radials of the same size, load range, speed rating, and maximum cold tire pressure rating (as shown on the tire’s sidewall). Using tires of a different size or construction can cause certain vehicle systems to work incorrectly. It is best to replace all four tires at the same time. If that isn’t possible, replace the front or rear tires in pairs.

If you change or replace a wheel, make sure that the wheel’s specifications match those of the original wheels. Only use TPMS-specified wheels approved for your vehicle.

W

Installing improper tires on your vehicle can affect handling and stability.

This can cause a crash in which you can be seriously hurt or killed.

Always use the size and type of tires recommended in the Owner’s Manual.

■Tire Service Life

The life of your tires is dependent on many factors, including driving habits, road conditions, vehicle loading, inflation pressure, maintenance history, speed, and environmental conditions (even when the tires are not in use).

In addition to regular inspections and inflation pressure maintenance, it is recommended that you have annual inspections performed once the tires reach five years old. All tires, including the spare, should be removed from service after 10 years from the date of manufacture, regardless of their condition or state of wear.

■Winter Tires

If driving on snowy or frozen roads, mount all season tires marked “M+S”, snow tires, or tire chains; reduce speed and maintain sufficient distance between vehicles when driving. For winter tires, select the size and load ranges that are the same as the original tires, and mount them to all four wheels.

■Tire Chains

Install tire chains on the front tires only. Because your vehicle has limited tire clearance, we strongly recommend using the following chains:

Cable type: SSC Super Z LT-ZT735

Mount chains as tightly as you can and make sure that they do not touch the brake lines or suspension.

Notice Traction devices that are the wrong size or improperly installed can damage your vehicle’s brake lines, suspension, body, and wheels. Stop driving if they are hitting any part of the vehicle.

W

Using the wrong chains, or not properly installing chains, can damage the brake lines and cause a crash in which you can be seriously injured or killed.

Follow all instructions in this guide regarding the selection and use of tire chains.

Tire Labeling

The tires that came on your vehicle have a number of markings. Those you should be aware of are described below.

Here is an example of what each marking means:

P235/60R 18 102V

P: tire type (passenger vehicle)
235: tire width in millimeters
60: aspect ratio (tire section height as a percentage of its width)
R: tire construction code (radial)
18: rim diameter in inches
102: load index (code indicating maximum load tire can carry)
V: speed symbol (code indicating maximum speed rating)

■Tire Identification Number (TIN)

The tire identification number (TIN) is a group of numbers and letters that look like the following example. The TIN is located on the sidewall of the tire.

■Glossary of Tire Terminology

Cold Tire Pressure – The tire air pressure when the vehicle has been parked for at least three hours or driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km).

Load Rating – The maximum load that a tire is rated to carry for a given inflation pressure.

Maximum Inflation Pressure – The maximum tire air pressure that the tire can hold.

Maximum Load Rating – The load rating for a tire at the maximum permissible inflation pressure for that tire.

Recommended Inflation Pressure – The cold tire inflation pressure recommended by the manufacturer.

Treadwear Indicators (TWI) – The projections within the principal grooves designed to give a visual indication of the degrees of wear of the tread.

DOT Tire Quality Grading

The tires on your vehicle meet all U.S. Federal Safety Requirements. All tires are also graded for treadwear, traction, and temperature performance according to Department of Transportation (DOT) standards. These gradings are explained below.

■Uniform Tire Quality Grading

Quality grades can be found where applicable on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum section width.

For example:

Treadwear 200

Traction AA

Temperature A

All passenger car tires must conform to Federal Safety Requirements in addition to these grades.

■Treadwear

The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified government test course. For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and one-half (1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire graded 100. The relative performance of tires depends upon the actual conditions of their use, however, and may depart significantly from the norm due to variations in driving habits, service practices, and differences in road characteristics and climate.

■Traction

The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. Those grades represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction performance.

WARNING: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on straight-ahead braking traction tests, and does not include acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.

■Temperature

The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, representing the tire’s resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a level of performance which all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of performance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by law.

WARNING: The temperature grade for this tire is established for a tire that is properly inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or excessive loading, either separately or in combination, can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.

Air Conditioning

To ensure proper and safe operation, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAEJ2845) recommends that the refrigerant system only be serviced by trained and certified technicians.

Never repair or replace the air conditioning evaporator (cooling coil) with one removed from a used or salvaged vehicle.

New replacement mobile air conditioning evaporators must be certified (and labeled) as meeting SAE Standard J2842.

Testing of Readiness Codes

Your vehicle has readiness codes as part of the onboard self-diagnostic system. Some states use these codes for testing to verify whether your vehicle’s emissions components are working properly. The codes may not be read if you go through the testing just after the battery has gone dead or been disconnected.

To check if they are set, set the power mode to ON without starting the engine. The malfunction indicator lamp will come on for several seconds. If it goes off, the readiness codes are set. If it blinks five times, the readiness codes are not set.

If you are required to have your vehicle tested before the readiness codes are set, prepare the vehicle for retesting by doing the following:

Fill the gas tank to approximately 3/4 full.
Park the vehicle and leave the engine off for 6 hours or more.
Make sure the ambient temperature is between 40°F and 95°F (4°C and 35°C).
Start the engine without touching the accelerator pedal and let it idle for 20 seconds.
Keep the vehicle in Park. Increase the engine speed to 2,000 rpm and hold it there for about 3 minutes.
Let the engine idle with your foot off the accelerator for 20 seconds.
Select a nearby, lightly traveled major highway where you can maintain a speed of 50 to 60 mph (80 to 97 km/h) for at least 20 minutes. Drive on the highway with the vehicle in Drive. Do not use cruise control. When traffic allows, drive for 90 seconds without using the accelerator pedal. (Vehicle speed may vary slightly; this is OK.) If you cannot do this for a continuous 90 seconds because of traffic conditions, drive for at least 30 seconds, then repeat two more times (for a total of 90 seconds).
Drive in city or suburban traffic for at least 10 minutes. When traffic conditions allow, let the vehicle coast for several seconds without using the accelerator pedal or the brake pedal.
Park the vehicle and leave the engine off for 30 minutes.

The readiness codes are erased when the battery is disconnected. The codes are set again only after several days of driving under a variety of conditions.

If a testing facility determines that the readiness codes are not set, you may be requested to return at a later date to complete the test or see your dealer.